A Fable on Mortality from Leo Tolstoy

 A reflection by Ben Koch, Managing Editor

In his brief spiritual memoir titled A Confession, prolific Russian author Leo Tolstoy (of War and Peace fame) evokes an old Eastern fable about mortality. Here’s how he summarizes it:

“…a traveler who is taken unawares on the steppes by a ferocious wild animal. In order to escape the beast the traveler hides in an empty well, but at the bottom of the well he sees a dragon with its jaws open, ready to devour him. The poor fellow does not dare to climb out because he is afraid of being eaten by the rapacious beast, neither does he dare drop to the bottom of the well for fear of being eaten by the dragon. So he seizes hold of a branch of a bush that is growing in the crevices of the well and clings on to it. His arms grow weak and he knows that he will soon have to resign himself to the death that awaits him on either side. Yet he still clings on, and while he is holding on to the branch he looks around and sees that two mice, one black and one white, are steadily working their way round the bush he is hanging from, gnawing away at it. Sooner or later they will eat through it and the branch will snap, and he will fall into the jaws of the dragon. The traveler sees this and knows that he will inevitably perish. But while he is still hanging there he sees some drops of honey on the leaves of the bush, stretches out his tongue and licks them.” (p. 21)

The metaphor here is laid out in such painful detail that the situation of the poor traveler is almost comical. It rings of an old Monty Python skit. The purpose of such elaborate description, though, is to ensure that neither the traveler nor the reader find any gleam of hope of escaping their inevitable end. Sound harsh? It would be crueler, still, to continue focusing only on those “drops of honey” (believing that life is the pursuit of material pressure) at the expense of taking a broader view of true context and fate.

Facing and accepting our own finite existence in a particular body-identity sounds like a simple realization, yet it’s one that few of us grasp beyond an intellectual level. Our egos are masterful salesmen, perpetually spinning schemes on how we might avoid, delay or at least disguise our desperate situation. Consumer culture is the ultimate illustration of this fruitless cycle. There are numerous names for it. Buddhists call that perpetual search for bigger, better pleasures samsara. The 20^th century called it a rat race. But Tolstoy is not critiquing capitalism here—this isn’t sociology. It’s about a personal, spiritual crisis point in which we have finally come to realize the futility and desperation of our stories, so that we may open to bigger versions of ourselves not dependent on the values of the ego.

For Tolstoy, this realization spurned a long, dark period in which he flirted constantly with suicide, yet simultaneously seemed to stoke the creative fire which gave us his masterworks, including War and Peace. I recently heard poet Billy Collins state in an interview that all poetry is about one of two things—love or death. So honestly confronting mortality can be an impetus for great creativity.

Yet we could easily discuss this in a traditional religious context—Prince Siddhartha, for example, was inspired to seek enlightenment by this very same realization, and it led him to Buddhahood, a state of consciousness beyond all suffering and attachment.

Whether taking a creative or spiritual approach, the great wisdom masters of either path have shown us that a truly heartfelt confrontation with our own mortality can be a powerful source of transformation.

A Movie Bender: Reviews and Grades on Fourteen Films

Critic-at-Large Jeff Koch gives a speed-dating version of the movie review for 14 movies.

For me, the holidays are about family, food, relaxation, games…and movies.  Lots and lots of movies.  Fourteen, to be precise. 

Sherlock Holmes: Turning Arthur Conan Doyle’s literary sleuth into a mumbling action hero might not be the best idea, but luckily the two leads (Robert Downey, Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Watson) are magnetic and have great on-screen chemistry, and the plot and action has just enough going for it, making this movie quite enjoyable. 

Grade: 8.0 / 10

It’s Complicated: A romantic comedy for the baby-boomer set.  Alec Baldwin and Meryl Streep bring intelligence, humor, and sympathy to characters that might not otherwise have it.  It’s just plain fun watching those two share the screen.

Grade: 7.5 / 10

 Up in the Air:  An enjoyable movie, but something left me unsatisfied afterwards.  Two weeks later, I still can’t put my finger on it.  Maybe it’s the incongruity of the two stories the movie is trying to tell.  Maybe it’s that nothing is ever really resolved.  Who knows.  Either way, the acting is dynamic, and the story is engrossing while watching.  Afterwards?  Let the hole-poking begin.

