On Not Throwing the Baby Out With the Bathwater – Patheos

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On Not Throwing the Baby out with the Bathwater

1 Thessalonians 5:19-20

A few years ago I must have said We shouldnt throw the baby out with the bathwater once too often because when I said it the whole class burst out laughing.

Thats okay; one thing I know about myself is Im funniest when Im not trying to be.

I confess it. I do like that rustic sayingDont throw the baby out with the bathwater. It very well describes a struggle Ive been involved in for many years. In some ways, it defines my personal struggle with my religious heritage.

After teaching Christian theology to college and seminary students for 27 years Im confident Im not alone. Many students share my struggle in their own ways. The same is true for many of my colleagues and friends.

Some succeed in not throwing the baby out with the bathwater and some dont. Im not here to blame anyone but to share my struggle with you and hopefully encourage you if you find yourself involved in such a struggle.

That sayingDont throw the baby out with the bathwaterhas an interesting history. I have heard one explanation of its origin that seems a little far-fetched. Allegedly, back in the Dark Ages, peasants bathed only once weekly. They would fill a half barrel with soapy water and the family members would take turns bathing in it. Of course, the father would go first. Then the oldest son. Then the mother and children. The baby would be bathed last and by then the water was so filthy it was easy to lose the baby in the bathwaterespecially if you looked away for a minute and the baby sank down into the water. So, the tale goes, occasionally the baby would be thrown out with the bathwater.

Personally I always found that explanation unlikely. The urban myth debunking web site snopes.com agrees with me.

While nobody knows who first coined the saying, it seems to come from Germany and the first published appearance is in a 15th century book of German poems. Interestingly, Martin Luther used it in a 1526 letter. He wrote Man soll das Kind nicht mit dem bad ausgiessen. Its first use in English was by British essayist Thomas Carlyle in 1849.

I suppose I probably first heard it from one of my grandmothers. They were always going around uttering quaint advice like Watch your ps and qs'whatever that means.

But this sayingDont throw the baby out with the bathwaterhowever quaint and odd seems to paraphrase Pauls advice to the Thessalonians well. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 he instructs them (my translation): Do not quench the Spirit or despise prophecies. Carefully examine all things and hold on to what is good. In the next verse21he tells his readers to reject whatever is harmful.

Some English translations translate the Greek word prove thus rendering the verse in English prove all things. That doesnt make any sense in modern English, of course. In the past prove could mean test, but today it generally means something else. So a good, workable translation for today is critically examine everything.

Thayer says means to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing be genuine or not), as in metal testing. It is used often in the New Testament and in the Septuagint almost always meaning critical examination of something to prove its validity.

The context of this verse is prophecies. Paul instructs the Thessalonian Christians not to despise them. Immediately he then instructs them to critically examine them which raises a lot of questions the foremost being how? Paul doesnt answer here. And thats beside the point for my purposes.

My only intention in choosing this passage as a text that has shaped me is to support and defend something much neglected in Christian communitiesespecially conservative ones. That something is critical thinking and testing of things within the church and Christian organizations.

But Paul then goes on to say that after they have tested prophecies (or whatever) they are to hold firmly to what is good. The implication, of course, is that they were to discard what is bad.

Dont you wish Paul had finished his thoughts sometimes? I can just imagine the Thessalonian Christians listening to this letter being read to them and asking in consternation How? By what criteria are we supposed to critically examine prophecies? We can only wish with them that Paul had given specific instructions about that.

Ill never forget when this text first hit home to me. You know that Aha! moment when experience and text come together and suddenly it means something very existentially compelling to you? That happened to me. I dont remember the date, but I remember the place and the time frame. Then this text became a great comfort and challenge to me.

I grew up in a form of Christianity most of you cant even imagine. Sometimes Im even embarrassed to talk about it. Whenever I meet someone who also grew up in it I want to grab them and sit down and talk at length. I want to say Hey, lets form a support group! Often I find they went one of two directions with iteither deeper in or farther away.

You see, the religious form of life I was raised in was almost cultic in its extreme legalism. Ive come to refer to us as urban Amish. We lived in a city, but we regarded everything and everyone around us as bound for hell unless they repented and joined our group or something very much like it.

Television was held in great suspicion; it tended to come and go in our home. Our first television was a rented set so that I would have something to do when I was bed ridden for months with rheumatic fever when I was 10. A 10 year old can only read the Bible so much. And reading the Bible was strongly emphasized in our home and church. Anyone who had not read the Bible all the way thoughincluding all the begatsby the time he or she was 12 was considered destined for hell.

When I got well the television stayed for a while, but then it went back to the rental store and we didnt have another one for years.

Movies were absolutely Verboten. What if Jesus came back while you were sitting in a den of Hollywood iniquity where people have sex in the back seats? Seriously. Thats what we were asked by Sunday School teachers. I didnt darken the door of a movie theater until I was 20.

I think you get the picture. But more pertinent to my story than all the rules and regulations that governed almost every minute aspect of life was the one great unspoken but always enforced rule and I learned the consequences of breaking it much to my detriment.

That one great rule was Dont ask why. Of course, it was okay to ask why IF you asked in the right spirit and with the right attitudeone of humble acceptance of whatever answer was offered. But if you asked why really challenging a rule or a belief or a custom youd better watch out. Your eternal soul was in jeopardy. I do not exaggerate.

You see, our form of Christianity was not garden variety fundamentalism. It made fundamentalists look like liberals. We considered fundamentalist Baptists liberals because they didnt believe in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit such as speaking in tongues and healing.

My stepmother was the epitome of our spiritual way of life.

When we went on family vacation we had to find a church as close to ours in beliefs and practices as possible and attend it in Sunday morningSunday school and all.

I got punished for putting my school books on top of a Bible at home.

My brother and I werent allowed to wear cut off jeans, to say nothing of shorts, or to swim with girlswhich meant no swimming in any public pool. Occasionally our church would rent a YMCA swimming pool for an afternoon or evening. But the boys sat out while the girls swam and vice versa.

My problem was that I pretty much kept all the rules and, in spite of them, had a marvelous, life-transforming experience of Jesus Christ in that context, but as I matured I couldnt stop asking Why? Why this rule and that belief? And when the answers werent satisfying I kept asking.

When I was in sixth grade I must have asked too many questions in Sunday School because one Sunday the teacher stood up, threw down his Sunday School quarterly and said Roger, you teach the class and stomped out. I did teach the class. Needless to say, I got a spanking that afternoon.

If you grew up in our church there was really only one option for collegeour denominations Bible college. Everyone went there. To not go there was to put a big question mark over your spirituality. It was a deal breakernot to go there was to be shunned by family and friends. So I went there. And I suffered four years of hell.

We were not allowed to ask questions in class unless they were simply for clarification of a point. The whole curriculum and pedagogy was about indoctrination. And there was a deep strain of anti-intellectualism in the school.

I simply couldnt stop myself from asking the Why? question. Why do we believe that? Where does that tradition come from? Why do we do that? Most often the answers were less than satisfactory and I was labeled a trouble maker for persisting in my questioning.

At a particularly low point in my college career I came across this verseExamine all thingsand felt released from guilt and condemnation. I came to realize that I was being spiritually abused. That my elders had created idols out of highly questionable beliefs and practices and were using shame to manipulate and control studentsespecially those few of us who dared to question the idols.

One day the president of the college called me into his office and told me not to come back to school the next day unless I got my hair cut. My hair then came down a bit over my collar and about half way over my ears. Men were not allowed to have long hair or facial hair including side burns. (Not that I could ever grow side burns anyway!) I got my hair cut, but that was a turning point for me. I knew I was being singled out for special abuse because of my constant subjecting of things to critical examination.

During the second semester of my senior year the colleges board of regents discussed not allowing me to graduate in spite of my grade point average which was 3.5. They finally decided they probably couldnt legally prevent me from graduating, but agreed among themselves to blackball me from finding a position in the denomination.

I was tempted to run as far as I possibly could from that form of Christianity. We called ourselves conservative evangelicals. Did I even want to be an evangelical Christian anymore? I wasnt at all sure.

But I kept coming back to a few really amazing experiences of the reality of Jesus Christ in my life. They kept me anchored in my evangelical faith even as I slowly but surely shook off the extreme fundamentalism and legalism and anti-intellectualism of my home, church and denomination.

The last straw for my family and church and denomination was when I enrolled in seminary. I was the first person raised in that denomination ever to go to seminary. My people always called it cemetery. Enrolling in a Baptist seminary assured that I would never again be welcome among my own people.

At that seminary I found a very different flavor of evangelical Christianitya warm-hearted but at the same time tough minded evangelicalism that was not at all threatened by my questions. And I drank deeply at the wells of open, progressive evangelical theology and it tasted so good.

As I progressed on into my doctoral studies I met many young men and women who had grown up in religious environments like my own and I noticed a pattern. It seemed they either were incapable of thinking for themselves or they rejected evangelical Christianity entirely. I determined to do what I didnt see very many of those friends doingkeep the baby while throwing out the bathwater.

It hasnt always been easy. Wheres the line between legalism and righteousness? Between traditionalism and tradition? Between fanaticism and passion? Between authoritarianism and authority? Between gullibility and openness to the miraculous?

Over the years Ive witnessed so many young Christians in university and seminary struggling out of abusive fundamentalism with its near idolatry of human ideas and traditions and its abuse of inquiring minds. And Ive been dismayed by how often they do throw the baby of evangelical faith out with the bathwater of fundamentalism. But I cant blame them because I came very close to doing it myself.

Now Ive become a little more comfortable in my own skin and knowing the difference between the baby and the bathwater comes easier for me. I need to be patient with those who are still finding their way in that. I want to give them guidance if I can.

So let me tell you some of the things I think we should keep as we discard their counterfeits.

We should not throw the baby of tradition out with the bathwater of traditionalism. Historical theologian Jaroslav Pelikan of Yale said that Traditionalism is the dead faith of the living while tradition is the living faith of the dead.

