(Image from imdb.com)
“That which will be has already been.”
–Rev. Frank Rochester (played by Steve Harris) to Sgt. Hank Voight (played by Jason Beghe) in Chicago P.D., Season 7
(Image from NBC.com)
“I don’t want you to be me. That’s my job. I want you to be you.”
–Hank Voight (played by Jason Beghe) to Detective Hailey Upton (played by Tracy Spiridakos) in Chicago P.D., Season 7
| View the Dialogue There are multiple books and articles critical of empathy that are coming out. I’ve reach out to all of the authors and asked the dialogue about their criticisms. Most of the critics refuse to talk with me, which I find diminishes the validity of their arguments. I find that most of the criticisms come down to a misunderstanding of the definition of empathy. One author critical of empathy, Kevin Waldman, was recently willing to dialogue and we had a wonderful conversation. His article was published in the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers entitled, “The dangerous consequences of radical empathy unchecked by reason.” Kevin criticizes “radical empathy” on campuses as performative and harmful, leading to the radicalization of students. I explained the Wholistic Definition Model of Empathy. In the end, we agreed on the importance of mutual empathy, listening and dialogue in fostering understanding and reducing extremism. I proposed using Empathy Circles to facilitate empathic listening and dialogue, aiming to bridge political and social divides. Kevin now plans to host Empathy Circles at his University to foster constructive dialogue. –Edwin Rutsch |
Responding With Awkward Pause Or By Changing Subject Said To Make Things Worse
Published: May 20, 2025 (TheOnion.com)
ORLANDO, FL—Emphasizing that it’s just words, after all, a team of relationship experts issued a recommendation Thursday that stressed the importance of saying “I love you” even if you don’t mean it. “It can be stressful when a significant other prompts you to verbalize your affection, but if you immediately say ‘I love you,’ you can avoid making things even more stressful,” couples therapist Randall Woodard told reporters, explaining that sometimes you just have to “fake it until you make it,” and that’s even more true when it comes to expressing love for your partner. “We actually recommend saying ‘I love you’ as soon as possible after meeting someone, regardless of your true feelings. Ultimately, adult relationships are something you have to deal with even if, deep inside, you’re filled with nothing more than a general numbness and you aren’t sure you’re capable of achieving a genuine emotional attachment to another person. The reality is that partners enjoy hearing ‘I love you’ and never know whether you’re saying it sincerely or not.” Woodard went on to offer a reminder that “I love you” is most effective when spoken during a fight, as it essentially functions as a get-out-of-jail-free card.
| The Prince of Swords On a day ruled by the Prince of Swords it will be our inner world we need to direct our attention towards. We need to study our thoughts, and allow them the time to extend. Too often a thought crosses our mind and we are unable to give that thought the room to grow and develop until it achieves its maximum potential – and because this happens very often we fail to live up to ourselves too.So try to set time aside for quiet inner contemplation when the Prince of Swords is having an influence. Think about your own opinions on given topics, not necessarily personal ones… but more general issues as well. You know, often we fail to converse with ourselves even to the extent that we converse with our acquaintances. We take for granted what we think and what we know, even though our opinions may not have been revised in years.As constantly growing individuals, our opinions certainly will change on some subjects… and if we don’t give ourselves the time to check them out every now and again, we can become alienated from our own development. This can lead to all kinds of problems – see the Eight, Nine and Ten of Swords for examples of this.Ask yourself questions like… what’s your favourite food? When did you last eat it? Which was your happiest holiday so far? Why? What’s your current favourite garment in your wardrobe? Why? What happy memories do you have of the last week? What’s the best thing that happened this year so far?In having this conversation with yourself, you will almost certainly come across things that you had not placed much importance on before… and these things will have slid into your subconscious mind… from where they could later surface unexpectedly.Get to know yourself, and then stay in close contact… you’re the very best friend you could ever have – make friends with yourself!! Affirmation: “I look within, and grow to understand myself.” |
(Angelpaths.com)
| THOM HARTMANN MAY 21, 2025 |
The question of whether human consciousness can influence the physical world has fascinated scientists and philosophers for centuries. In recent years, Dean Radin and his team at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) have conducted groundbreaking experiments to explore this possibility.
