Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast with Dominic Vallée

― Interview starts at 0:06:36 ―Folks, get ready for quite a ride as this episode is a very deep one! From coincidences to synchronicities, from ethics to meta-ethics, Sharon Hewitt Rawlette and I embark on a fascinating exploration of some of life's most mysterious workings. But fret not! As serious as these subjects can be, the tone remains playful throughout, making these 96 minutes flow by like a refreshing metaphysical breeze. *** ABOUT SHARON HEWITT RAWLETTE ***Sharon Hewitt Rawlette is a philosopher who explores consciousness, ethics, spirituality, and anomalous experiences, addressing her work to varied audiences. She holds a PhD from New York University with a focus on ethics, meta-ethics and the nature of value, and is also the founder of the Mind & Meaning Institute. Mostly through theoretical work, Sharon researches the intriguing realms of coincidences and synchronicities, as evidenced by her many books and essays, including her acclaimed work on life after death. Her diverse background, from academia to personal experiences in France and beyond, enriches her writing and research on deep existential questions.Find out more about Sharon's work at www.sharonrawlette.com.*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvallee❇️ Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557665457736Dominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

― Interview starts at 0:10:37 ―Is the world perfect as it is? How does one tell the pain of change from the pain of violence? Are your bowls clean? In this episode, we're joined by author and Zen monk Shozan Jack Haubner for what ended up being a festival of hardball questions, which he handled graciously.*** ABOUT JACK ***Shozan Jack Haubner's writing has won a Pushcart Prize and been published in The New York Times, Tricycle, The Sun, the Best Buddhist Writing Series, Lion's Roar and other publications. His first book, "Zen Confidential: Confessions of a Wayward Monk", was chosen as one of NPR's Best Books of 2013 and won an Independent Publisher Book Award. His latest book is "Single White Monk: Tales of Death, Failure, and Bad Sex (Although Not Necessarily in That Order)". He is the host of the popular YouTube channel Zen Confidential.Find out more about Jack's work at these links:Patreon: patreon.com/ShozanJackHaubnerYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@zenconfidential25"Zen Confidential" book: https://a.co/d/a7RXtqc"Single White Monk" book: https://a.co/d/3dDVMnV*** SHOW NOTES ***Sasaki RoshiRinzai ZenEnpuku-Ji Zen centre (Montreal)Taisen DeshimaruKendoMokuso (short meditation in kendo)Diamond Way BuddhismShambala buddhismSatoriRyōkan Taigu*** TIME STAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:05:57 Jack’s bio0:10:37 THEME + INTERVIEWS BEGINS0:11:23 The truth about Jack’s monk name0:16:06 Is the world perfect as it is?0:21:06 Can a Zen practice lead to nihilism?0:27:02 Being attached to the « heaven world »0:30:25 « ROSHI! WASH YOUR BOWLS! »0:32:02 Is monasticism escapism?0:39:12 Dedication VS obstination0:44:07 The container of the monastery0:53:11 Dominic’s experience with Zen0:59:32 Bifurcations on the spiritual path1:02:56 Anti-authorianism VS respect for a teacher1:06:12 A human then a mystic then a buddhist1:13:22 Becoming « truly » human and peak experiences1:18:19 How much time does awakening take?1:25:20 Sincerity1:28:14 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 : « It’s all a game »1:39:06 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvallee❇️ Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557665457736Dominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:08:43 —Some of the worst understood concepts in spirituality assuredly are notions of the shadow self, negative energy and the ego. Generally wrongfully labelled "evil", these facets of ourselves often are hidden by our preconceived ideas when in fact, revealing their presence within us can be one of our most enlightening endeavours. In this show, Maja D'Aoust offers ideas and tools for this dark exploration, including "shadow astrology", which is the subject of her latest book.*** ABOUT MAJA ***Maja is a practicing witch and published scholar of alchemy and occult lore with an interest in the esoteric arts that spans her entire lifetime. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, Maja studied Oriental Medicine and acupuncture, later receiving her master's degree in transformational psychology. Her master’s thesis focused on Shamanism, the I Ching and ancestors. Maja was the librarian at the Philosophical Research Society, founded by Manly P. Hall, for eleven years, where she taught courses on Alchemy. Maja lectures occasionally on mysterious topics in Los Angeles.Find out more about Maja's work:Main website: http://www.witchofthedawn.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrPeeweerulesNew book - Astrology of the Shadow Self: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/astrology-of-the-shadow-self-maja-daoust/1143792921?ean=9781644119174*** SOME SHOW NOTES ***Carl Jung: Shadow SelfWiccan Hidden Self The goddess KaliDion FortuneDion Fortune’s quote: « The uninstructed person thinks he is developing psychism when he sees elves, archangels, and elementals with the inner eye. The instructed person knows that he is using a technique of the imagination in order to clothe with visible form intangible things that would otherwise be imperceptible to his consciousness. » Hopscotch Chronicles episode 4: Ian DuncanPaul Reubens*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:05:49 Maja’s bio0:08:43 THEME + INTERVIEW BEGINS0:17:25 Darker aspects of THE QUEST and the EGO0:23:58 The Shadow Self0:38:18 Maja's book: Astrology of the Shadow Self0:43:31 Understanding the concept of opposition0:49:33 Astrology as a tool for self-knowledge and Shadow charts0:57:39 Maja's visual arts1:02:00 The Divine Feminine, negative energy and destruction1:14:26 Calibration and boundaries1:18:33 Disincarnate sentiences and « consciousness ecosystems »1:34:19 Connecting with disincarnate sentiences1:40:53 The I Ching is a dragon1:43:15 The HARDEST question of this show1:46:35 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

