Darkness Before Dawn – The Big Picture View
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The following is an excerpt of a new chapter (Part 1-D) in the Darkness Before Dawn series: http://gypsycafe.org/2020/12/24/1d-the-big-picture-view/
The Maya Five Worlds model (explained in the article The Maya World Tree) matches the length of the Precession of the Equinoxes’ Cycle almost perfectly. Five consecutive 5,125-year Maya Great Cycles (which are Maya’s World Ages depicted in their creation story and measured by their Long Count calendar) result in a total of 25,625 Gregorian years when added up. This makes the Maya Five Worlds model very valuable for pinpointing and analysing our present position in time from a big picture perspective and within the context of the Precession of the Equinoxes’ Cycle.
Another ancient cycle that correlates with, and in this case is based upon, the Precession of the Equinoxes Cycle, is a particular version of the Vedic Yuga Cycle from India. That version is a fractal (a cycle within a cycle) of the more commonly known and used Maha Yuga Cycle (also known as the Chatur Yuga Cycle) of India which has a duration of 4,320,000 years.
The 24,000-year precession of the equinoxes’ version of the longer Yuga cycles was reintroduced to the world by the Hindu sage Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri in his influential book The Holy Science, published in 1894. Sri Yukteswar states in his book that the 24,000-year version was lost to the world during the Dark Age of Kali Yuga when many wise men retired to the mountains and a lot of knowledge was lost. The 24,000-year version of the cycle goes as far back as the Laws of Manu which date back to at least 1,500 BC.
The advantage of using the above two cycles side by side is that both cycles measure and define consciousness (each in their own way) within the same overall timeframe, which is the Precession of the Equinoxes’ Cycle. By using both these complementary frameworks, a more holistic and comprehensive understanding can be arrived at.
Continue Reading at GypsyCafe.org : http://gypsycafe.org/2020/12/24/1d-the-big-picture-view/
By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © · All Rights Reserved · GypsyCafe.org
Preparing for the Hero’s Journey
The extract below is from Part 1-C in the Darkness Before Dawn series that has been published at GypsyCafe.org
The Maya creation myth depicts a battle between the forces of dark and light in the story of the Hero Twins, two brothers who are summoned by the Lords of Xibalba for a ballgame with them in the underworld. What follows is a classic and rich example of The Hero’s Journey, which is a universal pattern of transformation and growth found in the myths and stories of all cultures as well as in the lives of all human beings. All humans understand this concept at a fundamental level, either consciously or unconsciously, since it’s an archetypal pattern in the human psyche.
The sequence and structure of The Hero’s Journey became popularised in Western culture to a large extent through the works of Jungian analyst and writer Joseph Campbell in his book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Similarly, the epic journey of the Maya Hero Twins (who were Light Bearers and a force for good) through the Maya underworld of Xibalba ultimately results not only in the complete transformation of the protagonists (several times over and in different forms), but in the ordinary world being transformed, too. During the overall process, the forces of darkness are eventually defeated with their powers being greatly diminished in all spheres.
The most fundamental theme in the underlying structure of The Hero’s Journey – in all stories – is that the hero is compelled to face the darkness, often against their will; but only by doing so can they bring about positive change within themselves and within the world at large.
By J.J. Montagnier
(Picture taken at Xunantunich in Belize on a visit in 2015)
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Never, Never and Never Again …
Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech as President of SA – 10 May 1994
This piece below is compiled and developed from comments I made on a post over at TheBurningHeart blog:
Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign – Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech as President of South Africa – 10 May 1994 (full speach here)
The problem with racism and xenophobia is that it will always be with us because of ethnocentrism (see definition), which is the tendency for all ethnic, cultural and language groups to first have their own self-interests at heart. Ethnocentrism is one of the mechanisms that create natural diversity among peoples. However, another reason why racism will always be around is because (unfortunately) people will always ignore racism in some instances while being against it in others. What this comes down to is that all the online and offline conflicts and debates about racism are largely a waste of time.
The only way to reduce negative types of ethnocentrism would be to always work towards positive ethnocentrism (see details here). However – and this is the crux of it – very few people are actually interested in the underlying causes of racism because it is a very useful tool for reaching various political objectives …
The concept of racism has become a blunt instrument that is used to achieve political objectives through identity politics and other strategies that have little to do with actual racism. Identity politics is in many instances racial in itself, because it’s ethnic groupism which sets itself in opposition to other ethnic groups – and by positioning itself in opposition to other ethnic (or gender groups) it leaves no room for actual Unity in Diversity. Moreover, while doing this it claims to be against racism and to be fighting for equality. The disingenuousness of this approach is self-evident.
The bottom-line is that anybody who is really against racism or violence would condemn all such acts – across the board – especially if they attach the label ‘anti-racism’ to it, because these words imply being against all types of racism, not only some forms of it. Therefore the vast majority of self-appointed ‘moral emperors’ are wearing no clothes. They do not oppose all forms racism, which means that they support some types of racism. This is self-evident too.
The resistance of individuals and groups to own their own ethnocentrism, combined with their tendency to project that what they are guilty of onto others, is the principle cause of double-standards. Only by becoming more self-aware of one’s own behavior (or that of your group) can societies begin to return to a more sane and balanced and a less dangerous world. This will only start to happen when more people start pointing out double standards to each other.
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A Case Study
South Africa had 59 race-based laws discriminating against the black population of that country over a period of 70 years (from 1910 to 1980) which included British colonial rule and the apartheid-era combined. In present-day South Africa there are as many as 114 race-based laws that discriminate against the white minority in South Africa. These laws have accumulated during the 26 years of democracy and more laws continue to be added as time goes by, with no deadline in sight for the discrimination to end. (Source 1 / Source 2)
During all the (so-called) anti-racism protests around the world in 2020, South Africa was completely ignored, yet this used to be the most popular country to cite for evidence of systemic racism. It makes one wonder why all the equality activists have gone so quiet. A true activist (a Truth Activist) would always oppose all forms of discrimination and would have the consistent courage to do so, but the truth is that most activists today are frauds.
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The Only Remedy to Regain and Maintain Balance
Who Would Clip Our Wings? [Archive photo: JJM]
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For me the current situation can only be dealt with when we apply morality and ethical standards equally, because actually the issue of racism is used to claim moral superiority by people who are not only guilty of the same, but are often engaged in it more than the people they tend to blame and accuse. We also see that people are very comfortable in denouncing racism (old and new) as long as it is of a particular kind, i.e. by one particular ethnicity upon another particular ethnicity, but when it happens in reverse, they refuse (!) to acknowledge it or to call it out. This is a real problem, because what we have then is a kind of moral tyranny that is pathological and driven purely by ideology.
This tendency is now so wide-spread that it could very well lead to real tyranny (if it isn’t already …) Any and all kinds of hypocrisy and double-standards have to be called out, have to be pointed out continuously and consistently (persistently!). That is the ONLY remedy to regain and maintain balance. Hypocrisy is the ultimate enemy – and also the ultimate evil, because it allows evil to be done in name of good. This is not simply the banality of evil, because that is when people are cogs in a bureaucratic wheel who follow orders, because they are unthinking and indifferent and they comply with order from authority (Hannah Arendt explored this theme very well).
No, it is something different and it’s worse. This kind of evil – hypocrisy and double-standards – is pathological when it is deliberate, which seems to be the case in most cases related to the subject of racism nowadays – people seem to be very aware that they have double-standards when it comes to these issues, yet they persist and practice their double-standards aggressively anyway.
We need a return to God. I’m afraid that’s the only force that can save humanity from this dark age we are going through.