Grade: 7.5 / 10

Avatar:  Don’t worry about what meanings might lie beneath the story, or the stilted dialogue, or the absurdity of it all.  See this movie, and see it in 3-D.  It’s unlike any other visual experience, ever.

Grade: 9.5 / 10

Star Trek:  This is what a summer blockbuster should be.  It’s fun, smart, quick-paced, and just a touch cheeky.  Everyone involved with the movie is clearly enjoying themselves; so should you.

Grade: 9.0 / 10

Extract:  Another comedy from Mike Judge, who brought us Beavis and Butthead and Office Space.  To my mind, this is his best and funniest movie yet.  Jason Bateman is having a deserved career resurgence that started with the criminally underrated TV show Arrested Development, and he shines here.  But Ben Affleck steals the movie as a long-haired, drug-guzzling, half-idiot/half-genius bartender.

Grade: 8.5 / 10

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: There’s a reason why movies go straight to DVD.  The story isn’t bad, and the twist at the end, while somewhat predictable, is good.  But the actors aren’t up to the task, and it’s almost embarrassing to watch.

Grade: 5.5 / 10

Jennifer’s Body:  Megan Fox stars.  Diablo Cody writes.  Vampires…kind of.  Hot girls kiss!  What couldn’t there be to like?  Sadly, the movie misses on almost all fronts, and it doesn’t know what it wants to be.  I think they think they know, but they fail.  Did that make sense?  No?  Well, neither did the movie, which is more concerned with clever and witty lines (that are neither clever nor witty) than actually being entertaining or meaningful.

Grade: 5.5 / 10

District 9:  Aliens have landed in South Africa, and we’ve put them into internment camps.  After years of uneasy tensions, a multinational conglomerate (Halliburton, anyone?) is charged with moving them even farther out of the way so that they are out of sight, out of mind.  Obvious allegories are abundant, but the movie succeeds on a visceral level, and will leave you reeling.

Grade: 8.5 / 10

Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace: The first two James Bond movies starring Daniel Craig reboot the whole franchise, picking up in Royale right after Bond has obtained ‘00’ status.  Breaking from the conventions of the past (and often turning them on their head), Craig plays Bond as a brash, hardened bulldozer of a man, destroying everything and everyone in his path.  The first movie is great and holds up; Solace is better upon second viewing, and acquits itself well in relationship to Royale.  I can’t wait for the third one.

Grade: 9.0 / 10 for Casino Royale, 8.0 / 10 for Quantum of Solace;

Combined Grade: 8.5 / 10

Transformers:  Expectations play a huge role in movie enjoyment.  Being a Michael Bay movie, I had zero expectations for Transformers.  So I was pleasantly surprised when the movie didn’t totally suck.  Shia LaBeouf is fun as the human lead and brought some needed light-heartedness to the movie.  Only 5 transformers per side is lame, and the action is typically mindless and dumb.  But like I said, it didn’t totally suck.

Grade: 6.0 / 10

Where the Wild Things Are:  And by ‘wild’ they mean childish, insecure, manipulative, angry, violent, dumb, and mean.  The feat to turn this into a live-action movie is a marvel.  And the movie is moving and gripping.  But I had a hard time really caring about any of the characters, including Max, the human lead.  Maybe it’s because I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a boy; maybe it’s because I have no kids of my own.  One note of caution: while this is a movie about a young boy, it is most certainly not geared for young audiences.

 Grade: 7.0 / 10

The Men Who Stare at Goats:  It’s hard not to have fun with Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, and Kevin Spacey playing “Jedis”, soldiers trained to be psychological and spiritual warriors, with Ewan McGregor (who played a real Jedi, wink wink) playing the journalist unveiling their story.  The flashbacks are great; the present story is hit-or-miss.  It’s fun, it’s silly, and it’s ultimately forgettable.

Grade: 7.5 / 10

Bliss and Balance: A New Year Resolution

Contributed by Dr. Cara Cerrone

New Year resolutions are meant to fix what was still broken the year before.  This year I will be thinner, smarter, happier, healthier, etc…  It all sounds very promising, but often too daunting as the year progresses.  So how can this year’s resolution become a reality for 2010? 

