This site has autism forums, aspergers forums, autism chat room, articles and lots of information in the autism wiki. Anyone can join, and members of the autism parents community are welcome.
Aspies for Freedom began in June 2004. We have the view that aspergers and autism are not negative, and are not always a disability. This was a new concept to many people, but since we started the idea has spread further and now we are joined by many people who share the same positive view. It was called Aspies for freedom as the founders were all aspies, though the group is for anyone with autism, asperger's or any spectrum condition. We know that autism is not a disease, and we oppose any attempts to "cure" someone of an autism spectrum condition, or any attempts to make them 'normal' against their will. We are part of building the autism culture. We aim to strengthen autism rights, oppose all forms of discrimination against aspies and auties, and work to bring the community together both online and offline.
invites you to ask and answer questions covering social themes of global significance. When you ask in order to understand, when you answer in order to share, this is what we mean by dropping knowledge.
The philosopher (1595-1650) Rene Descartes - the father of Rational Philosophy - had been inadvertently responsible for what the military calls "collateral damage" to spiritual development in the Western World. In the service of fledgling science he had declared that there was a total separation between mind and matter; between mental conception and its physical manifestation. Although this is an over simplified statement of his theory it is a deadly accurate assessment of its effect. Although his construct allowed for advances in engineering, the divinely inspired human imagination - the greatest creative force in the universe - had been relegated to the importance of childhood day-dreaming!
(This article was originally written for the LFP-era magazine Sci-Fi Universe. After it was published there, a revised version was housed online at the now-defunct CrashSite. Here, pretty much, is the original SFU text. — Jay)
INVISIBLE(S) MAN
Or, Grant Morrison: The Man With the Post-Hypnotic Trigger Finger on the Throbbing Pulse of a Millennium-Long Battle for Control of Your Mind
by Jay Babcock
“The idea of comics is like sitting in front of your TV with a channel changer… Perception is a cut-up,” Grant Morrison said once.
Ghatshila (Jharkhand), June 21 (ANI): Tribals in Jharkhand have started living on tree tops to escape from the increasing menace of elephants ravaging their houses.
Did Wilhelm Reich have an early handle on the very life energy that is constantly manifesting its patterns on earth, in our daily lives in such obvious places as the weather?
Reich was a respected analyst for much of his life, focusing on character structure, rather than on individual neurotic symptoms.[1] He promoted adolescent sexuality, the availability of contraceptives and abortion, and the importance for women of economic independence. Synthesizing material from psychoanalysis, cultural anthropology, economics, sociology, and ethics, his work influenced writers such as Alexander Lowen, Fritz Perls, Paul Goodman, Saul Bellow, Norman Mailer, A. S. Neill, and William Burroughs.[2]
He was also a controversial figure, who came to be viewed by the psychoanalytic establishment as having gone astray or as having succumbed to mental illness. His work on the link between human sexuality and neuroses emphasized "orgastic potency" as the foremost criterion for psycho-physical health. He said he had discovered a form of energy, which he called "orgone," that permeated the atmosphere and all living matter, and he built "orgone accumulators," which his patients sat inside to harness the energy for its reputed health benefits. It was this work, in particular, that cemented the rift between Reich and the psychoanalytic establishment.[3]
Reich, of Jewish descent and a communist, was living in Germany when Adolf Hitler came to power. He fled to Scandinavia in 1933 and subsequently to the United States in 1939, by which time he had become an ardent anti-communist. In 1947, following a series of critical articles about orgone and his political views in The New Republic and Harper's,[4] the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began an investigation into his claims, winning an injunction against the interstate sale of orgone accumulators. Charged with contempt of court for violating the injunction, Reich conducted his own defense, which involved sending the judge all his books to read, and arguing that a court was no place to decide matters of science. He was sentenced to two years in prison, and in August 1956, several tons of his publications were burned by the FDA.[5] He died of heart failure in jail just over a year later, days before he was due to apply for parole.[6]
When planets are named, there seems to be a mysterious and synchronistic (a la Carl Jung) correlation that mirrors its symbolism in the world and our lives. For example, when Uranus was discovered, there was also the discovery of electricity and the French and American Revolutions, both of which deeply connect into the Uranian archetype and forever changed our lives. With Pluto’s discovery, the world fairly soon was in World Wars, atomic bombs, Hitler and all of those wonderfully dark Hades Plutonian energies. With Chiron, the archetype of “the wounded healer” we have a strong appearance of mind/body healing, homeopathy and other divinatory and multidimensional perceptual skills, which are represented within the Chiron archetype.