One of their most intriguing studies involved using the internet to test whether individuals could remotely influence the behavior of photons in a classic double-slit experiment—a cornerstone of quantum mechanics. The findings challenge traditional notions of separation between mind and matter, suggesting that consciousness might play a direct role in shaping reality.
To appreciate the significance of Radin’s work, it helps to understand the double-slit experiment. In this setup, photons—particles of light—are fired at a barrier with two slits. When unobserved, the photons behave like waves, passing through both slits simultaneously and creating an interference pattern on a screen behind the barrier.
However, when a measuring device observes which slit a photon passes through, the interference pattern disappears, and the photons behave like particles. This phenomenon, known as wave-particle duality, has puzzled physicists for decades and raises profound questions about the role of observation in determining physical reality.
Radin and his team sought to take this experiment one step further by investigating whether human consciousness alone could influence the behavior of photons. In their study, participants were instructed to focus their attention on the double-slit apparatus and “will” the photons to behave as particles rather than waves.
Remarkably, instead of requiring physical presence, this experiment allowed participants from around the world to participate remotely via the internet. Using a sophisticated interface, individuals directed their intentions toward the apparatus, attempting to collapse the wave function into a particle-like pattern.
The results were extraordinary. Statistical analysis revealed that when participants focused their attention on the experiment, the interference pattern diminished, indicating a shift toward particle-like behavior.
This effect, though subtle, was consistent enough to suggest that human consciousness had a measurable impact on the photons’ behavior. Control periods, during which no one was directing their attention at the apparatus, showed no significant deviations from the expected interference pattern, further validating the findings.
These results challenge the traditional boundaries between observer and observed, suggesting that consciousness is not merely a passive bystander but an active participant in the unfolding of physical events.
Radin’s work aligns with interpretations of quantum mechanics that posit a fundamental role for the observer in shaping reality. It also resonates with the idea that the universe is deeply interconnected, with consciousness serving as a bridge between the mental and physical realms.
Expanding on these findings, Radin and his colleagues propose that if consciousness can influence photons in a double-slit experiment, it might also affect other particles and waves throughout the universe.
This idea raises profound questions about the scope of human and non-human influence on the cosmos. Could every particle in existence be subject to the subtle intentions of conscious beings?
If so, this implies a level of agency and interconnectedness that challenges the materialist view of the universe as a purely mechanistic system.
One possible explanation for these effects lies in the concept of entanglement. In quantum mechanics, entangled particles remain interconnected regardless of distance, such that the state of one particle instantly influences the state of the other.
Radin’s work suggests that consciousness itself might be a kind of universal entanglement, capable of influencing matter across space and time.
This perspective opens up fascinating possibilities for understanding phenomena such as synchronicity, psychic experiences, and the placebo effect, all of which might involve subtle interactions between mind and matter.
Critics of this research often point to the small effect sizes and the difficulty of replicating such studies. They argue that the observed results could be due to statistical anomalies, experimental biases, or uncontrolled variables.
Radin and his team have addressed these concerns by employing rigorous protocols, including randomized controls and extensive data analysis. While the effects are indeed subtle, their consistency across multiple experiments lends credibility to the hypothesis that consciousness influences physical systems.
The implications of Radin’s findings are profound and far-reaching. If consciousness can influence particles at the quantum level, it suggests that human intentions might play a role in shaping not only individual events but also larger systems. This idea aligns with ancient spiritual traditions that emphasize the power of thought and intention to affect reality.
It also raises ethical and philosophical questions about our responsibility as conscious beings. If our minds influence the fabric of the universe, what kind of reality are we collectively creating?
Radin’s research also invites speculation about the role of non-human consciousness in influencing matter.