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Jean-Jacques
Maya Katun Prophecy is Unfolding in Real-Time
The following are excerpts of a new article titled: Maya Katun Prophecy is Unfolding in Real-Time
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Darkness Before Dawn – Part 1-B: Q: What is the prophecy for Katun 2 Ahau?
The portion of the prophecy for Katun 2 Ahau (2012 to 2032) that is considered the most important by scholars is “It was halfway famine, it was halfway feast. That was the burden of Katun 2 Ahau.”
This katun has, indeed, been prosperous from 2012 to 2020, with 2020 marking almost eight years of continuous general prosperity. Compared to past decades – and notwithstanding a lot of inequality still present in the world – there has probably never been so much general prosperity in the world on a global scale in the known history of humanity. That is if we consider how large the global population is today compared to past centuries when poverty levels were much higher.
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Q: What typically happens during a Katun 2 Ahau?
When Maya elders and shamans, or Western scholars, study a particular katun’s characteristics, they analyse the historical time frames of the katun’s past occurrences. The objective is to identify patterns of events that occur whenever a particular katun is active. Through this method, what typically happens during a katun becomes sufficiently clear to make predictions for what would or could happen when that katun is active again in the future. Read More …
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Each katun builds on its previous manifestation 256 years before it – and also on katuns that came before that. By studying history through a Maya calendar lens, it becomes evident that an evolutionary process related to the development of human consciousness is at work in the universe, which is – according to some schools of thought – the real reason why we find ourselves here on this planet, at this point in time. Read More …
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In light of all these developments, we can clearly observe – and safely conclude – that the prophecy will continue to play out accurately all the way to its end in 2032. The Mayas were not wrong … they were right (!). It was just that few people in the mainstream paid attention to the katun prophecies. Read More …
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By J.J. Montagnier
(25 July 2020)
Copyright © · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The 2020 to 2025 Energy Outlook
Lookout Point – Volcano Excursion – Guatemala (Archive photo by JJM 2015)
This is an excerpt of an article titled: 2012 to 2020: Why the World has Become so Polarised (Updated)
There is an important energy trend in the Mayan Calendars that also applies to the 20 year “double-decade” (katun) period that we are in right now (‘Katun 2 Ahau’, from 2012 – 2032) and this is worth taking note of as we move into the 2020’s.
The energy flow rises and falls in a wave-like motion in Maya Calendar ages (regardless of whether the ages are long or short). The energy of an age starts to climb the energy pyramid at the beginning of the age, reaches its peak at its mid-point, and then descends on the other side.
What that means within the context of a katun-age is that the energy grows in intensity during the first half for 10 years, peaks during the 10th and 11th years, and declines again afterwards for 10 years. The years surrounding the peak years would all be potent in terms of being influenced by the energy of the age.
Illustration of energy pyramid for Katun 2 Ahau:
December 22, 2012 – September 7, 2032.
Turbulence Ahead
Rising (10) 2022 – 2023 (11) Falling
(9) 2021 / \ 2024 (12)
(8) 2020 / \ 2025 (13)
(7) 2019 / \ 2026 (14)
(6) 2018 / \ 2027 (15)
(5) 2017 / \ 2028 (16)
(4) 2016 / \ 2029 (17)
(3) 2015 / \ 2030 (18)
(2) 2014 / \ 2031 (19)
(1) 2013 / \ 2032 (20)
(0) *2012 / (<< from Dec 22. Note: 2012 was not a full year)
Calendar Refresher:
The Maya Short Count calendar is a 256 year cycle that assigns a specific symbol called a tone to each of its thirteen 20 year (19.7 to be exact) katuns. This number denotes certain aspects of a katun’s energy. For example, in the current katun, 2 symbolizes duality and polarity (among other characteristics).
The previous katun, from 1993 to 2012. had tone 4 assigned to it, which represented stability and order (tone 4 is known to be one most stable energies in the Maya calendars). An immediate observation that can be made is that at the transition point in 2012 the energies shifted metaphysically from stability to polarity – and that is how it has played out in reality too – there has been a huge increase in polarization and social upheaval since 2012.
The next six years, from 2020 to 2025 (as illustrated in the energy pyramid above), will have the most intense energy in this twenty year energy pyramid. This means that we may well be entering a period of high turbulence and volatility – if the trend of growing social and political polarization in societies in recent years is anything to go by …
According to this energy model the energy intensity should start to decline again from around 2026 onward. Some may find this information useful in terms of doing the neccesary mental or spiritual preparation for turbulent times (please see resources below).
Read Full Article HERE
By J.J. Montagnier
Notes:
The rising and falling of energy in the Maya calendars (there are close to 20 of them) is a general trend in the Maya calendars, although it might not affect all cycles equally.
Another aspect to the energy pyramid is that (in some cycles) during the energy incline the progression is more materialistic and during the energy decline it is more spiritual, so consciousness would shift from a more materialistic outlook in the first half to a more spiritual outlook in the second half. This may also be the case during this katun, with a subtle shift possibly happening in 2022. An illustration of this material to spiritual trend during a Tracena (a 13 day Maya calendar week) is illustrated and explained on this page by Mark Elmy in Guatemala:
https://thefourpillars.net/?p=6675
The gradient of the rising and falling energy would not be as steep as depicted in the energy pyramid illustrated above (this was done due to limited space on the page). The change in energy would usually be very gradual and shift over time, which is why people are often not aware of it happening.
Although I have done my best to keep this information factual, these views should be considered my own. A more detailed analysis about rising and falling energy (with references) can be found in my essay: The Valley of Shadows in the Landscape of Light.
Further Reading
The Energy Shifts series (explains in detail how the metaphysical energy shifts work and their influence on consciousness and life).
The Darkness Before Dawn series (explains why humans are going through this testing period and the best ways to approach it).
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J.J. Montagnier is a travelosopher and Maya time explorer. He has been studying and writing about Maya calendar related subjects since 2014. He traveled to Central America in 2015 to familiarize himself better with the Maya culture and its history. More about the writer here.
Copyright © 2020. All Rights Reserved
Visiting Higher Places – Sillustani in Peru
‘Chulpas’ are funerary towers (burial tombs) constructed by the Colla Aymara people in pre-Inca times. The chulpas at Sillustani are known to be some of the finest and most cylindrical examples of chulpas in the entire region (Peru and Bolivia). Photo by JJM, April 16, 2019.
Higher Bodies of Water
Just over a year ago, on April 16, 2019, I visited the port city of Puno on the shores of the famous Lake Titicaca in Peru. Titicaca lake is widely known as the “highest navigable lake in the world” at 3,812 m (12,507 ft) above sea level, but there are other bodies of water that are higher, but not larger – and one of those is Lake Umayo situated 20 km’s from Puno.
A remote place
Lake Umayo feels remote, even though the journey from Puno only takes about 45 minutes (with a couple of stops along the way.) Silently overlooking the lake from the hill right on the edge of it is the rather mysterious and mystical pre-inca burial site of Sillustani. It being positioned in a picturesque area with the stunning backdrops of Lake Umayo and its lagoon with the deep green of the surrounding landscape makes for an impressive visual experience.
Sillustani
The site itself consists of numerous tower-like structures known as chullpas, which were Aymara funerary towers for nobility. The chullpas at Sillustani are known to be some of the finest and most cylindrical examples of chullpa burial tombs in the entire region. It is speculated that these initial structures by the Colla (a subgroup of the Aymara people) were possibly later used as foundations for new towers by the Incas due to the different architectural styles found at the site.
READ MORE and VIEW THE GALLERY at GypsyCafe.org.
By Jean-Jacques
Food for Thought – The Cycle of Democracy
‘The Tytler Cycle’ or ‘The Cycle of Democracy’ is commonly attributed to Alexander Fraser Tytler (1747 –1813). This cycle is also know as ‘The Fatal Cycle’.