We should not throw the baby of certitude out with the bathwater of certainty. Kierkegaard coined the term certitude as the replacement for Enlightenment certainty which is a myth. We finite and fallen human beings cant have certaintyespecially about answers to lifes ultimate questions. But we can have certitude which means, in Lesslie Newbigins words, proper confidence.

We should not throw the baby of confession out with the bathwater of creedalism. I no longer will sign someone elses creed or confessional statement, but if asked I will gladly tell my confession of faith in classical Christian doctrine.

We should not throw the baby of faith out with the bathwater of anti-intellectualism or the baby of reason out with the bathwater of rationalism.

We should not throw the baby of truth out with the bathwater of totalizing absolutism.

We should not throw the baby of feeling out with the bathwater of emotionalism.

We should not throw the baby of patriotism out with the bathwater of nationalism.

We should not throw the baby of the Gods supernatural activity out with the bathwater of gullibility about miracles.

We should not throw the baby of biblical authority out with the bathwater of wooden literalism and strict inerrancy.

We should not throw the baby of accountability out with the bathwater of hierarchy.

And so I could go on. There are so many examples of ways in which disillusioned Christians throw the good out with the bad.

So how can we know which is the baby and which is the bathwater? Perhaps theres no litmus test. I havent found one. It would be too simple just to say Jesus. But a Christ-centered consciousness is part of it.

But one thing Im sure of. In our Christian communities, we should find ways to reward and not punish those courageous souls who dare to ask Why? because they do us a great service by making us ask about the difference between babies and bathwater.

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On Not Throwing the Baby Out With the Bathwater - Patheos

My Gentle, Intelligent Brother Is Now A Conspiracy Theorist And His Beliefs Are Shocking – HuffPost

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My brother is a modern conspiracy theorist.

He calls himself an Evolutionary Linguist-Spiritual Warrior Fighting for Human Free Will on Earth on his TikTok account, which has 12,500 followers. He uses hashtags like #zombe #apocolypse #weare #freedom and #1111. The latter, as far as I can tell from doing a little Googling, is a symbol that often represents interconnectedness and synchronicity, and that inspires individuals to attempt to manifest their intentions and take action to turn their visions into reality. On the surface, this sounds sedate, even inspiring especially as we come out of COVID isolation. None of us seem to want to go back to normal because normal didnt serve us.

Last April, my sister-in-law texted me to warn me that my brother was heading, unannounced, to my doorstep in Idaho, where I care for our elderly father. I knew he believed everyone on the planet who received the vaccine will be dead in a few years, but I had no idea of the depth of his fantastical beliefs.

Our evening together started with him mansplaining why cryptocurrencies are our only hope and how he had the idea for Amazon before Jeff Bezos did and how he would be the richest man in the world if not for some bad breaks along the way. Although he wasnt physically at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., he referred to the Jan. 6 rioters as we.

Later that night, my brother announced, The real reason Im here is Ive come to warn you that over the next two weeks, a lot of shit is going to come out about whats been going on for the past 50 years, 100 years, 4,000 years. It is going to shock you to your core. All the conspiracy theories everyone you ever heard from politics to Big Oil to wars in Afghanistan to Biden not being president this pulls it all together. At this point, I excused myself to go to the restroom, turned on the Voice Memos app on my iPhone, and tucked it in my back pocket in case he divulged any plans for violence, which, thankfully, he did not. The following is a transcribed summary of the main points he knows with certainty that the media wont tell us about.

The banking system here in the U.S. has already collapsed, he told me. They are just trying to figure out how to tell everyone. We, as a race of human beings, for 4,000 years going back to the Sumerians, have been used as food by the elites. Its about to come to an end. They got rid of the race that was using us as cattle. They drove them out of all these tunnels theres a tunnel from Washington, D.C., to LA that takes half an hour on a bullet train. Theres a whole fucking society that lives underground. In Australia, theres [a tunnel] all the way around the continent and its being used for human trafficking and organ harvesting and basically using human beings like cattle. JFK found out about it 50 years ago, and its taken 50 years to drive them out. And its now over. The Catholic Church, the military industrial complex and Wall Street have fucked us for the last 200 years.

While I agree with the last sentence, for the past eight months, Ive tried to make sense of how my little brother who I think of as highly intelligent, gentle and conscientious has come to embrace the rest of what he told me and make it his lifes mission to spread it. Its incredibly challenging to continue interacting with him, and Ive found myself wondering if I even should.

To write my brother's (and my neighbors' and country peoples) many conspiracies off as unworthy of taking the time to study is a tempting way out. But to not at least try to understand is likely a fatal mistake.

In the process of studying his ideas and trying to keep an open mind and heart, Ive questioned every one of my own beliefs. Ive tried to determine how big of a threat these conspiracy theories are and where we as friends, family, communities and society should focus our efforts on combating them. To write my brothers (and my neighbors and country peoples) many conspiracies off as unworthy of taking the time to study is a tempting way out. But to not at least try to understand is likely a fatal mistake.

As a Libra, I pride myself on finding balance. As a local politician, Im committed to listening to a variety of perspectives and seeking common ground in pursuit of the best solutions. Dealing with my brother has challenged the core principles of compassion, inaction and harmony I hold dear as a student of Taoism and Tibetan Buddhism. While other family members refuse to engage, Im triggered into a primordial rage by the videos he texts me because he loves me and wants to help me wake up before its too late. Inevitably, these videos are taken off the internet before I have time to watch them a second time. I often find myself texting messages to him that Id never text to another family member, friend or neighbor. Its not unlike lashing out at a toddler for their mischief and, when you snap out of it, you are overcome with shame and sadness for what youve said.

In trying to come to grips with the deep division within my family, and indeed our nation, I recognize now that I turned to my intellect to gather facts and scientific evidence to help me better understand this situation. In doing so, Ive lost my balance between intellect and my core values of affection and kindness. My older sister, upon reading a draft of this story, said I was acting like a Viking warrior queen trying to annihilate the enemy with words and therefore exacerbating division. She suggested I turn the mirror on myself and consider the idea that I am the stupid one, the downtrodden, the toddler that we are all toddlers learning to walk, run, dance, and who am I to be critical?

I suppose annihilation by words is better than the alternative, but to her point, Ive agonized over how to write about my experience without violating the core Buddhist commitments to do no harm and take care of one another. On one hand, Im deeply worried and want to rescue him; on the other hand, I want to laugh it off; and on a third (if I had one), I want to slam the door in his face. When my brain and heart feel scrambled like this, I want to throw up my hands and not write anything out of fear that Ill further fuel our national crisis over truth and division.

But then I see a video of a health care worker in an overrun hospital begging for people to get vaccinated. I rewatch the violence that took place on Jan. 6. I celebrate Hanukkah with my brother-in-law, whose father, at 7 years old, was one of 10,000 children on the Kindertransport, a train from Germany to England, without his parents in search of a safe refuge before the start of World War II. And if Ive learned anything in the past 20 years as a conscientious parent, its that not addressing possible issues by hiding family secrets can be traumatic and lead to the most dangerous consequences. Its these incontrovertible truths that compel me to stand up and speak out now and attempt to use intelligence to cultivate wisdom while expanding my compassion. As I look my pain in the eye, I hope to use it to create change.

On one hand, Im deeply worried and want to rescue him; on the other hand, I want to laugh it off; and on a third (if I had one), I want to slam the door in his face. When my brain and heart feel scrambled like this, I want to throw up my hands and not write anything out of fear that Ill further fuel our national crisis over truth and division.

In a 2010 New York Times op-ed, Roger Cohen said of the paltry harvest of captive minds that such minds resort to conspiracy theory because it is the ultimate refuge of the powerless. If you cannot change your own life, it must be that some greater force controls the world. This quote has held up throughout my exploration, as has a basic concept drawn from The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp, who believe humans have three core needs approval, security and control and when a human beings needs for approval and security are inadequate, control is their last resort.

The concept of a paltry harvest points to leaders who spread conspiracy theories to the captive minds of their followers. Frank Yeomans, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Cornell University, explained in a series of videos that the malignant narcissist personality describes someone who takes pleasure in both self-aggrandizement and the destruction of others. He argued that people like Hitler and Jim Jones appeal to masses of people who feel powerless, deprived and downtrodden. These leaders weaponize hope and faith and vilify the other as the definable person or group to blame for their problems. Hitler believed that the bigger the lie, the more people would embrace it. Yeoman believes former President Donald Trump fits this personality profile, terrifying half of us but emboldening the other half.

Conspiracies lend themselves to nationalism and racism when a definable person or group is targeted for blame. Philosopher Aldous Huxley once said, One of the great attractions of patriotism it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation, we are able, vicariously, to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, whats more, with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.

The middlemen in the spread of conspiracy theories are the individuals, politicians, corporations and media celebrities who benefit from their proximity to the malignant narcissist by taking the most radical and outrageous stances. They will excuse, justify and look past the despicable actions of the malignant narcissist to retain their money, power and status as well as the approval, security and control that comes with all of that.

One example of this is the National Rifle Association. In an interview about his new book, Gunfight: My Battle Against the Industry that Radicalized America, former industry insider Ryan Busse spoke about the rise in sales of automatic weapons. After Columbine, [the NRA] stumbled upon this idea that fear and conspiracy and hatred of the other could be used to drive and win political races, as well as drive record sales of unhealthy firearms, he said. After Sept. 11, Busse said, Everything that happened was spun in some fearful, conspiratorial, racial, just hate-filled way. He likened that time to a political pressure cooker where unhinged ideas were spread to keep Americans at a boiling point. Busse said that before his enlightenment, he was naive and thoughtless and compared himself to a young kid who signed up for war without knowing what war was really about.

