Apotheosis: Exercise, the Brain and Power

We live in a sick society, one that is suffering from a severe mass amnesia. We have become strangers to ourselves and need to find ourselves. How to acquire the will to do so requires using our inborn energy, our power. The question is: how best to find it to unleash it; to set it free, so that one can move from a state of apathy onto a transcendental state of apotheosis. Power is directed by the brain; specifically by the ventro-medial pre-frontal neo-cortex, where visualization and mimetic representation occurs, and by the hippo-campi, where neuro-genesis and memory retrieval occurs. The brain functions through moving the body. One of the problems encountered with exercise is avoiding the wrong kind of exercise. The wrong kind can damage you by restricting the expression of energy, and there are a great many wrong kinds. Many of the standard stretching routines actually damage the tendons. In addition, certain kinds of exercises are just plain bad for the body. Any treadmill type of exercise is bad. Any stationary exercise is bad. Any repetitive exercise is bad. Why are they so bad? Because they don't stimulate the brain. They are boring. Movement exercise, such as a martial arts form, is good; provided that the form is sufficiently aerobic. Martial exercises are good because doing martial forms requires one to utilize the memory in performance...in performing martial arts forms, one visualizes the applications of the various postures. Today, with so many unemployed, many cannot afford to take classes in martial arts under a qualified instructor; but because of YouTube, many martial forms are freely available for perusal. Find one that appeals to you and practice that. Just as in gaining access to the Internet you will choose the best browser, choose whichever form works best for you. Of course, you would always want to pursue some form that opens up all your joints, in particular your hip and shoulder joints. Why? Because energy washes through the body like ocean waves approaching a beach. If the joints are closed, the energy wave could crash against the tendons in those joints, harming them. Let's go yet a little deeper. Mysteries are so mysterious because of a lack of understanding, and that's why we study and we train: to master them. There are no ancient mysteries, because all the ancient ones were solved and the solutions are readily available if one knows where to look; but there are certainly many present existing mysteries that now need solutions. Speaking of solutions, there is an unfortunate tendency today to try to equate the human and the divine. This tendency is in error: it's wrong. Frankly, such a concept is insane. Divinity, the demonstrated ability for creativity, resides within sentience only; in those beings with the capacity for consciousness...beings like us. The divine is just one part of being human. It's one aspect only, the creative aspect that is God. God is a part of us because we are conscious: the divine is our compassionate, our creative part. Let's discuss that God-part then. Because we are conscious we are divine, since we have within ourselves an innate capacity for creativity; but we are far more than divine---we are human. We have the capability to direct our own evolution through our own creativity...genomic design. We could people the stars. For those who may be interested in mind-experience (say in the so-called paranormal Noe-tic Sciences); in order to achieve any power whatsoever over matter, real psychic training involves utilizing one's heart and lungs as well as one's brain. Sedentary meditative exercises, unless such exercises involve the focused intention of movement when contemplated, whether or not one actually physically moves, are all valueless---useless; and this is why so many millions who practice such exercises have absolutely no powers---they can't cure anyone with their minds, neither themselves or others---they can't actually" see" energy---so, they've wasted their time, and sometimes their entire lives, practicing the wrong methods. Let's be clear here: We are speaking about verifiable cures. That person was ill and now that person is well directly because of your psychic intervention. If you want to have power, you must meditate on movement and change! Now this adage applies to any religion, and to any philosophy. All. If your religion and/or your philosophy doesn't enhance your psychic abilities, go find a religion or a philosophy that does grant you such ability because your old religion and philosophy is frankly a fraud. Don't waste your life on nonsense. Movement and change are the keys to power and not static stillness. Energy is energy, whether the energy be psychic or sexual. The old saying: "In stillness there is strength" is often misinterpreted. What it means is: when confronted, do not fear. Do not be afraid. Do not show any anger or hostility towards them that are challenging you. Do not be intimidated by life and circumstance. Be brave. Be bold. In order not to show fear or anger, one must be calm and cool and be confident in oneself. Confidence requires both strength and skill. Strength and skill come from long training. There are no short cuts in exercise, but the exercise has to be of the right kind in order to achieve power. Otherwise, you're simply wasting your time! In considering any form of training, the predominant question is: Does this stuff work? Do you feel that your energy, your power, is increasing? If what you're trying to achieve is apotheosis, an actual transcendental transformation, you simply can't achieve it by thinking about it or by reading about it---yes, you do actually have to do something about it, and that something is physical; as it's only through the physical that the spiritual can ever be known---you do have to move. You must sweat! Some sort of system such as the "Golden Eagle Set" (as detailed in my two e-books for the Amazon Kindle: Heart-Healing The Chariot Way and The Chariot Way The Dream of Crom) should be practiced daily. Why? Well, research has shown that at least three positive innate hereditary traits are directly related: those of entrepreneurship, intelligence and creativity; but we also know all three rely upon increasing brain function and that comes through your own efforts. The mind needs its nourishment. Although the reading and the studying of esoteric texts can sometimes be helpful in supplying this nourishment, it's only through prolonged daily physical effort that the body and ultimately the mind can be sufficiently stimulated to be transformed. Sitting still won't do it; the correct kind of exercise will. Don't fall into the trap of despondency. Don't despair. Smile. Too many people are critics and not creators and they tend to demean everything, but anger never found anything new. It's important to at least try to find something new that no one else has ever discovered as it makes of life an adventure instead of a trial. Relax. Calm down. So many have allowed their anger to strangle themselves with the hidden rage that's buried inside their own entrails. Not that you ever need to; but if you do, be your own redeemer. Despite all our travail, all we may expect from all our strife is to cause a small ripple upon the still surface of the deep lake of life, but who knows to how far a shore that ripple shall travel? Even the whisper of a small breeze upon the still water might stir a wave. Truth is cloaked in similes and symbols; so that's it for the prose portion of this Blog, the rest is poetry! All that was written and will be written is a plagiarism from Nature. Nothing is ever inevitable; not even death...doubt is good. Any questions, queries, comments and criticisms on/or about anything whatsoever; please, leave them at http://Heart-Healing.ning.com and/or simply e-mail me directly at: oconnor.rothcroi.william@gmail.com

