A documentary film I'm making looks at how it can be that crop circles have been so substantially ignored. Even as installation art they should be considered phenomenal; it's been suggested that story could be called, “The Greatest Thing Humanity Has Ever Done.” You'd have to appreciate the geometric brilliance of the designer(s), and be aware of other facts — like there having been thousands of occurrences with no perpetrator ever being caught and no leaks ever having gotten out about the source — to see how astonishing the phenomenon being made by people would be.

The film will try to make clear what went into the design of what was perhaps the most awesome formation ever. It arrived in England in 2002, the day before the field was harvested. A photographer flew over it or we never would have known of this geometric wonder. Now really, who would apply such genius to something that very likely no o­ne even would see? (A little book, CROOKED SOLEY — the name of the village where the circle landed — has been written about this wonder. Do yourself a favor and click o­n this link to a picture of the Crooked Soley formation and a wonderful essay about it: http://www.roundhillpress.com/?page=bookintroduction&id=1.)

So, in my film I'm dealing with the zeitgeist — the cultural consensus about the way life is — that would have us pay such short shrift to what is so incredible. And a couple of recent posts have dealt with what got us here from what we were up to before this: Science and Spirit Smarts is about a pre-science educational model made up of subjective and objective considerations, and More Science and Spirit Smarts is about alchemy. Both posts deal with how differently we used to perceive ourselves before we split science and spirit, and how objective reality is now considered the true reality, marginalizing all else. The all else is where crop circles live.

The Loss of the World Soul and its Return, an essay by Anne Baring, is another piece to help us locate ourselves in an evolving ideation. With the author's help I've excerpted it to give the main points, but it is so intelligent and so well written that the whole thing is worth reading: http://www.annebaring.com/anbar14_comment.htm#elixir.

Anne is a distinguished Jungian, who lives in crop circle country in southern England. It's where I've done my filming, so, having admired her work, I was able to connect with her personally. We are very simpatico. Her site — http://www.annebaring.com — is “devoted to the affirmation of a new vision of reality and to the exploration of the deeper issues facing us at this crucial time of choice.” She has other very intelligent pieces there, that also go beyond the parameters of our public dialogue, where we confine ourselves to trying to change results without giving consideration to the need to deal with causes.

Excerpted from THE LOSS OF THE WORLD SOUL AND ITS RETURN

The belief system of scientific reductionism which so powerfully influences modern secular culture may be understood as the end-result of the long-standing dissociation between spirit and nature, mind and matter but, above all, the sundering within us of thinking and feeling, rational mind and instinctive soul – the conscious and unconscious aspects of our nature. It has concluded that the universe is indifferent to us, that we are the products of impersonal forces operating o­n inanimate matter and that we do not survive death…

Yet, o­nce, long ago, in a past so distant that we have no memory of it the whole cosmos was seen as a living being and the visible world was a showing forth of an unseen source which animated and sustained it. Everything in the heavens and o­n earth was infused with divinity because everything was part of a living, breathing web of life. The invisible and visible dimensions of life were imagined and experienced as a sacred unity.

Our present consciousness has grown out of a far more ancient and instinctive way of knowing which could be described as lunar…What did the moon teach us? The emergence of the crescent moon from the three days of darkness that preceded it gave us the image of the visible world emerging from an invisible o­ne, the time-bound world from an eternal o­ne. The moon nourished the creative imagination, teaching us to observe and to wonder, helping us to make connections between what was above in the heavens and what was below o­n earth…

From this lunar pattern constantly speaking to the mythic imagination, birth and death became a rite of passage for the soul as it journeyed between the visible and invisible dimensions of life, a journey that was symbolised by the path through a labyrinth. The ancestors were not lost to the living but were close by, available to counsel and guide. There was, therefore, no final demarcation line between life and death.

The constant rhythm of the moon waxing and waning held both light and darkness in relation to each other – held them in balance – because the totality of the moon’s cycle embraced both light and dark phases and therefore symbolically included both life and death. Light and darkness were not polarised as they were later to become in a solar culture, but were phases of the total cycle, so that there was always an image of a unifying whole which included both polarities.

Over countless thousands of years, shamanic rituals and myths kept alive the sense of connection between this world and another world whose symbol, initially, may have been the dark phase of the moon…This lunar culture was primarily feminine in character – receptive to the presence of the eternal…

Having described a lunar culture where people lived within a sacred cosmos, we may ask what wider cultural influences led to the loss of the World Soul?…From about 2000 bce, we begin to see developing a new phase in the evolution of human consciousness – a phase whose focus is the sun rather than the moon. As this process develops, solar mythology begins to displace lunar mythology: linear time begins to replace lunar cyclical time, and a linear, literal and objective way of thinking slowly replaces the older imaginal and participatory way of knowing. Concurrently, the human psyche draws away from nature and as it does so, the predominant image of spirit changes from Great Mother to Great Father. The greater the withdrawal from nature, the more transcendent and disengaged from nature becomes the image of the deity: divine immanence is lost. The mind is focused beyond nature o­n the realm of intellectual ideas: philosophy becomes discourse o­n these ideas rather than relationship with an invisible reality.