- Main topic begins at 0:08:22 -Are mysticism and spiritual matters less important in times of chaos? Or are they actually, by themselves, a potent form of activism? In this admittedly long and convoluted episode, we explore the various ways in which mystics make the world better without aiming for specific changes.*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:09:42 —I can't help but wonder: have philosopher William James and punk band Dead Kennedys ever been mentioned in one same interview? Well, they have now! On this show, Mitch Horowitz presents us with a plethora of ideas to seriously consider on the seeker's path of spiritual growth.*** ABOUT MITCH ***Mitch Horowitz, a distinguished historian of alternative spirituality, is renowned for his erudite exploration of esoterica, mysticism, and the occult. Through his work, Horowitz not only delves into outsider history, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary life, but also advocates for the enduring pursuit of human empowerment. A PEN Award-winning author of many book and a prolific lecturer, he has many times answered the call to discuss the seeker’s path on many platforms, from the most obscure (like this one) to the most mainstream. And to top it all off, maybe his crowning achievement; Mitch Horowitz is currently censored in China.Find out more about Mitch's work:Main website: https://www.mitchhorowitz.comTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/MitchHorowitzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchhorowitz23/YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@mitchhorowitz6054*** SHOW NOTES ***Dead Kennedys: Holiday in CambodiaCarlos CastañedaPaul FeyerabendWilliam JamesMullah NasruddinHenry A. WallaceAnnie Marquier’s book: The Power of Free-WillVernon HowardNeville GoddardMitch’s talk on The Miracle Club at the Philosophical Research SocietyWilliam Wordsworth’s poem: Character of the Happy WarriorMitch’s course: Icons of Modern EsotericaMitch’s introductory talk about the course: Occultism as Philosophy*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:04:55 Mitch's bio0:09:42 THEME + INTERVIEW BEGINS0:11:00 Punk: Mitch’s history and link with mysticism0:16:02 Mitch’s impressions on Hopscotch Chronicles0:17:42 Differences between occultism and mysticism0:19:48 Mitch on « enlightenment »0:26:44 Yoga of the intellect and parapsychology0:30:17 The inevitability of spiritual growth0:34:34 Knowing oneself and following affinity 0:44:39 Humanity’s history « the gods »0:52:07 Mitch's work impact on Dominic0:55:44 Mitch on the necessary generalizations of language1:00:26 Evaluating people before their thoughts1:09:22 Keeping the search simple1:17:21 Neville VS Vernon - MY will VS THY will1:19:00 How does a future with AI look for the seeker?1:27:25 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:07:26 —From the terrestrial to the divine, from counterculture to the mystic's path, this episode's overarching theme is all about spiritual expansion, elevation, transcendance. Of course we talked about Ronnie Pontiac's mentor, namely the great Manly P. Hall, but we also went into a subject that's close to my heart: the essence of Punk and DIY philosophies as expressed through mysticism. That... plus archetypes, the Orphic hymns, astrology and the gods. *** ABOUT RONNIE ***Ronnie Pontiac is a writer, musician and documentary producer currently residing in Los Angeles. He is known among other things for having been the personal research assistant and designated substitute lecturer for the well-known author, lecturer and mystic, Manly P. Hall. He has written many articles for several esoteric magazines and is also the author of American Metaphysical Religion, as well as, more recently, The Magic of the Orphic Hymns, co-authored with his wife Tamra Lucid. Additionally, Ronnie and Tamra are the founding members of experimental rock band Lucid Nation still active since its formation in the 90s.Find Ronnie at these links:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIbjuKPFuC5athEotcmTqTwFacebook https://www.facebook.com/ronnie.pontiacInstagram https://www.instagram.com/theronniepontiac/Threads https://www.threads.net/theronniepontiac*** SHOW NOTES ***Ronnie’s Golden Flower interview on New Thinking AllowedManly P. HallMia Zapata - The Gits documentaryCuban Hip Hop duo - Viva Cuba Libre documentaryRonnie Pontiac: America Metaphysical ReligionTamra Lucid and Ronnie Pontiac: The Magic of the Orphic HymnsD.I.Y., or do-it-yourselfThe Philosophical Research SocietyRiot Grrrl movementTamra LucidEliphas LeviSpitboy (band)Food Not BombsEnd of the Line - The Women of Standing Rock (movie)Exile Nation: The Plastic People (movie)Tamra Lucid’s book: Making the Ordinary ExtraordinarySekhmetHymn to Atum (disk of the sun)OrpheusMarsilio FicinoCocteau’s Orpheus movieHelena Petrovna BlavatskyPlotinusWalking meditation: Kinhin*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:04:30 Ronnie’s bio0:07:26 THEME + INTERVIEW BEGINS0:09:22 Ronnie presents himself and his work0:24:16 The true impact of DIY inspired ventures0:30:40 Connecting Punk-DIY and mysticism0:41:56 The origins of DIY (in spirituality)0:47:29 Followers of Orpheus0:53:56 The will of the gods1:01:36 The path that’s most alive1:10:47 Planetary energies1:21:40 The ever-changing conditions of the moment1:29:41 Maintaining the meditative state and synchronicities1:34:29 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:09:30 —This week, I'm having the great honour of exchanging thoughts with an artist who has participated in the shaping of 90s western culture through music: Jill Emery, musician and painter extraordinaire. She is perhaps mostly known for being part of the band Hole (yes, the one led by Courtney Love), as well as of Mazzy Star, among many other seminal acts. As you'll see, she came out of the intense grunge era days with a lively and colourful presence, both humble and strong, and expressing her spirituality through both her paintings and inquisitive mind. *** ABOUT JILL ***Jill Emery is an accomplished American musician, recognized for her significant contributions to the alternative and indie rock scenes of the 90s. Most notably, she was an early member of the band Hole (alongside Courtney Love), and subsequently was part of the dreamy rock sound of Mazzy Star, but also contributed to other impactful music acts such as Super Heroines and Shadow Project. Jill currently resides in Palm Springs, California and is now fully devoted to her passion for visual arts and painting. To find more about Jill's work:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sallygotsthe/Etsy - https://www.etsy.com/shop/sallygotsthe*** SHOW NOTES ***Gordon White’s Rune Soup podcastSuper Heroines (band)Hole (band)Exene Cervenka (from the band X)Mazzy Star (band)Courtney Love (Hole)Soudgarden: Fell on Black DaysAleister Crowley’s definition of magicAlan Moore about magic(k) *** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:07:39 Jill’s bio0:09:30 INTERVIEW BEGINS1:24:48 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:06:45 —Could our dreams actually be pieces of our future getting imprinted in our functional memory? Could synchronicities be due to precognition rather than some sort of « metaphysical messaging »? Are you sure you only exist as a story carved in the past and as a focal point on an illusive present? Dr Eric Wargo joins us in this episode to blow the lid off of our most tightly held convictions about the passage of time.