Science and Religion

In the silence of the Self comes a revelation: The purpose of religion is to cause real change in the time-space of an adherent; in other words, change in reality, in the here and now, in the present, and never in that after-life that some faiths preach. The change that's desired in the adherent is very different for different religions, and it is very specific. Note that the change produced is not necessarily one that is in any way beneficial to the adherent (although it might well be so); but the desired destined change is definitely beneficial to the survival of the religion, and therefore also to the survival of whichever specific ethnic-linguistic sub-group had originally invented the religion. Religion is a methodology for myth-making to produce change. Religion serves the same purpose as does art: To create change through psychic transcendental transformation. However, there is a subtle distinction as to the difference between religion and art. In art, the artist is active in his or her creation. Religion is art-full in the sense that religion, like art, is always designed; but the design in religion is not created by the adherent, but instead by the culture of the adherent. All human cultures are religious, though their religions differ radically as do their cultures. Art is individualistic while religion demands collectivity, a group, a gang. And exactly like in art, it's an invention. Humanity invented religion, just as it had invented the wheel, and probably at around the very same time by the convergence of mental evolution, since the universal wheel symbol or a derivative of it (signifying cyclic time-space) is contained within almost all religions. Religions strive to give meaning to the patterns inherent in cyclic events, particularly to the birth-death cycle. The reason religions have adherents is because they do actually work to produce changes in real time; for if religions didn't work, they would be lacking any actual survival value for the sub-groups that invented them and would be quickly abandoned. Of course, for another sub-group, no benefit is derived. No religion could be universal, though some claim to be so. Religion is a selfish invention. Evolution is pragmatic even though it is indifferent and lacks a specific design or any specific designer (men make the gods; gods don't make men). The problem with religion is that every adherent to every religion wishes far different changes to occur; so there exists a conflict of wants between adherents of different faiths, sometimes leading to wars. This is intentional. Religion causes war, not because adherents of various faiths misunderstand the precepts of their respective faiths, but precisely because they do understand those precepts well. Religion is a biological mechanism designed (since all religions are created by men, all religions are designed) to assist and to ensure the relative evolutionary survival of particular ethnic-linguistic sub-groups by the demise and suppression of all others. One of the best proofs for the validity of the theory of evolution is the existence of competing religions and of the competing sects that tend to exist within every religion. These sects are evolutionary mechanisms, similar to a breed evolving into a sub-species. All religions evolve so that they'll come to represent more that one ethnic-linguistic group (that's why every major religion has so many schisms between its sects---those sects represent different groups). The way religions compete is by taking on contrasting views of the universe, and in particular views of the time-space of the universe, the time-space being the dimensional reality in which humans reside. All religions will advocate that their view of reality is true and real, and that any rational objections to their view can't be answered because reality is fundamentally ineffable and unable to be understood by the paucity of human reason and logic. By the action of demeaning human knowledge, religions deliberately cause and promote a unique elite cadre to be formed of clerics, priests and monks, the pundits, who then serve as official interpreters of the religion for the uneducated and unsophisticated: that's us. Of course, politics and science can themselves become religions, as they too shall have their special cadres of elites who claim that their views of reality are also accordingly both the true and real. They know...so we don't. Religion simply hides itself under other names. How one views reality will determine one's behavior. People who fear the divine, for instance as in those religions that make the divine to be the ultimate reality, shall also fear life and therefore can be easily manipulated. Any faith fearing the divine, or any faith fearing those authorities representing the divine, whether that faith be one that is secular (the divine could be a state too or could be a state's constitution---plenty of people, many millions, have died for and have killed for the spurious gods of patriotism) or the faith be one that is sacred (as those in where the will of the divine is considered to be inscribed onto some holy scroll---millions have died and are still dying for such dried deeds), is: pure evil. Pure evil! A strong statement, though an accurate one, as any belief system, any faith in creed or flag, sacred or secular, that demands subservience, servitude and servility, demeans and diminishes humanity. Though we live in an age where there are more people of genius alive today than ever before, we also live in an age where there are more people alive who could be accurately classified as mentally retarded and intellectually deficient. It's precisely these people, the intellectually deficient, who are constantly and continuously attempting to sell and advertise their erroneous visions of reality to others. Those of genius need never sell to each other, but they do and should argue with each other. It is their arguments that must be studied to ascertain whether some have validity. Why take the trouble to study them? How one views reality does have a direct affect on how one acts, so one's reality view ought to be as complete and as correct as possible. Study genius and disregard the viewpoints of the retarded. Their views don't matter. Very few people actually understand the matter on which they pontificate, so why waste one's time on frivolous speech? If you strive to study of and with the best, eventually you should become the best. One shall always be dealing with differing interpretations of reality, and in having to adapt one's own behavior to those realities that society sees, none of which will be true; so the greater effort that could be expended in the studying and scrutinizing of what is actually known, and in acquiring whatever knowledge is available out there, gives one real advantages in arriving at the truth. Once the truth is finally known, whether the truth be about the nature of the universe or about anything else, only then can one even begin to act upon it. Because of this vast reserve of accumulated knowledge, humanity has crossed an evolutionary line into another human species, as advances in genome science now allow humanity to design itself through genetic engineering. Though there are many legal restrictions on the usage of genetic manipulation in the modification of humans, such modification is already taking place. Because of such modification, new religions, to service the needs of these new humans, will be born. New religions for new men. New religions are being created all the time, but as religion implies collectivist community, there has to be a minimum level of adherents for the religion to survive (just as in biology, there needs to be a minimum level of fertile members for a species to thrive). The prevalence of so many apocalyptic religions at the present time means most people are obsessed with the fact of their own personal death and not ready to accept their fated mortality; an attitude that is sad and rather silly. Stupid too. Stay away from all such childish religions. Of the thousands of religions that already exist, seek those aimed at adults. Religion ought to meet one's personal need for meaning, purpose and point to a destiny...much the same as does art. The Time-Space we live in is an echo and a reflection of reality. It's a sham, a simulacrum, a hapless forgery---but a faded shadow of a shadow; not The Real Thing. The conflicts that one sees in the world stem from antique obsolete ideologies based upon false conceptions of reality. Seeking a correct conception of what is real can resolve the conflicts; as even though a full realization of what is real might never occur, the act of seeking is in itself sufficient to achieve a resolution as it exposes the underlying lie of the ideologies that give rise to conflict. What is false is found to be without a foundation by careful contemplation. Seek, find, compare; then decide what's real...what's the truth.

Physics of Confrontations

One of the common problems that one runs into today is the meanness of men. For instance, in the United States alone, there are over seven hundred thousand individuals who are registered as being sex offenders. These are mainly individuals who have been convicted of a felony sex crime, usually rape. The problem with sex offenders is that they are recidivists and so tend to commit the same sort of offenses over and over again. Sex offenders run in families. If the father was an offender, the father's offspring tend to be offenders also, and there is strong evidence of a genetic predisposition in offenders. They commit sex crimes because of who they are. Almost all sex criminals carry a blade or a knife of some sort in order to attempt to intimidate their intended victims with the real threat of potential disfigurement. This is not an idle threat; as all rapists are misogynistic, they hate the women that they rape. The training necessary to survive such encounters, when they occur (and they do occur), involves the use of the forearms, elbows, knees and shins as striking weapons. All of the techniques involve protecting the inside of the legs, the abdomen, the ribs, the inside of the arms and the torso itself from being slashed. Higher level techniques involve guiding the path of the bladed weapon into the attacker's own body, but such techniques require frequent practice to properly utilize them in confrontation; how one practices is how one will act in confrontations. The reason practice is so necessary is that one has to position one's own body to the outside of the arm holding the bladed weapon to avoid being slashed, and this positioning requires very quick, very precise stepping. It's only with daily practice that the correct stepping can be achieved.

