Will the Real Meme Please Stand Up!
by Lah-May
There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things."
~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
While surfing around on the Internet, checking out what others were saying about innovators, I came around to the concept of "memes," coined by physicist Richard Dawkins. Dawkins defines memes as "tunes, ideas, catch-phrases, clothes fashions, ways of making pots or building arches. Just as genes propogate themselves in the gene pool by leaping from body to body via sperm or eggs, so memes propogate themselves in the meme pool by leaping from brain to brain....”
So who comes up with new ideas—original memes—in the first place? Rebecca Solnit, in her article "The White Queen's Vision" published in the March/April 2004 Orion magazine, notes that major cultural changes "are more likely to start in the marginal zones, with visionaries, radicals, obscure researchers, northern Californians, the young, the poor." Skolnit also notes ideas that at first seem radical often end up as common sense—"what everyone always knew." Arthur Schopenhauer, the German philosopher, also expressed that perception with his quote: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Exploring the theory of memes was particularly interesting because I have personally noticed how many of the concepts we as Divine Administration have espoused for years have been picked up and spread by others. I find, however, they're often spread as mutations. And, from what I can ascertain, the original pattern could have a more significant impact than the altered concept.
Spiritual Activism
When I mentioned to Julia Butterfly Hill (giant Sequoia tree-sitter and author of The Legend of Luna) in a brief conversation we had at the 2002 Sedona EcoFest that I was a member of a community of spiritual activists, I was speaking from the basis of true spirituality being the recognition of the Father-/Motherhood of God and brother-/sisterhood of humankind. Julia Butterfly Hill's subsequent use of the term did not bring in the fact of God—the Creator of All. In fact, the "spiritual activism" espoused on Julia's Circle of Life website is never elevated above the level of the individual. Now, don't get me wrong. I admire the work Julia is doing, but I firmly believe that an acknowledgment of the Father/Mother Spirit from which everything has its source can upstep all of humanity by helping individuals realize we are a global family, responsible for one another and for the planet on which we all live. Paper 210 in The Cosmic Family, Volume I, which was brought through Gabriel of Urantia in 1992, answers the question, "What is true spirituality?". I highly recommend it to anyone who uses the word "spirituality"—particularly since, "Truth is often misinterpreted, for it is heard at the level of one's own spirituality and no more." (ibid)
Years ago, Michael Toms also began using the term spiritual activism after he received a promotional packet from Gabriel of Sedona for consideration as a possible guest on his "New Dimensions" live radio show.
Julia Butterfly Hill and Michael Toms aren't the only ones who use the concept of "spiritual activism." The Alternative Voice furthers the concept right on its banner—"Fusing Spirituality with Activism." As this newsmagazine is available for free in newsstands around town and on the Internet, I wasn’t surprised to see a local conference, "The Great Rethinking: The Prophets Sedona" pick up the term, "Spiritual Activist." Once again though, will the variant maintain the original concept pattern—recognizing there is a Creator, we are His creation, and we can only ascend by learning to hear and do His will? In reading their write-up in a local events magazine, there wasn't a single mention of the word "God" (or Universal Father, or Infinite Upholder, or any term that describes the Creator of All). While they are calling for a change of consciousness (which is definitely needed) I can't help but wonder if they recognize that first and foremost in the consciousness should be the First Source and Center of All. "Spirituality begins in knowing one's place with God at any particular moment in an individual's existence." (ibid)
Loyalty Day
Last year George W. Bush declared May 1, 2003 to be "Loyalty Day." Now, I can't say he got the term from the fact that we as a community have been recognizing July 17th as "Loyalty Day" for years, and, the similarity definitely ends in the words that make up the phrase. While Bush espouses loyalty to national values, the loyalty day we celebrate honors those souls who are loyal to true godly concepts. It goes way beyond nationalism and patriotism. We know from The URANTIA Book (Paper 53) there was a rebellion against God and divine concepts hundreds of thousands of years ago. We learned Lucifer's concepts of unbridled liberty and self-assertion enticed many and spread throughout the primitive cultures where they have been cultivated for years and continue to infect modern societies—one could actually consider thought patterns such as these as being "memes out of divine pattern."