*** ABOUT ERIC ***Eric Wargo is a Washington DC-based science writer with a PhD in Anthropology from Emory University. His professional journey includes collaborating with various organizations and government institutes, engaging in research spanning archaeology, psychology, and neuroscience. Additionally, Eric works as a science writer and editor. He his recognized for his acclaimed book, "Time Loops », as well as for his most recent published effort « Precognitive Dreamwork and the Long Self ». Dr Wargo also writes about science fiction, consciousness, and parapsychology on his well-received blog, The Nightshirt.Where to find Eric’s work: Time Loops on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Loops-Precognition-Retrocausation-Unconscious/dp/1938398920 Precognitive Dreamwork and the Long Self on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Precognitive-Dreamwork-Long-Self-Interpreting/dp/1644112698 The Nightshirt blog: http://www.thenightshirt.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/thenightshirt *** SHOW NOTES ***Eric’s book Time LoopsFreud’s psychoanalytic theoryFreud’s « Iceberg » theory of the unconsciousEric Wargo’s book Precognitive Dreamwork and the Long SelfSocial psychologist Daryl J. BemCarl Jung, Synchronicity: An Acausal Connecting PrincipleRemote viewingDark (TV series)*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:04:45 Eric’s Bio0:06:45 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:08:05 Eric presents himself and his work0:16:55 The limits of experimental psychology0:25:47 Dominic’s « synchronicity » induced by Eric’s book0:30:30 Synchronicity… or precognition?0:36:45 The « long self » holds the meaning 0:43:00 A theory of « mind blowing » as a growth mechanism0:48:57 Beacons of light in the imaginal realm0:59:45 Dreams are about making new memories1:03:52 Domi’s recent precognitive dream experience1:12:26 Eric's response to Domi’s dream (and a dream of his own)1:18:20 Domi's intriguing (and funny) Flintstones dream1:20:37 Eric's response and some words about inspiration1:29:05 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:08:15 —Owls and UFOs: Two powerful archetypes, one ancient and one rooted in popular culture, and seemingly more linked together than one could readily believe. Not only that, but according to this week’s fascinating guest, both often appear instrumental in a tremendous amount of « awakening experiences » recounted by a variety of seekers and everyday people. Come sit with Mike Clelland (@mikeclellandmc) and I around the imaginal camp fire for this bewildering chat.PS: I even got to tell my own (possible) UFO encounter! *** About GUEST ***Although Mike Clelland is an expert in skiing, climbing, mountain travel and ultralight backpacking, as well as being a talented professional illustrator, today we’re talking the author, the researcher and more specifically, the seeker. Among the many books he’s written, his 2015 effort called The Messengers in which the mysterious connection between owls, synchronicities and UFO abductions is explored, has been met with high praise. To this day Mike has collected thousands of accounts of people’s anomalous events, as well as sharing his own transformative experiences, and for many years now has been recognized as an expert in this field. More recently, Mike Clelland has published a first fiction novel, a paranormal thriller titled The Unseen, which has already gathered a large amount of great reviews.Although he’s lived for many years in the Rockies, Mike joins us today from his home in Seattle.Find everything about Mike’s work on his website:https://mikeclelland.com/*** Show notes ***Mike’s podcast(s)Richard DolanWhitley StrieberDr Kirby Surprise: SynchronicityJacquelin SmithThe back of Mike’s bedroom door*** Time Stamps ***0:00:00 INTRO0:04:25 Mike’s bio0:08:15 Theme and interview start0:10:57 Mike tells us about him and his work0:25:55 Dominic’s UFO sighting0:32:39 Mike comments with other Montreal UFO stories0:36:50 « Mysticism » and highly charged human experiences0:42:43 A visit from Bibi the very affectionate cat0:43:25 Two fascinating owl stories0:48:55 « Being tricked »: trust and doubt0:53:02 The language of symbols, dreams and synchronicities0:59:47 Mirror-like reality and archetypes1:07:10 « Them », « the others » and free will1:26:35 Lived experiences and self-validation1:31:07 Dominic is a depressed blue skinned Arcturian1:39:41 Mike's response and comments on depression1:49:29 Do people grow from their owl+ufo experiences?1:59:31 Dominic's cute little owl sync, preparing for the show2:03:15 Wrapping up and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

— Interview starts at 0:10:07 —Back with another fascinating discussion, this time with Dr Paul J. Leslie, psychotherapist and all around amazing guy. Join us for this joyous chat in which we address the importance of creativity in therapy sessions, tricks and tips for self-knowledge and finding one’s « acorn » (as psychologist James Hillman would say).*** ABOUT PAUL ***Dr. Paul J. Leslie is a psychotherapist, researcher, trainer, and author in Aiken, South Carolina. Paul has a doctorate in Counseling Psychology, is a National Board Certified Fellow in Hypnotherapy, and is presently the coordinator of the psychology program at Aiken Technical College. He has authored nine books on such topics as transformative psychotherapy, healing, and personal development. Paul is a popular trainer in the areas of solution-based therapies, Ericksonian hypnosis, and creative therapy applications.For more infos, visit Dr Leslie’s website: http://www.drpaulleslie.com/*** SHOW NOTES ***Milton H. EricksonInterview with Paul about Ericksonian therapyJoseph Campbell - Hero’s JourneyByron KatieJames Hillman - The Soul's Code: In Search of Character and CallingJeffrey MishloveJohann HariBruce K. Alexander’s « rat parks » experimentViktor Frankl’s logotherapy*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:08:04 Dr. Paul J. Leslie’s BIO0:10:07 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:11:37 Paul’s approach to psychotherapy0:16:17 Some words about Ericksonian therapy0:23:15 Being open to new experiences0:30:22 Self-knowledge VS diagnosis0:40:22 Notions of health in a sick society0:52:41 The pain of transformation VS harmful pain0:57:03 Adjusting to a rapidly changing world1:02:07 Finding our « acorn » (A James Hillman reference)1:09:54 Seeing our own preconceived ideas of who we should be1:21:22 Finding and creating meaning1:31:04 Wrapping up and Goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

