What is the mission of the ESM?
posted by Daniel Pinchbeck | April 15, 2010
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IcerocketVincenz0h asks in the “Building the Evolver Social Movement” Group:
“So I want to pose a practical question. What is the mission of E+SM and what exactly do we want to achieve? And I mean specifically, not in a vague way. "Build a social movement to evolve consciousness" is kind of vague.
If we had goals like, "Create a functional alternative currency", or "establish urban farms which act as a significant source of food"... well those are really practical goals which CAN be achieved. A strategy can be laid down for exactly HOW we want to achieve those goals.”
This was my answer:
Personally, I see there is a lot of value in building a network of communities who share a set of values that are different than the mainstream - who support, for instance, the exploration of non-ordinary states of consciousness for adults; who agree that there shouldn't be only one single form of currency issued as debt by private banking interests; who do not support the wars and "black ops" performed by US forces and mercenaries around the world; who would like to be part of a rapid shift to a society that integrates ecological design principles such as bioremediation, permaculture, sustainable forestry, etc, and sees the natural world as valuable in and of itself, not simply as a resource for human use.
i would say that there is a multi-stage process: first, let's build the movement through an engaged, participatory, and educational outreach; then, at some point, let's see what we can do together to develop a new culture and also a new form of activism that perhaps can be more effective than older forms.
I love the title "evolver" because it points toward continual change and adaptation - I would say that might be part of the core of what we are doing, not just seeking a new stagnant social form, but engaging with society in a dynamic process that doesn't necessarily have an end goal, but does have the purpose of intensifying and evolving consciousness. I love Barbara Marx Hubbard's idea that conscious evolution is "the evolution of evolution": we the human organisms awaken to our role in the evolutionary process, and our ability to steer it.
Comments
Yeah, More and more people
— Apr 16, 2010
Yeah, More and more people are realizing that the mainstream culture is nothing more than a con. If the free thinkers of the world can lay a solid groundwork for an alternative (which I believe is happening) then as more and more people remove themselves from materialistic ideologies they bring with them skills and new ideas until you get a snowball effect and human society can re-organize itself into a sustainable loving civilization of freedom. For example there is an organic food revolution underway, on the internet sites such as this one are allowing people avenues to express ideas, experiences, news and events. Lets not forget that in this time our actions and thoughts are magnified and we all can make huge differences with small changes.
I just want to add I had the
— Apr 16, 2010
I just want to add I had the pleasure of working with humans for five years that dealt with schizophrenic symptoms. So many unique personalities.
In the spirit of nature recognizing the value of all I'd like to highlight the powerful phrase you use of "The Con" that a fellow I know used.
Don't fall for "The Con" man . . .that is part of "The Con". etc.
Has a nice ring to it.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Consider it highlighted.
Agreed, the movement which
— Apr 16, 2010
Agreed, the movement which fortuitously failed to define (terminalize) itself!
But given present context, Evolveresm is somewhat a support group for the auto-disenfranchised...
That's precious function, enough for now.
I see the path to hyperlinked politicism or sporulation through our gravely puncture-wounded equilibrium, but not what it's like down there.
Personally I'm way ensconced of consumption all sudden, a rank going under; overcoming, if precognitive hindsight serves me. I should love to share and revel about it someday, but fear apes reason and I snivel here, of stead. The chance to ask, and to offer, and to stillly accord, is marvelous and incentive.
We huddle, preen, and rise, assured. ssays Szalvador!
thoughts from ESM page on Facebook
— Apr 16, 2010
I was answering someone and ended up restating a pitch for the Evolver Social Movement,
Please read it and consider it - if you haven't joined the ESM yet, please do so.
Yours,
Daniel
Consciousness and culture can change with extraordinary rapidity, when necessary. You are not talking about "objective realities" when you talk about "belief systems," you are talking about ingrained patterns of thinking and perceiving. These patterns can be changed, quite suddenly. This can happen through crisis - the Cuban Missile Crisis, for instance, had a huge effect on mass consciousness, and helped give birth to the sudden global counterculture explosion of the 1960s (though the ideas were in place as foundation for this shift).
The shift from a competitive domination mindset to a collaborative "win-win" perspective could happen quite suddenly.
As an example, take the fall of the wall in 1989: No political analysts had predicted that a nonviolent collapse of the Soviet system could take place. Yet it did. Unfortunately, there was no alternative system or better model for organizing society ready as the Soviet system melted down, so many countries reverted to oligarchy and gangster rule.
