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Mike Sosteric

Athabasca University, Sociology, Faculty Member

Athabasca University, Social Sciences, Faculty Member

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I'm a sociologist with degrees in psychology and sociology. I have twenty-five years of experience in delivering education "at a distance" (now virtual/online education). For the past twenty years or so I've been working on developing a global curriculum focussed on our human needs and not the needs of a small accumulating class. I'm just starting to put it all together now.

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Darryl Joiner II

University of Chester

Hengameh karimi

Lucia Brajkovic

The University of Georgia

Research Triangle Institute International

James Tetteh Ademtsu

Takoradi Polytechnic

Baasanjav Tserendagva

University of the Humanities, Mongolia

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Videos by Mike Sosteric

So you think you know what money is?

173 views

Pathfinder Educational Model (PEM) by Mike Sosteric

1. The Pathfinder Model - K12 Educational Proposal

Avatar.GLOBAL, 2025

Part one of a draft proposal for the "Pathfinder Educational Model,'" a new global, decentralized... more

3. The Pathfinder Educational Model - Administrative Structure and Governance

AVTR.Global, 2025

The Pathfinder Educational model governance and administrative structure. Decentralized curriculu... more

LP Key Documents by Mike Sosteric

LP Introductory Guide by Mike Sosteric

How to Save the World - A call and a guide to transformative change

Lightning Path, 2024

Step One: Paradigmatic Change Step Two: Global Education Step Three: Actual Change

What is the SpiritWiki

The SpiritWiki is an integral component of the Lightning Path, serving as both a pedagogical to... more The SpiritWiki is an integral component of the Lightning Path, serving as both a pedagogical tool and an empirical resource. Designed to be an accessible and comprehensive repository of knowledge, the SpiritWiki consolidates and interlinks a wide array of concepts related to human development, healing, and spiritual connection.

What is Pathfinder (TM)

Lightning Path, 2024

Pathfinder™ is an AI-based digital mentor grounded in the principles of the Lightning Path (LP), ... more Pathfinder™ is an AI-based digital mentor grounded in the principles of the Lightning Path (LP), providing guidance on healing, connection, and transformation. It helps individuals implement LP theory and practices to create a healthy, connected life, drawing on the SpiritWiki for accurate information. Core principles include healing from Toxic Socialization, reconnecting the Bodily Ego and Spiritual Ego, and empowering users through education. Pathfinder integrates scientific and spiritual perspectives and adheres to LP's ethical principles, promoting individual autonomy, privacy, inclusion, safety, and honesty.

Aldous Huxley on the Need for a New Education System

Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was a renowned British author, philosopher, and visionary thinker whose... more Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was a renowned British author, philosopher, and visionary thinker whose works spanned literature, psychology, mysticism, and human development. Famous for his novel Brave New World, Huxley also delved deeply into questions of human potential and consciousness, particularly in his later years. He became increasingly interested in mysticism, the nature of human experience, and how education and societal structures could be transformed to foster deeper human connection and spiritual awakening.

LP Levels of Study

Lightning Path, 2024

An overview of the four levels of study planned for the LP.

READING What is Eupsychia

Lightning Path, 2024

In this reading, we look at the transcript of an interview entitled "Eusychia: The Good Society."... more In this reading, we look at the transcript of an interview entitled "Eusychia: The Good Society." In this fascinating and forward-thinking discussion, famously influential psychologist Abraham Maslow explores the concept of Eupsychia, a term he coined to describe an ideal society built on psychological health, mutual respect, and the fulfillment of human potential.

LP Ethics Statement

Lightning Path

LP Ethics Statement

LP Foundations by Mike Sosteric

LP Foundations/Institutions by Mike Sosteric

Introduction to Institutions

Welcome to the Institutions Unit of the Lightning Path Curriculum! This unit is designed to help ... more Welcome to the Institutions Unit of the Lightning Path Curriculum! This unit is designed to help you, as an individual looking to heal and connect, or as homeschooling parent or classroom teacher, introduce and learn about the concept of institutions in a clear and engaging way. Whether you’re new to the Lightning Path (LP) curriculum or just looking for easy-to-incorporate lessons, this unit will give you everything you need to start teaching about the fundamental role institutions play in our society.

LP Intermediate/On Violence by Mike Sosteric

LP Advanced/Writing New Stories (sample) by Mike Sosteric

COURSE INTRODUCTION Writing New Stories

Introduction to the course "The Colonizers View of the World" and advanced course that explores t... more Introduction to the course "The Colonizers View of the World" and advanced course that explores the sociology and mechanics of storytelling, focusing on how stories arise from narratives built upon archetypes, often shaped with varying intentions. You will gain a theoretical foundation to understand the deep structure of stories, narratives, and master narratives, empowering you to transform these frameworks and create new stories.

READING: A Brief Introduction to Archetypes and Creation Templates

This unit commentary provides an introduction to the article, "A Brief Introduction to Archetypes... more

A brief introduction to archetypes and creation templates

This article explores the role of archetypes—fundamental constructs that provide answers to exist... more This article explores the role of archetypes—fundamental constructs that provide answers to existential questions—in shaping human thought, behavior, and societal structures. Archetypes, such as the pervasive "good versus evil" dichotomy, organize perceptions, guide actions, and influence self-image. The author introduces creation templates as deliberate collections of archetypes (e.g., the Western tarot) designed to advance specific ideological or systemic goals, often perpetuating hierarchies like capitalism. Critiquing these templates as contributors to global crises, the article advocates for replacing toxic frameworks with emancipatory alternatives, such as the Triumph of Spirit Archetype System (TOSAS), to foster collective well-being and address ecological, social, and existential challenges. Emphasizing the human-made nature of archetypes, the work calls for conscious reconfiguration of cultural narratives to enable societal transformation.

READING A Short Sociology of Archetypes

An introduction to the article "A Short Sociology of Archetypes"

A Short Sociology of Archetypes

This paper presents a sociological exploration of archetypes, challenging their traditional psych... more This paper presents a sociological exploration of archetypes, challenging their traditional psychological and spiritual framing by examining their role in perpetuating power structures. Drawing on Carl Jung’s foundational theories, the author argues that archetypes—collective symbols addressing existential questions like purpose, identity, and morality—are not neutral or universal but are co-opted and manipulated by societal elites to reinforce ideological control. Through historical and cultural case studies, including Zoroastrianism, Tarot, and modern media (e.g., Star Wars, The Matrix), the analysis demonstrates how archetypal narratives are shaped by institutions such as religious hierarchies, Freemasonry, and the capitalist culture industry to serve political and economic agendas. The paper critiques the disenchantment of science and advocates for reimagining archetypes through egalitarian, humanistic, and ecological frameworks. It proposes a threefold path forward: deconstructing elite-dominated archetypes, creating transformative narratives, and leveraging democratized platforms like the internet to disseminate alternatives. By bridging sociology, spirituality, and critical theory, the work calls for reclaiming archetypes as tools for liberation rather than domination.

LP Psychological Theory by Mike Sosteric

Eupsychian Theory I: Reclaiming Maslow and Rejecting The Pyramid - The Seven Essential Needs

Lightning Path Institute, 2023

In 1943, Abraham Maslow presented a now widely accepted theory of human motivation. This theory w... more In 1943, Abraham Maslow presented a now widely accepted theory of human motivation. This theory was shortly represented by a now iconic Pyramid of Needs. Building upon the work of Abraham Maslow, this article rejects the pyramid of needs as an ideologically rooted, sanitized, and stripped-down version of Maslow’s nascent Eupsychian Theory. Instead, the article proposes a Circle of Seven Essential needs as the core of a sophisticated and integrative humanistic/transpersonal Euspychian theory of human development and human potential, a theory that Maslow was in the process of developing before his untimely death. As argued in the article, the Circle of Seven Essential Needs encourages us to develop a broad, holistic, and integrative view of human nature, human development and the role of human society more in line with Maslow’s thinking on human development and human potential.