In psychology and cognitive science, the simplicity principle posits that the mind tends to regress to simplicity when contemplating the messy complexities of life. In order to make sense of what is happening around us, we rely on survival tactics to help us feel in control of the hand weve been dealt and of the world around us and our place in it. As one tactic, our brains see patterns where none actually exist. What might start as a story of good versus evil shared among friends that a nefarious cabal is secretly plotting against humanity soon begins to feel like top-secret knowledge arrived through critical thinking, particularly when groups are suffering from loss, weakness or disunity. A powerful actor behind the chaos can be much easier to accept than the idea that were responsible for our own circumstances, that there are many complex factors at work in any system or culture, or that shit just happens.

Its essential to recognize there may be some bit of truth in many conspiracy theories, and its these flickers of reality that can keep the flames alive.

Its essential to recognize there may be some bit of truth in many conspiracy theories, and its these flickers of reality that can keep the flames alive. I believe the seeds of many conspiracies related to vaccine resistance can be traced back to the erroneous study by Andrew Wakefield and his colleagues published in The Lancet in 1998, promoting a nonexistent connection between autism and the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Wakefields work was later retracted, and his medical license was revoked. Hes become known as the the doctor who fooled the world and and turbocharged the anti-vaccine movement. My brother believes the rise in autism is the fault of the pharmaceutical industry, and the fact that both the paper and Wakefields medical license were later retracted is just proof to my brother that the pharmaceutical industry was corrupt not the report itself.

In the episode When You Need It To Be True of the podcast Hidden Brain, host Shankar Vedantam says the theory of cognitive dissonance (attributable to psychologist Leon Festinger in 1957) explains the strange alchemy in our minds that makes it possible for us to live happily in an upside-down world and believe that everyone else is wrong. In other words, human beings will go to extraordinary lengths in search of internal psychological consistency to function mentally when faced with opposing ideas.

In this episode, Verdantam tells two stories. One is about a group of people from the 1950s called The Seekers who quit their jobs, distanced themselves from their loved ones and drastically changed their lifestyles, believing they were the chosen ones who would be saved from worldwide destruction by UFOs. The second is a modern-day account of a lonely divorcee duped by an online scammer who promised her the love and acceptance she was craving, even though the deceit was obvious to her friends. The moral of both stories is that oftentimes, we want something to be true so badly that we make it true, even if it means turning our lives inside out and destroying our families before accepting information we dont want to hear.

In trying unsuccessfully to find reliable statistics on how prevalent and dangerous modern conspiracy theories are, I found this mind-boggling figure from Statista thats more frightening than comforting: In the third quarter of 2021, 1.8 billion fake accounts were deleted from Facebook, up from 1.3 billion fake accounts in the corresponding quarter in 2020. Its no big news that a person can find proof of virtually anything on the internet to bolster what they believe, and the isolation brought on by the pandemic over the last two years has given many people ample time to dig deep and try to make sense of the world. While I watch from afar in disbelief, hoping my brother will see the light, he seems to just double down on hoping Im the one who will eventually see the light, even after every time his latest predicted zombie apocalypse doesnt come to pass.

So do we, as a society, spend our energy silencing the malignant narcissists and the spread of disinformation/misinformation by the middlemen? These days, this only seems to give them more power. Or do we instead address the deep societal issues that provide fertile ground for conspiracy theories? One can argue that security, approval and control can really only come from within, but thats a long leap when faced with the uncertain chaos of modern life and epidemics of depression, anxiety, substance use, political division, isolation, systemic inequalities and incessant consumerism fed by the dead-end promises of an antiquated American dream. If (according to a crass comment I came across) conspiracy theories are for losers, can we aspire to a society where there are fewer losers?

[My brother] assured me he will be sharing this piece with his TikTok followers as soon as its published because it 'really explains what many of us cannot understand, which is how so many supersmart people can seem to ignore what is going on.'

Although we no longer operate on the same foundation of facts, my brother and I did find a grain of common ground when he correctly stated in a recent text that we both want the same thing: to take the country back from the ground up. When I sent him a draft of this essay, he was unwavering in his belief that free speech is our most treasured right and graciously gave me his blessing. [My brother] assured me he will be sharing this piece with his TikTok followers as soon as its published because it really explains what many of us cannot understand, which is how so many supersmart people can seem to ignore what is going on.

I know that every persons perceptions are some blend of objective and personal interpretations of reality. No matter how smart or well-read a person is, none of us see the world as it really is. Every time I speak to my brother (or anyone else I disagree with), I remind myself that our views are shaped and contaminated by our egocentric perspectives. As we emerge from the pandemic, continue to socialize online, and gather with family and friends, virtually no one is exempt from having those they love end up believing theyre being brainwashed by the other. So I suppose my New Years resolution is to relentlessly examine my own beliefs and make a continued commitment to being civil and curious and having an open mind. Only with grace and a quest for understanding can we nourish the most basic human needs for approval and security within our families and communities.

Sue Muncaster is a freelance writer living in Teton Valley, Idaho. Through her platform Teton Strong, she explores the intentional mental, physical, social and spiritual practices and rich experiences that bring us alive and are characteristic of a values-driven outdoor lifestyle. Just last week she dipped her toes into local politics when she joined the Victor city council as a councilmember. You can find her on Facebook and Medium.

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My Gentle, Intelligent Brother Is Now A Conspiracy Theorist And His Beliefs Are Shocking - HuffPost

Inside the Mental Health Retreat Where NFL Players Go to Heal – menshealth.com

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WE WERE 24 HOURS into our four-day rafting trip deep within the canyons of Colorado when our wild-eyed leader, Joe Hawleybest known as the impressively bearded former center of the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneerstold us to park our rafts, make camp, and prepare to head into the mountains.

Hawley, 33, sported a jade pendant necklace that complemented his turquoise camping gear. All day, hed been sharing vague spiritual maxims like What Ive found is that all of it comes back to presence. The key thing is to be present with everything that comes up. Then he got specific: Were going to be hiking up to a beautiful waterfall and then dropping into a workshop that will help us confront our deepest fears.

Two hours later, five strangersall hulking exNFL linemenand I had ascended rocky terrain to reach a ledge about 500 feet above the river, which glistened below like tempered glass. We were sweaty and tired, but Hawley, who is 60 pounds lighter than in his playing days, appeared more energized. He took off his boots and stood barefoot to introduce Ben Harris, a blond and deeply tan fear alchemist and podcaster, who had tagged along to lead this workshop.

Wed all been issued journals, so Harris gave us a writing prompt: If fear didnt exist, what would you do?

Hawley seemed to be already living his answer. I got this insight to start a community for former athletes, but it scared the shit out of me, hed told us earlier. I always have played kind of small as a leader. One of my biggest fears was being seen and stepping up and having the limelight on me.

KYLE SAFIEH

In 2018, at 29, Hawley exited the NFL, having earned an estimated $13 million over eight grueling seasons. All it cost him was his body (a reconstructed knee, torn shoulder cartilage, bone spurs, and a bulging disk) and any real identity beyond the game. So he set out to find himself and explore the country in a van with just his dog. Today he describes that two-year odyssey as his healing path, which led him to form the Hart Collective, an exclusive mens community that he started in 2020 to help former pro athletes become more emotionally intelligent [and] self-aware through heart-centered work.

As a former Olympic fencer, Id lived my own version of his story. After winning a silver medal at the Beijing Games in 2008, I ended my career with all-time-high levels of anxiety from consistently hiding my problems, hoping to compensate through my will to succeed. Even after extensive therapy, I still struggle, because my perfectionism often leads to periods of emotional withdrawal. So when I heard about the Collective and its focus on rehabilitating that hypermasculine, win-at-all-costs mentality, I asked to join one of the trips.

Currently, a total of ten members (all ex-NFLers, plus one former NHL player) pay $99 per month for weekly check-in calls with Hawley and exclusive dispatches from a rotating cast of ex-athletes, spirituality influencers, and mental-health experts. They also get access to discounted retreats like this one, which was billed as an off-grid self-help gauntlet that cost $2,200 and would take us through northwest Colorado into Utah along the Green River, a 44-mile stretch of water with about a half dozen class III and IV rapids.

You say the word vulnerability and automatically walls come up, Hawley told me. The Trojan-horse idea was creating these retreats around experiences like whitewater rafting. Along the way, wed participate in workshops focused on what seemed to be four emotional pillars of the male psyche: brotherhood, fear, anger, and shame.

Of course, journaling about what youd do if fear didnt exist is an exercise we might all benefit fromeven if you dont want to reveal the results. But after ten minutes of writing time, Harris reminded us that we could find commonality in our most fundamental fears and invited us to share. For a long moment, the men looked everywhere except at one another. Nobody volunteered.

THE FEAR EXERCISE was supposed to explore the second of our four emotional pillars, but judging by the hesitation among the group, it was clear our earlier attempts at brotherhood hadnt fully paid off. The day before, in a dirt pasture full of balsamic-scented cottonwoods, wed paired off to stare into a partners eyes for five long minutes. Then Hawley told us to say I love you to each other.

My partner, Garrett Reynolds, 34, a six-foot-seven, 290-pound ex-Ram with a blond man bun and beard, had gone first.

I love you . . . man, he said with a thick Tennessee twang.

I said, I love you back but not without some effort.

Later, another former player explained why Reynoldss slight improvisation might have been important: I love you, man, but Im not gay, he said, causing the whole group to laugh hardme included.

The moment was funny but made me feel a bit uneasy. More than a decade ago, Id chuckled at hundreds of similar locker-room jokes while wearing a plastered smile to hide my discomfort with a culture that awards status to those who egg each other on. I worried about fitting in with seemingly powerful and confident men.

When Harris invited us to share our fears at the top of the cliff, I saw it as my chance to be a team player and volunteered to go first. Harris walked me through a logic exercise that reminded me of my time spent at Tony Robbins seminars. First, I read what Id written: I would be more openly affectionate toward my wife. He asked what stood in my way. I shared with the group the same thing Id shared at many mens groups before this: For years, Id struggled to perform in bed because I was so worried about disappointing my partnerand that had probably created a strong fear of failure.

KYLE SAFIEH

So fear does the exact thing you dont want to do, right? Harris said. If [you] truly want to be loved and loving, [youve] got to give love. I agreed with that idea, although it seemed pretty obvious, and even told the group that I felt lighter, in hopes that others might be inclined to share next.

