Time

                                                                                             written 9 June, 2024

                                                                                        published 16 June 2024

  

            Classical physics describes material reality with three spatial dimensions and a temporal one.  We are free to travel back and forth in the spatial dimensions, but seem condemned to inexorably travel in only one direction in time, which has been described as "poorly perceived".  

            There seems to be an objective reality to time.  For ages, the cycle of the sun and moon were the only marking of time "passing".  The ringing of Church bells began creating divisions in the day, as do periodic calls to prayer in Muslim countries.  With the industrial revolution, clocks began dividing time into even smaller intervals.  The rise of computers accelerated that trend.  I am writing on a decade old Mac, with a CPU rate of 2.5 billion cycles per second, and new multi-core computers operate even faster.  The present shortest measured time interval is a zeptosecond, a billion trillionth of a second, the time for a photon to travel the width of a hydrogen molecule.

            However, time is flexible.  I enjoy movies and books that play with the linearity of time, describing multiple time lines, or loops in time, expanding consideration of what is possible.  Einstein once said, "time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening at once".  

            As we approach the speed of light, modern physics shows that time slows down to zero.  Photons only travel at the speed of light, and therefore experience no time or distance, "arriving" simultaneously with "leaving", yet we experience it takes a little over 8 minutes for a photon to travel from the Sun to Earth.  Quantum non-locality postulates all matter is simultaneously connected in an eternal "now".  

            As I age, subjective time seems to be speeding up.  Each new year is a smaller part of my lifetime, and therefore appears to be passing more quickly.  In addition, our experience of time is affected by the number of socially significant events happening each year.  Several centuries ago, most people died within walking distance of where they were born, which is no longer true.  Cell phones were invented 50 years ago, and the iPhone only 17 years ago.  Today almost 2/3 of humanity uses smartphones.  The social and economic dislocations from this explosive growth touches everyone, contributing to the sense that time is passing faster, adding to the stress level of our culture. 

            Our experience of time breaks down to past, present, and future.  But past and future are only concepts in our mind, the foundation of our psychological ego.  The past is an incomplete memory story of events that are no longer here.  When we assume these stories are "true", and project them into the future, they become a guide for what is to come.  In this way, our past preconditions a similar future.  However, experience happens only in the present.  Honest inquiry shows it is always "now", every time we check.  Even if I am disturbed by the past or fretting about the future, I am doing that "now".

            Dr. Gabor Mate, who specializes in treating trauma, says the events that traumatized us are no longer happening.  However, the stories we told ourself to explain why those things happened, are still being internally retold in the "now", perpetuating the trauma.  His work shows that by becoming aware of that process, and changing the story in the present, we can be healed.

            Meditation is one of the methods of breaking out of the prison of our chronic past stories.  While sitting, we can notice the egoic story telling going on.  Eckhart Tolle suggests noticing the small gap when one story ends and next begins.  With intention, over time, those gaps will expand, until there is a time with no story, just the experience of being present.

            There is power in the present.  We can't change the past, as it no longer exists, and  the future has not yet arrived.  It is only the eternally present moment when we have agency to make changes.  One of my mantras is "I am here now".  These four words reflect reality, pulling me out of my mind chatter into the "now", locating me in space and time.  

            We live in turbulent times, experiencing the collapse of obsolete cultural stories.  Creating methods of getting out of our personal stories is essential for peace of mind, which allows awareness of inspiration and creativity, and opens the possibility of change.   This is work we all can do.

Reality Check

                                                                                             written 2 June, 2024

                                                                                          published 9 June 2024

    

            When a kitten first sees itself in a mirror, it reacts as if being threatened by an enemy.  This is "projection as perception" in action.  There is no threat in reality, only in the mind of the perceiver.  While humorous in a kitten, it is more consequential in our own lives.  The stories we tell ourselves are projected onto the "outer" world, and then we react as if they are real, becoming trapped in a delusion bubble.

            Trump is a perfect example.  Born into a wealthy, dysfunctional family, with a sociopathic father and an emotional absent mother, Trump developed as a narcissist, devoid of empathy, removed from the world.  His father taught there are only killers and losers, so everyone is either a threat or a mark.  Since Trump axiomatically CAN'T be a loser, he thinks he is smarter than everyone, not subject to the rules binding ordinary people.  He became a corrupt, cowardly bully.