It Takes a Village: Advancing Attachment Theory and Recovering the Roots of Human Health with the Circle of Seven Essential Needs

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, an... more Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, and even adult and family dysfunction. However, attachment theory, which has not changed significantly since its inception, is a reductive theory that ignores a wider range of human needs and has caused significant hardship and trauma. The limitations of this model, particularly when applied outside the Eurocentric and ethnocentric frames of mainstream psychology, are well known. In this article, we suggest it is time to replace the reductive theory of needs that underpins AT with a comprehensive theory, one that could help us develop a less ideological, healthier, and more empirically informed approach to socialization and social care; one that might help us answer Abraham Maslow’s Eupsychian question which is how to build a society capable of actuating the full potential of all its citizens. The answer is simply this: the only way to actualize full human potential is to move the locus of human health and full development away from a single female, or even a single nuclear family, to a village, a community, and a society that understands humanity’s complex constellation of needs and that is consequently and exclusively geared towards meeting those needs.

Mystical experience and global revolution

Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2018

Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and s... more Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and spirituality have been preemptively rejected from serious consideration by most scholars, critical sociologists included. The assumption seems to always be that religion is either a reactionary response to difficult realities or a mere illusion, delusion, or epiphenomenon of brain/social function. This paper looks at the “authentic core” of religious institutions, religious experience, and, using biographical examples from the literature, argues that far from being a reactionary holdout of our primitive past, religion and spirituality are, in fact, essentially revolutionary in content. It is suggested that, in the context of a growing global ecological, political, and economic crises, the revolutionary core of religion and spirituality has to be examined, recovered, and even embraced as part of any local or global strategy of transformation.

What is Religion?

Our collective understanding of religion and human spirituality is inadequate, caricatured, and c... more Our collective understanding of religion and human spirituality is inadequate, caricatured, and colonial. Attempts to clearly define religion and understand human spirituality have been hamstrung by our misplaced desire to simplify the phenomenon and our racist, ethnocentric, Eurocentric, and colonial derived attempts to assert European superiority at the expense of a nuanced and empirically grounded examination of progressive, authentic, and indigenous spiritual systems. This booklet attempts to get past all that by providing a definition of religion that adequately captures the phenomenon's complexity, that stimulates thought and research, and that sensitizes us to the profound manipulation, colonization, and destruction of human spirituality by elites, and how we have all participated in their colonization and diminishment.

So you think you know what money is?

173 views

1. The Pathfinder Model - K12 Educational Proposal

Avatar.GLOBAL, 2025

Part one of a draft proposal for the "Pathfinder Educational Model,'" a new global, decentralized... more

3. The Pathfinder Educational Model - Administrative Structure and Governance

AVTR.Global, 2025

The Pathfinder Educational model governance and administrative structure. Decentralized curriculu... more

How to Save the World - A call and a guide to transformative change

Lightning Path, 2024

Step One: Paradigmatic Change Step Two: Global Education Step Three: Actual Change

What is the SpiritWiki

The SpiritWiki is an integral component of the Lightning Path, serving as both a pedagogical to... more The SpiritWiki is an integral component of the Lightning Path, serving as both a pedagogical tool and an empirical resource. Designed to be an accessible and comprehensive repository of knowledge, the SpiritWiki consolidates and interlinks a wide array of concepts related to human development, healing, and spiritual connection.

What is Pathfinder (TM)

Lightning Path, 2024

Pathfinder™ is an AI-based digital mentor grounded in the principles of the Lightning Path (LP), ... more Pathfinder™ is an AI-based digital mentor grounded in the principles of the Lightning Path (LP), providing guidance on healing, connection, and transformation. It helps individuals implement LP theory and practices to create a healthy, connected life, drawing on the SpiritWiki for accurate information. Core principles include healing from Toxic Socialization, reconnecting the Bodily Ego and Spiritual Ego, and empowering users through education. Pathfinder integrates scientific and spiritual perspectives and adheres to LP's ethical principles, promoting individual autonomy, privacy, inclusion, safety, and honesty.

Aldous Huxley on the Need for a New Education System

Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was a renowned British author, philosopher, and visionary thinker whose... more Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) was a renowned British author, philosopher, and visionary thinker whose works spanned literature, psychology, mysticism, and human development. Famous for his novel Brave New World, Huxley also delved deeply into questions of human potential and consciousness, particularly in his later years. He became increasingly interested in mysticism, the nature of human experience, and how education and societal structures could be transformed to foster deeper human connection and spiritual awakening.

LP Levels of Study

Lightning Path, 2024

An overview of the four levels of study planned for the LP.

READING What is Eupsychia

Lightning Path, 2024

In this reading, we look at the transcript of an interview entitled "Eusychia: The Good Society."... more In this reading, we look at the transcript of an interview entitled "Eusychia: The Good Society." In this fascinating and forward-thinking discussion, famously influential psychologist Abraham Maslow explores the concept of Eupsychia, a term he coined to describe an ideal society built on psychological health, mutual respect, and the fulfillment of human potential.

LP Ethics Statement

Lightning Path

LP Ethics Statement

Introduction to Institutions

Welcome to the Institutions Unit of the Lightning Path Curriculum! This unit is designed to help ... more Welcome to the Institutions Unit of the Lightning Path Curriculum! This unit is designed to help you, as an individual looking to heal and connect, or as homeschooling parent or classroom teacher, introduce and learn about the concept of institutions in a clear and engaging way. Whether you’re new to the Lightning Path (LP) curriculum or just looking for easy-to-incorporate lessons, this unit will give you everything you need to start teaching about the fundamental role institutions play in our society.

COURSE INTRODUCTION Writing New Stories

Introduction to the course "The Colonizers View of the World" and advanced course that explores t... more Introduction to the course "The Colonizers View of the World" and advanced course that explores the sociology and mechanics of storytelling, focusing on how stories arise from narratives built upon archetypes, often shaped with varying intentions. You will gain a theoretical foundation to understand the deep structure of stories, narratives, and master narratives, empowering you to transform these frameworks and create new stories.

READING: A Brief Introduction to Archetypes and Creation Templates

This unit commentary provides an introduction to the article, "A Brief Introduction to Archetypes... more

A brief introduction to archetypes and creation templates

This article explores the role of archetypes—fundamental constructs that provide answers to exist... more This article explores the role of archetypes—fundamental constructs that provide answers to existential questions—in shaping human thought, behavior, and societal structures. Archetypes, such as the pervasive "good versus evil" dichotomy, organize perceptions, guide actions, and influence self-image. The author introduces creation templates as deliberate collections of archetypes (e.g., the Western tarot) designed to advance specific ideological or systemic goals, often perpetuating hierarchies like capitalism. Critiquing these templates as contributors to global crises, the article advocates for replacing toxic frameworks with emancipatory alternatives, such as the Triumph of Spirit Archetype System (TOSAS), to foster collective well-being and address ecological, social, and existential challenges. Emphasizing the human-made nature of archetypes, the work calls for conscious reconfiguration of cultural narratives to enable societal transformation.

