Mastering Synchronicity http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm Sat, 05 May 2012 10:35:05 GMT http://bandzoogle.com Occupy's mistake - making assumptions http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=2050316 If you want to convince someone of something, you must first understand the assumptions they are making in life, and either build on them or deconstruct them. For instance, when i find out my 2 year old daughter has pushed another kid, I think the normal response is to teach her that pushing is wrong, and dole out some sort of consequence. But first I should ask myself, "why is pushing wrong?" My daughter does not agree with that assumption. So step back. Pushing is wrong because the other kid is now crying. So I talk to my daughter about the other kid. "She is crying, see that? Why is she crying? Is it because you pushed her? How do you feel now that she is crying?" By taking it down to the more fundamental assumption that she does share with me (which is empathy for others) i am able to connect with her about the issue. In Occupy, I think the strongest slogan we have is "We Are the 99%". But most Occupiers don't bother to put themselves in the shoes of the 99%. We make our own assumptions about the world situation, which is NOT the same assumptions shared by 99% of the people. We think we represent them, but what right do we have to claim that? For instance, my mother-in-law commented tonight about how beautiful the new Whole Foods is in town. They took a ramshackle old supermarket building and created a beautiful store out of it. Largely organic no less! "Wonderful!" But an Occupier like myself might say that that is gentrification. So just because we Occupiers see the evils of gentrification does not mean that others will too. And even if we educated them about it until our tongues fell out, they still might not agree with our view. Yet they are still a part of the 99%. We must see things through their eyes, too. And the eyes of the homeless. The eyes of the impoverished. The eyes of the middle class. The workers. The professionals. The yuppies, and hippies. And yes, I suggest, we should even look through the eyes of the 1%. If we don't, then we are no different from them.
For instance, when i find out my 2 year old daughter has pushed another kid, I think the normal response is to teach her that pushing is wrong, and dole out some sort of consequence. But first I should ask myself, "why is pushing wrong?" My daughter does not agree with that assumption. So step back. Pushing is wrong because the other kid is now crying. So I talk to my daughter about the other kid. "She is crying, see that? Why is she crying? Is it because you pushed her? How do you feel now that she is crying?" By taking it down to the more fundamental assumption that she does share with me (which is empathy for others) i am able to connect with her about the issue.

In Occupy, I think the strongest slogan we have is "We Are the 99%". But most Occupiers don't bother to put themselves in the shoes of the 99%. We make our own assumptions about the world situation, which is NOT the same assumptions shared by 99% of the people. We think we represent them, but what right do we have to claim that?

For instance, my mother-in-law commented tonight about how beautiful the new Whole Foods is in town. They took a ramshackle old supermarket building and created a beautiful store out of it. Largely organic no less! "Wonderful!" But an Occupier like myself might say that that is gentrification. So just because we Occupiers see the evils of gentrification does not mean that others will too. And even if we educated them about it until our tongues fell out, they still might not agree with our view.

Yet they are still a part of the 99%. We must see things through their eyes, too. And the eyes of the homeless. The eyes of the impoverished. The eyes of the middle class. The workers. The professionals. The yuppies, and hippies. And yes, I suggest, we should even look through the eyes of the 1%.

If we don't, then we are no different from them.

]]> Sat, 05 May 2012 10:35:05 GMT F7A9CD445D5B980F4224DD36BE168975 Sing Us a Song Mr. Zombie Man http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=2031638  By request, here are the lyrics we sang at the Towards a Science of Consciousness conference last week: Sing Us a Song Mr. Zombie Man (The Piano Man - Billy Joel - NOT) Chorus Sing us a song, your the Zombie man Sing us a song tonight Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia, and your world is just black and white Verse: Well Gackenbach studies the virtual Her video games test if you’re real And Zadra is an EEG analyst Trying to map what you feel Hameroff’s thin microtubules bring quantum states into the brain and Chalmers investigates qualia which clearly will make you insane Chorus: Sing us a song, your the Zombie man Sing us a song tonight Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia, and your world is just black and white Verse: We all wonder about fractal brain hierarchy In the signals that flow through the brain If our thoughts look a lot, like old Mandelbrot Inner patterns are never the same Lau wants to know if its Hot or Not there’s so many layers to sense but popcorn will always taste better hot even if you’re still on the fence Chorus: Sing us a song, your the Zombie man Sing us a song tonight Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia, and your world is just black and white Verse: I’m going to every concurrent because according to Gruber and block Times’ a perceptual illusion And I’m not constrained by the clock When you tire of the concepts and intellect Come join the hospitality suite As they’re quick with a drink to help lightup your think And there’s no telling who you might meet! Chorus: Sing us a song, your the Zombie man Sing us a song tonight Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia, and your world is just black and white
Sing Us a Song Mr. Zombie Man
(The Piano Man - Billy Joel - NOT)

Chorus
Sing us a song, your the Zombie man
Sing us a song tonight
Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia,
and your world is just black and white

Verse:
Well Gackenbach studies the virtual
Her video games test if you’re real
And Zadra is an EEG analyst
Trying to map what you feel
Hameroff’s thin microtubules
bring quantum states into the brain
and Chalmers investigates qualia
which clearly will make you insane