Energy and Creativity

Energy is the potential for power. It's absolutely necessary for life. All life. Energy should surge through your body. It should travel inside the body. You should feel it. I'm not talking about the esoteric aspect here. We'll discuss that later. I mean you should really feel energy as a physical force residing inside your body, living in you. If you don't, there has to be some kind of blockage or a misalignment in your body that's preventing you from feeling energy, and that ought to be fixed. There are many people in many disciplines that can help with the alignment. All disciplines work with energy in some way. Call it whatever you may wish...it's the life force. It's what makes you, you! It's important to adjust your body in the correct manner because energy is necessary for creativity. You direct it into whatever pursuit that you are interested in. And if you don't feel it, there must be something wrong. Truly. There are many ways to come to the correct body alignment, and many ways to achieve alignment (there are whole professional disciplines solely devoted to the subject and many textbooks on it); but let's look at one way that's from my parents' culture. What we are speaking of now is changing the potential for power into power that you can actually use to create. This is the esoteric part. Think of your body as composed of three parts: the inner psychic part, which is the energy shell that we spoke about contained within your physical self; that's two now: an energy part and a physical part, with your energy part being inside the physical. The third shell part, clothing the physical, is your multi-dimensional self: your real self. The energy part of you keeps the physical part alive in this dimension; but this is only one single dimension of your true self, the dimension that's the limited one of the here and of the now. True Self is acting as an envelope surrounding your physical self. It's what expands you into other dimensions. This is a feeling of being "here" and "there" simultaneously. It's as if you're always accompanying yourself (which you are). You can't be alone because your "you" is with you. The psychic act of recognition is to acknowledge yourself to yourself. Acknowledgement and acceptance generates your power: now you know you! Well, maybe you don't. Who does? By in this exercise, we are attempting expansion of the psyche, so that a self realization can occur as to what one's true nature really is: that it is multi-dimensional. There are many disciplines that are concerned with connecting you to the universe and they are all fine. Here, in this Blog, we are more concerned with The Dingle Druid Way. The Druid faith and religion has been described as being primarily an esoteric discipline and a mystical methodology for the training of the psyche. But Druid Discipline is mainly far more concerned with connecting you to yourself and in the seeking of your Self. It's non-theistic, rather than being either an atheistic or theistic, discipline. Speaking of energy and of creative connectivity in the physical as well as the metaphysical sphere, we are creative because we are sexual beings. The body and brain form a continuum and that is sexual. An asexual being is not able to create. Again, this is one of the proofs for the non-existence of a deity as normally defined: Creative entities are sexual beings; a non-sexual creative entity is nonsense, an oxymoron. Deities, if such there were, would always be sexual beings. As magically esoteric and as highly abstract as mysticism might seem to an outside observer, mysticism has its foundation rooted in sexuality: Body and Brain are One. The spiritual cannot exist without the sexual. Computers, for instance, could certainly become intelligent and they surely shall; but to make them creative, they would need to be able to mate with each other. Only the creative have a soul. And speaking of your soul; just as the body needs exercise to maintain its health, so does the spirit. Meditative exercises, such as those outlined in my books, are necessary for the health of one's spirit. The soul, in order for its Self to survive, is nourished by meditation and contemplation. To be exorcised of sham mendacity, the soul must be exercised by meditation and by contemplation; but when it comes to energy, many disciplines know what they are speaking of, but some don't. Shop around and find what works best for you. Since this is an important issue, it is best to ask your friends' advice as to what works for them; even if you, yourself, may decide on some discipline that's entirely different. Sometimes friends can give an objective opinion that's better than the subjective opinion of one's own. Remember the old Gaelic saying though: They who have many friends have none; those that have a true few, have enough. Trust in those who trust in you and respect those who have respect for you. All others, be leery of. When it comes to the shaping of your own options in life, trust in the opinions of those few who you truly respect; but the decision is always yours alone. You're sole decider for you; but friends are the reflections of you, and so, if they be true, shall tell you of that which you've kept hidden about yourself from yourself: Listen to them then!

oconnor.rothcroi.william@gmail.com

G-Mail Address is: oconnor.rothcroi.william@gmail.com if anyone wishes to contact me about anything at all that's been posted on this Blog for further amplification, or for greater explanation and explication. If there are any other topics that you might wish me to amplify on or to discuss further in this Blog, just let me know. I've covered completely all the topics that were introduced in my two books. I'm working now on a future fantasy series of novels. Just as long as all my work can be published on the Amazon Kindle, that is where I shall be solely publishing. So look for it there under my name. I have an aversion to print media for environmental and religious reasons...I just can't see killing trees. My work doesn't warrant the murder of a tree. It's not that important. Really. Hopefully it helps a few, but that few is all it's aimed at. The fantasy series: "In Dreams They Are Remembered" that I'm working on shall be taking up all of my time from now on for the remainder of my life. This series ought to keep me busy! I'll continue posting photos and videos from the Celtic Martial Arts Club for those interested (these include how to heal), and my poems too. The reason for writing this fantasy series should be obvious: Humans are story-tellers. They are myth-makers. It's what makes them human. Literally. Stories have a salutary effect if told well. Stories assuage suffering in this world. The secret for writing well is to be well oneself. To be well, one must try to perform one's allotted function. Our priestly function (I'm a Druid) encompasses three aspects: reciting, healing and teaching; so, hopefully, through the Blog, I'll be able to accomplish all three.

Salvation and Sacrifice

Some of the major near Eastern religions, the three major ones, those in particular claiming descent from Abraham, are essentially cannibalistic. These are avatar messianic religions that rely upon a doctrine of eternal return to a paradisaical source: the womb. Although life is lived in history, the history is one of strife. On death, the womb source is the tomb which is shaped like a tabernacle for the body. The earth receives the corpse into itself and then regenerates itself from the receipt of the body. Life is a period of sacrifice and of martyrdom of the Self so that the body can take residence in the eternal womb, signified by placing the scroll of the Torah in the vessel of its tabernacle. The Tabernacle eats the Torah. It's essentially an agrarian sowing outlook, as the seed of the soul has to die for the plant to grow, and the plant is to be consumed as nourishment for the tribe. The dead then are the food for the living. Agricultural communities become dense and crowded and the belief systems of such communities are a form of population control that ensures continuity of the society. Emphasis is on harmony within the community. Consequently there exists an aversion to any faith that would jeopardise the harmony. The heroes and the idols of such societies are those who are willing to sacrifice themselves on behalf of the society. The society is literally nourished by the blood of its martyrs. High birth rates tend to always encourage martyrdom; as someone in a large family could choose to sacrifice themselves on behalf of the whole family and the family will still be sustained without that member's continued presence. The same strategy applies to agrarian religion; as the belief system shall devour its adherents to nourish the religion. In reality then, all of the Abraham descent religions are zombie belief systems wherein the dead devour the living by obsolete tradition and obligation to the authority of long-dead sages and scrolls; for all these are the eaters of the living, as the past eats into the present. These aren't salutary belief systems! Since fully half of humanity subscribes to these systems of belief (Christianity, Judaism, Islam), one can wonder at what that implies for their sanity; as any belief that contradicts reality has to cause immense trauma to the psyche, as that delusion affects a believer's behavior: This leads to violence against oneself possibly and definitely against others. Buried below their outward feigned manifestations of egalitarian brotherhood and fraternity towards those others not of their limited beliefs, these fake simulacra of amity, there only exists hidden hatred and fear; not the joy of real religion. True religion deals with the sublime transcendental transformation of the entire psyche from the mundane to a greater, higher consciousness (real religion is trans formative---that's it's sole purpose---and it's purpose is a good one); unfortunately, Abraham faiths accomplish exactly the opposite. Well, one wonders then: If such faiths are so truly evil at their core, since they mandate the sacrifice of the Self to achieve salvation; why do so many adhere to them? The reason is genetics. Not only do people appear to be very different from each other; they really are different. Just as medications are prescribed for certain ethnic groups because they are effective for them, but not for others as they might be harmful; the same is true for religion. Like drugs, the different faiths work for some and not for others. Humanity is, by its nature, religious. It needs a purpose and a goal. But that purpose and goal is very different in diverse cultures. What works for one group will not work well for another. So, one tries out one way and then yet another to see what way works best for you. Because people are so very different and so diverse in their opinions and in their outlooks on life, it's important to acknowledge this difference and not to try to convert others to one's own faith and religion. What works for you may not work for them and probably won't. The reverse is true too; what works for them may not work well for you. All of life is an experiment after all. Personal choice is the most important criterion in choosing any way of life. What may possibly be moving and trans formative for someone else might well prove to be simply dull and worthless for another because their genetic profiles remain so very different.

