tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42871065732932864252024-02-19T17:23:24.089-08:00Reality is a cosmic joke, let's laughsoyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-20553214402155894252009-11-12T22:03:00.000-08:002009-11-12T22:20:53.655-08:00Realtime AV3D test Nov 12th 2009 @ Trip Bubble LabMidi Yoke<br />Midi OX<br />Ableton Live LE<br />Pure Data<br />Blender<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwAATzgxdAdLSXUnPv_JqRJ9DUlthEUei65y_psF6dlk9uN367DRWBxEMDiMB2HIsGnyjRo8OohN7nJSqUcRA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />Just a proof of concept, you can control, events, actions, messages, parameters, orientation, whatever of any 3d generative scene from a midi sequencer / live engine and create ultra high frame rate, HD res AV Xperience...<br /><br />Initial example from http://www.local-guru.net/blog/2009/03/08/using-the-blendergameengine-as-osc-client<br /><br />PD Script, set midi in to your midi device<br />-----------------------------------<br />#N canvas 627 256 450 300 10;<br />#X obj 76 51 loadbang;<br />#X obj 76 210 sendOSC;<br />#X msg 76 76 connect localhost 1234;<br />#X msg 88 181 send /color \$1;<br />#X obj 279 27 ctlin;<br />#X floatatom 282 62 5 0 0 0 - - -;<br />#X floatatom 323 97 5 0 0 0 - - -;<br />#X obj 150 -61 notein;<br />#X obj 387 76 vradio 15 1 0 8 empty empty empty 0 -8 0 10 -262144 -1<br />-1 0;<br />#X obj 52 16 hsl 128 15 0 127 0 0 empty empty empty -2 -8 0 10 -262144<br />-1 -1 1900 1;<br />#X floatatom 113 151 5 0 0 0 - - -;<br />#X floatatom 336 132 5 0 0 0 - - -;<br />#X obj 97 121 *;<br />#X floatatom 192 115 5 0 0 0 - - -;<br />#X connect 0 0 2 0;<br />#X connect 2 0 1 0;<br />#X connect 3 0 1 0;<br />#X connect 4 0 13 0;<br />#X connect 4 1 5 0;<br />#X connect 4 2 6 0;<br />#X connect 6 0 11 0;<br />#X connect 7 0 9 0;<br />#X connect 9 0 12 0;<br />#X connect 10 0 3 0;<br />#X connect 12 0 10 0;<br />#X connect 13 0 12 1;soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-66600449551275230092009-08-28T09:02:00.000-07:002009-08-28T09:05:26.719-07:00Killer Mozilla Extensions : Firefox & Thuderbirds most useful add-ons<span style="font-weight: bold;">Firefox</span><br />Adblock Plus<br />Autocopy<br />Autodial<br />Bugmenot<br />Cooliris<br />CustomizeGoogle<br />DeliciousBookmarks<br />DragDropupload<br />FireBug<br />FoxCLocks<br />Rememberthemilk for GMail<br />Tempomail<br />Ubiquity<br />Zotero<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Thunderbird</span><br />ContextAddress<br />Lightning<br />Gcal ext<br /><a href="http://nic-nac-project.de/%7Ekaosmos/mboximport-en.html">ImportExportTools</a><br />Zindussoyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-41435439207841900002009-08-27T21:48:00.000-07:002009-08-27T21:53:08.163-07:00Feeds, RSS and ATOMDo you realize how much the way we handle our data controls our cognitive liberty ?<br /><br />Very interesting, especially the feed auto-discovery mode of Atom, makes one think about possible emergent dynamics between human consciousness.<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS">Wikipedia RSS</a> and a <a href=" http://www.problogger.net/archives/2006/03/30/rss-vs-atom-whats-the-big-deal/">comparison with Atom</a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-23972492931427649432009-07-10T13:12:00.000-07:002010-01-08T10:28:24.405-08:00Paradigm shift in brain-mind sciences : implications of enaction for personal ethics and society<span style="font-style:italic;">This is the outline of a conference I had proposed for Reboot Now conference in 2008 (cancelled)</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">From solid reality to flexible intersubjectivity</span><br /><br />In modern enactive cognitive science worldview, we are "moving from a world seen as a collection of objects to a world seen as a communion of subjects". That is to say scientists no longer believe that the world out there exists independently of us, rather, the self and the world are co-determining each other. Enactive cognitive science was born thanks to chilean scientists Francesco Varela & Umberto Maturana, it emphasizes the importance of autonomy in living beings. The concept of intersubjectivity, central to the enactive theory, radically modifies the status given to what we usually experience as and call "reality". Reason and emotion are no longer kept apart in this holistic approach.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Synchronization and resonance</span><br /><br />Modern oscillatory theories of consciousness apply both at the individual and collective level, meaning that small local actions can have a tremendous impact on the global situation. Thus, man is no longer seen as a useless doll on the lower scale of the pyramid, unable of making things change but rather as a powerful enacter, part of a spheric net, who can spread social, political and ecological change through localised, synchronised, action. When carefully prepared, positive intended actions take place they can lead to alledgely "magical" results. "Highly advanced technology is indistinguishible form magic" : what have been thought by anthropologists to be primitive, naive, rituals are actually shamanic technologies, using carefuly designed procedures to unlock the potential non-ordinary possibilities of our brain-minds. By using entrainment techniques they achieve states of collective unification with high empathy. The importance of these "non-egocentric modes of consciousness" has been put forward recently by consciousness researchers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Art, Science, Spirituality : the distinction's only in your head</span><br /><br />This new scientific approach thus allows building bridges between ancient traditions's knowledge and modern science, between science, art and spirituality. It has led to various fruitful gathering between western scientists and tibetan scientists for instance. Nowadays, a growing number of techniques derived from eastern traditions are used by modern physicians and are scientifically shown to be very effective (eg Mindfulness based therapies). There is no contradiction between ancient wisdom and modern knowledge, they can work in a mutually enlightning fashion. Recent results show that the practive of meditation can be beneficial for a wide range of individuals. Scientists studying the mind are being ecouraged to practice meditation in order to get a first person, phenomenological, point of view that can be confronted to 'objective' knowledge. In Varela's view of a forthcoming "visionary science", there is room for Intuition and Emotion alongside Reason.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Towards a planetary consciousness</span><br /><br />Therefore, Science regains ethics and thus has something to say about society and politics. Too often science is used to validate a posteriori economic or ecological choices, actually dictated by the politico-industrial complex. By expanding collectively our field of awareness, we can experience a new cognitive liberty. On a practical level, this leads to the emergence of autonomous collective spaces dedicated to art, mind and sustainable alternative action (ecology, politics...). Within these special moments in space and time, exemplified by Gathering of the Tribes, Reboot Now, Convergence, etc.., hierarchy and ego-games fade away so as to achieve higher purposes, in a synergetic manner. People do become the change they want to see in the world and enter the global cosmic Glass Bead Game of human consciousness, following the way of the heart.