What I am proposing is that we may be approaching a perhaps inevitable "fall of the wall" moment for the American system, when we look at the current financial bubble built on pure creation of money without any basis in productive labor or resources. When this bubble bursts, as it simply must, most people will have no idea what to do. Many will be swayed by whatever ideologies happen to be swirling around at that time - it could be fundamentalist theocracy, Jesus Camp, or survivalism, or Zerzan style libertarian anarchy.
I propose that we have a severely limited time to assemble a meaningful counter-movement - one that is beyond current political divisions as the political system is essentially gridlocked. That is why I am using my time and energy to promote the Evolver Social Movement, and why I honestly believe that it is so valuable that people should support this movement so we can grow it, and create a self-organizing system for reinventing communities around alternative values.
If you go to Evolver or Reality Sandwich you can read in more detail how we will spend revenues that come in from our membership, and our intentions for the movement.
I really hope that, considering this, you will join or develop an Evolver Regional group in your area, and also contribute to the movement, so we can join to build an oppositional counter-power to the regressive forces that truly threaten us on our immediate horizon. This threat is an opportunity if it is recognized by us and seized by us - otherwise we may have squandered a great hope.
A friend told me about recent studies of the rhetoric of Glenn Beck and his ilk, and how it can be compared directly to the calls for violence that preceded the genocide in Rwanda. While there may be more elements in American society, we still are in real danger from extremists who believe in a god-given right to violence. Personally I believe that the counter-active to this trend is to spread an alternative paradigm of social change, which includes permaculture, complementary currencies, direct democracy, and relocalization. That is what we are seeking to convey and also directly enact through the ESM, and why I believe it is worthy of your support.
"Will the transformation."-Rilke
"first, let's build the
— Apr 16, 2010
"first, let's build the movement through an engaged, participatory, and educational outreach; then, at some point, let's see what we can do together to develop a new culture and also a new form of activism that perhaps can be more effective than older forms."
Okay, this is a good outline to start with. But it's still kind of vague.
What activities (social or political) does this network engage in? Having gatherings in the woods and renewing psychedelic ceremonies can definitely be a force for transformation. Engaging in gifting and free-culture can be something that both binds people socially and opens possibilities in peoples minds. Really-Really-Free Markets, Food Not Bombs, Dumpsterdiving.... these are all possible activities that fulfill this role.
I have an issue with the "educational outreach" thing, and I'll tell you why. In 2006 I became a core organizer for my local 9/11 Truth chapter. Our mission was to educate the uninformed masses about 9/11 and the Problem-Reaction-Solution paradigm, etc. We handed out thousands of free DVD's, I personally organized several film screenings on campus which sometimes drew up to 100 people each. We really got the word out! And throughout it all there was this assumption that "Yeah, once everybody is educated about the facts, then people will wake up and resist all this tyranny!"
But here's the problem. Even people who "woke up" didn't really engage in any kind of effective activism or resistance. And our own activism never matured beyond spreading information (read; proselytizing) , and never attempted to reach out to other radical/revolutionary groups. The whole thing became very insular and narcissistic.
There were several reasons for this. Mainly, when people joined our group, we gave them the dvd's and the info, had them "educate" themselves about 9/11, etc. But then the only activity that we had for them to do was to go out and "spread the word, wake people up". Proselytizing and recruitment became the ends and means of the movement in a way that began to feel very cult-like. The 9/11 Truth Movement, as far as I can tell, is doing exactly the same thing that it was doing when I left it in 2008.
The other big reason why I feel this happened is that it's only natural for an education-based movement to see things this way; "WE are the informed ones, everybody ELSE is uninformed, and WE are the ones with the information that will liberate the people's minds. All these OTHER activists have it wrong because they don't understand how things are really working. etc".
I think that evolver is taking an approach that is WAY too similar to this. "Let US educate YOU about how to evolve. Let us put on workshops and presentations where we talk AT you, and give you this information that you need. Of course we want you to participate, but really not too much." It may not be as explicit as when Truthers call people "sheeple", but if you pay attention to the language that evolvers are using, it's there.
In my own experience in trying to build a movement, (and I'm not just talking about 9/11 here, but also Food Not Bombs), what is really important for it all to become effective and sustainable is that there needs to be some kind of ACTIVITY, something fun and simple that brings people together on a regular basis. People need to feel that there is a place for them in this activity, that they themselves are able to contribute to in a meaningful way. If a person doesn't feel needed or valued, or that what their DOING with the group is not important, fulfilling, or effective ... well then why should they come back?
