You're illuminating all of this at the proper level of abstraction, and I appreciate it. It is easy to get caught up in the constantly shifting "factual" predicate of what's going on at the ground level, but, aside from being an impossible task in the face of aggressive propaganda campaigns, that misses the point. The real story of the pandemic is a story of mass insanity, the kind we see repeated throughout history and the kind our education system is supposedly designed in part to mitigate (but has failed miserably in that task).
In 2008, hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco wrote a brilliant song using a pandemic as a metaphor for mass insanity. The layers of meaning become particularly interesting in today's context, as we have mass insanity being triggered by a (sort of) pandemic:
"Disease, the virus is spreading in all directions
No safe zone no cure and no protection
No symptoms define the signs of an infection
No vaccines, remedies, and no corrections
Quarantine the dreams and seal off the connections
Don't let them in, not a friend, not a reflection
Everybody's got it and want you to have it next and
Don't accept them if you want to stay as an exception
No pill can heal the ill of this
Sickness, some are still in doubt of its existence
Some call it forgiveness and some call it the vengeance
Some say it's an exit and some say it's an entrance
The poor say the rich have the cure
The rich say the poor are the source
Revolutionaries say it's psychological war
Invented by the press, just to have something to report
Some say the first case came from a maternity ward
Some say a morgue, some say the skies, some say the floors
Whores say the nuns, nuns say the whores
And everybody is sure
The scientist say it only affects the mind
The little boy said it only affects the girls
The preacher man said it's going to kill off the soul
Much appreciated and very timely. I wonder if Biden's new vax mandate is an act of desperation to defer the public from wanting to sacrifice him? His ratings have plummeted and then his strategists come out with his get tough speech on the unvaxxed. "We've been patient with you, but our patience is wearing thin." And, "This is a pandemic of the unvaxxed".
Also, nice prescience on maybe the priests created the curse! Turns out they did, huh?? Can't make this stuff up, man, what a story.
Yes, we could and should build society round other instincts, compassion, forgiveness and love for others - it was revolutionary when Jesus preached it and sadly still is - even within the churches which go by His Name!
Rites of sacrifice versus justice precisely indicates the evolutionary cycle of the present. The vengeance of sacrifice versus the change of justice is the decision we are being asked to make. Will we choose to repeat another cycle, possibly our last? Or, will we see the whole truth of something more, our collective potential, and choose a conscious evolution toward justice and evolutionary change? Justice is the truth seen from the top of the pyramid after a hard climb, that offers us the change we crave and provides the impetus to reorganize for higher good, more love, and harmonious compassionate beingness.
"Come to the Table" is the invocation of Extinction Rebellion's latest activism. Without blaming nor shaming, in non-violent direct action to encourage people, elites and all, 'come to the table': this may be our last chance!
It is time for evolution not revolution. Time for us all to recognize our many aspects as human beings and focus on the ones we want to grow. And love and forgive our folibles. Thank you for helping me recognize and get out of the blame game.
"Could we build society around other instincts: the instinct for compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation?" I sure hope so! Been hoping all this life for just such.
Our rituals of sacrifice are innate because there's an emotional cost to civilization that must be paid. It was the codes of morality and retribution which founded the order that cities flourished under. Consider how many people watch the executions of their loved-one's murderer.
The sociological landscape is more like a sea and any illusion of being risen up above it is just the passing of another wave in the storm of the mass psyche.
Certainly we've pushed ourselves with concepts like the body and blood of Christ to not require actual sacrifice to maintain the social order but...cultures and belief are in a terrible state of upheaval right now. Hopefully it all shakes out.
Charles Eisenstein, I would like to experience a new dimension to your work if possible: at the end a short summary of (for example) "The Sacrificial King". Charles thanks for reading.
Thank you for your beautiful writing on this subject. It's easy to feel frightened in this disturbing time. I'm vaccinated but upset by the mob mentality and the implications of vax passports. Your writing is both illuminating and calming. I'm trying to do my part on my new Substack. But still referring others to your essays. Peace and love, and gratitude.
You're illuminating all of this at the proper level of abstraction, and I appreciate it. It is easy to get caught up in the constantly shifting "factual" predicate of what's going on at the ground level, but, aside from being an impossible task in the face of aggressive propaganda campaigns, that misses the point. The real story of the pandemic is a story of mass insanity, the kind we see repeated throughout history and the kind our education system is supposedly designed in part to mitigate (but has failed miserably in that task).