READING A Short Sociology of Archetypes

An introduction to the article "A Short Sociology of Archetypes"

A Short Sociology of Archetypes

This paper presents a sociological exploration of archetypes, challenging their traditional psych... more This paper presents a sociological exploration of archetypes, challenging their traditional psychological and spiritual framing by examining their role in perpetuating power structures. Drawing on Carl Jung’s foundational theories, the author argues that archetypes—collective symbols addressing existential questions like purpose, identity, and morality—are not neutral or universal but are co-opted and manipulated by societal elites to reinforce ideological control. Through historical and cultural case studies, including Zoroastrianism, Tarot, and modern media (e.g., Star Wars, The Matrix), the analysis demonstrates how archetypal narratives are shaped by institutions such as religious hierarchies, Freemasonry, and the capitalist culture industry to serve political and economic agendas. The paper critiques the disenchantment of science and advocates for reimagining archetypes through egalitarian, humanistic, and ecological frameworks. It proposes a threefold path forward: deconstructing elite-dominated archetypes, creating transformative narratives, and leveraging democratized platforms like the internet to disseminate alternatives. By bridging sociology, spirituality, and critical theory, the work calls for reclaiming archetypes as tools for liberation rather than domination.

Eupsychian Theory I: Reclaiming Maslow and Rejecting The Pyramid - The Seven Essential Needs

Lightning Path Institute, 2023

In 1943, Abraham Maslow presented a now widely accepted theory of human motivation. This theory w... more In 1943, Abraham Maslow presented a now widely accepted theory of human motivation. This theory was shortly represented by a now iconic Pyramid of Needs. Building upon the work of Abraham Maslow, this article rejects the pyramid of needs as an ideologically rooted, sanitized, and stripped-down version of Maslow’s nascent Eupsychian Theory. Instead, the article proposes a Circle of Seven Essential needs as the core of a sophisticated and integrative humanistic/transpersonal Euspychian theory of human development and human potential, a theory that Maslow was in the process of developing before his untimely death. As argued in the article, the Circle of Seven Essential Needs encourages us to develop a broad, holistic, and integrative view of human nature, human development and the role of human society more in line with Maslow’s thinking on human development and human potential.

It Takes a Village: Advancing Attachment Theory and Recovering the Roots of Human Health with the Circle of Seven Essential Needs

Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, an... more Bowlby’s Attachment Theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, and even adult and family dysfunction. However, attachment theory, which has not changed significantly since its inception, is a reductive theory that ignores a wider range of human needs and has caused significant hardship and trauma. The limitations of this model, particularly when applied outside the Eurocentric and ethnocentric frames of mainstream psychology, are well known. In this article, we suggest it is time to replace the reductive theory of needs that underpins AT with a comprehensive theory, one that could help us develop a less ideological, healthier, and more empirically informed approach to socialization and social care; one that might help us answer Abraham Maslow’s Eupsychian question which is how to build a society capable of actuating the full potential of all its citizens. The answer is simply this: the only way to actualize full human potential is to move the locus of human health and full development away from a single female, or even a single nuclear family, to a village, a community, and a society that understands humanity’s complex constellation of needs and that is consequently and exclusively geared towards meeting those needs.

Mystical experience and global revolution

Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2018

Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and s... more Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and spirituality have been preemptively rejected from serious consideration by most scholars, critical sociologists included. The assumption seems to always be that religion is either a reactionary response to difficult realities or a mere illusion, delusion, or epiphenomenon of brain/social function. This paper looks at the “authentic core” of religious institutions, religious experience, and, using biographical examples from the literature, argues that far from being a reactionary holdout of our primitive past, religion and spirituality are, in fact, essentially revolutionary in content. It is suggested that, in the context of a growing global ecological, political, and economic crises, the revolutionary core of religion and spirituality has to be examined, recovered, and even embraced as part of any local or global strategy of transformation.

What is Religion?

Our collective understanding of religion and human spirituality is inadequate, caricatured, and c... more Our collective understanding of religion and human spirituality is inadequate, caricatured, and colonial. Attempts to clearly define religion and understand human spirituality have been hamstrung by our misplaced desire to simplify the phenomenon and our racist, ethnocentric, Eurocentric, and colonial derived attempts to assert European superiority at the expense of a nuanced and empirically grounded examination of progressive, authentic, and indigenous spiritual systems. This booklet attempts to get past all that by providing a definition of religion that adequately captures the phenomenon's complexity, that stimulates thought and research, and that sensitizes us to the profound manipulation, colonization, and destruction of human spirituality by elites, and how we have all participated in their colonization and diminishment.

What is Socialization?

A student introduction to the sociological concept "socialization."

Mysticism, Consciousness, Death

Drawing on the mystical experiences of the author, this paper examines death. After making severa... more Drawing on the mystical experiences of the author, this paper examines death. After making several observations about his own mystical experience, the author explores the implications of his experience for both theories of consciousness and the ultimate question of death. He concludes, based on the observable facts of his experiences, that not only is consciousness far more varied and complex than most might admit, but that in order to account for observations in his home laboratory, it must survive the death of the physical vehicle.

The Science of Ascension: A Neurologically Grounded Theory of Mystical/Spiritual Experience

After exploring our current psychological and sociological understanding of mystical experience, ... more After exploring our current psychological and sociological understanding of mystical experience, this article attempts to provide a sophisticated and neurologically grounded theory of what most call mystical experience, but what the author simply calls a connection experience or connection event. The author traces connection events to the neurological suppression of the Default Mode Network (DMN). Following identification of the DMN as the “seat” of connection experience, the author explores measures (the Q-Scale) of mystical experience, suggests ways to use of “Q” as a both a dependent and independent variable, and suggests several avenues of further research. During the course of the paper the author introduces several concepts and ideas designed to facilitate a syncretic dialog between disciplines and spiritual traditions.

Born Self-Actualized / Born Healthy and Whole

There is a very common conception in the various cultures of this world that humans and human sou... more There is a very common conception in the various cultures of this world that humans and human souls start out infantile, weak, and undeveloped, and that over time we will grow, develop, self actualize, get rich, attain enlightenment, and maybe even go to heaven-if we're good. But there's another way to see things, and that is that we are born healthy and whole at birth, and it is society, particularly European society, that messes that up.

The Problem with "Modern" Psychology

The Lightning Path, 2024

A short piece on bringing psychology into the 21st century

Connection 100 -An Auto-ethnography of my (Mystical) Connection Experiences

Religions, 2022

This paper provides an autoethnographic accounting and analysis of my own mystical experiences, c... more This paper provides an autoethnographic accounting and analysis of my own mystical experiences, called connection experiences in this paper. This account, which is structured around a description of my early experiences, attempts to weave together psychological, sociological, historical, and methodological themes into a coherent contribution that advances our understanding of connection experience. The paper includes an explication of the four stages of the research project that developed as a consequence of these experiences as well as an examination of the processes, tools (i.e., MediWiki), and emotional, psychological, professional, and scholarly challenges of collecting and analyzing the autoethnographic data of mystical experiences. The denouement of the paper is the presentation of a conceptual schema aimed at overcoming nomenclature confusion and providing a basis for description, analysis, and discussion of connection and connection experiences. The utility of the schema is demonstrated when it is used to provide a clear overview of my own connection experiences, and the connection experiences of others. In order to facilitate critical discussion of the conceptual framework, a glossary of terms developed and presented in this paper is provided at the end.