Right now I don't think evolver has this, but potentially could. The spores don't really require anything of people other than to show up and listen to other people talk. I think people do want to participate, but that it sometimes isn't actually conducive to that because the organizers have this plan/theme that they want to stick to. I think that instead of trying to educate others, the organizers should try LISTENING to others since maybe, just maybe, they themselves could have something to teach.
If you're strategy is to "educate people" into a teeming mass that can be "activated" later on... you're going to fail. Trust me. If your strategy is to engage people in activities, whether they are social or political, that manifest what the evolution is going to look like, then you will have a much better chance of success.
I like your point of
— Apr 16, 2010
I like your point of view...
I myself try this educating approach and I ended up being chewed out and/or put in my place hahaha (well deserve I might add) because first off I do not have enough knowledge to educate anyone in this sort of matters (evolution of consciousness and the likes) on the other hand I do have knowledge on things like architecture, ppl have told me I bring others together, and I think I'm a good speaker kind of inspirational so maybe I can teach others skills not "truths" and/or entertain an audience (which I secretly like) with no agenda of preaching to them or teach to them anything just express myself and maybe inspire someone to do the same...
I also think that a good strategy for the ESM is to get in the white house where all the decisions are made... I know it sounds like the same bullshit but I see this approach like taken care of a cancer tumor; if you just take it out it's just going to spread all over and that is that but if you treat it, take care of the patient whole well being and then take it out... there is a better chance of the tumor stopping right there... anyway is just an idea ESM in the white house
strategy
— Apr 16, 2010
hey Vincenzoh -
first of all i take issue with you saying, "if your strategy is..." this or that. We are totally open to different approaches, and we are developing this in dialogue with everyone in the movement. I hope there is a feedback here between all of us, through which a collective intention and ultimately a tactical action plan can be formed.
I certainly don't think education is enough - I also don't believe the Evolver attitude is anywhere close to "We are the informed ones..." I wouldn't call that an evolutionary approach, one that remains flexible and open to new adaptations, which is what I personally prefer.
I don't know... we are getting so much criticism and so much of it seems kind of pointless, I am afraid to say. We have constructed an initial action of having people come together. We are listening and learning from the people who gather for the events, and hope to learn and discover more.
If you have been to a Spore and felt the organizers weren't listening or responding, I would be curious to hear about it - but also remember to be positive and kind, because this is a purely volunteer effort where people are stepping up and learning how to be leaders and organizers. Personally, I am loving what I am seeing so far from the community, and am blown away by the brilliance of the local organizers who have been stepping up.
We are planning an upcoming Spore on "local actions," getting the local groups to focus on the most powerful actions they can take in their communities, and after that will hopefully create a template for incorporating actions into regular Evolver Regional gatherings. We also leave flexibility for local groups to do what is most fitting for them in terms of rituals or opening and closing circles or meditations.
I don't know about creating a "teeming mass" to be "activated," but I do feel that you need a critical mass to have any meaningful effect on society. I have actually tried doing it by myself (including a baleful effort to start a single-handed rebellion at Burning Man which ended in dismal failure), so I have good reason to say that we do need to have people on the same page before we attempt anything too ambitious.
If you truly want to follow the lines of thought that inspired me, I suggest reading "On Revolution" by Hannah Arendt and "Multitude" by Antonio Negri and Michael Hardt. But also - none of this is up to me - it is a process through which we are all discovering what "Evolver" is - it is like an organism or social entity that is developing through our shared efforts, and I really love the fact that I honestly don't know what this entity is going to choose to do.
"Will the transformation."-Rilke
I definitely feel you on the
— Apr 16, 2010
I definitely feel you on the excessive amount of pointless criticism. You seem to be a magnet for it, and I'm sorry if/that I've contributed to this vibe.
I can't really criticize my local organizers too much because I've only been to a few events. The last spore had some problems with group dynamics which I communicated to the organizers. They were receptive to my concerns and expressed a desire to rectify the problems which they agreed were there. Whether this actually happens remains to be seen. They invited me to participate in the organizing effort, and I may choose to get involved with the "local action" spore.
As for the issue of a critical mass. Not having enough people is certainly an issue. But waiting for more people while not utilizing the people power that you currently have is also an issue. We shouldn't underestimate the power of small groups of dedicated individuals. I've seen small collectives do some amazing work that has carried on for years and even survived disruptions of the core group. This kind of small scale success is what inspires and provides momentum to a larger growing movement.