Chorus:
Sing us a song, your the Zombie man
Sing us a song tonight
Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia,
and your world is just black and white


Verse:
We all wonder about fractal brain hierarchy
In the signals that flow through the brain
If our thoughts look a lot, like old Mandelbrot
Inner patterns are never the same
Lau wants to know if its Hot or Not
there’s so many layers to sense
but popcorn will always taste better hot
even if you’re still on the fence

Chorus:
Sing us a song, your the Zombie man
Sing us a song tonight
Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia,
and your world is just black and white

Verse:
I’m going to every concurrent
because according to Gruber and block
Times’ a perceptual illusion
And I’m not constrained by the clock
When you tire of the concepts and intellect
Come join the hospitality suite
As they’re quick with a drink to help lightup your think
And there’s no telling who you might meet!

Chorus:
Sing us a song, your the Zombie man
Sing us a song tonight
Cuz we’re all getting tired of these qualia,
and your world is just black and white

]]> Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:57:32 GMT 76604016FEF8257F6996E1ECCBAB1CF4 More on coherence http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=2016203 Still working on linear algebra.  Math is addicting, when you understand it.  (And it sucks when you don’t)   My latest synchronicity: Yesterday I called a local center for spiritual living in California, inviting myself too play music and give a talk on synchronicity.  I reminded her that she had met me before when I played music behind my friend Rev. Barbara. She said back “wow, what a coincidence.  Rev. Barbara will be here in the end of may, and we need music.  Can you come?”   More scratch thoughts on coherence, follow up from last post: How does the network tend Towards coherence? How do Incoherent global states feed and coherent ones reinforce? Consistency?  No.  That’s different from coherence.  Coherence comes in degrees.  Consistency does not. As we move through the Library Of Heaven, the histories that survive are, first off, the consistent families.  From that, the ones that survive (they are a nonzero, because they are consistent amongst each other) become weighted, according to some process of global coherence. Imagine two pictures:   The meaning on left is not coherent, or only slightly coherent.  What does it mean?  Hard to know.  Conceivably, in the future, this could mean something about the relationship of the person to an atom, but in my current knowledge, this is not clear.   The picture on right is more coherent, makes me think of smelling a flower.  Brings up all sorts of associations. The second image is coherent because together it forms a complete single thought. Is consistency a special case of coherence?  On a scale from 0 to 1, inconsistent is a zero, consistent is a 1, and coherence describes all the possibilities in between 0 and 1.  Partial consistency is the level of coherence.   Thought: An event “B” that is highly coherent has many possible paths to get from here (event “a”) to there (event “B”). An event “B” that is not very coherent has very few paths.  An inconsistent event “B” has none.   Still working on linear algebra.  Math is addicting, when you understand it.  (And it sucks when you don’t)
 
My latest synchronicity: Yesterday I called a local center for spiritual living in California, inviting myself too play music and give a talk on synchronicity.  I reminded her that she had met me before when I played music behind my friend Rev. Barbara. She said back “wow, what a coincidence.  Rev. Barbara will be here in the end of may, and we need music.  Can you come?”
 
More scratch thoughts on coherence, follow up from last post:
How does the network tend Towards coherence? How do Incoherent global states feed and coherent ones reinforce?
Consistency?  No.  That’s different from coherence.  Coherence comes in degrees.  Consistency does not.
As we move through the Library Of Heaven, the histories that survive are, first off, the consistent families.  From that, the ones that survive (they are a nonzero, because they are consistent amongst each other) become weighted, according to some process of global coherence.
Imagine two pictures:
coherence image 1

 
The meaning on left is not coherent, or only slightly coherent.  What does it mean?  Hard to know.  Conceivably, in the future, this could mean something about the relationship of the person to an atom, but in my current knowledge, this is not clear.
 
The picture on right is more coherent, makes me think of smelling a flower.  Brings up all sorts of associations.
The second image is coherent because together it forms a complete single thought.
Is consistency a special case of coherence?  On a scale from 0 to 1, inconsistent is a zero, consistent is a 1, and coherence describes all the possibilities in between 0 and 1.  Partial consistency is the level of coherence.
 
Thought: An event “B” that is highly coherent has many possible paths to get from here (event “a”) to there (event “B”).
An event “B” that is not very coherent has very few paths.  An inconsistent event “B” has none.
 