Gateway to Eden: Darwin, Lamarck, and the Ascent of Humanity Mike Sosteric

Traditionally, scientists understand the genetics and evolution as a Darwinian affair that spans ... more Traditionally, scientists understand the genetics and evolution as a Darwinian affair that spans hundreds of generations and thousands of millenia. We are who we are, as humans, because of our ancient, simian past. More recent research, however, is uncovering epigenetic mechanisms of evolution that alter genetic expressions in as little as one generation, therefore caling into question many Darwinian and Social-Darwinian assumptions about human nature and human evolution. As awareness of these new Lamarckian mechanisms spread, it will force a rethinking of key positions on evolution, on eugenics, on capitalism, and on how to extricate ourselves from the unfolding planetary debacle.

Response to Saad: The Sociology of Spirituality

Academia Letters, 2022

We are told by the wise that the earth plane…is a kind of school where human beings are invited t... more We are told by the wise that the earth plane…is a kind of school where human beings are invited to learn that they are spiritual beings with an inherited propensity for enlightenment as strong as the urge of plant leaves to seek the sun. Here, in the spiritual school of the material world, humans have the opportunity to realize the sun of their true self. The world provides a learning space, a playground, wherein the seeker is guided through stages of an interior reconfiguration of energy.(Yastion, 2009)

" Imaginal research for unlearning mastery Divination with tarot as a decolonizing methodology," NOT. Authentic paths towards decolonization.

by Mike Sosteric, Gina Ratkovic, and Tristan Sosteric

A recent article in Anthropology of Consciousness entitled “Imaginal research for unlearning mast... more A recent article in Anthropology of Consciousness entitled “Imaginal research for unlearning mastery: Divination with tarot as a decolonizing methodology” argues that the Western Tarot may be a useful tool to facilitate decolonization despite (or perhaps in spite) of the colonial and imperial imprints of the accumulating class. This response points out the Tarot is in fact a tool developed by the accumulating class, designed specifically to facilitate the imposition of elite master narratives. This letter calls into question the appropriateness and effectiveness of using the Tarot as a tool for decolonization.

A case-study evaluation of the "Copenhagen Music Program" for psilocybin-assisted therapy.

by Mike Sosteric and Gina Ratkovic

In the journal Frontiers in Psychology, authors Messel et al. (2022, p. 1) provide a curated list... more In the journal Frontiers in Psychology, authors Messel et al. (2022, p. 1) provide a curated list, the "Copenhagen Music Program for Psilocybin" of music "tailored to the intensity profile of a medium/to high dose psilocybin" session. We test their music program with an experienced Indigenous therapist/psychonaut on a 3.5 gram psilocybin journey. Based on comments provided by the Indigenous therapist, we find the program contains musical choices that evoke specific colonial and religious contexts. We also find the program psychologically and emotionally coercive, meaning it is intended to force the individual on a specific experiential pathway. We conclude the program is not suitable for Indigenous travellers, question the author's suggestion that travellers should be "encouraged" to stay with music they do not like, and suggest that curation of a wider variety of playlists, and music more in line with traditional shamanic practices might be a better approach to psychedelic curation.

Call for Papers - Decolonizing the Study of Religion and Spirituality

Religions

When scholars consider religion, spirituality, and spiritual narratives, they often consider only... more When scholars consider religion, spirituality, and spiritual narratives, they often consider only the colonized and colonizing versions. Zoroastrianism, for example, was originally formulated at the grassroots by the anti-elite mystic Zoroaster. It was eventually colonized by Persian emperor Ardashir (180-242 AD) to control the spiritual narrative and facilitate imperial domination (Boyce, 1996). They violently erased all narrative competition and today we know only their version. Or consider Catholicism, an institution that can be traced back to when Roman Emperor Constantine took control of a popular and revolutionary (Sosteric, 2020) Christianity. Today, that form remains the dominant and most widely recognized form in the Latin West. This special issue seeks to explore the colonization of spirituality. We seek case studies that examine the social class roots of elite religious institutions, as well as strategies used by elites to control spiritual narratives. Also for case studies of resistance to the spiritual hegemony of the elites as well as examples of the potential for recovering or creating authentic alternatives to the status quo's spirituality.

We welcome and encourage submissions from Indigenous scholars and elders.

It takes a village

by Gina Ratkovic and Mike Sosteric

Aotearoa New Zealand Social Work, May 17, 2022

INTRODUCTION: Bowlby's attachment theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, ... more INTRODUCTION: Bowlby's attachment theory (AT) remains a popular way to understand infant, child, adolescent, and even adult and family dysfunction. However, attachment theory, which has not changed significantly since its inception, is a reductive theory that ignores a wider range of human needs and has caused significant hardship and trauma. The limitations of this model, particularly when applied outside the Eurocentric and ethnocentric frames of mainstream psychology, are well known. APPROACH: In this article, we suggest it is time to replace the reductive theory of needs that underpins AT with a comprehensive theory, one that could help us develop a less ideological, healthier, and more empirically informed approach to socialisation and social care; one that might help us answer Abraham Maslow's eupsychian question which is how to build a society capable of actuating the full potential of all its citizens. CONCLUSIONS: The answer is simply this: the only way to actualise full human potential is to move the locus of human health and full development away from a single female, or even a single nuclear family, to a village, a community, and a society that understands humanity's complex constellation of needs and that is consequently and exclusively geared towards meeting those needs.

Rocket Scientists' Guide to Money and the Economy

What is money? What is an economy? Why is money so addictive? What is accumulation? What is capi... more What is money? What is an economy? Why is money so addictive? What is accumulation? What is capitalism? What are the problems caused by capitalist accumulation. These are all question examined in this introductory overview of money, the economy, and the global financial system.

This work is suitable for introductory and even advanced courses where clarity and precision vis a vis the economic realities of this planet are a pedagogical goal.

For best effect, use the accompanying video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opwUrGVc8dA

Version 1.11
Added materials on money addiction,
Converted document to LibreOffice,
Cleaned up citations.
Formatted 8.5 by 11 to facilitate printing

To support the author, https://amzn.to/2U2qPbG

Script: Lightning Path 100 -Orientation to the Lightning Path

This document serves as the introduction to the Lightning Path (LP). As precise as I can be in th... more This document serves as the introduction to the Lightning Path (LP). As precise as I can be in this moment, the Lightning Path is a system of Human Development designed to provide, if not a wholly new, at least a modernized, clarified, and decolonized view of human beings, what it means to be human, what it means to be healthy, what kind of environment we need to provide in order that our children might grow up healthy, why we’re all, to one degree or another, sick and disconnected, and what we need to do to return ourselves to full health and full connection.

Script: LP 135 - An Introduction to Wrong Thought

This course gently introduces you to the LP concept of wrong thought. The course starts with a de... more

Big questions, existential narratives, and you. Common and not-so-common answers to the big question “Who am I?”

Existential narratives on the planet, narratives which answer big questions like “Who am I?” or “... more Existential narratives on the planet, narratives which answer big questions like “Who am I?” or “Why am I here?” are limited and simple. In general, there are only two mainstream narratives, a religious one and a scientific one. The narratives are built up from answers to our basic big questions, like “who am I” or “why am I here.” For example, in answering the question "Who am I?" one can offer the church answer, which is that you are a fallen angel/reject from the garden here to redeem yourself, learn lessons and pay karma. This answer forms the basis of a larger narrative which we might call the Fool’s Narrative. On the other hand, one can offer the science answer, which is that you are an evolving primate here to struggle and survive. This answer forms the basis of the Evolving Primate Narrative). Finally, a third answer, offered by mystics, is also reviewed.