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-61924682818571110252009-07-10T13:06:00.001-07:002009-07-10T13:51:14.357-07:00Trance and the Embodied Mind<span style="font-style:italic;">This is the title from a conference that I gave at Boom 2008 in the liminal village on August 12th</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Summary</span><br /><br />Modern cognitive science and shamanism will be used jointly to understand how trance techniques can alters one consciousness and what are the personal (body, mind, spiritual) and collective (social, legal, ethical) implications.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Abstract</span><br /><br />What is Trance ? What happens into our mind-body when we go into trance ?<br />The presentation will start by introducing the basics of sensory perception and conscious experience in the light of enactive science. We will then move on to examining altered states of consciousness and realize that the doorway to these non-ordinary realms lies in a specific use of trance. Trance systematically induces various modifications in the mind-body. This will be further discussed in the context of shamanic rituals. To what extend can this also apply to psychedelic festivals seen as modern rituals, as some researchers have recently suggested ? Trance can be a powerful catalyzer : a healing tool for personal and social harmony but also a hypnotic weapon for mass propaganda. Ethical issues and guidelines for a safe use of trance will be discussed. The future of human consciousness lies in the development of a loving, compassionate and responsible attitude, through a greater awareness of the link between the world and ourselves.There are various ways for a wise and educated use of trance to support a positive shift in society and individuals.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">(audio-visual content will be used as a non-verbal mean to illustrate key points)</span>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-85904394509763943592009-07-01T20:50:00.000-07:002009-07-01T20:54:41.947-07:00On the mechanism of Ibogaine addiction therapy - REM like stateIn the early 1960s, ibogaine was accidentally discovered to cause sudden and complete interruption of heroin addiction without withdrawal within 24 hours(Goutarel, n.d.; Alper, 2001; Krupitsky et al., 2002; Freedlander, n.d.)<br /><br />From : Alper, K. R. (2001). Ibogaine: a review. ALKALOIDS-NEW YORK-ACADEMIC PRESS-, 56, 2-38.<br /><br /><br />The French chemist Robert Goutarel (14) hypothesized that ibogaine treatment<br />involves a state with functional aspects shared by the brain states of REM sleep,<br />Goutarel suggested that a REM-like<br />state may be induced by ibogaine, which corresponds to a window of heightened<br />neural plasticity, during which there may be weakening of the pathological<br />linkages between cues and representations of the drug incentive and the motivational<br />states with which they have become paired (14). Analogous to the<br />reconsolidation of learned information that is thought to occur during the REM<br />state (192,193), Goutarel theorized that the pathological learning of addiction was<br />modified during ibogaine treatment. He appears to have based his theoretical<br />formulation mainly on reports of the phenomenological experiences of awake<br />ibogaine-treated subjects that share features in common with dreams. Goutarel’s<br />hypothesis is speculative, but nonetheless has an interesting apparent consistency<br />with the literature on the relationship of learning and addiction and the<br />physiologic function of the REM EEG state with regard to the consolidation of<br />learned information.<br />There is some evidence that may be viewed as consistent with Goutarel’s<br />hypothesis. Goutarel’s belief in a relationship of the ibogaine-treated EEG state<br />to that of REM is supported by studies in animals treated with ibogaine that report<br />an apparently activated or desynchronized EEG state consistent with arousal,<br />vigilance, or REM sleep (90,191). The observation that ibogaine enhanced an<br />atropine-sensitive theta frequency rhythm (191) suggests the possible<br />involvement of ascending cholinergic input, which is an essential determinant of<br />EEG desynchronization during REM sleep (192). The possible reconsolidation of<br />learned information due to heightened plasticity during both the REM and<br />ibogaine-induced desynchronized EEG states is suggested by the observation that<br />EEG dyssynchrony is associated with an increased facilitation of Hebbian<br />covariance (194), which is believed to be an important determinant of the neural<br />plasticity involved in consolidation of learning and memory. Also, with regard to<br />a possible analogy of the REM and ibogaine induced brain states, some ibogaine<br />treatment guides have anecdotally mentioned that they have observed REM-like<br />eye movements in awake patients during treatments (195,196).soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-55902930915469949382009-06-20T22:43:00.001-07:002009-06-21T08:28:24.038-07:00Yi-King SynchronicityI am currently working on a research report about music and the brain and get a lot of change and stimulation from the environment, just came back from NY. I am between contemplative bliss and excited crazy projects. Relaxed and aroused at the same time. Thinking about the relationship between spirituality and sexuality and what to do with the loving / kind potential we all are.<br /><br /><br />I feel really blessed to be here. Just asked the Yi-king and it comes so beautifully...<br /><br />HUAN : Dipersion (Dissolution) : <a href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?no=59&l=Yijing&lang=fr">FRENCH</a> <a href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?no=59&l=Yijing">ENGLISH</a><br /><br />...mentionning the sacred music and ritual collective celebrations that help flow and break rigidity, like the wind of the change of the buddha reality.<br /><br />Next on I just got is this one :<br /><br />CHIEN / Development (Gradual Progress) : <a href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&no=53&lang=fr">FRENCH</a> <a href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&no=53">ENGLISH</a><br /><br />Boomsoyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-49986729273469338282009-04-23T15:33:00.000-07:002009-04-23T15:35:09.707-07:00A picture of me... April 2009 !<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXh0IMpeWfUqdEHpORjys7FoRY__pGtqmBqxtC6YNwK_fcvbdwRRgU0hyphenhyphenxl71F9Wo3QKiPqAqy6vo8ush07uHIKjFdusSYGrdyGCkN_ArKre-LIf3J1DC0WnflXwB2ZuaYdzD-a9cv6Tz/s1600-h/Memes+Soyouth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXh0IMpeWfUqdEHpORjys7FoRY__pGtqmBqxtC6YNwK_fcvbdwRRgU0hyphenhyphenxl71F9Wo3QKiPqAqy6vo8ush07uHIKjFdusSYGrdyGCkN_ArKre-LIf3J1DC0WnflXwB2ZuaYdzD-a9cv6Tz/s400/Memes+Soyouth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328018926112720658" /></a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-22694296573524450232008-09-17T09:07:00.000-07:002008-09-17T09:10:06.109-07:00Announcing a NEW Publication of the Trance Research Foundation, Journal of Trance Theory and PracticePlease Pass Along <a href="http://www.trancefoundation.org/promo1.pdf">this document</a><br /><br />Announcing a NEW Publication of the Trance Research Foundation, Inc.<br />Journal of Trance Theory and Practice<br />Volume 1 No. 1 due January 2009<br /><br />Our mission is to promote dialog about the theoretical foundations and professional practice of trance analysis. We encourage the submission of manuscripts by colleagues as well as professionals in the mental health community with an interest in trance analysis. In particular, we welcome manuscripts of the following content:<br /><br />● Articles that examine, develop, or formulate aspects of trance theory and apply them to clinical<br />practice.