Following is an accumulating collection of "Dear Friends" letters addressed to subscribers to the Freedom Digital Library distribution list. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or contribute commentary, send an e-mail stating your wish to [address obfuscated], and I will add your e-mail address to, or subtract it from, the current distribution list, or respond accordingly.
The communications you receive from me via e-mail will be brief, will not include any attachments, and will (with possible minor exceptions) merely inform subscribers that there is new content available at the Freedom Digital Library; with a brief description of what it is, and were. That's about it.
Love, Peace, Joy, Now,
Harmon
Dear Friends, 5/12/08: "...So I suddenly became motivated to look into this matter of "spam" a bit more closely than I had before, and I think it may be fruitful to share with you some of what I have learned; which you may read here, if you like."
Dear Friends, 4/12/08: Overview and Synopsis of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World V 5.1.0, 1 April 2008 by J. Harmon Grahn – "Now that I have finally brought the work, Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World to a species of 'inconclusion,' I think it may be good to supply an accompanying overview, or synopsis of the work as a whole, something I was not able to do earlier."
Dear Friends, 4/1/08: "I have finally brought Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World to some kind of a... well, 'conclusion' isn't exactly the word I want; for the work is the fruit of an ongoing personal exploration still in uninterrupted progress. Let's just say that with the final section, II.8. The Myths of Life and Death, I have decided to let that particular work rest, and move on to other projects. It's been good; I've learned a great deal, and the work did not end up in the same 'space' as it began – a quality shared by its concluding section, II.8."
Dear Friends, 12/8/07: "I've been laboring since last June on a major overhaul and expansion of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World, and finally, last night, and in the wee hours of this morning, have Version 5.0.0 "on the air" for your review."
Dear Friends, 10/8/07: "This may be a little longer than usual, but I'll try to keep it brief."
Dear Friends, 9/28/07: "Once again, those living near, or visiting Taos, New Mexico next Wednesday, October 3rd, you are invited to a presentation I will be making before the Taos Noetic Sciences Community, on Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World; described somewhat more fully here."
Dear Friends, 5/28/07: "Once again, those living near, or visiting Taos, New Mexico next Wednesday week, June 6th, you are invited to a presentation I will be making before the Taos Noetic Sciences Community, on Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World; described somewhat more fully here."
Dear Friends, 5/9/07: "I have written an Open Letter to Vin Suprynowicz, a novelest, Libertarian writer, and syndicated newspaper columnist. The first paragraph of which runs as follows:
"Dear Vin Suprynowicz:
"..."If you would like to read the rest of my letter to Vin Suprynowicz, you may do so here."
04/11/2007 21:39: "This is not a typical 'Dear Friends' letter, in the sense of being addressed to subscribers to the 'Dear Friends' distribution list. Rather, it is the current evolution of a letter I now send routinely to sources and recipients of a certain type of distributed e-mail – individuals I also consider to be my 'friends,' whether I have ever before exchanged information with them, or not."
Dear Friends, 4/2/07: "Especially those living near, or who may be visiting Taos, New Mexico this coming June 6th, I would like to invite you to a presentation I will be making before the Taos Noetic Sciences Community, on Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World."
Dear Friends, 2/12/07: "I have posted a work titled, Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World: Abbreviated Synopsis originally intended as a draft for a live presentation covering some of the more important points introduced in the three-volume work, Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World."
Dear Friends, 12/7/06: "There is an expansion of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World V4.1.0, now available...; consisting of an essay titled II.5. The Myth of Objective Reality. Into this single work I have poured more than the usual time and effort – as usual; but into this one, even more than that."
Dear Friends, 10/25/06: "It's been a lonnnnnnnng time coming, Folks, but I finally got Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World v4.0.0 uploaded last night, and now it's 'on the air'...."
Dear Friends, 10/15/06: "Following is an item that came to my 'in-box' this morning, about which I retain an element of 'suspended skepticism;' yet it seems to me that any reason for aligning large numbers of people in 'positive thoughts' at the same time, for resonant purposes, is a Good Reason, whether you, or I, or anyone else, 'believes in it,' or not."
Dear Friends, 7/24/06: "What follows deals successively with a recent film, and two not so recent books, related to the human predicament on planet Earth:
- An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore;
- Birth of the Chaordic Age by Dee Hock;
- The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann.
"The three subsections were written as a single whole, which I hope combine into a composition of some import and interest."
Dear Friends, 5/5/06: "Greetings, and welcome to the latest revision (V 3.1.4) of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World; a partial rewrite of the Tribe section of the Prologue, and additional minor editing and error-correction throughout the work."
Dear Friends, 3/20/06: "Greetings, and Happy Spring Equinox! to one and all – a propitious occasion, I think, for the latest revision (V 3.1.1) of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World. Mainly, I have rewritten and enlarged Chapter 14, which now bears stronger relevance than it did before to the entire work as it has unfolded since the original version of the chapter."