The other men still hesitated. This is a safe space to really look at [your] stories and shift something within yourself, Hawley said in a husky but extremely calming voice. Finally, Dustin Stanton, 27, a thick-shouldered, scraggly-bearded former member of the Cowboys, admitted in a somewhat businesslike tone that hed struggled with the journaling part but feared making mistakes as an entrepreneur. Shane Hall, 41, a gray-streaked, southern-drawling ex-Seahawk, offered a vague description of wanting to love more. But he, too, hadnt written much down, which he chalked up to a broader fear of being seen.

Next, Jeff Shugarts, 32, an ex-Buccaneer with a handlebar mustache and a tie-dye T-shirt, said somewhat cryptically that he wanted to tell the truth more often but was afraid of losing the people he loved. The last two men, my former eye-gazing partner and Dave Stalls, 66, a wiry-haired ex-Raider, simply declined to share.

When I looked over, a couple of the guys who were sitting nearby avoided eye contact. It felt like we werent growing closer or healing together; we were widening the gap.

THE IDEA OF MEN going into the wild to learn more about themselves together isnt newand nature self-help retreats exist in plenty of different flavors, including the ManKind Project, which focuses on outdoor trips based on the heros journey, and Evryman, which offers experiences as a sort of emotional CrossFit. During his van years, Hawley attended an Evryman retreat and later invited the organizations cofounder Dan Doty to join the Hart Collectives advisory board. He met his now wife after joining Fit for Service, the coed self-development community led by Austin-based fitfluencer and Covid disinformationist Aubrey Marcus that hosts summits with Burning Man style rituals and ecstatic dance. Hawleys camp is essentially a mash-up of these styles. Hes also baked in lessons from his mentor, a shamanic and Jungian-based experiential psychotherapist named James Frazier; books like The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari; and his sessions with ayahuasca (13 and counting).

It was only after his career ended, Hawley says, that he realized that his NFL managers and medical staff had weaponized his masculinity against him, making him feel like a bitch if he had issues with physical pain. With his ex-pros, Hawley says, he hopes to model a healthier kind of masculinity, one that could inspire other athletes or even fans to rethink how they approach the world. To stay accessible to everyone, he maintains an inspirational-quote-heavy Instagram with nearly 40,000 followers and a YouTube channel with nearly 10,000 subscribers, plus his Quantum Coffee podcast, dedicated to curiously exploring the deeper, unanswerable questions of the universe. He continues to work with Frazier and recently enrolled in a three-month somatic-trauma training course.

Theres always the chance that a retreat leader without proper training can create an experience that just isnt helpful for anyone, says Keith Russell, Ph.D., a social-sciences professor who cowrote the academic manual Adventure Therapy. But theres an easy way to tell if your group is working. If the community clearly means something to the other men, theyve learned something about themselves, and theres sadness and hugs and embracing, then I think that the experience was a success, he says.

As the trip progressed, I began talking often with Stalls, the oldest of all the men. Hed been a kayaker in his earlier years and was thrilled to reconnect with the river and powerful rapids. Nearly a decade ago, Stalls said, he had to step down as CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado because he was having trouble expressing his ideas and was experiencing emotional volatility. Hed won two Super Bowls, but it appeared that too many hits to the head during his career had exacted their toll. He began extended stints at a Buddhist retreat center in the Rockies to try to cope.

KYLE SAFIEH

I am very aware of what I have progressively been losing as far as cognitive and brain function, Stalls said. In January, [my doctors] said, Yes, you do have what we consider early dementia. He was waiting on the results of a scan to determine if it might be Alzheimers. His overarching concern was that his root problem might be CTE, a condition that can be diagnosed only after death. Stalls told me that uncertainty about his declining health often led to terrifying thoughts. Thats something that Shugarts, the mustachioed tie-dye fan, also struggled with, having recently lost college teammates, including one of his best friends, to suicide and having considered the act himself. I wrote a suicide letter to my brothers, and I dont remember writing it, hed told us the previous day after wed made camp, only to fall silent during the early workshops.

Stalls remained reluctant to dive in, too. He told me that hed actually shared his fears about CTE with a few members of our squad at a different Collective retreat a few months earlier, but the conversation kind of died. He had been eager to talk more, but the others were not.

AFTER THE BROTHERHOOD eye-gazing gambit and the fear confessional, Hawley began the next step toward enlightenment by ripping a giant fart. It was after sunset on the second day, and he wore a Navajo-pattern poncho while sitting cross-legged in front of our propane-fueled artificial campfire. Once our chuckles died down, Hawleys face tightened as he explained what was essentially the anger-management part of the trip. We would begin with a sharing circle, followed by some catharsis through a session of ecstatic dance.

To be totally open and honest, Ive been, over the last hour or so, feeling these old stories and patterns come up with fear around what Im going to talk about and just how its all gonna play out, Hawley said. Then, looking at each of us closely, he told us how important it is for athletes, especially football players, to release the anger theyd channeled into their sport, or else it could control their lives.

KYLE SAFIEH

KYLE SAFIEH

When it was his turn to share, Stalls said that, after football, he no longer understood how to uncage his inner animal. Shugarts instantly related. He lifted trembling hands, noting that just hearing those words triggered old football conditioning to funnel his rage and prepare to attack. Sometimes over things that dont matter at all, my body starts going into this mode when Im getting ready to kill somebody, he said. In the hazy firelight, I watched as several of the men sat forward in their chairs, their bodies tense as they nodded.

I tried to relate as best as I could. If my emotions fall out of the optimal zone, its like I dont want them, I said, before mentioning that Id actually felt jealous of men who seemed to knock down their barriers at other retreats, since they made me feel like I was a fake somehow. Whens my emotional breakthrough? I asked, immediately regretting it because I sounded whiny, until I heard murmurs of support.

Hawley stood up and raised his arms in preparation for the dance while our river guides began banging on water cans and bongo drums and someone strummed an acoustic guitar. Hawleys advice for this part was a little lean: So this is obviously a vulnerable thing, he said. If youre the kind of person thats uncomfortable, and you dont usually participate, give it a try.

At first, I stared down at the sand and moved my body stiffly from side to side. When I looked over at Shugarts, he seemed more uninhibited but had also just returned from the woods, where hed been hitting a weed vape. Hawley began chanting nonsense wordsAyyy-Yaah-Ohhh-Yaaabut sounded hesitant until Harris whooped loudly, breaking the tension.

Im here! Hall yelled into the night.

Then Stalls made a guttural braying sound, lifting his arm in front of his face to simulate an elephant trunk.

Soon everyone was making animalistic sounds or shouting their own guttural battle cries. Possessed by the mood, I tore off my shirt, crouched to the sand, and began banging my fists like an ape. Hawley ditched the poncho, and other guys stripped bare-chested. Suddenly, Stanton abandoned his businesslike tone and led the group in a ridiculous chanting refrain an homage to our steel-crate campfire:

Fire in a Box!? Fire in a Box!

Fire in a Box!? Fire in a Box!

When I looked around, the mood was lighter, almost joyful. For the first time all trip, I felt like I belonged.

THE TIME OF the lone wolf is over, Hawley read dramatically, citing a Hopi Elder passage to commence what he called our silent float. The activitya quiet half hour of paddling to take in the power of naturewas a tradition established by Adrift Dinosaur Adventures, the rafting company that guided our trip. It was midafternoon on day three, and we still had 30 miles left. I noticed that the canyon around us had changed from dark quartzite to chalky sandstone, smoky limestone, and reddish shale. For me, it was symbolic of how life can surprise you if youre willing to look closer, and that led to thoughts about the previous nights fire dance. There I glimpsed the person I want to be: spontaneous, open, fun. That act of letting go felt different from the other exercises, like I was closer to my best self.

KYLE SAFIEH

The river widened, and we passed by a thousand-foot wall of eroded gray rock in an area called Echo Park. Hawley broke the silence by inviting us to shout a mantra. It was three simple statements:

I am here!

I am alive!

I am free!We shouted them together, and the words echoed in the void. Looking at the other guys, I could see in their eyes that they were energized by the moment.

Later, as the sun slid behind the mountains, we sat in a secluded clearing near the riverbank. The air turned crisp as we prepared for our final workshop, on shame.

Shame doesnt let love in, said Hawley, who has been open about his own struggles with body image and pornography. Ninety percent of [healing] is speaking out loud.

We spent more time journaling about the harsh ways we personally judge ourselves, and then Hawley invited us to share. This time, Reynolds began confidently: He described how, when he was young, he rarely misbehaved to avoid disappointing his father, a man he deeply respects. He started to tear up as he talked about his struggles with dyslexia and how, despite his size, hed always had trouble standing up for himself when others put him down. When Reynolds got choked up, Hawley stepped across the circle and knelt beside him, placing a hand on his chest.

What could your father say that you needed to hear? Hawley asked.

Ill still love you even if you fuck up, Reynolds said with tears running down his face.

He was the first of our group to openly sob, and both Stalls and Stanton immediately softened their gaze and leaned toward him, offering visible support. As I watched Reynolds work through his emotions, I had a jolt of envy, but then it vanished. I honestly felt for him.

KYLE SAFIEH

After a long minute of silence, Reynolds cut the tension. That was good shit! he said, smiling broadly.

When it was my turn, I decided to just admit it: Looking down, I told the group I was worried that Id been really just creating a performance out of sharing my bedroom anxieties rather than actually processing them.

Would you like to drop into it? Hawley asked in his casual way of suggesting exploring something important even deeper.

I said yes.

Think back to when [you] started your sexual escapades, he said.

I thought of a moment with my first girlfriendI was sixteen, sweaty, virginal, and failing to get hard. When Hawley asked me what I was feeling in my body as I shared this, I told him: I had a knot in my stomach and was having some trouble breathing.

