RE: Part 9/9: How the Flat Earth Theory is Bringing About The End of Time
This series is really well done and clearly written, great job clarifying these concepts so neatly SOS.
It's good to see some of the theories on magic and our i- magi- native powers spelled out so concisely-- mirroring similar concepts that I've entertained over the years, while you have added new angles and have sewn them together into a coherent bundle. The idea that we 'vote' with our thoughts is a good way to put it, I never thought of it in those terms before, but it's accurate I think.
I have a publication written by Jamie Hanshaw and Freeman Fly called 'Weird Stuff' Part 1, where they describe magic as being the power of individuals and their thoughts, while sorcery is the manipulation of the group mind, in order to influence those same individuals to dream of and create something that benefits the sorcerers more than the imaginers who created it. Your description of our imaginative powers is similar to theirs and it matches mine, while both of you have worded it beautifully.
I have a 'flat earth' friend who credits 'God' with building the machine that he attempts to describe (he's still not sure how the sun sets behind the horizon, but refuses to accept that it does vanish behind the horizon) which allows him to discredit any logical discussion on the mechanics of a planetary system, or even the idea of an outer space. His devotion to the flat earth idea is quite religious and stern, and his God allows him to dismiss any discrepancies in his partially-built model.
It's nice to see these things coming to the surface these days, and I appreciate your courage in presenting such powerful ideas here-- thanks for sharing this with the world, it is much needed, and right on time.
I am surprised to hear you say that, as I thought I made a huge mistake not planning this piece. I felt that the theory seemed a lot messier than it does in my head, so it is great to know it is still easy to follow.
You know the voting with our minds part was a realisation I came to only through attempting to explain my own understanding of magic. It must have been in my head already, but the process of writing tends to help me so much in regards to better understanding my own understandings.
I find it interesting the way you have defined a magician in opposition to a sorcerer. I have negative connotations to the word sorcerer, and yet not with magic, so I wonder if that is another thing that on some level I already agreed with.
I agree with the writing you shared that magic is making a comeback, and I expect it will over the next few years become a word that is no longer associated with childhood fantasy. I suspect also that the music industry will play a huge role in this, but it is still very hard for me to picture them teaching magic in school for some reason - even if Harry Potter did a great job of painting us a picture - so I don't know to what extent it will be reintegrated into society.