Re: Alchemy/Gold SERIOUS CONSIDERATION (You get video) Posted by Robert C. Cohen as GM Game One on September 23, 1997 at 23:16:55:
In Reply to: Modern Alchemy / White Powder Gold posted by Narada DanVantari on September 15, 1997 at 01:52:10:
Your move has lead me to some very serious considerations. I will post a more detailed follow up soon. Your detail in making a full submission has definately earned you the second Blade Runner video we were giving away for Full Submissions. Please email me so we can get that too you and I would like to discuss your submission as I'm not sure how I can best fit it into the Inner Game. I am open to the possibility however and would like to discuss it with you. Best Robert GM Game One
ADDENDUM OCT. 6, 1997:
SUBSEQUENT TO THIS POST. NARADA AND I EXCHANGED EMAIL ON HIS MOVE. BELOW IS A RECORD OF THAT EMAIL EXCHANGE. THIS EXCHANGE SHOWS THE FIRST RECORD OF TWO PLAYERS WORKING ON-LINE TO IMPROVE A MOVE, IN RELATION TO GAME ONE AS A WHOLE.
NARADA to COREWAVE / Robert Cohen Game Master Game I. Sept. 22, 1997:
Hi. I congratulate you on your historical achievement!
You will have noticed my recent submission, yes?! Seeing it now on its
own page I would change a few things given the chance, but in the first
rush of enthusiasm I could not restrain myself any longer.
A few observations and thoughts for you then.
I only recently thought to type in G.B.G. to a search engine, and was
stunned at the amount of development that has been going on. I am,
among other things, a montage artist, a chess player, a poet/ singer
songwriter musician, and mystic, so as you might guess Hesse's book has
haunted me since I read it 20 years ago. My approach to the G.B.G. seems
more visually oriented than any I have read about in my searches of the
web. This springs from my collages which I see as both Games in
themselves, and also as boards on which to play yet more symbols. Given
the time and resources I would like to create a tarot pack in cyberspace
where each card contained miniatures of all the others within it, and
they could be zoomed in on, perhaps by linking to the pages of other
cards.
I also imagine that the natural form for web browsers to evolve into is
a customizable interface based on a collage of ones own intuitively
obvious visual symbols. A picture of ones own house for 'home' perhaps,
or a photo of oneself from behind for 'back?!
I had some trouble navigating your site, (I didn't come in via the
homepage), and also in distinguishing between what has made it to the
inner game and what hasn't. I note the promise of a map of the moves so
far, and also that it is over due. :-) . I think it would help a lot!
Enough for now, I hope to remain in touch. I like your approach to using
the web for playing and designing the 'ultimate game'. Once again ,
congratulations on a worthy offering!
Narada
NARADA TO COREWAVE, SEPT. 25, 1997:
CoreWave wrote:
"Yes I got both emails. I haven't had much time to go over all the things that
need detailed attention. I realize you are in Australia but I would like to TALK to you briefly about your submission asap. It has me in a bit of a quandary. I will call at my expense at a convenient time for you.
Best Robert"
Curiouser and curiouser. What could I have done to create such
bewilderment? I realise it was a bit different to the other moves, but
then the categories were pretty broad... Give me some hint to start me
cogitating on the theme so that I am at least a little prepared when we
speak in person.
The novelty of having found a real person in the cybermagic mirror is
all a bit much for me. The shock of the new and all, even for a admitted
neophiliac like myself! :-)
You're probably about 14-16 hour behind, so sometime your late evening/
my late morning would probably work...
N.
NARADA TO COREWAVE SEPT. 26, 1997
CoreWave wrote: "I have seen a three hour video of one of David's lectures on White Powder of Gold. Here's the basic quandary. The first thing I noted about David is that he uses scientific language as magic language. It sounded good but where was the proof."
Yes, considerations like this definitely swayed the balance to putting it all in the
category of 'belief' rather than science. Even so, he is more than just
a bullshit
confidence shyster. The patents seem real, for whatever that is worth.
There is a
thoughtfulness and depth to his arguments that is fascinating enough to
have intrigued
many people with some experience in these fields, as witnessed by the
moderated
discussion group at...
http://www.geocities.com/~whitegoldweb/libframe.htm and various people
trying to replicate some of his results.
CoreWave:
Next he talked about people who were already taking the powder.
That got me right there. If anyone fasts for two weeks they are going to go
into some heavy duty altered states and plenty of people who do it that long
talk to God. David says the people taking White Powder of Gold must be fasting for four weeks or more while they are taking it."
Yes, I have done 21 days on water once long ago. And am considering doing
something like it again even though I know it is a very severe thing to
do to the body,
and it is not easy to regain its balance afterward. I do have a
necessity. If I had a supply
of guaranteed manna at hand I would no doubt try it, but it brings me to
a very
important question- if I was happy , healthy, creative and prosperous,
would I still want
to take something that might change from outside the very nature of what
is within?
What price the acceleration of evolution?
CoreWave: "That tape was made a few years ago. Never has there been any
further claim or presentation of these new super people."
Soon after making my move I went looking for more recent news and found 2
interesting things. The first is an interview with a man who appears to
be the first one to
undertake the 40 day treatment. He has a slightly different attitude to
it to D.H. but
basically backs up the claims for its potential. Its at
http://www.geocities.com/~whitegoldweb/fortherecord.txt
The other is a newspaper article about a woman with aids who took some of this stuff
intravenously from a Dr. that D.H. mentions, and died from what they
claim was
infections from the non-sterile grey dirt stuff.