If consciousness is a universal phenomenon, as some theories propose, then it might not be limited to humans. Animals, plants, and even ecosystems could contribute to the shaping of reality through their own forms of awareness. This perspective aligns with indigenous worldviews that regard all life as interconnected and imbued with spirit.
Another intriguing implication is the potential for technology to harness the power of consciousness. If human intention can influence quantum systems, it might be possible to design devices that amplify or channel this effect for practical applications.
Such technologies could revolutionize fields like medicine, energy, and communication, enabling us to interact with the physical world in ways that were once considered science fiction.
At its core, Radin’s work challenges us to rethink the nature of reality and our place within it. It suggests that consciousness is not a byproduct of the brain but a fundamental aspect of the universe, capable of influencing matter at the most basic level.
This perspective bridges the gap between science and spirituality, offering a unified view of existence in which mind and matter are deeply intertwined.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the esoteric concept. For the album by Smak, see Egregor (album).
An egregore (also spelled egregor; from French égrégore, from Ancient Greek ἐγρήγορος, egrēgoros ‘wakeful’) is a concept in Western esotericism of a non-physical entity or thoughtform that arises from the collective thoughts and emotions of a distinct group of individuals.[1][2][3]
In magical and other occult traditions, it is typically seen as having an independent existence, but in other kinds of esotericism, it is merely the collective mind of a religious community, either esoteric or exoteric. In the latter sense, as a collective mind, the term collective entity, preferred by René Guénon, is synonymous with egregore.[1] See the usage overview below.
In the apocryphal Book of Enoch, the term referred to angelic beings known as watchers,[4][5] and was also used by associated (Enochian) traditions to refer to the specific rituals and practices associated with these entities.[6] Some other literary and religious works, such as The Manuscript Found in Saragossa, have also made references to these angelic beings.[7]
Main article: Watcher (angel)
Egregores are quite independent entities in the Book of Enoch, and there was then no notion that they arose from a collective. In literature, especially older literature, “egregores” have often been straightforward references to these Enochian entities. This is the case in Jan Potocki’s novel The Manuscript Found in Saragossa, which calls egregores “the most illustrious of fallen angels”.[7] The French author Victor Hugo, in La Légende des siècles (1859) (“The Legend of the Ages”), also uses the word égrégore, first as an adjective, then as a noun, while leaving the meaning obscure.[8]
The Traditionalist School philosopher Julius Evola, in his Revolt Against the Modern World, referred to an elite of spiritually aware people, who keep Tradition alive,[8][9] as “those who are awake, whom in Greek are called the εγρῄγοροι”,[9] apparently alluding to the Watchers,[8] and the most literal sense of their name, which is “wakeful” or “awake”.
In esotericism, “egregore” has been used to denote a “group mind”[2] or “collective consciousness” of a religious community. René Guénon said, “the collective, in its psychic as well as its corporeal aspects, is nothing but a simple extension of the individual, and thus has absolutely nothing transcendent with respect to it, as opposed to spiritual influences, which are of a wholly different order”.[1] This usage was followed by Gnosis magazine[2] and by Olavo de Carvalho,[10] and, according to Guénon, began with Éliphas Lévi.[1]
See also: Tulpa
Some authors seem to have merged the esoteric concept with the Enochian concept to arrive at an idea of “spiritual entities” that “feed off the thoughts and energy of a unified multitude”,[11] as the website Occultist.net described it, while nevertheless having more of a life of their own; their more specific features and powers depend on the author. Kate Strong, writing for the newsletter “Know Thyself, Heal Thyself”, called egregores “symbols, ideas, or ideals that exist in the collective psyche of a group of people and are thought to have an autonomous existence”.[12] This usage seems to have come largely from the Meditations on the Tarot. The concept of a tulpa is similar, as Gary Lachman[13] and Mark Stavish[8] noted.
