Mind Flight Has Taken Off

For those of you following the serialization of Tom's new book, Mind Flight: Wisdom, Enlightenment, and the Journey of Life, on Copthorne Macdonald's The Wisdom Page, the end of the month brings with it not only the usual pumpkins and witches but another chapter in the saga.

Chapter Four, The Yin-Yang of Time, is already up on The Wisdom Page for viewing. The initial chapters have been getting some very good hits according to Copthorne and we have had some great responses from people by phone and in person.

More than that, in coordination with the Internet debut of the book, Tom has devoted the last few sessions out at Rio Salado Lifelong Learning Center to presentations on Mind Flight. What a trip that has been, to borrow some jargon from the 60s. As the book is a mix of the highly theoretical and philosophical with a very intimate and honest personal narrative, these presentations have delivered a real wallop in both the mental and emotional spheres. And did I mention funny? Tom captures the tenor of the times superbly and the audience has shown their approval. (They all survived the 60s and 70s!)All can resonate with Tom's courageous depiction of the craziness and angst of life and these sessions have proven to be so popular that an additional one has been scheduled.

Tom will be doing a third presentation on the book on Tuesday November 10th at Rio Salado's West-side site (see the upcoming events bar on the side). If you want a very entertaining and enlightening two hours, you are, as always, welcome to attend.

I will leave you now with a preview of Chapter Four of Mind Flight:

Chapter Four finds Tom deep into his existential quest for meaning and philosophical understanding in a chaotic world as he spirals into a five-year dance of romantic madness interspersed with extensive solitary sojourns of deep intellectual exploration. He encounters J. T. Fraser and confronts the great conundrum and significance of evolution and time. He attempts a heroic synthesis of Spinoza, Leibnitz, and the Yin-Yang with some Plato and Aristotle thrown in for good measure. He looks into the abyss of atheism while embarking on a painful journey of self-discovery with a Baptist Minister. He criscrosses the country like a peripatetic monk, rooming with sharks and lesbians and alienating old friends along the way. Separation, divorce, and miraculous reunions; loneliness, angst, and self-loathing; passion, sex, and abstinence; and strange harbingers of fate in the form of shooting stars…. This is Chapter Four of Mind Flight.

Kick-off for Arizona Chapter of the WFS

Well Arizona is finally on the futurist map. Our good friend and futurist ally, Joan Foltz, has taken the initiative to start an Arizona chapter of the World Future Society.
This is big stuff. To get things rolling there will be a Kick Off this Monday, October 26, 2009, from 6:30-8:30 PM at the University of Advancing Technology,
2625 W Baseline Rd, Tempe, AZ (I10 & Baseline, next to the Point at S. Mountain).
Those planning to attend, please RSVP by email to AZWFS@alsekresearch.com.

Here is more on the event from Joan:

Meet and Greet other Arizona futurists at the first organizational meeting of the Arizona Chapter of the World Future Society. Come join us to discuss the AZ chapter’s future plans for events that will include speakers, open debates and discussions, workshops, and more. The meeting is open to anyone interested in all aspects of the future.

Phoenix has an active futurists’ community that we hope will help us make this a vibrant gathering for everyone in the membership, plus reach out to the local community. Besides being a venue for insightful discussions, our intent is to introduce futures studies foundation concepts used in future thinking, strategies and methodologies for people to use in their professional and personal lives.

Since we are in early formation, your input on how to make this a successful, active chapter will be very welcomed. Interested in participating in the chapter’s organization? Please Come.

Any questions?

Contact: Joan Foltz, 480-756-8449

jfoltz@alsekresearch.com


LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!!!

"Lightning in the Darkness"

CHAPTER THREE OF MINDFLIGHT NOW AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING

For those following the serialization of Tom's new book on Copthorne Macdonald's Wisdom Page, here is a preview of the next chapter, "Lightning in the Darkness":

Amidst the steel mills of northwest Indiana Tom discovers the joy and exhilaration of teaching – of creating intricate mind maps on intellectual history, learning, thinking and creativity, and holistic psychology. But after order comes chaos. After superficial sanity comes some real madness. After studying science, epistemology, and perception, life takes a Dionysian turn – lightning strikes – and the world begins to sparkle and swirl. Now enter sex, and drugs and the metaphysical realities of science fiction. Tom wanders through the unfathomable vastness of “The Library of Babel” and goes in search of quality and love and a mythical red-haired woman called Harmony. Consciousness expands – consciousness falls apart. Life becomes a strange saga in some alternate reality perhaps of his own creation. There is a brush with death in a blizzard in Wisconsin. There is a conversation with God. Life seems filled with paradox. He leaves Indiana for the promise of adventure and the beauty of the Rockies, where he floats in sensory isolation tanks, comes unglued, and is, metaphorically, nailed to the cross. He falls off the edge – the precipitous cliffs – and rolls all the way back to Indiana where he is captured by a “bright-eyed girl.” This is chapter three of Mind Flight.