the day I didn’t levitate
I never have levitated, mind you; but I wanted to share a story about the day I
likely had my best chance. Nathan and I are on our lunch break, having already
secured a big load of cedar sawdust — our major chore today. I was catching up on
the news and read a story that mentioned the Harmonic Convergence. It took me
back.
(dreamy transition music, probably involving harps)
I was working in the L.A. area in the summer of 1987 when the New Age power elite
announced that a rare alignment of planets August 16-17 would usher in an era of
peace and love. I was keen to see this because I had been in the Marine Corps when
the Age of Aquarius dawned and immediately dimmed.
So off I trundled to Mount Shasta in northern California, supposedly one of the
prime places on the planet to witness the changeover. I had gone to some meet-
ings to spiritually prepare for this. Most of the other attendees were of the my-
aura-is-brighter-than-your-aura ilk. I quit before I caught crystal envy.
I drove up Shasta as far as I could, to an altitude of about 10,000 feet. They were
several hundred others there. I circulated in the false hope that psychedelics
would be abundant. Alas, there was only a glut of hucksters. I was assured that
the main event would be at dawn. The change would be so monumental that we’d
all levitate. I returned to my car to rest up for that.
In the middle of the night I awoke freezing in the mountain air. Since I was living
in my car, I had my entire wardrobe with me. I piled it over me and formed a warm
burrow. I didn’t wake up until 10 a.m. Everyone was gone. I briefly entertained the
thought that they had floated away: auras, crystals, Birkenstocks, VW vans, Volvos,
BMW’s and all.
But the more I woke up, the more I hypothesized that they much more likely arose
in the cold sunrise, sipped organic beverages and slowly realized that yet another
asshole got it wrong. I hope they drove home a bit wiser. I wonder if any of them
believed Harold Camping’s recent miscalculation on the Rapture.
The trip wasn’t a total waste. I got out of L.A. for awhile during a rash of freeway
shootings. And when I stopped for breakfast in Graeagle on the drive back, I found
a copy of a Tom Robbins novel I’d long been looking for.
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Anchor Struck 
Ha! I also remember the morning of the Harmonic Convergence. I picked up a friend at 5 a.m. (the guy who later became my husband). He wasn’t exactly the New Age type but he was crazy about me and I was going. We drove to a place in the country where we met about a dozen other people on a hill overlooking the river.
From there, it gets quite forgettable. Someone led us in a meditation and a few quiet words were spoken about the wonderful times to come. When we left there, I was still hopeful, as I wasn’t expecting any instant results. Now, at this point in time, I don’t believe that there ever will be harmony on earth. It doesn’t make me sad or anything. As a dear little boy who is my student said to me, “There’s good and evil in this place.”
Okay, here’s a question: Did you read the book called Aquarian Conspiracy?
Brainie from Stubblejumpers Cafe
I have not read it. Are you recommending it? As I approach official (government-sanctioned) elderliness (65 on July 12th), I’ve come to realize that a person can only find personal harmony in an eternally-conflicted world.
Hi!
I had to think about that one before answering. I loved Aquarian Conspiracy twenty years ago, but I have lived a few different lifetimes within this one. . . so what do I think about it now? Well, it’s long, close to 1000 pages. I know the book provided me with inspiration and courage back then–a roadmap for the “paradigm shifts” we need. It was an important book for its time.
Yesterday at the library I picked up Marilyn Ferguson’s 2005 follow-up book called Aquarius Now. I’ve read about 50 pages and I still recommend her as an author worth reading. Her prose is poetic, yet she is boldly truthful. She analyzes the problems of humanity well, and has solutions too! She even dared to use the word “retarded” when speaking of people whose mental abilities are limited! Wow!
I’d say that Marilyn still has a vision worth considering. A key component of her solution would be that personal harmony you have mentioned–the effect of each of us on the whole. There’s lots of cool stuff in Aquarius Now, so I could recommend that one.
By the way, your writing about the Harmonic Convergence is a delight to read. Funny. Full of little jewels and nostalgic reminders of the people we were then. . .
I hope this comment isn’t too long. Me and Obama–just can’t twitter.
Brainie
Thanks, Brainie. The Aquarius books interest me, but I probably won’t start anything until the autumn rains drive me inside. Are you familiar with the work of Ken Wilber?
Hi, Allen,
No. But lately, I read a book by Caroline Myss, called Entering the Castle–Finding the Inner path to God and Your Soul’s Purpose, and the forward was written by Ken Wilber. In a few pages, he gave an overview of “the central ideas of mystical or contemplative spirituality.” (quoting his own words)
I struggled through the 350 pages of Caroline’s writing with increasing disappointment. Full of ego and contradictions. The forward, however, by Ken Wilber was well worth reading. I always wonder if people endorsing other writers’ work have actually read the material themselves.
Today I picked up some of Wilber’s books from the library. Looking forward to considering his ideas.
Congratulations on reaching 65!
Brainie
Thank you, Brainie. I’ve savored every waking moment of age 65 so far, and my dreams have been vivid of late. I can’t claim to have read much by Wilber, but he is a major influence on a shaman friend of mine. And, despite my many years as a practicing agnostic, I firmly believe that she’s the real deal. Would that we were all as clear and pure as her.