If I could go back, Hawley asked me, what would I say to her? At first, I totally blanked, but then, as I stared into the encouraging faces around me, the words arrived: Im not ready. I immediately felt more relaxed and started welling up.

For what its worth, said one of the men a few minutes later, I didnt detect an ounce of performance.

As we closed the exercise, it was clear that Shugarts was wrestling with his own thoughts again, and he tried to explain why he gets so tongue-tied. Ive been to some dark places and spoken at a lot of funerals . . . and when I start to take on some of [those feelings], I get scared that I wont be able to come back, he said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Hawley reminded him that we were there to support him and, even off the river, always just a phone call away. And dont worry: The journey is infinite, so no rush, he said. Energy is just going to be released, and were going to be finding new levels of freedom. . . . Im really so grateful for you showing up and being a part of this.

ON THE FOURTH and final day, we woke up early for coffee and bagels before tackling the final 18-mile stretch of river. Reynolds said he hadnt expected to share so much and thanked us for giving him the space to kind of work through that. As we broke camp, Shugarts said that just packing up to go home gave him a pit in his stomach: I was, like, holding back tears. They were happy tears [and] sad tears. And Ive never felt more alive in my life.

KYLE SAFIEH

Once we got back on the water, Hawley warned that no matter how openhearted we felt in that moment, returning to the real world would pull us back into old patterns. The key is, How can I hold that [feeling of presence]? he said. Thats contagious. Thats the ripples [we can] send out. After hitting a few more rapids, we pulled up to the concrete boat ramp and all jumped into the water. Then we worked together to lift each raft and heave it onto a nearby trailer.

When I called Stalls a few weeks later to check up on his Alzheimers test results, he said things were looking promising, something hed shared with other Collective members during their weekly teleconference. I feel less alone, he said. I do not hang out with other football players, so this group is unique. Hawley later told me that he felt grateful to see how lit up Stalls was and how everyone else was supportive. Thats the vision I have for this community, he said. Even if [the results were] the other way around. He added that Shugarts still had a lot to process, but I think hes showing up and developing the tools and the connection to move through that.

Hawley was already planning more ways to reach anyone who might benefit from this work. But on the last morning of the retreat, he had stopped to reflect on his journey: Every athletes career comes to an end, and its like, Who am I? Whats my purpose? I feel like Ive found it, he said, gripping the bridge of his nose while crying on the bank. Instinctively, I joined the sweaty, stinky group of men who linked arms and surrounded him. It was more than a huddle.

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Inside the Mental Health Retreat Where NFL Players Go to Heal - menshealth.com

Doherty Needs to Hear Where Kean and Peterson Stand on Ukraine – InsiderNJ

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State Senator Mike Doherty (R-23) said he wants to hear where the Republican Primary candidates stand on Ukraine before the veteran movement conservative issues an endorsement in the intensely watched contest for the seat now occupied by incumbent U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-7).

Doherty this morning told InsiderNJ that he is himself definitely not running.

But two of his colleagues former state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (R-21) and his own district-mate, Assemblyman Erik Peterson (R-23), are engaged in the GOP Primary.

Tom and Erik are outstanding elected officials, Doherty said. Id like to see what they have to say about our foreign policy. That would go a long way toward determining who I would support. Tom Kean has done a lot of homework. I think most people, if you were a betting man, youd say Toms going to win. Tom has establishment support and there are four or five other conservative people running. The math is very difficult in that situation for Erik Peterson. But he has an outstanding record as an elected official as well. They should take a strong position on what is going on in Ukraine.

Erik Peterson should do this interview with you, the senator added. Lets see where he stands with Ukraine.

A West Point graduate and army veteran who was stationed in Europe during the Cold War, Doherty has long expressed caution about entangling American troops in foreign conflicts. He backed the presidential candidacies of Rand Paul and Donald Trump because he said he heard strong foreign policy points from both of them.

We have a military empire that is draining tremendous resources on the American people, Doherty said.

The U.S. last year disengaged from Afghanistan in a much criticized withdrawal after two decades, and subsequently passed a federal infrastructure bill backed by President Joe Biden to dedicate $1.2 trillion to challenged and failing domestic resources.

But Doherty is concerned about our governments response to Russian troops some estimates run as high as 100,000 mobilizing on the border of Ukraine, and wants to be sure the United States does not fall prey to another foreign intervention, this time with conceivably catastrophic consequences.Biden himself as said a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine would be the most consequential thing thats happened in the world in terms of war and peace sinceWorld War Two.

This is a disaster in the making, said the state senator, whose sons also served in the United States military. It needs to be stopped. Security is a two-way street.

The U.S. needs to provide assurances to Russia that Ukraine will not be added to NATO to take down tension level, he said.

The United States has taken specific actions over the last 30 yeas and then when Russia reacts to this then [we overreact], he added. Russia is responding to whats happened over the last 30 years. A war would be ridiculous. There is not a strategic interest for an America to die. We are going to send American troops to die for a country in Eastern Europe to protect their borders. It takes two sides to tango it takes two sides to pick a fight.

The people in Washington, D.C. are saying Why is Russia being aggressive? American troops are going to have to go die in another stupid foreign war.

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Vikings’ Patrick Peterson Linked to Patriots in Free Agency – Heavy.com

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GettyPatrick Peterson #7 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after breaking up a pass intender for KhaDarel Hodge #18 of the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Minnesota Vikings face some serious questions this offseason as to their subpar secondary, including what additions might be made to improve the teams poor pass defense and which players they should let walk.

At, or near, the top of that list is a decision on eight-time Pro-Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson who will enter unrestricted free agency less than two months from now.

Brad Spielberger, of Pro Football Focus (PFF), connected Peterson to the New England Patriots offseason activities in a piece published on Thursday, January 20.

When signing with the Vikings, Peterson mentioned that then-head coach Mike Zimmer had a track record of success working with older players in the secondary. Bill Belichick, of course, has done the same with a handful of notable players over the years, and Peterson could look for the same situation, Spielberger wrote.

While Belichicks track record with defensive backs may interest Peterson, the cornerbacks willingness to move fluidly between positions may be of equal interest to the Patriots.

Peterson even went so far as to discuss the possibility of playing safety, if thats what coaches deemed him best suited to do, Spielberger continued. His experience and flexibility could be appealing to Belichick if hes looking to add a veteran to a young cornerback room.

GettyVikings cornerback Patrick Peterson could be on his way out of Minnesota after just one season.

The addition of Peterson to the mix in Minnesota did not produce big-time results. The unit finished near the bottom of the league in 2021, ranking 25th among all NFL secondaries, per Anthony Treash of PFF.

Minnesota put forth some of the worst cornerback play in the NFL, Treash wrote. The Vikings gave up the third-most yards on the outside (1,802) while also tying for the third-fewest plays on the ball (18) at the position.

The blame, he added, was plentiful enough to go around the Vikings secondary.

None of their cornerbacks had a quality campaign, but Bashaud Breeland who was waived in mid-December was the main reason for the outside struggles. His 45.3 coverage grade was the fourth-lowest among qualifying cornerbacks, Treash continued. Slot corner Mackensie Alexanders down season didnt help matters, either. He finished with the lowest slot coverage grade in the NFL.

Peterson was not precisely the problem in Minnesotas defensive backfield, but he wasnt much of a solution, either. The three-time All-Pro finished the year with 5 passes defensed and 1 interception that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown, per Pro Football Reference. He also registered 45 tackles, including 2 tackles for loss, across 13 starts in 2021.

Taking traditional stats and quantifying them along with advanced analytics, PFF ranked Peterson as the very definition of a middle of the road corner, slotting him 60th out of 122 qualifying players at the position.

Petersons one-year flier in Minnesota was not a success, but it doesnt seem like the wheels have completely fallen off the soon-to-be 32-year-old cornerback, Spielberger wrote. He still managed to log 884 snaps, albeit while earning a 61.0 coverage grade the second-lowest of his career besides his rookie season.

GettyMinnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman were both fired on Monday, January 10, 2022, per the NFL Network.

Peterson, who spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Vikings this past year, was high on the team and the track record of head coach Mike Zimmer after signing a one-year, $8 million contract.

Looking at a couple teams, I thought Coach Zim himself stood out to me. His reputation speaks for itself. The things he does with not only the defense but with defensive backs, Peterson told NFL Network after signing in Minnesota. Deion Sanders, Leon Hall, Terence Newman, Johnathon Joseph, the list goes on, and hes able to further got those guys careers. Those guys played 13-, 14-plus years. Coach Zim has something that hes given those guys to help repave their career for new heights.

The coaching around here, the atmosphere around here, it was everything for me. It checked all the boxes, Peterson continued. This team has nothing but a winning pedigree, and this is the organization I want to be around.

A couple important things have changed since Peterson made those comments. First, the Vikings (8-9) put together a losing season, the teams second in a row. Then, they fired Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman with the intent to start from scratch with a new football philosophy. Whether that philosophy will appeal to Peterson is an open question, and the same is true of the yet to be named head coach and general manager swooping in to implement it.

The Patriots, however, are more stable at the top of the organization. They also made the playoffs as a Wildcard in the AFC this season and boast the third-best secondary in the NFL, according to PFF rankings.All of the facts may add up to a meaningful veteran addition to the defensive backfield in New England, while the Vikings look to go another way with their own secondary.

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Controversial professor Jordan Peterson retires from tenured position at U of T – Varsity

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Content warning: This article discusses transphobia and misogyny.

Controversial U of T psychology professor Jordan Peterson has announced that he is no longer a tenured professor at U of T. By 2017, he had stopped teaching courses at U of T, but retained a tenured position.

In an article in the National Post, Peterson explained the reasons for his retirement. He claimed that equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives at the university created career barriers for supremely trained heterosexual white male graduate students and made faculty positions less of a meritocracy.

Since 2016, Peterson has become a major media figure famous for his conservative political views. He has made a number of high-profile appearances on television and podcasts. He has also published a number of books, a podcast, and some online courses. He has often said that contemporary university departments and society at large are overly influenced by identity politics. This stance has attracted a large number of both supporters and critics.

