Eg-Update 25.0

Friends and Egyptophiles,

1. Upcoming lecture. This is a last-minute, barely-advance notice for a one-hour lecture I'll be giving tomorrow, Saturday July 28th, at The Center for Symbolic Studies in near-by New Paltz, NY. http://symbolicstudies.org/ Google it up. the seminar is called As Above, So Below and features an unusual and interesting mix of speakers talking on a number of topics directly or tangentially related to the hermetic theme... and all in a wonderful rural setting.

It's also exceedingly reasonable, so anyone who lives nearby and has not made concrete plans for tomorrow might enjoy attending.

Why is this notice so late? In part it's because I was only invited to speak very recently, but beyond that, my genetic, perhaps terminal procrastinitis delayed this notice even further. (As Oscar Wilde should have said, but didn't: "I have been thinking about procrastinating but never seem to get around to it.")

So, the customary apologies, and maybe a few on this list will find their way there.

To those who would have liked to attend, but cannot on such short notice, I hope you will accept my customary and sincere apologies. (I don't mean to be glib. I'm really sorry. I never seem to get my act together in a timely fashion and often wonder how, over the course of more than fifty years of writing, I've managed to finish anything at all.)

More news coming up soon. Stay tuned.

Regards,

John

ETA: John is speaking from 1:45-2:45.

Eg-update 24.0

Hello everyone,

This is to let you know that I will be on the Joe Rogan show tonight
(June 8th @6:30 PM EST)

www.joerogan.net

Apologies for the last minute notice, but since the podcast will be archived, you won’t have to miss it if you can’t tune in when it’s live. It’s more or less open-ended and could go on for two hours or more. (You can download it and listen to it in your car on the next 1000 mile drive you take.)

Joe Rogan is a former mixed martial artist, turned talk show host and comedian .. with a substantial following and a keen interest in ancient Egypt and related matters. As a comic he’s rather more George Carlinesque than Stephen Colbertian which suits me just fine; a heavy hitter, rather than a Colbert/Stewart/Maher-class featherwit.

If you get to tune in, enjoy! There is A LOT to talk about.

All the best,

John Anthony West

Eg-update 23.2

Hello Everyone,

A quick update to let you know that on the weekend of April 6/7/8, 2012, I'll be doing an evening series of three Egypt lecture at an elegant Pennsylvania Pocono Mountain resort/spa The Lodge at Woodloch in Hawley PA.

http://www.thelodgeatwoodloch.com/   Click on Speakers and Events.

Anyone keen on a pampered, upscale, spring spa weekend with evening onslaughts of symbolist Egypt might like to sign up for it.

Guests at the spa have first priority for lecture seats, but if the auditorium is left with some empty seats, non-guests will be welcome.

So anyone living within striking distance who'd like to come to the talks but not necessarily stay at the Lodge should call or email Renee Gamboni 570-685-8549 or Rgamboni@thelodgeatwoodloch.com to inquire about availability and other details.

They should have a pretty good idea by now as to whether or not there will be room for non-guests.

With luck I'll see some familiar faces there!

Much more info coming sometime soon. A lot going on re: ancient Egypt around here!

Next Egypt trip is scheduled for October 25th - November 6, if anyone is interested. Details are not yet up on my website.

All the best,

John

Eg-update 23.0

Hello Friends and Egyptophiles,

At long last, a long-delayed, oft-promised Eg-update, mostly devoted to upcoming trip information, and sent with my customary profound apologies for getting such information to you so late

(As Oscar Wilde should have said, but never did: "I have been thinking about procrastinating, but never seem to get around to it.")   But, as somebody else once said, "Better late than never," which is not always or necessarily the case.

So be it. 

The next Egypt trip, conditions permitting (and enough participants signing on) is March 13 - 26, 2012.

Our itinerary follows and below the itinerary, see my comments on the unfolding situation.

It's my regular itinerary with a few interesting additions.  An extra day to take in Edfu and Kom Ombo Temples on our way to Aswan, Abu Simbel is now included and not an optional additional expense, and the pyramid meditation and private early morning visit to the Great Sphinx are now also included, and not options. The price has been adjusted accordingly.