]]> Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:38:22 GMT 3389E37C77E896D5F1DB70D355210A1B Coherence and Towards a Science of Consciousness conference http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=2005660 4-1-5-12 On my way home from Tucson Towards a Science of Consciousness Conference.  Talked with Bruce Mangan from UCB about meaning. Maybe meaning is not the cause of synchronicity but the result. If meaning is defined as global coherence of a network, synchronicity is a natural result of a network working toward coherence. Global Coherence. The [possible futures that survive best are those with coherence. The history repressents a network of objects (physical particles or macro objects). The coherence of that network determines the likelihood of its survival. Meaning is a tendency of a network towartd global coherence. The Network: ... is a 5 dimensional network, meaning that it is a collection of all possible iterations of every spacetime object. Two objects A and B have different "history trees" since in the Library of Heaven they each have many branches. But some of those branches inteact/connect. We can only take a single perspective in that network (which is postulate 2). Nobody can see the whole network from outside. As we move through the network/Library, we have the effect of constantly trimming off inconsistent configuration/outcomes. What we observe in the world is selected from a massive collection of all possibilities consistent with my knowledge of the states of the universe (and of course consistent with the laws of physics... All physical laws are unaffected, since this is not a physical theory but rather a theory of information...this coincides with the idea that we are never retrocausally changing physical properties of things, but rather retroactively revising our knowledge of the system). On my way home from Tucson Towards a Science of Consciousness Conference. 

Talked with Bruce Mangan from UCB about meaning.

Maybe meaning is not the cause of synchronicity but the result. If meaning is defined as global coherence of a network, synchronicity is a natural result of a network working toward coherence.

Global Coherence. The [possible futures that survive best are those with coherence. The history repressents a network of objects (physical particles or macro objects). The coherence of that network determines the likelihood of its survival.

Meaning is a tendency of a network towartd global coherence.

The Network: ... is a 5 dimensional network, meaning that it is a collection of all possible iterations of every spacetime object. Two objects A and B have different "history trees" since in the Library of Heaven they each have many branches. But some of those branches inteact/connect. We can only take a single perspective in that network (which is postulate 2). Nobody can see the whole network from outside. As we move through the network/Library, we have the effect of constantly trimming off inconsistent configuration/outcomes.

What we observe in the world is selected from a massive collection of all possibilities consistent with my knowledge of the states of the universe (and of course consistent with the laws of physics... All physical laws are unaffected, since this is not a physical theory but rather a theory of information...this coincides with the idea that we are never retrocausally changing physical properties of things, but rather retroactively revising our knowledge of the system).
]]> Sun, 22 Apr 2012 02:37:53 GMT A5E9C2E4F2837DE26190619E9D7A273F Avshalom Elitzur paper http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=2004507 Reading a paper by Avshalom Elitzur called "Can a Future Choice Affect a Past Measurement's Outcome?" He describes a situation with a weak quantum measurement, which is a quantum measurement that doesn't disturb the state of the object because it is so weak, but still obtains some partial information about its state. This is important because, in general, in QM, and measurement disturbs the system. The authors describe that if you have one normal QM measurement (determining the state of the particle) and then a weak measurement followed by another strong one in a different direction than the first, you find the following: The first (strong) measurement fully determines the state of the particles. The second (weak) measurement does not affect the state of the particles, but does gain some info about them that must correlate to the first measurement. The third (strong) measurement should be completely undetermined, since it is in a different direction from the first. Yet in the analysis you realize that the weak measurement causes the first and third measurements to be fully correlted to each other. (in other words, the results match) Here's the important part: I think he is going to say that this means that one must conclude that the future measurement (third) must have influenced the second measurement, because the second could not have influenced the third, and they all ended up being related. But this is assuming objective definite states. this assumes that the state of the two experimenters reading the data must have been definite when they read the experiments. My view, from Relational QM, would explain this differently. Retroactive Event Determination says that Alice performs the 2nd measurement, and enters into a superposition state with the particles, according to Bob. When Bob performs his measurement (3rd) the Alice-Particle superposition is in a superposition of 2^9 = 512 possible states (one possible history for each possible outcome of the particles).  Bob's measurement "collapses" (i hate that word) both Alice and the particle into a state such that Bob and Alice have  consistent data. If we allow for all states of all objects to be only definite relative to each observer, we still have retroactive event determination, but not spooky backwards in time causal chains.
He describes a situation with a weak quantum measurement, which is a quantum measurement that doesn't disturb the state of the object because it is so weak, but still obtains some partial information about its state. This is important because, in general, in QM, and measurement disturbs the system. The authors describe that if you have one normal QM measurement (determining the state of the particle) and then a weak measurement followed by another strong one in a different direction than the first, you find the following:

The first (strong) measurement fully determines the state of the particles. The second (weak) measurement does not affect the state of the particles, but does gain some info about them that must correlate to the first measurement. The third (strong) measurement should be completely undetermined, since it is in a different direction from the first. Yet in the analysis you realize that the weak measurement causes the first and third measurements to be fully correlted to each other. (in other words, the results match)

Here's the important part: I think he is going to say that this means that one must conclude that the future measurement (third) must have influenced the second measurement, because the second could not have influenced the third, and they all ended up being related.

But this is assuming objective definite states. this assumes that the state of the two experimenters reading the data must have been definite when they read the experiments.

My view, from Relational QM, would explain this differently. Retroactive Event Determination says that Alice performs the 2nd measurement, and enters into a superposition state with the particles, according to Bob. When Bob performs his measurement (3rd) the Alice-Particle superposition is in a superposition of 2^9 = 512 possible states (one possible history for each possible outcome of the particles). 

Bob's measurement "collapses" (i hate that word) both Alice and the particle into a state such that Bob and Alice have  consistent data.