To start off the year and before going back to the interviews, Dominic shares his thoughts about his journey through depression, itself exacerbated by Grunge era music and aesthetics. He also reads a puzzle-like poem ―A Transmutative Call to the Gen X Mystics ― which expresses his emancipation from the nihilistic grasp of those days, and the resulting sense of peace and maturity.*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

In this dense and fascinating discussion, James Tunney adroitly makes the case for the dangers of post-humanism, its foundations and origins, thus advocating for a much needed spiritual evolution. James is joining us from his home in Sweden, under John Dee’s watchful eye, to gift us with a glimpse inside his perennialist mind.*** ABOUT JAMES ***James Tunney left a career in law to explore art and spirituality. He now concentrates on explaining or advocating for spiritual evolution in the face of an attack on humanity itself not least by technology.To find out about all of James’ work:www.jamestunney.com*** STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT ***John Dee’s Monas HieroglyphicaThe t-shirt I was wearing during the Foolish Fish episodeJames Tunney, links to all interviewsGünther Anders, the Promethean ShameLewis Mumford, the MegamachineIvan Illich, Tools For ConvivialityJacques EllulBernard CharbonneauJD Bernal, The World, the Flesh and the DevilThomas Henry Huxley, AgnosticismT.H. Huxley’s X ClubFrancis Bacon’s essay Of PlantationDebashish Banerji on PosthumanismDouglas Batchelor HCP interviewFoolish Fish HCP interviewOur Lady of La Salette (a Marian Apparition)James Tunney, The Mystical AccordJames Tunney, Plantation of the AutomatonsDylan Thomas, The force that through the green fuse drives the flowerFrank and Seán O’Meara, GraceCS Lewis, Till We Have Faces*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:08:56 James Tunney’s bio0:10:49 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:13:29 A quote on an old Post-It note sets the tone0:15:14 An attempt at a « traditional first question »0:18:39 James’ commitment to mysticism: a spiritual revolution is needed0:28:04 Drawing the line on the technology spectrum0:44:51 Expanding on posthumanism…0:59:16 … and Prometheanism1:01:46 Dominic… DEE?1:05:04 James' views on Perennialism1:15:29 Dominic rambles incoherently about being a recovering non-dualist1:19:45 James patiently responds to Dominic’s ramblings1:31:14 Incarnating the Light and finding one’s voice1:43:34 Winding down1:47:14 Ending statement and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_vallee❇️ Patreon: patreon.com/dominicvalleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLEE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

This time, magician Denis Poisson (aka Foolish Fish) sits with me from his home in Poland to discuss his adventures in applied mysticism and spirituality. In this lively chat, we address a wide array of subjects including perennialism, DIY in magical practices and the (free?) will of the gods.*** ABOUT DENIS ***Denis Poisson is the host of the Foolish Fish Youtube channel.The majority of his content revolves around reviews and previews of books for the modern, practicing esotericist and occultist, but once a fortnight, he creates a short lesson designed to simplify an esoteric concept, introducing his viewers to new ideas, and maps of the spiritual experience, scouting the edges of commonly accepted tropes and dogma to work out what’s really going on out there because Denis Poissons’ core passion is helping others see past the maps and the words and rules and the prescriptions, and apprehend firsthand the divine ground of which we are both a part and the whole.The YouTube channel became very popular after Denis shared an account of a very strange experience that forced him to radically reassess his assumptions about the fixed, objective nature of the Universe, and instead embrace the possibility that the material world arises within the mind, and not mind out of matter. After studying the main world religions from an experiential perspective to better understand the vocabulary that people have traditionally used to describe these numinous experiences, Denis Poisson embarked on a career as a teacher of "Religion Studies" in the South East of England where he was employed as a World Religions specialist.After 10 years he relocated with his family to central Poland where a career change freed up enough spare time and resources to start up a YouTube channel where he could continue teaching with the freedom to delve more deeply into the esoteric, experiential aspects of spiritual encounters and activities which are his passion.The Foolish Fish Discord chat server, which he maintains along with a group of dedicated, passionate admins, has also been an enormous success, growing to encompass most aspects of Magic and Esotericism that might be relevant to any explorer.Denis Poisson's relevant links:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FoolishFishBooksPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/foolishfishPrivate Consultations: https://foolishfish.simplybook.itHidden Paths (my book): https://www.blackletter-press.com/product-page/denis-poisson-hidden-paths*** SHOW NOTES LINKS ***Foolish Fish « What is Magic? » videoYamaha CS-80Foolish Fish « A Problem With My Religion - (in defense of Perennialism) » videoAldous Huxley’s The Perennial PhilosophyFrater Acher’s Holy DaimonFoolish Fish « 30 minute Mind Expansion » videoFoolish Fish « Something Very Strange Happened To Me » video*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 INTRO0:07:53 Denis Poisson’s bio0:09:56 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:16:21 Denis (the magician)’s adventures in perennialism0:28:26 Magic as applied mysticism and adapting one’s practice0:39:51 More comments on « bringing our own flavour » to magic0:45:27 Do the gods change their minds?1:03:01 The Holy Guardian Angel VS Non-dualism: a convoluted question1:10:11 The Holy Guardian Angel VS Non-dualism: a Denis’ perfect answer1:23:15 Dominic’s strange story: the possessed dog and the 5$ bill1:29:54 Denis wisely keeps from finding an explanation to the story1:34:11 The book that wasn’t to be thrown away1:38:51 Where to find Denis, aka Foolish Fish’s work1:44:10 Goodbyes