I really have to frame all of my criticisms in the context of my experience with the 9/11 Truth movement. Maybe ESM doesn't deserve all those criticisms, but it just seems to me that it's starting off on the same path, and is likely to repeat all of those same mistakes. Namely, providing an awesome space for radical group discussion, but no clear goals or strategies. I just don't have any more interest or energy to put into a movement that doesn't know what it wants. I know what kind of society I want to create and am trying to take clear steps towards that end, and I hope that Evolver can be a network that connects me to other people that can say the same. In some ways it HAS been, and in others it hasn't.
If I have done more criticizing than commending, then let me take this opportunity to change that. You are doing AWESOME work. I have to hand it to you. You've really created something special here. You've connected a LOT of people who are yearning to take action and do something meaningful. All I'm trying to say now is, don't let this small fire fizzle out.
Maybe I should have replaced "your strategy" with "OUR strategy". I think that NOW is the time that local groups should start discussing these kinds of things. We had almost 100 people at our last spore. If that's not a critical mass, then I don't know what is.
Inspired
— Apr 16, 2010
Reading this question I was inspired with an answer. I believe this answer comes from a vessel of unknowing. To break it down, what I mean is this. I want so much to create change for all. To greatly improve the world through natural and sustainable needs.
However, I do not know what it takes, nor what is out there to do this. SO the answer my heart gave me was this.
What if there was a college that was all about transformation, nature, sustainable resources, efficiency, engineering, chemistry, personal growth, etc... ?
To my knowledge, which as stated is limited. For all I know it already exists. Perhaps not. My experience of higher education (and education in general) is geared towards the generation of capital, or to put it in a more poetic way. Higher education has fallen. It's lost it's soul.
Just imagine what benefits could be, if under one tent was a vision of evolution, and the satellites that will follow?
I will ponder this dream some more. Thanks for the inspiration.
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley
There's definitely a lot of
— Apr 16, 2010
There's definitely a lot of fertile ground for a revolution in education. Skill based, DIY, free school kind of things... I'm very interested in getting involved in this kind of stuff. There is a lot of this already happening.
Unfortunately, parents want (and by "want" I mean - are required by law) to have their kids pass standardized tests, and so that is where they put their energy as parents relating to education.
A few years back, I with a
— Apr 17, 2010
A few years back, I with a team of about 20 others, sourced several thousand dollars in support of a woman's vision. Her vision was to create a charter school for mostly children with ADHD. This school will support the children's creativity. Fitting around them, instead of forcing them into a system.
The vision came up against a wall though, or rather a board. The education board of MN didn't like this idea. It challenged their way of doing things. The drift and it's silly need for money struck again. This woman will not give up though. She is committed to her vision.
IMO, this is what our community (society) needs. People committed to the education. People willing to get mud in the eye, willing to lose money, people willing to take a quantum leap towards a future that can/will be.
In the same breath. It's easy for me to say this. Sitting in my computer chair, not knowing how, but wanting. I must ask myself. How committed am I?
It feels so good to see this college in my mind. I can almost taste the food being cooked that has been grown in sustainable gardens. I can almost hear the lectures of experienced people sharing their crafts with the willing. I can almost feel the sense of accomplishment of a family of peers creating an engineering product that would make Fuller proud.
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley
I have a tendency to share
— Apr 16, 2010
I have a tendency to share the same concerns as Vincenz0h , but I see your point.
Also, do not underestimate the power of ritual. They use magick. So can we.
Shamans unite!
I have one more thing to
— Apr 16, 2010
I have one more thing to say. I don't say this with any aggression, but I feel it needs to be said. What I have to say is that we don't have to wait for a leader. If we want to establish functional alternative currency or urban farms that can be a real source of food, then we can do it on our own. We don't have to wait for Daniel Pinchbeck or anybody else to lead us. We can gather together and do it ourselves, with a little organization.
I LOVE Daniel and his books, which is why I'm here. I actually read "Quetzalcoatl" TWICE! I also think he made a lot of very valid points, as I said above. I completely agree that consciousness needs to change, and that we are dealing with more than just the physical. However, I fear that if we wait for a leader, we will be waiting forever...and ever. And there is no more time to wait, because we're living in the end/beginning times. Time's up.
At this point, I think each individual needs to follow their own inner directive. It doesn't have be done in a way that is oppositional toward anyone else in the movement, and we don't need to break ties with anyone else. In fact, we shouldn't. However, it's time for each individual to do what they gotta do, and for like-minded people to gather together.