Time and a bit of hindsight will make things clear, but for now one can’t help noticing that the Goddess of Strife and chaos certainly seems to reflect the state of the world today. We live in a very bloody and chaotic world. Just as Eris was said to take delight in stirring up discord, many of our world leaders seem to be her embodiment.
As Philip Sedgwick recently pointed out, one of the etymological references for Eris is “Things You Know Not Of”. Eris is a trans-plutonian entity!! Very hidden, very deep. Perhaps part of our current chaos is the deep and hidden brewings that need to come into our consciousness now so that we can more creatively and positively work with conflict.
In the Aug/Sept issue of Mountain Astrologer 2006, Maurice Fernandez wrote in his article Crazy Wisdom that "The bottom line for the latter half of 2006 is that anarchy may be necessary; Neptune is such an overwhelming and humbling force that it often paralyzes egocentric control. Since Neptune represents mass effect, collective consciousness, and the forces of nature, it does not leave much scope for power trippers or control freaks...These transits suggest a fantastic opportunity to clear out many obsolete concepts and restrictive approaches...Creation will occur through chaos....”
This is an interesting correlation to Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson’s The Illuminatus! Trilogy where the goddess Eris plays a minor role within the anarchist faction and “good guys”…if I’m remembering correctly. I am going back to read it, but here is a TEXT POPUP for Illuminatus!: And, behold, thusly was the Law formulated: Imposition of Order = Escalation of Chaos! -The Gospel According to Fred
After this (according to Timothy Leary “seminal work”) there came the subsequent Discordia philosophical spin-offs, who worship Eris as their embodiment of anarchy and chaos. A positive manifestation of the Eris Principia Discordia concept might be The Eris Society.
This cloth patch has some connection with NASA, is rare, 3.5 inches in diameter, and clearly intended to be placed on the arm of a uniform. That's all we know….
June 21 (26 Confusion): Imaginary Friend/Captain Tuttle Day (ED)/(MH). Recognize and credit your imaginary friend, whom you blame for everything on all the other days of the year. Or help someone anonymously, but in a way they’d never expect. (“Captain Tuttle” was the made- up buddy of Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce and “Trapper John” McIntire on the TV show “M*A*S*H.” They used the mythical captain’s identity to get supplies and funds from the U. S. Military which were then sent to help an orphanage).
Kitsune(狐,Kitsune? IPA: [kitsɯne])(Pronunciation)(help·info) is the Japanese word for fox. Foxes are a common subject of Japanese folklore. Stories depict them as intelligent beings and as possessing magical abilities that increase with their age and wisdom. Foremost among these is the ability to assume human form. While some folktales speak of kitsune employing this ability to trick others — as foxes in folklore often do — others portray them as faithful guardians, friends, lovers, and wives.
Foxes and human beings lived in close proximity in ancient Japan; this companionship gave rise to legends about the creatures. Kitsune have become closely associated with Inari, a Shintokami or spirit, and serve as his messengers. This role has reinforced the fox's supernatural significance. The more tails a kitsune has — they may have as many as nine — the older, wiser, and more powerful it is. Because of their potential power and influence, some people make offerings to them as to a deity.
Welcome to The Kitsune Page! You'll find information on foxes, fox mythology, and particularly Japanese fox mythology here. Browse and enjoy, but please respect the work we've put into this page and link rather than copy, if possible.
