An interesting article:

https://aeon.co/essays/theres-no-sharp-distinction-between-cult-and-regular-religion

Besides, accusations of cultism have been levelled at secular or semi-secular organisations as well as metaphysically inclined ones. Any organisation offering identity-building rituals and a coherent narrative of the world and how to live in it is a target, from Alcoholics Anonymous to the vegan restaurant chain the Loving Hut, founded by the Vietnamese entrepreneur-cum-spiritual leader Ching Hai, to the practice of yoga (itself rife with structural issues of spiritual and sexual abuse), to the modern phenomenon of the popular, paleo-associated sport-exercise programme CrossFit, which a Harvard Divinity School study used as an example of contemporary ‘religious’ identity. If the boundaries between cult and religion are already slippery, those between religion and culture are more porous still.

The Nag Hammadi Library.

Genius:

Oh no. :yikes:

What about headphones?

Haters gonna haaaaa

If I can offer a little advice, the best way to navigate weird times and changes between them is to subdivide as much as possible; think in eighth notes rather than quarters. Edit: also listen to the melody as you play, rather than focusing on your own part.

Steve writing for 2 5-piece rock bands :chin:

Oh woah, I'm at work but I'll have to check that out.

Hear ye, hear ye:

Noble Dust's proposed rules for debate are as thus:

The moderator shall be named Supreme Magus Yaldabaoth

The first interlocutor shall be named Pistis

The second Zoe

They shall perform a blood rite before commencement which shall bind each to the other until the death, either by argument or by the use of bare hands (should they discover one another's physical location)

Post length shall be limited to 3 quatrains per post and shall be judged by the depth of philosophical content able to be exhumed from each line of each quatrain, and down to the very word

Time between posts shall be limited to 30 days, in accordance with the constraints of international mail

Right Of Reply will be solely determined by the judgement of the Supreme Magus Yaldabaoth

Hear ye hear ye

I had a chicken burrito for lunch; i'm not so sure!

Which bird is the chicken's spirit bird? Or is does it have a spirit person? Or a spirit dinosaur maybe?

Another note, if I compare my memory of my "awareness" during the first hour after I woke up this morning (after not getting very good sleep), I would say it's about as hazy as my memory of the "out of body" phase of this experience.

I had a full out of body experience last night...I think. — Noble Dust

What I found interesting is that my state of conscious awareness was what I would describe as fully awake during the vibrational lift-out stage, and during the re-entry stage. In between, during the "out of body" portion, I would describe my awareness as somewhere between normal waking awareness and a dreaming state. — Noble Dust

I voted to turn it off, but I really don't care.

An update for anyone interested: I had a full out of body experience last night...I think. I woke up in the early hours to the typical vibrations, and relaxed into them. I felt my legs lifting out again, and relaxed more, and lifted completely out, drifting toward the ceiling pretty rapidly. I twisted around and dimly saw my body, and then touched the ceiling, hearing my nails initially scratch the surface and then feeling my hand move through it; the density of the ceiling felt similar to sticking your hand in sand. I then drifted down next to myself...and waved at myself. :lol: Weirdly, I could "physically" feel my hand wave, and watched my physical body do it simultaneously. The image of my body here was very distinct. At this point I drifted back into the physical, and felt vibrations as I re-entered.

What I found interesting is that my state of conscious awareness was what I would describe as fully awake during the vibrational lift-out stage, and during the re-entry stage. In between, during the "out of body" portion, I would describe my awareness as somewhere between normal waking awareness and a dreaming state. It was not a dream, but I was in a hazy condition; maybe inexperience. Interestingly, I immediately fell asleep after "re-entry" and had a dream, so the difference between these apparently three different states are very clear in my memory. Over all, my "out of body" sense of sight was fairly obscure; I'm wondering if this can improve over time.

I'm curious to compare any notes with anyone who's had one of these experiences.

That's just a front. The acquisition of petty change is a long con; they melt it down and turn it into gold. They're an ancient order of alchemists. Their leader is known as The Supreme Immortal Magister of West Virginie, coincidentally my vote for debate moderator title.

Wow, I forgot about the Shriners.

You must have an adorable spirit. — praxis

Exactly.

Maybe.

Ah, you're right. It's apparently "among the largest extant species of eagles". Anyway, I may need to find an avatar that's more my "spirit bird".

How about The Grand Trismegistus.

Indeed. The largest bird of prey in the world, if I recall correctly.

Hmm, ok, fair enough. We do have them across the pond, yes; we call them European Starlings, so I assume they're an invasive species; maybe that's where my knee-jerk reaction came from. I used to be a bit of a birder, and starlings would sort of get in the way.

By the way, it has begun again...

What in the world do you like about starlings?

Back in the day there were even more for awhile.

Wow!

Wow!

I don't disagree with this concept, but the problem is getting depressed people (read: people stuck in specific emotions) to emotionally understand a concept like this. Your explanation is good, but it will not help anyone who is actually depressed.

But, if it's just habit; then shake it or medicate it. — Cheshire

Bad advice.

I think it's always rational to accept one's depression. The problem is that it's hard to be rational while depressed. I speak from experience. To be depressed and to then rationally evaluate one's depression is a healthy thing to be able to do which a lot of depressed people seem unable to do.

Yes, I do do so myself, but it doesn't seem to help. Hmm...

Heeeeyyyy it's your quarterly dose of the best piece of music ever written!

I'd be interested to hear from someone with that view as well.

Woah, "Sunday's final" as in a massive free for all? Sounds American I've ever heard it.

Oh sure it did :rofl:

Nah bro I'm not fucking joking.

That's so weird, as I was about to read this, there were two electrical bursts outside my window (during a rainstorm). And a third. I shit you not.

LOL

The internal voice I use when reading your posts is so nasal. Amazing.