In a more enlightened world, the discovery of a readily observable, highly focused, and deeply effective system of self-knowledge would beHeadline News. Unfortunately, we live in an era where our values are extremely externalized with regard to the material, psychological and spiritual dimensions of our lives. In our culture, "more" is decidedly better, genuine self-reflection is rare, and God or what the Native Americans would call the Great Mystery exists solely as a belief in a…

The Christmas turkey

I'll cook with methane:  Oh dear,

the turkey is me.

When you say goodbye to the oil age, say it with conviction.

Say it like you mean to plant that new forest, row that boat

and join the other 7 billion to place your feet on earth and

help your fellow passengers from the shipwreck we called

civilisation.

15.7.12

By sensational happenstance I found a copy of Jefferies' novel "After London Wild England" in a second hand bookstore yesterday. I am now really keen to read more in the way of 'collapse' literature. Perhaps we can learn from the wonder and despair of the late 19th century when they were going through their round of grappling with the march of progress, just as we are 130 or so years later. 

Wild England is great in a rather sad and analytical sort of a way. I also want to read…

For those of you who missed this Monbiot article I thought it was worth adding here. It found me through RSN, no not the Royal Society of Nurses but Reader Supported News.

Alan

After 800 Years, the Barons Are Back in Control of Britain

By George Monbiot, Guardian UK

17 July 12

The Magna Carta forced King John to give away powers. But big business now exerts a chilling…

Immerse and enjoy. 

Introduction

(From notes written on Penzance to Truro train in December 2011).

An announcement by Harry Hathaway from United Bank of Switzerland preceding the Euro Summit circa December 9th 2011, that if the Euro suffered financial collapse that the best investments would be 'gold, tinned food and small calibre guns'.

My thoughts crystallized. I discussed our family's credible consumption of baked beans and we agreed on 3 tins(410g) per week. At that time Morrisons…