Thanks, Sam! We finally moved to Málaga about a month ago, and I’m a bit overwhelmed between work, a search for an apartment, and Spanish bureaucracy. I’m still planning a triumphant comeback both to Substack and YouTube, after I have a room to set up my studio in.
I can't imagine what N's wife and mom are going through. They are all so courageous. I heard your conversation with Robert Wright and appreciate your helping us understand it all, although there's so much I still don't understand! I guess Putin still viewed N as a threat, but now he's a martyr, so will his death hurt or help his cause? It sounds like his wife is very committed to continuing the cause, and her courage is amazing. It would be very sad for their daughter if they killed her, too. Here's one thing I'm really curious about: Since everybody in the world, including Russians, knows that Russia is not a democracy and Putin is an autocrat, why do they bother holding elections there? Does it give the illusion of a democracy that is important to him for some reason?
1. Re: "will his death hurt or help his cause," I don't think this is a calculation anybody can make. His life and his death affected millions of Russians in various ways. We don't yet know what contributions, if any, they (we) will make to our consensus reality, and how his influence will be reflected in these contributions.
2. Re: elections, it's a question for a sociologist or a political historian, I think. The Soviet Union had elections too. I think it's a kind of a ritual that re-establishes and legitimizes the rulers' authority. Imagine this on a smaller scale: there's a room of thirty people, and one of them says, casually waving a gun: "I'll be your leader. Who's in favor? Who's against? Anybody want to challenge me?" Navalny says, "I challenge you," and is brought outside the room, then a gunshot is heard. The question is repeated: "I'll be your leader. Who's in favor? Who's against?" The very ability to carry out a federal election, to make sure only those you want to are able to participate, to enforce the desired results, etc. — all of these are displays of power.
Regarding Navalny, first, let me say I'm sorry for your loss (and sorry I neglected to say that before). I could tell from your conversation with Bob that you were emotionally affected by his death, and it's one more loss for you to grieve. On your point about elections in Russia, that's an interesting perspective that it's all done to display one's power and "legitimize" Putin's authority. How ironic. But there are other rituals one could choose, such as in the days of Kings with plenty of ritual, none of which involved the rituals of democracy. Granted, the concept of democracy was nonexistent then, other than perhaps in the minds of a few. But nowadays, it's interesting that even "strongman" dictators choose the rituals of democracy to legitimize their authority. It seems to be a recognition that democracy is now widely accepted as an ideal, at least in theory. That must disturb the dictators, necessitating even more cruel domination. Eventually, one would think, something's gotta give! Then again, democracies can slide back into dictatorships, perhaps without the masses even realizing it. I guess we'll see if that happens here in the US if Trump is re-elected.
Hi Nikita. I was struck by your image of Vlad in the bath with the globe of eyes behind him. I wanted to make sure you were familiar with the following image, "Divine Moments of Trump," by the visionary artist Stella SG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BpetNjslQx-/?hl=en
Look out for Donald's buddy there in the middle...
The bathing Vladimir (as are other large portraits in this issue) is by Giorgos Terzakis, he's made many covers for PsyPol. I hope to get him to write and draw more often this year.
Thanks for reminding me of the "Divine Moments" — I've seen it, but not other works by Stella. I just subscribed to her on Instagram and thinking of buying myself a copy of Moments, if they're still available, once I have a proper place to live (which I hope to accomplish within the next 3 months...)
Btw: I plan to apply to your course in Amsterdam! It would be great to meet in person.
With so many headlines and buzzy posts floating about the crevices of the internet regarding stories originating from Russia, I can always turn to Nikita to bring the very brevity the rest of the information world seems to lack.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the claim of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, owning a sensory deprivation tank- or, weirder yet, using it: floating weightlessly balanced in a buoyant saltwater solution heated to exactly body temperature, with eyecups on and noise-blocking earbuds, in meditative silent darkness. Can this actually be something that has happened, in the nonfiction world where we reside?
Submitted for your approval: a deep diving early 1980s Omni magazine interview with John Lilly,MD, including him recounting his work with dolphins, the Lilly isolation tank, and his researches with ketamine. Maps right on to your graphic narrative account
I've always been wary about ketamine, and dubious about its mind-altering potential: it's a lot closer to PCP than LSD or mescaline, both in chemical structure and activity on neurotransmitters. The effect really doesn't much resemble the stimulated, acutely alert state induced by classic psychedelics- it's a dissociative anesthetic. (Ketamine is not anything I've experienced personally, but that's generally agreed.)
I have to admit, in the interview John Lilly sounds coherent and intelligent, however extravagant his visions. Some of the content sounds practically delusional on its face, but Lilly relates it articulately, and hence persuasively. To me, a ketamine trip still sounds like a particularly seductive form of sleepwalking. But I can't claim to have the last word about the wisdom of using it.
Missed you Nikita! Great to see a post.
Thanks, Sam! We finally moved to Málaga about a month ago, and I’m a bit overwhelmed between work, a search for an apartment, and Spanish bureaucracy. I’m still planning a triumphant comeback both to Substack and YouTube, after I have a room to set up my studio in.