<br />● Articles that deal with contemporary interpretations of trance theory and the practice of trance<br />analysis.<br />● Articles that use trance analysis to illuminate issues related to ethics.<br />● Articles that explore research relevant to the practice of trance analysis.<br />● Articles that explore the application of trance analytical techniques to meditation practices,<br />religions, addictions, contemporary society, the influence of behavior, charismatic personalities.<br />● Articles that explore the application of trance analysis to difficult or unique cases.<br /><br />The JTTP is open to review lectures, theses from candidates in training, and works in progress for which the author may like collegial feedback. Articles previously published in languages other than English may also be submitted for consideration.<br />For details about manuscript formats, style of references, etc., send a blank email to: jttp-info@trance.edu<br /><br />For information about the Trance Research Foundation, visit our web site at<br />www.trance.edu or send a blank email to: info@trance.edu<br /><br />The Trance Research Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt, educational and research membership organization and is active as a non-governmental organization in Roster Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.<br />Our purpose and mission is to promote awareness of trance worldwide through a variety of important international projects. Among our projects are the development of a uniform drug policy, education and prevention of exploitation of refugees,<br />education of youth regarding trance in order to prevent cult membership, drug abuse and at the same time promoting techniques of meditation which increases personal responsibility and power. Our vision includes the support trance research, to<br />publish books and informational material about trance, trance abuse, mind control, conflict resolution and many other subjects. Another important activity is providing trance analysis and training trance analysts, addiction counselors, training meditation and hypnosis teachers.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-23128102863076541712008-07-22T00:19:00.000-07:002008-07-22T00:23:26.522-07:00Save the internet !Internet Neutrality is at risk, big corporate companies want to filter out specific content when setting up the optic fiber networks. This would mean the end of user produced content !<br /><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://foureyedmonsters.com/neutrality/"><img src="http://foureyedmonsters.com/video_podcast/images/neutrality.jpg"></a><br/><a href="http://www.savetheinternet.com/">Save the Internet</a> | <a href="http://rockthevote.com/">Rock the Vote</a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-63782802657392705102008-07-15T00:53:00.000-07:002008-07-15T00:54:16.649-07:00Carrot Mob, great environmental idea !A very smart idea : how to get stores to become environmental friendly...<br /><br /><object width="400" height="302"> <param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=925729&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /> <embed src="http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=925729&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/925729?pg=embed&sec=925729">Carrotmob Makes It Rain</a> from <a href="http://www.vimeo.com/carrotmob?pg=embed&sec=925729">carrotmob</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com?pg=embed&sec=925729">Vimeo</a>.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-13395223935441453552008-04-30T04:44:00.000-07:002008-05-01T05:32:29.861-07:00Albert Hofmann Died (April 29 2008)He lived enough to see psychedelic research start again, to his greatest joy.<br />My best vibrations are with him<br /><br />Nothing lasts but nothing is lost<br /><br />Aum<br /><br />----<br /><br />Albert Hofmann, 11 January 1006 – 29 April 2008<br /><br />An Obituary by Dieter A. Hagenbach and Lucius Werthmüller<br /><br />At the age of 102 years, Albert Hofmann died peacefully last Tuesday morning, 29th April, in his home near Basel, Switzerland. Still last weekend we talked to him, and he expressed his great joy about the blooming plants and the fresh green of the meadows and trees around his house. His vitality and his open mind conducted him until his last breath.<br /><br />He is reputed to be one of the most important chemists of our times. He is the discoverer of LSD, which he considers, up to date, as both a "wonder drug" and a "problem child". In addition he did pioneering work as a researcher of other psychoactive substances as well as active agents of important medicinal plants and mushrooms. Under the spell of the consciousness-expanding potential of LSD the scientist turned increasingly into a philosopher of nature and a visionary critical of contemporary culture.<br /><br />Until his death Albert Hofmann remained active. He communicated with colleagues and experts from all over the world, gave interviews, and showed great interest in the world's affairs, although he decided to retire from public life already a few years ago. Nevertheless he welcomed visitors at his home on the Rittimatte, and opened the door for late in the evening.<br /><br />He managed to keep his almost childlike curiosity for the wonders of nature and creation. In his "paradise," as he would call his home, he enjoyed being close to nature, especially to plants. During one of our last visits he said to us with luminous eyes: "The Rittimatte is my second most important discovery." It was always a unique experience to stroll with him over his meadows and to share his enjoying the living nature all around.<br />Gratefully and lovingly we grieve for an outstanding scientist, an important philosopher, a dear and true friend, and our member of the board.<br /><br />Albert Hofmann was born on January 1906 in the quiet small town of Baden, Switzerland, as the eldest one of four children. His father is a toolmaker in a factory where he meets Albert’s mother-to-be; when he falls seriously ill, Albert has to support the family. That’s why he decides for a commercial apprenticeship. At the same time he starts studying Latin and other languages, since he wants to take his A-levels, which he succeeds in at a private school, paid for by a godfather.<br /><br />In 1926, at the age of twenty, Albert Hofmann begins to study chemistry at the University of Zurich. Four years later he does his doctorate with distinction. Subsequently he works at the Sandoz pharmaceutical-chemical research laboratory in Basel, a company to which he proves his loyalty for more than four uninterrupted decades. (In 1996 Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy merged to become Novartis.) That’s where he mainly works with medicinal plants and mushrooms. He's specifically interested in alkaloids (nitrogen compounds) of ergot, a cereal fungus. In 1938 he isolates the basic component of all therapeutically essential ergot alkaloids, lysergic acid; he mixes it with a series of chemicals. He then tests the effects of the thus derived lysergic acid derivatives as circulatory and respiratory stimulant – among others LSD-25 (Lysergic acid diethylamide). Because the effects observed fell short of expectations, however, the pharmacologists at Sandoz quickly lose interest in it.