Where are we in this cycle and why are we there?
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Through the Eye of the Needle
‘No War’ – archive photo of protest march in Dublin in 2003 (Photo by JJM)
Dark Are the Days, but the Light is Coming, Part 3 – Through the Eye of the Needle
In this 5-Part series we are exploring the purpose of polarity and the nature of truth – JJM
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Introduction
If, hypothetically speaking, the universe wanted to evaluate heart and soul development at critical junctures in time, dark ages would provide the ideal circumstances for doing so. Dark ages can be terribly regressive and destructive and it could be hard to reconcile oneself with the idea – from a spiritual perspective – that the universe would want to impose such harsh circumstances upon humankind. However, in the context of the earth being an incubator for the soul, (as postulated in Parts 1 & 2), the possibility that human souls would be tested at important transition points is almost self-evident, especially if the objective is for some kind of sorting to take place.
Turning Down the Lights
When all the lights are dimmed, will there be an inner light shining from within?
In a culture of indifference, who would pass through the needle to make a difference?
How would ‘the lights’ be ‘dimmed’ during a dark age?
READ FURTHER – FULL ARTICLE AT GYPSYCAFE.ORG
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J.J. Montagnier is an independent writer based in South America. He has a personal interest in conflict resolution, democracy and social cohesion. He has lived in South Africa and Northern Ireland (among other places.) The views and opinions expressed in this essay are those of the author.
This article was purposefully written for The Truth Project. It is also a supplement to the Energy Shifts series.
Copyright © 2019 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Wonders of Wanda Mines in Northern Argentina
In June of this year while visiting Iguazu Falls in Misiones Province in Northern Argentina, I decided to do a side-trip to a recommended site in the region. This ended up being a very informative and enjoyable day trip which I am now finally posting about.
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To read more, please visit the FULL POST and PHOTO GALLERY at GypsyCafe.org.
By Jean-Jacques
A Heart Monitor
Mural in Magdalena del Mar, Lima, Peru (Photo by JJM, April 2019)
Dark Are the Days, but the Light Is Coming, Part 2 – A Heart Monitor
In this 3-Part series we are exploring the purpose of polarity and the nature of truth – JJM
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“The test of any Soul’s maturity will be reflected by the choices it makes while experiencing life’s challenges, sometimes in severe blindness when all of one’s reality opposes one’s nature. It’s successes will be determined simply by it’s capacity to align itself to the purity and natural instinct of it’s heart.” – The Sacred Tree – The Daiva Yugas and The World Cycles of Human Evolution [1]
A Heart Monitor
All indictions are that humans are going through an extensive testing period. We have heightened polarity (extreme polarity some may say) and a concentration of darkness (some may say extreme darkness) at the same time (See: Part 1: ‘Why is the polarisation so extreme?’)
If the earth is a learning ground and a training platform for human souls (a belief held by Mayans and some schools of Hinduism – among others) then surely periodic testing to evaluate soul-development would be in order? If the Universe wanted to gauge people’s hearts and souls, how would it do it?
READ FURTHER – FULL ARTICLE AT GYPSYCAFE.ORG
By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © 2019 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Dark are the Days, but The Light is Coming – Parts 2 & 3 (+1)
In the next chapters we will continue to take a deep dive into how polarity facilitates human development and growth; we will consider how we as individuals can find our purpose and maintain balance within our polarised times; we will contemplate the nature of truth in a ‘post-truth’ world and we will consider how we can get ready for the incoming light of truth. Please subscribe to receive alerts of updates.
An Incubator for the Soul
Painting by Diana Graham -The Ecoshrine, Hogsback [Archive photo: JJM – 2014]
Dark Are the Days, but the Light Is Coming, Part 1 – An Incubator for the Soul
In this 3-Part series we are exploring the purpose of polarity and the nature of truth – JJM
Introduction
Throughout the ages there have been times of turmoil and times of peace. In recent years the world has been going through a period of high polarity, with palpable societal polarisation as a result. Considering all the crises the planet is facing, a unified approach to dealing with them globally is likely to remain elusive as long as societal polarisation remains a feature. This situation, with no clear end in sight, raises many important questions.
Why have some societies become so polarized? Should we not have moved into global harmony after 2012? Does polarisation have any purpose? Why is the polarisation so extreme? How long will it last? How well are we handling it? Are humans capable of living in harmony at all? How can we deal with major world problems during all this polarization?
Fortunately some of the above questions can already be answered, but some answers are more accessible when taking a metaphysical view. Keeping an open mind is therefore recommended as we delve into these rather complex issues. During our discussion it will become evident that some answers automatically raise further questions. In our search for answers we will be exploring them too.
READ FURTHER – FULL ARTICLE AT GYPSYCAFE.ORG >>
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Dark are the Days, but The Light is Coming – Parts 2 & 3 (+4)
In the next chapters we will continue to take a deep dive into how polarity facilitates human development and growth; we will consider how we as individuals can find our purpose and maintain balance within our polarised times; we will contemplate the nature of truth in a ‘post-truth’ world and we will consider how we can get get ready for the (future) incoming light of truth. Please subscribe to receive alerts for updates.
By J.J. Montagier
J.J. Montagnier is a futurologist and travelosopher based in South America. His writings on the Mayan calendars are intuitively inspired and are influenced by his knowledge of Jungian psychology. The author visited Central America in 2015 to do research on the subject.
Copyright © 2018 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Iguazu Falls – South America
Waterfalls with Rainbow – Iguacu National Park – Brazil
A visit to Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil on June 14 and 15 (the river forms the border between the two countries.)
There are two galleries – one for Iguazú National Park in Argentina and one for Iguaçu National Park in Brazil.
VIEW GALLERIES (at GypsyCafe.org)
By J.J. Montagnier
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© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Gypsy Café.
Unity in Diversity vs. Disunity in Ideologies
Ubuntu Festival, Cape Town, South Africa – 2009 (Photo by JJM)
Ethnocentrism is inherent in all human beings. It has advantages and disadvantages. Since it cannot be removed or reduced without negative side effects, it would be better to find ways to work with it positively.
Positive ethnocentrism would allow for the natural maintenance and preservation of a person’s original culture and identity while also allowing and motivating for an appreciation of other cultures that live within the same environment. Unity in Diversity could be the perfect example of positive ethnocentrism in that it is very likely to deliver consistent positive results, if fostered, cultivated and maintained on a continuous basis.
Implementing Unity in Diversity would depend on both will and goodwill of all parties involved. Unity in Diversity has a weak point in that it is a relatively fragile concept that is vulnerable to being disrupted by intrusive forms of negative ethnocentrism such as identity politics and nationalism.
South Africa as a case study:
The rest of this essay is published at GypsyCafe.org – Continue Reading (free) >>
By JJ Montagnier
JJ Montagnier is a writer based in South America. He has a personal interest in conflict resolution, democracy and social coehsion. He has lived in South Africa and Northern Ireland (among other places.) The views and opinions expressed in this essay are those of the author.
Publishing details:
Original version published on *Writerbeat.com: July 16, 2018 [*now defunct]. Updated version published at GypsyCafe.org: June 8, 2019 for The Truth Project.
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Peruvian Colours and Contrasts – All in a Day’s Trip – Moray, Maras and Kantu Weaving Centre
Kantu Weaving Center, Chinchero, Cusco area. (1)
On Sunday the 14th of April, a day after I arrived in Cusco on the weekend before Easter, I did one of the many excursions that are available from Cusco city. The Maras and Moray excursion is quite a well known one, although not the most popular, but it is one of the best day trips in the Sacred Valley due to the jam-packed itinerary and especially the colours and contrasts encountered on this excursion – all in one day.