Upper Body Arm Applications

Fighting weight is all-important in combat as it affects your speed of response to an opponent's movements; not just in footwork, but also in arm-work. No matter what your frame or your height, do not exceed 200 lbs; as if you do, your reflexes shall be much slower. In combat, one strikes fast and quick with anything one can find, including one's mind, which is the most potent striking tool of all. You have to out-wit your enemy if you want to survive. Usually, when one fights, one will use one's shoulders, one's elbows, one's forearms, and one's hands to strike with. Very rarely are your fists utilized (we are speaking now of the type of fist that's mainly used in non-western boxing---Eastern Boxing---and not the Celtic Fist which is very different indeed); except when one is striking the insides of the arms of the opponents, in order to paralyze them. Striking surfaces of the hands are the heel of the hand and the edge of a hand, plus those three second knuckles: of the forefinger, the middle finger and of the ring finger (this is the Celtic Fist). If one is using an arm to strike, the strike is delivered from the pocket of the opposite arm. This is completely different from what one sees in Eastern arts. How to find this pocket? Well, if one tries to shrug a shoulder, and then moves one's chin in the direction of that shoulder's shrug, one shall find a small cavity inside the shoulder of the arm that is being shrugged. By using this arm pocket, any strike with the opposite arm causes a diagonal swing with that arm, while one's torso turns away from the diagonal swing; in the exact opposite direction of the swing! If the swing is to the right, the torso turns left. If the swing is to the left, the torso turns right. This comes from usages of a sword. The idea is that the torso turns away from an opponent's possible strike when delivering one's own strike; thereby, protecting the torso from possible penetration by the enemy's sword. This is a very important aspect when one strikes with the limbs of the upper body, whether that strike be delivered with one's shoulder, elbow, fore-arm, or the hand. The torso must turn away from the strike. It never turns towards any strike. In addition to granting greater protection for the torso, the strike is able to penetrate further. It's given greater reach. One flings arms away! Any time your arm is thrown out towards an opponent, and your torso doesn't twist away from your opponent; you're in much greater danger of being struck by your opponent. Now, this axiom does not imply to one's vision. Keep both eyes on an enemy at all times: Don't blink. Don't close them. Fore-arm strikes are delivered against the sides of the neck and of the head, while elbow strikes are to be delivered against the base of the skull and to the opponent's throat. The heel of the hand is used against the opponent's fore-head and his heart, while the edge of the hand is used against the opponent's spine. The Celtic three-knuckle fist is used as a slashing weapon against the sides of an opponent's body; to ribs and kidneys, and also against bladder and testicles. Remember all strikes must always be fast and quick and on target.

Lower Body Leg Applications

There are a great many fine illustrations of various martial applications shown on YouTube, but unfortunately very few of them have much to do with actual close combat. This well might be because of cultural differences. In the Western martial arts, the objective is to kill the opponent without causing serious injury to oneself while doing so. One does expect to be injured in any encounter with an enemy (that's why one avoids such encounters); but when an encounter does incur, one expects some injury. Of course, a better way to avoid injury is simply shun those who would wish to cause injury; but, unfortunately, that can not always be achieved (any person is allowed to use deadly physical force if he or she believes such force to be necessary to prevent imminent serious injury to themselves). The problem of serious injury was the original purpose for writing both my works for The Celtic Martial Arts Club, as the idea was to show how injury can be alleviated and minimized when it occurs; although I did get side-tracked because of all the questions regarding the usage of psychic powers. By the way, I've only seen psychic power used once in a confrontation. That was when my father squeezed a person's heart to stop it during an encounter. This was done at a distance (no touching). I've never seen it done by anyone else, although I do understand that there are some practitioners of other arts that can throw people without touching. That I can do myself, so it isn't that rare; but squeezing the heart to death is. The problem with most of the techniques that one sees on YouTube is the footwork; it's not shown, and it's the most important aspect of fighting. You always absolutely do have to get out of the way of your opponent's attack. When you practice techniques, practice as if your arms were bound to your sides and that they are paralyzed, so that you can't lift them, and simply practice trying to twist your torso in order to avoid any attacks, so that they'll slide pass you. You must position your body at an oblique angle to any attack; so that you could close in on your opponent, while avoiding an enemy's attack. You must never back away from an opponent. Backing away is suicide as it allows the opponent to rush in on you and utilize his full body weight to put you down. What you must try to do is close in on him or her while simultaneously avoiding his attack. Fighting is all about clever footwork. When you turn, always turn on your heels. The reason for this is that it lowers and sinks the hips. This allows you to duck under a strike to your head. When your foot is flat on the ground, the weight is then distributed between the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot. When your heel is lifted, all the weight is on the ball of the foot---never place any weight on your toes. The reason for this is that when weight is placed on the toes, your head will come forward, making an easy target for your enemy. The ball of your foot and the heel of the foot are used to attack the opponent's knee and ankle joints in fighting. They, the heel and ball of the foot, are utilized as if one were slashing with a sword. When an opponent moves in on you, slash his legs with your feet. Try aiming with the ball and the heel of your foot at the joints of the knee and ankle of your opponent's leg. The shin of your leg is used to strike against the calf muscle of your opponent's leg. Your knee is used to strike against the opponent's thigh. Your shin is used against his calf while your knee is used against his thigh; remember, shin against the calf and knee against the thigh! The idea behind all this leg work is to use your legs to buckle an opponent's legs to bring him down to the ground. This is not disparage hand and arm techniques, as one uses them in combination with the legs; but to emphasize upper body techniques can't be as effective unless your legs also are busy with side-stepping and kicking enemies; simultaneously, with your fore-arm, elbow and hand strikes. The lesson here is to use your limbs simultaneously in combinations. Don't rely on kicks. Don't rely on punches. Kick with a punch. Punch with a kick...Not: one, two, three. But: one, one, one!

