Comments on: California Cosmology

By: Helen/Hawk

Helen/Hawk — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:42:36 +0000

This feels like a fascinating introduction………

I find myself thinking “and the problem is ??” both because, yes I’m here in CA, and because it isn’t clear to me that there IS a problem.

Maybe it’s these CA glasses I’m wearing…………..

By: Anne

Anne — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:45:32 +0000

Oak, funny you should mention Esalen. I have on my coffee table the new book Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion by Jeffrey Kripal, which I plan on reviewing here in the near future. Esalen plays a huge part in California Cosmology; in fact the quote by George Leonard was from Kripal’s book. Especially with that early, formative tale about why Reclaiming never got on well with Esalen, this is a particularly relevant strand of our history as well.

By: ms flowers

ms flowers — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 07:20:33 +0000

i adore san francisco. Gosh I remember when i was 16 and seeing the news items of the hippies on the streets, the slogans, the hope and freedom it seemed to represent. Scott Mc’s if you are going to san francisco be sure to wear etc etc use to have me in tears. actually it still does!
and now i see it as my spiritual home, where i feel at home, at ease, where people i respect magically live and of course i am blessed by getting over a few times each year. Thanks goodness for you all there who started this wonderful tradition, i respect you all x ann f

By: deborah oak

deborah oak — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 04:21:33 +0000

Anne, thank you! This cultural history is fascinating. I’m thinking about all the stuff that’s come out of Esalen that also infuses our cosmology. Years back when people would say that Reclaiming was a Celtic tradition I’d say “No, it’s an American tradition…a melting pot of stuff, and even more, a Bay Area tradition”. Reclaiming couldn’t have come from anywhere but here.

By: Thorn Coyle

Thorn Coyle — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:41:14 +0000

Yay! More please!

(sorry to be so non-academic in my response)

By: Moonroot

Moonroot — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 16:18:21 +0000

“California Cosmology… In general, I am for it. Except when it gets so hideous and embarrassing that I am against it.”

Love this comment - I know exactly what you mean! Can’t wait to read more of your thoughts on the subject.

By: Pandora

Pandora — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:52:29 +0000

Ha! I’m greatly chuffed that I’ve been shaped by California Cosmology.

I can trace its influences in my academic writing; I’m working on a book on the spiritual dimensions of performance space, and the foundational ideas come from my experience in the melange that was San Francisco Wicca of the 80’s.

But don’t tell the dean, K?