To the ancient Egyptians Nut (Nuit) was the personification of the sky (originally she was a goddess of just the sky at day, where the clouds formed) and the heavens. She was believed to be the daughter of the gods Shu and Tefnut, the granddaughter of the sun god Ra. Her husband was also her brother, Geb. She was thought to be the mother of five children on the five extra days of the Egyptian calendar, won by Thoth - Osiris who was born on the first day, Horus the Elder on the second, Set on the third, Isis on the fourth, and Nephthys the last born on the fifth day. The days on which these deities were born were known as the 'five epagomenal days of the year', and they were celebrated all over Egypt:
Deep Listening Institute, Ltd. fosters a unique approach to music, literature, art and meditation, and promotes innovation among artists and audience in creating, performing, recording and educating with a global perspective.
What is Deep Listening?
Deep Listening® is a philosophy and practice developed by Pauline Oliveros that distinguishes the difference between the involuntary nature of hearing and the voluntary selective nature of listening. The result of the practice cultivates appreciation of sounds on a heightened level, expanding the potential for connection and interaction with one's environment, technology and performance with others in music and related arts.
The practice of Deep Listening provides a framework for artistic collaboration and musical improvisation and gives composers, performers, artists of other disciplines, and audiences new tools to explore and interact with environmental and instrumental sounds.
The Deep Listening Institute fosters creativity in artists of all ages and levels of artistic development by holding workshops and retreats; performing and publishing new work; and developing new performance technologies.
THE HOLY FOOL: The Third member of the Triad -some musings by: the Bard
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"Remember, the Moon is only half as big as the Earth, but it's twice as far away." -Anonymous *
After some time musing on the concept of Goddess/God that is common in Wiccan (and most Neo-Pagan groups) and seeing the common theme of "things come in threes" in these belief systems, I fell to wondering "Why only the God and Goddess? If all things come in threes, where is the Third Aspect that should be there?"
So what is this Third Aspect? I feel it is the Holy Fool; the Prometheus who is the Trickster, the God (neuter) that rolls the dice. This also fills in certain holes in neo-Pagan Theology that have bothered me for some time, too.
First, we need to have a quick look at the Holy Fool in religious and/or cultural beliefs, both primitive and modern:
American Indian: Aztec: Ueuecoyotl Caddo: Coyote Chinook: Coyote Coos: Coyote Haida: Raven Hopi: Mudhead Kachina, Clown Kachina Kiowa: Coyote Navaho: Coyote Nez Perce: Coyote Omaha: Coyote, Rabbit, Iktinike, Orphan Pueblo: Koshare Sioux: Spider Tillamook: Coyote Tinglit: Raven Winnebago: Rabbit Zuni: Coyote African: Spider, Tortoise, Rabbit, Jackal Graeco/Roman: Pan, Dionysis Celtic: Phooka and the like (see Irish: Fear Dearg, and a host of others. The Fool must love Ireland very much...He made so many of Itself there!) Norse: Loki...-and- Balder Banks Island: Clat Micronesia: Nareau England: Puck, Black Jack Davy Christianity: "Doubting" Thomas, and The Christ Himself, in many ways....and Judas, too. 20th Cent. North American: Bugs Bunny, The Joker, Mr. Mxyzpltk, Murphy, ("And Pooh is a -good- example, too!" said Eeyore)
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Neo-Paganism: Discordians 18th thru 20th Cent. Appalachian: Jack (from British Isles) 18th and 19th Cent. N.A. Black: Br'er Rabbit, Long John, &c. German: Tyl Eulenspiegel Italy: Harlequin (check out Agatha Christie's stories about "Harley Quinn." VERY interesting!) Islamic: Juha, Abu Nawwas, Mullah Nasruddin, Nasreddin Khoja, Nasreddin Hodja Japanese: Fox, Hotei, and the whole concept of Zen......