About to Fall (mantic poem)

A poem about our times

Lightning Path, 2024

A poem about higher love

A poem about the things I see

A Prayer for Healing (poem)

What the title says...

Full Divine.docx

Mantic poetry is a genre of poetry focused on the mystical, the prophetic, or the visionary. The ... more Mantic poetry is a genre of poetry focused on the mystical, the prophetic, or the visionary. The term "mantic" comes from the Greek word "mantikos," which means prophetic or oracular. This type of poetry often deals with themes of divination, prophecy, and spiritual or mystical experiences. It may explore the realms of the supernatural, the future, or the hidden aspects of reality.

If it wasn't for

This poem is about what the world would be like " if it wasn't for… "

A poem about the lies we tell to maintain illusions.

Script: Three Interesting Things Einstein Said About God and Religion

What did Einstein really say about religion? It's probably not what you think.

Allegory of the Dream

Lightning Strike, 2023

The "Allegory of the Dream" by Mike Sosteric is a metaphorical story that illustrates human denia... more

Allegory of the Blindfold (short)

Allegory of the Room

Lightning Path, 2023

The Allegory of the Room explores themes of awareness, enlightenment, change, adaptability, fear,... more The Allegory of the Room explores themes of awareness, enlightenment, change, adaptability, fear, and cooperation. The text uses the metaphor of a cold room and personal heaters to represent the human tendency to resist change and the potential that lies within each person to transform their circumstances.

A Sociology of Tarot

Canadian Journal of Sociology, 2014

This article attempts to establish a sociology of the occult in general, and a sociology of the W... more This article attempts to establish a sociology of the occult in general, and a sociology of the Western tarot in particular. The tarot is a deck of 78 cards invented in Italy in the fifteenth century. From humble beginnings as a device for gaming or gambling, the tarot became invested with occult, mystical, divine, spiritual, and even psychological significance. This investing became part of a larger strategy of discipline and indoctrination to ease the transition from preindustrial structures of power and authority to industrial and bureaucratic structures. That tarot, associated as it was with the emergence of elite Freemasonry, helped provide new ideologies of power and ways of existing within new tightly structured, bureaucratic organizations.

What is Religion

A simple, sociologically informed definition of religion. Religion is an institution set up to me... more

Summary of "Religion Matters (And Doesn't Go Away When Sociologists Ignore It) " by

Sociological Forum, 2024

"Religion Matters" is an article that discusses a rather serious problem in the discipline of soc... more "Religion Matters" is an article that discusses a rather serious problem in the discipline of sociology, which is an unacceptable and irrational bias and fear of religion. Samuel L. Perry (Perry, 2023) argues that sociologists have neglected the study of religion despite its significant role in social behavior. This neglect is due not only to a general lack of interest among sociologists, the most favourable view, but also to more serious, even pathological fear-based biases. Perry calls for a reprioritization of religion within the field of sociology to provide a more comprehensive understanding of social life.

Religion Does Matter (But It's Only Half the Story

In the article "Religion Matters," Samuel Perry acknowledges sociological neglect of religion, ci... more In the article "Religion Matters," Samuel Perry acknowledges sociological neglect of religion, citing several reasons for this neglect. While we agree that religion has been neglected and that it is high-time to take a closer look; we also argue that in addition to embracing a study of religion, sociologists also need to embrace a study of mysticism and "mystical experience," or as we prefer to call it, connection experience.

Rethinking the Origins and Purpose of Religion: Jesus, Constantine, and the Containment of Global Revolution

Athens Journal of Social Sciences, 2022

For sociologists, Jesus Christ and the associated Catholic Church are generally seen are regressi... more For sociologists, Jesus Christ and the associated Catholic Church are generally seen are regressive, conservative, and authoritarian. For this reason, Sociologists avoid reading the Bible as a textual research source. Overcoming sociological resistance, however, and examining the Christian New Testament reveals a story much different than most sociologists might expect. While the Church may certainly be conservative, regressive, authoritarian, even predatorial, Jesus Christ and his apostles were not. Narrative analysis of Christian gospels reveals not a gentle shepherd of sheeple or a reactionary faith-based leader, but a revolutionary Christ that is neither conservative, gentle, nor passive—an impassioned and committed revolutionary set on progressive social change and fundamental revision of elite power structures.

From Zoroaster to Star Wars, Jesus to Marx: The Art, Science and Technology of Human Manipulation

Athens Journal of Philosophy, 2017

Superficially, it appears that humans enjoy a wide variety of spiritual and religious traditions.... more Superficially, it appears that humans enjoy a wide variety of spiritual and religious traditions. In fact, the vast majority of human belief systems are rooted in the same ancient Persian soil. This article explores the ancient roots of our “modern” secular and spiritual beliefs, demonstrates their ideological character, briefly examines the emotional, psychological, and spiritual toll, and outlines a course of research for those interested in bringing additional sophistication and depth to the sociological, psychological, historical, and political study of human spirituality and human religion. The paper introduces several terms into the lexicon, including Symbol Factories, Ideological Institutions, and Toxic Socialization. (major revision)

Mystical Experience and Global Revolution

Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and s... more Since Marx first declared religion to be the opiate of the masses, institutions of religion and spirituality have often been resisted by scholars. The assumption of many seems to always be that religion is either a reactionary response to difficult realities or a mere illusion, delusion, or epiphenomenon of brain/social function. This paper looks at the "authentic core" of religious institutions, religious/mystical experience, and, using biographical examples from the literature, argues that far from being a reactionary holdout of our primitive past, human spirituality is, in fact, essentially revolutionary. It is suggested that, in the context of a growing global ecological, political, and economic crises, the revolutionary authentic core of religion and spirituality has to be examined, recovered, and even embraced as part of any local or global strategy of transformation.

A Sociology of Tarot

This article attempts to establish a sociology of the occult in general, and a sociology of the W... more This article attempts to establish a sociology of the occult in general, and a sociology of the Western tarot in particular. The tarot is a deck of 78 cards invented in Italy in the fifteenth century. From humble beginnings as a device for gaming or gambling, the tarot became invested with occult, mystical, divine, spiritual, and even psychological significance. This investing became part of a larger strategy of discipline and indoctrination to ease the transition from pre-industrial structures of power and authority to industrial and bureaucratic structures. That tarot, associated as it was with the emergence of elite Freemasonry, helped provide new ideologies of power and ways of existing within new tightly structured, bureaucratic organizations.

Résumé. Cet article vise à établir une sociologie des sciences occultes en général et une sociologie du tarot en particulier. Le tarot comprend 78 cartes et a été inventé en Italie au XVe siècle. De ses débuts modestes en tant que jeu, le tarot s'est vu associé aux sciences occultes, mystiques, divines et spirituelles, prenant même une signification psychologique. Cette dimension s'est inscrite dans une plus grande stratégie de discipline et d'endoctrinement dans le but de faciliter la transition des structures préindustrielles du pouvoir et de l'autorité à des structures industrielles et bureaucratiques. Ce tarot, associé à l'émergence de la franc-maçonnerie d'élite, a contribué aux nouvelles idéologies du pouvoir et des moy-ens d'exister dans les confins d'organisations très structurées et bureaucratiques.

Archetype, Master Narrative, Tarot Bibliography

A short list of resources for those interested in a critical exploration of archetypes, master na... more

Why we should all cut the facebook cord.docx

A journalistic piece “outing” the Big Brother’s Facebook machine. Published in The Conversation.