By Jean-Jacques
View Full Gallery at: GypsyCafe.org
Copyright © 2019 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Keys to Conscious Co-Creation
‘Holding the Key’. A mural by Jade Rivera, Barranco, Lima. Photo by JJM.
We are Destined to be Co-Creators and Free Will is the Key. The interesting thing is that the source (the Source) and force of creativity, (creative energy) flows through humans, which then leads to the creation of new paradigms. Energy creates through us – we are the channels for Source energy on earth, but we are not (the main) Source itself.
We are remote extensions of Source, so remote that many of us are not aware of our connection to source. As channels of Source we are collaborating with Source. At the same time we are also autonomous energy configurations. That is because we all come into this world as an energy archetype – we could call this our born identity.
Each person’s born identity – the archetype he or she was born as – is an energy configuration (energy frequency) because in fact it comprises a combination of a number of archetypes, with the main core archetype being dominant.
Read more about unlocking your potential and purpose for conscious co-creation…
[2300 words]
By J.J. Montagnier
© Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Gypsy Café.
Puno Sightings – Peru
Proud handler and her hawk – Port of Puno, Peru (Photo by JJM – 16 April 2019)
Introducing: EnergyShifts.net
Visit EnergyShifts.net
Dear Gypsy Café patrons, visitors and guests.
I would like to invite all my regular and new visitors to
the new dedicated site that I have created for the Energy Shifts project:
All the articles in that series, originally published at gypsycafe.org are now also available in easy-reading format at energyshifts.net.
Thank you all for your dedicated support.
Yours in Travel,
J.J. Montagnier
Caral – The Ancient Lost City of Peru
Caral in Peru is estimated to be at least 5000 years old.
Two hundred kilometres north of Lima lies the recently discovered remnants of one of the most ancient centres of a civilisation yet to be unearthed in modern times.
Read More: The Road to Caral – A visit to Peru’s Ancient Lost City
View Slideshow: The Road to Caral
By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © 2019 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Think With Your Heart – Lima Murals
Think With Your Heart (1) – Pensar Con El Corazón
Think With Your Heart (2) – Pensar Con El Corazón
Barranco Murals – Lima, Peru.
Taken on February 26, 2019.
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All photos were taken while on a walking tour in Barranco, the bohemian neighbourhood of Lima.
By J.J. Montagnier
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View Full Gallery
© Gypsy Café.
Energy Transitions (Part 6) – There Are No Limits To Growth
Temple of the Great Jaguar, Tikal, Guatemala – photo by JJM.
[This is an extract from Chapter 6 in the ENERGY SHIFTS series at GypsyCafe.org]
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There Are No Limits To Growth
There are no limits to growth. Although there are limits to external growth, there are no limits to internal growth. One thing that will never change is our will to grow. As humans, we are absolutely driven to grow. The very reason why we are here is to grow – but not only materially so, and that is where we need to change our thinking. What has to change is the way that we grow. We need to shift our approach from being outer-growth-oriented to inner-growth-oriented.
The Great Shift
Growth is cyclical; sometimes it is material and sometimes it is spiritual (as illustrated in Part 5). We have entered an era of exponential spiritual growth while the window for material growth is closing. Most people are so committed to material growth that they are unable to make the shift in advance – and few are even contemplating it.
From Circles to Spirals
Material growth is a closed circle – a self-reinforcing loop that relies on the continuous availability of limited external material resources, some of which we will eventually run out of, without there being any substitutes.
Spiritual growth in the form of inner self-development is an open, ascending spiral with infinite growth potential that draws on unlimited intangible resources within and which can be tapped indefinitely for internal expansion.
Making the Shift
The whole objective of self-development and self-transformation is to grow beyond the general state of being that is the standard level of development of the times. Those who follow this path become the pioneers who traverse The Valley of Shadows in advance. They transcend the limits of the present paradigm early by living in the next paradigm consciously and practically, while still being in the old paradigm at the same time.
The Inner Growth Imperative
The inner growth imperative will, one day, become as powerful as the outer growth imperative is today. To be in line with the new energy in advance, we would need to switch over from an external economic growth imperative – based on material and physical accumulation and consumption – to an internal self-realization growth imperative that is based on internal expansion and the accumulation of non-tangible inner-wealth.
Once we have made this shift consciously and intellectually, we will have the ability to be happy with less and we will be able to embrace the coming changes more naturally. We will also have reduced our carbon footprint in advance. Individuals who choose this path are a minority, but they will be better positioned to pioneer and conceptualize new ways of living compared to people living exclusively in a material growth paradigm physically and mentally.
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By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © 2018 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Energy Transitions (Part 5) – The Yin and Yang of Growth and the Great Shift
A Pyramid Window with a View – Xunantunich, Belize [Photo by JJM, 2015]
In front of them lie the bright foundations of a New World. Those who have managed to traverse The Valley of Shadows in advance have become transformed by the process. They are now able to add their unique individual building blocks to the foundations of a bright New World while the old world continues to crumble behind them.
The evolutionary drive of humans seems to know no bounds, to the extent that it would override obvious resource limits when it comes to material growth. Yet, many indigenous peoples around the world have willingly continued to live within their natural resource boundaries and have continued to do so even during our very materialistic times.
This phenomenon is very likely by design, because for there to be built-in species resilience on the planet some foundation cultures need to remain in place in the event of advanced civilizations collapsing. Wiser and simpler ways of living would then still be in place that could be emulated or returned to until new civilizations rise again.
An overlap of civilizations, cultures and communities with different levels of complexity as a feature has resulted in the weaving of a rich tapestry that is the history of human progress and development. For such continuous diversity to unfold, natural breaks in continuity would need to occur from time to time between the rise and fall of civilizations.
The best that could be done when facing a collapse scenario it would seem, is to aim for a soft landing or a slow decline rather than being caught up in a sudden and destructive unwinding of a complex system.
Keeping an eye out for signs of collapse would always be a wise thing to do and when they appear, planning accordingly would be the prudent thing to do. However, knowing what to plan for would require an expansive big picture view that would ideally also offer some kind of road-map for the future.
By J.J. Montagnier
Murals and Street Art of Buenos Aires
Learning about prominent street artists and their works in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is a paradise for street art enthusiasts and artists alike. One of the reasons is that unlike most large world cities it has an open and relatively unrestricted approach to urban art. This means that abandoned and derelict as well as occupied buildings can be used as art spaces as long as owners give their permission.
On a recent long weekend visit to Buenos Aires I decided to join a guided street art tour instead of seeking out murals and street art on my own, as I usually do. There are several walking tours available, but I decided to go with Graffitimundo, a non-profit organisation directly involved in supporting the urban arts scene in the city.
by Jean-Jacques
Santiago Murals
Signs of the Times (?) – Santiago, Chile – January 2018
View Santiago Murals Gallery – 14 Images
Photography by JJ Montagnier.
Copyright © 2018. All Rights Reserved. Gypsy Café.
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‘Los Lagos y Los Volcanes’
Lake Llanquihue beach & Volcano Puntiagudo – Los Lagos region, Chile – January 2018
Visiting The Chilean Lake District – January 2018
Photography by JJ Montagnier
View Full Gallery – 18 Pictures
Copyright © 2018 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
The Fifth Earth (Part 4) – What Does the Future Hold?
What does the future hold?
“It was halfway famine, it was halfway feast” [1]
This is the translation of the original Maya prophecy for Katun 2 Ahau (2012 – 2032). In this article and the next one we will match this prophecy with real trends and we will make realistic forecasts for the next fifteen years.
Physical energy configurations such as fossil fuel resources and renewable energies will be factored in and we will make predictions for how human beings are likely to respond to the challenges facing them in the coming years.
Having the right attitude
If we are internally (spiritually, mentally and psychologically) prepared for the external material changes in the world, they will appear to be positive, and our approach to them would be pro-active, courageous, responsible, motivated and engaging.