If we allow for all states of all objects to be only definite relative to each observer, we still have retroactive event determination, but not spooky backwards in time causal chains.
]]> Sat, 21 Apr 2012 13:57:10 GMT EB2A4A28F13D865E6C503E3C7D591A62 Deep Thoughts http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1881050 To be excited about the future is Samsara. To be excited about the present is Enlightenment. To be excited about the present is Enlightenment.]]> Sat, 17 Mar 2012 00:45:32 GMT 48D58148066E3A9BFEFED3D204A9B05F My Ignite talk is up online - Why is Synchronicity a Key for Transforming Our Society? http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1558662 hi Friends, As civil unrest continues in the world, you might be interested in seeing this talk I gave (5 mins long) at Sebastopol Ignite last week, titled: &quot;Why is Synchronicity a Key for Transforming Our Society?&quot; <a target="_new" href="http://igniteshow.com/events/ignite-sebastopol-6"> &nbsp;http://igniteshow.com/events/ignite-sebastopol-6 These are a very fun format. Enjoy! As civil unrest continues in the world, you might be interested in seeing this talk I gave (5 mins long) at Sebastopol Ignite last week, titled: "Why is Synchronicity a Key for Transforming Our Society?"

 http://igniteshow.com/events/ignite-sebastopol-6

 These are a very fun format. Enjoy!

]]> Tue, 29 Nov 2011 11:00:00 GMT 54C4389446CDF5A57B42F0B679A1C6BC Singing in the streets: more Sky in the news for Occupy SF http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1481531 I appear at 2:00 and the song continues throughout after that. My friend Brant is in there too, with his broom to sweep the streets as we go! <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuz2ES4nug" target="_new">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuz2ES4nug http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSuz2ES4nug
]]> Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:48:07 GMT 2AEDAE4A5010BDFF7A692AC561377B3F Me in the news for Occupy SF http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1475434 Here is a clip that mentions me protesting at Occupy SF that I found online. There is a picture of me there in the slideshow too.<a target="_new" href="http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/12/protestors-occupy-sf/"> &nbsp;http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/12/protestors-occupy-sf/ And Another: <a target="_new" href="http://occupypointreyes.org/2nd-general-assembly-oct-16th/">http://occupypointreyes.org/2nd-general-assembly-oct-16th/

 http://venturebeat.com/2011/10/12/protestors-occupy-sf/

And Another:
http://occupypointreyes.org/2nd-general-assembly-oct-16th/
]]> Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:40:00 GMT 41A848A51D54245E510D40A963348DB9 Comments on your article - Marketing Advice for Occupy Movement http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1412308 This is a letter to the editor I wrote in response to an article in the SF Chronicle, on the Occupy movement. Dear Ms. Pender, Thank you for taking the time to notice and write about the Occupy Wall Street movement prominently in the San Francisco Chronicle. However, I think that you are missing the point of this movement. This is not a Coca-Cola ad. This movement is addressing a core problem in American society, which in my view is &ldquo;self interest at any expense&rdquo;. Advertising is often an example of self interest at any expense, and therefore not a good model for us. If you watch carefully, you will see that the people on the street are not demanding a simplistic set of demands. Instead, many of them are forming their own process of governance, and exploring new methods of democracy that are more appropriate for our Internet based world. I personally hope they will not ask for specific concessions from government. For one, I don&rsquo;t think we would all agree. And secondly, I don&rsquo;t think the government can give us what we want, which in my view is a more equitable, sane, and forward thinking society. There is no central power in this movement. This is a power that is greater than any one individual and spreads beyond any one country. That is our strength, and that is what sets this moment in history apart. This is a revolution, but we are not overthrowing the government. We are making it irrelevant. Thank you for paying attention. You are part of the 99%, and your voice matters. Sky Nelson Santa Rosa, CA
Dear Ms. Pender,

Thank you for taking the time to notice and write about the Occupy Wall Street movement prominently in the San Francisco Chronicle. However, I think that you are missing the point of this movement. This is not a Coca-Cola ad. This movement is addressing a core problem in American society, which in my view is “self interest at any expense”. Advertising is often an example of self interest at any expense, and therefore not a good model for us.

If you watch carefully, you will see that the people on the street are not demanding a simplistic set of demands. Instead, many of them are forming their own process of governance, and exploring new methods of democracy that are more appropriate for our Internet based world. I personally hope they will not ask for specific concessions from government. For one, I don’t think we would all agree. And secondly, I don’t think the government can give us what we want, which in my view is a more equitable, sane, and forward thinking society. There is no central power in this movement. This is a power that is greater than any one individual and spreads beyond any one country. That is our strength, and that is what sets this moment in history apart. This is a revolution, but we are not overthrowing the government. We are making it irrelevant.

Thank you for paying attention. You are part of the 99%, and your voice matters.