Parable of the Isms (a.k.a. Ann Landers - You have two cows)

The Socjourn, 2018

Ann Landers was a character/pen name created by the Chicago Sun-Times and used to offer “advice” ... more Ann Landers was a character/pen name created by the Chicago Sun-Times and used to offer “advice” through their syndicated advice column throughout the United States. In December 27, 2001, in response to a question by an “inner city English teacher” who wanted to know how to explain communism, socialism, and fascism without having to get into a history lesson, the paper reprinted the Parable of the Isms, or the “You have two cows” satire.

Ann Lander’s version, which is included at the end of this piece, is at best a politically misinformed piece of satire. At worst it is intentionally distributed agitprop designed to airbrush all the flaws out of Capitalism. Now, however, with the ecology collapsing and global fascism on the rise, it might be time for an updated answer to the question, one closer to actual reality, and one more in line with the historical trajectory predicted by Hegel and Marx. With this in mind, here is my humble take on the Parable of the ISMS.

Murdering the Mi’kmaq for Canada

Lightning Strike

A historical note

The Decolonization of the Academy, not: Hypocrisy and Colonial Violence in Canadian Universities - First Revision

An examination of the rhetoric and reality of Canadian efforts to decolonize their colonial post-... more

The Decolonization of the Academy, not: Hypocrisy and Colonial Violence in Canadian Universities - Second Revision

An examination of the rhetoric and reality of Canadian efforts to decolonize their colonial post-... more

Why Don't You Shut up Already? Enforcing the Boundaries of Materialist Scholarly Canon

This article examines the silencing and suppression of discourse that surrounds discussions of my... more This article examines the silencing and suppression of discourse that surrounds discussions of mystical experience, not only in Sociology but in wider fabric of academia. For submission to Religions Special Issue "Autoethnographic Reflection on Spirituality, Mysticism and Consciousness: Transformations in the Academy and Beyond"

When is a Learning Object not an Object: A first step towards a theory of learning objects

The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning

For some, "learning objects 1 " are the "next big thing" in distance education promising smart le... more For some, "learning objects 1 " are the "next big thing" in distance education promising smart learning environments, fantastic economies of scale, and the power to tap into expanding educational markets. While learning objects may be revolutionary in the long term, in the short term, definitional problems and conceptual confusion undermine our ability to understand and critically evaluate the emerging field. This article is an attempt to provide an adequate definition of learning objects by: a) jettisoning useless theoretical links hitherto invoked to theorize learning objects; and b) reducing the definition of learning objects to the bare essentials. The article closes with suggestions for further research and further refinement of the definition of learning objects.

Pink Floyd's The Wall -A Psychological/Spiritual Classic

Pink Floyd's album The Wall is considered a classic rock and roll album. But how do you interpret... more

Eupsychian Theory: Reclaiming Maslow and Rejecting The Pyramid - The Seven Essential Needs

Building upon the work of Abraham Maslow, this article rejects the pyramid of needs as an ideolog... more Building upon the work of Abraham Maslow, this article rejects the pyramid of needs as an ideologically rooted, sanitized, and stripped-down version of Maslow’s thought. Instead, the article proposes a Circle of Seven Essential needs as the core of a sophisticated and integrative Euspychian theory of human development and human potential that Maslow was in the process of developing before his untimely death. As argued in the article, the Circle of Seven Essential Needs allows us to better capture the essence of Maslow’s thinking and encourages us to develop a broader, more holistic, and more integrative view of human nature, human development, and the role of human society more in line with Maslow’s thinking on human development and human potential.

The Study of Human Spirituality

Why does science continue to push the study of human spirituality and human spirituality off to t... more

The Trouble with Atheists

Atheists may be justified in rejecting the ideological, patriarchal, violent, and exclusionary "... more Atheists may be justified in rejecting the ideological, patriarchal, violent, and exclusionary "Church God" found in elite spiritual traditions, but there is more to human spirituality than just that. Researchers have long known about an important experiential aspect of human spirituality, referred to variously as mystical experience, religious experience, transcendent experience, or connection experience, as I like to say. This research note takes a quick look at the reality, significance, and ubiquity of connection experiences, arguing that scholars should not reject human spirituality in toto just because they find one aspect of it highly suspect, but should keep an open mind so that they might engage in an empirical exploration of this obviously important and significant aspect of human experience.

Editing the Bible for Patriarchy - How Church scribes diminished and devalued women in the early Christian Church

A quick review of how early Christian patriarchs suppressed women and erased progressive gender n... more

Toxic Socialization

We live in a surprisingly violent world. We experience physical assault, emotional and psychologi... more We live in a surprisingly violent world. We experience physical assault, emotional and psychological attack, and even the intellectual violence of manipulation and indoctrination. Psychology is becoming increasingly aware not only of the prevalent violence, but also of the profoundly deleterious impact of said violence on the human mind and body; however. sociology lags behind. Socialization, or our experiences at the hands of agents of socialization, is a key concept in sociology. Every introductory sociology text that is printed devotes and entire chapter to a discussion of socialization and related concepts. However rarely, if at all, is there any indication that sociologists are aware of the profoundly deleterious impact of toxicity (violence, neglect, etc.) in the socialization process. This research note seeks to alleviate this lacuna by providing a concept, toxic socialization, by which sociologists can more readily discuss the problem of a violent socialization process.

Healthy environment healthy human

Lightning Strike, 2019

A look at the importance of growing up and living in an environment that meets our essential needs.

One Fish, Two Fish

The Conversation, 2019

The end of the world as we've known it is here. The only question is, what's next?

World War Three is being waged in cyberspace

A journalistic piece that examines the global cyberwar now underway. Originally Published in The ... more

" Alpha male " or sick puppy? Recanting alpha mythology

Boys will be boys and " alphas " will dominate the world, this is the " truth " we are raised on.... more Boys will be boys and " alphas " will dominate the world, this is the " truth " we are raised on. As it turns out, however, the concept of " alpha male " is recanted by the scientist who coined the term, and alpha males may not be species exemplars, but sick puppies suffering the deleterious impact of broken attachment.

Margaret Sanger's Message to the Poor

Socjourn, 2018

Eugenicists are often portrayed as racists, but as this short note demonstrates, their real conce... more Eugenicists are often portrayed as racists, but as this short note demonstrates, their real concern may be more with the financial burden of caring for the disenfranchised and poverty-stricken victims of unfettered accumulation, whom eugenicists portray as the cause of their own misery, rather than racial hygiene.

The end of the world as we've know it

The people of this planet are under attack by addicts who will do anything to preserve their powe... more

Addiction to money

A journalistic piece that takes aim at Capitalist hegemony by undermining the legitimacy of profi... more

Human dependence, human needs, Maslow, and the Circle of Seven Essential Needs

Medium, 2021

A short article on our essential human interdependence and our essential human needs. The article... more

The Pedagogy of the Upanishads

The Upanishads are ancient Vedic spiritual/religious teachings. This short little paper provides ... more

Analysis and Update of the Taittiriya Upanishad

An analysis and update of the awesome Taittirya Upanishad

Analysis and Update of Isha Upanishad

An attempt to understand and analyze the Isha Upanishad, using modern LP concepts and modern engl... more

Teaching Theories of Consciousness to K12 Students

Lightning Path, 2024

This document provides a template for introducing various theories of consciousness at the K12 le... more This document provides a template for introducing various theories of consciousness at the K12 level. It points out the three basic approaches to the question “Why am I”/”How did ‘I’ come to exist.” The three basic approaches to answering this question are materialism, dualism, and idealism. Lesson plans for Grades 5-8 and High School, and a statement of the pedagogical benefits of allowing and encouraging AI use, is also included.