      Health and fitness is most often the focus for a New Year resolution.  Unfortunately, this becomes a challenge as we start to incorporate this addition to our lifestyles.  The most common desire is to decrease weight and increase exercise.  A better chance of success in any fitness plan is to ease into a workout routine.  The body works best with a gradual introduction to change.  Any sudden change can be felt as a trauma to the body and not adhered to long term.   So instead of deciding to workout everyday after you’ve been on the couch for the past few weeks, it would be better to make a goal of 2 to 3 times a week and progress as your body allows.  If for some reason this is not followed, don’t use that as an excuse to drop the whole plan entirely.  Start again the next day.   

     Nutrition for many of us is ignored as work and responsibilities become our focus.  Now is the time to re-introduce fresh fruits and vegetables, sources of protein, supplements that are necessary for your body and a regular intake of water.  Many of us tend to increase the caloric intake during the holiday celebrations and often feel the need to “detox” after this indulgence.  Everyone has different needs and some “detox” procedures can deplete the body of too many nutrients.  Relatively healthy diets with water as a primary source of beverage can be very helpful to kick start your body into the New Year change.  If a “detox” program is in your heart’s desire, please consult with a doctor that is well versed in your needs and health status prior to starting a rigorous program. 

      Thoughts.  Ahhh, the good and evil within.  The stress of day-to-day life is necessary to some extent.  However, when stress builds up and becomes an overwhelming anxiety, the body responds with a sympathetic response (fight or flight mode).  This is part of your autonomic nervous system that gets the body ready for action, which can be a great thing if you are being chased by a wild animal.  However, the level of stress felt while being chased by a tiger is not necessary if we are simply worried about the stress of a workday.  Either way your body feels this sympathetic/stress response and must do something with it or harbor it in some fashion.  So how do we release this tension and what happens if we do not? 

      Just like with any health care plan, to relieve tension is unique to everyone.  My suggestion is to look into the hobbies you have or once had.  There in lies your heart’s message of peace.  One man’s meditation and bliss is another’s rage and thunder.  Find your personal bliss as you search for a new happier self.  Many times when we don’t find an outlet to relieve stress, the body begins to react on a physical level.  If when the stress of the day makes my shoulders tense up as if I am carrying 100lb bag, yet I am really just typing on my computer.  I begin to wonder why my shoulders/ neck ache and eventually I wont even be able to connect this tension with my severe headaches that I can’tseem to eliminate. Cause and effect is ever illusive yet so powerful.  Many of us use our energy and life in constant search of balance.  When balance is not found, dysfunction is the outcome. 

      As New Year resolutions are taken, remember the core of nature is to find balance and everyone’s path to bliss is unique.  Those resolutions will be a lot less daunting if we ease into a fitness routine, find our unique nutrition plan and use proper outlets for anxiety.

Spiritual Intelligence (SQ): What Teachers Should Truly Promote

Contributed by Ben Koch

In graduate school I had the opportunity to pursue research on a great curiosity and passion of mine: spiritual intelligence, also known as “SQ” (in contrast to “IQ”). In all honesty, when I first set out I didn’t know the construct of SQ even existed. I was driven more by my discontentment with the reductionist, limited view of traditional intelligence and the power it has over the psyche of public education. IQ scores are used as the basis for both gifted and special ed programs as if they were numbers figuratively stamped onto our foreheads when we begin school. Yet I’d had many students who defied this alleged number label on both ends of the spectrum:

• Students with remarkably high numeric IQs, but no sense of compassion or justice or kindness. How valuable is that intelligence?
• Students with alarmingly low number IQs, but who displayed extraordinary “heart” and character, with potential to be real complete human beings.

So how do we begin to discuss and explore this unmapped dimension of intelligence? SQ, I found, is the best place to start. Although it may take years for this concept to take hold in the mainstream, many powerful minds have already begun to trailblaze toward that goal. Following their lead, I conclude my research with very practical and concrete suggestions for classroom teachers in developing SQ in students.

I have included an excerpt from the introduction to my research below, but you can also access and download a PDF of the complete project here: IntelligencePaper. Please add your 2 cents, share links, and add to the discussion.

[EXCERPT] 

Spiritual Intelligence: A Tool for Meaning and Hope

Introduction: A Crisis of Meaning

Of all the gifts a teacher has the potential of giving a student, perhaps the most vital and significant is to empower the student with the ability to create a meaning and a vision for her life.