            In business, Trump cheated contractors, betrayed partners, lied to gain advantage, and inflated his "brand". Using his wealth, he would sue people into submission, rather than honoring contracts.  

            Despite this, his charity and University were shut down as frauds, and Trump branded commodities sold poorly and disappeared.  He went bankrupt running casinos, and his real estate empire defaulted banks so often he was forced to borrow laundered Russian money.  By the time he was elected president, Trump had been involved in over 4,000 legal cases, as "a natural part of doing business".  

            Once elected, he moved beyond civil crimes.  He was impeached twice, for attempted blackmail of another country, and inciting insurrection after losing the election.  His business has been found fraudulent and fined.  He has been convicted and fined for sexual assault, and fined again for continued defamation.

            Three trials are currently delayed by Trump supporters in the judicial system.  The classified documents case is stalled by a judge Trump appointed.  The Georgia election interference case and the DC January 6th insurrection cases are on hold while the Republican majority on the Supreme Court "ponders" if the president is an emperor, above the law, immune from prosecution. 

            The New York election interference trail was a State case, beyond Republican interference.  Despite whining about "rigged justice", Trump was afforded every legal right under the law, and a jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts, a first for Trump.  

            All his life, Trump has claimed credit for everything and accepted responsibility for nothing.  The unanimous guilty verdict was a reality check on a deluded individual, and cult MAGA is furious, because their "dear leader" has been treated like an ordinary American citizen. 

            For myself, I was relieved.  Our democratic bedrock of equal protection under the law was vindicated by ordinary citizens, who were not stunned by the privilege expected by immense wealth and power.  However, as a nation, we still have to deal with the Republican "leadership", which used to have principles and supported the rule of law.  Now, in a desperate attempt to remain in power, they present no policies, other than abjectly surrender to a corrupt, conman autocrat as their representative.  Further, there are many Americans so aggrieved by the injustices in their lives they are willing to project their anger out onto the world and follow this flawed individual.  

            However, another social delusion is also headed toward a reality check: the climate crisis.  For over 50 years, we have been warned about the consequences of our fossil fuel addiction.  Originally this was thought to be a problem for the future, but the science was incomplete, and the feedback systems are more numerous, so we are already seeing the impact today.  Around the world, heat, drought, water shortages, fires, flooding, storms, and increased crop losses are making news every week.

            The May sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico were as high as we normally see in August, and NOAA is forecasting a 50 percent increase in hurricanes this summer.  A heat dome sits over Mexico.  The same delusional, isolationist mindset that fuels cult MAGA hinders dealing with the climate.  What form will a climate reality check take?  Will it be a heat wave that kills hundreds of thousands?  Will one, or possibly two, category 5 hurricane running through Florida, killing people and crashing the insurance industry clarify the issue?  This is the hottest summer on record.  Stay tuned, we have no idea what is coming.

 

Heat

                                                                                           written 26 May, 2024

                                                                                          published 2 June 2024

  

            Humans are warm blooded mammals, which means our metabolism runs faster, allowing us to eat more varied foods, supports a larger brain, and allows life in more varied regions.  

            However, when external temperatures increase above 97°F, our bodies have to shed heat.  We can dilate the blood vessels below our skin, increasing the blood flow, allowing heat to escape, as we have very little hair on our bodies, reducing skin insulation.  However, our primary system is the evaporative cooling from our extensive sweat gland system.

            The evaporation of water requires significant energy, which is pulled from our skin, cooling it.  However, air always contains some amount of moisture: the "relative humidity".  When humidity is low, the air can absorb more moisture, and evaporative cooling is possible.  As the humidity increases, cooling becomes less possible.  When the air holds as much moisture as possible at that temperature (100 percent humidity), no cooling is possible.  This is why we can survive 115°F here in Ukiah, with a humidity of maybe only 30 percent, while 104°F with 99 percent humidity can be lethal.

            When our cooling systems fail, our body begins to die.  As more blood is shifted to the skin, central organs (kidneys, liver, and brain) become blood deprived, and begin to shut down.  Symptoms of heatstroke include: body temperature over 104° F, flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing heart rate, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, agitation, irritability, slurred speech, confusion, delirium, seizures, and unconsciousness.  

            With increased heat, our cells "denature", and melt.  Proteins begin to come apart, kidneys and intestines begin leaking toxic waste into the blood stream, triggering systemic clotting of the blood.  Once all the clotting proteins are consumed, we hemorrhage everywhere, as our bodies disintegrate.  The only remedy, if applied in time, is to cool down our core, by drinking cool water, moving into cool shade or buildings, or being immersed in cool or icy water.

