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I think Paul makes some very good points. If you think anything like I do, you downplay - a bit - Harvard's status. On the other hand, it is Harvard, and people there tend, on the whole, to be circumspect. If they have an M.Phil. in Consciousness studies (minus names of gurus), there's no reason for us not to approach them that I can think of. Our project dovetails with theirs, if we can figure out whether or not we can speak with them.
Michael: We need a clear Statement of Purpose and Goals.
The program description (given what I've read below) puts forth a lot of interesting names and ideas, but bullet-pointing it might be more effective: for our purposes, and for theirs.
I hope I'm not stepping on toes, but it's always to be, "win-win." They have needs (yes, even Harvard), and so do we.
Again, it's time to act. Ideas are great, but we have to implement them. Harvard might feel that the "fancy language" is sufficiently seductive to draw talented minds in. But we know better: if they don't have relatively crystal-clear understandings of the problems we're confronting, it's a sham.
So let's work.
I want to hear your ideas. (Blast me if need be.)
Larry Fike
http://www.larryfike.com>>>
-----Original Message-----
From: M Monterey <ecotectura.mm@gmail.com>
To: Paul Wildman <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: Michael Monterey <[log in to unmask]>; Jennifer G <[log in to unmask]>; toyin adepoju <[log in to unmask]>; Larry Fike <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]; Iona Miller <[log in to unmask]>; [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, Jun 15, 2010 8:47 pm
Subject: Re: FW: ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC Digest - 13 Jun 2010 to 14 Jun 2010 (#2010-125)
Paul, et al,
Thanks for passing along this fanciful flight of academic magical thinking. I tend to think that the kind of course and criteria envisioned would be part of a new, green paradigm reality worth co-creating.
Why I'd even be able to skip the drudgery of doing undergrad required credit courses, then use several extant works as dissetations for multiple doctorates! Oh, my!!!
Such a thought would strike terror into the delicate egos of all echelons of mediocracy. So, they'll probably keep refusing to think it and go on with business as usual.
But such a program may be possible in colleges and universities less beholden to the forces of dynamic conservatism, terminal boomeritis, and the status quo. Unfortunately, it seems most of them are newage degree mills so far beyond any reasonably balanced Pale that they would shun such pragmatically primitive psychotherapy for being too successful, thus making all the other disciplines look wimpy, silly, and inferior by comparison, which might tend to cause a progressive decline in overall tuition revenue or some other financially or psychosocially calamitous disruption of comfortable routines, investments, and entertainments on the part of the owners, administrators, and/or the faculty culture -- in other words, throwing the whole lot into pandemonium or some kind of sinister plot to make life hell for the interlopers and whomever was foolish enough to let them in and/or aid & abet them!
But - wait! I could probably develop something similar with the Naropa Institute in Boulder, CO, using Himalayan Tantric Shamanic metaphysics & techniques! Hmm...
Jennifer, would you like to dance?
Thanks,
Michael Monterey :: 760 500 6171
Custom green design, millennial sustainability, and ageless beauty for the most livable future.
Ecotectura :: ecotectura.ning.com / michaelmonterey.wordpress.com
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 6:04 PM, Paul Wildman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Michael and Jenny fyi ciao paul ps thought this may be of interest
-----Original Message-----
From: Iona Miller [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, 15 June 2010 10:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
Subject: Fw: ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC Digest - 13 Jun 2010 to 14 Jun 2010
(#2010-125)
Indistinguishable from an "Avatar" programming
what's taught at the top...
Blue skies,
Iona Miller, [log in to unmask]
http://ionamiller2010.iwarp.com
"May Your Lead Turn to Gold"
--- On Mon, 6/14/10, ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC automatic digest system
> From: ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC automatic digest system
<[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC Digest - 13 Jun 2010 to 14 Jun 2010
(#2010-125)
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Monday, June 14, 2010, 4:02 PM
> There is 1 message totaling 232 lines
> in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. INITIATION INTO OLOKUN PRIESTHOOD AT CENTRE OF
> HARVARD UNIVERSITY MPHIL
> IN CONSCIOUSNESS STUDIES:AN
> EXERCISE IN SCENARIO BUILDING
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:44:47 +0100
> From: toyin adepoju <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: INITIATION INTO OLOKUN PRIESTHOOD AT CENTRE OF
> HARVARD UNIVERSITY MPHIL IN CONSCIOUSNESS STUDIES:AN
> EXERCISE IN SCENARIO BUILDING
>
> *INITIATION INTO OLOKUN PRIESTHOOD AT CENTRE OF
> HARVARD UNIVERSITY MPHIL
> IN CONSCIOUSNESS STUDIES*
> *
> *
> *
>
>
> AN EXERCISE IN
> SCENARIO BUILDING*
>
>
>
>
>
> Toyin
> Adepoju
>
>
>
> " The two year MPhil in Consciousness Studies at Harvard is
> centred on the
> practical exploration of expansions of consciousness
> developed in terms of
> animistic conceptions of sentience in relation to
> the global oceanic
> space.Developments in consciousness studies in the past ten
> years
> have developed an appreciation of the experimental value of
> modalities of
> expansion of consciousness represented by the kinetics of
> ritual and this
> course takes on board both this practical orientation and
> a
> reflexive engagement with these theories.Etic and emic
> perspectives,insider
> and outsider approaches, are deployed as the student
> immerses themselves in
> ritual and engages in the reflexive relationship with
> ritual.