In this friendly exchange, Douglas Batchelor tells us about his personal views on magic and a bit on his personal practices. We also explore the notion of (free?) will, its place in magical application and in discarnate entities. Plus, Douglas recounts his "scrying using an iPad's screen" experience!*** ABOUT DOUGLAS ***Mostly known for being the creator and the host of the What Magic is This? podcast, Douglas Batchelor has been practicing magic for the last 20 years. Although his personal practices are centred in, quote, « goetic, necromantic nigromancy, with flourishes of greco-egyptian shenanigans », his passion and enthusiasm for all things magical are perfectly illustrated by the wide array of topics and guests appearing on his show.To learn more about Douglas’ work: www.whatmagicisthis.com*** STUFF MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ***Eric Wargo’s book Time LoopsGary Lachman’s book Dreaming Ahead of TimeWhat Magic Is This? episode on ParacelsusThe Emerald  Podcast*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 Introduction0:07:36 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:11:03 Philosophical blockage in magic0:19:32 Dominic: A moral grounding for the practice0:22:57 Can magic be a « tool » for self-knowledge?0:28:38 « Getting paid and getting laid » VS « meeting the Holy guardian angel »0:32:37 Enchanting one’s life0:34:08 What kind of magician is Douglas?0:40:06 « What actually do you do? »0:42:16 Mystics and seekers0:47:43 Following the flow of Nature0:49:43 (Free?) will and magic1:03:06 Discarnate entities: complex and sentient, or ideas and archetypes1:15:40 Black mirrors and Douglas using an iPad to do scrying1:25:21 Greco-Egyptian magic and advice for starting in magic1:30:33 The least professional ending of a podcast ever*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_valleeDominic's book:ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLÉE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

In this episode, Ian Duncan and I discuss interfacing with the human realm on the mystical path. Ian also shares his visions on not-so-free will as a result of patterns, expanding outside of Daoism and the role of a spiritual teacher.*** About Ian ***Ian Duncan is a mystic, spiritual alchemist, and Daoist Priest.He transmits essential perspectives and methods direct from Source, informed by deep study in the Dao and Dzogchen, and accomplishment in Inner Alchemy.Ian’s directly channelled sources include Ascended Masters in the Daoist tradition, the Celestial Worthy of the Numinous Treasure, and Thoth.To learn more about Ian’s work: www.completereality.org*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 Introduction0:04:57 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:07:10 A day in the life of Ian Duncan0:14:37 Ian’s teaching activities0:18:32 A surprise visit from Thoth (alchemy and hermeticism)0:25:02 What is an entity? Do they have free will?0:36:22 Dominic: The difference between reality and Truth0:41:42 « The truth of what is really real »: the Radian Emptiness0:47:27 From nihilism to the generative impulse0:51:45 Inhabiting paradox: can it be teached?0:59:11 Desperate times and supporting others1:06:57 The teacher pattern: hearing people’s experience1:16:29 Wrapping up1:21:24 Goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_valleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLEE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

Miguel Conner joins me on this episode for a discussion about gnosticism, the quest for meaning, the creative impulse and the subject of his upcoming book; the mystical side of Elvis Presley.*** About Miguel ***Gnostic scholar extraordinaire, Miguel Conner is mainly know for being the host of the popular podcast Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio. He is also a writer, author among other works of Voices of Gnosticism and a multiple novels. Miguel is the founder of the Virtual Alexandria Academy where he teaches modern and ancient gnosticism. Also recently, he has organized the Astro Gnosis conference, of which the second edition was presented this year of 2023.Find all about his work at www.thegodabovegod.com.*** TIMESTAMPS ***0:00:00 Introduction0:06:49 INTERVIEW BEGINS0:08:07 Miguel’s first podcasts0:09:04 How Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio started0:13:02 The push to create, meaning and patterns0:16:46 Doubt, nihilism and higher purpose0:21:39 Pitfalls of on the road to individuation0:25:49 Jumping in deep early in the podcast0:27:24 Gnosticism not leading to nihilism0:30:39 Were the Gnostics the 1st DIY punks?0:38:14 Talking about Elvis, the mystic0:44:29 « Broken » people becoming mystics (Elvis and Philip K. Dick)0:47:08 The « wounded healer » concept0:51:54 Why is Elvis’ mysticism not well known?0:56:46 What would « gnostic music » be?0:59:24 Gnosticism isn’t more complex than other religions1:01:15 The feel of gnosticism (in general and in Elvis’ music)1:06:45 Gnosis doesn’t belong only to the gnostics1:07:26 Getting to the bones of the spiritual path1:09:59 Pac-Man is a gnostic1:11:04 Miguel’s generosity, thanks and goodbyes*********************************************Find Dominic Vallee and the Hopscotch Chronicles Podcast❇️ www.hopscotchchronicles.com❇️ Twitter/X: twitter.com/Domi_Vallee❇️ Instagram: instagram.com/domi_valleeDominic's book: ZINFAENDEL, the Mystic's Path of Self-Knowledge📖 www.dominicvallee.com/book/*** ABOUT THE PODCAST ***Hopscotch Chronicles is a collection of provoked chance encounters with people, ideas and Nature. Through a series of conversations and short essays on arts, creativity, philosophy and spirituality, the show aims to pragmatically contribute to the listener’s search for meaning and transcendence.*** ABOUT DOMINIC VALLEE ***Fierce apostle for the DIY spirit and author of Zinfaendel, the Mystic’s Path of Self-Knowledge, Dominic Vallée tirelessly seeks to expand the boundaries of normality, to make the real more real. Eager for connection and believer in concrete experience, he now devotes his time to researching and promoting new ways to navigate the chaotic and sacred game that is life. Find out more on www.dominicvallee.com.

