The Journal of 2020 Foresight

Reports from the Knowledge Labs about our recent findings, research topics, and interviews with lifestyle leaders who are creating their own futures.

How to stimulate your own powers of foresight. Consider the following thought provokers. Ask yourself, in these categories what are the brand new trends and forces? Which are the ones growing in importance? Which current forces are loosing their steam? Which have peaked or are reversing themselves? Which are the "wildcards" about to disrupt us in the future? POLITICAL AND TECHNICAL thought for food: Electronics, Materials, Energy, Fossil, Nuclear, Alternative, Other, Manufacturing (techniques), Agriculture, Machinery and Equipment, Distribution, Transportation (Urban, Mass, Personal, Surface, Sea, Subsurface, Space), Communication (Printed, Spoken, Interactive, Media), Computers (Information, Knowledge, Storage & Retrieval, Design, Network Resources), Post-Cold War, Third World, Conflict (Local, Regional, Global), Arms Limitation, Undeclared Wars, Terrorism, Nuclear Proliferation, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Governments (More/Less Power and Larger or Smaller Scale), Taxes, Isms: Nationalism, Regionalism, Protectionism, Populism, Cartels, Multinational Corporations, Balance of Trade, Third Party Payments, Regulations (OSHA, etc.) Environmental Impact, U.S. Prestige Abroad. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC Food for thought: Labor Movements, Unemployment / Employment Cycles, Recession, Employment Patterns, Work Hours / Schedules, Fringe Benefits, Management Approaches, Accounting Policies, Productivity, Energy Costs, Balance of Payments, Inflation, Taxes, Rates of Real Growth, Distribution of Wealth, Capital Availability and Costs, Reliability of Forecasts, Raw Materials, Availability and Costs, Global versus National Economy, Market versus Planned Economies, Generations: Y, X, Boomers, Elderly, Urban vs. Rural Lifestyles, Affluent vs. Poor, Neighborhoods and Communities, Planned or Organic Growth. Got Knowledge?

Archives
<< current

Saturday, December 31, 2005

A Path of Original Experience: Where Only Fools and Heroes Dare to Tread

Chapter Four: The Tribal Territories

By Steve Howard, CKO
The Knowledge Labs

Table of Contents
Chapter One: Basecamp
Chapter Two: The Ridge
Chapter Three: The Outpost
Chapter Four: The Tribal Territories

“Earl Green is a painter so he painted the sign, he added two lines. It’s like a cow brand y’know, how they have brands on ranches. The Double L like that and Earl and Edith moved into the place and they were very clever; you know, Earl just added two lines. We talked about how Edith and Earl renamed the Double E and they almost made history. The locals rose up. They were mad as hell ’cause it used to be the Double L. Change comes slowly in the country. I told you that a long time ago.”

Neil Young & Crazy Horse “Greendale”

DOUBLE NICKEL RANCH. Is it only me or is the world making less and less sense? Mixing politics and religion always seems to devolve into never-ending life-draining arguments.

Journal of 2020 Foresight: Isn’t all this talk about religion and myths dangerous today?

Pathfinder: It certainly seems that way. But, you know throughout the history of the world we’ve tried to grapple with the origin of life and our existence in an infinite period of time and space.

J2020F: I know. But, I mean dangerous in the sense that fundamentalism and terrorism and extreme notions about what awaits us in an after life -- as terrorist martyrs or ordinary citizens --seems more urgent.

Pathfinder: Oh, you mean the extreme “us versus them.” Religion against religion -- “Pre-emptive Christianity” taking on all comers major and minor -- against science -- creationism, intelligent design vs. evolution, against humanists and athiests and so on.

J2020F: Exactly. Kind of like the deadly crisis created in the late 1800’s by the Fish-Eating Messiah and the Ghost Dancing Horse?

Pathfinder: Good point. But, at The Rendezvous we chose to focus on the inner dialog and imagery we all – Homo sapiens – experience at an emotional, life-changing or spiritual crossroads

J2020F: When we set out to follow our dreams but fall unprepared into the realm of original experience?

Pathfinder: What, are you reading cue cards or something?

J2020F: My own. What’s the difference between our own dreams and myths?

Pathfinder: My personal hero, Joseph Campbell said dreams are the personal canvas – the background to our conscious lives. Myths are like society’s dreams.

J2020F: So as long as your personal dreams synch with society’s you’re normal, right?

Pathfinder: But, when they aren’t you’re in for what Campbell called an “adventure in the dark forest.” And, if you can’t live outside of that society – as artists, visionaries, leaders and heroes do – you’ll become neurotic.

J2020F: Why?

Pathfinder: Because, the path of original experience hasn’t been interpreted for you.

J2020F: So, you’ve got to work it out all by yourself?

Pathfinder: You bet, over and over again throughout your own life span on this planet.

J2020F: And yet, we are not alone.

Got Knowledge?
Copyright ©2002 - 2006 Aarnaes Howard Associates. All rights reserved worldwide.

7:48 AM