Egypt Itinerary with John Anthony West

March 13 — March 26, 2012

• Day 01 — Tue Mar 13th Departure from New York to Cairo
• Day 02 — 14th  Arrival at Cairo airport, pick up and transfer to Oberoi Mena
• House Hotel, day of rest
• Day 03 — 15th Private visit to the Sphinx enclosure, explore the Great
• Pyramids of the Giza Plateau & Solar Boat, Lunch
• Day 04 16th  Visit Saqqara and Dahshur, Lunch
• Day 05 — 17th Fly to Luxor. Check into Sonesta St. George Hotel. Visit Luxor Temple at night
• Day 06 — 18th Visit Dendera & Abydos
• Day 07 — 19th  Dawn at Karnak Temple, Luxor Museum
• Day 08 — 20th Visit the West Bank, Valley of the Kings (including Ramesses VI), Hatshepsut temple, Ramesseum, Nobles tombs, Lunch
• Day 09 — 21st Depart for Aswan , stopping at Edfu and Kom Ombo, Check in Movenpick Aswan  Hotel.
• Day 10 — 22nd  Philae Temple & unfinished obelisk (Ancient quarry)
• Day 11 — 23rd  Coach to Abu Simbel, return same day or overnight at Abu Simbel
• Day 12 — 24th Fly back to Cairo. Visit Cairo Egyptian museum. Check into Mena House Hotel
• Day 13 — 25th Private visit inside King's chamber of the Great Pyramid
• Day 14 — 26th Breakfast followed by final departure (arrive home same day)
  

Including:

• - Private visit to Giza Plateau.
• - Private visit to Sphinx enclosure.
• - Private visit inside King’s Chamber
• - Daily breakfast.
• - 03 lunches on Pyramid day, Sakkara day & West Bank day.
• - Farewell dinner
• - All tours in Cairo, Luxor & Aswan as indicated.
• - All transfers from / to hotels and airports.
• - Private guide throughout the trip.
  

Excluding:

• - International air ticket.
• - Health & Travel insurance.
• - Tipping for guide, escort, drivers & hotel staff.
• - Pyramid view rooms supplement is $ 70 per room per night.
• - Airport departure tax if any.
• - Meals not included in itinerary
• - Domestic flight tickets Cai / Lxr / Asw / Cai $ 325, please request 60 days in advance
  

Pre Arrival and post departure if requested:

Mean House Oberoi :

Double room $ 300 per room per night including breakfast

Single room $ 250 per room per night including breakfast

Pyramid view supplement $ 70 per room per night

Extra Transfers:

Anyone is arriving or departing on different dates pre or post will be charged $ 35 per person one way from airport to hotel or vise versa including meet & assist at the airport.

Per person in double           $ 5500

Single supplement               $ 795 

Land Only Option                 $ 4600

JAW comments: This is written on January 25th (I'm about to head off for Egypt and will return on February 13.  But I'll have the computer with me and should be in relatively easy email contact for anyone needing further information.)

The next few days may determine the near-term (and maybe the long-term) future of tourism in Egypt.  As it now stands, despite political unrest, nobody so far is out to get US.  This is the important thing to remember.  Apart from the loony religious Salafists (not really Muslims, but rather, Muslimbeciles) the Egyptians like having us there and need having us there, and so far this applies even to the ultra-conservatives ... at least in the sense that they're not making trouble. 

But the result of the political unrest, which is pretty much the only aspect of the ongoing situation that is covered substantially by the media, is to scare away tourists.  Tourism is now running at under 40%, which is terrible for Egypt's always fragile economy, but a huge plus for us.  The temples, pyramids, tombs and museums, relatively uncrowded, make for a very different Egypt experience! 

I could be very wrong about this, but my hunch is that the military and the moderates of the Muslim Brotherhood will reach some sort of workable compromise (if for no other reason than to keep the loonies at bay.)  If that happens and Egypt is perceived as stable, one consequence will be a resurgence of tourism.

In other words, the window of opportunity to experience Egypt uncrowded may close, and pretty quickly.  By October, it could be business almost as usual. 

And if a workable compromise isn't effected, then Egypt could well descend into chaos, and governments might actually make it illegal for their citizens to go there. The U.S. did that during Gulf War I.  It could happen.   

So, for the above reasons, anyone interested in a trip would do well to act sooner rather than later, if at all possible.  

I do hope March happens, and hope you're aboard. 

Regards,

John

John Anthony West
675 Manorville Rd.
Saugerties NY 12477
Tel: 518-678-2160 www.jawest.net

PS.  While I do not make excuses for getting this information out so late, it is a fact that I am busier than I have ever been in my already long life.  All sorts of interesting projects are in the offing, and I will do my best to get an account of this out to everyone and up on the website some time soon. 

1.  There are a number of important new books published recently that I want to review (even if briefly) and recommend.

2. Robert Schoch and I have formed a production company, Akio Enterprises, (which I'll explain in detail in due course) looking to produce both documentary (and maybe even feature) films and books as well.  We thought we had the financing together for our ambitious follow-up to Mystery of the Sphinx but unfortunately that seems to have evaporated. 