            After thousands of years of relatively stable climate and temperatures, we now live in a climate hotter than the one we were born into, and heat death is increasing.  A 2003 European heatwave killed over 70,000 (more than all US deaths in Vietnam).  A 2010 104°F heatwave in Russia killed more than 55,000.  In 2017, Pakistan experienced record heat of 129°F.  In 2021, Antarctica saw an extra 70°F, a heatwave in the Pacific Northwest killed more than 1,000, and 126°F heat hit Pakistan again.  2022 brought a 104°F heatwave to London, killing more than 3,000, and Phoenix set a heat record of 122°F.

            For those that can afford it, air conditioning has allowed human civilization to survive in increasingly lethal heat conditions.  But this technological fix has limitations.  To cool a building, the heat is shifted to the outside environment, making the outside even more lethal.  A more serious concern is the availability of electricity.  Last September, record heat, and record use of air conditioning, nearly crashed the California electrical grid.  Rolling blackouts were avoided by massive voluntary customer load shedding.   In places where electricity is less secure, people die when the power goes down.  2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 is already hotter.

            Despite growing awareness that the climate crisis is real, humanity is adding increasing amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere every year.  The wealthy few who are profiting from the existing energy system are doing everything they can to keep people ignorant of the problem.  People seem to deny a situation until it affects them personally.  So, for the foreseeable future, we will have to deal with what we are creating.

            Here in Ukiah, the City Council, the City manager, and the head of the City electrical utility should begin planning for power resilient cooling centers, because the grid is unstable in times of high heat.  Traditional use of diesel or propane power not only adds to the underlying climate problem, but these expensive systems are rarely used, and might not work when needed.  

            The City has been told by NCPA, our power provider, they need to add 15 percent more power produced locally.  In addition to designing local systems to power essential City services, a creative plan would install renewable power for cooling centers, which could be of use all the time, while being ready for emergencies.  Furthermore, an effort should be made to help other groups build resilient cooling systems, as the entire community will be in need.

 

 

Fire Insurance

                                                                                           written 19 May, 2024

                                                                                        published 26 May 2024

  

            In unity reality, everything is connected, so any evaluation of a situation has only a relative "beginning" point.  In most cases, the "start" is when something rises to the point of unavoidable awareness.  A case in point is the home owner's insurance crisis.

            An arbitrary beginning might be the end of the last Ice Age, about 12,000 years ago.  Atmospheric CO₂, functioning much like a home thermostat, rose 50 percent over a few thousand years, and then held steady.  This warmed the planet enough to melt ice sheets several miles thick, allowing the rise of human civilizations.  All of recorded history has occurred within a stable temperature range.  

            Beginning a few centuries ago, humans began tapped into stored fossil energy, which living organisms had laid down over millions of years.  Beginning slowly, but increasing every year, the combustion waste products changed the atmospheric chemistry, slowly increasing the temperature.  As of today, humans have increased the atmospheric CO₂content by another 50 percent. 

            When the planet heats, droughts increase, and fires increase in both frequency and intensity.  The California fire season is now year around.  A few years ago, a fire burning into Redding became a tornado, with temperature up to 2,000°F.  Whole communities have been destroyed.  As we continually add more CO₂, this problem worsens.

            The fire insurance industry evolved during more stable times.  Historic records were reliable measure of future events, and insurance rates could be confidently established, giving a balance between homeowner affordability and insurance company profit motives.  However, as the atmospheric chemistry changes, the rate of asset destruction increases.  Historic records no longer accurately predict future losses.  As the companies pay out more than their premiums bring in, they risk bankruptcy.  

            In California, regional insurance companies can't raise rates arbitrarily, but are legally constrained in order to insure homeowner affordability, a socialist balance against the normal greed inherent in insurance.  Until recently, future forecasting of risk wasn't allowed.

            A further pressure on regional companies comes from the fact that they insure themselves with international reinsurance companies, which necessarily take long-term, global reality into account.  Decades ago, they began to notice the climate crisis was increasing losses they covered, and they began to raise reinsurance rates to the regional companies.            