Amazing. I hadn’t seen it.
Thanks!
I can't imagine what N's wife and mom are going through. They are all so courageous. I heard your conversation with Robert Wright and appreciate your helping us understand it all, although there's so much I still don't understand! I guess Putin still viewed N as a threat, but now he's a martyr, so will his death hurt or help his cause? It sounds like his wife is very committed to continuing the cause, and her courage is amazing. It would be very sad for their daughter if they killed her, too. Here's one thing I'm really curious about: Since everybody in the world, including Russians, knows that Russia is not a democracy and Putin is an autocrat, why do they bother holding elections there? Does it give the illusion of a democracy that is important to him for some reason?
1. Re: "will his death hurt or help his cause," I don't think this is a calculation anybody can make. His life and his death affected millions of Russians in various ways. We don't yet know what contributions, if any, they (we) will make to our consensus reality, and how his influence will be reflected in these contributions.
2. Re: elections, it's a question for a sociologist or a political historian, I think. The Soviet Union had elections too. I think it's a kind of a ritual that re-establishes and legitimizes the rulers' authority. Imagine this on a smaller scale: there's a room of thirty people, and one of them says, casually waving a gun: "I'll be your leader. Who's in favor? Who's against? Anybody want to challenge me?" Navalny says, "I challenge you," and is brought outside the room, then a gunshot is heard. The question is repeated: "I'll be your leader. Who's in favor? Who's against?" The very ability to carry out a federal election, to make sure only those you want to are able to participate, to enforce the desired results, etc. — all of these are displays of power.
Regarding Navalny, first, let me say I'm sorry for your loss (and sorry I neglected to say that before). I could tell from your conversation with Bob that you were emotionally affected by his death, and it's one more loss for you to grieve. On your point about elections in Russia, that's an interesting perspective that it's all done to display one's power and "legitimize" Putin's authority. How ironic. But there are other rituals one could choose, such as in the days of Kings with plenty of ritual, none of which involved the rituals of democracy. Granted, the concept of democracy was nonexistent then, other than perhaps in the minds of a few. But nowadays, it's interesting that even "strongman" dictators choose the rituals of democracy to legitimize their authority. It seems to be a recognition that democracy is now widely accepted as an ideal, at least in theory. That must disturb the dictators, necessitating even more cruel domination. Eventually, one would think, something's gotta give! Then again, democracies can slide back into dictatorships, perhaps without the masses even realizing it. I guess we'll see if that happens here in the US if Trump is re-elected.
They gave his body back, finally.
Amazing post.
Any time I find my self Hallucinating. I welcome the change of scenery.
Devastating.
Hi Nikita. I was struck by your image of Vlad in the bath with the globe of eyes behind him. I wanted to make sure you were familiar with the following image, "Divine Moments of Trump," by the visionary artist Stella SG: https://www.instagram.com/p/BpetNjslQx-/?hl=en
Look out for Donald's buddy there in the middle...
The bathing Vladimir (as are other large portraits in this issue) is by Giorgos Terzakis, he's made many covers for PsyPol. I hope to get him to write and draw more often this year.
Thanks for reminding me of the "Divine Moments" — I've seen it, but not other works by Stella. I just subscribed to her on Instagram and thinking of buying myself a copy of Moments, if they're still available, once I have a proper place to live (which I hope to accomplish within the next 3 months...)
Btw: I plan to apply to your course in Amsterdam! It would be great to meet in person.
With so many headlines and buzzy posts floating about the crevices of the internet regarding stories originating from Russia, I can always turn to Nikita to bring the very brevity the rest of the information world seems to lack.
Thank you sir.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the claim of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, owning a sensory deprivation tank- or, weirder yet, using it: floating weightlessly balanced in a buoyant saltwater solution heated to exactly body temperature, with eyecups on and noise-blocking earbuds, in meditative silent darkness. Can this actually be something that has happened, in the nonfiction world where we reside?
Submitted for your approval: a deep diving early 1980s Omni magazine interview with John Lilly,MD, including him recounting his work with dolphins, the Lilly isolation tank, and his researches with ketamine. Maps right on to your graphic narrative account
https://omnimagazine.com/interview-john-lilly-dolphin-consciousness/
I've always been wary about ketamine, and dubious about its mind-altering potential: it's a lot closer to PCP than LSD or mescaline, both in chemical structure and activity on neurotransmitters. The effect really doesn't much resemble the stimulated, acutely alert state induced by classic psychedelics- it's a dissociative anesthetic. (Ketamine is not anything I've experienced personally, but that's generally agreed.)
I have to admit, in the interview John Lilly sounds coherent and intelligent, however extravagant his visions. Some of the content sounds practically delusional on its face, but Lilly relates it articulately, and hence persuasively. To me, a ketamine trip still sounds like a particularly seductive form of sleepwalking. But I can't claim to have the last word about the wisdom of using it.