And the many, many instances of the Hero figure and his Friend in most people's mythology....Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Robin Hood and Little John, the Mythic Hollywood Western Hero and his ridiculous sidekick, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.....and many times you see the recurrent theme of the Great Betrayal of the Hero, which leads to His death...and to His Resurrection!
One immediately sees that the Fool is a universal constant in folk belief, just as the Goddess and God are! (NB: I have not gotten more specific for two reasons: one, for
limitations of space, and two, to encourage others to do a little reading on their own!)
As most things, the Fool is Personified in three basic Aspects that (of course) overlap with each other and with the God and Goddess. The first is that of the Saviour God, the Prometheus, the Culture Hero, who brings Knowledge (and -occasionally- Wisdom) to Mankind. This Aspect loves Mankind with all His Being, and only wishes Good. His Good Intentions sometimes fall short of His (or Mankind's) expectations, however.
Thesecond isthat ofthe Clown,the Nerd,the Jerk,that teaches by his own mistakes (and who usually comes out ahead because of His own Innocence.) This Aspect is mostly neutral, and is how He seems to mostly manifest Himself.
Butletus notforget thethird,and darker,side oftheFool, best exemplified by Jack Nicholson's portrayal of The Joker in the film version of "Batman." Just as the Goddess has Her Dark side (the Crone, the Morrigan, &c) and the God has His (Odin as Death-God) so does the Fool have a terrifying Aspect (at least, from the human point of view): Chaos Personified.
This is not an Aspect to invoke, as It does not care. Period. It is the ultimate psychopath, the ultimate Spoiled Brat, the quintessence of Ego-centric self-love. In some circles, it could be quite nicely named Ahriman, or Shaitan, or Satan, because it fits all concepts of that Middle-Eastern deity....except one: It does not care if Man worships It or not. It is not in -conflict- with the God and/or Goddess, It is -not- on the kind of power-trip that the Judeo-Christian Satan is represented as having, it just -is-. It should be considered as neither "good" nor "evil," though it can personify both or either....or neither! This is confusing, but with a little thought the concept will (hopefully) come clear.
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(And, just in passing, the film version of "Batman" is perhaps a very good metaphor for the eternal struggle between the Fool-as-Prometheus (Batman) and the Fool-as-Chaos (the Joker).
Areyou confused? If youare, GOOD! If you arenot, keep thinking by not-thinking. (wha-a-a-a-a-t?)
Some of thebest examples ofthe three Personifications arefound in the Navaho and Zuni tales of Coyote, or the Br'er Rabbit tales, or the older Bugs Bunny cartoons, or even Walt Disney's Goofy. And, while speaking of classic animation, if you can see any of the cartoons of the Cannibal Boy and the Mynah Bird, do so! It shows not one, but TWO Aspects in action!
For a look at His more serious (?) side, try J.R.R. Tolkien's wonderful evocation of Tom Bombadil.....who is described as "the oldest." Prof. Tolkien came very close to the core of the truth with that one!
The Fool is your slightly daffy Uncle, that comes to visit at Christmas and is such fun to be with, but who seems to have a sadness about him too, that you found out later, when you were all grown up, was his slide into alcoholism. The Fool is the American sit-com "Daddy" who never seems to get anything right, but wins out in the end anyway. The Fool is the classic scene of Bugs Bunny, floating in a washtub in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, happily singing "As Time Goes By," blissfully uncaring about his obvious predicament...one which would send a human into sheer despair....knowing that something will turn up, some scam that he can pull that will get him out of the washtub and into clover again. The Fool is the Tarot's Fool, of course....but He is also the Hanged Man.
Do -not- invoke the Fool unless you are ready for literally ANYTHING to happen! He just might turn you into a Large Green Frog just to observe what happens......He is capricious. He is unpredictable. He is what He is, and nothing you can do will turn Him from His Purpose, whatever that may be at any given moment. He is "Murphy," and whatever can go wrong, WILL go wrong...or right. Unless you have an uncommonly flexible mind, you -might- not be able to handle it!