            With climate driven destruction increasing, regional companies were caught between the legal inability to raise rates locally, and the constantly increasing re-insurance rates.  Rather than going bankrupt, regional companies began to quit the California market.  The California FAIR Plan is a state-run backup insurance plan, providing coverage that is more limited and more expensive.  However, a significant portion of the funds come from all the insurance companies operating within the state.  Consequently, if too many for-profit insurance companies leave the state, the FAIR Plan is also at risk.

            California has bowed to reality, and recently changed the rules to allow forecasting of future risk when setting rates.  This reduces the threat of lack of available insurance, which could have crashed the entire real estate industry and the banking system which funds it.  Uninsurable property loses 80 percent of its market value, threatening the property tax income of every level of government.  While allowing rates to increase might keep insurance available, it won't necessarily be affordable.  The bankruptcy threat shifts from companies to individuals, neither being socially beneficial.

            We pay about .4 percent of our home value in annual insurance costs.  Other states already pay from 3 to 13 times as much.  Florida has experienced 5 major hurricanes in the last 7 years.  Flooding and storm damage is increasing so fast that the entire state may become uninsurable.  Most of the US has yet to factor in the growing climate risks when it comes to insurance rates.  Increasing climate driven losses threaten to bankrupt all forms of insurance, which is beginning to get more attention.

            But adjusting insurance rates does nothing to deal with the root problem of our worsening atmospheric chemistry.  Effectively dealing with this has two parts: decarbonization and sequestration.  We are still adding ever more CO₂ every year.  Decarbonization is the process of re-engineering our entire economy to reduce that emission rate to zero as soon as possible.  Sequestration is the process of removing 1,000 billion tons of CO₂, returning to 300ppm, a level we know can sustain humanity.

            While canceled insurance gets attention, we have to do more to leave a habitable planet for our descendants. 

 

 

Blaming Others

                                                                                           written 12 May, 2024

                                                                                       published 19 May 2024

  

            In 1755, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake hit Lisbon, Portugal, destroying the city, including all the churches.  Since geophysics was unknown in those days, the "cause" was attributed to "sinners" who had angered God.  Church leaders helpfully pointed out the guilty few, who were immediately lynched.

            The concept of scapegoat, "one that is made to bear the blame of others", is ancient, a tool used by fundamentalist in all authoritarian structures.  It presupposes the "problem" resides outside their community, and promises changes "out there" will fix things.  When the real problem is internal, external fixes ultimately fail.

            Despite the equalitarian concepts within the Constitution, America has always fallen short in practice.  From the beginning, voting was limited to only white men, disenfranchising Native Americans, people of color, and women.  America's "experiment" in democracy has slowly removed these limitations, at least in the letter of the law.  But the social structure has consistently distorted the legal system, effectively preserving those previous exclusions, slowing progress toward real "equal protection under the law".

            The book "Prequel", by Rachel Maddow, describes the authoritarian scapegoating in America in the decade leading up to WW2.  Capitalism and authoritarianism have significant overlap, both being based in the flawed concept of exclusive gain.  FDR was dealing with the economic collapse of 1929, using the power of the government for the benefit of the larger population, angering the wealthy elite, who traditionally felt entitled to their position.  

            Hitler knew that it was important to keep America out of the war in Europe in order to consolidate his desire for empire.  To that end, beginning in the mid 30's, a massive, well-funded, dis-information propaganda campaign was launched in the US to divide the society, keeping it neutral.  

            Hitler was portrayed as a white Christian strong man savior, willing to take a hard line on the "undesirables" who he claimed were the root of all evil: Jews, communists, and immigrants of color.  Many influential Americans avidly supported with words and funds.

            White Christian nationalist organizations in America at the time were enlisted to Hitler's goals, including the KKK, the White Camellia, Catholic priest Charles Coughlin, America First Party, American Gentile Protective Association, American Nationalist Confederation, American White Guard, and the Silver Shirts.  

            Among the authoritarian supporters were Republican Senators and Representatives, who read German propaganda into the Congressional Record, and then sent it to massive mailing lists, using federal tax dollars.  Henry Ford had fascist newspapers in every Ford dealership, and put fascist literature in every Ford sold.  

            Several people understood what was happening, and began to investigate on their own.  The FBI and Secret Service weren't interested at first, because their focus was on communists, not fascists.  However, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and Germany declared war on America in alliance with Japan, everything changed.  