For the "non-dually" minded, productivity is often problematic, when not a form of torture. Can one truly hold no goal and still build upon a creative urge over longer terms? I say "Oh, hell yes".Oh how it seems, although it isn't the case, like this world is easier on the go-getter and the proactive among us. You know, the typical "No pain, no gain" type... the ones we see as disciplined. But for some others, the ones more often asking "why?" than being satisfied by a yes or a no, so-called manifestation can feel like a cross to bear. Concrete actions and self-realization can present a challenge great enough to keep them in a constant state of anxiety, or even of self-loathing. This type of person at times finds hope in traditions based on non-dual and non-doing philosophies. Still, many having embraced these philosophies will remain haunted by the push for their creativity to bloom. This drive is often associated to the ego, and so a perverted version of discipline is required to, most often than not, repress rather than transmute the obsessive urge to do, to be productive. In other cases, non-doing will be translated to an attitude of "just go with the flow, man" which ignores our natural, human propensity for growth and accomplishment. Thus, in our "binarity" driven reality, discipline is often viewed and/or expressed as forced and constrained behaviour, and for anyone mindful of the inter-relational nature of their existence, this poses a major problem. Nonetheless, without ever pushing for change, for newness and evolution, an ever-growing sense of stagnation will most likely embitter the adept to his sickly end. Basically, forceful action provides the adept with an artificial sense of being alive, while the apathetic ones risk ending up rotting in a nihilistic void.And so then, one could conclude that discipline, when defined by forceful action, simply has to be used in a balanced way... by sometimes forcing things a little, and other times by letting go. Although this compromise approach seems a bit more "sane", or at least more desirable, it also is unrealistic for one very good reason: any centre of gravity pinned between "too much" and "too little", aside from being rooted in duality, is a far too simplistic model to be effectively applicable to ones life. In truth, the immutable sweet spot of "right action" cannot be mentally grasped and much less calculated. Developing on this subject being outside the scope of this text, I'll invite you to think of it this way; doing isn't non-doing, but neither is not-doing.That said, is there a kind of discipline that isn't inherently dualistic? I mean... yes and no... after all, it remains a word and people will twist them into whatever satisfies their ego-machine the best. But for the sake of this argument, let's say that non-action would therefore require non-discipline. And since this is a pretty useless concept (literally), I'll call this proposed "version" of discipline alt-discipline, because it sounds weird and I'm because such a gen X-er.All right so... alt-discipline. First of all, it connects to an idea that I often remind people of, namely that control and mastery are two different concepts, the first one requiring an oppositional stance while the latter is based on a cooperative mindset. Another way to distinguish the two, and this will aid in our revision of discipline, is by considering the implications of violence. Control is always violent, even when applied with supposedly good intentions, because control doesn't listen. It proscribes receptivity. That said, this doesn't make mastery automatically soft and peaceful. Indeed, still metaphorically speaking, mastery heals as much as it kills. It pushes for a change ― and this next part is important ― while respecting the nature of what is asked to change. And this is why mastery seems way more difficult than control, because the hardest part, at least from the standpoint of an egoic machine, is to determine what should and could be changed, versus what has to remain as it is. In other words, to marry one's burgeoning of desires and creativity to the essential flow of Nature, the "what I want" to the "what Is". And so coming back to our main point, to put it in simpler terms, discipline (as it's often understood and expressed) is based on control, as alt-discipline is embodied through mastery.Now that term, mastery, might sound a bit scary. I mean, it sounds unattainable... because it is. Remember, alt-discipline as well as mastery are fundamentally non-dual concepts, and therefore can't be seen as goals as much as a general attitude, a tendency, a "colouring" of ones behaviour... and the required key to both is very simple: listening. Meh... the term is a bit weak. I guess awareness sounds more complete, less mental, but then listening points to another important consideration, which I'll describe a bit further down.So before expanding on listening/awareness, let's address what might be the main reason why you're reading this. How does one use alt-discipline to respond to one's creative, generative impulse? Ugh... there's so many details wrong with that question, but it'll have to do for now. I really want to leave you with something practical, and actionable. Because yes, action often remains very elusive to the non-dual thinker, and I know how this can lead to the deepest existential pain and despair. But wait... there's good news: truly enlightened actions, from the smallest to the most significant, have to emerge from paradox... so, there's that! But still the question remains of the "how". I'll try to make is as practical as possible.Since non-action can neither be defined by action or inaction, a center point cannot be discerned mentally, as the intellectual process is disrupted by paradox. Right off the bat, that takes care of the conventional form of discipline which requires well defined goals to be applied. For the non-dual thinker, that's problematic as any fixed goal tend to get blurry over time, along with the motivation to reach said goal. Alt-discipline thus isn't enacted upon specific actions per se, and maybe better viewed as willful sustained awareness. Basically, it means remaining at all times mindful of both the road and your inner compass. That's pretty much it. Think that's too easy? Go ahead and try! Most people don't even know there's such a thing as an inner compass, and the courage required to follow its indications is actually a rare quality.But wait... how is that different from the "just go with the flow, man" attitude mentioned at the beginning? And more precisely, how does alt-discipline help with