<br /><br />Five years later, following a "peculiar presentiment," Albert Hofmann devotes himself again to LSD-25. On 16 April 1943, while synthesizing, he is overcome by unusual sensations – "a remarkable restlessness, combined with a slight dizziness," – which prompt him to interrupt his laboratory work. "At home I lay down and sank into a not unpleasant intoxication like condition, characterized by an extremely stimulated imagination. In a dreamlike state, with eyes closed (I found the daylight too unpleasantly glaring), I perceived an uninterrupted stream of fantastic pictures, extraordinary shapes with intense, kaleidoscopic play of colors. After some two hours this condition faded away."<br /><br />Three days later, on 19 April 1943, Hofmann sets out for the first voluntary LSD trip in the history of man. Because he cannot yet judge the enormous efficacy of the drug, he takes, at 4:20 pm, with 250 microgram a relatively high dose – and gets to know the hallucinogenic power of the substance with all its intensity.<br />With his discovery of LSD Albert Hofmann has caused a snowball effect, which turns into an avalanche in no time. It influences the late second millennium – at least in the Western world – to an extent, comparable only to the "pill". Consciousness researchers respectfully spoke of an "atom bomb of the mind."<br /><br />To worldwide setting-in research Albert Hofmann makes essential contributions. So he is, in 1958, the first one to succeed in isolating the psychoactive substances psilocybin and psilocin from Mexican magic mushrooms (Psilocybe mexicana); in Ololiuqui, the seeds of a climbing plant, he finds substances related to LSD. He isolates and synthesizes substances of important medicinal plants in order to study their effects. His basic research blesses Sandoz with several successful remedies: Hydergine, an effective one in geriatrics, Dihydergot, a circulation- and blood-pressure stabilizing medicament, and Methergine, an active agent applied in gynecology. Hofmann stays with Sandoz until his retirement in 1971, last as head of the research department for natural medicines. From then on he devotes more and more of his time to writing and lecturing. He increasingly wins recognition for his scientific pioneering ventures: he is given honorary doctorates by the ETH Zurich, the Stockholm university, and the Berlin Free University; and he is called into the Nobel Prize Committee.<br /><br />Here, outstanding contributions to research were honored – but Albert Hofmann's life's work comprises much more. From the start he took a favorable view of efforts by physicians and psychotherapists to include LSD into new approaches for the treatment of manifold chronic diseases. But LSD isn't only useful with special diagnoses – it's Hofmann's firm belief that the "psychedelic" potential of this "wonder drug" could be beneficial to all of us. In LSD-induced altered states of consciousness its discoverer doesn’t only see psychotic delusions of a chemically manipulated mind, but windows to a higher reality – true spiritual experiences during which a normally deeply buried potential of our mind, the heavenly element of creation, our unity with it reveals itself. "The one-sided belief in the scientific view of life is based on a far-reaching misunderstanding," Hofmann says in his book Insight – Outlook. "Certainly, everything it contains is real – but this represents just one half of reality; only its material, quantifiable part. It lacks all those spiritual dimensions which cannot be described in physical or chemical terms; and it’s exactly these which include the most important characteristics of all life."<br /><br />It’s not the single consumer alone who profits from chemicals which help to understand these aspects of the world; for Hofmann it could help to heal deficits the Western world chronically suffers from: "Materialism, estrangement from nature (...), lack of professional fulfillment in a mechanized, lifeless world of employment, boredom and aimlessness in a rich, saturated society, the missing of a sense-making philosophical fundamentalness of life." Starting from experiences as LSD conveys them, we could "develop a new awareness of reality" which "could become the basis of a spirituality that's not founded on the dogmas of existing religions, but on insights into a higher and profounder sense" – on that we recognize, read, and understand "the revelations of the book which God's finger wrote." When such insights "become established in our collective consciousness, it could arise from that, that scientific research and the previous destroyers of nature – technology and industry – will serve the purpose of changing back our world into what it formerly was: into an earthly Garden of Eden."<br /><br />With this message the genius chemist turns into a profound philosopher of nature and visionary critical of contemporary culture. The critical distance from the LSD euphoria of the hippie- and flower power-driven ones Albert Hofmann has never given up, however; that he has fathered a "problem child" he already emphasizes with the title of one of his most known works. He always underlines the risks of an uncontrolled intake. On the other hand he never tires of emphasizing what's the basic difference between LSD and most of the other drugs: even if used repeatedly, it doesn't make addictive; it doesn't reduce one's awareness; taken in a normal dose it’s absolutely non-toxic. The total demonizing of psychedelics, as pursued by the mass media, conservative politicians, and governments from the sixties onward, he never could understand; for him, there is no reason why mentally stable persons in the right set and setting shouldn't enjoy LSD. All the more disappointed Albert Hofmann was when, in the late sixties, he had to see it happen that the use of LSD was worldwide criminalized and prohibited – even for therapeutic and research purposes<br /><br />The impetus for a change emanating from the impact of the international Symposium "LSD – Problem Child and Wonder Drug" in 2006 in Basel, at the occasion of his 100th birthday, quickened him to say that "after this conference my problem child has definitely turned into a wonder child," and he regarded this development as his most beautiful birthday present.<br /><br />And after just shortly before his 102nd birthday, he enjoyed taking notice that the first LSD study with humans has received the permission from the Federal Office of Public Health in Bern, which he called the "fulfillment of my heart's desire."<br /><br />His life has become an ideal for many for how we can reach a great age in mental and physical vigor by retaining a childlike curiosity.<br /><br />Albert Hofmann repeatedly expressed his conviction, that his mystical experiences and his trips into other worlds of consciousness, which he experienced first spontaneously as a child and later during his experiments with psychedelic substances would be the best preparations for the last journey which everybody has to go on at the end of her or his life. He has retained his curiosity for himself for his last journey.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/world/europe/30hofmann.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/world/europe/30hofmann.html</a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-24209753223985328632008-04-21T15:57:00.001-07:002008-04-21T15:57:24.411-07:00Trance Rituals, Modern and Ancient, healing technologies for the self and the worldHello,<br /><br />I am scrolling through my bibliography to prepare a conference about psychedelic festivals as modern rituals, are you aware of the following works ?<br /><br /><a href="http://psylib.blogspot.com/2008/04/psychedelic-festivals-in-planetary-era.html"><br />Psychedelic Festivals in the Planetary Era</a> Anthropology Thesis by Ana Flávia Nogueira Nascimento ( neip.info )<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goagil.com/thesis.html">Michael Belden McAteer, ““Redefining the Ancient Tribal Ritual for the 21st Century:” Goa Gil and the Trance Dance Experience " (Bachelor of Arts, The Division of Philosophy, Religion, and Psychology, Reed College, 2002).