The New Paradigm
Inaugural Edition

Hear hear, say I, to Sue Fowler's passionate piece on "Motivation." You don't see these issues discussed on TV, or the Newspapers, or in School, or in Church...do you? Ever wonder why not? Are they not interesting? Or important? Or worthy of discussion? Don't you find it rather peculiar that the so-called "free Press" never addresses certain topics that are in fact of vital interest to every human being on the Planet?

Then just the other day, in response to a conversation we were having about the power of the Internet as a medium for the widespread free exchange of ideas, Mark Gardner shared a little note with me on "Network Computers," which are supposed to bring Internet access to the Masses, apparently without requiring them to have any Computer savvy at all:

"A 'Network Computer' is not a PC," Mark wrote, "all the software is at a remote location and all you have is a 'Dumb Computer' to read their software. In other words, they control the content!

"Imagine the utility, or telephone companies power with this system? Maybe, Bill Gates?"

Yes sirree, Brothers and Sisters, that has always been the formula for tyrants: seize the media; control the information flow, and you can rule the populace at will. So the goal is always to establish gateways and choke points, such as customs posts where all traffic must cross the borders; or monopolistic publishing houses, or broadcast networks, or newspaper chains, which are relatively few in number and can be controlled with money. Or for that matter, orthodox churches that siphon everybody's religious inspiration through an ordained priesthood. And now this: give the populace cheap Internet access, but at the price of surrendering control over its content. Same song, umpteenth verse.

The Internet really is a gaping hole in the fence these "Powers and Principalities" have strung around the world, and you can just go and bet your boots they're scrambling like the dickens to plug it up as fast as they can. But they haven't done it yet, or you would never have seen Sue Fowler's piece today, or this one.

The vital question of the hour, it seems to me, is whether or when are "We the People" going to awaken to the reality that there aren't any real borders in this world? The "choke points" are artificially created by so-called "leaders" and "administrators" who have acquired their power by deception and stealth; but power can be withdrawn from them as simply as it was granted: i.e. by an awakened populace who quietly but purposefully withdraw our power from those in whom it has been misplaced, and apply it at our own, rather than others', discretion.

That is why I keep harping on the "paradigm shift" theme. So long as we continue to think in terms of "us / them," "leaders / followers," "good guys / bad guys,"...so long will we live in a world of "masters / slaves," with a disproportionate and sullen distribution of "haves / have-nots." Liberation comes to each of us when we discover the unimpeachable power that resides within each one of us, simply by the fact that we exist. It is not bestowed upon us, nor can it be taken away, by any "priesthood" or overarching so-called "authority." Such liberation is silent and personal, and does not require the rising of an armed insurrection, or indeed any violent reaction whatsoever. It simply prompts personal choices that cease to grant power or authority to any who claim it dishonestly, or acquire it by stealth, deception or force.

If such thoughts are not already widespread within the "collective unconscious" of the human race at large, then liberation may be a long time coming. But I have a hunch that such thoughts are very near the surface of conscious apprehension within a great many minds around the Planet, and that articulating them acts as a catalytic agent in springing them forth into recognizable conscious form; where they become prompts for purposeful action. I visualize the "new paradigm" arising in the minds of multitudes, seemingly spontaneously, as the first leaves of Spring appear almost overnight, dusting the entire countryside with a patina of pale green after a long and tedious Winter; and before long, they change the very shape of the Earth.

Fortuna Alliance® II demonstrates the principle, for Augie Delgado articulated his "new paradigm" thoughts, and look how many people recognized them and were drawn, and are being drawn, to Fortuna Alliance® II. And look how many have been hanging on, through thick and through thin, with unyielding tenacity, on the strength of very little else (until quite recently) beyond the power of Augie's "new paradigm" vision for Fortuna Alliance® II. There is something here that bears pondering.

Therefore, a "little idea" has occurred to me: What if we were to set up some sort of forum specifically for bringing this "new paradigm" into more widespread conscious awareness? For instance:

• What exactly is the "new paradigm," and how is it different from the "old paradigm?"

• How does "new paradigm" thought manifest in practical action?

• How do "new paradigm" people deal most effectively with "old paradigm" people, institutions and habits held over from our "old paradigm" heritage?

If "new paradigm" thought is bubbling near the surface of many minds, it may be such a forum might attract considerable interest; and if it is associated directly with Fortuna Alliance® II, or the Fortuna Membership, it might attract many visionary types into our association. After all, it was the germ of such thoughts that attracted and held most of us who have been here awhile: there must be more people out there who, like us, may not know what "new paradigm" thought is, but will recognize it when they see it expressed. Such a forum would solicit serious contributions from all participants. Who knows what might come of it? But I suspect there are people out there with some valuable thoughts cooking under their scalps; it might be fruitful to encourage such to come forward and share their thoughts with an interested audience.

In response to my first tentative inquiry into the feasibility of launching such a forum, Sue Fowler wrote from New Zealand, "I am totally supportive of a newsletter and thought we could have a monthly topic, portrayed as a question perhaps so each is encouraged to 'go within' and respond with their wisdom. This encourages the synchronistic process and brings us to the next step in living the new spiritual awareness. Learning and gaining from each other's truth, as the spectrum of colours, we each are a part of the whole. By daring to trust and open up to each other we are consciously raising the process of spiritual evolution."

Accordingly, in the spirit of "If not You, Who? If not Now, When?" - behold The New Paradigm a sometimes e-mail newsletter, the first number of which you are now reading. It will be distributed periodically, but not on any predictable schedule, to subscribers who send me e-mail requesting that their e-mail address be added to the New Paradigm List. Subscribers who wish to be removed from the New Paradigm List have only to send me e-mail to that effect, and I will take their address off the List. Submissions are solicited from any who would like to contribute to the discussion, with the general understanding that nothing appearing in The New Paradigm is under any copyright, and that all such material is freely available for dispersal and dissemination by any and all means. (The idea is to use the current "window of opportunity" NOW before some benighted bureaucrat finds a way to slam it shut!) The purpose of The New Paradigm is twofold: a) to promote Fortuna Alliance® II, and b) to raise the "new paradigm" consciousness generally. But maybe in the reverse order.

Spread the Word - which ultimately does not reside in anything appearing in The New Paradigm, but resides where it has always been: within the hearts and minds of each one of us, and all of us together. The New Paradigm is intended merely as a catalyst for hastening the birth into widespread consciousness that which we have all known unconsciously forever.

In accordance with Sue's excellent suggestion, submissions are hereby solicited, particularly on the topic: "Where Do We Begin?" - which is to say, "What Should We Discuss First?" Delve within, and bring forth your wisdom, and share it with the rest of us who thirst for true words of true heart from true Brothers and Sisters.

After this first submission, The New Paradigm will not be distributed to the Fortuna Alliance List Server, but only to those who have explicitly requested inclusion in the New Paradigm List. It is hoped that subscribers will forward it widely to others, and that it will thus be spread by "natural networking," perhaps the most powerful and inherently unstoppable method known for the widespread dissemination of ideas. Needless to say, the New Paradigm List will not be made available to anybody for any reason, and will only be used for distribution of The New Paradigm newsletter. Although this is an independent project which does not reflect anything but the opinions of its participants, it is hoped this venture will enjoy the blessing of Fortuna Alliance® II Corporate.

All commentary, submissions and subscription requests may be addressed to Harmon [J. Harmon Grahn] at harmon@olypen.com.

Love & Light,

-- Harmon
J. Harmon Grahn