We're working on a new set of dates for the rest of the year. For a detailed itinerary of a regularly scheduled Magical Egypt trip, read the Trip info page

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The video interview... 26 minutes

An excellent and fun to watch video interview of John recorded by the Conscious Media Network at the recent CPAK 2007 Conference. An enlightened bunch, the Network features many, many quality interviews to catch up on and offers much of value to enrich understanding.

Hello Everyone,

PhoenixFire 8 CONSIDER THE KALI YUGA is up and audible. Here are the shownotes. Click on the link to listen. More coming sometime in the foreseeable if unpredictable future.

Best,

John Anthony West

Friday, March 28, 2008

PHOENIXFIRE 8



CONSIDER THE KALI YUGA

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History is not what we’re taught in our schools – a linear March of Progress, from primitive beginning to our enlightened selves with our hydrogen bombs and our bobblehead dolls. What we are taught is effectively a 19th Century fabrication; a White Supremacist, Eurocentric con job.

History is actually a cycle, a very long cycle. This was understood by Plato, who talked about a Golden Age, a Silver Age, a Bronze Age and an Iron (or Dark) Age. This is paralleled, but in more detail in the Vedic/Hindu and its doctrine of the ‘Yugas’. Other ancient civilizations and the myths and legends of other peoples around the world project a similar understanding. The much-discussed Mayan 2012 prophecy is another expression of history as a cycle.

In PF8 we look long and hard at this concept, demonstrate it’s validity and contrast it point by point with the central dogma of what I like to call our Church of Progress.

The C of P may assure us we are the most evolved beings ever to inhabit the planet, but anyone aware of our actual global state (both inner and outer) might question this conviction. And there is evidence galore to support such a contrary view.

Where are we within the cycle? Which ‘Yuga’ are we actually ‘in’? And what (if anything) is there that we can do to act upon our understanding and extricate ourselves from the dilemma we’re in?

I am author of the month on Graham Hancock's website, there you can find an essay relating to the Yugas and the cyclical view of history.

Some useful links: Richard Heinberg Sri Yukteswar

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For those who’ve not been on a Magical Egypt Trip, here’s a way to get a feel for what they’re actually like. more..

I am reformulating my tour.

Too many people (especially Americans) have said they can't go because they can't afford to take the 18 days door-to-door that the trips require. Since 9/11 I've had huge problems making the trips run at all and am inclined to think that the 18 days is to no little extent responsible - since as of last winter the Americans were back in Egypt, but not with me.

I've therefore decided to reduce the package to 11/12 days door-to-door and make it a Cairo/Luxor intensive. This both shortens it and reduces the price by about $1000 and at the same time (if you look at the old itinerary, you'll see) still includes about 75-80% of the sites.

The cruise is out and that is in a sense a considerable 'miss'. There is no doubt that the 2 days (of the 4-5 nights advertised) actually spent sailing are a delight. But the fact is that there are now over 300 boats plying the river, and the result is that the two sites we visit en route to Aswan (Edfu & Kom Ombo) are a human zoo when we get there and the 'experience' is a long way from the Egypt I like to present.

The same applies to Abu Simbel. It's next to impossible to see and enjoy this wonderful place with huge crowds there and it is now also next to impossible to engineer the trip in such a way that Abu Simbel can be truly enjoyed. Moreover, they've now made it illegal for anyone to lecture inside the temple so my own presence there is hardly necessary. (People can get all the essential information from my guidebook.) This makes the only really serious miss Philae, which is also a zoo all day long from the opening time on - except, as I've just disccovered, during lunch when it empties out. But there's no practical way to include it and still keep the trip within the shorter period.

I am still looking for funding for our Geologists Panel. It is imperative to carry out this survey. Without it, the Sphinx theory, however valid and scientifically demonstrated, is heading towards academic limbo, misrepresented and marginalized by its opponents. A report by an independent panel of geologists with expertise in the various specialties involved is absolutely essential to provide the publicity and press to keep the battle alive. Without that, it could get buried. More.