Existence and Being

The experience of existing, the consciousness of it, the awareness of it, the feeling of it, the belief in it, is an entirely different thing than actually existing; its experience is unrelated to the fact of existence. Its experience might occur even without existence itself. One could believe one exists, and it is the first belief we experience (I'm me), even when one doesn't exist because one has ceased to be. Yes, even if one no longer exists! We have no proof that we are, that we exist, except by doubting that we are. That which doubts must be. One could doubt both one's own existence and the fact of there being any such state as existence, and it is in this twin doubt that our existence is born. Without doubt, no truly human existence is ever possible. Let's explain: Let's say that I'm looking at a mirror and also let's say that I'm able to project myself into my own reflection, so that I'm now looking at me looking at me in the mirror image of myself. Which "me" then exists? Well, instinctively one would say that I exist; whatever is identified as I; but, which I is it that exists? What is the identity of this I? Is it the "I" looking at my reflection? Is it that "I" in the reflection looking at the "I" looking into my reflection; or is it both? Well, yes, it's both; but it's also something else that is empowering me to do both. What's that? It's the mirror. The mirror is then the ground for my "I" existence. Only it isn't a mirror as such; it's more of an organic holograph that generates existence. So let's say this mirror, that serves as a ground for existence, is actually alive and somehow is conscious. Built into existence is the potentiality for our consciousness, which consists of a recognition of three aspects of the universe: an awareness of existence; an awareness that awareness exists; and an awareness our existence is intimately related to an awareness that awareness exists. As I tried to illustrate in my two works available for purchase on the Amazon's KINDLE: HEART-HEALING The Chariot Way and The Chariot Way The Dream of Crom, the main prime difference between Western tradition and the traditions of the Near East (Levant) and the Far East (India-China) is the total absence of a need for redemption of the Self and of the annihilation of the Self. Western tradition lacks both redemption and annihilation. One never needs to be redeemed, as there is no conception of sin as such, and one never needs dissolution of the Self, as the Self is inherently good and ought to be preserved; as with the correct proper training, the Self could neither ever be absorbed nor could it ever be diminished: The Soul grows. Grow the Soul. Eastern traditions derive from a far different perception and interpretation (it's a perception that's essentially both cyclic and static; it's an agrarian crop rotation perspective) as to what constitutes the true nature of the universe. The Western tradition (it's a perception that is essentially one of growth and of evolution; it's a livestock breeder's perspective) emphasizes directed transformation: One creates one's own Self through arduous perseverance in the performance of certain actions (and by avoiding in-action), constantly and continuously. The emphasis is on endurance in adversity. Change is the Key and Self-Reliance the Lock. Which view of Nature is correct? The Eastern or the Western? Probably neither one is. The universe is something different entirely, something very strange. This makes it all the more interesting; and even more fun, especially as a question: What's the Nature of the Universe, leads to yet another, and this is: Can we ever know the nature of the universe? Why is this a question? Because we, ourselves, are a part of the universe. So, the very act of attempting to understand the universe changes us. To know the universe is to know each and every part of it. As we're a part of it, we're changing too with our greater understanding. An attempt at trying to understand the universe is causing us to evolve, along with the universe: It's co-evolution.

Neo-Romanticism

In order to survive, one has to increase income and decrease expenditures. This is a truism that applies to states as well as to persons. The national debt of the United States is already above twelve trillion; so how to find a way to do this: increasing revenues while decreasing expenses, is very difficult. If the USA can't find some way, USA can't survive. We know this, but so what? Well, what's interesting about this truism, is that economic necessity has caused a New Age to be born. What? Well, for one thing, the America that we knew shall be gone by 2030---it can't pay its bills; broken up into individual nation states by region. That's coming. For some, this will be a shock. But for most others, an equal more immediate shock has already occurred. They lost their jobs. Bad, yes, but somehow good too. How so? Well, being without work, as so many are today, gives time for reflection. Many people have realized that what they had believed in might well be and quite possibly is the very cause for their being out of work. Financial services firms' fierce greed, fully supported by the Treasury of the United States of America, achieved firms' base opportunistic monetary objectives, causing many other firms to lose financing at a most critical time, directly resulting in the massive layoffs and firings; finally showed to many Americans the true state of the power structure's hierarchy in America. It's something that had always existed since the inception of America; but it wasn't recognized as existing as such by the average American. The United States, like most countries, is run as a plutocratic oligopoly, served by elected officials in public office. Those who have lost their jobs will find that their new jobs, if they are lucky enough to find one, will pay twenty percent less than their old jobs, while bankers in executive positions continue to get their million dollar bonuses every year. People now no longer believe in states, or in nations; nor in political parties. They feel betrayed. And rightly so: They were! People now no longer believe in organized religions. People do however believe in themselves (as they ought). However, a faith in oneself is simply insufficient for most people, as they'll rightly need ("need" being the appropriate word as belief is actually a biological necessity for humanity---since it ensures survival of the species) something beyond and transcendent of themselves to adhere to and to believe in: Something that is maybe immortal. This need has ushered in a New Age. This New Age, that has been long coming, that's beginning right now in fact, is: The Age of Neo-Romanticism. This New Age isn't at all a reversion, but is instead an amalgam and recombination of several already existing trends in technology and in political and religious thought now coming to the fore. It's not anti-scientific by any means; nor is it anti-religious; nor is it anti-business. It's more of a reconciliation of apparent differences in thought and in world-views. It combines those two systems of thought, those systems of science and religion, into a single system. Neo-Romanticism could then be classified as being a grand synthesis of science and of religion---say, of a mystical science and of pragmatic religion---culminating and ending in a nostalgic return to an idealistic transcendentalism. This is a very good trend, and it's a world-wide global trend; one that's not at all limited to any particular nation, nor limited to particular cultures, or to a special ethnic group. Wondrous things are happening in the world! Despite the despondent economy, it's really a good time to be alive! So; stay alive. Keep faith in yourself. Remember: Never give up!

Book-Based Religions

"Learned-Helplessness" habituation is the basis for the Ibrahim book-based religions. If a person feels that he or she is unable to act without a direct intervention from an outside force, because that person is un-worthy (he or she lacks righteousness), and needs direction from a script and the official interpreters of the script in order to act; that person is unable to do anything, except to follow the given script. The god in your heart is the true god; not that god in the book. Book-based gods are false gods and book-based religions are false religions. One of the many proofs for the invalidity of all "sacred" book-related religions is the poor quality of the books themselves---that they're written so badly. Their gods can't write! If there were a deity (there isn't of course), that deity, if it were to choose some poets to inscribe and relate the deity's admonitions (and why would any deity have admonitions to begin with), it would certainly pick the world's greatest poets, the very best; and not some crazed schizophrenics who had been out in the desert sun for a bit too long. Deities have no need to write books; but men certainly do; so to control the actions of other men. Now, why does this matter? Well, let's say one of your goals in life is spirituality---a worthy goal to be sure---it can't come from the study of so-called sacred texts. That's simply a waste and an actual impediment in achieving your original worthy spiritual goal. Sacred mission achievement can come only through endurance; that's by the perseverance in the sublime task of changing and transforming your own thoughts and your own actions: first by the editing and analysis of them; and then finally, by the re-writing of the sacred text of Self.