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1996/091996/feature2-1.html
So much for its cure all powers, but it is a trashy tabloid article really that does not
seem to have given more than a cursory glance to the possibility that
there is more to it.
They are merely concerned to prevent more similar loss of lives.
A very good resource for more varied info is at the address above again
http://www.geocities.com/~whitegoldweb/libframe.htm
and they have some wonderful alchemical raves and illustrations too!
CoreWave:"Frankly as much as I'd like to believe (as I think we all would) claims to
things as big as David's must be taken with a grain of salt."
Whoaa. That's a fairly big claim in itself. One of the points I feel is most relevant to
this question, is that the edifice of science, that so often hides
behind the facade of
common sense, is built on a quicksand of beliefs. As fast as it sinks
they build new
levels on top. Were it not for the stunning power of technology, the
theories of
quantum mechanics et al would be seen more clearly as the Games that
they are. And
marvelous though these achievements are, they do not prove the science
on which they
are founded. Black holes, for the moment, exist only inside the heads of
those who
conceptualise them. And if one day we manage to find one in the outer
universe, how
will we know that it was there before we imagined it? This is a vast
subject, but I'm sure
you get my drift.
Contemplating D.H's rave now, I find many of my first impressions bearing out. It
seems that he has found some remarkable properties of a remarkable
"substance", (don't you love the way that words meaning has taken on new
connotations
recently). Around this he has woven such a conglomeration of mythology,
history,
philosophy, etc, that he has come to BELIEVE that he has found the Great
Treasure.
Its easy to see why, for he has a lot of circumstantial evidence to
support this belief, and
it is one of our deepest desires to see our lives fulfilled in such a
way.
Corewave: "BUT here's the tricky thing, despite all of the above I agree with your last
statement:
' I neither believe nor disbelieve, but find it a fascinating
story.' It is a great story and it would make an excellent move in the Game. Your
submission is great. One of the best we've had. The trick thing is figuring
out exactly how to make it work.
Well I hope I've made it clear that I really really want to make your
submission work in the inner game. So I hope we can talk about it a bit and
I'll let you know what my thoughts are.
Looking forward to talking to a player who I'd have never encountered
otherwise. Your submission and interaction is so wonderfully exciting and
gratifying.
Best Robert GM Game One."
So, looking again at my submission, I would like to emphasize some of the points
here more, and also add some sceptical quotes to balance the argument
more. The
move name could be changed to Alchemical Gold, and the definition
reworded. (Seeing
my name in print I would change 'NARADA' to n.d.v. too.) I think you
will like the
'Magician' collage, I'm not sure whether to modify it for publication in
some way though as I don't
really want to give it away on the net.
By the way, I'm pondering another move already, I think it will be a believertisment.
I was sort of surprised, but not unpleased, that you are judging the appropriateness of
the move on your own external knowledge of the subject, rather than on
its internal
merits, I must read that section in the rules again. I look forward to
talking to you soon.
N.
NARADA TO COREWAVE. SEPT. 27, 1997:
CoreWave wrote:
" Thanks for your great response. This is what I was sort of hoping for. The
meat of your move seems to be getting played out fully in this dialogue.
There are a couple of other things but I look forward to meeting you on the
phone and discussing the move further.
The only thing I would add right now is that I am not I hope judging your
move based on my external knowledge. I only brought those things up to spark
conversation about the intricacies of your very interesting MOVE. I see my
job to be only as a catalyst. As I said I would be willing to put the move
into the INNER GAME as is, but am hoping to enrich the GAME as much as
possible.
I would like to try and give you a call on SUNDAY night my time Monday late
morning, early afternoon for you. How does that sound? : )
Best Regards Looking forward
Robert Cohen GM Game One."
Late morning sounds good, or even mid morning, as if the weather is fine
I will be itching to get down to the beach. Hope to hear from you
between 10 and noon. Namaste. N.
AFTER THIS POST I CALLED NARADA IN AUSTRALIA. IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING TO BE MAKING A CONNECTION TO SOMEONE SO FAR AWAY THAT I WOULD NEVER HAVE MET IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CONNECTION PLAY IN OUR GLASS BEAD GAME. WE DISCUSSED MY QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE ORIGINAL MOVE CONTAINED MANY OF THE LARGER ISSUES WE DISCUSSED IN EMAIL. I SAID THAT I WOULD PUT THE ORIGINAL MOVE INTO THE INNER GAME IF THAT WAS WHAT NARADA WANTED. WE DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT MY OPINION OF DAVID HUDSON WAS NOT AN ISSUE. HE SAID HE DEFINITELY WANTED TO MAKE SOME CHANGES TO HIS ORIGINAL SUBMISSION. HIS CHANGES ARE POSTED AS A FOLLOW UP TO THIS FOLLOW UP. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE COREWAVE PLANS FOR A GUIDED TOUR TO MAKE ACCESS TO THE GAME EASIER. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ONE MORE TIME THAT IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE TO EXPLORE THIS IDEA WITH NARADA WHILE REALIZING TWO PEOPLE WHERE CONNECTING OVER A GAME OF CONNECTIONS. IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING NARADA. I ADORE NARADA'S MOVE NOT ONLY FOR THE WAY IT CONNECTS WITH THE GAME AS A WHOLE BUT AS A REMINDER FOR THE CONNECTION THAT OCCURRED BETWEEN TWO INDIVIDUALS . - Robert C. Cohen Game Master Game One.