As above: spiritually / internally
So below: materially / externally
If we are not internally prepared for external changes in the world, on the outside they would appear to us as negative, disastrous, calamitous and unfair, and our approach would be that of fear, denial, evasion, resistance, victimhood and escapism.
A Concise Prophecy
The first thing that we notice about the prophecy for Katun 2 Ahau is that it is reasonably short: “It was halfway famine, it was halfway feast” [1]. This is actually the portion of the prophecy that is considered the most important part by translators. The rest of the prophecy consists of some additional sentences and we will touch on them later.
Edmonson’s version comes across as less symbolic than other translations as he has already applied some interpretation to the symbolism, which serves the objectives of this article well as we will use it as a reference point for the rest of our discussion.
by JJ Montagnier
Read further at GypsyCafe.org
Copyright © 2018 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Crosses on San Cristóbal Hill, Santiago
One of the Crosses on San Cristóbal Hill, Santiago, Chile (24.12.2017)
A visit to San Cristóbal Hill – Santiago by J.J. Montagnier
The Fifth Earth (Part 3) – Paradigm Shifts in the Age of Polarity
Stucco friezes on El Castillo pyramid, Xunantunich, Belize. Photo by JJM (2015).
Paradigm Shifts in the Age of Polarity
Decadeology vs. Katunology
The objective of decadeology is to identify the distinctive culture or spirit of the age of each decade; for example how 80’s culture differed from 90’s culture. Decadeologists seem to accept that decadeology is not an exact science, because cultural shifts never seem to happen exactly at beginning or ending of a decade.
A Maya Katun measures 19.7 years and a half-Katun measures 9.85 years. The midpoint of a Katun indicates a peak. The two sides (halves) of a Katun are slightly different from each other due to ascending and descending energy. Length-wise half-Katuns are equivalent to decades, but they are almost never exactly synchronized with decades
When (Gregorian) decades are compared with (Maya) Katuns and half-Katuns, it can be observed that cultural shifts tend to take place around dates closely matching Katun and half-Katun shift points.
Maya “Katunology” is therefore more accurate than Gregorian decadeology, because Katunology is based on finely calculated energy shifts corroborated with centuries of observation, is recorded in mythology and is also embedded in the symbolism of the archetypes and numbers that are used in the Maya calendars. The Gregorian calendar however does not imply any energy shifting at all and it does not contain any symbolism.
We can conclude then that the cultural shifts observed and recorded by decadeologists are (unbeknownst to them) more than likely Katun energy shifts, but observed and placed within the context of decades.
An Age of Polarity
Today, in 2017, the polarity of Katun 2 Ahau (2012 – 2032) is clear to see, but the arrival of strong polarity with ensuing polarization was initially (or has been continuously) counter-intuitive to the expectations that many people have had for a post-2012 world: a linear progression towards harmony. One of the reasons for that expectation is that the previous Katun, Katun 4 Ahau (1993 – 2012) was relatively well balanced nature.
However, evolution is not linear, it is cyclical. The fact that our (Western) civilization makes use of a modern, non-cyclical (Gregorian) calendar, means that we are out of the energy loop. If more attention were paid to Katun shifts as opposed to mainly the Great Cycle shift, and if it were not approached solely from a linear perspective, we may have been more prepared for the high level of polarity that we can observe all around us.
Having said that, even non-linearity has energetic continuity by design: energetically speaking Katun 4 Ahau (1993 – 2012) had the natural purpose of preparing us for Katun 2 Ahau (2012 – 2032). During the highly spiritual Katun 4 Ahau we were meant to prepare for the volatile dualism of Katun 2 Ahau.
Spiritually speaking, this could also be viewed from the perspective of human souls being in training: The personal development that had been achieved on a collective level during Katun 4 Ahau is now being tested on an individual level in Katun 2 Ahau.
As we shall see later on (to be explored in the next article), if we have forgotten what we have learned during the previous Katun, we can still capitalize on its benefits now, even in retrospect. Even younger people who have not experienced Katun 4 Ahau can benefit from it.
By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © 2017 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The full article has been published at gypsycafe.org
The Fifth Earth (Part 2) – The Valley of Shadows in The Landscape of Light
Cahal Pech – Archaeological site, San Ignacio, Belize. Photo by JJM (2015)
The Valley of Shadows in The Landscape of Light
After Dark
So-called “dark ages” are not only dark. They are also light. Although we tend to view dark ages with some trepidation, or perhaps even with fear, they serve an important role. It is during dark times that we seek out our own light and the light of others. It is dark times that show up the shadows in the world and bring them to the surface. It is only by being confronted by darkness that we can truly aspire to light. Thus, from darkness comes light.
One cycle leads to another and one prepares us for the other. In other words, the whole process should be approached with a certain attitude: An understanding that cycles, whether light or dark, are evolutionary in nature and in purpose, and that we are able to work with these energies, either way.
The Mayan Fifth World, a 5125 year great cycle that started at the end of 2012 is said to hold immense opportunity for spiritual growth. Presently we are still transitioning into the Fifth World, while slowly pulling out of the Fourth. By seeing the opportunities that this transition holds for personal transformation, we can all become conscious co-creators of the new world as we transition into it.
Knowing the Energies
By knowing the characteristics of energies we are able to know how to work with them. Knowing them can allow us to step over some of their negative manifestations and we can know how to fully experience and gain from their positive influences. This happens by honoring the symbolism of the energies by integrating their purpose in our thought processes and by applying that to our daily living. When we don’t know about these energies we are at their disposal rather than the other way around.
The easiest way for newcomers to the Mayan calendars to start knowing the archetypes that embody the energies is to follow the sacred Tzolkin calendar on a daily basis. This opens up a broader understanding of the cyclical nature and the interactions of the characteristics of the various energies with each other. For example, the continuity from one cycle to the next becomes apparent and the repetitive nature of them in an altered form every time, in a gradual never-ending, cyclical linear progression of renewal, eventually comes into vision. Continue Reading…
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The full article can be read at GypsyCafé.org
By J.J. Montagnier
Copyright © 2017 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Plaza A with Structure A1, Cahal Pech, San Ignacio, Belize. Photo by JJM (2015).
The Fifth Earth (Part 1) – Apocalypse Now
Lake Yaxhá, from the Main Temple at Yaxhá, Petén Province, Guatemala. Photo: JJM, 2015.
The Original Mayan Prophecies
The original Mayan prophecies originate from within various aspects of this ancient civilization’s rich history and culture, a culture that has spanned more than 12000 years by Mayan estimations [1]). Today, many of their prophecies are still accessible and can be found in various places, (a) such as in the Mayan Codices that had survived the Spanish conquest, for instance in the books of Cilam Bilam; (b) in ancient Mayan mythologies, for example in the Mayan creation story, and on various stone stellae at archeological sites in Mesoamerica; (c) on murals in excavated Mayan pyramid inner rooms and (d) on preserved ceramics displayed or found in museums and private collections and (e) several of the ancient Mayan calendar systems have prophecies naturally embedded within them by design.
Serious modern day scholars and archaeologists would usually refer to some or several of the above mentioned sources. There are also prophecies that had been passed down from generation to generation through folklore and by word of mouth and they would usually be unknown to those outside the Mayan culture.
This article and the one following it will selectively focus on accessible Mayan prophecies from authentic sources that are specifically relevant to our discussion. Our purpose is to consider the prophecies which can be correlated with real events that have taken place in the not too distant past while we will look at the symbolism of the prophecies for the near and intermediate future:
The Fifth Earth – Energy Transitions – Part 1
By Jean-Jacques M.