Nevertheless, we now have the "smoking gun" evidence we have long sought (Goebekli Tepe in Turkey) and we are convinced that we will be able to get the funding together to produce Zep Tepi and the Dawn of Civilization.  It may not be long before the quackademics are smoked out of their ivory towers once and for all,

In tandem with Akio Enterprises, we now also have a plan to activate our long-hibernating but still-breathing Foundation, and we also have enthusiastic and knowledgeable people aboard to make it happen via micro, (and, with luck, not-so-micro) funding.  For starters, Schoch and I are actively compiling/writing a book about our decades-long but still ongoing Sphinx battle (working title: "Dancing Down the Bridge of Sirah: A Scientist and a Scholar Fend off the Unicorns and Take On the Paradigm Police" ... explanation to follow ...eventually)

Curious note:  For decades, back before the computer was invented, I dreamed about a way to do an end run around the cannibals and barracudas of Hollywood and mainstream television via some grassroots system of funding.  But I could never think of a practical way to make it happen.  The digital revolution now makes that possible.  Stay tuned!  Now it will happen.

PPS.  I've mentioned this before.  Much of my time the past few years has been devoted to working with my firebrand friend and colleague, trend forecaster Gerald Celente. Most of the turbulence going on now, and which will surely get much worse over the the next few years, was predicted in The Trends Journal, which has grown from an 8 page black-and-white newsletter into a substantial full color, take-no-prisoners unique magazine.  It features art work and spectacular graphics from Eugene Gregan and Anthony Freda, two of America's most talented artists, and articles by a number of extraordinarily knowledgeable contributors. Celente has a proven, uncanny knack for connecting the dots in three dimensions.  I am co-writer/historian/philosopher/sometimes-comedian-in residence. Check out www.trendsresearch.com     

That's it for now.  More to follow.

Eg-update 22: The Five Star Revolution.

Hello Everyone,

It has been a very long time between Eg-updates. A lot has been going on, most of it good, but taking up so much time there's none left to do anything but work.

Most of this is explained in some detail in the latest PhoenixFire audio blog. Number 10. Enjoy.

http://jawphoenixfire.blogspot.com/.

Friends, Grockles, Egyptophiles,

A brief message ... more to come ... sooner or later.

Coming soon - I hope - in depth reviews of some significant, recently published books and other new material.

Lately, I've been snowed under working with my old friend and colleague, trend forecaster Gerald Celente. Most of the stuff going on now, he (we) predicted long ago, and there is more -much of it unwelcome- to come. Google up Gerald as well.

Best,

John

John Anthony West
675 Manorville Rd.
Saugerties NY 12477

Tel: 518-678-2160
www.jawest.net

To join my private mailing list and receive occasional updates and Egypt Trip information, click here http://lists.jawest.net/listinfo.cgi/jawlist-jawest.net

To listen to my PhoenixFire Audio blogs click here http://jawphoenixfire.blogspot.com/

THE FOUR COWBOYS OF APOCALYPSE 2.0

PART 1, CAPITALISM

click here to play the show

Everyone is familiar with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, though not all know their pedigree. It’s the name given to the revelation of the future granted to St John on the Isle of Patmos. The horsemen themselves are Pestilence, War, Famine and Death (not necessarily in that order, depending upon which reference is consulted.) Their names (which might disincline people from wanting to bet on them in the Kentucky Derby) have made the word ‘apocalypse’ almost synonymous with Doomsday, which is, strictly speaking, incorrect. It derives from a Greek word meaning to ‘reveal’ or ‘disclose’ and by extension , it means a prophesy or vision of the future, not necessarily an ominous one.

Doomsday is quite another matter, more appropriately linked to another familiar word from Revelation, Armageddon, the site of the final decisive battle on the Day of Judgment, in which the Lamb bests the Whore of Babylon … and throngs of otherwise certifiable people are whisked off to heaven. It’s not easy to make rational sense out of Revelation (which doesn’t mean it can’t make sense on some other level) but it does read like it’s been written on something at least as potent as ayahuasca, though there’s no record of John visiting the Brazilian rainforest. On the other hand, who knows what they had growing on Patmos?

In any event, The Four Horsemen are pretty obvious. They ‘ve been around and universally active since long before St. John’s time and still are; no surprises there, and no need for further elaboration beyond perhaps noting that of the four, only War is directly attributable to errant, defiant, violent humanity. Unless, of course, it is argued (and so it is by some) that the other three horsemen are set loose in divine retribution; for a variety of human abominations –homosexuality, pre-marital sex, smoking or ingesting illegal substances, not wearing a seat belt, and so on.