>
> This immersive and reflexive activity is complemented by
> broad and deep
> training in the conceptions of consciousness developed by
> neuroscience,philosophy of mind, anthropology, philosophy
> of
> religion, among other disciplines. The arts of
> dance,literature and the
> fine arts are also engaged with as a method of
> exploring creative
> potentialities vitalised and stimulated by ritual
> action.
>
> The course is taught by experts who,as practitioners of
> immersive,experiential but reflexively,self examining
> critical scholarship have undergone initiations in centres
> of ritual
> activity in African spiritualities in
> Africa,Europe,the Americas and
> the Caribbean.Some of the staff are not only
> initiates they act
> as consultants for corporate bodies on issues of
> creativity,ecology
> and environment
>
> This course has proven most helpful to students in the
> development of both
> creativity and critical thinking.Harvard has become a
> centre for workshops
> in this emerging discipline as
> executives,politicians,writers, artists and
> people from various walks of life take part in
> weekend workshops developed
> through the course as a means of developing their
> creativity
> and critical thinking.
>
>
> *Admission criteria*: A first degree in any discipline.In
> the absence of a
> degree, comparable achievement in another field can be
> considered. Foreign students are especially encouraged to
> apply so they can
> enrich the course through their encounter with non-Western
> world
> views. Harvard's campus is a multiracial space
> where people of
> all nationalities feel at home".
>
>
> What is written above is a style used in academia.They way
> I have presented
> it is almost a parody .I translate it below into ordinary
> English.The
> translation is a rough approximation though:
>
>
> The two year MPhil in Consciousness Studies at Harvard is
> centred on
> initiation into the priesthood of Olokun, understood as the
> spirit of the
> world's oceans. *[ *That is what is meant b*y "practical
> exploration
> of expansions of consciousness developed in terms
> of animistic conceptions
> of sentience in relation to the global oceanic
> space"*].Developments in
> consciousness studies in the past ten years have shown
> that
> magical initiations actually work in opening the mind to
> new knowledge and
> we shall practice these initiations and do a critical study
> of them [ That
> is what is meant by "*an appreciation of the experimental
> value of
> modalities of expansion of consciousness represented by the
> kinetics of
> ritual and this course takes on board both this practical
> orientation and a
> reflexive engagement with these theories"*].
>
> While being initiated into Olokun priesthood,we shall
> relate
> the experience to relevant disciplines in
> the scientific and qualitative study of the mind.These
> include neuroscience,philosophy of mind, anthropology the
> philosophy of
> religion.Olokun initiation is also known to make one more
> creative
> and practical explorations in such arts as dance,literature
> and the fine
> arts are developed in workshops.In fact,Benin Olokun
> priests are known for
> their graphic and mud art and intricate dance forms.
> [That is what is meant by "*This immersive and
> reflexive activity is
> complemented by broad and deep training in the conceptions
> of consciousness
> developed by *developed by *neuroscience,philosophy of
> mind, anthropology,
> philosophy of religion, among other disciplines*. *The
> arts,dance,literature
> and the fine arts are also engaged with as a method of
> exploring
> creative potentialities as vitalised and stimulated
> by ritual action*".]
>
> Olokun initiation is meant to help the priest gain
> wealth, perhaps through stimulating creativity and so those
> who are pursue
> wealth,power and creativity come for Olokun
> initiation [That is what is
> meant by "*This course has proven most helpful in the
> development of both
> creativity and critical thinking. Harvard has become a
> centre for workshops in this emerging discipline as
> executives and
> politicians take part in weekend workshops developed
> through the course as
> amens of developing their creativity"*.]
>
> Foreign students are highly valued because they could bring
> their first
> hand knowledge of these practices to enrich the course.
> [That is what is
> meant by "Foreign students are especially encouraged to
> apply so they can
> enrich the course through their encounter with non-Western
> world views"]
>
> End of translation.
>
> Now,this course does not exist, as far as I know. I made it
> up.But
> I believe you get the idea.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of ACADEMIC-STUDY-MAGIC Digest - 13 Jun 2010 to 14 Jun
> 2010 (#2010-125)
>
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**
>