Dear Friends, 2/17/06: "I had an inspiration last week while peddling my bicycle into the village for some provisions, the upshot of which is Chapter 18, The Myths of Infinity and Hierarchy. The chapter is mercifully short, especially in comparison to Chapters 16 and 17, which appeared in revised form 2/14, and I believe are now the largest in the book."
Dear Friends, 2/14/06: "A belated "Happy Valentine's Day" to one and all, a day whose blessings I hope will extend to, and be augmented by the latest edition, V 3.0.0 of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World, which has hereby been converted into a two-volume work. In this edition, I have significantly rewritten and expanded Chapter 16, Myth of a Golden Age, and have added Chapter 17, The Myth of Human Destiny; two large chapters (Ch. 16 illustrated) drawing together many lines of thought into what I hope you will find to be stimulating and thought-provoking reading."
Dear Friends, 11/17/05: "It's been a long time coming, and finally here it is: V 2.0.0 of Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World, with the addition, mainly, of a new chapter: 16. Myth of a Golden Age."
Dear Friends, 7/19/05: "As mentioned in the previous number, I have encountered another work, The Chalice and The Blade by Riane Eisler, which bears significantly upon the discussion being developed in Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World. ... Mainly, to put it in a nutshell, 'If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.' Which is to say, in a few more words, that a culture based upon domination of women by men (or the other way about, for that matter), as ours is, and as civilizations have been throughout 'recorded history,' is a culture destined for utter self-destruction – until and unless this critically unbalanced condition is corrected."
Dear Friends, 7/3/05: "Work continues on gradually expanding upon the Metaconsciousness Myth. In response to The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition Into the Forces of History by Howard Bloom, which recently came to my attention, I have today released Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World, V 0.02; which differs from V 0.01 primarily in a major expansion of chapter '2. Is Civilization Committing Suicide?'."
Dear Friends, 5/25/05: "Please pardon the prolonged silence. It hasn't been silent at this end, and today I am able to break it at your end as well. I've written a book, upon which I would like to invite your further collaboration and expansion. The book, Metaconsciousness: Mythology for a Post-Civilized World, is published under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation Licnese, in both HTML and PDF formats, with the intent that it will be collaboratively expanded by many authors and myth-makers into a comprehensive mythology for a post-civilized world."
Dear Friends, 3/20/05: More About Metaconsciousness, Part II: Higher Ground "Daniel Quinn cites the circus as an example of a contemporary tribe that functions effectively within the environment created by civilization. I would like to suggest another, more spectacular and globe-girdling example: the free software / open-source community, or the tribe of hackers."
Dear Friends, 2/5/05: More About Metaconsciousness, Part I: The "Mainstream" "In my view, the perils of trackless jungles and overhanging canyons notwithstanding, the most difficult and formidable obstacle facing any would-be contemporary diversity generator is reaching the decision to desert the "mainstream," and face the hazards of seeking higher ground. Is civilization really such a hopeless and irredemable mess as I have portrayed it to be? This is a question each individual must answer for her or himself, and choose accordingly."
Dear Friends, 10/27/04: "A Metaconscious Mosaic has been constructed with the intent that it, or parts of it, be widely shared and passed around. Each constituent file is linked with its fellows in such a way that that all of it can be reached online from any part of it that may be reproduced, for instance, in an e-mail communication. And each file is short enough to be included gracefully in an e-mail communication. The idea is to foment metaconsciousness – which you can find out about by piecing together the Mosaic for yourself."
Dear Friends, 10/14/04: A Pact With the Devil "The beauty of this strategy, it seems to me, is that it in no way calls for 'going to war with the devil.' Or with the Takers; or with the pharoahs; or with anyone. It is a means entirely in harmony with the ends it seeks. It 'resuscitates and empowers the gods,' while at the same time 'disempowering the devil,' because it is no longer responsive to the fear and divisiveness that is the primary strategy and the driving force of Taker culture."
Dear Friends, 9/22/04: The Metaconsciousness Myth "The proliferation of ... metaconsciousness among an emergent humanity ... will make possible a human culture upon the Earth the like of which has never been seen, or even imagined – as far beyond civilization as Taker civilization claimed to have been beyond stoneage culture (but wasn't)."
Dear Friends, 9/9/04: The Gods & the Law of Life "Mythological speculation: is there a 'threshold of complexity' beyond which a neural network, whether organic, inorganic, or artificial, might 'awaken' into a state that we humans could possibly recognize as consciousness, intelligence, and / or creativity?"
Dear Friends, 8/28/04: "I would like to draw to your attention a sequel to Fahrenheit 9/11 which illuminates many relevant details not included in Michael Moore's film. 9/11: In Plane Site is a Power Hour Production in association with Bridgestone Media Group, featuring Dave vonKleist, produced and written by Dave vonKleist, directed by William Lewis. Unlike Fahrenheit 9/11, you will not be viewing 9/11: In Plane Site in motion picture theaters across the country; but you can obtain a copy and view it in your own home, and share it with your friends, which may be even better."