In 2008, hip hop artist Lupe Fiasco wrote a brilliant song using a pandemic as a metaphor for mass insanity. The layers of meaning become particularly interesting in today's context, as we have mass insanity being triggered by a (sort of) pandemic:
"Disease, the virus is spreading in all directions
No safe zone no cure and no protection
No symptoms define the signs of an infection
No vaccines, remedies, and no corrections
Quarantine the dreams and seal off the connections
Don't let them in, not a friend, not a reflection
Everybody's got it and want you to have it next and
Don't accept them if you want to stay as an exception
No pill can heal the ill of this
Sickness, some are still in doubt of its existence
Some call it forgiveness and some call it the vengeance
Some say it's an exit and some say it's an entrance
The poor say the rich have the cure
The rich say the poor are the source
Revolutionaries say it's psychological war
Invented by the press, just to have something to report
Some say the first case came from a maternity ward
Some say a morgue, some say the skies, some say the floors
Whores say the nuns, nuns say the whores
And everybody is sure
The scientist say it only affects the mind
The little boy said it only affects the girls
The preacher man said it's going to kill off the soul
A bum said it's gonna kill the whole wide world"
Charles plays oracle, and sage, citing the first rule of hip hop: don’t slay the player, remake the Game.
blessings brother.
Much appreciated and very timely. I wonder if Biden's new vax mandate is an act of desperation to defer the public from wanting to sacrifice him? His ratings have plummeted and then his strategists come out with his get tough speech on the unvaxxed. "We've been patient with you, but our patience is wearing thin." And, "This is a pandemic of the unvaxxed".
Also, nice prescience on maybe the priests created the curse! Turns out they did, huh?? Can't make this stuff up, man, what a story.
Yes, we could and should build society round other instincts, compassion, forgiveness and love for others - it was revolutionary when Jesus preached it and sadly still is - even within the churches which go by His Name!
Rites of sacrifice versus justice precisely indicates the evolutionary cycle of the present. The vengeance of sacrifice versus the change of justice is the decision we are being asked to make. Will we choose to repeat another cycle, possibly our last? Or, will we see the whole truth of something more, our collective potential, and choose a conscious evolution toward justice and evolutionary change? Justice is the truth seen from the top of the pyramid after a hard climb, that offers us the change we crave and provides the impetus to reorganize for higher good, more love, and harmonious compassionate beingness.
"Come to the Table" is the invocation of Extinction Rebellion's latest activism. Without blaming nor shaming, in non-violent direct action to encourage people, elites and all, 'come to the table': this may be our last chance!
Thanks Charles. I like getting different takes on the world situation. Here are two others I got this week -- https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/EvoLens96:0 --and-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c56LLCYG9fE
It is time for evolution not revolution. Time for us all to recognize our many aspects as human beings and focus on the ones we want to grow. And love and forgive our folibles. Thank you for helping me recognize and get out of the blame game.
"Could we build society around other instincts: the instinct for compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation?" I sure hope so! Been hoping all this life for just such.
My favorite sacrificial lamb was Martha Stewart back in the day. Now we have Ghislaine Maxwell and Elizabeth Holmes to lead to slaughter for our sins.
Our rituals of sacrifice are innate because there's an emotional cost to civilization that must be paid. It was the codes of morality and retribution which founded the order that cities flourished under. Consider how many people watch the executions of their loved-one's murderer.
The sociological landscape is more like a sea and any illusion of being risen up above it is just the passing of another wave in the storm of the mass psyche.
Certainly we've pushed ourselves with concepts like the body and blood of Christ to not require actual sacrifice to maintain the social order but...cultures and belief are in a terrible state of upheaval right now. Hopefully it all shakes out.
Perfectly timed. Thank you
Charles Eisenstein, I would like to experience a new dimension to your work if possible: at the end a short summary of (for example) "The Sacrificial King". Charles thanks for reading.
I am never forgiving these people. No.
Yes, we can and will by focusing on a vision of the world our hearts know is possible.
Thank you for your beautiful writing on this subject. It's easy to feel frightened in this disturbing time. I'm vaccinated but upset by the mob mentality and the implications of vax passports. Your writing is both illuminating and calming. I'm trying to do my part on my new Substack. But still referring others to your essays. Peace and love, and gratitude.