The Four Cowboys of Apocalypse 2.0 are much less obvious, yet in one way or another they aid and abet the original Four. In the Walt Disney 3D, HD Western/Action-Thriller/Horror/Farce called Western Civilization, they are the self-appointed posse, riding white geldings; wearing white Stetsons, galloping roughshod over the globe and spreading ‘tidings of comfort and joy’.

When examined closely, The Four Cowboys are no less destructive than the original Four Horsemen, maybe ultimately more so since they come in disguise. All of them are played, with characteristic ineptitude, by John Wayne. They differ from the Four Horsemen in that they are all, each one, directly and unmistakably human generated.

They are: Capitalism, Patriotism, Democracy and Technology

In PhoenixFire 9 (and 10, and maybe 11) we deal with them in turn.

The role of Capitalism is easiest to understand, almost obvious in fact, except to the leaders and economists of almost every country in the world. This Cowboy occupies the whole of PF9, which may sound excessive, but is nevertheless appropriate, since it is this Cowboy that is largely responsible for the financial debacle now unfolding globally, and from which there is no foreseeable release or return.

The other three Cowboys will be discussed in subsequent PhoenixFires.

click here to play the show

Featured music track "Shake" by Stepford Wives

Links: The Emperor's new clothes (Con't.) a short story by JAW
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Omni magazine

Best,

John Anthony West

Eg-Update 20.0

PHOENIXFIRE 8 CONSIDER THE KALI YUGA. click here to play show

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

I should have included this -more detail on CPAK- in Eg-update 18.0.  But here it is separately.

'The 4^th Annual Conference on Precession and Ancient Knowledge (CPAK 2007) at UC San Diego this October 6^th and 7^th is just over 2 months away and I’m truly excited about this years lineup of presenters, including myself, best selling author Graham Hancock, engineer and Giza expert Robert Bauval, geologist Robert Schoch,  archaeoastronomer Walter Cruttenden, megalith researcher John Burke, subtle energy specialist John Dering, metaphysical researcher Marie D. Jones, Dogon cosmologist Laird Scranton, and Earth energies expert Richard Leviton.  I invite you to join us in uncovering the mysteries of the ancient world.  Together we will explore the hidden purpose of megalithic structures, hear new evidence of past higher cultures, contemplate the astronomical driver of the cycle of the ages, and discover the amazing depths of lost knowledge.

The goal of the conference is to explore the myth, folklore and astronomical beliefs of ancient cultures and to examine what those beliefs might mean for us living today. Most of the speakers at CPAK 2007 have some suspicion that our histories of the world may not be correct and that ancient knowledge may be more profound than modern textbooks have led us to believe. Still, we seek proof and understanding. To this purpose we gather on an annual basis to examine the evidence, explore new findings and new theories, as we try to better understand the past and the subtle forces that may be affecting the present and future world around us.

Now through September 1, 2007, registration for the conference is just $239.  That’s $60 off the registration fee at the door and well below the fees of other similar events.  Additionally, If you sign up and get a friend to register as well (and they enter your name in the ‘How did you hear about CPAK’ field on the registration form) then both of you will receive a free copy of the award winning documentary ‘The Great Year’ written by Walter Cruttenden and narrated by James Earl Jones.

This year’s Conference on Precession and Ancient Knowledge is shaping up to be one the most unique and inspiring events of its kind and I look forward to seeing you there at the UC San Diego in beautiful La Jolla, California this fall.  To sign up today, please visit www.cpakonline.com or call 949.399.0306.

I hope to see a lot of you there!

Best,
jaw

Eg-Update 18.0: CPAK, 11TH HOUR, STAN TENEN on Coast to Coast, Egypt in October

Friends, Grockles, Egyptophiles,

This brief update is to remind you, if you've not yet done it or have forgotten, that I'll be speaking at two very interesting venues in upcoming months.

1 & 2. CPAK (Conference on Precession and Ancient Knowledge) Oct. 5-7, 2007, and 11TH Hour down in Mexico, NOV 11th-17th. For full details, rosters of unusual and informed speakers, etc. please go to my website www.jawest.net and click on the relevant links.

Both of these conferences promise to be extraordinarily valuable and will deal with material not easily encountered elsewhere, in any event, not in one place and of course, not 'in person'.