</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.udi.pladott.org/music/Motion_and_Gesture_in_Trance%20Music2005.pdf">Udi Pladott , “Meaning, Motion and Gesture In Psychedelic Trance Music” (seminar “Music as Motion, Gesture and Action" Department of Musicology, Tel Aviv University The Yolanda and David Katz Faculty of the Arts), </a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.goagil.com/Larkin%20Thesis.pdf">Christopher B. Larkin, “Turn on, Tune in, and Trance out : The Exploration of Entheogens and the Emergence of a Global Techno-shamanic Ritual ” (Degree in Sociology/Anthropology, Lewis and Clark College, 2003), </a><br /><br /><a href="http://soyouth.blogspot.com/2007/06/psychedelic-trance-festivals-as-space.html">Recent elucubrations about Psychedelic Trance Festivals as a Space for Cognitive Liberty</a><br /><br /><br />Outstanding Documentary about an African cult<br /><br />Subtitled version of Jean Rouch's "Les Maîtres Fous" (1955). A documentary about an african sect based on ceremonies during which the members are possessed by the spirits of european colonial entities.<br />It is worth mentionning that this film was very badly recieved, originally, both by africans shocked by the "savagery" of this ritual, and by europeans shocked by how white men are caricatured in this ritual. Today, this film is one of the most important, and most praised, classics of visual anthropology.<br /><br />Part1 here :<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPS16T0eaMs&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xPS16T0eaMs&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-66147969491241445322008-04-16T15:05:00.000-07:002008-09-01T09:31:16.659-07:00Experimenting 3d with VJ subVue d'Esprit is an incredible eco-system generator !<br /><a href="http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/vue/vue_6_infinite/?page=2">http://www.e-onsoftware.com/products/vue/vue_6_infinite/?page=2</a><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poser">And poser an ultimate tool for character animation</a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-33054566285835868652008-04-13T09:23:00.000-07:002008-09-01T09:22:04.767-07:00Ableton Live Goes VideoBe careful, this is some heavy shit !<br />The JAM plugin Just Add Music) for ableton live on macintosh and allows many of my audio-video dreams : audio / video clip synchronisation, trigerring, beatmatching<br />audio-video effects...<br /><br />Exemple with beat repeat<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/roeubiZDh7E&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/roeubiZDh7E&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />General presentation<br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NvjaMy7VFg8&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NvjaMy7VFg8&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-24385650296832092562008-03-31T16:57:00.000-07:002008-12-11T17:40:34.385-08:00http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifI ching reading in synchrony-city<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4OsuwzeAGLlRa3TuMDQoeyBsEOq5lFuUuSd5TrTFYWcBQDIG1Yz-oiFtEa9X7-v8y9TCw118NLwCsCmRDtTQeW_OIbAhW8PAbs1R1EyS0jiPXyJQHDkLzrt_37pdUzV3ERtYi7X7Tuc2/s1600-h/Image+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4OsuwzeAGLlRa3TuMDQoeyBsEOq5lFuUuSd5TrTFYWcBQDIG1Yz-oiFtEa9X7-v8y9TCw118NLwCsCmRDtTQeW_OIbAhW8PAbs1R1EyS0jiPXyJQHDkLzrt_37pdUzV3ERtYi7X7Tuc2/s320/Image+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184059736893599234" /></a><br />Source: <a href="http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&tire=876899&no=59&lang=fr">http://www.afpc.asso.fr/wengu/wg/wengu.php?l=Yijing&tire=876899&no=59&lang=fr</a><br /><br /><br />Interesting hexagram, tossed after viewing mckenna speaking about yi king, led me to the following k dick book :<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_Castle">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_High_Castle</a>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-22848163090763224982008-03-04T18:41:00.000-08:002008-03-04T18:42:49.108-08:00Psyche SonicsA promising initiative worth looking at :<br /><a href="http://ideablob.com/ideas/1707-Psyche-Sonics">http://ideablob.com/ideas/1707-Psyche-Sonics</a><br /><br />Psyche Sonics is multi-disciplinary research campaign investigating the potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness. We are fusing modern technology with core shamanic and spiritual techniques to ignite mass transformation in consciousness. We use brainwave entrainment, electro-magnetic field generation, biofeedback, herbology, gemstones, shamanism, breathwork and sensory deprivation to train participants in states of heightened awareness. Our goal is to act as a catalyst for positive cultural change in this world through focused, intentional interaction with the kinetic power of consciousness.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-5196850759484740252008-03-04T18:06:00.000-08:002008-09-01T09:23:04.753-07:00Audio Video Live performanceI am starting to have clearer ideas on how to make an audio-visual live performance.<br />I saw some impressing gigs in Universo Parallelo, watch out these demo from one of those guys :<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bIN67m0hoYo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bIN67m0hoYo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-57521068673233166172007-11-05T03:17:00.000-08:002007-11-05T03:22:04.675-08:00Albert Hofmann 's final words at the Spirit of Basel symposium, January 15th 2006Transcripted from video recording of 100 uear old Albert, shot by Ikar from <a href="http://www.teratone.org/tvision">Teratone Vision</a>, original video subtitled available <a href="http://teratone.free.fr/php/home.php?selectUserLanguage=en&content=php/ArchivesDetail.php">here</a> (select "Le mot d'Albert" at the end of the videojukebox list and press play).<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------<br />I'm too touched to find the rights words to express my gratitude.<br />I don't know where i should start.<br />Pehaps i should start by thanking the good lord, and then i'd like to thank my parents and my teachers.<br />Next I'd like to thank my godfather who made it possible for me to go to university because my parents couldn't afford it.<br />I was an apprentice, i had to earn money for the family, but then my godfather made it possible for me to go to school, to get a higher education degree and then to go on to university and study chemistry and while i am expressing my gratitude..but i think i'm gonna have to stop because otherwise i'm gonna have to say many more things so, let me just thank people. Let me thank the organizers of this wonderful symposium. Dieter, Lucius, where are you ? Lucius, there you are ! "Lucius Wertmuller" and "Dieter Hagenbach", my good old friends, they made it possible ! Thanks to you.<br /><br />I'd also like to thank everyone else present in this room, the people who ensure that the LSD message is communicated throughout the world. And at the end i'd like to thank LSD, because it came to me in discreet and secretive ways. Had i worked a 100% properly, the LSD couln't have drawn my attention to itself but somehow it entered my body, it raised my awareness and asked me to do something. Because i mean i was a scientist, i was a seeker, of course i was wondering, where this does effect come from ? That was my first lsd trip, i didn't know what was happening, it was a wonderful experience and i had to identify the cause for this experience. and while i was trying to identify this cause, i heard this voice and that was the voice of lsd. Without this small missup, no i don't think it was a missup, it was part of my destiny i think, to discover this substance.