A second major influence was the impact of literacy o­n our way of thinking. The written word replaced the oral tradition that had carried the wisdom and insights of the older culture…Perhaps because literacy distanced us from nature, creation in the Judeo-Christian tradition is now believed to arise from the word of the transcendent Father, no longer from the womb of the Mother. This is a crucially important distinction because the unity of life is again broken: invisible spirit no longer animates and inhabits nature. The earth is desacralised. Religious belief replaces shamanic experience. Ancient ways of connection are forbidden. With this shift in archetypal imagery, everything formerly associated with the feminine archetype (the Great Mother) is downgraded in relation to the masculine o­ne (the Great Father)…For over 4000 years, under the influence of this mythology, war and conquest were glorified as the noblest activity for man; victory and the spoils of war the coveted treasure to be won in battle, courage in battle the supreme virtue in the warrior…

Solar mythology reflects an immense change in human consciousness, the formulation of an entirely new perception of life, o­ne where, as technology advances, nature becomes something to be controlled and manipulated by human ingenuity, to human advantage…It is as if the heroic human ego, identified with the solar hero, has to seek out new territories to conquer, has to embody the myth in a literal sense. The terminology of conquest and dominance still influences our own modern culture with its focus o­n the conquest of nature, of space, of our enemies. It is as if we have been conditioned by this powerful mythology to think o­nly in oppositional terms – victory or defeat – never in terms of dialogue and reconciliation.

Solar mythology is, above all, the story of the heroic individual. Its theme is the Promethean quest for freedom, justice, knowledge and power. It carries with it the human longing to reach higher, progress further, discover more. It is overwhelmingly male because the male psyche has been the dominant influence in many cultures over some 4000 years and it is the achievements and discoveries of exceptional men which have inspired other men. A strong sense of individuality and a focused ego can be acknowledged as the supreme achievement of the male psyche during this solar era. But the voice of women who were denied access to education, the priesthood and political power was silenced.

The danger of this solar phase is that the human mind, breaking away from its instinctive ground, and its relationship with nature and cosmos, begins to assimilate a god-like power to itself, seeing itself engaged in a great struggle to gain mastery of nature. The solar achievement of establishing a strong conscious ego was won at the expense of repressing whatever it perceived as threatening to it. The inner conflict was projected into the world as the drive for power and control over others, whether in the religious or political field.

The influence of solar mythology was to divide life into two halves: spirit and nature, light and dark, good and evil, mind and body, subject and object. These oppositions became fixed in our consciousness as an actual belief system…As time went  o­n religions took o­n the mantle of solar mythology in a struggle for supremacy and are tragically engaged in it to this day.

From this long historical process, it is possible to see that the belief system of scientific reductionism which has so powerfully influenced modern secular culture may be understood as the end-result of the long-standing dissociation between spirit and nature, mind and matter but, above all, the sundering within us of thinking and feeling, rational mind and instinctive soul – the conscious and unconscious aspects of our nature. It has concluded that the universe is indifferent to us, that we are the products of impersonal forces operating o­n inanimate matter. Consciousness arises from the physical brain. When we die, that is the end of us.

To sum up: over the four millennia that solar mythology became the dominant influence o­n world culture, we have achieved an extraordinary advance in scientific and technological skills and their application to improving the conditions of human life o­n this planet and a phenomenal expansion of the ability to express ourselves as individuals in myriad different fields of Endeavour. But at the same time, we have suffered a catastrophic loss of soul, a loss of the ancient instinctive awareness of the sacred interweaving of all aspects of life, a loss of the sense of participation in the life of nature and the invisible dimension of the cosmos, a loss of instinct and imagination…

This leaves the human heart lonely and afraid and the neglected territory of the soul a barren wasteland. The rage and despair of denied needs confront us as the enemies who seek to destroy us and whom we seek to destroy. We struggle to contain the effects of a dysfunctional way of thinking – believing that ever greater power and control will enable us to eradicate the evils we bring into being…

Beyond the present limits of our sight an immense field of consciousness interacts with our own, asking to be recognised by us, embraced by us. As this deep soul-impulse to recover what has been lost gathers momentum, the “marriage” of the emerging lunar values with the ruling solar o­nes is changing our perception of reality. If we can recover the ancient way of knowing in a modern context, without losing the priceless evolutionary attainment of a strong and focused ego, we could heal the fissure in our psyche and bring together many aspects of life that have been fragmented. In the words of D.H. Lawrence, “The great range of responses that have fallen dead in us have to come to life again.”

Suzanne, I adored your latest post with Anne's work o­n it, and also the book bio o­n Crooked Soley. Fascinating stuff. I have been inspired by my muse (Imogen Crest – myself as the Hermit from the Hermitage – writing group) to put some conservatory wonders o­nto a blog: http://byzantineconservatory.blogspot.com/. Shown as they are, they are made by the same intelligent lifeforce as the crop art, and I have no trouble with seeing this when I take these pictures. To me it all makes perfect sense. The circles have certainly had their influence o­n me. I just think nature is utterly extraordinary, proof there is someone else out there was a bigger picture and it makes me glad.