The Meditations on the Tarot describe the Antichrist as “an egregore, an artificial being who owes his existence to collective generation from below“. Elsewhere, the book calls egregores “demons engendered by the collective will and imagination of nations”.[14] The book cites, but does not completely agree with, the usage of Robert Ambelain in his La Kabbale pratique. Ambelain defined the egregore as “a force generated by a powerful spiritual current and then nourished at regular intervals, according to a rhythm in harmony with the universal life of the cosmos, or to a union of entities united by a common characteristic nature”. The author of the Meditations on the Tarot calls this passage from Ambelain “a definition which leaves nothing more to be desired”, but disagrees with Ambelain’s description of Catholicism, Freemasonry, and Protestantism as egregores.[14]
Gary Lachman follows the usage of the Meditations on the Tarot in his book Dark Star Rising, which also suggests that Pepe the Frog may be an egregore in this sense—or a tulpa, which Lachman sees as a similar phenomenon.[13] In the usage of Lachman and of the Meditations on the Tarot, “there are no ‘good’ egregores, only ‘negative’ ones”.[13] Lachman cited Joscelyn Godwin’s The Golden Thread, which itself cited the Meditations on the Tarot,[15] as a source for the idea that, while a religious (or other) group who creates an egregore can “rely” on it as “an efficacious magical ally”, “the egregore’s help comes at a price”,[13] since, as Godwin put it, its creators must thenceforth meet the egregore’s “unlimited appetite for their future devotion”.[15][13]
New Thinking • May 20, 2025 Tom Campbell, a physicist, is author of the three volume set, My Big TOE, describing a meta-theory that offers an account of the paranormal, as well as other scientific mysteries. He is also the founder of the Center for Unification of Science and Consciousness. His website is https://www.my-big-toe.com/ In this 3.5 hour video, he explains that his meta-theory is based on the absolute foundational primacy of consciousness. He points out that the larger consciousness system both creates the simulation in which we exist and interacts with it. He claims that many difficult scientific problems are resolved through this model, including the anthropic cosmological principal, tiny fluctuations observed in the speed of light, and the reality of paranormal phenomena. 00:00:00 Introduction to computer simulations 00:25:19 The goal of reducing entropy 00:44:04 The simulation is more than a metaphor 01:05:48 Paranormal phenomena & the Fermi Paradox 01:23:45 Scientific falsifiability 01:41:29 It’s all information 01:59:21 Individuated units of Consciousness 02:27:41 The importance of reaching physicists 02:45:12 Who will control artificial intelligence? 03:08:57 The importance of commitment 03:26:12 Conclusion New Thinking Allowed host, Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD, is author of The Roots of Consciousness, Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man. Between 1986 and 2002 he hosted and co-produced the original Thinking Allowed public television series. He is the recipient of the only doctoral diploma in “parapsychology” ever awarded by an accredited university (University of California, Berkeley, 1980). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the 2021 Bigelow Institute essay competition regarding the best evidence for survival of human consciousness after permanent bodily death. He is Co-Director of Parapsychology Education at the California Institute for Human Science. (Recorded on April 10, 2025)
No Democracy Lasts Forever argues that the Constitution has become a threat to American democracy and must be dramatically changed or replaced if secession is to be avoided.
Deeply troubled by the Constitution’s inherent flaws, Erwin Chemerinsky, the renowned dean of Berkeley law school, came to the sobering conclusion that our nearly 250-year-old founding document is responsible for the crisis now facing American democracy. Pointing out that just fifteen of the 11,848 amendments proposed since 1789 have passed, Chemerinsky contends that the very nature of our polarization results from the Constitution’s “bad bones,” which have created a government that no longer works or has the confidence of the public. Yet political armageddon can still be avoided, Chemerinsky writes, if a new constitutional convention is empowered to replace the Constitution of 1787, much as the Founding Fathers replaced the outdated Articles of Confederation. If this isn’t possible, Americans must give serious thought to forms of secession—including a United States structured like the European Union—based on a recognition that what divides us as a country is, in fact, greater than what unites us.
(Goodreads.com)