If some people are afraid that we're going to cause harm, then those are their fear and not ours. Any time you talk about making actual, real change, it's naturally going to invoke fear, even in those who want change the most. It's one thing to talk about making change and to want change, but it's another thing to actually do it. Some people are ready to make that leap from theory to practice sooner than other people. It's OK because we're all on the same path and we are all developing in different ways. Nobody is superior to anybody else.
But with all due respect, just because somebody had a blow-up at Burning Man (probably while high) that didn't succeed in changing the world, does not mean that a reasoned, systematic approach within the context of the real world would not work.
We don't need permission, and we don't need to convince our leaders. We can just do it.
I have something to say
— Apr 17, 2010
I believe it's leaders with a calling that must take a stand for the loving progress of this worlds community. A leader can follow a leader. I can see eye to eye. If I falter than I trust another to be honest with me. If it's their turn to stand than they shall stand and I will follow with my eye open.
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley
Not that anyone claimed to
— Apr 17, 2010
Not that anyone claimed to be a "leader" but just the sense that people are waiting for somebody else to do something and I don't want to be guilty of that, and perhaps I'm speaking from my own feeling of needing to do something for myself to take a stand to make a real difference in the world, on some sort of actual, physical level, but with a political and spiritual consciousness, for lack of better terms, that can ACTUALLY make it something that can spread out into the world and make a real difference. I'm not even sure what I'm saying here, but I just felt like saying it.
And I'm SO grateful for you Daniel, as I've expressed before! Thank you so much for everything that you do! And thank you for providing this platform for us, which is unlike any other. Blessings~
2 statements and 3 questions
— Apr 17, 2010
What is it that you want? I have noticed that you have stated what you don't want.
Do you place Daniel Pinchbeck above you, or any other for that matter?
Can it be said that we are all leaders?
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley
It's spring time! Everybody
— Apr 17, 2010
It's spring time! Everybody plant at least one plant that will yield something yummy you can eat, even if it's just in a big pot outside or a small planter in the window or one of those weird upside-down tomato things or whatever. It'll be fun! We can talk to each other about it. :)
Yes, I think we're all leaders, which is exactly what I meant when I said that each person needs to follow his or her own inner directive, which means that it might not the be the same thing I'm doing.
E-Prime, I know we disagree about technology, but as I've stated before, it's basically a moot point now anyway seeing as we don't currently have--in terms of actually, physically having it--advanced civilization technology and we certainly don't have anything that is anywhere near what The Venus Project invisions, though we certainly do have the capability to create at least most of the basic ideas of it, and therefore it's nothing to be afraid of at this time if you don't like their concepts. Also, the entire membership of TZM and TVP worldwide is significant enough to be important to the world but still quite small in terms of having anywhere near the capability to build what they are talking about. I think it's an interesting concept, but it's nothing that anyone can realistically implement at this time or any time soon.
But one thing we all agree on (most of us I think) is breaking free from the monetary system and particularly the *fedd* which is *dead* and the first logical thing we should do just happens to be the one thing that we all can do, which is feed ourselves. The problem right now is that we are all dependent on the system which is dependent on its parasitic suppression of the rest of the world and the Earth. So what we need to do is exactly what psychegram said, which is grow our own *food* because growing our own food is the first logical step toward breaking free from the system, because right now we need money to buy everything we need, which means we have to work for them and buy what we need from them, etc. The primary thing you need to survive is food. So growing your own food is the first logical step toward become self-sufficient.
Lately I've been thinking about the importance of becoming self-sufficient if we want to make real change in the world. They say if we want to make real change in the world we have to make real change in ourselves and I've learned that this is true, but doesn't that also mean changing ourselves on an actual, real level in terms of how we live and what we consume and how it gets to us and so forth? I used to somewhat dismiss this and ideas about getting off the grid as "lifestyle politics" that separated you from other or what have you, and apparently some people are concerned that it's too radical and somewhat dangerous.
But Psyche, you put it into perspective so well when you said that if all we're doing is growing food and giving it to people and teaching them how to grow food if they're interested and so forth, there's hardly anything that anyone could use as justification for hurting us. One concern has been that if we react too strongly, they might use it justification to suppress us and there could be dire consequences for us. But if all we're doing is growing food and taking other small steps toward freedom then there's hardly anything they could use as justification. To the contrary, we may risk looking like a bunch of hippies. Lol.