In a statement to The Varsity, U of T confirmed that Professor Jordan Peterson retired in the fall and now holds the rank of Professor, Emeritus.

Timeline of events

Peterson has long been a controversial figure. In 2016, he posted a series of YouTube videos where he spoke against political correctness and Bill C-16, an amendment to both the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) and the Criminal Code, which introduced gender expression and gender identity as protected under the CHRA. The videos were initially reported on by The Varsity in 2016 and drew attention from the media and the world at large, with many students and academics at U of T speaking against Peterson.

Peterson alleged that the bill curbed free speech because it forced people to use certain pronouns for others against their will for example, using the gender-neutral pronoun they for transgender and nonbinary people who prefer it over gendered pronouns like he and she. He continued to publicly denounce the bill for months in television appearances and YouTube videos, which gained significant media attention.

A number of faculty and student groups spoke against Peterson, with hundreds signing an open letter calling on U of T to fire him. Members of the university administration sent a letter to Peterson asking that he respect students pronouns and urged him to stop speaking on the topic on the grounds that using someones incorrect pronouns is a form of discrimination. At the time, Peterson was critical of the letter, describing it as an attempt to silence him.

Protests were held at the university both in support of and against Peterson, including an event called UofT Rally for Free Speech at which Peterson spoke. Reports of multiple threats against trans and nonbinary students on campus followed the protests.

Cassandra Williams vice-president, university affairs of the University Toronto Students Union at the time, and a vocal critic of Peterson said the anti-Peterson protests aimed to call out the university for supporting and enabling people who are causing harm to trans people. Debates were also held on campus discussing the subject of free speech and trans rights.

Since 2016, Petersons profile has extended far beyond the university. His media appearances, debates, and bestselling book, 12 Rules for Life, have created his reputation as a right-leaning public figure and have drawn supporters worldwide. Some of his supporters have harassed and doxxed his critics. He has made vigorous attacks on identity politics, which he often calls postmodern neo-Marxism. Critics have described his various beliefs as transphobic, misogynistic, conspiracy theories, and a dangerous influence on others.

Retirement

In his National Post article, Peterson explained the reason for his retirement. He wrote that he had hoped to be an academic forever but, among other reasons, he was unable to reconcile his beliefs with the appalling ideology of diversity, inclusion and equity at U of T. These facts rendered my job morally untenable, wrote Peterson.

Peterson further claimed that heterosexual, white graduate students who are men face a negligible chance of getting research positions due to the existence of EDI initiatives, and that there arent a sufficient number of qualified candidates that belong to minoritized groups for universities to be able to fill diversity targets.

He also railed against other equity initiatives in higher education, such as mandatory equity training for teaching faculty, which he claimed is ineffective.

In response to Petersons article, a spokesperson for the university pointed to the universitys employment equity reports, which found that between 2019 and 2020, the proportion of appointed faculty who identified as men remained constant.

The spokesperson also highlighted the universitys Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Excellence, which asserts that An equitable and inclusive working and learning environment creates the conditions for our diverse staff and student body to maximize their creativity and their contributions, thereby supporting excellence in all dimensions of the institution.

Criticisms of Petersons claims

In an email to The Varsity, U of T Professor A.W. Peet, who has frequently criticized Peterson and has debated him in a widely seen television appearance in 2016, responded to his claims. They wrote that Peterson was a poisonous presence on campus, pointing to research that has identified Petersons rhetoric as a radicalization pathway for social media users, which has harmed U of Ts reputation.

I am tremendously relieved that he is no longer a professor at UofT. He harmed a lot of members of our community in recent years, including me, wrote Peet.

In an email to The Varsity, U of T Professor Emeritus Ronald de Sousa, who criticized Petersons original comments about Bill C-16 in 2017, also criticized Petersons article, writing that he wrongly portrayed people who are women, racialized, or LGBTQ+ as utterly unqualified.

Over half a century ago, when I was myself appointed to the University of Toronto, heterosexual, white male graduate students such as myself faced virtually no competition, wrote de Sousa. Pointing out that historically, academia has largely been dominated by white, heterosexual men, he mentioned that his graduate universitys policies dictated that no women were to be enrolled. If there simply is not enough qualified BIPOC people in the pipeline, shouldnt we support efforts to change that? wrote de Sousa.

I think [Peterson] should have had the decency to resign sooner, Peet added.

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Man Steals, Crashes Jeep With Two Young Girls Inside In Peterson Park – CBS Chicago

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CHICAGO (CBS) A man took off in a stolen vehicle with two young girls inside in Peterson Park on Thursday morning.

A woman driving a Jeep Liberty was delivering newspapers around 5 a.m. in the 5600 block of North Sacramento, when she got out of her vehicle and left it running with her two girls, ages 10 and 12, inside.

Police said a black sedan, possibly a Dodge Charger, pulled up behind the Jeep, and a man got into the running SUV and took off, with the two girls still inside, and the sedan following.

The offender crashed the Jeep several minutes later, in the 6300 block of North McCormick, just outside of Bernard Stone Park, less than a mile and a half away from where it was stolen. The thief ran off after crashing the SUV.

The young girls were not injured and were located safely.

Police are investigating and no one is in custody.

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Man Steals, Crashes Jeep With Two Young Girls Inside In Peterson Park - CBS Chicago

Deltek Government Contracting Experts Deniece Peterson and Kevin Plexico Named to the 2022 Wash100 List – WFMZ Allentown

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HERNDON, Va., Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --Deltek, the leading global provider of software and solutions for project-based businesses, today announced that Deniece Peterson, Senior Director of Federal Market Analysisand Kevin Plexico, Senior VP of Information Solutionshave been named to the 2022 Wash100 List. Peterson and Plexico are honored for their excellence in leadership, vision and innovation by theExecutive Mosaic the leading provider in connecting, promoting and branding government and government contracting (GovCon) executives of consequence.

This is the ninth year the GovCon community recognizes the accomplishments of the top 100 esteemed leaders who continue to drive innovation as ongoing initiatives in policy, emerging technology and other crucial areas continue to heavily influence the federal landscape. The Wash100 list is considered to be the most prestigious and coveted award in all of GovCon. Technology, supply chain, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, cyber security and multi-domain capability/support were among the additional factors considered in this years' slope of increased difficulty of qualification.

"Deltek has taken a commanding lead as the authority and is recognized as THE reliable source in the GovCon industry. No one more visibly supports that market lead than Kevin Plexico who is not only a GovConExpert but also is one of the most recognizable figures in our industry," saidJim Garrettson, Executive Mosaic's founder and CEO. "We are also delighted to recognize Deniece Peterson as an inductee, further solidifying Deltek's presence in the business," Garrettson continued.

"It's an honor to be amongst such a distinguished group of peers and professionals on the 2022 Wash100 List," said Plexico. "This year is particularly special as I share this designation alongside Deniece Peterson, who is a key driver of Deltek's success in the government contracting space. As a top Deltek Senior Analyst, Deniece plays a significant role bringing innovative ideas to help companies think and respond to changing market conditions. I am grateful Deniece's hard work has been recognized and wish her continued success in 2022."

"I am thrilled to be included with such a well-respected group of leaders in the government contracting community," said Peterson. "I am truly honored to work with such gifted colleagues as we continue to provide guidance to our customers and excited to see what the future holds."

Peterson's and Plexico's recent achievement adds to Deltek's growing list of honorees with the Wash100 award. In 2015 and 2019,Deltek's President & CEO Mike Corkerywas named a recipient of the Wash100 and Kevin Plexico was also honored in 2020 and 2021. Plexico is also a member of theGovCon Expert program, a forum featuring the most significant voices of influence in the government contracting community.

See the full list of winners atWash100.com.Site visitors can also cast a vote for their favorite GovCon executives to receive recognition for their accomplishments in 2021 and their upcoming success in 2022.

About Executive Mosaic

Founded in 2002, Executive Mosaic is a leadership organization and media company. It provides its members an opportunity to learn from peer business executives and government thought leaders while providing an interactive forum to develop key business and partnering relationships.

Executive Mosaic offers highly coveted executive events, breaking business news on the GovernmentContracting industry, and delivers robust and reliable content through seven influential websites and four consequential E-newswires. Executive Mosaic is headquartered in Tysons Corner, VA. Visit https://executivemosaic.com/

About Deltek

Better software means better projects. Deltek is the leading global provider of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based businesses. More than 30,000 organizations and millions of users in over 80 countries around the world rely on Deltek for superior levels of project intelligence, management and collaboration. Our industry-focused expertise powers project success by helping firms achieve performance that maximizes productivity and revenue. Learn more at http://www.deltek.com.

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Deltek Government Contracting Experts Deniece Peterson and Kevin Plexico Named to the 2022 Wash100 List - WFMZ Allentown

Peterson marks 1000th point in rout over Webster – Amery Free Press

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The Clear Lake boys basketball team earned its fourth win of more than 20 points this season, with a 79-33 win over Webster Jan. 14.

We were able to play aggressive defense and limit them offensively the whole first half making it hard for them to get to the hoop and get uncontested shots, explained Clear Lake coach Ryan Blanchard. All night long we were willing to make the extra pass so the overall ball movement by the team was outstanding.

The game was marked by two offensive achievements. Riley Peterson scored 30 points for the third time this season. This time, the 30-points allowed Peterson to eclipse the 1,000 point barrier for his career. He also pulled down six rebounds and blocked two shots.

The second achievement came from Tyson Blanchard, who posted a triple double for the second time this year. He finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists along with three steals.

We came out with defensive intensity for the first time all year, so we are hoping to make that a nightly occurrence, Ryan Blanchard said.

Besides Tyson Blanchards three steals, Clear Lake (6-1 conference, 9-1 overall) finished with 17 steals. Jordan Blanchard led the way with four, while Caleb Logan and Andrew Campion also had three each.

Will Cain was the final Warrior in double figures with 12 points. Campion also had three assists and three steals.