Sky Nelson
Santa Rosa, CA



]]> Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:31:18 GMT 48CC4F1C2B65909150ADFA89D37BDB49 Why I am participating, once again (sigh), in the Presidential election http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1275525 Man, I wish I could remove myself from politics during this election cycle. But my heart, my gut, and my love for my 2 year old daughter won&rsquo;t let me. This post is from me, not from any campaign or specific ideology, and it is written in my bed at night, when all the swirlings of the day become clearer and my values crystallize. Part of my motivation in writing this is to get myself motivated to stand up and put out so much effort once again. Honestly, I don&rsquo;t enjoy it. There are a number of other interests I would rather be pursuing. So why am I compelled to be political this time around? Simple: The enormous sums of money flowing to defeat anyone who slightly threatens the status quo for Big Oil and Big Military. Now, I understand that not all of you reading this are happy with Obama&rsquo;s presidency, and neither am I. Here is why: The two issues most important to me are war policy and energy/environmental policy. Although Obama has made speeches and some attempts to direct policy in what I would consider the right direction (Iraq drawdown, speeches about a green economy), I know that in many cases his actions have been pretty minor, and in some cases in the wrong direction altogether (not ratifying any global climate change treaty, furthering nuclear energy). I too am disappointed. I keep in mind, though, that the two most powerful (and politically active) industries in the world are (to my knowledge) the military industrial complex and the oil industry. So before I get too disappointed in one man, I want to make sure I know what we are up against in the first place. Some very important and discouraging videos I have watched are &ldquo;War Made Easy&rdquo; (<a target="_new" href="http://www.warmadeeasythemovie.org/">http://www.warmadeeasythemovie.org/), Zeitgeist: The Movie (<a target="_new" href="http://vimeo.com/13726978">http://vimeo.com/13726978), and Zeitgeist Addendum (<a target="_new" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg). To be brief, the forces we are up against are vaster than almost any of us recognize, and they influence our society (for instance, our media) in ways that most of us are probably unaware of. I don&rsquo;t think Obama ever had a chance to make significant change to war or oil policy without a huge shift in public opinion. My belief is that this probably won&rsquo;t happen without some galvanizing tragic event that can clearly be tied to climate change. So I feel it is important to objectively examine the current political situation. Corporate interests are in heavy control. Even for those who don&rsquo;t like Obama, we should be able to agree that he is very different from the candidates on the right that will get the overwhelming financial support of big corporations. He will be the only viable candidate for president representing anything close to my interests in the upcoming election. We all know that it was not so much Bush himself but the power behind Bush that was so dangerous and destructive. That power is even more active today than before. I am very afraid that people underestimate this. We are the only capable weapon against the huge sums of money flowing to defeat climate change. We can talk, write blog posts, volunteer, donate, whatever. We just need to keep making sure the truth is getting spoken. Taking action brings synchronicity that reflects our action. So that's why I feel like I have to be involved at some level. Whether for climate change, transition towns, Obama, other political races, peace rallies, it is so crucal that I participate now. I hope you are doing the same. PS. And please read up on Norman Solomon as well. He made &ldquo;War Made Easy&rdquo; and is running for the House of Representatives. <a href="http://www.solomonforcongress.com/" target="_new">http://www.solomonforcongress.com/ He is an honest fighter and truthteller. PPS. Other opinions are welcome. Please comment...
So why am I compelled to be political this time around?

Simple: The enormous sums of money flowing to defeat anyone who slightly threatens the status quo for Big Oil and Big Military.

Now, I understand that not all of you reading this are happy with Obama’s presidency, and neither am I.

Here is why:

The two issues most important to me are war policy and energy/environmental policy. Although Obama has made speeches and some attempts to direct policy in what I would consider the right direction (Iraq drawdown, speeches about a green economy), I know that in many cases his actions have been pretty minor, and in some cases in the wrong direction altogether (not ratifying any global climate change treaty, furthering nuclear energy).

I too am disappointed.

I keep in mind, though, that the two most powerful (and politically active) industries in the world are (to my knowledge) the military industrial complex and the oil industry. So before I get too disappointed in one man, I want to make sure I know what we are up against in the first place. Some very important and discouraging videos I have watched are “War Made Easy” (http://www.warmadeeasythemovie.org/), Zeitgeist: The Movie (http://vimeo.com/13726978), and Zeitgeist Addendum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EewGMBOB4Gg).

To be brief, the forces we are up against are vaster than almost any of us recognize, and they influence our society (for instance, our media) in ways that most of us are probably unaware of. I don’t think Obama ever had a chance to make significant change to war or oil policy without a huge shift in public opinion. My belief is that this probably won’t happen without some galvanizing tragic event that can clearly be tied to climate change.

So I feel it is important to objectively examine the current political situation. Corporate interests are in heavy control. Even for those who don’t like Obama, we should be able to agree that he is very different from the candidates on the right that will get the overwhelming financial support of big corporations. He will be the only viable candidate for president representing anything close to my interests in the upcoming election.

We all know that it was not so much Bush himself but the power behind Bush that was so dangerous and destructive. That power is even more active today than before. I am very afraid that people underestimate this.

We are the only capable weapon against the huge sums of money flowing to defeat climate change. We can talk, write blog posts, volunteer, donate, whatever. We just need to keep making sure the truth is getting spoken. Taking action brings synchronicity that reflects our action.

