I have been
interviewed by "Opaque Lens", aka Niall Murphy, on Shamanic Freedom
Radio, see: http://shamanicfreedomradio.podomatic.com/entry/2014-06-16T12_25_38-07_00.
Subjects discussed include: the sudden rise of animosity and
infighting within the alternative communities, UKIP, the EU and immigration,
science and spirituality, and much much more.
I made a brief
appearance on one of Niall's previous shows, the one where we were at Avebury
with David Icke, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.co.uk/2009/07/my-avebury-radio-interview.html.
Niall has also been a
guest on the HPANWO Show, see: http://hpanwo-radio.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/programme-40-podcast-niall-murphy.html.
(PART 1) Hi Ben. Great show I really enjoyed the discussions you both had and can honestly say it was refreshing. It is interesting that the other host mentioned his experience of moving from South London to a more 'cultural hive' and the reality of the move. It reminds me of my move to Brighton. Brighton is and feels like to the discerning few like the Guardian Newspapers version of the 70's program 'The Prisoner' with the Levellers (Band) as the screws and bellwethers of this Georgian faceded aberration (AS PRETTY AS IT LOOKS). The reality is of a palpable wealth driven crucible wherein most of the population consists of transients in the form of Wealthy property owners, holiday makers, students, and the emotional heat and dream like aspirations of the forlorn. All of this engenders a real feeling of freshness for those skimming the veneer of joyous movement. However for the few that have come to Brighton on the back of the Historical Hype of the town will tend to end up living off the aroma of Historical Hype and find that it's culture is likewise transient and impossible to pin down as they are energy anomalies. The counter culture ethos is grafted firmly but unwittingly onto gibbous sensibilities and cannot be any other way. The grungy look is actually a highly polished and much more ruthless vehicle than the ignorance of the status quo and far less noble than the noble ignorance of the ground level, direct controlled streets of the post working class districts and enclaves with it's violent fallout of the narrow gates of chance of the Global Commerce Model and it's class system. Such erudite and beloved movements such as Anarchism, Socialism, Green-Ism and Capitalism can be firmly rooted and harmoniously cultivated in the same green house then there is a problem. In reality, the actual dichotomy of property-owners and honest Middle Class standpoint stand on one side and the property-less and unknowingly dishonest 'alternative' on the other is more keenly and fully physically confronted in the despised 'ghetto-estates' and districts where local gangs and sharp street kids educate themselves with decisive courage and 'fuck you' attitude'. In comparison the situation in a town like Brighton is that although the populace is aware of this opposition that becomes keener day by day and is rapidly driving to a crisis there is still this feeding off the aroma of a culture that does not exist beyond the pseudo mystical and symbolism of highly polished terms and image.....
ReplyDelete(PART 2) If, then, the few true theoretical representatives of the lone anti socialites wish their literary activity to have any practical effect, they must first and foremost insist that all phrases are dropped which tend to dim the realisation of the sharpness of this opposition unwitting confusion which is this aberration of composite that is Brighton culture. It is this very so called culture that is a bourgeois term for all alienated and access denied activity that allows people to express themselves in fragmented and meaningful ways, harmoniously yet with no application except outside of the reality of the Global Commerce Modal and Greed disguised as Aspiration. Brighton has become this realities 'spectacle'. All phrases such as 'community', 'Anarchism', 'Socialism', 'Spirit' etc., etc. only serve to link and tie down all alienated activities in a false sense of fee-flowing autonomy which is one sided in it's actual manifestation. All these distinctions which tend to conceal this opposition and may even give the bourgeois a chance to approach these groups of people for safety will do so within either the darkness of meritorious deeds aka philanthropic enthusiasm or for the manipulation of greed as the ambitious guilt driven greed of the actual reality of the refined cultural-spiritual Ego. The social reality (if we can indulge such a spectre) must lie in understanding one's own authentic, no-termed and non-sectarian essentiality of mind first and foremost. This mind like the concept of society does not come under any arrangement though we must not instinctively react to insist that there should be no utilisation of arrangement though be it outside the latent ritual progression of the 'Profane' or so called 'Spiritual'. The old Zen masters of China advocated meditation in order to critically apprehend all concurrent circumstances directly thus not dividing the whole and by seeing directly into this essentiallity of mind, viz. The 'Self Nature'. If we fail to assimilate the social experience by way of authentic realization then whatever 'culture' or counter positional terminology or standpoint we feel we immerse ourselves in will be like trying to rub this very social space with the hands in order to feel the aesthetics of the social sphere.
ReplyDeleteJust to add I am in no way attempting to discredit the Levellers as a Band as they have made some great music and have raised some important issues over the years, I just believe that we should begin to move away from voices that meant well but have become part of the sectarian composite which have allowed us to jump to a cultural conclusion that give us the colour and sound of social/inner attainment when we/it has ultimately has not and will struggle to do with the many more vitual distractions and virtual realms that cling and develop stagnation.
ReplyDeleteThanks, X. I like your poetic description of Brighton. I've only been there a couple of times, most recently to hunt down a stargate! (Long story) I think you'd like listening to Niall's show regularly. You sound like your on his wavelength. But I don't thi9nk he'll hear a word against the Levellers! ;-)
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