     Yet how do we as humans create meaning for our lives? This is a philosophical, even theological, question well beyond the scope of simple assertions. Yet if we narrow our scope to explore what teachers can do within the classroom to help students develop the capacity to create meaning, we can indeed gain a little ground. Brain-based learning expert Eric Jensen (2000) asserts that our brains our designed to seek out meaning, and that unless teachers are able to provide students with opportunities to discover meaning, “we will continue to produce robots and underachievers” (p. 279). Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl (1984) holds an even stronger belief that the “will to meaning” is the primary motivation of our existence.

     With the search for meaning being such a basic part of our makeup, it would seem that a teacher’s job in this regard would be relatively straightforward—we simply push along, or guide, our students in their natural, spontaneous quest for meaningful contexts. But what if the educational system itself is sabotaging this natural, healthy quest for meaning, and in fact depriving students of opportunities and contexts for the healthy development of meaningful lives? The very fact that standardized tests have become the guidepost around which all curriculum seems to revolve, and so much teacher energy is devoted, is a sad indication that this deprivation is occurring. Educational philosopher William Ayers (1993) believes that “standardized tests push well-intentioned teachers and school leaders in the wrong direction; they constrain teachers’ energies and minds, dictating a disastrously narrow range of activities and experiences” (p. 118). Many other roadblocks to meaning will be discussed in later sections.

     Unless we as teachers want to propagate our future with the robots that Jensen has warned us about, we must quickly and skillfully remedy, or at least counteract, the narrowing effects of the current educational system. Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall (2000) have given us a wonderful framework through which to do just that. They have developed the concept of “spiritual intelligence (SQ).” In their book, Spiritual Intelligence, The Ultimate Intelligence they outline the basis and technique for engendering the overarching intelligence in human consciousness that enables our capacity for meaning, vision, and value.

     This paper will argue that teachers should engender this holistic form of intelligence in order to serve our students the most profound gift we can: enabling them with the ability to create vision and meaning in their lives.  I will assert that teachers must acknowledge, understand, engender, and promote this deeper “holistic intelligence.” I will argue that it is the unifying quality of this deeper form of intelligence that provides individuals with a sense and context of meaning on which to base their qualitative life decisions. Only by embracing and developing this spiritual intelligence (to be referred to as “SQ” throughout this paper) can teachers begin to counteract the constrictive forces of the current educational environment. 

Frankincense, Myrrh: Precious then and now

Contributed by David Brochstein, L.Ac., O.M.D.

It is befitting of the holiday season to mention a couple of Earth’s well-known treasures: frankincense and myrrh.  Many are familiar with the  story of the three wise-men who brought these fragrant resins to the infant Christ as a gift.  Ancient Egyptians used myrrh for embalming the bodies of Pharaohs, while frankincense has been used at places of worship in India for hundreds of years.  What some may not know is that frankincense and myrrh are also powerful Chinese herbs used to treat pain, trauma, and blood disorders.

            Shrub trees of the family Burseraceae[1] produce a liquid when the bark is punctured. That liquid or resin is then dried and cooked with vinegar or honey for medicinal uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  Boswellia sacra (common origin of Frankincense) and Commiphora myrrha (common origin of myrrh) both originated in the Arabian Peninsula.  These species arrived in China by 400 AD, where the exploration of their medicinal properties began.

            Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes frankincense and myrrh as blood regulating herbs that complement each other. They invigorate the blood, dispel blood stasis (a condition of the blood accredited with causing many forms of disease), reduce swelling, relieve pain and promote healing of wounds. It is more than coincidence that myrrh is commonly used in TCM for menstrual irregularities, and myrrh is used to treat liver conditions. TCM theory emphasizes the importance of liver blood for regular and healthy menstrual function.  Stagnant liver blood causes painful periods and other gynecological disease.

    The tree that produces frankincense resin also produces Boswellic Acid. Researchers have identified Boswellic Acid as a potent anti-inflammatory agent. This acid inhibits the 5-LOX (lipoxygenase) system, which is involved with enzymatic pathways that produce leukotrienes and thrombaxanes (inflammatory molecules) from fatty acids.  (Following all of this?) Drugs that inhibit this pathway are normally used to treat arthritis, asthma and ulcerative colitis. Frankincense is a powerful source of natural inflammation relief!