So that's why I feel like I have to be involved at some level. Whether for climate change, transition towns, Obama, other political races, peace rallies, it is so crucal that I participate now. I hope you are doing the same.

PS. And please read up on Norman Solomon as well. He made “War Made Easy” and is running for the House of Representatives. http://www.solomonforcongress.com/ He is an honest fighter and truthteller.

PPS. Other opinions are welcome. Please comment...
]]> Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:30:00 GMT 93B704DBA1005B9918FB434679B55423 Dreams of earthquakes http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1227291 Two nights ago, I had a dream of a big earthquake. I was at my old school in Point Reyes and my cousins from New Jersey were with me. It was huge. We were all ok. There have been a few earthquakes around the hemisphere in the past couple days. Powerful stuff.
There have been a few earthquakes around the hemisphere in the past couple days.

Powerful stuff.
]]> Thu, 25 Aug 2011 01:40:07 GMT EF823DED134277A1FCF42DF95DE28DDB ConqueringCrisis-TranscendingTime http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1176534 How to respond to the events of the last few days? And the further crisis that I expect to come shortly? My drawing is attached. <a href="http://skynelson.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/conqueringcrisis-transcendingtime1.jpeg">My thoughts on handling the stock market crash to come <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godelicious/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gofacebook/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gotwitter/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gostumble/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/godigg/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/goreddit/skynelson.wordpress.com/52/"> How to respond to the events of the last few days? And the further crisis that I expect to come shortly?

My drawing is attached.

My thoughts on handling the stock market crash to come


]]> Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:54:29 GMT 47D40489C0360C12A09FD889321AFE6D Things to remember about these times http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1173087 It seems that things are unfolding in front of our eyes. What to remember: This is a spiritual transition. Be prepared and do inner work. There is no need to change it. This is what needs to happen. Be happy, have compassion for people's suffering, but don't suffer over your own suffering. Endure the hardships with a smile, do the work that is necessary, and hold the vision for the world that we want to emerge. I believe it is on its way.
This is a spiritual transition. Be prepared and do inner work. There is no need to change it. This is what needs to happen. Be happy, have compassion for people's suffering, but don't suffer over your own suffering. Endure the hardships with a smile, do the work that is necessary, and hold the vision for the world that we want to emerge.

I believe it is on its way.
]]> Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:46:14 GMT 6BF0E1E9A39219989D8C1536389D0047 The stock market http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1161736 I was about to post a statement saying &quot;oops, maybe I was wrong&quot;, regarding my last post. But I guess we need to wait and see. Huge drop the last few days. Here's my meditation on the stock market: The stock market is crazy. The value of items is based solely on a piece of paper, and that value can evaporate if all the brokers suddenly agree that they don't want it. There is no inherent worth or value in the stock market. Hence its volatility. It is created simply as a tool for some people to make money off their money. It serves no direct purpose for human experience or for the actual production of anything in the economy. Yet it has a stranglehold on the economy. The economy is completely reliant on this thing that is made of ... nothing. Reminds me of the way atoms are made of ... nothing. What stops them from evaporating?
Here's my meditation on the stock market:
The stock market is crazy. The value of items is based solely on a piece of paper, and that value can evaporate if all the brokers suddenly agree that they don't want it. There is no inherent worth or value in the stock market. Hence its volatility. It is created simply as a tool for some people to make money off their money. It serves no direct purpose for human experience or for the actual production of anything in the economy. Yet it has a stranglehold on the economy. The economy is completely reliant on this thing that is made of ... nothing.

Reminds me of the way atoms are made of ... nothing. What stops them from evaporating?
]]> Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:16:34 GMT CF9BD3415445CA6A1DF1A028E7C933F8 World change about to strike? http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1143184 I wanted to briefly share with you some thoughts, in case this helps anyone. I have talked about my dreams in the past. Over the past few years they have inclined me to believe that we are in a period of intense change and transition in the world, and of late I have to say my interpretation is that the time of change is upon us. Coincident with that, we are seeing a potential massive issue with the debt ceiling debate, which could have strong ripple effects that are hard to predict. I wonder if indeed a time of upheaval is just about upon us. It does seem to me that our financial system as well as our consumer system is unsustainable, so I am actually hopeful that things will begin to fall apart so we can rebuild a more sustainable model. In the meantime, how do we cope with these changes? My advice is simple, and certainly just my opinion: 1) Prepare mentally to be flexible to change. Practice non-attachment, and realize what is most important to you (i.e. NOT money) 2) Still, consider paying off credit cards etc, in case the credit markets freeze, and you have trouble accessing money or getting paid at work. The credit cards will not free you from your debt, so best to have it paid off in advance. 3) Think about what else you might do to prepare for the freeze of credit and a lack of income for a period of time. 4) Realize that this is foremost a spiritual transformation for our entire civilization, and that it may be difficult or scary on the surface, but ultimately we will have a tremendously better world. Anyway, I think number 1 and 4 are most important. This is a time of spiritual transition. Get ready, and hold on to your seats!! The debt deadline is this Tuesday, by the way. I very well may be wrong, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.
It does seem to me that our financial system as well as our consumer system is unsustainable, so I am actually hopeful that things will begin to fall apart so we can rebuild a more sustainable model. In the meantime, how do we cope with these changes?