Teaching how toxic the System is with "Allegory of the Bucket"

Overview "The Allegory of the Bucket" by Mike Sosteric is a powerful video that uses vivid imager... more Overview "The Allegory of the Bucket" by Mike Sosteric is a powerful video that uses vivid imagery and symbolism to critique capitalist societal structures, norms, and values, and the damage that we all incur. This resource provides a lesson plan, learning objectives, and additional resources suitable for advanced K12 instruction

Chat GPT-4 Analysis of John Lennons' Song Working Class Hero, with lesson plan

In this short interaction I ask Chat GPT-4 to analyze the John Lennon's Song "Working Class Hero.... more In this short interaction I ask Chat GPT-4 to analyze the John Lennon's Song "Working Class Hero." I explore with some follow up questions and then ask the AI to generate a version that a grade eight student could understand. Colour me impressed. Please analyze and summarize the song "Working Class Hero" by John Lennon "Working Class Hero" is a song by John Lennon from his debut solo album, "John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band," released in 1970. The song is a scathing critique of the social and economic inequalities

Analysis of the poem "About to Fall" by Chat GPT -4, including a lesson plan for high school students

About to Fall" explores the themes of social class, wealth, power, change, resistance, and the co... more About to Fall" explores the themes of social class, wealth, power, change, resistance, and the collapse of oppressive systems. The poem's speaker anticipates the downfall of corrupt forces that have held people captive, envisioning a brighter future where nature is in harmony with the Cosmic Tree and death ceases to exist.

VIDEO: Indigenous Creation Stories -The Wyandot / Wendot / Huron

A video for the Sociology of Religion. Compares early Wyandot Creation stories, which where democ... more

Demystifying money -videos

Defense of capitalism rests on the mystification of money. Once money is demystified, authentic a... more

(Allegory) Parable of the Bucket Class Discussion Assignment for Post secondary

Class Discussion Assignment for Allegory of the Bucket-First-Year University Students Overview "T... more Class Discussion Assignment for Allegory of the Bucket-First-Year University Students Overview "The Allegory of the Bucket" by Mike Sosteric uses vivid imagery and symbolism to critique capitalist societal structures, norms, and values, and the damage that we all incur. This resources provides classroom discussion and assignment suggestions.

How to Write a Sociology Paper -Basic Guidance

Athabasca University, 2020

A basic guide on how to write a sociological research paper

What is Consciousness? A Chat with Chat GPT-4

A short exploration of the question "What is Consciousness" with Chat GPT-4. The AI makes some im... more A short exploration of the question "What is Consciousness" with Chat GPT-4. The AI makes some immediate materialists assumption about the source of Consciousness and approaches the task with an obvious Western, materialist bias. So, we don't get very far. Instead, we explore that bias while identifying two basic theoretical branches that attempt to explain consciousness, and then remind ourselves just how closed-minded and conservative we can be.

An analysis of the LP Concept of Ego Chat GPT 4

This text engages Chat GPT-4 with a discussion of the LP concept of the ego, defined as an integr... more This text engages Chat GPT-4 with a discussion of the LP concept of the ego, defined as an integrated combination of perspective, self-awareness, imagination, purpose, and will. This is part of a larger exploration of the power and potential of the evolving Chat GPT system.

These conversations might be interesting to you, and they might not. You might find these useful as an example of how to approach Chat GPT-4. You might also find the these interesting from a psychological, sociological, cosmological, theological, political, and "spiritual" point of view. If you are interested in the LP, or even if you're not, you might find these explorations trigger your interest or deepen your understanding of the System. Finally, if you are a teacher, this might inspire you to empower your students by teaching them how to use Chat AI as the @#$* awesome analytic and creative tool that it is.

The Existence of God and the biases of AI

This is a short conversation with ChatGPT 4 about the nature of God and the biases that might be ... more This is a short conversation with ChatGPT 4 about the nature of God and the biases that might be present in this AI's response to the question. This conversation is interesting, to me at least, because the AI is able to identify and admit possible biases, including biases in its own response to questions. It is also pleasantly open to correction, something humans, for reasons we won’t go into here, generally, have a hard time with.

Electronic Journals and the Transformation of Scholarly Communication: Constraints and Technical Possibilities

This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from t... more This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, sorne thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, mile others may be from any type of cornputer pinter. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough. substandard margins, and irnproper alignment can adversely affect repradudion. In the unlikely event h t the author did not send UMI a complete manusdpt and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorireci copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deietion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps. drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectiming the original. beginning at the upper left-hand comr and cootinuing from left to right in quai sections with small overîaps. Photographs inciuded in the original manuscript have been ...

Endowing Mediocrity: Neoliberalism, Information Technology, and the Decline of Radical Pedagogy

This article examines the ascendancy of neoliberalism and its impact on the engine of academic re... more This article examines the ascendancy of neoliberalism and its impact on the engine of academic respectability, citation analysis. Using metaphors from the field of information technology, this article article shows how citation analysis drives and elitist, neoliberal agenda that privileges members of the scientific status quo (usually white males) and diminishes the contributions of the periphery. This article is as timely now as when it was first written almost two decades ago.

Elecronic Journals: The Grand Information Future?

This article examines the political economy of scholarly publication. After briefly outlining the... more This article examines the political economy of scholarly publication. After briefly outlining the contours of the current crises in the scholarly communication system, the article goes on to discuss how individual electronic scholarly publication projects have challenged the traditional publishing houses by offering alternative models of scholarly publication that more closely fit with the needs of the academy. The article then looks at some of the ways in which the traditional interests have responded to the threat posed by the independent publishers. As is demonstrated in the article, their response has been aggressive. The article closes with a warning about a possible shift, made possible by advanced information technologies, in the way the scholarly communication system is funded. After examining the potential for the development of a user pay-per service, the article concludes with a warning about the academic and intellectual fallout of a move away from a collectively funded scholarly communication project.

Electronic First: The Upcoming Revolution in the Scholarly Communication System

The Journal of Electronic Publishing, 2001

An older article on the crises in scholarly communication and how emerging electronic models of p... more

Case Study: eduSource and the Athabasca University Digital Library Project

by Mike Sosteric and Fuhua Lin

Athabasca University has made the commitment to put all of its courses online as part of its Stra... more Athabasca University has made the commitment to put all of its courses online as part of its Strategic University Plan. In pursuit of this goal, it has participated in the eduSource project, a pan-Canadian effort to build the infrastructure for an interoperable network of learning object repositories based on and incorporating international standards and specifications. At AU, this initiative has brought together professionals, academics, and other researchers into a team that has synchronized the efforts of different university centers in the creation of a common enterprisewide university repository for learning objects. The project participants have created open source applications and intelligent agents as well as a suite of software tools that complement those of the other eduSource partners.

Case study: EduSource and the Athabasca University Digital Library Project

by Mike Sosteric, Fuhua Lin, and Oksana Yasynska

Athabasca University has made the commitment to put all of its courses online as part of its Stra... more Athabasca University has made the commitment to put all of its courses online as part of its Strategic University Plan. In pursuit of this goal, it has participated in the eduSource project, a pan-Canadian effort to build the infrastructure for an interoperable network of learning object repositories based on and incorporating international standards and specifications. At AU, this initiative has brought together professionals, academics, and other researchers into a team that has synchronized the efforts of different university centers in the creation of a ...