            Unlike conventional NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, the accepted Western treatment for pain and inflammation, prepared boswellia doesn’t cause stomach irritation in small doses, it does not damage the kidneys, and it does not cause liver damage like acetaminophen does.

            Guggulsterone is the active substance within the myrrh resin. After many years of research, guggulsterone, also known as Guggul, has become popular in the United States for its cholesterol-lowering properties.² Guggul inhibits the FXR gene in the nucleus of liver cells; this process leads to the more efficient excretion of cholesterol in the liver, thus lowering serum cholesterol levels.  It is amazing what powerful medicines come from a scrubby desert tree!

            Because there are many different compounds which contain this amazing duo it is important that you consult with an acupuncturist (or Oriental medical doctor) who specializes in herbal medicines. He or she can advise you about which preparations are appropriate for your condition.  Frankincense and myrrh are two of the most potent pain relievers in TCM formulation.  However, they can be a potentially dangerous combination for someone who is already on a blood thinner or other medications.  Only a TCM practitioner who is well educated in herb-drug interactions should prescribe a formula containing either of these compounds. This is one time we strongly advise against self-treatment!

            Given the compelling folk histories, vast experience in TCM clinics, and even the more recent scientific evidence regarding these two Chinese herb resins, we can be certain of their potent medicinal properties. 

              It certainly is amazing that nature has provided such powerful medicines for menstrual cramps, trauma, arthritis, cholesterol and pain.  Nature has had a remarkable way of providing for our needs, today and in ancient times. Let us be thankful!

2.(Tripathi YB, et all Thyroid stimulating actions of z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta Med 1984;1:78).

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[1] Also known as the Torchwood family, or the incense tree family.

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12 Days of Christmas Entertainment

Contributed by Jeff Koch, Cultural Analyst

In honor of the season, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite Christmas entertainment, spectacles that always get me in the mood for the holiday season.

12.  Mannheim Steamroller (http://shop.mannheimsteamroller.com/): Nobody gives traditional Christmas carols more spectacle, more pomp and circumstance, and more cheesy 80s goodness than Mannheim Steamroller.

11.  Elf (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0319343/): Will Ferrell doesn’t just make silly, raunchy comedies.  Here, he plays a grown man who, convinced since birth he is an Elf, travels to Manhattan to discover the truth about his past.  There is something for the whole family.

10.  The Nutcracker Ballet:  My mother used to take me every year when I was younger.  Between the story, the hypnotic music, and graceful and beautiful dancing, it’s a 2 hour escape into magic.  Luckily, I’ll be going again in a few weeks.

9.  A Christmas Story (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085334/):  A modern Christmas classic.  TBS usually plays it on a non-stop loop every Christmas.  “You’ll shoot your eye out!”

8.  How The Grinch Stole Christmas:  Dr. Seuss’ wonderful children’s story has been adapted to cartoon and to movie.  All are wonderful, but nothing captures the transformation of the Grinch quite like the original. 

7.  Pop Christmas Songs: I’m not talking about Pop stars remaking Christmas classics.  I’m talking about when they write their own.  Who could forget Wham’s “Last Christmas”( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3354flS1KJs), or Paul McCartney singing “Wonderful Christmastime” (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWuKimtUEas)?

6.  Charlie Brown Christmas: Maybe the definitive Christmas TV Cartoon.

5.  Love, Actually (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/): This movie traces the intersecting lives of several characters from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  It might be a bit corny or contrived at times, but it tugs at all the right heartstrings, and it gets you in the mood for the season.  Not to mention it has a wonderful soundtrack.

4.  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/):  This movie follows the Griswolds on their Christmas vacation.  No movie quite captures the humor, anguish, joy, and terror of hosting and spending Christmas with your family, warts and all.

3.  It’s A Wonderful Life (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038650/):  Hands down, the definitive Christmas movie.

2.  Bing Crosby’s White Christmas (http://www.amazon.com/White-Christmas-Bing-Crosby/dp/B000002QWD/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1260561256&sr=1-1):  This album is THE soundtrack of Christmas.  Bing sings the classics like only Bing can. 