Clear Lake shot 32-for-54 (59.2%) from the field. Webster is now 0-8 and 1-10 overall.

Post play carried the Warriors to the eight-point win Jan. 11.

We were able to dominate in the paint for most of the game which was the difference for us, Ryan Blanchard said.

Peterson was an efficient 14-for-20 from the field with two free throws for 30 points. He added 11 points, four steals, three blocked shots and two assists.

Tyson Blanchard almost had another triple double with nine points, nine rebounds and nine assists. Cain tallied five points and four rebounds.

Siren likes to slow the game down and that concerned me even though we had the size advantage in the paint, Ryan Blanchard said. They do a very good job taking care of the ball and making teams work on both ends of the court. We didnt shoot particularly well and had a few breakdowns on defense and they were able to connect on some deep threes.

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Peterson marks 1000th point in rout over Webster - Amery Free Press

Ascend With Poog, the Spiritual Beauty Podcast – Papermag

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For Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak, it all started with the promise of free beauty products and an extremely LA fascination with wellness culture.

From keto diets to mud baths to the boob cream Berlant received moments before our Zoom conversation, the multibillion-dollar industry has seemingly taken over the world. So in an effort to explore the bizarre, weird and, at times, existential sphere of self-care, the two longtime friends started their iHeartRadio podcast, Poog, and slowly turned it into a much broader survey of culture and whatever the fuck else they want to talk about.

In many ways, the comedians who refer to themselves as The Hags are the perfect people to execute such a heady, far-reaching concept, imbuing it with a lightness that one wouldnt expect for a podcast that tackles topics like spiritual consumerism and the notion of shame, in addition to Berlant spearheading discussions about beauty, skincare and food, and Novak acting as the go-to source for all things wellness, including spirituality, mental health and, also, skincare.

As such, their podcast takes its name from Gwyneth Paltrows notorious lifestyle and wellness brand, Goop. However, Poog is different from similarly branded podcasts in the sense that Berlant and Novak use beauty and wellness as a starting point to talk about everything from snorkeling to dairy-free alternatives to colonics to analytical psychology, as proven by our 45 minute-long side conversation about Jungs theory of synchronicity and ghosts potentially being a projection of the psyche.

"Wellness and beauty are really our Trojan horse, because the conversations devolve into just Jacqueline and I talking about, like, Interstellar," Berlant said, before Novak added that its more about the "abstract parts of our interests and getting vaguely existential."

"But its also dipping into products. We move back and forth, Novak said. Like we're talking about Spirit and our most intimate sort of spiritual concerns, and then pivoting into blueberry martinis and creams.

But underlying the constant ping-ponging between concepts is Poogs desire to bring them together for a series of on-the-fly conversations that are equal parts off-kilter and insightful, which includes their lack of interest in apologizing for their love of "frivolous" things or intellectualizing the common critique surrounding the idea of "self-care" turning into this "capitalist monster, per Berlant.

"To me, [Poog] is this space where all those things that are considered frivolous or weirdly feminine can live. It's almost like [embracing] all these things that we're expected to hide in spaces like the workplace, Novak explained, with Berlant saying that theyre trying to point out that wellness, beauty and the cult "obsession" surrounding these things are "not to be devalued."

Granted, Berlant said they have one very slight critique that mostly hinges on the industrys current "focus on the exterior, instead of the interior. Specifically, she referenced the inner work and healing that should be considered the real fucking wellness, though she was also quick to add that outwards-facing self-care is still "real and valid in its own right." Because after all, Poog isnt about shaming anyone (including themselves), rather, its about simultaneously interrogating these sorts of dynamics, while also being open to their own adherence to the "pleasure is paramount" principle.

On a similar note, Novak stressed that wellness has acted, for her, as a kind of secret doorway out of bouts of depression, saying that it was nice to feel this joy at caring about stupid shit again, before adding that theres a lot of healing psychology incorporated into spirituality and self-care given their ability to get you out of that judging mind place.

I was just trying to find a way to live life and that took me down those paths, which I happen to really enjoy. I sort of joke about being addicted to healing, Novak said as a stray feather began to float around her room. A message that shes on the right path from her spirit guides and the Archangels, I said, before things quickly devolve into a conversation about the Old Testament and The Sopranos. Just as it should.

Welcome to "Internet Explorer," a column by Sandra Song about everything Internet. From meme histories to joke format explainers to collections of some of Twitter's finest roasts, "Internet Explorer" is here to keep you up-to-date with the web's current obsessions no matter how nonsensical or nihilistic.

Related Articles Around the Web

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Ascend With Poog, the Spiritual Beauty Podcast - Papermag

September’s Harvest Moon Will Bring Uneasiness and Opportunity – POPSUGAR

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If you've ever taken an evening car ride, or just so happened to catch a glimpse of the starry sky during the early months of fall, you may have noticed the harvest moon. Unlike other full moons, the harvest moon is a little different in both its color and timing, making this moon phase incredibly striking. POPSUGAR consulted with an astrologer to figure out when the next harvest moon will appear, the spiritual meaning behind it, and what the harvest moon in 2022 will mean for every zodiac sign.

The harvest moon takes place during the autumnal equinox, when the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south at the start of autumn. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the harvest moon earned its name because of the moonlight that occurs early in the evenings, leaving farmers with more time to harvest their summer-grown crops.

The full harvest moon will rise on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, at 5:59 a.m. ET.

The 2022 harvest moon is in Pisces.

Astrologer Anya of Ask the Answer says September's harvest moon will have the signs feeling a little uneasy, but it does offer an opportunity for a fresh start. "This particular moon's closeness to the autumnal equinox means that it is symbolic of new beginnings and a door to spiritual awareness," Anya tells POPSUGAR. "On the other hand, with the Piscine energy of this full moon, you may experience a bit of a feeling of insecurity and a feeling like you're being too perceptive."

In order to prepare yourself for these particular feelings that come from a Pisces sign, it's best to try and relax. "During the harvest moon, it's best to slow down, wait, and see what happens in your life," Anya says. "Enjoy the beautiful September sunsets, look back at your achievements, and take a deep breath . . . the tricky bit is nearly over!"

The next full moon following the harvest moon of September 2022 is the October blood moon on Oct. 9, 2022, at 4:55 p.m. ET.

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September's Harvest Moon Will Bring Uneasiness and Opportunity - POPSUGAR

This New Moon in Aquarius Bao Will Help You Manifest Your Goals – POPSUGAR

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Self-love and self-care take on a whole new meaning for Aquarians. The 11th zodiac sign is largely focused on the collective and ensuring equality for all. Under the new moon in Aquarius, we aim to dream big for ourselves and the bigger picture of our lives. But we also make wishes of joy, prosperity, and harmony for all.

The Aquarius new moon peaks on Feb. 1 at 12:47 a.m. ET and opens a portal to set intentions and wishes around things like humanitarian attitudes, seeing the future, revelations, humor, and friends. Since Aquarius rules the future, you can stimulate the third-eye chakra to allow your long-range goals and heart's desires to be on full display under this new moon. Simply massage between your eyebrows with your eyes closed, or you can lie down and place a crystal there to activate the third eye and see your dreams unfold into reality.

As a ruler of humanitarianism, this new moon in Aquarius gives us the opportunity to set intentions and make wishes that create outcomes good for everyone involved. It also ignites the desire to give and receive love in platonic relationships and promote healthy friendships. If a friendship that was important to you has fallen by the wayside, this may be the time to explore whether there's an opportunity to make amends or not.

But the bigger picture of your life is also very important with this new moon, which is ripe for manifesting dreams, seeking knowledge, and being more objective.

As you prepare your New Moon in Aquarius spiritual bao ritual, remember that this air sign also rules circulation, and more specifically, the ankles and calves. Consider incorporating the restorative yoga pose, legs up the wall. Lie flat on your back or on a small pillow. Push your bottom up against the wall with your legs straight up. You can hold this pose for 10 to 20 minutes to help alleviate ailments like varicose veins, which is a vulnerability of Aquarius.

Ingredients:

-1-2 cups of Epsom salt, cup of pink Himalayan salt

-Several splashes of Agua de Florida or Florida Water

-Selenite, turquoise, moonstone, or clear quartz (for third eye activation) crystals and gemstones

-Petals from orchid flowers

-Hemp, sage, and/or mugwort herbs

-Cedarwood, clove, juniper berry, or thyme essential oil. Make sure it's safe on the skin. It may need to be mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil.

Ritual

1. Fill the bath with warm water (never hot), and add the Epsom and pink Himalayan salts, and Agua de Florida.

2. Pray over the water and mix with your hands as you speak affirmations and wishes out loud.

3. If you have time, do legs up the wall for 10 minutes as the bath fills.

4. Place crystals around the edge of the bathtub, in the water (if it's a crystal that's safe in water), or place them on your body as you soak.

5. Add your choice of herbs. If you prefer less mess, you can add your herbs to a tea ball or make tea with them on the stovetop, strain it, and then add that to the bath.

6. Add several drops of oil and adorn the top of the bathwater with the orchid flower petals of any color.

7. Soak for 20 to 40 minutes.

8. While you allow yourself to air-dry, watch as the bathwater drains and imagine all that no longer serves you going down with it.

9. After your bath, dress comfortably, light a candle, incense, or diffuse some oil, and write 10 wishes under the New Moon in Aquarius.

10. Read each wish out loud and say, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," after each one.

11. Sit in meditation for a moment, focusing all your energy on the third-eye chakra. You may want to hold your clear quartz or lie down and place it between your eyebrows. Allow yourself to dream your greatest dreams and watch them become reality.

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This New Moon in Aquarius Bao Will Help You Manifest Your Goals - POPSUGAR

‘I was so close to the sky. It was spiritual’: Sonny Rollins on jazz landmark The Bridge at 60 – The Guardian

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If you happened to be gazing idly from a window of New York Citys J train crossing the East River on the Williamsburg Bridge, most days between the summer of 1959 and the autumn of 1961, you might have glimpsed a lone saxophonist huddled into a cranny of the gigantic steel skeleton.