Signs and Visions

One problem that one finds in writing is the inability of some (not all, by any means) to take full responsibility for what was written and to be held accountable for what was said. Writing, when done well, does have consequences. It should and does. As long as what one says is factual, is the truth, there's never any problem. The truth is always the best defense against any criticism. It is only when one states an opinion as being factual that one deserves criticism. An opinion is just that; it's just an opinion, it's not a fact and yes, any opinion can be stated and asserted, however fanciful and far-fetched the opinion might well be, provided it is not being stated as being a fact. When I'm writing my novels, I'm writing fantasy and since I'm writing about the far-future, the novels are speculative in the vein of neo-romanticism. Fantasy isn't factual; it's made-up stuff. But when I make my predictions, I'm recording visions of the future that I've seen---they are not opinions---but they are interpretations of the future. They are revelations, something that is inherently wholly different from opinions. All predictions are revelations---one is acting in the capacity of a prophet when one states them, and not in the capacity of a critic as in the case of an opinion---it's an important difference. Visions are never wrong, but the interpretations of those visions certainly can be wrong, even mine since they could be misinterpreted. One's perceptions are never unprejudiced. What one screes is distorted by one's experiences. Visions are not clear. Although it is true America's days are numbered (like men, nations die too); mine are not as yet!

Prediction No. 15

Municipalities with unemployment rates above twenty-five percent shall be filing for Chapter 9 protection under the Bankruptcy Code. The problem such municipalities face is indebtedness on municipal bonds against which future tax receipts were pledged. Those receipts shall not be paid as most municipalities rely upon its property taxes for daily operational revenue. Property taxes are based upon assessments of value for structures. Any municipality that has experienced high unemployment has also experienced a corresponding decline in the valuations of property. In a municipality experiencing twenty-five percent unemployment, decline in its property values has been far more than fifty percent. It means a municipality can't pay non-discretionary expenses, such as the pensions and medial insurance premiums for its retirees, in addition to those interest payments due upon its debt obligations. Municipalities shall therefore begin filing for protection under the bankruptcy code, beginning with those cities and towns situated in Michigan (Detroit). Those cities and towns which had depended upon manufacturing and construction and mining as sources of income for residents shall eventually follow Detroit's example by filing for bankruptcy. For every position that is lost in manufacturing, or in construction, or in mining; there are seven positions lost in service related occupations. The US has over fifty thousand municipalities which issue obligations secured by future tax revenue from property tax receipts, totaling almost three trillion in municipal bonds. Most of the bonds are held in public pension plans for retiree benefits. When the municipalities fail so do the bonds of the municipalities and pensions holding the bonds.

Back to Work

Writing is an obligation, an honor, a duty and a calling...it's what I do. Looks like I'll have to start work on a fantasy-future-fiction series of novels. I just had a dream concerning the future (it's more of a vision really) that's pre-cognitive, and it would definitely be a far better future if it could be made to come about. So, how best to describe it? Well, the world will be entering into a new Neo-Romantic Age. I think writing a series of novels set in the future might best give birth to this better future that I've screed; rather than to simply make hundreds of predictions, which would be much easier to do. There are even some computer programs that predict the future; though, admittedly, not very well. So you can judge for yourself, if you wish, as to the accuracy and relevance of all or any of my predictions. Hopefully, if I write it well, the future fantasy series should be very entertaining. This entertainment aspect is important to my mission to effect real change; after all I'm a Druid. If it's not fun to read, who would read it then? Anything else you wish me to write about, my e-mail is at: oconnor.rothcroi.william@gmail.com What could be said and where can it be said? One should expect some real consequences from what one says, or there's no point in saying it after all. Everyone has the right to say anything, but none have a right to be heard; so what one says must entertain. But in order to entertain, it has to be said within some medium for entertainment. In my case, in a series of neo-noir fantasy novels that are set in the far future. The first book is set in the America of 2036. The title of the fantasy series is: In Dreams They Are Remembered. Because the series is fun, or it should be, and not work; I'll be writing as many works for the series as can be published on the Amazon KINDLE. Each work will cost one dollar. This I think is a fair price. Enjoy life! Do well to Be well.

Prediction No. 14

As we've stated before, some individual states, starting with the non-contiguous ones; shall be petitioning Congress for secession from the US. But what we didn't state clearly is why this shall happen. It's easy to predict the future when you do have visions. It's less easy to state why the future shall happen as it will. That's a separate ability. Anyone after all can make a prediction. Well, obviously, a state wishes secession because it's necessary for its survival as a state. States want to survive. What single event shall be the cause for such secession then? Well what would trigger the need, and it would have to be a necessity, for petitioning for secession? Health care costs! This is ironic, since normally a state thrives when its populace is healthy. When the US Congress passes its health care bill, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, as it shall do; its costs to the combined states shall exceed an additional quarter-trillion annually. The reason is: enormous expansion of medicaid (the bill mandates that any American not enrolled in another health care plan because he or she cannot afford the cost of premiums shall automatically be eligible for enrollment under Medicaid) to cover all the uninsured indigent and those who are nearly-indigent, whose numbers were greatly increased by the current credit crisis to more than forty million Americans, the same number currently receiving food-stamp assistance (many of whom suffer from chronic obesity-related diseases---again ironic, as they are receiving food-stamps). One-third of all Americans are obese, and amongst them are these uninsured indigent, and two hundred and fifty billion is spent each year on their obesity related chronic conditions. The Federal Government, mainly because of large increases in its military spending to cover its foreign wars, is broke. The USA runs trillion dollar deficits every fiscal year and can't pay for any additional costs for its medicaid programs; so it shall be passing the costs to the individual states, which will bankrupt the states. Of course, the solution is obvious---impose an excise tax of ten percent on all compensation in excess of $250,000. Since three-quarter trillion is already being spent on all health care in United States, each and every year, mainly paid by individuals and by businesses; these additional medicaid costs, to be borne by the states, is far too much to impose on the states' taxpayers (who because they are not indigent---they're taxpayers---won't benefit from expanded medicaid). They'll simply refuse to pay additional taxes. Although a rejection of additional taxation for the benefit of others shall be the nominal reason for taxpayers refusal to pay, the actual reasons for rejection will be religious, will be ethnic and cultural: many medicaid beneficiaries are of Hispanic (a quarter of Latinos in the USA are not insured now and as restrictions upon Latino emigration are lessened, the number of uninsured Latinos eligible for Medicaid enrollment increases) and/or African descent, and some practice Islam. The US Federal Government can't afford to make up for loss revenues to the states, as once the interest due to be paid on the USA's national debt equals or exceeds ten percent of any nation's GDP, interest on government debt becomes very difficult, almost impossible, to pay out to the owners of that debt---and in the US case, it's the Chinese and the Japanese sovereign wealth funds who own the federal US government's debt. It's not Americans. So, any state, if it wishes to survive as a state, hasn't any choice but to petition for secession from the union of all the states in order to remain solvent.

Why do we Write?

Every one who reads this Blog has an interest in improving their physical and psychic abilities, or else why would they be reading this Blog? Now, we do know that one sure way to do both is by engagement in creative activities, and since there are a plethora of such activities, it's actually a pretty easy task to increase abilities...just do it. For me, one of the better ways is by my writing. Aside from improving ability, why do we write (and I believe we should all write)? The reason one's writes is because one loves one's readers. Now, it seems sweet, but it's not nearly as clear cut as it sounds. One's ideal reader is the avatar of one's selfish self. For instance, just so as to illustrate this statement; the reason that one records one's visions as predictions, this Blog being itself a prophecy, is because this selfish avatar that's our ideal reader, is to be shared. And this shared aspect is the magical secret to all writing---even though one may consider oneself unique, there shall always be others who are like you psychically---always. Writing, when it's done well, shall lessen the suffering of this world...always a good and a noble deed. So, once that's accepted (and every creative person instinctively knows this truth---it's really why we're creative); and since the avatar of the writer is always collective (it's shared), this salutary aspect inherent in writing, its amelioration and reduction of world suffering, must also be shared. Suffering for the writer's readers is reduced. Suffering is lessened; always to the good. We know this. That's why this writer writes!