1.  Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol:  The most classic of classic Christmas stories.  Adapted 100s of times for TV, the big screen, and the stage, no story captures the imagination and sentiment of December 25^th quite like this masterpiece.  A Christmas without A Christmas Carol is like…well, it’s like Christmas without Santa Claus. 

Where Butt Meets Cushion: The Zen Daddy on Meditation

Another essay by The Zen Daddy [see Contributors]

Greetings and salutations to all, and a happy Thanksgiving day! The Zen Daddy is back to talk about an important concept: not serving the cushion, but allowing the cushion to serve you.

Life is busy, whether we’re looking for a job or trying to keep one, and we can allow ourselves to get wound way too tight and let meditation slip by the wayside. The Zen Daddy himself is currently going through a round of this, compounded with some physical issues that are interrupting his usual practice. The thinking was, “I’ll start again when I can sit as I usually do,” but the physical issues have been ongoing, and space between sittings grew. A few days ago he finally made it back to the cushion. He sat down, gently rang the bell, composed himself, and unexpectedly started sobbing. The constant pressure at work from working on a high-visibility project, the recent death of a friend, and lack of practice had pulled him so far to one side that he needed centering, and that began once he sat down.

So what lesson does the Zen Daddy bring from this story? The lesson is twofold: first, meditation is for you. If you can’t physically sit in traditional pose, sit in a chair, or lie down on the floor. Anything you can do to keep that consciousness of being in the moment going is much better than doing nothing just because you can’t do it the way you want to. Second, sometimes you have to let go and let your meditation session be what it wants to be. If you’ve got a reasonably disciplined practice and emotions are overwhelming you, maybe your meditation needs to be about sitting with those emotions and observing them. We’re not meditating so we can be a slave to the machines, we’re simply stoking the transforming embers of the dharma so we can remember our Buddhahood!

Enjoy your day!

 

Almost Great, Mostly Mediocre: A Review of “Paranormal Activity”

By Cultural Analyst Jeff Koch [see Contributors]

First, a word of warning: Do not watch any trailers for Paranormal Activity if you intend to see it. They give away too many of the scares and too many of the surprises (one even shows a clip from the shocking final scene). A movie like this is dependent on the audience walking the same anxiety and tension filled path as the characters, and knowing too much about it beforehand can totally ruin the experience.

The story of how Paranormal Activity came to be is a feel-good one (you can read about it here [http://www.paranormalactivity-movie.com/about2.html]). The story of Paranormal Activity, however, is anything but. A young couple (Micah and Katie) is living together in a suburban San Diego home. As the movie opens, Micah has just bought an elaborate camera and microphone set up to record their bedroom at night, determined to get to the bottom of some strange sounds they’ve been hearing while sleeping. Katie is convinced that it is something supernatural; Micah is skeptical. Katie has called in a psychic to help them understand the situation. In the scene between Katie and the psychic, we learn that Katie has been troubled by nocturnal nuisances her entire life; and that this entity is not a ghost, but rather a demon that is haunting Katie specifically, and may have more sinister things in mind than just plain nuisance.

And that is about all that you need to know plot-wise (and about all that you should know) before you see it. The rest of the movie alternates between herky jerky handheld shots of Micah and Katie interacting during the day and before bed (the entire movie is shot from the perspective of Micah’s camera, like home movies) and a tripod camera focused on them in bed asleep at night, shot in the eerie glow of night vision. It’s these latter shots that provide the meat of the story and the bulk of the scares.

I saw this movie in the theater with 4 friends. At the movie’s conclusion, every single one of my friends said something disparaging. Other viewers were calling for their money back. The overall reaction was overwhelmingly negative. And the movie certainly leaves a lot to be desired. While the two leads are convincing and never seem to be acting, due to the nature of the movie, the dialogue is overly repetitive and fairly mundane without ever advancing character or plot. And neither of the characters is terribly likeable or very bright (Micah’s boasts that he is going to take care of his girlfriend in the face of being terrorized by a demon are particularly laughable). Most of the handheld camera scenes shot during the day are listless and seem to drag unnecessarily (and the movie clocks in at under 90 minutes). The scenes with the psychic are too expository, and he offers very little other than to let us all know that it is indeed a demon (and in a too brief, out of place later scene, to let us know that yes, the demon is indeed angry). And the plot has some major sticking points.

