Without invoking extra-normal influences some other factors driving in the direction you mention Nanner are the weakening of the  societal influence of the conservative Christian churches, and the effective fading of its fanatical campaign against the esoteric.

The resulting societal conditioning is also fading. As is the sway of the rational/objective/scientific paradigm of subject/object reality (been caught too many times with its pants down) so that people no longer have to go against quite so strong a cultural conditioning. Not to mention that leading edge science is making respectable to the scientific conservatives for example Eastern views as to the nature of reality.

We're also leaving the Victorian era of incredibly strong cultural and societal values (although as the last remaining largely undisturbed empire from the era the US harbours most of the residue of this in its conservative/south eastern consciousness) which steam rollered individuality and forced conformity, with the same effect.

This Victorian era was an earlier stage of the transition from emotional selfishness to intellectualism as suggested by the Jacobs Ladder model. Some are moving beyond selfish intellectualism and starting to live from and integrate the heart. Leading to many more sensing intuitive people around.

The influx of Eastern and other traditions is providing a framework too within which we can make sense of or be attuned to a lot of the wackier happenings. And what we expect to perceive we will perceive it seems.

So there's a simultaneous weakening of religious, societal and mind constraints to our waking up to a rather more multi hued version of reality than we've been used to, mixed simultaneously with a world view that increasingly allows for all sorts that was previously regarded as wacky.

I should say by the way that these individuals freedoms still depend on the existence of societal structures and values to be possible. The hedonistic urge that takes advantage of them to go on the piss is headed in the opposite direction.

This of course explains nothing at the level of first cause. Why are these things happening??? At the broadest level it's presumably karma in action.

But I don't quite know what's going down and where it's going to end up - but I think we're very lucky to find ourselves living in such an unprecedented age - even if so many in the world do not enjoy the same privilege....

the internet is amazing. I know for a fact a great deal of my mystical experiences started in 1999 up to now due to thats when I started using the thing and came in touch with all the great friends I've made, some passing friends, some I managed to keep and with whom we share the mystical experiences as partnered sharing adventures.

Before the internet, I only had books or various churches for interaction, thought, and growth. but I had a smattering of mystical experiences, enough to write my book.
we may not always be using the internet so much in times ahead, so we may as well enjoy it while its here. love, alysia

Round here (in Ireland) we're just finishing a 10 year boom fuelled by cheap EU money, construction and industry and heading for a probable bust but there's been a huge awakening  - people are becoming very aware that money doesn't buy happiness, and that care for others is central.

There's also been a big explosion of interest in the exotic, with especially alternative therapies growing rapidly. Lots of much more liberal stuff too  - for example articles on sex technique in fairly mainstream publications that not long ago would have caused an uproar.

It's not a mystical scene, and it mixes commercial and other forms of self interest with often a pretty simplistic and politically correct take on stuff. As you would expect in people just starting to open intellectually to a view higher than just basic survival.

The net has been a huge factor too in exposing people to alternative perspectives.

It's far from being all good and risk free, but boy has it come a long way compared to when I was a kid 30 years ago  - when the Catholic hierarchy still routinely intervened directly in the framing of legislation. (they wanted the sort of religious state the Islamicists get clobbered for today)

I think 9/11 made us wake up to a global type of awareness which can only be a good thing collectively. here in America other countries either love us or they hate us, but I don't see how they can truly judge our actions as we are "all of them." we are a melting pot of many races and creeds.
but 9/11 was a wake up call to further changes reverberating across the world. it truly has it's spiritual implications.
I call what is happening a shift in consciousness, like a slow train coming. I don't see anything happening that all people's won't be able to handle, because of my beliefs in higher forces at work.

as far as Arizona here, seems to be a big drug culture and forces are stepping in to change that scene also slowly but surely. just met a couple of ex-meth freaks in front of Walgren's the other day and was led to chat a bit. they are starting up a center here in my town, and they came all the way from Phoenix to do it, they are getting teens off of meth.
I noticed in New Mexico, it was a drug scene the same, but there were rehab places and much was going on there. also in NM folks were taking steps to protect animals from cruelty by passing laws. I thought that was good sign.
getting teens off meth may not seem spiritual topic, but it is. the teens will grow to be adults when we are gone, they will be the world. I was inspired to see somebody cares about them.
love, alysia

Hi nanner,dave,aylsia,spooky and vajra I'm not to sure but not so long ago in England i was told of a survey what was done and this survey proved that more and more people are turning from the conventional churches and turning more to spiritualists churches and i,ve also heard that soon the anglican religion will go and it will all revert back to catholic religion and our anglican priest told us that at the centre.I wondered whether you had heard about these things.

Love and God bless   love juditha

Nanner wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2008 at 6:02am:


Once again I must re-post this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxWZc1cRLnA

That video says it pretty much for me on what you are sharing Nanner...

Hi Nanner - Yeah - I agree with Alan -

I don't see much of a future. If nothing else, we're entering a period in which there is interplanetray consciousness evolving. That is actually a relatively new thing, not seen since Columbus and Magellan et al. The upsurgence following the Copernican revolution in scince is likely to be revisted from the perspective of other new worlds, which should bring us all forward toward greater planetary cohesion and cooperation, since we all have to work together.

There is still a major danger of a disasterous war, as a lot of nations are going to be squeezed by the rising tides over the next few centuries, cutting into food production and living space. My guess is that we'll see China and India as major players. Unfortunately, the image of all of us in a lifeboat while some nut plays with hand grenades is close to the truth.

The predictions of Parson Malthus, that we will develop famland linearly while population grows exponentially, suggests that we will, in the next few decades, reach the planet's carrying capacity for people.

On that basis I predict a really unconfortable period. Human nature is such that our leaders tend to deny such problems because they don't know how to fix them. That means hoarding resources for the rich, and then at the last minute opening the storehouse to keep the lid on society - after which there will be a pretty abrupt shift to empty shelves. Add a little pestilence, some major food riots, a couple revolutions, the bird flu, starvation, war - might as well as some fire and brimstone and maybe a rogue asteroid too. -  And then things will settle again with a new order imposed, and a heck of a lot fewer people.

These ideas aren't even especially new. And most remarkably, nobody is doing anything about the problem. Denial is still governments' basic defense against unpleasant facts.

dave