A Matter of Leadership

There is no such thing as a just war, although there can be necessary wars. Wars are waste, and waste can never be justified. The cause of war is a false sense of patriotism and mistaken loyalty to some leader who becomes the personification of the state. Such loyalty is unjustified, because a good leader attempts always to avoid war, and patriotism deals with a state's preservation and never with destruction of another state. The fact that any state finds itself involved in a conflict means the leaders of that state have failed in their duty to preserve the welfare of the citizenry and those foolish leaders, who've engaged the state in war, ought to be replaced with wiser ones.

Be your own Pundit

Ignorance shouts while wisdom whispers. There is no better verification of this ancient saying than listening to and reading the so-called "pundits" on economics and investing. The majority have no idea what they are talking about, but they'll be shouting their lack of knowledge loudly. It's important to know how and why markets work and to have had experience in their working before investing a single dollar on anything or in anything. If you can't read financial statements and don't know how and why financial statements are generated, you have no business being in the market. It's not for you. Accounting is the language of business, just as mathematics is the language of science. If you are unfamiliar with the language used, you can't understand what is being said or what is happening or why it's happening (the why is just as important as the how). So, the best advice that can be given is this: If you would invest (and you should if you have the disposable income), learn the language of business first: study accountancy. Then, once that is done, learn how to analyze statements. If you would be prosperous, learn to be an auditor of life.

Solutions for Stupidity

One of the problems, and it really is a problem, is the costly effort expended by governments to solve problems that have previously been solved, because some solution isn't acceptable to their political elite. A good example of this waste is in energy dispersion and transportation. Abundant energy and efficient transportation services are necessary for the existence of any civilization. Of course, there are those who state that civilization isn't necessary; but the people who've stated this have never been to those places where civilization doesn't exist, and I can assure you that unfortunately many such places still do exist today and there are many more of them every day. Natural gas is an abundant resource, and there are more than enough natural gas fields available to meet global energy needs for the next two hundred years or so (after that, fusion energy shall be readily available). Natural gas is also cheap and the distribution infrastructure for natural gas already exists and it is continually growing larger. Natural gas is easily converted into hydrogen for fuel cells, and the combination of fuel cells plus lithium-ion electric batteries has already been tested (Toyota Highlander FCHV), and it works quite well; so, that transportation problem has been solved. Thermal solar plants, those "power-towers," can be sited at natural gas conversion and distribution plants; so the energy problem has also been solved. Of course, more and greater efficiencies could be achieved, and soon shall be, from these existing technologies: Of natural gas conversion, hydrogen fuel cells, solar thermal, and of lithium-ion batteries (Nissan Leaf). Energy and transportation solutions are known; are now available and they should be implemented now!

Bankruptcy and the Military

When the only firm that's hiring happens to be the Army, the country is in big trouble. That is exactly what is happening in America today. Why? Even since the second world war, the USA has continuously invaded and interfered militarily in the domestic affairs of foreign countries in the mistaken belief that it has some exceptional providential right to do so. It does not. The US spends over a half trillion every year on its military, a sum that is more than the total combined defense spending of every other nation; every year US does this and wonders why it's bankrupt!

The Necessity for Change

Transformation, changing from one psychic state to another, is actually a physical process much like drinking and eating. It's instinctive. Just as some foods and drinks are wanted and needed as nourishment, the body has to be nourished physically by some process of change in order to transform into another psychic state. So, all transformation requires changes of some sort, and those changes are real physical ones---changing jobs, changing spouses, changing houses---as the very action of any physical change, whatever that change might be, triggers a corresponding change in one's psychic state. The need for change is genetic, and it's built into every cell of the body. We have to change to survive. Any belief system that restricts the ability to change is therefore evil, since all restriction must murder the soul. Beware then of any belief that comes in company with some matching set of commandments; such religion kills consciousness.

Druid Religion

Well now that those two books on the Druid religion and on Celtic culture were published on both MobiPocket.com and on Amazon KINDLE, I believe it should answer all of the queries that were posed. H-J Chang and Lou Reed had asked if I would put this all in writing; as it's never been explained properly before, and all that has been written about it previously was done so by those outsiders unfamiliar with Druid religion. And if you have read this blog and the books, you'll see there were many misconceptions, and that's why this blog and the books were written---to clear up those misconceptions. Hope so anyway, but if anybody still has questions, just ask! The e-mail address for HEART-HEALING Chariot Way blog is: oconnor.rothcroi.william@gmail.com

Prediction No. 13

States, which are artificial entities, survive as long as they serve their function of conserving the privileges of the elites which created them. Usually the state's elite consists of a single ethnic or cultural group which shares a common set of values, customs and beliefs. When the interests of the founding elite is no longer served by the state, or when another state more strongly serves the interests of the founding elite, the original purpose of the state has failed, and without that founding purpose, the state will also fail. If a new elite shall rise to replace the old, a new state arises with that new elite. It may well claim to be a continuance of the original state and might even use the same name; but, in reality, a new state has been formed to service the interests of a new oligarchy that has managed to replace the old. Such is the fate of all states and of all elites.

Druid Meditation Methodology

Meditation methods are used to excite the pre-frontal cortices of the brain. Druid meditational methods differ in that they focus on the process of change. If one imagines that there is a traffic light in front of one that's been changing from blue to green and back again, within a continuous pattern, one can get a good idea of how Druid meditation works. The same can be done with tones, with scents, with tastes, with touches---the idea being that there are two separate and distinct things that can change and may morph, one into another; so that this changing process creates new third things. Druid meditation teaches that the mind can create from two separate somethings, both distinct and separate, a third thing; just by using the power already innate in one's mind alone. The second step in this process of meditation is the mixture of the senses---a sound, for instance, can be changed into a hue, and so on; so that we have, as its product: a color tone. The third step in the meditation process is the creation of a new sense from nothingness: a new sense is to be created, rather than a combination of existing senses, expanding still further the entire repertoire of the senses; there's no limitation upon the process, just its daily exercise.

Prediction No. 12

Humanity happens to be a very boring species, and boring species may survive and might thrive for a while; but eventually they'll become extinct. Extinction is the fate for humanity, as it must be for all species. No species is immortal, although some might continue for a very long time. As we've pointed out, humanity is now splitting into two separate species: one, which lives a very short lifespan, but remains quite fertile, the majority of men; and one, which has a quite long lifespan, but is not as fertile, the minority of men. Now both of these groups do exist presently, but not as separate species (not yet anyway); yet the time is coming within the next twenty-five years when they shall split off from each other. What happens then? Those who are long-lived (having a life span in excess of a hundred, without any sign of either physical or psychological impairment or decrepitude) have very different attitudes and outlooks than those others, those who are short-lived. The concerns of the short-lived seem absolutely absurd and even frivolous to any who are long-lived. This is why the long-lived tend to abstain from the pursuits of those that don't live as long as they: they'll frankly find those pursuits, not only silly; but also boring.