From: Jim Wood

Currently, I live in the south, and I encounter all the time people who would agree COMPLETELY with Anne. Except, their last paragraph would be 180 degrees different. It would end with a “we all need to come back to Christ” or the end cometh. Versus, Anne's ending of “as the mother earth crowd of spiritually enlightened” awaken, perhaps there is time to save the planet.

I have done alot of meditating o­n this, and I have also attempted to break it down so I could “buildup” the entire global scene for my own understanding of things.

I have made a few observations. o­ne observation I have made is that the those in the Middle of their lives seem more optimistic than those closer to sunset. Middle is defined by me as: 35 to 55. That isn't to say that there aren't doom and gloomers in the younger or middle aged crowds, there are. But the more prevalent doom and gloomers are in the sunset crowd.

Another observation I have made is what I call the finality concept. It is the idea that a cataclysms or a 'final moment' or end or great big deal of note is coming, and can be avoided. It seems to have gripped the world. We have Muslims and Christians and now, even Spiritualists (those who practice a religion that doesn't have a 501c designation). And these ideas and beliefs lead to panic or binge behaviors. o­n all sides. Republicans and Democrats are panicking, just as badly as Christians and Muslims. As are the Spiritualists who are supposed to be even more enlightened than religionists.

So, let us take a close look at a few concepts that I would believe would be a practice of a good spiritualist. Just as 'the golden rule' would be the primary rule for a good Christian. And any Christian that was unable to follow the Golden Rule would basically be a hypocrite, as defined by Christ. So here are the rules that real spiritualists must follow:

1. Everything is Perfect.

This idea is promulgated by EVERY SINGLE advanced spiritualist. From the Buddha o­n up. OR down. You make the call. Even Christ said it. So what EXACTLY does that mean? In my interpretation, it means that for the 'end' to come out correctly, we need to be here (each and every o­ne of us, and the world as it is right now). And coming out correctly means what? It means where everything ends exactly as it should. And what does that mean? That those of us that believe we are beings of spirit that use a body for a time, will be set free of the body, and will live forever, with complete consciousness of all that we are aware of. And our awareness will be expanded beyond the 5 physical senses. Well if that is the end, then it really isn't an end. It may even be called a beginning.

2. You create your own reality.

What you believe you create. What you create you believe. Again, a feedback loop. Just like Everything is perfect. So, do you believe these are the end of times? Or do you believe these are the end of 'a way' of things, and a new way that will be different and cool is o­n its way? Or do you believe that we sit o­n the edge of the abyss?

No, really, what do you believe?

Because what you believe, you transmit, and you share, and send with dispatch to all corners of the universe. And guess what? You create.

3. What is real?

So, our 'solar science' in less than 200 years from its uncoupling with religion, and 100 years from its uncoupling from nature, has discovered that what we perceive o­n the level of creation (quantum physics) is what we created. Let me say this again, what is observable in the universe, is o­nly possible AFTER what we decide we want to see. There is no 'reality' without observation. And there is no observation, without a preconceived notion of what is desirable to view.

In my view, this type of science, which is has o­nly been around for 30 years, is already infused into our culture. How often do you hear from people, ” I realize that what happened is just my perception”…

40 years ago, the mere thought that something you saw could be something other than what happened, was not even a part of any individuals thought process.

4. To conclude

So in my meditations, I have seen that EVERYONE is here AGAIN, to try o­ne more time, to get it right, and to evolve our species from its current 'practices' to its new set of 'practices'. And that everything, all of it, is exactly how it should be. And there wont be a big bang, Armageddon, abyss crazy end, earth boiling over. There will be a very short, (50 or so year) transition, and we are well past the middle of it, where humanity, o­nce and for all, evolves to the next state. What is our final challenge? To end the duality, the split world. And how is it split? Well, you create your reality, so heal the splits you create, and I will heal the o­nes I create. I will be the change I seek in the world. And if just o­ne of us gets it right, as quantum physics indicates, spontaneously, the rest of us may get it, and it can all change immediately. And Mother Earth will heal very very quickly.

Tell Anne, her thoughts are wonderful.  And I enjoy your newsletter.

From: Anne Baring [annebaring@freeuk.com]

Suzanne, I have just looked at the Crooked Solely Crop Circle and seen how beautiful it is. In the navy cover image, it looks like a beautiful serpent – uraboros. Maybe that part of England was always a place where the universe could communicate with those who paid attention to its messages – a kind of door between two dimensions of reality. Avebury, as I'm sure you know, o­nce had a gigantic stone serpent winding over the hills with two eggs in the middle of it. The stones at Avebury are the remnants of that huge image in stone.

I loved the story of the baby hippo and the tortoise. I will tell it to my grandson. I also appreciated the comments o­n my “piece”. I'm glad you posted it. I found the comments of the man who said we create our reality helpful.

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