My advice is simple, and certainly just my opinion:

1) Prepare mentally to be flexible to change. Practice non-attachment, and realize what is most important to you (i.e. NOT money)
2) Still, consider paying off credit cards etc, in case the credit markets freeze, and you have trouble accessing money or getting paid at work. The credit cards will not free you from your debt, so best to have it paid off in advance.
3) Think about what else you might do to prepare for the freeze of credit and a lack of income for a period of time.
4) Realize that this is foremost a spiritual transformation for our entire civilization, and that it may be difficult or scary on the surface, but ultimately we will have a tremendously better world.

Anyway, I think number 1 and 4 are most important. This is a time of spiritual transition. Get ready, and hold on to your seats!!

The debt deadline is this Tuesday, by the way. I very well may be wrong, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

]]> Sat, 30 Jul 2011 12:35:00 GMT E2EA0547BD2FCED063CEE819A1A7B689 More dreams of oceans in the future http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=1061255 I don't like sounding dramatic, but I want to keep sharing a few of the dreams that have been so impactful to me. Last night I experienced another in a long line of dreams about a world-wide (I think) tsunami. This was one of the most realistic experiences I have had. Until the dream was over, I kept saying to myself, &quot;OMG, this is actually happening! It is here!&quot; It was terrifying, but not like a nightmare. It wasn't personally scary, and I came out fine. It was terrifying in a deeper way, the same way it is terrifying when somebody you know moderately well dies. It was terrifyingly real, something to simply adjust to, not argue about. It was like the difference between imagining a big change in your head, and it actually happening to you. Not terrifying in a theoretical way, but in a very down to earth, practical way. Something to get used to. Tonight I was looking through an old journal from 2006, and in an entry around winter solstice time I found this recorded dream: &quot;Journal: Dec 9, 2015 (dated in the future in the dream) The waves have grown so unpredictable that it makes transport to and from the place I used to live impossibly dangerous. Huge flood waves will poor in every so often, sweeping everything to sea. We have all moved further inland, living in a large bunker just underground. It is pleasant, if not busy, crowded, and urban/industrial feeling. I buy a pager for 69cents to help me communicate with my friends. In the bunker, it is so crowded with strangers that the social norms have changed. It is no longer 'who you know' that matters. It is 'who we meet', via synchronicity, that guides us in our daily activities. We've all learned to trust and use it to help us get things done and solve our problems.&quot; This was about a year before my work on the current understanding of the physics of synchronicity. I didn't realize I was so aware of it at that point. It resonates pretty well with my current picture of the future I expect. Bleak, but also hopeful. Environmentally, the world is difficult and chaotic. But on a human level, people have come together and are working together as a single global brain.
Last night I experienced another in a long line of dreams about a world-wide (I think) tsunami. This was one of the most realistic experiences I have had. Until the dream was over, I kept saying to myself, "OMG, this is actually happening! It is here!" It was terrifying, but not like a nightmare. It wasn't personally scary, and I came out fine. It was terrifying in a deeper way, the same way it is terrifying when somebody you know moderately well dies. It was terrifyingly real, something to simply adjust to, not argue about. It was like the difference between imagining a big change in your head, and it actually happening to you. Not terrifying in a theoretical way, but in a very down to earth, practical way. Something to get used to.

Tonight I was looking through an old journal from 2006, and in an entry around winter solstice time I found this recorded dream:
"Journal: Dec 9, 2015 (dated in the future in the dream)
The waves have grown so unpredictable that it makes transport to and from the place I used to live impossibly dangerous. Huge flood waves will poor in every so often, sweeping everything to sea. We have all moved further inland, living in a large bunker just underground. It is pleasant, if not busy, crowded, and urban/industrial feeling. I buy a pager for 69cents to help me communicate with my friends. In the bunker, it is so crowded with strangers that the social norms have changed. It is no longer 'who you know' that matters. It is 'who we meet', via synchronicity, that guides us in our daily activities. We've all learned to trust and use it to help us get things done and solve our problems."