This alone won't completely change the world but I think it is the first step. I've actually been thinking about this over this last few weeks. If you want to survive, the number one thing you need is food. Everything else you could theoretically kinda sorta live without, at least for a while. But we're not even talking about having to do without anything else just yet, and we're not talking about living without basic food, clothing and shelter either. In fact, we're talking about making sure everyone in the world can have all that by giving them the space to breathe so they can build it themselves, by slowly getting the boot of imperialism off their necks. We'll do by disentangling ourselves from the edifices of control that sustain us by depleting the planet and depleting other human lives,an act which will ultimately lead to the depletion of us because we need the world to survive. So we need to go back to the Earth and go back to being able to sustain ourselves, and start by being able to put food in our own bellies.
It's crazy because I've been thinking about this and then I ran across a You Tube video of David Wolfe who was talking about exactly that. He's mostly self-sustainable, eats raw food and herbs, etc, and he said that he came to his realization by seeing Zeitgeist and learning other things, and realizing that we need to break free from the system that destroys the world, including the monetary system. It reflected what I've been thinking exactly, and then what you Psyche said also reflected what I've been thinking exactly
Furthermore, I think once we're self-sufficient and independent, we'll be a world-wide society of people living with the Earth who will be intelligent enough to not do anything that would not be good. As I've said before, we can't have an exact vision of the future one way or the other right now anyway, we just have to let life unfold as we it will because this is like the blossoming of a flower, or even more complicated than that, rather more like the evolution of evolution as Daniel said, and we'll see what happens but I think part of evolution also means changing the way that we live and relate the world and our environment.
Daniel, may the goddess bless you always for raising the scaffold high enough for all of us to see! >:)
It behooves you to ask me
— Apr 19, 2010
It behooves you to ask me first what my I think of technology, instead of making an assumption over a quote. I am far more concentric than that.
I would love for the Venus project to be a reality, however I wonder who is invited.
Also...
I would love for there to be a compendium of useful information here. Such as books, concepts, products, places, philosophers, etc that are all enlightening and supportive of a givers lifestyle.
One could say an evolver's toolbox f
Technological progress has merely provided us with more efficient means for going backwards.
-Aldous Huxley
Our value structure must
— Apr 16, 2010
Our value structure must differentiate between the immediate and the long-term, placing equal emphasis on the needs of the moment and the needs of generations yet unborn. Our momentary values should be oriented around questions such as, is everyone fed and housed, healthily and safely? No? What can we do to change this?
Answer: grow food where-ever we can (guerrilla gardening is fun for the whole family and can be done almost anywhere), and start looking for ways of housing those who aren't. Housing and food are going to be big issues this year, for financial and other reasons. People haven't really caught on yet about GMOs, for instance: when they do most of the food supply will be seen as toxic and untouchable. It would be good if enough people could be offered an alternative and ultimately that will mean a) growing food, b) giving that food to others and c) helping others grow food.
Doing this will win a lot of friends. It will be hard for reactionary groups (rapid Tea Partiers and the insane state they've been mobbed up to insurrect, for instance) to complain or to strike against us directly.
The long term goal is a world which is built to support as many people as possible at the highest levels of Maszlow's hierarchy, that is, with their material, personal, and social needs taken care of by default and every opportunity to live their lives as an adventure and continuously evolve. A world that is resurrected as a garden and playground, the common body of all: a single growing holon, ready to take it's place in the Galaxy with the rest of the civilized world. Ever read Iain M. Banks' "Culture" novels? Something along those lines.
We cannot make the species take this path but we can open that way ourselves and offer directions as we go. I have a feeling it will work out pretty well for just about anyone who heads down that way and the more people who do, the better.
At the same time I can't shake the feeling that we are at war, a spiritual war, a war of consciousness. We lose if we go over to the dark side, but that doesn't mean we don't have to 'fight'. 9/11 gets talked about a lot but at this point I think it's safe to assume everyone's heard the conspiracy theories, and anyone who hasn't had their mind changed about it already isn't going to in the face of more of the same "But what about building 7!?" To whatever extent the 9/11 Truth movement continues banging that drum specifically it is a write-off in terms of potential for social change.
There are far more things that require exposure, however, and over the next year those are going to be leaking out through the 'net more and more. We can certainly do what we can to help publicize such things, and by this I mean not just submitting News to e+ but maybe making a personal commitment to let the Crazy hang out loose in public more often: to keep on top of the 'real' news and talk about that, not sports or sitcoms. "Did you hear the latest con? Check this out, you'll love it...."