            The popular tolerance of fascism collapsed.  Domestic German propaganda organizations were broken up, and dozens were indicted and tried for sedition.  But the domestic supporters of authoritarianism prevailed.  The biggest trial was ridiculed in Congress.  The trial was marred with unruly behavior by the multiple defendant’s lawyers.  It was all cast as partisan Democratic zeal.  Eventually, a mistrial was declared, and very few ever saw any consequence for their actions, as the tide of the war in Europe shifted to the allies, and German fascism lost completely.

            More than 8 decades later, we are witnessing a sequel.  White Christian nationalism is on the rise again, courted by another malignant narcissist.  Putin is presented as a white Christian savior, fighting a war in Europe.  Authoritarian propaganda, some originating from Russian Intelligence services, is read into the Congressional Record by Republicans.  Powerful media organizations support autocracy over democracy, and the Internet gives widespread, unfettered access unimagined in the 40's.  The issue in this next election is again between autocracy and democracy.  

            What is new this time is the climate crisis, a fundamentally unifying experience.  Last week saw flood inundation in Brazil, Uruguay, Kenya, Netherlands, Germany, Oman, Dubai, Afghanistan, China, Texas and Tennessee.  Lethal heat is beginning to hit southeast Asia.  More numerous, and stronger, tornados are hitting the US Midwest, extending further north and east.  This year is already hotter than 2023, which was the hottest year on record.

            At some point, humanity will awaken to our collective fate, and transcend the apparent outward differences to address our inherent unity.  The only real alternative is social collapse, with possible species extinction.

 

 

 

Access To Inspiration: part 2

                                                                                            written 5 May, 2024

                                                                                       published 12 May 2024

  

            In 1965, two clinical psychologists, Helen Schuman and William Thetford, were frustrated by how ineffectual their therapy forms were in the real world, and felt "there must be another way."  Shortly thereafter, Schuman began hearing a voice in her head, which said: "This is a Course in Miracles, please take notes."  

            Schuman did take notes, which she shared with Thetford, who offered to type them up.  Schuman was a devout Catholic, and described the process as inner dictation from Jesus Christ.  The underlying premise is that the greatest miracle is simply becoming aware of love's presence in a person's life.  Even though the information was disturbing to her traditional religious upbringing, she persevered.  

            Dictation continued over the next 7 years, resulting in three books: a text, a workbook for students, and a teacher's manual.  From the beginning, the document was shared with other psychologists, who were excited about the information revealed.  Growing interest brought funds for publication, and the books went on sale in 1976.  

            They became popular, with sales increasing every year since publication, especially after Marianne Williamson discussed them on The Oprah Winfrey Show, in 1992.  A Course in Miracles is now translated into 27 languages.  

            The text is a detailed presentation of a unity view of reality, a new conceptual way of relating.  The workbook is a series of 365 daily lessons, which gradually brings our unconscious programming up to awareness in the moment, allowing for growth and transformation.  The very first lesson is: "Nothing I see means anything", followed by the second lesson: "I have given everything I see all the meaning it has for me."   

            As I mentioned last week, the increasing understanding of our material world, as exemplified by the rise of quantum mechanical technology, demands a shift in in our culture, economy, and consciousness, from the illusion of separation to the experience of a connected, unified world.  This shift involves recognizing the ways we have unconsciously internalized incomplete patterns from the past, accepting them as accurate definitions of reality.            

            Another aid to this type of growth is "The Choice for Consciousness: Tools for Conscious Living", published in 2011 by Veronica Torres, channeling Eloheim and The Council.  It begins with: "Living from the soul's perspective is only achievable by Being in the Moment.  Being in the Moment is only achievable by not having baggage with you in the Moment.  Not having baggage in the Moment is only achievable by becoming conscious of your baggage.  Becoming conscious of what's going on in the moment is only possible if you are willing to break habits.  Breaking habits is only possible if you're willing to confront the biology that says, Change is too scary.  Confronting the biology is only possible if you have courage."  The courage to change result is "Being in the body, but living from your soul's perspective."  The rest of the book describes various tools for achieving this transformed awareness and terms for understanding an evolved perspective on life.         

            Onenessofall.com is an online source that encourages this same shift in perspective, channeled by Marilyn Raffaele. 

            "This web site is dedicated to the promotion of truth and Light at this powerful evolutionary time.  Mankind has journeyed through lifetimes in which false concepts, beliefs, and fears were blindly accepted as the truth and in our ignorance, we gave away our power."