We in Global Community Communications Alliance would like "Loyalty Day" to catch on—but at a level of consciousness that encompasses the entire planet. Being loyal to divine principles and absolutes requires accepting responsibility for others—all others, not just one's family, countrymen-/women, etc.
(By the way, July 17th isn't just a random date—it's the birthday, actually the repersonalization day, of Amadon, the son of Gabriel of Urantia and Niánn Emerson Chase, a soul who defied Lucifer and remained steadfast and loyal to God. See The URANTIA Book, p. 757:01)
Regathering of Souls
The Cosmic Family, Volume I (first published in 1993) states, "The highest of repersonalized starseed were brought through on this particular continent [United States of North America] as cosmic reservists several lives before this present one, with the planned purpose in this generation to bring them all together at a point in time at the location, wherever the archangels' headquarters was located." (Hint: It's not Washington D.C.) Walter Semkiw, M.D. has published his version of this concept in a book called, Return of the Revolutionaries. Semkiw is proposing that personalities of the times of the American Revolution have returned. Even before I came to this community in 1995, Gabriel of Urantia and Niánn Emerson Chase had been teaching on the concepts of starseed, repersonalization, and spiritual renaissances. On NBC Dateline in 1998, Gabriel of Urantia stated it was confirmed by a higher order of celestial beings that he was the soul of George Washington. Other starseed souls within our community have also been identified as being in that life. (I won't say who they are or were—such revealings are up to the individual.) Semkiw, using comparisons of pictures, handwriting, certain traits, etc., erroneously identifies many souls. In some cases he even states some women were once men (e.g. he says Oprah Winfrey was James Wilson). This is an erroneous concept—once a soul comes into existence as a son or a daughter of God, they remain that gender in all subsequent lives. It has to do with Paradise personality circuitry—a concept that would take some time to explain. Semkiw also erroneously identifies George W. Bush as a reincarnated soul. Bush, in actuality, is a first-light-soul with no astral experience.
Semkiw would benefit becoming a student of the Starseed and Urantian Schools of Melchizedek and studying the Fifth and Continuing Fifth Epochal Revelation. Not only would it would save a lot of paper being wasted on the printing of false concepts, but it would also lessen planetary confusion.
Spiritualution is the Solution™
Another concept started in Divine Administration was that of "Spiritualution is the Solution." We have Spiritualution bumper stickers on cars all around town. We define Spiritualution as:
A movement of millions inspired by Divine Administration. True revolution is the spiritual fusion of the heart/earth/star knowledge teachings of the old ways of the ancestors with the latest revelatory cosmic teachings of ascension science and the physics of rebellion in Continuing Fifth Epochal Revelation as revealed in The Cosmic Family volumes. It is the realization by five hundred million starseed, who have not been able to fit into the present system, that they have lived before and know that they have a point of origin from another universe.
Dr. Wayne Dyer recently began using the expression "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem" in his book by the same title. On his television program which aired on a Phoenix station, he referenced the teachings of Gabriel of Sedona and Aquarian Concepts Community. While I admit I haven't read his book, I doubt very much it explains the concepts of: starseed, point of origin, physics of rebellion, or ascension science. The "Spiritualution" movement we're spearheading is motivated by revelation which not only tells of the different types of souls on this planet, but seeks to help souls come to know who they are—whether they are first-light souls or repersonalized starseed—and what their destiny purpose in God is. (Oh gosh there it is again—that 3-letter word no one likes to mention. Lucifer did a great job, didn't he?)
I couldn't help but also notice on Dr. Dyer’s website that he sells a cassette on how to "Manifest your Destiny." Since 1988, in books, our websites, articles, etc., Gabriel of Sedona and Niánn Emerson Chase have been writing and teaching on manifesting one's destiny. And, while my understanding of Dyer's perspective is limited, I did glean from his website that his technique will help you "create anything you want in life, whether it's love, money, improved health, a better job, or anything else you want or need." Gabriel of Sedona's and Niánn Emerson Chase's teachings are more "other-oriented" instead of "self-oriented." They talk and write about actualizing one's destiny in God, which basically means serving others—helping others meet their destiny so that you can then meet yours.
