by Ray Jason
It
is dawn on the anniversary of my birth – long ago. I sit quietly
and peacefully marveling at one of my favorite panoramas here in the
Archipelago of Bliss. In the foreground, lovely ocean-striding
sailboats gently tug at their anchors. Beyond them, the sun’s
first rays accentuate the elemental beauty of the neighboring
islands. And far in the distance is a range of mountains crowned by
a sleeping volcano.
Last
year, on my Northwest Passage crossing, I saw the northern extremity
of this mighty cordillera that stretches past my handsome sloop and
extends all the way to Cape Horn. Will I one day see that legendary
southern peak that has brought such ecstasy and agony to ocean
wanderers?
*******
Blessed
and cursed as I am with an overactive “introspection gene,” I
become even more contemplative on my birthday. But how could it not
be so, when one is in the Autumn of one’s life with the years
thundering by and the disappointments mounting?
These
last five years since I started my Blog, which strives for a deeper
understanding of the human project, have been rewarding but also very
unsettling. Initially, my research via the internet was
exhilarating. Here was information and knowledge without
gate-keepers. Explanations and narratives that had seemed suspicious
to me during my college years, could now be fully investigated.
Unfortunately,
this research revealed that what we perceive as Reality is actually
an enormous deception. We exist in a sort of hall of mirrors where
everything is obscured and distorted. And this is deliberately being
done by a tiny group of elites who manipulate the vast bulk of
humanity.
They
con us into believing that we have free choice in our lives because
we can choose between 67 flavors of yogurt while wearing 54 colors of
lipstick. And these numbers are dwarfed by the hundreds of TV
channels to distract us; and the smart phone apps to addict us.
Meanwhile,
the politicians lie about serving the people, when their only genuine
allegiance is to their wallets and limousines. The economists doctor
their statistics to deceive us into thinking that their profession is
actually of some value to society. The actions of the intelligence
agencies just prove that they should be called “ignorance
agencies.” And the military industrial complex keeps inventing
enemies to slaughter, so that they can move up into a higher class of
Mercedes.
And
yet as appalling as all of this is, after about three years of study,
I began to learn that the crimes of the Malignant Overlords - as I
like to call them - are so much worse than I had anticipated. They
are almost unimaginably horrific. A month of research will reveal an
Underworld of obscene darkness and evil. Start by investigating
“Jimmy Savile” and see how connected his horrors were to
supposedly respectable bastions of politics and media.
Besides
the degeneracy of the ruling elites, I also kept confronting their
agenda for the future of Humanity – and it is grim. They are
trying to shape a technocratic dystopia that is a hybrid of these
elements: Brave New World, RoboCop, 1984 and The Hunger Games. A
total command and control grid of Overlords and Serfs.
*******
How
can my immersion in such research not batter my philosopher poet’s
soul? How can I retain an optimistic perspective despite so much
evidence of malice and deceit? I found myself repeating the
question, “So, what then is the answer?” Eventually, I
recognized that the best solution would be to share with you, my
unknown but beloved readers, some suggestions for weathering the
troubled waters trying to submerge us.
-
Rediscover a connection to the natural world. So much of our societal neuroses are directly caused by the severing of our ties to the non-human world. This can be as simple as walking to the park and feeding the ducks. Lessen your screen time and increase your swan time.
-
Slow down! Ever since I was a teen, the hucksters of advertising have lied to us about how much richer our lives would become if we just purchased one more time-saving device. We have all purchased a hundred, and our lives are more chaotic and unsatisfied than ever.
-
STUFF is not the solution, it is the problem. Every wise and spiritual figure throughout history has lauded the rewards of voluntary simplicity. The endless quest for more stuff keeps us from discovering our true inner self and from establishing meaningful relationships, which require time and attention.
-
Divorce yourself from the real world as much as possible. If you can go full sea gypsy, that is probably the ideal alternative, but probably not achievable by many. Instead, turn off the TV, limit your social media time, ditch the car for the bike, quit watching spectator sports and start participating.
-
Concentrate on things that you can control. Realize that your ability to change the world is almost microscopic, so stick to modest, realistic improvements with your family and friends and neighbors.
-
Laugh at the Lunacy. Trying to combat the Insanity may very well lead to your catching the Insanity. Keep your distance and your sense of humor.
*******
It’s
almost twilight now. I’m sitting in the same spot enjoying the
view of the same boats and islands and mountains. But the sun is no
longer greeting them. It is disappearing behind them. Another day
lingers … and then leaves. Certainly,
it has been a more special
day, but perhaps that is the answer. To sculpt as many days as
possible into SPECIAL DAYS.