            "The Arcturians, one group of many highly evolved beings from other galaxies, wish to present their messages of love and guidance in order to assist the people of Earth to let go of the false fears that were given to and accepted by mankind.  They stand ready to offer spiritual and technical assistance when and if desired.  Free will does not allow them to step in unless asked."

            "It is time to embrace the truth of who we are and why we are here.  The answers are now pouring in from multiple Sources of Light.  Events of great energy and change began manifesting in 2012 and will continue.  It is crucial that mankind become informed and thus be prepared as changes occur."  

            "There is absolutely no need for fear.  For us and for Gaia; this is a graduation."

            The old ways of "knowing" have brought us to this point in evolution.  However, we are too powerful and numerous to be so ignorant much longer.  We are all alive today to participate in this graduation event.

 

 

Access To Inspiration: part 1

                                                                                          written 28 April 2024

                                                                                         published 5 May 2024

  

            Throughout the ages, people have experienced inspiration, often considering it communication from a transcendent divine.  This is so universal that I am offended when someone claims they have the "one and only" communication from God.  This is as foolish, narrow minded, and insulting as the materialist proclamations that matter is dead, consciousness is a biochemical artifact of brain complexity, and life is meaningless.

            Dating back thousands of years, in cultures all over the world, the "shaman" are individuals who are more sensitive to information beyond the ordinary safe and familiar areas of the culture.  Through inspiration, ceremony, and drugs, the shaman is vital to the survival of the tribe, directing where to hunt or how to heal the ill, validated by feedback from the real world.  

            All three major western religions describe individuals hearing the voice of God.  In Judaism, from Abraham through Moses, the burning bush, and the instruction of the ten commandments at Mount Sinai, communication from God is central.  Christianity is founded on the teachings of Jesus, who had numerous communications with God.  The entire Quran, the holy document of Islam, was transcribed by Muhammad, directed by the voice of God.

            More recently, the American clairvoyant Edgar Cayce, who died in 1945, left over 14,000 medical readings, all transmitted while Cayce was in a sleeping state.  These have been curated by the Association for Research and Enlightenment (ARE) in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Cayce did readings on people at a distance, stating all consciousness is united beyond time, and his subconscious was able to access information from this timeless source.  While Cayce has numerous critics and sceptics, the testimony of his thousands of successful healings is difficult to ignore.  Before his death, he had achieved a worldwide following.  ARE study groups are located around the world to this day.  

            When I was younger, living in San Diego, my friends and I were exploring metaphysical subjects, and discovered a local ARE study group.  The woman leading the group was a clairvoyant channel, and gave readings to new people, to give information before getting to know the person.  I had questions, and decided to test her validity by listening to hear her answer them, without my actually asking them.  On the ride home afterward, I was deeply disturbed, because she had passed my test, and I had to rebuild my entire world view.  Within a year, I had quit my engineering job and moved to the Mendocino coast.

            The Berkeley Psychic Institute, in Berkeley, California, was founded in 1973, dedicated to training clairvoyant readers and healers.  In the mid 70's an Institute graduate moved to the Mendocino coast and began giving readings and classes.  I took a few classes, and demonstrated to myself that any complete theory of the world had to include a psychic component, even though I wasn't drawn to becoming a reader or healer.  However, a good friend of mine did pursue that path.  She had deep sensitivity, which she experienced as disturbing nightmares before she encountered the psychic framework of life.  She has been making her living as a medical intuitive for almost half a century.

            The advent of quantum mechanics pushed consciousness front and center in the world of physics.  The act of observing affects what is observed, opening the door for considering that the ground of reality is not matter, but consciousness.  Non-locality, the transcendence of space and time, is now well demonstrated for both matter and consciousness, despite appearances to the contrary.  This truth challenges our traditional view of reality.  Even though hardware based in quantum physics (such as nuclear weapons, computers, lasers, LED's, and solar panels) repeatedly validates the theory, and has radically transformed our society, we still live in a culture of obsolete Newtonian billiard ball thinking.   

            Every individual has access to non-local consciousness, which we experience as empathy, intuition and inspiration.  This is intensely personal, completely independent of outside control, despite centuries of religious and cultural structures which teach we are all separate.  One of the ways to understand the social upheaval of our times is to see we are awakening from that illusion, beginning to experience our fundamental connection.  This is frightening to people who want to be told what to believe, or have gathered fortune and power by telling others what to believe.  But that world is falling apart as more people feel their innate connection with life.