He has no Festival, unless it is the Lupercal, or perhaps April Fool's Day, or even New Year's Eve, for every day is His, as He chooses. Some have inquired about the seeming overlap of functions in the Goddess/God/Fool triad, and this should be addressed here. The modern Western mind tends to "pigeonhole" things, and rigidly excludes other things from these pigeonholes. This, I feel, is in some ways an error in thinking, especially about the Triad.
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One cannot and should not "compartmentalize" the God/Fool/Goddess into three rigidly separate Beings, but rather think of them as three separate sources of ripples in the same Pond: the ripples interact and intersect, and act on each other, but move within the same Source, whatever That may be.
-the Bard at Samhain, 1990 CE
I wish I could list all of my sources, but if I did, it would add several pages to this text, and I am trying to keep it short. I -will- recommend reading one book, however, that will give a great insight into the Holy Fool:
CONTRARIWISE Zohra Greenhalgh, Ace (paperback) April 1989 0-441-117112-2 (it has a sequel, but I can't remember the title offhand....)
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"Rimble, Rimble!"
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Permission is granted to reprint this article, both in electronic and in print. Any copy of this article must include the WHOLE article, and any comments should be sent net-mail to "the Bard" at FIDOnet 1:114/29 (602) 439-7080. Copies of any printed reproduction of this article should be forwarded to "the Bard" c/o DEUS EX MACHINA BBS, PO Box 35190, PHOENIX, AZ 85069. Thanks!
This month’s Believer documents a strange case from Hungary of audio-kinetic synaesthesia. The subject, whenever he hears certain words, ‘sees’ them as discrete and definite actions or gestures.
Colour synaesthesia is more common: sounds or numbers are seen as distinct colours, and some estimates reckon that around 1 in 23 experience it.
And I just wonder if some of us suffer some kind of soul-synaesthesia. All these sounds, words and senses kick off an involuntary response in the spirit that wonders why and how, and wanders, in wonder…
All during the nineties I was a victim of psychosis. I lived the grace of madness several times and I see this as a gift of the Absolute. Psychosis brought me into contact with the universal force and truth that is both scourge and salvation and which together teach living individuals the lesson of their fate, their place as living spirits in the universe. Besides our body we also have a soul and a spirit, which I find a beautiful idea, as in Western alchemy with its triangle of sulphur, mercury and salt. Sulpher stands for the spirit, the divine inspiration, mercury represents the soul, the double element of water, emotion working together with reason, air. The material basis is salt, the crystal, the body with material and spiritual needs, both of which have to find their balance and seek their correct place. In my poems I have written many times that it is a bowl of soup that fills the stomach. It is a great challenge for everybody to have enough food and I am more than convinced that this goal can be realised if we all straighten our backs and look towards the silent universe and ask for our dignity. Even in the Kali-Yuga starvation is not a necessity. Our hunger in this age tends towards spirituality. The absurd emptiness of a global capitalist consumption society devours the divine love of our hearts. This civilisation of marketing and creation of needs is pointless and divides the brotherhood of mankind. The only thing we really know is that we all have a credit card towards eternity in our pocket. On this planet called Earth we live at least the permanent miracle of consciousness. This unlimited inner self in a borderless freedom that teaches each of us that we all are this cosmic manifestation. And the foundation of this is the Absolute, the infinite loveof all that is in good and evil. All we see and live is a divine miracle. Who looks for it with determination will find it and the revelation of beauty will be realised.
The Angel Tech class on the Maybe Logic Academy dealt with the 8 Circuit Model of the Mind. This model was first started by Timothy Leary, got expanded theoretically by Robert Anton Wilson. But it was Antero Alli who first elaborated practical exercizes to experience the different levels of awareness firsthand in his book "Angel Tech: A Modern Shaman's Guide to Reality Selection"
To the ancient Egyptians Nut (Nuit) was the personification of the sky (originally she was a goddess of just the sky at day, where the clouds formed) and the heavens. She was believed to be the daughter of the gods 