New Age Vocal
When I was in college in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, I listened to a radio station that played "New Age" music. I recall asking someone what exactly was "New Age" music. They could only reply, "It's instrumental." I liked it enough—even though it was "feel" music instead of "think" music—that I even bought some albums, my favorite group being Shadowfax. Little did I know, right about that same time Gabriel was in Los Angeles knocking on the doors of major record labels and New Age music record stores promoting his innovative "New Age Vocal" music—only to be turned away by studio executives and store owners who claimed there is no such thing as New Age "Vocal." Well it didn't take long for Gabriel's concept of New Age Vocal music to spread—another meme.
While I have seen many New Age musicians change their style from purely instrumental to lyrical—even "spiritually-enriching" poetry set to music—I don't know of any musicians outside of Divine Administra-tion who bring revelatory concepts to the world through original music. The URANTIA Book is a pretty thick book—it intimidates many. The Cosmic Family volumes, especially for those who study the higher volumes, actually require a simultaneous study of physics, physiology, and chemistry. Gabriel's "CosmoPop" music brings across many concepts through music—concepts that might otherwise sit on bookshelves. It's not just Gabriel's music that seeks to uplift and inspire. The musicians who record on the Global Change Music record label are challenged—literally—by the label's mission statement: "Global Change Music challenges all musicians worldwide to write lyrics that ascend the soul, raise planetary consciousness, and unite humanity in one global family rhythm."
Increased Earth Changes
While "earth changes" is a familiar concept to many, we in Global Community Communications Alliance have been aware there has been an "upstepping" of earth changes since 1989. Gabriel of Urantia discussed the implication and possible scenarios in his book, The Divine New Order. It didn't take long for the concept to be adapted elsewhere; Art Bell came out with the title, The Quickening, for his book shortly thereafter. Once again though, the "upstepping" Gabriel of Urantia wrote about was directly associated with the adjudication of the Lucifer Rebellion—a concept Art Bell failed to incorporate in his writings.
The Cosmic Family
Recently, while thumbing through a Leading Edge Review catalog (books, music, etc.), I ran across an ad for The URANTIA Book placed by the Uversa Press in which they describe the "great cosmic family of freewill intelligent beings." The Cosmic Family, Volume I was first published in 1991 and defines the Cosmic Family as "the highest ascending mortals on a planet serving God together under a Divine Administration of mandated eldership." The Uversa Press definition does offer a general truth—ultimately every living personality, spirit and mortal, is a creation of the Father of All. The Cosmic Family, Volume I definition is more specific in that it deals with what is happening on this planet at this time—namely, the calling forth of cosmic and Urantian Destiny Reservist s to help in the adjudication of the Lucifer Rebellion.
Dr. J.J. Hurtak, anthropological and archeological investigator, and his wife Desiree, also now talk of cosmic family. They were on the Coast to Coast radio show on August 15, 2004 where they mentioned the concept of cosmic family in their discussions on his book, The Keys of Enoch. Dr. Hurtak was once aquainted with two men in our community—one of whom is now an elder.
"Sedona is the Spiritual Mecca of Western Civilization"
Ever since I first came to Aquarian Concepts Community, I have helped disseminate "concepts." One of them was, "Sedona is the Spiritual Mecca of Western Civilization," a phrase Gabriel of Urantia coined January 1, 1990. Well, the Chamber of Commerce here in Sedona liked it as well and used it in Red Rock Visions T.V., their promotional video of Sedona—they just forgot to quote its originator.
In all of my contemplations of memes, original pattern, mutations, etc., I keep coming back to the statement, "What has been said that hasn't been said already?" (Solomon, Book of Wisdom) The source of highest truth is the First Source and Center—God. And I truly believe that those who can best convey higher truths are those who have God closest to them in their lives and who give honor and recognition to the “Original Innovator of All.” It takes wisdom and discernment of “meme-recipients" to determine the relative values of truth and as well as the clever disguise of falsehoods, for as Gabriel of Urantia once stated: "Since the rebellion 200,000 years ago, true spiritual concepts have been rearranged and distorted to fit the fallen and selfish mind."
While, we tend to appreciate new concepts and incorporate them into our lives and mindsets, we probably could stand to give more recognition to those who started the ideas in order to better understand the original intents. As Time magazine stated in their December 6, 1996 edition, "Outside of Gabriel of Sedona's inventing of new spiritual concepts, originality is hard to come by."