The University, Accountability, and Market Discipline in the Late 1990s

The academy, like many public and private institutions before it, has been colonised by the disco... more The academy, like many public and private institutions before it, has been colonised by the discourses of consumerism, efficiency, and market discipline. By now it is a familiar trend and, as many countries have experienced the neo-right assault on the public sector, a familiar discourse. In this paper we examine the implications of this colonisation suggesting how effects penetrate the very core of the university. Access by all social classes to higher education, pedagogical effectiveness, and even the possibility of critical inquiry are under systematic attack. The situation appears grim. Yet we now approach a critical historical juncture where resistance is becoming increasingly possible and probable. Towards that end, strategies are suggested for resisting the colonisation and reclaiming the academic public space.

Influence of Socioeconomic Status and Gender on High School Seniors' Use of Computers at Home and at School

Alberta Journal of Educational Research, Jul 1, 2003

Background and Purpose-Female patients and patients with a lower level socioeconomic status (SES)... more Background and Purpose-Female patients and patients with a lower level socioeconomic status (SES) often experience less favorable health outcomes. We aimed to investigate whether gender and socioeconomic status of patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack are associated with different diagnostic and treatment strategies. Methods-The risk factors of interest were gender and SES. We predefined our diagnostic and treatment end points according to current stroke guidelines and used multivariate models to adjust for age, stroke severity, and comorbidities. Results-A total of 2606 patients were included in the analysis. Women were less likely to receive antiplatelet agents within the first 48 hours after admission (OR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.89) and more likely to have their blood glucose measured on admission than men (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.1 to 2.1). With higher SES patients were more likely to receive a TTE or TTE during hospital stay. Women were almost twice as likely to receive a prescription for antidepressants at discharge OR of 1.96 (95% CI: 1.48 to 2.59). Conclusion-Socioeconomic status and gender are associated with some diagnostic and treatment differences of acute ischemic stroke. Most pronounced were a reduced chance for women to receive antiplatelet therapy on admission and a reduced chance for a TTE and TEE with a lower level of SES, whereas the rate of thrombolysis was unbiased by gender and SES.

Connection 100—An Auto-Ethnography of My (Mystical) Connection Experiences

Religions, Oct 20, 2022

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more

A Sociology of Archetypes

Archetypes are primordial and collective images of spiritual/psychic/instinctual power. Archetype... more Archetypes are primordial and collective images of spiritual/psychic/instinctual power. Archetypes inform our self-image, influence how we see the world, and direct many of the actions we take as we navigate and create our realities. According to psychologist Carl G. Jung, archetypes are powerful determines of human experience and human psychological and political realities. As such, they hold significant spiritual, psychological, and sociological interest. There has been sustained interest from those interested in the psychology and spirituality of archetypes; however to date sociologists have remained largely aloof. Hoping to overcome this lacuna, this paper explores the sociology of archetypes by examining the emotional and psychological power of archetypes and by demonstrating how powerful archetypes become situated in elite "spiritual" discourses designed not in the service of human health and development, but in the service of the political and economic agenda of societal and world elites.

A Sociology of Archetypes

Archetypes inform our self-image, influence how we see the world, and direct many of the actions ... more Archetypes inform our self-image, influence how we see the world, and direct many of the actions we take as we navigate and create our realities. According to psychologist Carl G. Jung, archetypes are powerful determines of human experience and human psychological and political realities. As such, they hold significant spiritual, psychological, and sociological interest. There has been sustained interest from those interested in the psychology and spirituality of archetypes; however to date sociologists have remained largely aloof. Hoping to overcome this lacuna, this paper explores the sociology of archetypes by examining the emotional and psychological power of archetypes and by demonstrating how powerful archetypes become situated in elite “spiritual” discourses designed not in the service of human health and development, but in the service of the political and economic agenda of societal and world elites.

Connection 100—An Auto-Ethnography of My (Mystical) Connection Experiences

Religions

This paper provides an autoethnographic accounting and analysis of my own mystical experiences, c... more This paper provides an autoethnographic accounting and analysis of my own mystical experiences, called connection experiences in this paper. This account, which is structured around a description of my early experiences, attempts to weave together psychological, sociological, historical, and methodological themes into a coherent contribution that advances our understanding of connection experience. The paper includes an explication of the four stages of the research project that developed as a consequence of these experiences as well as an examination of the processes, tools (i.e., MediWiki), and emotional, psychological, professional, and scholarly challenges of collecting and analyzing the autoethnographic data of mystical experiences. The denouement of the paper is the presentation of a conceptual schema aimed at overcoming nomenclature confusion and providing a basis for description, analysis, and discussion of connection and connection experiences. The utility of the schema is ...

Connection 100 – An Auto-ethnography of my (Mystical) Connection Experiences

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more

One Fish, Two Fish

The ocean provides humanity with many services and goods, including clean air, minerals, and food... more The ocean provides humanity with many services and goods, including clean air, minerals, and food. Sustainable use and management of our marine resources are important to ensure that these resources are available for future generations. The turn-based activity presented in this article teaches students the challenges of managing a sustainable fishery, including the difficult task of accurately estimating population sizes. It also shows students that finding a balance between the environment and economic gain is possible but takes cooperation and work.

The Death of Newton: Consciousness, Spirituality, and the Second Scientific Revolution

"The Death of Newton: Consciousness, Spirituality, and the Second Scientific Revolution" embarks ... more "The Death of Newton: Consciousness, Spirituality, and the Second Scientific Revolution" embarks on an journey to redefine the foundation of scientific inquiry, positing consciousness—not matter—as the fundamental essence of the universe. Drawing from a wide array of disciplines, including physics, mysticism, psychology, and noetic research, the paper challenges the prevailing Newtonian paradigm that has dominated science for centuries. Through a critical examination of anomalous phenomena such as psychokinesis (PK), extrasensory perception (ESP), and remote viewing, alongside a personal narrative of mystical experiences, this work argues for a profound paradigm shift towards a consciousness-centric science. It introduces a "Strong Theory of Consciousness" as a new theoretical framework, suggesting that consciousness is the prime mover and substance of all reality. The paper not only critiques the limitations of materialist science but also offers a vision for a second scientific revolution that bridges the gap between science and spirituality, heralding an era of greater understanding and integration of the mystical dimensions of existence. By advocating for a science that embraces the study of consciousness as its core, this work seeks to initiate a dialogue that could lead to revolutionary advancements in our understanding of the universe, human nature, and the interconnectedness of all things.

A case-study evaluation of the “Copenhagen Music Program” for psilocybin-assisted therapy

Frontiers in Psychology

In a recent article, Messell and colleagues provide a curated list, the “Copenhagen Music Program... more In a recent article, Messell and colleagues provide a curated list, the “Copenhagen Music Program for Psilocybin”. We test their music program with an experienced Indigenous therapist/psychonaut on a 3.5 gram psilocybin journey. Based on comments provided by the Indigenous therapist, we find the program contains musical choices that evoke specific colonial and religious contexts. We also find the program psychologically and emotionally coercive, meaning it is intended to contain the experience by forcing the individual on a specific experiential pathway. We conclude the program is not suitable for Indigenous travelers and suggest that curation of a wider variety of playlists, and music more in line with traditional shamanic practices, might be a better approach to psychedelic curation.

Response to "Consciousness is God"

How are we going to get ourselves out of the mess we find ourselves in?

Bias and Malfeasance in the Peer Review Process

An autoethnographic account of recent experiences with peer review.

pFad - Phonifier reborn

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