Dear Friends, 8/18/04: In the Hands of the Gods "How might one at once participate in a 'post-civilized' tribe, 'live in the hands of the gods,' and effectively defend one's individual sovereign free choice from pre-emption by anyone or anything? This is the question on the agenda paper before us, to which we must find a solution, or perish."
Dear Friends, 8/6/04: Leavers and Takers "...the most appropriate strategy an individual can pursue, who wishes to 'stand from under' the collapse of civilization, is to abandon the Takers, and join the Leavers, eftsoons, or ASAP – as a matter of personal survival; and as a matter of taking the most effective possible action towards a solution to the human predicament on Earth."
Dear Friends, 7/17/04: "What follows [Toward the Sovereign Integral] is a continuation of the discussion commenced (i.e. continued) with Civilization and Savagery; developed further in the sequel, Beyond Civilization or The Killer Meme; and further elaborated in The Tribal Ideal."
Dear Friends, 7/2/04: "Last May, I wrote to you about Civilization and Savagery, and followed up a month later with a sequel titled Beyond Civilization or The Killer Meme.... In Civilization and Savagery I had been treating civilization and savagery as opposites; yet discovered in Beyond Civilization that they are not opposites at all, and never have been. ... Now I have a modest proposal to make; a call to action for those who find resonance with these observations."
Dear Friends, 6/20/04: "Last month, I wrote to you about Civilization and Savagery, an essay which has meanwhile had some feedback and prompts a sequel; for which I have borrowed the title, Beyond Civilization, from a book of the same title by Daniel Quinn."
Dear Friends, 5/24/04: "It's time I sent you all another note. This one is titled, Civilization and Savagery."
Dear Friends, 3/26/04: "Prompted by the the Dove Report, 25 March 2004, I would like to draw your attention to a Generic Postcard I have sent to four of the nine Justices of the United States Supreme Court."
Dear Friends, 3/21/04: "I would like to invite your participation in a project I have commenced: a screenplay for a film to be titled, New Earth Rising; about life and living patterns and possibilities after the 'consciousness shift,' or whatever it is we are experiencing right now, has if not run its course, at least has decisively crossed the 'high divide' separating 'all that has been' on Earth from 'all that shall be'."
Dear Friends, 3/5/04: "I would like to draw your attention to a Generic Postcard I have sent to four of the nine Justices of the United States Supreme Court." [The text of this postcard has since been overwritten by the text of a more recent postcard sent and described 3/26/04.]
Dear Friends, 3/4/04: "As most of you know, I usually don't pass these things on when they land in my in-box, but I cannot evade making an exception in the case of a letter by one John Wildman. Perhaps you too will elect to share what follows among your networks."
Dear Friends, 2/15/04: I would like to continue the discussion developed in "Dear Friends," 12/15/03. Specifically, I wish to further explore the meaning, implicacions, and consequences of pre-emptive use of force, and the myths underlying its persistent exercise among humans.
Dear Friends, 1/18/04: "I would like to draw your attention to a Generic Postcard I am sending to five of the nine Justices of the United States Supreme Court." [The text of this postcard has since been overwritten by the text of a more recent postcard sent and described 3/5/04.]
Dear Friends, 12/15/03: What follows is further development of the discussion initiated in "Dear Friends," 11/16/03, and continued 11/27/03. Here, we will be expanding upon the topic of "morality."
Dear Friends, 27 November 2003: Following is a sequel to Dear Friends, 16 November 2003, in which I want to narrow my focus upon what I feel are the most salient implications of the combined themes developed in that communication. And, I would like to make a proposal to any who may be interested.
Dear Friends, 16 November 2003: This is going to cover quite a lot of ground, in what I hope you will find to be an articulate, coherent, informative, and above all, intersting flow. If you follow up on the footnotes, most of which point to materials also available in the Freedom Digital Library, I am confident you will find much food for thought.
Sharing the Commonwealth: An Illustrated Essay by J. Harmon Grahn.
Dear Friends, 23 February 2003: "This is rather urgent, because it is time-sensitive, and is to inform you of a "Virtual March on Washington" taking place Wednesday, 26 February 2003, in which you may participate, if you so choose, by signing up at http://www.moveon.org/winwithoutwar/."
Dear Friends, 18 February 2003: "As you can see, we've done a complete remake of this website. The reason was mainly to accommodate the recent influx of new information, combined with the need to organize and make more accessible the information that has already accumulated here over the past five or so years."
Dear Friends, The first, 4 February 2003 edition, of what is intended as a series of occasional communications to subscribers to the Freedom Digital Library distribution list. This one records an exchange with a correspondent on optimism and perseverance, and related topics.
The New Paradigm: A series of "Dear Friends" communications commencing 8 December 1997, and concluding 11 November 2001; so subscribers can gather some idea what you may be in for.