This is all quite general but it's hard to be specific when a) ultimately every Evolver will be making real-time decisions on the ground as the Apocalypse unfolds in all its galloping weirdness in the leadup to the Singularity in 2012 meaning b) the situation will be very dynamic. This year, it's all about feeding people; next year, about making survival preparations for when the Earth starts cracking in weird places and the Sun shorts out our entire electronic infrastructure. All the while of course trying to maneuver around the desperate flailing of the Control Machine as it attempts to hold things together in service of its reptile-brained overlords, themselves quite possibly intending on attempts at successive waves of mass planetary genocide in order to cull our numbers down to a manageable size for when they emerge from their bunkers, post-Whatever, to lord it over this world on the other side of the ???? that local time is being pulled toward, strange attractor style.
We are here to expose them for what they are, and to offer an alternative, one that was always there for the taking regardless of the technological level we attained for the only tool we required was our own bodies, minds, and spirits. Think of the technology the Buddha discovered, or Christ, or Zarathustra. Reawakening those tools and reacquainting first ourselves, later any who ask with their use, and moreover doing so in such a way that they won't be stuffed away in secret again for a long age to come ... this should be the sorcery upon which our new colleges are founded.
The rEvoLution is Within
Kudos to Vincenz0h, first
— Apr 17, 2010
Kudos to Vincenz0h, first off. Thanks for asking this question.
It's a scary-important question. And it should've been answered before this was declared a movement. If this was deemed a movement simply to keep Evolver in business... and it seems like it was... then maybe what we're seeing with lack of focus is only the effect to prior cause. Hindsight...
I'm not throwing stones. I'm just saying that you can't pull the movement card a whole bunch of times and expect people to move as willingly as they did the first time. This doesn't feel like a movement to me either (at least not yet), so it's a relief to know I'm not the only one sitting here scratching my head. But this is what we have to work with, and I'm willing to do what I can.
I have been wondering what the ESM is capable of on the local level, but outside spore activity. The reason I ask is because this seems to be the general pattern... a member mentions they want something Evolver-related to be locally available... and they are just told to start a spore. That always seems to be the answer, and frankly, that doesn't cut the mustard. We don't all have the means to take on that sort of project, and for some of us, it's simply the wrong project to begin with.
One way to address this is a more comprehensive directory. Especially the members directory, but not limited to the others. You guys have the tools to connect people -- I say refine them. A more comprehensive directory -- one with better searching capabilities -- can help us connect, can increase spore potential, etc. Work on the functional aspects of this website before throwing around the M-word. Or, at least, do them simultaneously =)
How can you expect to build
— Apr 17, 2010
How can you expect to build a movement focused on the evolution of individual consciousness towards awareness of God-self consciousness; local sustainability and resiliency; connectivity and autonomy; and all the other connected issues this is about ... and not take matters into your own hands? You think you get freedom without responsibility?
The money being collected for ESM membership is primarily directed, so far as I can tell, at media creation. Once developed it is (I presume? correct me if I'm wrong) available for anyone to use whether they paid membership fees or not. The deal is, they make promotional material; provide a venue for online networking; and maybe work towards developing an easily implementable currency system with both online and offline applicability.
Anything else depends on YOU.
You want a permaculture garden? Best start one because no one will do it for you. Want to find the others in your area (you know they're out there), well then organize a spore: find a place to watch a movie or even just hold a salon; make up a poster, print out a hundred copies or so and post them; put up an add on Craigslist (and wherever else); and then see who shows up. Talk to them; see where there head's at; see if there's anything you can do together, and if not, at least you have those contacts. No one can do your networking for you and at this point that's what it's all about.
Anyhow. To be honest I'm speaking to myself here as much as I am to you or anyone else.
The rEvoLution is Within
Was that directed at me?
— Apr 17, 2010
I just think we could use an upgrade in terms of site design and function. We can examine tangible things to do here -- on this website -- before we go on a crusade or start a revolution.
RS is a lot more functional in terms of design. There are many catagories to choose from on the index page. I don't want this site to be RS -- but I want to see the bar raised.
Since Evolver runs on the idea that the members submit the content, then make the Evolver site more accessible with the members -- and their content -- in mind.
This is something we can address -- how to further utilize the tools we have here. Since this site is about connecting people by skills and interests, make it easier on us. Make it so we don't have to click a thousand times to find the right person to start a project with. Make it so the directory is more than a list of thumbnails. Make it so we can find one another more easily.
Another idea -- allow more width in the layout here. Blogs tend to give off the appearance of being longer than they really are because they're too constrained in the left-hand column.
Baby steps.