Copyright © 2017 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Fifth Sky
Lake Yaxhá, North-East Petén, Guatemala. Photo by JJM (2015)
Excerpts:
Mayan Mythology and Symbolism
The Mayan Calendar constitutes at least three calendars in contemporary terms and they are used to map different cycles. For the sake of brevity and simplicity we can summarize that the most important thing to know about the Mayan calendar system is that time is cyclical. As cycles return they tend to have the same characteristics and features. In that sense similar events can be expected to happen again. Mayan shamans can therefore make reasonably accurate forecasts within symbolic and archetypal contexts. Western scholars can attempt to do the same, but with varying results. Some of the symbolism can be misinterpreted by them, or taken too literal, or the cycles and dates are sometimes mixed up.
The Rise and Fall of Consciousness
In the Mayan creation story , the Popol Vuh [7], the sky “drops” (“falls”) at the end of each world cycle. It is then raised again. So far the sky has been raised four times and we are currently in the space between ages before the next sky is raised. As a thought experiment: if we take “the sky” as a metaphor for human consciousness, then the sky “falling” takes on significant meaning: At the end of each 5200 year world age, as consciousness diminishes; systems, structures and thought processes related to it, become unstable or “challenged”. Subsequently they start to show strain or start to crumble. The consciousness aligned to the old energetic direction would be out of sync with the new incoming direction.
Interpretations:
We could speculate that generally speaking, the outward and inward moving energies contain more or less the following characteristics in terms of identity, and that we have already observed some of these (surprising to some) movements in recent world events such as Brexit and in the United States’ presidential elections:
The full article is published at GypsyCafe.org
The Fifth World
Yaxhá five level pyramid, North-East Petén, Guatemala. Photo by JJM (2015).
*For background on the Mayan Fifth World and the Fifth Element, please see: The Mayan World Tree.
Post 2012 and The Fifth World
Prior to December 2012, scores of Mayan calendar enthusiasts, authors and scholars had put forward a plethora of predictions, forecasts and interpretations about what would or could happen around certain dates in 2012. The dates, when they finally arrived, were accentuated by the fact that nothing of note happened. There were no signs that the long awaited and highly anticipated new golden age was about to commence, as had been fervently predicted. Neither did major earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes or floods occur worldwide (all at once!)
Transition stages between 5200 year world ages are meant to take approximately 120 years [1]. Changes happening during such long transition periods are therefore very unlikely to become apparent “on day one”. However, such were the expectations in December 2012 that something was going to happen, that there were people who took the day or week off from work, while others headed to the countryside “just in case” [2]. The majority of people, however, took a sober view and brushed it all off as superstition.
In retrospect, a lot of people may be wondering why so many people responded so “irrationally” in 2012. From a depth-psychology point of view, the 2012 “mass psychological event” was much more than just mere superstition. It was a reflection of the power of the “archetype of the end”. This archetype was identified by well known Swiss psychoanalyst, C.G. Jung back in the 1950’s. [3]
There must have been something that had made a major impression upon the human psyche (repetitively) for this archetype to be so deeply embedded in the collective subconscious (aka collective unconscious) and to make such a strong mass appearance every now and again. From a Jungian perspective all archetypes have purpose and in this case, the archetype was a message from the collective subconscious of humanity that major change was upon us (within a decade or two). Continue Reading…
Full article with references is published at GypsyCafe.org
By Jean-Jacques M.
Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Fifth Element
Lake Petén Itzá – El Remate, Guatemala. Photo by JJM (2015).
The Fifth Element
*For background on the Mayan Fifth World and the Fifth Element, please see: The Mayan World Tree
Enter the Fifth Element
Five years have passed since December 2012; we are five years into the Mayan Fifth World and the Fifth Element has entered the scene. We are in a new age of transparency and below-the-surface shadows are bound to be illuminated while submerged debris is likely to float to the top. Whatever is hidden may be exposed and the only way to deal with this alchemical process, is to put one’s own inner house in order.
While there are people who have already been introspecting by way of traditional or spiritual practices, serious self-observation or deeper inner reflection may be something relatively new to others. However, as time passes, not exposing one’s true self will become increasingly difficult. This may be positive news for people who already live from their authentic selves, while it could turn out to be a somewhat uncomfortable experience for those who have not developed their natural identity.
Typically, individuals and groups who avoid facing their inner shadow(s), tend to project them onto others. The objective is to divert attention away from their shadows (and what they are up to). This is a well-know psychological phenomenon. However, in an age of added transparency, such projections would become more obvious. As one finger points to others, three fingers point back. This causes the emperors to wear no clothes by exposing themselves, while remaining oblivious of the fact.
This is the first part of a ‘miniseries’: an article published in parts. To be continued soon…
Also see: The Shift of the Stages
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J.J. Montagnier is an intuitive creative writer. He is a student of mythology, ancient cultures, philosophy, psychology, sociology, politics and metaphysics. His writings are inspired and influenced by his extensive world travels, personal observations, life experiences and research.
Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
Originally published at: GypsyCafe.org
Choose Conscience
Peace Mural, Belfast, N. Ireland (2004). Archive photo by JJM.
When faced with difficult choices, especially amongst bad options, conscience can always show the way. Needless to say, what the planet needs right now, more than ever, is a return to conscience. Conscience lends itself to a variety of peaceful solutions.
Moral relativity does not fit well into the realm of a well developed and active conscience. Conscience intuitively knows the difference between right and wrong. What is appropriate or correct within a given context or what is not. What is creative and what is destructive. What is life-giving and what is life-killing. What is nurturing and what is eroding. What is authentically (not superficially) progressive and what is truly regressive.
Not all situations call for distinctions to be made, but when they do, a healthy conscience would normally step in automatically. Of course, conscience interacts with ethics, etiquette, morality, religion and other frameworks for rules of conduct, but personal conscience can and does act autonomously, and will override externally imposed morality, where necessary. As long as conscience is maintained, conscience is the only inner guiding system which has almost full independence and autonomy. It is independent from the ego-self and the group-self and it is autonomous in prompting one to correct one’s course.
Conscience will override questionable morals and will adjust approaches and actions accordingly. Conscience is an autonomous guidance system within, whereas morals depend on customs and norms without. The more relative morals become in a society as a whole, the more consciousness dims collectively and the more unconscious society becomes as a group. It is during such times that inner conscience is especially needed to guide individuals.
Only a very small percentage of individuals are born without any conscience at all – and they are considered to be “disabled” (psychologically), meaning that they don’t have the full range of emotions and feelings that would usually be accessible to the average person. They are also unlikely to ever develop (a) conscience. Other than these exceptions, conscience holds much more universality than ethics or morals do, and therefore we would be much better off aspiring to universal conscience than universal morals or ethics. A healthy conscience leads to expanded consciousness on an individual level, which is expressed on a universal level.
The small percentage of conscience-less (without conscience) individuals we find in society are naturally the proverbial “foxes” as described in the Chicken Little fable (See Parts 5 & 7) and we find them in all walks of life. However, there is a significant percentage of average individuals who eventually revert to similar behaviors after having lost (or given up) their consciences as they went along. Very often a conscious decision was made to do so, in order to gain certain advantages. The nature of conscience itself does not allow for it to be given up unconsciously, so the suppression of conscience is certainly a conscious process initially and subsequently the decision is swiftly put out of mind and henceforth avoided at all costs.
If the majority of individuals in a society learn to suppress their conscience – to the extent that a general moral relativity sets in – and once the virtues of conscience are lost by adults in general, they are unlikely to be instilled, cultivated or strengthened within children either. When a society has more “foxes” than “chickens”, parasitism, prejudice, projection, exploitation, bigotry, double standards, hypocrisy, abuse of power, corruption and the active destruction of old value systems ensue and a general regression leading to potential repression sets in. A strong accompanying feature of such a scenario is often decadence.