But perhaps the biggest issue with the movie is pacing. The movie starts out slow, especially some of the unwatchable daytime scenes. But the tension is being built very deliberately and very carefully. Every single one of the night time scenes is tense and frightening in either what is happening or the expectation of what could be happening. It takes a few nights before the first visually noticeable thing happens, and even then it’s very subtle. And this building of tension works very well, infusing every sleeping scene with a sense of dread. But they build too slowly, saving the truly frightening stuff for too long, and then throwing it all in too quickly. By the time the first shockingly scary thing happens, the movie is almost over, and there isn’t enough time to build anything truly frightening that will stick with you once you walk out of the theater.

Despite all of that, the last 15 minutes of the movie almost make up for its obvious flaws. Shot on a shoestring budget, the director was able to get some surprisingly spooky effects in there that I still can’t figure out how they did. Night 20 especially will leave you in awed terror. And the final scene is one for the horror movie ages, perfectly mixing creepiness, tension, and shock (plus a subtle homage to The Blair Witch Project, a movie it owes a lot to) into one last memorable shot (just please ignore the very last second of the movie).

Ultimately, a great horror movie should stick with you. Paranormal Activity both succeeds and fails on this count. It succeeds in that despite all of the intellectual problems with the movie, it physically gets to you. About an hour after the movie my stomach ached like I had been doing sit-ups, no doubt the cause of constantly catching my breath and worrying in anticipation of what might be coming. It fails in that there was no lasting dread, no residual fear. After watching a movie in which a couple is terrorized by a demon while they sleep, I had absolutely no worries about going home and going straight to bed.

Rating: 6.5 / 10Wait for it on DVD and watch it at home. I think the movie suffers from viewing with a large audience. It would be far more terrifying viewed in the intimacy of your home, giving a little too much familiarity to the scenes in the movie.

Recommendation:

 

Mysterious Orb Photograph: What’s Your Take?

Post by Ben Koch (see “Contributors”)

The photo below of me and an aunt was taken at a family reunion in Colorado Springs, CO in June of 2009. I didn’t see the photo until September of 2009, when my aunt sent a CD with all the reunion’s pictures on it. As I browsed through the 100-plus photos, I was taken aback by this one, as it clearly displayed a phenomena I’d read and heard about quite a bit: orbs (look toward middle of my torso, with my black vest as background).

Orb caught in a family reunion photo

Explanations range from the predictably materialistic (see the wikipedia post) to the extarodinarily fanciful. The most powerful and intriguing explorations, in my opinion, come where science meets open-minded humility. 

Klaus Heinemann, PhD, is one the the premier researchers in the field (see his book on the topic). His scientific training and disposition have teamed with his spiritual instincts to be the impetus for years of rigorous research. It might be easier to tell yourself orbs are just micrscopic dust particles refracting light just so, but when you really and openly examine the phenomena, as he has, these are the conclusions you come to (from his site):

Orbs are not explainable with conventional physics
They are emanations from intelligent life outside of the conventional physical realm
They are abundantly around us (but we must use discernment)
They have individualistic features and may have “faces”
They have different intensities (some require digital image enhancement)
They can move extremely fast ( presumably at unlimited speed )
They can follow instructions (Stereo-Photography with Orbs )
They can expand (presumably to infinite size) and contract (presumably to atomic size) extremely fast
Extreme contraction at infinite speeds allows the hypothesis that they may be instrumental in certain aspects of alternative/spiritual healing
Thought projections look similar to orbs

I am struck by the symmetry and perfect circularity of my orb. Here is a close-up:

Close up of Colorado orb

Many observers point out the mandala-like quality of the orbs. Others focus on the high occurrence of orbs and photos associated with crop circles. Virtually all who get beyond the “technological glitch” explanation have an intuitive sense that an other-dimensional intelligence is involved.

 

 

 

What is your take? Have any orb photos or experiences of your own? Have your own theory? Please share.

Spiritual AND Religious?