the even bigger problem of persistence? Of continuous effort? Well, that's precisely what I was building to all this time, and I'm happy you're still with me for the dramatic unveiling.By simply observing the conventional version of discipline, the one based on control and forced dedication, we can easily see how it is rooted in a belief that Life/Nature/the Universe/Whatever is at worst a force that works for your decrepitation, or at best, that It is an amoral and stagnant field where nothing happens if it isn't willed to existence. Fervent believers in regimented control, whether they'd be considered disciplined or wishing that they were, essentially distrust Nature's generative impulse. That said, witnessing these immense forces at work within Nature is easy. In each individual tree, flower, animal, They constantly strive for both growth and equilibrium, both macrocosmically and microcosmically, and that's why They transcend life and death. This means that "within" you, there's an actual will to flourish and create that can be given way to. A significant, individual ― and most notably sacred will ― that "just going with the flow" won't give rise to... and neither will blind and brute force. And so non-action, resting on Nature's shoulders, is potentially infinitely stronger than "dualistically" motivated action. At this point, you might feel like I'm digressing from the original subject of productivity and persistence in action, but think of it this way: does a 1000 year old tree grow... in an afternoon? Well... of course not! It builds upon itself... faces droughts and storms... parasites... and naturally keeps growing...... which brings me back to the previous subject of the listening and/or awareness required for the application of alt-discipline. How does the 1000 year old sequoia know that they're not a little bushy fir, or a flower or a blade of grass? Well, most likely, neither the sequoia or anyone else on that list ever had to ask that question. Of course that's an assumption, but I know through experience that there in fact exists a "space" within the human spirit where such questions don't make much sense to ask, where there isn't much more than a felt pulsation, indicating what to do and what feelsright. And although what strives (!) in that "space" is filtered through our mental apparatus to be turned into thoughts, emotions and actions, its original state is pure qualia, without form. Thus, not unlike trees, humans inhabit an archetypically constituted vehicle ― which egoic nature makes far more complex than that of our leafy friends ― but is ultimately imbued with the same need and capacity for growth. What varies immensely though, from one individual to another, is the manners in which this Life force is expressed. This makes the listening at times very hard, because unlike trees, I assume, our perception of reality is blurred by countless opinions and conflicts, both internal and external. This in fact is why I felt necessary to write an entire book on self-knowledge. But both this knowledge and alt-discipline onlyrequire of the adept a certain effort to strive for clarity and awareness. Just like "regular" discipline, the more constantly this awareness is practiced, the clearer the landscape, both physical and metaphysical, will become. Now maybe you

Ever heard of Nigel Saunders? Let me guess that you haven’t. I mean, the guy runs a Youtube channel about making bonsai trees, a niche subject if there ever was one. Many times a week, the scruffy haired giant posts videos of himself working on his trees while wording out his thought process on his quest for miniaturization. Every branch he cuts, he tells you why. He’ll tell you when he’s hesitant, too. “If I cut this branch, that other one will get more sunlight but maybe it grows too vertically. So maybe that’s the one I should cut. Hard decision!” is the kind of thing you might hear him say. Personally, I relate to his content because some years ago, I did try my hand at bonsai making. Although I’m pretty much done with arboreal serial murdering (!), I still religiously watch the man often called the Bob Ross of tree dwarfing.Now, this post isn’t about bonsai making per se. In fact, I’ve been triggered to write it because, as you might already know, I recently created a Twitter account. As I’m not entirely new to the platform (I did occasionally visit some years ago), I wasn’t really surprised by the tone and feel of the place. Plus, as unhinged as this platform can be, it is where a lot of the cool kids exchange and debate ideas, but this time, something immediately jumped to my face. As always, maybe now more than ever in fact, so-called rebels and counter-culture figures wage a war of words, which is, when stepping back, the normal way of doing things. Whether they realize it or not, most thought leaders are essentially behaving as perfect apostles of thinkism, that is, people who actively enact the belief that thinking, and maybe thinking only, is salutary to mankind. That said, I’m reminded of the cool kids of teenage years, the supposed outsiders who saw their binge drinking as rebellious acts…even if the most conformist, clean cut jocks partied just as hard. Different package and vibe, but same action.To this day I believe that, maybe sadly, the truest of true rebels have often been the most silent. The solitary, the recluse, those who walk away from Omelas. The one’s who walk the line that can’t be talked. They probably wouldn’t think of themselves as rebels either. It’s generally the ones who just do their thing.So, what does Nigel Saunders and bonsai making have to do with the twittersphere? Or, what does social media share with anything requiring focus, connectedness? On the surface, basically nothing. What is way more striking is that the commonly observed differences in their usage can be summarized using one word: apprehension, as in, “the grasp”. More precisely, the grasp of time, or rather, of “timeness”. Temporally speaking, tweets are rooted (no pun intended) in an immeasurable, ADHD inducing, torrent of ephemeral thoughts and events. “Centered actions”, be it pottery, cooking, origami, meditation, yoga, and of course bonsai making, are exclusive acts. The focus they require pushes away most of our shared reality, thus ― forcibly and artificially ― keeping the intellect from wandering.Woah! Now at this point, maybe you’re a bit confused. Usually, in this kind of essay, people glorify an idea over the other, generally advocating for the most “calm” of the two. I mean, I got the beard and the “mystic” label after all. I should be pushing the belief that