<br />Now i am a chemist, but if i.. again, if i had worked properly and cleanly, this conference wouldn't have been possible. But then lsd came to me and told me "spread the word", "tell people about me", "i don't want to be forgotten !". <br /><br />And i think i was lucky because.., and i am lucky because i have friends and thanks to my friends, the lsd message was passed on to other people and it culminated in this wonderful symposium. And you are going to be my multipliers again ! You are going to spread the word throughout the world and i wish to thank you for coming to basel to honor my problem child. And thanks you to you the problem child has become a child prodigy !soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-57044578115207917672007-11-03T02:53:00.000-07:002007-11-03T02:56:40.584-07:00Trance Dance – Some Thoughts on No-Thought by Rob BennettI had the pleasure to meet Rob Bennett in Frankfurt where he gave a Trance-Dance workshop, he subsequently worte the following article for chaishop.com.<br />Enjoy<br />-----------<br /><br />After my trance dance workshop at the beginning of “The Gathering of the Tribes” in Frankfurt this year over Easter, Roberdo asked me to write an article on trance dance for chaishop.com. Thinking about this for a long time, I decided eventually to try writing purely from my own perspective. Trance is difficult to write about. It is a very controversial subject. Trance states are non-rational; it is hard to be rational about them. So here are some of my thoughts about states of no-thought.<br /><br />We all have a deep longing and need for ecstatic experience. We spend a great deal of our lives thinking, planning, talking, reading – being rational. Even when we take time off, we tend to fill it with activities where our brain waves are predominantly within the rational, thinking beta frequency range. The brain is like a complex muscle. While it needs to be exercised, it also needs and craves various forms of rest – but sleep alone is not enough.<br /><br />During sleep, our brain wave frequencies fluctuate between deep sleep (delta) and dreaming (theta) with the associated periods of REM (rapid eye movement). This is a natural, unconscious process, vital to our survival. Studies have shown that even short-term deprivation of REM sleep seriously affects health. Whilst awake, we consciously determine our states of mind by what we do. We mostly limit ourselves, through the conditioning of competitive society, to the beta frequencies. We need a break, time out from concentration and rationality – we need to experience states of trance or ecstasy in our waking lives, as a balance to all that thinking.<br /><br />There are many ways of inducing conscious trance states which slow the brain wave frequencies from the predominant beta, down to the relaxed, intuitive alpha, or even the theta frequencies which are associated with dreaming and deep trance. Meditation, chanting mantras, guided imagery, hypnosis, holotropic breathwork and tantric sex are some of the ways humans have developed over the ages, but perhaps the oldest of all is trance dance.<br /><br />In many primitive societies, ecstatic dance rituals were of great importance and were practised extensively. I am sure that many of these ancient traditions have been lost but some are still with us today. The San or Bushmen of southern Africa still dance themselves regularly into ecstasy. The Masai of Kenya, the Bwiti of Gabon, the Gnawa of Morocco and the Sangomas (traditional healers) of South Africa all practice ritualistic trance dance. However, the practice is certainly not confined to Africa. Australian Aborigines, Sufis, Druids, Siberian shamans, the native peoples of North and South America all practise(d) some form of ecstatic or trance-inducing dance. Even in modern Europe, old trance dance traditions still survive. Among them are the Tarantella or spider dance of southern Italy, Spanish Flamenco and the Cornish floral dance with its Celtic roots.<br /><br />A deep-seated longing for ecstasy, for a break in the tedium of day-to-day survival, has, I believe, led many of the younger generation in modern, industrial society back to trance dance. It is surely no coincidence that the drug most associated with the dance culture is known as ecstasy. Electronic dance music also reflects this association through the Goa or psychedelic trance genres. Twenty years ago hardly anyone had heard of house parties, even in Chicago where they first started. In that short space of time, a dance culture has developed and spread all over the world with its raves, techno or Goa parties. Using modern technology, young people are recreating a space in their lives for trance and ecstasy, with or without drugs.<br /><br />It seems to me, that in this age of virtually unlimited information and communication, the experience of our ancestors, possibly dating from the stone-age, is re-awakening in us and urging us to dance ourselves into trance. It is not only in the dance culture that we find a renewal of interest in trance dance. There are many people who have written about it, some of whom are Felicitas Goodman, Gabrielle Roth and Frank Natale. There are loads of web sites about ecstatic dance, mainly in the U.S.A., with information and events of all kinds.<br /><br />So what is trance dance? How can it lead to ecstasy and what is it good for? Here I am going to describe only my own personal experiences and observations.<br /><br />When I am in a state of trance, I call it being in the flow. I don’t think about how to do anything or what I may be doing. I am the action. So, if I am dancing, I am the dance. It is hard to express. I might also say: it dances me. Thoughts, feelings and sensations come and go; they flicker through my mind and body like the lights that accompany me in the dance. My boundaries dissolve and I lose my sense of self – a drop of water falling into the ocean, becoming part of everything. “I” am no longer there; my tiny, separate self melts into the infinite, all-embracing “WE”. Time becomes elastic to the point of timelessness. This is sometimes blissful, even ecstatic; sometimes meditative and tranquil. Dancing is my meditation, my gateway to an altered state of consciousness which I need just as much as I need to think and function as an individual in society.<br /><br />There are many shades of trance experience, varying from light to very deep. I can fall into a light trance whilst doing the washing-up – watching my hands as they work away, seemingly by themselves. It is a great way of making tedious jobs fun but trance dancing, for me, is the best fun of all. Far more than fun, it is deeply healing and rejuvenating. It strengthens my self-esteem while increasing my capacity for empathy. Regularly dancing myself into a state of ecstatic trance greatly reduces my tendencies to be irritable and depressed.<br /><br />I am not young. I was born in 1949; so, as I write this in 2007, I am nearly sixty. Never too old to dance, I’m gonna bop till I drop. The younger generations of ravers and party-people in the dance scene richly deserve my thanks. They have made it possible for me to enjoy my passion for trance dance to an extent which was not thinkable before the arrival of electronic dance music, at least not in Berlin where I live. There aren’t many shamans practising ancient trance rituals here and it is a long way to the Kalahari where the remnants of the San still live and dance. The rock concerts and the discos I went to in the 1960s, 70s and 80s were not the ideal venues for trance dance. The music was not appropriate and the social constraints were far greater than at a rave.