Post by Jeff Koch [See Contributors]

Over  the last 10 years, I’ve spent a good amount of time internet dating. It really is the perfect medium for writers to meet and scope out potential dates and partners, as the primary means of information exchange is the written word. I’m an ardent supporter of the process, and often encourage my friends to do it. Most sites will allow you to see basic physical and social information (height, eye/hair color, job, location, etc), a rundown of likes and dislikes, an open-ended about me section, and usually the answer to quirky questions meant to bring out the writer’s personality. If people use it honestly and sincerely, it can really work.

But there’s always been one question and subsequent answer (that shows up on most sites) that has always troubled me. When asked to share religion, lots of people (and most people my age) respond with spiritual but not religious. At first blush, it seems quite obvious what this answer is trying to convey about oneself: “Look, I’m a thoughtful, intelligent person that thinks and cares about ‘deep’ things, but I don’t go to church and I’m not a crazy right-wing religious nut”. But the underlying sentiment is much more complicated and even a tad sinister—the two ideas seem to have been torn asunder from each other. Spirituality is no longer seen as domain of religion, and in fact is seen as something entirely separate. And conversely, religion is oftentimes no longer seen as a place of spiritual exploration and understanding.

One of the problems I have with this is that the word spiritual and all of its possible meanings and connotations is so open-ended, broad, and ambiguous, that it can really lose all meaning. At this point it just becomes short hand, not much different than the word cool. It can also be used as a lazy short cut, a way to achieve a certain level of depth without having to do any actual work, because what does spirituality really require besides thinking? And no one can ever question if one thinks or not. I’m certainly not saying that spiritual people are lazy or clueless; I’m merely suggesting that anybody anywhere can say that they are spiritual without having that assertion questioned in any way, because there is no litmus test for spirituality.

So then how would we define spiritual? The dictionary says this . Notice that several entries mention religion. But the main thing I take away from the definition is that spiritual consists of an interest in the soul, the non-physical, and how we understand ourselves and the things that we can only feel implicitly. It doesn’t necessarily imply a certain belief in anything, but an attempt to define those beliefs for one’s self. Ultimately, it is how we choose to relate to ourselves and both the physical and non-physical world around us.

Talking about religion (and especially Christianity, the predominant religion in America, and the religion I will be using in this essay) is a much trickier endeavor. Just the word religion is so socially and politically charged these days, that it’s hard to discuss it rationally and it’s even harder to agree on exactly what it means or what it is. I’m not here to preach, and I’m not here to have a heated political discussion. I only hope that we can come to some sort of basic understanding about what religion is, at the very least, trying to be.

I was spoiled with religion. My father is a Lutheran Minister; he’s also a kind, open, loving man. I grew up in a religious household that was also kind, open, and loving. I then went to University and studied religion from one of the sharpest and brightest minds in the field of Religious Studies. All the while, I was allowed the freedom to explore it and understand it on my own terms. So I understand that I come at religion from a different place than most.

But what is religion really trying to do? Why do people seek it out? Ultimately, I think that religion does two things: One, it helps us understand and define our Universe and our place in it. Second, it guides us in our interactions with ourselves and the world. Or, God and The Golden Rule.

This all sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Isn’t this really what spiritual people are doing, too, trying to understand the world within and the world without and figuring out how to relate to both worlds? But many spiritual people don’t believe in God. True, but they believe in something that they can’t see and can’t fully understand. They believe in an existence of a non-physical world and power or energy, something that binds us all. Religious people call it God. Spiritual people might not. That doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to understand the same thing.

And isn’t the Golden Rule (do unto others as you’d have done unto yourself) really just a way of figuring out how to relate to others vis-à-vis yourself? Spirituality is concerned with the self and figuring out how to understand and relate to it. Religion is concerned with taking that understanding and applying it to the rest of the world. Taking both to their logical ends comes up with the same conclusion: Be a good person.

Ultimately, I think we are talking about 2 sides of the same coin here. One can certainly be spiritual without being religious, and vice versa, but they are not mutually exclusive. As long as a person is curious, open-minded, and honest, both can offer fulfillment and benefit. I would encourage spiritual people to not dismiss religion out of hand, and to explore the teachings and the insights it might have to offer in your personal quest for understanding. And I would encourage religious people to never lose sight of the personal journey of spiritual growth that is inherent in all religions. In the end, whether we are spiritual, religious, or both, we are all looking for the same thing: a way to understand our mysterious world and to live in it harmoniously with ourselves and others.