It was aimed at all of us,
— Apr 17, 2010
It was aimed at all of us, myself included (as I said.)
There are multiple avenues along which improvement can proceed. It is part of evolution that as many are explored as possible, by which I mean I share some of your frustrations with the layout. No layout is perfect however nor is the functionality of any website completely optimal. It's all a work in progress, as I'm sure Jonathon is only too painfully well acquainted with.
As to throwing the M word around, what's wrong with that? This is the Project Mayhem to Evolver's Fight Club to Reality Sandwich's Paper Street Soap Company (different rules about talking about and asking questions about, of course ;) Things are ramping up to the next level, in response to the acceleration of events in the world in general.
At the same time, the whole project is very much in its infancy and so, as you said: baby steps.
The rEvoLution is Within
You also said you might be
— Apr 17, 2010
You also said you might be talking to yourself. In which case, I don't know why you replied to my comment, because we weren't talking about the same things to begin with.
That's exactly what we don't need, the equivalent of a project mayhem. All it was about was removing the value of the individual in order to heighten the power of the group's anonymity. This website is as far as possible from that idea.
If this layout is really a work in progress, then it would've changed more than twice in the time I've spent here. All that's changed are the groks, and how long blogs stay up on the main page. You guys want specific suggestions? Let people give them without biting their heads off or telling them to go plant a garden.
A better website design, a more comprehensive directory. Those are my suggestions because they are overdue, and more easily solved than world hunger. Cheers
It was late, and I hit the
— Apr 17, 2010
It was late, and I hit the wrong 'reply' button beneath the last post. I'm sorry.
I was drawing the 'Fight Club' analogy is the sense of later-stage plans necessitating a greater degree of activity on the part of the participants. Clearly, we didn't get our start as an underground boxing club and aren't gestating a nihilistic terrorist cult.
Calm down: no one was biting your head off.
The rEvoLution is Within
First Steps...
— Apr 17, 2010
Evolver offers to many a wonderful platform to explore alternative, productive and super conscious avenues to create and offer a new vision for the immediate world around us. Eventually this vision can expand globally, but in my humble opinion the 1st steps must be focused on a local level and that is why the spores are a good statrt. Daniel's vision is a good one and with elements of the Venus Project entertwined can provide a realistic model to making great strides forward. One of the other aspects to consider at this stage is to end your individual consent to be governed by the banking cartel governments on a national and international scale. By understanding the power of the word NO and re-connecting to our individual sovereign divinity we can incrementally put an end to the self destructive machinery that the "ruling class elite" has imposed upon humanity. Their is NO trust, honor or respect to this police state tyranny created by a corporatist fascist government. Until we have a critical mass awakening that will overcome the negative energies that is spread globally by these wicked few in power, our goals can only reach so far. Until we each stop funding the machinery that pays for worldwide wars and a police state grid via taxes without our consent, ther steps we take towards a sane progression will hit wallsof deception and manipulation by these governmental policies meant to withold our divine potential...this is my humble toughts about an important 1st step in implementing a realistic model that embraces all spirits to take part in humanities next step towards loving enlightment...Namaste!
visit: Visionary Psychedelic Surrealism by Myztico www.myztico.mosaicglobe.com
Local,sovereign,self suporting, and Love based at its foundation
— Apr 17, 2010
Harry F Brewster II
Basic necessity are first, Food and Water shelter, how do we transition? By setting a working model. And the model should actual be the first working piece of the puzzle. As spores progress the core group sets the first piece that naturally fits the next in other words the first piece is self contained but also designed to expand link and grow in the spirit of love and brotherhood, for true change starts within.
A logical working plan is needed and will natural flow out of the heart as people
began to trust each other and share. Land would seem to be the first logical step and the means to acquire it based on our sovereign right. The understanding of law on highest levels will be needed. flexibility is important and connection with other groups that could fill in gaps in resource's.
Connect with the inventor to get energy supplies online that are easy to expand.
Conscious technology and its sources is the X factory that a community should stay open to....
ayahuasca retreats
— Apr 18, 2010
my friends and i might go to some place in peru for an ayahuasca retreat, those sorts of things in large scale places would be amazing
I love Barbara Marx
— Apr 27, 2010
I love Barbara Marx Hubbard's idea that conscious evolution is "the evolution of evolution"... I think that is such a nebulous concept... I think we do need an end goal
Evolver is my current favorite web hangout!
— Jun 24, 2010
in fact it's the only place I'm even posting anything.
thanks for starting it!
look forward to meeting y'all!