It has been determined that historically mass decadence (and sometimes war) has almost always preceded the collapse of civilizations. In other words, the idea of the destruction of values on the basis of them being “old fashioned” or “conservative” in order to facilitate decadence (boundary-less living) often have unintended consequences, because all systems need structure in order to function, externally and (importantly) internally – structure being what value systems are meant to provide in societies and civilizations. No limits, no restrictions, no boundaries, means no structure, which results in a vacuum. In a big enough vacuum, collapse is inevitable.
Therefore, going forward, decisions and choices based on conscience may be the only available tool to rescue (individuals in) a declining civilization from internal (and external) collapse. Conscience can save individuals, and in the present-day context, the world.
By Jean-Jacques M
Originally published at gypsycafe.org
Happy-Go-Lucky Faster
It’s All Theatre
Tabloid press, reality TV, TV talk shows, social networking and, perhaps, increasingly also, modern-day politics have all got something in common – they contain similar ingredients to those found in soap operas. A trademark of soap opera is that the less exemplary elements of human behaviour are exaggerated and dramatised for effect. A hallmark of the tabloid press is the use of emotional and sensational language which draws readers into the drama.
Gossip and the lives of others had always been of interest to people, but tabloids converted sideshows into the main show. This growing preoccupation spread into other mediums, too, and eventually it went well beyond the lives of only the officially rich and famous. Despite, perhaps, a few protestations to the contrary, those designated as celebrities hardly shy away from being in the limelight. As the saying goes: “All publicity is good publicity”, and over time being famous has taken on major significance in modern societies.
By introducing “real-life” elements into the mix, reality TV took the soap opera concept a step further. Selected members of the public could now become famous, too. They would brush shoulders with genuine celebrities and, just like them, have large audiences observe and follow their every move. Taking a cue, perhaps, from soap opera, participants could spice up and dramatise their actions and activities for effect, bringing greater audiences and improved ratings with regard to the shows and themselves.
In these shows, participants were becoming adept at promoting themselves by sometimes being outrageous, controversial or provocative. Audiences were lapping it up and learning from it, too. Reality TV was hugely popular for its novelty value at first but, in due course, the concept influenced and was blended in with various other genres. Some of these shows, at least to a small extent, contain(ed) educational elements such as the celebrity chefs series. A particular type of TV talk show – which came to be known as “Trash TV” – preceded reality TV by a couple of decades already and was based on outrage creation and stirring up animosity amongst participants.
Initially, as with the tabloid genre which slowly spread around the world, not everyone considered the depiction of the lowest common denominator on television as being optimum entertainment. Many viewers actively avoided soap opera, trash TV and reality TV. The majority of professionals preferred to continue reading their broadsheets and magazines. Likewise, discerning television viewers continued to opt for quality TV programmes. On the other hand, more than enough readers and viewers were becoming eager consumers of dramatised and sensationalised entertainment and news media.
That humans have always been intrigued by the weird, the outlandish and the obscure is not in doubt, and an apt analogy would be that the modern-day version of “freak shows” increasingly came to town in some of these shows on a screen and in a newspaper near you. In the press, the tabloid media formula continued to spread and, eventually, even organisations once-known as conservative and well-established news publications adopted the model or blended it in.
Tabloid newspapers had already been using “tabloid headlines” for decades to prompt people to buy the paper. The “tabloid language” used in news content contained special “tabloid vocabulary” (short, emotional and ambiguous key words) to create intrigue which draws readers into the emotional drama. These days, online tabloid-style headlines are referred to as “click-bait”.
By Jean-Jacques M
Full article is published at gypsycafe.org
Download Pdf: Full Article (12 Pages)
Copyright © 2016 · All Rights Reserved · Gypsy Café
The Yin and Yang of Spirituality
The Yin and Yang of Spirituality
Carl Jung is famous for having brought the concept of working on shadow elements within the psyche into Western psychotherapy, although the process of self-therapy, self-transformation and psychic self-evaluation with subsequent spiritual elevation is indeed a very ancient practice. Advanced practice was perhaps considered to be found mainly in the realm of shamanism, priesthood and other high level spiritual roles. However, ancient civilizations and cultures integrated the identifying and processing of shadow characteristics also into their general spiritual and cosmological belief systems, but we find that these aspects are often not featured in popular spirituality today.
By having become relatively unconscious of the depth and nature of the individual shadow (which, according to Carl Jung, is a back-door to the collective shadow), behaviours and tendencies related to it have become more socially accepted. Unfortunately, the commercialization of spirituality means that the positive, pleasant and easy elements of being spiritual are usually focused upon. The deeper, underlying issues often remain unexplored, so the necessary (challenging) transformation processes are not always engaged in and the shadow elements remain submerged and active or are only temporarily resolved until it appears again later. This means that modern forms of spirituality often serve predominantly as forms of spiritual entertainment or as vehicles for spiritual escapism without reaching its full depth or potential.
Perhaps if we had been paying more attention to the collective shadow elements within our societies (as a priority) since the end of the Second World War, as Carl Jung had strongly suggested, we may have been more prepared for some of the crises we are experiencing at present and those yet to come. However, as Jung also said: large portions of society remain blissfully unaware of how world peace and stability hang on a fine thread (then and now). We have never been this connected as a species in our entire history and so distracted at the same time, mostly by choice.
The awareness that all citizens of the world are responsible for contributing towards world peace and maintaining it is somehow lacking. We are living in one of the most prosperous periods in time in the history of the world, but with the developed world being far ahead. In terms of power and influence, countries which possess the most of it, carry the highest responsibility. With power comes responsibility and it is the duty of the citizens of powerful countries to remind their politicians and leaders of the responsibility to act peacefully for the greater good of humanity, not least because virtually all powerful nations put themselves forward as democratic and peace-loving.
On a personal level: Dr Jung explained in a documentary interview, Matter of Heart, that we are all uniquely born with certain characteristics and attributes within a certain historical and cultural context. That means that we each have a personal responsibility to reach the highest state possible as an individual person within that context. By doing so we participate fully and play our part to the best of our ability as individual elements within the large organism that is humanity, in the theatre of life and the universe.
The very first step towards that process is having respect for yourself (your Self, not your ego) and that process starts within. The nature of that respect is respect for your higher-self and that higher self can take a third person view to approaching and resolving internal and external conflicts. The advantage of the third person view is that almost everything can be viewed as “theatre”, (but) with a proactive, problem solving objective in mind. In other words, the spectator is observing in order to learn how to improve, adjust, or resolve his or her own approach or behaviour by comparing with what is being observed. Without taking the third person point of view, what is being observed is often copied instead of transcended.
The higher-self is beyond the ego and has a much wider perspective and expanded vision. By living our lives from that position we are the closest we can get to non-duality on a permanent basis. A person who is peaceful within, will shun conflict. A person who comes from the heart, won’t have the heart to harm another – and will motivate others not to do so either. Those who have maintained (and have respect for) their own traditions and values within their own communities and countries, will have respect for other nations and groups who have likewise maintained theirs within their own countries or regions.
A tradition-less, value-less, culture-less world is a world with sails falling in the winds, a world drifting without an anchor. It is a destabilized world with no direction, no heart and no spirit. It is a world without a stable core, without balance – the balance within missing. That balance within the world can only be found within each individual person. The more balanced all of us become, the more balanced the world outside will be.
Within the framework of international cooperation and conflict resolution, in the context of a balanced world, nations who come from histories of dominance would do their best to refrain from returning to or repeating such history – and take the High Road. Nations, cultures or groups with histories of having been harmed or persecuted or wronged, would refrain from enacting retribution or turning to the same methods as those who have harmed them – and take the High Road.