This was about a year before my work on the current understanding of the physics of synchronicity. I didn't realize I was so aware of it at that point. It resonates pretty well with my current picture of the future I expect. Bleak, but also hopeful. Environmentally, the world is difficult and chaotic. But on a human level, people have come together and are working together as a single global brain.
]]> Sun, 26 Jun 2011 11:01:54 GMT 8B33AF6A0068B5CAF395EE445C7D8668 "We floated right out of our guns" http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=759023 As you can tell from the new album, I have had many dreams over the past few years that have influenced this album. One particular theme has become very prevalent. I say &quot;one theme&quot;, but it is never the same dream. It is the context that is the same each time. I want to describe it because I wonder if others out there are experiencing anything similar to me? In these dreams, I am with friends on a beach or near a coast. We are aware of the changes in the ocean and the water levels rising. I begin to see wave after wave hitting the shore and growing in size. I realize that we need to get away from the coast. We begin to move, quickly, and then the waves are huge and have turned into tsunami waves crashing over the land and over us. We escape, at least some of us, and find ourselves safe farther inland later in the dream. There is a deep sense of profound change, and a sense of community in the world that is new to me. It feels like the new place where I end up is more loving, compassionate, and caring than the one we left behind. Interestingly, this dream has never been the same or even similar each time, aside from the basic theme of waves over-powering us, seeking refuge inland, and finding a great community. I usually take it metaphorically, as a representation of the intense changes we face as a civilization. Yet sometimes it seems too real and consistent to be only a metaphor. I had a dream recently in which I was alert. The dream took place in the future, in this more peaceful and sane world I was describing earlier. I tried to ask questions of the people I met...what had happened to cause these changes? They talked about these massive tidal waves that had overrun the land, all over the world. They said &quot;We floated right out of our guns.&quot; I guess there was so much suffering and destruction from the waves that they, as a civilization, woke up to reality, and stopped fighting. I asked them around what year did this happen? They hinted between 2012-2013. Too spooky...
In these dreams, I am with friends on a beach or near a coast. We are aware of the changes in the ocean and the water levels rising. I begin to see wave after wave hitting the shore and growing in size. I realize that we need to get away from the coast. We begin to move, quickly, and then the waves are huge and have turned into tsunami waves crashing over the land and over us.

We escape, at least some of us, and find ourselves safe farther inland later in the dream. There is a deep sense of profound change, and a sense of community in the world that is new to me. It feels like the new place where I end up is more loving, compassionate, and caring than the one we left behind.

Interestingly, this dream has never been the same or even similar each time, aside from the basic theme of waves over-powering us, seeking refuge inland, and finding a great community. I usually take it metaphorically, as a representation of the intense changes we face as a civilization.

Yet sometimes it seems too real and consistent to be only a metaphor.

I had a dream recently in which I was alert. The dream took place in the future, in this more peaceful and sane world I was describing earlier. I tried to ask questions of the people I met...what had happened to cause these changes? They talked about these massive tidal waves that had overrun the land, all over the world. They said "We floated right out of our guns."

I guess there was so much suffering and destruction from the waves that they, as a civilization, woke up to reality, and stopped fighting. I asked them around what year did this happen? They hinted between 2012-2013.

Too spooky...

]]> Fri, 11 Feb 2011 13:54:50 GMT F66B78D6F5A8D551806EA56E42F38CD8 Thoughts on Premonition and Intuition http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=590423 I think my views on time lead me to think about bi-causality a little differently from many people, just in that I don't see any definite reality to the future, and so I don't imagine it influencing the present...well, wait, maybe I do. I see the unobserved present giving us signs in order to lead us toward specific outcomes, and these can be seen as presentiment or intuition. For example, Based on the interactions and experiences I have had, there will be a web of definite events that are connected to me, even though I may not know about them. Based on these definite histories of events, or at least probable histories of events, I may receive &quot;warnings&quot; and &quot;signs&quot; which are connected by meaning to let me know about these other histories that I may not be aware of. These can be seen as presentiment or intuition, because they guide me into alignment with histories that I think I had no connection to, and yet end up lining up in synchronicity. But I tend to differ on the notion that it is something in the future that already exists which is influencing us...that implies predeterminisim to me. I tend to think that future and past do not really mean anything, and rather, time is defined by that which has already been determined and that which has not (though these don't directly correlate to future and past).
For example, Based on the interactions and experiences I have had, there will be a web of definite events that are connected to me, even though I may not know about them. Based on these definite histories of events, or at least probable histories of events, I may receive "warnings" and "signs" which are connected by meaning to let me know about these other histories that I may not be aware of. These can be seen as presentiment or intuition, because they guide me into alignment with histories that I think I had no connection to, and yet end up lining up in synchronicity.

But I tend to differ on the notion that it is something in the future that already exists which is influencing us...that implies predeterminisim to me. I tend to think that future and past do not really mean anything, and rather, time is defined by that which has already been determined and that which has not (though these don't directly correlate to future and past).
]]> Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:00:15 GMT 1DF15AC275B666B55A789BA5AD196CF0 In perfect flow http://skynelson.com/blog.cfm?feature=202716&postid=573369 How do we know when we have transcended the ego and found the flow of life? We still go through periods of striving and periods of acceptance. We still live the ups and downs. But we are happy with life. We are content with what we have. Though we may still try for more, whether it comes or not doesn't matter to us. We still go through the terrain of life, but if our ego is unattached, then it is all joyous, or peaceful. Suddenly life feels immeasurably bountious and abundant. Is that because we are actually given more? Or because we are content with what we are given? I think both.
We still go through periods of striving and periods of acceptance. We still live the ups and downs. But we are happy with life.

We are content with what we have. Though we may still try for more, whether it comes or not doesn't matter to us.

We still go through the terrain of life, but if our ego is unattached, then it is all joyous, or peaceful.

Suddenly life feels immeasurably bountious and abundant. Is that because we are actually given more? Or because we are content with what we are given?

I think both.
]]> Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:25:00 GMT 1010628547A96242ACFB035A3DEE115F