anything considered meditative is in essence superior to social media ramblings, right? Allow me to go all zen-like on your ass: is lightning ultimately superior to the breeze? I mean, really think/feel about it… archetypally, animistically even.Two spirits, two colours. Fast flow, slow flow. In time, around time.Still remains the very title of this essay, namely Radical Acts of Quietude. It does implicitly relate the idea of mindful, calm actions to at least a form of rebellion. All right, let’s get into it. Generally speaking, rebels aim to change things. They (re)act counter-culturally. They fight for the wind to turn, for the mutation of the status quo rather than its eradication. Depending on where the dominant pole is, they go for either conservatism or progressivism, for more chaos or more order. And also generally ― if their quarrels didn’t drive them madly paranoid ― they get soft and comfortable when things end up going their way. This might in fact explain this weird tendency for the noisiest protestors to eventually end up in expensive suits, asphyxiated by a heavy mortgage, a move often attributed to so-called maturity. That said, are rebels truly fighting for change, for an absolute revolution? Or rather to muzzle and shut down the enemy, whether this foe is a person, an organization or, most likely, an idea? At the end of this type of war, nothing has changed. Opposition and alliances breed enmity, and the snake keeps biting its own tail. Real change maybe, but no true change.… and Twitter grows, as do bonsai trees. Databases overflow with the sap of our schizophrenia, and penjings don’t give a tweet’s ass. So what would a true, totalrevolution look like? How can rebels selflessly rebel, without keeping humanity spiralling endlessly in the wallows of duality, of binarity? Wouldn’t stepping out of this mechanicalness represent actual progress? It is, after all, something we haven’t yet experienced as a species: mass jungian individuation.But let’s get back to my explanation of the title, and try to frame it in the simplest way. To understand what that quiet rebellion is all about, we have to define the term “revolution”. Quite simply ― or I’ll admit, a bit simplistically ― it means transformation towards something new. It implies also change that is profound, fundamental even. And so, what change could be so deep for humanity as a subtraction from dualism, and therefore, from timeness? Note that I didn’t say “duality”, nor am I speaking of “peace on Earth”. What could be as radical as being free from our maniacal obsession for control? Of our hatred of death? Let me put it this way: at this point, the greatest act of rebellion one can undertake is to step into timelessness, not because it’s the “right” thing to do, but because it’s the new thing to do. Pushing this even further, not “new” because it hasn’t been attempted before, but rather, because by stepping into timelessness, one also enters newness. You know… that old expression “beginner’s mind”. This is what we haven’t collectively experienced. Damn… it feels like we haven’t even tried! And so if my theory that true rebels don’t adhere to and much less promote any form of ideologies, why should they embrace a particular practice or behaviour like spending quiet moments of focussed attention? Are all bonsai enthusiasts non-dualist radicals? Of course not, but some activities absolutely require becoming oblivious to the passing of time, even for short periods. Maybe you’re thinking of dozens of activities demanding this quality of attention… and you’d be absolutely right. True presence isn’t split into specific categories of occupations: believe it or not, even scrolling through Twitter can be done in this expanded state of awareness! I mean… maybe it’s Jedi master level stuff though. Still, often do people experience timelessness in quietude, especially on first occasions, and as our lives and thoughts and feelings spin faster and faster, those moments become exceptionally rare. Thus, to calmly subside in eternity is one of the most radical and revolutionary act one can make.Ok but then, why using the example of bonsai making? Bunch of reasons. Firstly, I tend to talk about things I’ve experienced. I could’ve used occupations I’ve never done like woodworking or building ships inside bottles, but the metaphors would have been much weaker. I did indeed spend countless hours sorting out root systems and defoliating maples. More specifically though, I used bonsai making because it doesn’t only require to step out of time “locally” while doing the activity. It also has to be done ultimately, in a very paradoxical way: the bonsai artist has to develop a very long term vision for the tree, so long in fact that he or she might not be alive when the plans come to term. In fact, one tree can outlive tens of custodians this way, as some trees reach ages of many hundred years. They have to lay every decision and every cut on the structure of space/time, while simultaneously completely let go of what will happen with the tree when they reach the end of their own road.As I was writing the words “mass jungian individuation”, I heard critics accuse me of utopianism. Do you see now how it’s not the case? Just like a bonsai artist working on a young tree, there’s no way for us to know how humanity would strive in an individuated civilization. Therefore, there is no utopia to strive for, no criteria… only Nature to follow. A formless ideal, ever-changing in qualities, with an intangible core thats truer than true. And so the consequentially rebellious adept awakens not to find solutions or strategies for improvement, but to find out what has always been there, hidden in the egoic machine. And just like every single branch of a bonsai contributes to the tree’s health, harmony and longevity, all of our individual developments shapes humanity, hopefully, towards the blooming of our divinity. Each grows selflessly, for posterity.Ok moving on from this… grandiosity.So, why this guy Nigel? I mean… I just like him! I like how he just does things. He’s both serious and playful, not overly dramatic. Despite his decades of experience, he’s always starting anew with each tree, experimenting, learning. Watching him is also taking a break from all the fighting, the politics, the tricks and lies, the only reminder of looming tragedies in his videos being the occasional police siren in the background to which he’ll lightly comment “here’s the zombie apocalypse”. Other than that, just the trees and the moment. The radical acts of quietude. Like I said, serious and playful: marks of a truerebel, in my book.