The above is, of course, a tall order, but when we observe and learn from the theatre of history, taking the high road is the only road which will lead to genuine progress, harmony and balance, as opposed to a false sense of progress that focuses on a narrow view of who is the most powerful or “progressive” and therefore the most “exceptional”. This approach is usually at the disadvantage of others and tends to contribute to the perpetuation of the cycle of violence indefinitely.
Mutual respect amongst nations is the bedrock of international peace and stability, but it relies on everyone participating equally. Similarly, for democracy to work a respect for its institutions is required. Over and above that, democracy relies on a certain level of moral responsibility and conscience-based ethics being present within those that ascribe or commit to it and it naturally relies on a basic understanding of what democracy means in the first place.
By considering the rights of children, within the context of various conflict zones around the world and also within our own societies in relation to what they are exposed to, we may be able to reflect on how far we have drifted away from our claims of being humanitarian, peace-loving, democratic and a force for good.
Perhaps it is time for all peace-loving peoples to request their governments to kindly de-escalate all tensions which could potentially lead to major conflicts and the harming of civilians and children. We owe it to the future of a stable and balanced world. We owe it to the future of our children and to their children’s children. Not least, we owe it to our higher-selves and the legacy that we wish to leave behind.
“The human being who starts by withdrawing his own shadow from his neighbor is doing work of immense, immediate political and social importance.” – Carl Jung (as quoted by Sir Laurence v.d. Post)
Photo by JJM: Mural, Belfast, N. Ireland (2005).
By Jean-Jacques M.
Also see: Shift Of The Stages
This article was originally posted at GypsyCafé.org
© 2016. All Rights Reserved.
What is Enlightenment?
Theatre
Theatre has many objectives. It can entertain or educate or both. It can mesmerise or bring consciousness. It can motivate and inspire. It can provoke or shock. Theatre holds a mirror up to reality and can evoke inner change. Theatre can be evolutionary. It all depends on how we engage with it. By merely passively observing the play in front of us no (positive) transformation can or will take place. When we engage with it we can either do so positively or negatively.
Enlightenment
“Enlightenment doesn’t occur from sitting around visualizing images of light but from integrating the darker aspects of the Self into the conscious personality” – Carl Jung
“Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darkness of other people.” – Carl Jung
When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate. You meet your destiny on the road you take to avoid it. – Carl Jung
What is the connection between theatre and enlightenment?
Read the Full Post at GypsyCafe.org
By Jean-Jacques M.
Shift of the Stages
All the world’s a stage. As actors in the theatre of life we are all here to play our part(s), consciously or unconsciously. We find ourselves present at this time during a significant transformation stage. In the old, but still present age it felt like the stage had been set and most of us were simply reading our lines. It was perhaps not always understood why we were in the theatre in the first place. In the incoming age our destined roles are more clear and the new paradigm is more fluid.
Roles are changing. Transitioning actors are becoming scriptwriters while watching themselves on stage. They are rewriting the script and adjusting their parts. A drama, currently scripted to end in tragedy is being rewritten into a coming of age tale of transformation, rebirth and altered fate. This is a multi-dimensional theatre and shifting actors are becoming aware that by being in this stage, they are also present in others.
Building the New World Within (9) -What is Progress?
Berlin Wall, Germany. Photographed by JJM.
“We are living in what the Greeks called the right time for a ‘metamorphosis of the gods’, i.e. of the fundamental principles and symbols. This peculiarity of our time, which is certainly not of our conscious choosing, is the expression of the unconscious man within us who is changing. Coming generations will have to take account of this momentous transformation if humanity is not to destroy itself through the might of its own technology and science” (Carl Gustav Jung, 1957: The Undiscovered Self, p.110).
Jung was suggesting that we should not get completely carried away with technology and science, to the extent that we lose sight of ourselves (our Selves). Being unconscious and excessively distracted could preclude us from doing just that, because without taking stock of ourselves from time to time, there can be no self-awareness and without self-awareness there can be no self-knowledge. Without self-knowledge, we would not become aware of “the unconscious man within us changing“. This change that Jung was referring to was related to the collective unconscious of humanity entering into a time of transition, the faint beginnings of which he could already sense in 1957.
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by Jean-Jacques @ Gypsy Café
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. Gypsycafe.org
Peruvian Selection
People, Landscapes, Churches & Ruins
Girl with Alpaca – Peru
I patched together an itinerary by working out a route which would connect the main places I was going to visit (Arequipa & Colca Canyon, Puno & Lake Titicaca, Cusco & Inca Trail) with coach journeys in-between, which would include stopping at various points of interest along the way..
Read More and View 20 Photographs
Visiting Peru
Photography by Jean-Jacques M
Copyright © 2016 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
Inca Trail Highlights
The Classic Inca Trail
Peru, South America
Parts 1 & 2
Llactapata (aka Patallacta) – originally used for crop production and storage. Elevation: 2840m.
Wiñay Wayna – In Inca times this site was the last rest and cleansing point before arrival at Machu Piccu. Elevation: 2650m
Part 1 – Read More and View 17 Pictures
Part 2 – Read More and View 17 Pictures
The Classic Inca Trail – January 2016
Photography by Jean-Jacques M
Copyright © 2016 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
Inca Design & Technology
Inca Design, Architecture and Technology
Machu Piccu & Ollantaytambo
Peru – South America
Inca Technology: Intihuatana – an ancient sun dial (solar clock) at Machu Picchu in Peru – also know as: “The Hitching Post of the Sun”.
While in Peru in January I found myself at two sites where examples of Inca architecture, design and technology could be observed in its finest form. Immediately noticeable was the combination of strength, functionality, durability and visual appeal. Aesthetics always played a role for the Inca, although it took much, much longer than today to construct buildings, walls and cities.
The Inca’s were not short on technology either and at Machu Picchu, which was once the educational centre of the Inca empire, we can see an Inca sun clock [Image 16], an Inca mirror [Image 17], which was also used to see the reflection of the stars at night, and an Inca Compass [Image 24].
Visiting Peru – January 2016
Photography by Jean-Jacques M.
Information from guides & internet research
Copyright © 2016 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
Solar Powered Floating Islands
Uros Floating Islands, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Modern power for traditional living
Uros islands are floating reed islands found on Lake Titicaca, the largest fresh water lake in South America, situated between Peru and Bolivia.
Uros Islands – Lake Titicaca – Peru – January 2016
The floating Uros islands were originally created in pre-Colombian times when the small Uros tribe needed to find a solution for being attacked by various other tribes.
Solar Panel between reed homes – its “stem” camouflaged with reeds.
Today many of the floating islands have solar power, which has modernised their lifestyles. Urus people can now cook without having to make fire, reducing the accompanying hazards. The islanders can also charge their cell phones and even watch television and run small refrigerators.
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Visiting Peru – January 2016
Photography by Jean-Jacques M.
Information from guides, locals & research
Copyright © 2016 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
Tikal – “The place of the spirit voices”
Tikal National Park, Petén, Guatemala, Central America
Tikal is the largest excavated Maya site in the Americas and once was one of the greatest and most prominent cities in all of the Maya world. Besides general sightseeing, of interest to me during my recent visit in September, was to get to know more about the advanced technologies and sophisticated infrastructure which could be found in Tikal in its heyday. I was also interested in learning more about the reasons for the eventual collapse of this advanced civilization.
Tikal National Park – Moss Covered Stela and Altars in Forest Path. Sept 2015.
“Rainforest – if you take away the forest, it stops raining…” – Guide – Tikal National Park.
VIEW 28 PICTURES and READ MORE
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Maya Sites Discovery – September 2015
Photography by Jean-Jacques M
Copyright © 2015 – All Rights Reserved – Gypsy Café
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