<br /><br />Here in Berlin, I can go dancing every weekend to music which I have grown to love with people who are generally younger than my oldest son. These people always seem very welcoming towards me despite my deeply lined face. They are often amused to see me partying with my daughter who is 22. Unfortunately though, I am becoming more and more worried about these beautiful, young people.<br /><br />It seems to me that the consumption of drugs has continually increased and broadened since the early 1990s when I went to my first techno party. Drugs have always been associated with the dance scene. Here we find another similarity with ancient, shamanic trance rituals where substances such as cannabis, psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca, datura, iboga and Amanita muscaria are regularly used to help open the doors of perception and induce altered states of consciousness. The shamans, however, regarded these plants with great respect, to be taken sparingly and only mixed when they were known to be complementary, such as cocoa and psilocybin. But these days, in addition to higher dosages and far too frequent use, people think nothing of mixing all kinds of drugs at raves: for example, cocaine and/or speed with alcohol. High dosages of these antagonistic drugs taken together can produce a very dangerous cocktail. Apparently, many party people want to get “out of it” every weekend rather than “into the flow”.<br /><br />By practising techniques which are simple to learn, it is possible to dance ourselves into trance with little, or no help from drugs at all. These techniques include de-focussing of thought and vision, careful, rhythmic hyperventilation combined with movement (used by both Sufis and San Bushmen in trance rituals) and grounding in the here-and-now. Together with the sensory over-load of appropriate music at high volume, light shows and the accepting club ambience, this can be a powerful and far more healthy cocktail for trance.<br /><br />When many people dance together in trance, they experience a sense of community. This shared activity, which is a celebration of life, strengthens the bond of our shared humanity. The awareness of being part of a single, all-pervading consciousness helps us to empathise more deeply with one another – to be more accepting not only of others, but also of ourselves.<br /><br />Fulfilling that longing for the ecstatic, transforming experience, trance dancing is remembering; like coming home to a wonderland where we all belong – one infinite, shared consciousness.<br /><br />Rob Bennett in Berlin August 2007soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-41683636990177019722007-10-16T15:10:00.001-07:002007-10-16T15:14:03.222-07:00Perspective taking ,empathy and love«We have to distinguish between wisdom and knowledge. Science is a form of knowledge, art is another form of knowledge; magic is another form of knowledge. There is only one wisdom, which is based on love. »<br />Francisco Varela<br /><br />Ce travail suggère que le rôle du son dans cognition spatiale est bien particulier et mérite d’être étudié et exploité plus amplement. Le résultat principal de ce travail est la mise en évidence d’une co-existence entre mécanismes de flexibilité (équivalence fonctionelle) et de complémentarité (synergies), à différents niveaux de la cognition. De façon plus générale, nous suggérons une co-détermination des processus bottom-up et top-down dans les mécanismes d’intégration multisensorielle. Le co-avènement entre action et perception constitue le cœur de la cognition et scelle l’intrication entre corps et esprit, séparés uniquement dans notre modèle du monde. C’est dans cette danse réciproque que se tient notre expérience consciente, dans toute sa richesse phénoménologique, caractérisée par les qualias. Le monde unifié est construit dynamiquement et derrière la question de l’unité de la perception, centrale dans ce travail de thèse, se profile évidemment celui de la conscience. En effet, une altération des processus d’unification peut conduire à une altération du sens de soi, cette dissociation pouvant être vécue sous la forme d’une hallucination. Les expériences autoscopiques en sont un exemple flagrant, elles seraient rendues possible par une dissociation entre localisation du corps physique et localisation du soi percevant (Blanke, Ortigue, Landis, & Seeck, 2002; Blanke et al., 2005; Kahane, Hoffmann, Minotti, & Berthoz, 2003). Chacun de nous peut faire l’expérience de cette dissociation lorsqu’il rêve : aussi saisissante et mouvementée que puisse être notre expérience phénoménologique, notre corps physique est immobile, assurant les fonctions vitales. Des résultats récents suggèrent un lien entre les expériences autoscopiques et des perturbations du système d’éveil (arousal) et d’une manière plus générale un lien fort entre hallucinations et l’état d’éveil caractéristique des phases REM du sommeil paradoxal (Nelson, Mattingly, & Schmitt, 2007; Nelson, Mattingly, Lee, & Schmitt, 2006; Cochen et al., 2005; Arnulf et al., 2000; Meral et al., 2007). L’affirmation de Rodoflo Llinas (1989) que « la perception est un rêve modulé par les entrées sensorielles » prend alors tout son sens à la lumière du rôle postulé des boucles thalamo-corticales (modulées par le système d’éveil) dans la perception (Carter & Pettigrew, 2003; Pettigrew & Carter, 2005). De nouvelles approches thérapeutiques sont alors envisageables.<br /><br />Un défi majeur pour les sciences cognitives est d’appréhender les différents états de conscience grâce à une utilisation, éclairée par la phénoménologie, des approches oscillatoires de la conscience. La combinaison de différents niveaux d’organisation, dans le cadre théorique des systèmes dynamiques non-linéaires, s’avère à cet égard très prometteuse pour appréhender la conscience individuelle et collective (Tononi, 2004; Vollenweider & Geyer, 2001; Wang & Slotine, 2006) .Ainsi, à un niveau transpersonnel, le couplage entre oscillateurs (consciences individuelles) s’effectuerait par l’intermédiaire de l’empathie. Un bon exemple dont chacun a pu faire l’expérience est l’émergence de résonances émotionnelles lors de célébrations ou rituels collectifs (qu’il s’agisse de sport, de folklore, d’art, de spiritualité). L’empathie n’est donc pas un concept abstrait ou une propriété passive. Elle est ancrée dans notre corps, en particulier à travers la proprioception et les kinesthèses, et se produit à travers le couplage immédiat entre corps et esprits agissant. Cette expérience de l’Autre en tant qu’un autre centre d’orientation dans l’espace, révèle ainsi un nouveau point de vue sur le monde, d’après lequel notre centre d’orientation égocentrique devient un parmi une multitude d’autres. L’empathie est donc le mécanisme fondamental par lequel je reconnais et accepte l’autre comme semblable à moi-même. C’est une faculté qui se pratique et s’applique quotidiennement. Ainsi, les états de conscience dissociés que nous avons évoqués, ne pas uniquement des bizarreries pathologique ou des curiosité phénoménologiques. L’expérience de ce que Thompson (Thompson, 2001) nomme des « modes de conscience non égocentriques», qui consiste à « déconstruire le sens egocentrique du soi » permet en effet de cultiver l’empathie, et s’ouvrir aux autres afin d’embrasser plusieurs points de vue. Le rôle de ces « modes de conscience non égocentriques » dans l’adoption d’une éthique personnelle et collective a été largement souligné par des visionnaires tel que James ou Huxley. <br /><br />Face à l’insuffisance des approches en troisième personne pour caractériser la cognition haut-niveau, où l’on constate un explosion des différences individuelles, les sciences cognitives s’ouvrent de plus en plus au point de vue de la phénomenologie, dit « en première personne ». Il apparaît en effet souhaitable d’utiliser de manière complémentaire la phénoménologie et les sciences cognitives dans une relation d’illumination mutuelle afin de bâtir une science de la conscience satisfaisante d’un point de vue cognitif et éthique. Cela implique la mise au point et la formation à des techniques d’exploration et de description de la conscience en première personne et leur couplage à des outils neurocognitifs modernes. Il s’agit là d’un enjeu majeur non seulement pour l’avenir des sciences cognitives mais également pour la société humaine. Selon Maturana et al. (Maturana & Verden-Zöller, 1996), nous sommes des animaux empathiques, aimants (de type « Homo sapiens amans »), qui développons l’agression dans une aliénation culturelle, ce qui pourrait modifier en retour notre biologie, et nous faire évoluer vers le type « Homo sapiens aggressans ». Ce type de transition pourrait être à l’origine de l’extinction des autres lignées d’ « Homo sapiens » archaïques. Cette thèse est compatible avec celle soutenue par Victorri (Victorri, 2007). Cette transition coïnciderait selon lui avec l’émergence de la fonction narrative du discours et le passage du protolangage au language moderne. Cette fonction narratrice aurait permis l’évocation de crises passées, afin d’éviter qu’elles se renouvellent, déplaçant ainsi la régulation sociale du niveau biologique vers le niveau socioculturel. Il apparaît donc vital de préserver cette régulation dans un contexte actuel où les notions empathiques d’altruisme et de compassion sont systématiquement reniées par l’usage d’un langage « opérationnel », prônant des notions telles qu’efficacité, économie, progrès, sécurité et perfection.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-9562578932631613782007-09-24T17:46:00.000-07:002007-09-24T17:55:27.735-07:00Oxford scientist study says "Parallel Universes Exist" ;-) laughing is the good vibration fellow world citizensParallel universes exist - study <br />Sep 23 11:33 PM US/Eastern<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science".<br /></span><br />The parallel universe theory, first proposed in 1950 by the US physicist Hugh Everett, helps explain mysteries of quantum mechanics that have baffled scientists for decades, it is claimed.<br /><br />In Everett's "many worlds" universe, every time a new physical possibility is explored, the universe splits. Given a number of possible alternative outcomes, each one is played out - in its own universe.<br /><br />A motorist who has a near miss, for instance, might feel relieved at his lucky escape. But in a parallel universe, another version of the same driver will have been killed. Yet another universe will see the motorist recover after treatment in hospital. The number of alternative scenarios is endless.<br /><br />It is a bizarre idea which has been dismissed as fanciful by many experts. But the new research from Oxford shows that it offers a mathematical answer to quantum conundrums that cannot be dismissed lightly - and suggests that Dr Everett, who was a Phd student at Princeton University when he came up with the theory, was on the right track.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Commenting in New Scientist magazine, Dr Andy Albrecht, a physicist at the University of California at Davis, said: "This work will go down as one of the most important developments in the history of science."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">According to quantum mechanics, nothing at the subatomic scale can really be said to exist until it is observed.</span> Until then, particles occupy nebulous "superposition" states, in which they can have simultaneous "up" and "down" spins, or appear to be in different places at the same time.<br /><br />Observation appears to "nail down" a particular state of reality, in the same way as a spinning coin can only be said to be in a "heads" or "tails" state once it is caught.<br /><br />According to quantum mechanics, unobserved particles are described by "wave functions" representing a set of multiple "probable" states. When an observer makes a measurement, the particle then settles down into one of these multiple options.<br /><br />The Oxford team, led by Dr David Deutsch, showed mathematically that <span style="font-weight:bold;">the bush-like branching structure created by the universe splitting into parallel versions of itself can explain the probabilistic nature of quantum outcomes</span>.<br /><br />-------------------------------------------<br />In other words : "Mind Creates Reality"<br />Think positive, be loving to each other, smile ot unknown people in the street and enjoy the vibe ! Death shall not be feared. Every second is<br /><br />© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2007, All Rights Reserved.soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-89335864729567932192007-09-19T12:54:00.000-07:002007-09-19T12:55:34.924-07:00Fire on the Mountain: A Gathering of Shamans<embed style="width:400px; height:326px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=4749156257249602834&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><br />A film by David Cherniack Productions in association with Global Vision Corporation and Mystic Fire Video<br /><br />Fire on the Mountain: A ... all » Gathering of Shamans is a documentary about the connection between consciouness and nature, as embodied in the spiritual traditions of Indigenous Peoples, whose ecological metaphors of the sacred are so relevant to the modern world. We shot the project in 1997 at an historic 10-day gathering of shamans from five continents, who travelled to Karma Ling, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat centre in the Val Saint Hugon in Savoy, in the French Alps, to discuss their concerns with H.H. the Dalai Lama and high-level representatives of the world's religions. This documentary embodies the wish of these Indigenous People - all traditional wisdom-keepers, shamans and medicine-women - who requested us to communicate their message to the world.<br /><br />The video can be purchased by online mailorder from Mystic Fire Video at http://www.mysticfire.com/soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-50351802835391029272007-08-31T14:57:00.000-07:002007-08-31T14:59:09.466-07:00Use of hallucinogens by Mormon Church funderFrom the maps forum archive:<br />A friend sent me these links to early LDS Church (Mormonism) use of hallucinogenic substances by the church's founder, Joseph Smith. The findings were presentated at the latest Sunstone Symposium (2007), a gathering of individuals with alternative LDS doctrinal beliefs.<br /><br />http://www.mormonelixirs.org/<br />http://www.mormonelixirs.org/Restoration%20and%20the%20Sacr(T8B2).html<br />http://www.mormonelixirs.org/Restoration%20and%20the%20Sacr(T882).ppt.htm<br /><br />Be sure to go to the Sunstone 2007 Presentation HTML link.<br />Michaelsoyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4287106573293286425.post-85436770662887455722007-08-28T07:16:00.001-07:002007-09-07T02:01:04.866-07:00Virtual out-of-body experience<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/4PQAc_Z2OfQ' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/4PQAc_Z2OfQ'/></object></p><p>Out-of-body experience induction by virtual reality in olaf Blanke's lab</p></div>soyouthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16638190275326496950noreply@blogger.com