Bare-Knuckle-Boxing: The Three Tines

The Celtic Fist in the Conn Style or in Wes tie Wall-Fighting (as it's known in New York City) is formed and made by bringing the ball of the thumb over to cover the nail of the ring finger, the finger that's next to the small finger, the pinkie finger. By pressing down upon the nail of the ring finger, the knuckles of the second joints of the middle finger, the ring finger, and of the index finger, will, all three knuckles of them, be pressed forward. This fist configuration of the three knuckles is called: three tines. This name comes from the shape of a spade that's used for the cutting of the peat-turf. And this is exactly what these three knuckles are used for: cutting and splitting---exactly then as my family's fish-head sword is so used, and it's very different from other styles of the bare-knuckle-boxing. The strikes are utilized against the opponent's body as if one were loudly rapping or knocking upon a door (that door being the torso of the opponent). By the way, the word is Wes-tie and not Westy. The reason is: one ties up an enemy by the combination of blows; clinching is a very clever methodology for locking with one's fists.

The Celtic Sword of Conn: The Fish-Head

There are many different styles of Celtic bare-knuckle-boxing. The one I know is from the Clan of Conn from Ballydavid Head. In New York City, this style is called Wes tie Wall-Fighting, and it's been modified from our old Conn Style (the main difference between our family style and the styles of other families, is that our style is a sloping system---it was developed to fight on the slopes of the hills and mountains of West Cork and Kerry against invaders) for the alleys and the air-shaft passageways of the City's tenements. It employs lots of difficult footwork, like leaps and hops and jumps. The actual techniques in the Conn style come from the usages of the sword. The swords that were used by my family are not the ones that are normally depicted as being Celtic. Those swords are fine weapons, but they are not the ones that my family used; usually those weapons are various modifications on Norse or Norman swords, which was a Viking weapon, or on various Teutonic and Germanic swords. The sword that my family used is called the fish-head or salmon-sword, and like its name, it is shaped like a fish swimming. It looks very much like the Iberian Falcata, except the hilt on the sword is not open. The hilt is entirely enclosed, so that the sword is gripped much like the lever on a lever-action Winchester rifle, four fingers on the inside with the backs of those fingers making contact, with the thumb on the outside. The reason for this particular grip is so that the sword can be shook when it makes any cut, rather than having to make a big swing with one's entire arm to achieve that same cutting action. This shaking action causes the sword to make a stabbing, as well as a cutting movement, with just a very small downward inclination of the elbow, rather than using the entire shoulder. The sword will literally leap forward, as an extension of the arm. This action is the whole basis for our style of bare-knuckle: three knuckles leap forward by a shaking of an elbow to knock on the enermy.

Prediction No. 11

The United States spends over a half-trillion each fiscal year upon its military, despite having an annual trillion dollar deficit; regardless of which political party happens to be currently in power. Because of this vast difference in what the US spends on its military (a half-trillion), compared to the discretionary funds available to be spent (nothing), the primary mission of the armed forces of United States has been drastically shifted from its original purpose of protecting the domestic US citizenry from foreign attack and encroachment to one of serving and catering to the needs and ambitions of the principal creditors of America; in effect, making its military into a foreign mercenary legionary force.

Prediction No, 10

Some of the programs that governments run to meet their citizens' health needs are already now bankrupt. For instance, in the United States, the medicare and medicaid funds have no monies because monies allotted to those funds have already been fully expended to meet the interest payments due on treasury obligations. Payments from these funds go to meet long-term chronic care needs of the elderly, disabled and the indigent. Payments are especially high for those who are in their final year of life due to some terminal illness. Because there are no longer any funds to expend, society shall attempt to shorten the final period of terminal illness of dying patients through fostering assisted suicide for the terminally ill: no patient---no payment. Gradually the impetus towards voluntary assisted suicide, which exists now, shall be shifting from a voluntary decision initiated by the patient to states mandating compulsory suicide for all those deemed terminally ill. For those who have long-term chronic debilitating diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, state pressure to terminate life through suicide will be immense as the state shall have no monies available to pay for the extended care of those who are afflicted with these conditions.

Prediction No. 9

Because of the coming vast demographic changes, migration from the south to the north, the primary language spoken in the United States will have switched from American English to Mexican Spanish within twenty-five years. Many English speakers shall have already moved northward into Canada; so that Canadian English, with all of its spelling and pronunciation differences, will be the primary language for those Americans who do continue to speak English. Since, for all intents and purposes, the Chinese government will have ownership of America and of American assets (China is America's principal creditor and America will have defaulted on its treasury obligations), Mandarin will be taught in all public schools as a necessary part of the business curriculum. Naturally, in time, all three languages shall become synthesized; with a combination of Mandarin, Spanish and English becoming the common language for commerce.

Prediction No. 8

Once any nation's yearly fiscal deficit exceeds 120% of its yearly GDP, which would result in the interest to be paid on that government's total debt obligations exceeding twenty percent of its yearly GDP, that nation technically shall go into default. This is so because the interest on the nation's total debt can no longer be paid timely to all of the known owners of the nation's debt. And if this condition continues for several fiscal years, the country itself will have to go bankrupt, declaring its insolvency to all its debt owners, because the nation could never be able to pay off the entire principal on its obligations when they shall become due, and none would be willing to purchase any more of that nation's future debt obligations. This bankruptcy situation shall be happening in the US within the next twenty-five years. But because the owners of the US debt obligations won't be citizens of the United States (they'll be the sovereign funds controlled by other nations), the owners of US debt in default will effectively own the US and shall have an unobstructed access to all of the US A's national assets. USA assets will be auctioned off to pay these foreign creditors.

Prediction No. 7

People are fearful of liberty; they do desire immortality; however, fear of liberty and desire for immortality are directly contradictory. This contradiction will cause a divide amongst humanity; between those who desire security and those who desire immortality. The reason that some people, a very few, are not afraid of freedom is that they can see the future and this ability for foresight gives to them the opportunity to shape their own destiny, although they might choose not to exercise it for some reason (this is why religions and spiritual systems relying upon the will of a creator deity are inherently evil--there is no creator deity and the will that they are following is actually that of the clerics of this non-existent deity). It is also one reason why all socialistic systems of government are inherently evil. Even though a socialist state actually can exist (unlike the creator deity), total reliance upon any state for one's survival causes a loss to the individual immune response (literally, as the individual has not had an opportunity to protect himself or herself from destructive ideas, those consensus ideas of the socialist state. Since ideas do affect the brain and can cause lessening of immune responses, this loss can affect the body's ability to withstand future invasions by harmful virions and bacteria). Those who wish to live long then will migrate to states that give an individual greater liberty. This means a mass migration from some states, the socialist ones, to those of a more libertarian government. The result then is health administrating costs in socialistic states drastically rise, because more members of these states have poor immune systems. Costs skyrocket up, as most healthy members have already left, leaving the more vulnerable members remaining; resulting in state bankruptcy. Liberty is the necessary companion to life; they form a marriage: If you would live long; seek those states which are most free.