Qualia, Ritualing, and Evolution
Anything which we can sense is qualia: the colors we see with our eyes, the sounds we hear with our ears, the smells we smell, the textures we feel. There are inner sensations, too – proprioceptions – our sense of balance and motion and the relative position of different parts of our body.Continue Reading
Our Eco-Elvis
Ecosystems do not stop at civilization’s doorstep. Ecosystems inform everything that is good about mankind. Ecosystems do not judge us even though we have lost our way. Ecosystems will keep on giving gifts to us right to our dying breath, and beyond. Ecosystems are like music. Music never stops giving,Continue Reading
Self-Determination and Thinking for ourselves
How we determine the landmarks and pathways of our inner landscape — of our own mind — necessitates a re-understanding of what it means to chase ideals. Thinking for ourselves is an ideal. Self-determination is an ideal. Individualism is an ideal. The re-understanding we must have is that, unlike idealsContinue Reading
The Little Dopamine Feeling Tone
Our sense for Little Dopamine has been overwhelmed by the need for Big Dopamine. But Little Dopamine is still there, we just have to consciously ritual with it. Notice anything good with our senses, and then take a breath, or say “thank you,” or exercise some slight symbolic movement —Continue Reading
A Qualiadelic Economy
The day is filled with moments, and every moment a ritual. We need only become conscious of its beginning, its middle and its end to work a minor miracle. We sleepwalk most of our daily routines, but if someone gives us a piece of chocolate, we wake up and notice.Continue Reading