3. COMING UP MUCH SOONER (August 5/6): Stan Tenen will be interviewed on Coast to Coast.

Tenen is hardly a household name (at this moment) but he's been doing groundbreaking scholarship for decades on the origins of the Hebrew alphabet, and on the hidden (in plain sight) profound cosmological / geometrical / metaphysical aspects of the Torah.

His work is by no means easy to follow, but it has recently received a huge (if inadvertent) boost from new discoveries in Establishment Science.

An essay by him will shortly appear in an M.I.T. publication. (Those readers who've been following the ongoing battle all us 'alternative' scholars are obliged to wage in in our respective fields will appreciate what's involved in a consent-to-publish by M.I.T.!)

Once the essentials are grasped, you will understand that Tene's work is not only important scientific scholarship and a demonstration of the depth of knowledge available to ancient civilizations, but it also has the potential to actually make constructive waves within the current political/philosophical dilemma facing our beleaguered planet.

With three hours to explain, expound and answer questions on air, you'll get an idea of what's involved.

Listen in or download...Here are details:

Stan's segment is from 2-5AM Eastern Time, Monday August 6 (on the West Coast, that's 11PM-2AM Pacific Time, Sunday/Monday August 5/6), and people can go to www.meru.org (Stan's website) for more information. You can google up Coast to Coast to find a local station carrying the show.

4. EGYPT TRIPS

The upcoming Egypt trip (Oct. 23 - Nov.3) now has enough people signed on to make it fly. But I could sure use a few more! I'd very much appreciate it if those of you who've been on my trips and know what's involved would get the word out to friends, family, co-workers...the world at large.

More coming soon ... as and when I get my act together. (I am one of those unfortunates born with TWO Achille's Heels, and both of them are organization.

Best,
John Anthony West

17.3   Friends, grockles, Egyptophiles.

PhoenixFire is burning NOW!

Our first program aired on 1/9

Here's a high quality link that's good 24/7:

Go to our blogspot http://jawphoenixfire.blogspot.com and there you will find find notes and links relevant to each show, including a direct link to high quality archived shows.

17.2   Friends, grockles, Egyptophiles,

Announcing: Our maiden PhoenixFire Radio broadcast is on TONIGHT (Jan 9) at 8PM (USA Eastern).

PhoenixFire is produced, edited (with music and sound effects) by my stepson, Geraint Hughes.

For our dedicated blog go to http://jawphoenixfire.blogspot.com

If you miss the show tonight, there will be several re-runs.

Welcome to the conflagration!

jaw

17.0    Friends, grockles, Egyptophiles,

Starting the New Year I will have my own weekly streamed radio program.

Egypt, of course, will be a central subject, in much more depth than I'm able to get into on normal radio or TV interviews. I'll also be delving into many other topics that I rarely have the opportunity to explore publicly. It should be fun, though with my unalterable talent for disorganization, it may take a few programs to achieve some measure of 'professional' coherence. So, if you tune in from the get-go, be forgiving.

Here's a (provisional) list, not necessarily in this order, of planned programs.

Notes from a Heretic’s Notebook – autobiography

Symbolist Egypt: The Doctrine of the Return to the Source

Darwin Debunked, Darwin De-clawed, Darwin Dethroned (Your Friendly Neighborhood Armchair Anthropologist discusses the Cargo Cult of the West)

Einsteins of Old: Ancient Symbolism/Modern Astrophysics

Son of Mystery of the Sphinx - Geo-panel – the Quest to Rewrite History. Further evidence.

Number – Ancient Key to the Kosmos

Consider the Kali Yuga – Precession of the Equinoxes and the Great Year

Atlantis Here, Atlantis There, Atlantis Damn Near Everywhere.

The Four Cowboys of Apocalypse 2.0: Capitalism, Patriotism, Democracy and Technology

Science, Education and the Media: Jesuits of the Church of Progress

Debunking Debunkery: JAW Takes on the Mind Gestapo and the Paradigm Police

Constructive Destruction and Positive Negation – 3 ways to learn lessons

Standup Metaphysics 3.0: Comedy as a Religious Experience (w/jokes)

The Tomorrow Show with Jerry & John: JAW and Gerald Celente (Trends 2000, Warner Books 1997) discuss what’s likely in store. Maybe weekly as well.

Some of the above may be dialogues with knowledgeable colleagues.

That's it for now. Enjoy the holidays!

jaw

FYI: If you want to reply to any of my Eg-updates, please make sure to email my personal email address: JAWSPHINX at jawest dot net.

If you would like to join my Egypt email list and get Eg-updates periodically before they get posted to the site please click on http://lists.jawest.net/listinfo.cgi/jawlist-jawest.net and enter your email address.

Thanks,

John Anthony West