Travellers on the footway might have got close to the sound of him, too: an astonishing tumult of fast tumbling runs seeming to echo the chatter of the wheels on the subway tracks, honking low-tone exclamations exchanged with the hoots of the riverboats, snatches of blues, pop hits, classical motifs, calypsos. Few witnesses to those torrential monologues will have shrugged him off as just another busker; this was an intuitive master of his instrument who, for some reason, had chosen to tell this multitude of stories to the sky instead of a rapt roomful of fans.

What made me withdraw and go to the bridge was how I felt about my own playing, reflects that saxophonist today, 91-year-old Sonny Rollins. I knew I was dissatisfied.

He climbed the steep iron steps within two blocks of the apartment he shared with his wife, Lucille, at 400 Grand Street in Manhattan, and was thrilled by the space, light and noisy solitude they led to. Rollins was 28 and already one of the undisputed giants of the subtle and sophisticated modern-jazz advances known as bebop that had taken off in the 40s even though Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Ornette Coleman were close on his heels with radical new approaches to how melody, harmony and rhythm could dance spontaneously together.

Between 1956 and 1958, after a series of brilliant small-band albums including Saxophone Colossus and Way Out West, Rollins was acclaimed by the New Yorkers Whitney Balliett as possibly the most incisive and influential jazz instrumentalist since Charlie Parker, while the jazz/classical musicologist Gunther Schuller wrote that the thematic fertility and coherence of the young geniuss off-the-cuff improvisations held together as perfect compositions.

In the summer of 1959, though, Rollins disappeared from the radar and stayed off it for the next two years instead playing the saxophone on the bridge day and night, rain or shine, in solitary sessions of sometimes 15 hours or more. This month is the 60th anniversary of his return to the recording studio, when he entered RCA Victors Studio B in New York on 30 January 1962 with a classy rhythm section and an even classier frontline partner in Jim Hall one of the subtlest jazz guitarists of the era. That January session, and another a fortnight later, produced Rollins eagerly awaited comeback album, The Bridge.

Down the phone from his home in upstate New York, Rollins sounds as sprightly as he has in the handful of conversations we have had down the years always curious, sharp of memory and generous about everyone who makes music. He hasnt played the saxophone since 2014, due to a respiratory condition. But memories of the long days and changing seasons on the bridge are vivid, as are the reasons that propelled him there, when logic suggested staying in the public eye.

I was getting a lot of publicity for my work at that time, but I wasnt satisfying my own requirements for what I wanted to do musically, he says. One of his neighbours at the time was an expectant mother, so there was an immediate reason, too: it was difficult to practise a loud horn like the tenor saxophone in my apartment without disturbing somebody.

Rollins had withdrawn from jazz before, in the early 50s, when heroin addiction had taken him into a stretch of hard-labour rehab at the Lexington Narcotics Farm in Kentucky. In 1956, the year after he got clean, the exultant Saxophone Colossus session emerged. So Rollins understood the liberating potential of focused, relentless hard work, away from gigging and hanging out. But he also knew how fresh and different the new music of Coltrane, Coleman and Davis was sounding by 1959 (the year in which those three made the groundbreaking albums Giant Steps, The Shape of Jazz to Come and Kind of Blue) and felt he needed to provide answers of his own.

Did he worry about the disappointment his withdrawal might bring to his fans? Am I playing music for other people, you mean? Rollins inquires. Yes I am, in a way. But Im playing for myself. I have to sound good. I dont want to make my public feel Im great if I dont feel like that. Also, Ive always loved practising as much as I did performing. Wherever I was, on tour or whatever, I always wanted to find some place to practise, because thats in my DNA, to keep improving myself.

Every scrap of music Rollins heard from his youth in jazz-steeped Harlem onwards seemed to get stored in the random access memory of his mind, to be inverted and reshuffled on the fly in performance. His neighbourhood friend Thelonious Monk would smuggle him underage into clubs, he would pass the world-famous Cotton Club on his walk to school, and he would internalise it all, plus snatches of his siblings classical practice, jukebox hits and more. Reappraising and digging into all that material in his head, away from the pressures of gigging and travel, seems to have been a trigger for Rollins ascending to the bridge.

I just happened to be out walking and I saw some steps and I thought: lets see whats up there, Rollins says. And when I got up to the top, I just saw all this fantastic open space. No one was up there. It was busy, sure the subway trains and cars were going over and the boats going underneath but there werent many people walking on it in those days; its much busier now. There were a lot of pillars and abutments back then, where I could find spaces where people couldnt see me, though they could hear me. The only people who could see me were the few who were walking across the bridge. And not many of them would stop to talk. I guess they mostly thought: whos that crazy guy?

Presumably calls of nature and inhospitable weather must have intervened now and then? Well, I would play for a long time every day, often 14 or 15 hours. Of course, sometimes Id come down to go to the bathroom, or Id go to a bar I liked where I might have a cognac, but then Id go right back up. If it was cold, Id play with gloves on; that was not a problem.

It was so wonderful to be so close to the sky up there, any time of year. Maybe this might sound a little bit corny to people, but it was a spiritual feeling to me. Years later, I remember playing an open-air concert, somewhere in Buffalo or Maine, and I looked up at the sky and felt that communion with some kind of spiritual element. It felt great to me that distance thing, reaching out to something beyond the people.

Rollins felt ready to return to the stage in autumn 1961, concerned that Lucille was bearing the brunt of supporting them both in her secretarial job at New York University. When The Bridge came out the following year, it didnt reveal the radically reinvented Rollins, possibly leaning toward free jazz, that some of his admirers were anticipating. But nonetheless, this was not the same Rollins as the ruggedly freewheeling one of three years earlier.

His own compositions, the staccato, exclamatory John S and the balefully stripped-down title track, mixed brittle short-note themes (resembling percussion patterns) with clusters of dense melody, opening out into improvisations that suggested his rival Coltranes Giant Steps had not gone unnoticed. But his handling of the 30s Billie Holiday ballad God Bless the Child harked back to the muscular lyricism of the tenor sax pioneer Coleman Hawkins, albeit with a characteristically Rollins-spiced sardonic bite. His tonal range seemed broader, his ear for telling detail sharper.

Rollins then made some uneven but intriguing recordings for the free-jazz-oriented label Impulse! in the mid-60s, before taking a second sabbatical in 1968-71 for philosophical study, Zen meditation and a retreat to a monastery in India. As he entered his 40s, the restless self-inquisitor then seemed ready to concede a middle ground between his own improvisational wilfulness and his audiences hopes for a catchy tune.

From the early 70s to his retirement in 2014, Rollins explored bop, swing, funk, Latin and Caribbean music, striding the worlds sold-out concert stages with the greatest living improviser emblazoned on the posters outside a line endorsed by seamlessly flat-out, unaccompanied sax improvisations that would pull cheering crowds to their feet. No more than a handful of jazz musicians since the emergence of the genre in the early 20th century had enjoyed such acclaim.

Seemingly unstoppable, Rollins hurtled on into his 80s, but, although he endured the initial effects of the rare lung-scarring disease pulmonary fibrosis, he was finally forced to concede in 2014. I ask him if he had considered less full-on approaches to performance at that point. In my case, it was that I couldnt play at all, he says. Blowing the horn made me sick. Believe me, I tried to play for a long time before I realised I just couldnt play any more.

People suggested electric instruments, but I just wanted to blow into the horn the way Coleman Hawkins did, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Lester Young, all of these great people whose music still makes them feel alive to me, even though theyre not here in the flesh. And I had that for a good portion of my life and I have accepted it now. But at first I was very distraught. It took me quite a while to find a way where I wouldnt end up in the insane asylum. Because all I ever wanted to do was play. It took me a while to find another reason for living, and I found it in meditation and eastern philosophies.

Was the thought that he had given so many people pleasure, and inspired many fine musicians to play, a help in this search? Well, if somebody has heard me playing and it gave them an inspiration to do something, then Im happy about it for them, Rollins says. But Im not happy about it for me, because Ive always just been trying to get my act together, so to speak. You know what I mean? But, of course, I realised that I had to be grateful that Ive had the opportunity of playing for a long time in some of the greatest music of my era, and that perhaps there are people whose playing I maybe inspired somehow, so I shouldnt be mad at the world because I had to stop. So I was eventually able to deal with it, and my meditational practices and spiritual interests did help me not to feel sorry for myself.

As we part, I ask a cheesy question I know that, as a believer in reincarnation, he will have been asked many times: does he want to come back as a musician in his next life? This occasions his deep, rumbling chuckle. I try to envision the eternity of the universe, Rollins says. I guess thats bigger than thinking of coming back as a musician again, maybe next time around just playing a little better. I think its that this life made me think more about what it means to be a human being, a good person. I was taught the golden rule as a boy: do unto others what you would want them to do unto you.

I didnt always do that when I was young. In the jazz world back then, Charlie Parker was into drugs and a lot of people that were following him started to use drugs because he did. That was the worst thing that Charlie Parker felt about himself; it was what destroyed him. He was so torn up by all the young guys that were following him into using drugs. I know that, because I experienced it from him.

But I think, while a lot of us did stupid things, once youre playing music, theres something special youve been given by the gods above, or whatever it is. Like Rollins on that bridge, his peers also were playing to the sky. Ive heard people saying: No, hes not a good human being, about some of the musicians Ive known, but I never found that. Every one of them Monk, Miles, Coltrane was good to me, and I realised that they were all spiritual people and great human beings.

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'I was so close to the sky. It was spiritual': Sonny Rollins on jazz landmark The Bridge at 60 - The Guardian

3 reasons Star Trek: Prodigy is a spiritual successor to Voyager – Redshirts Always Die

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The new series Star Trek: Prodigy is a spiritual successor to Star Trek: Voyager.

Star Trek doesnt seem to do sequel series that often, but there are a few instances where they do something similar to that concept. For instance, with The Next Generation leading into Picard, or how Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and The Original Series share characters. Those could all be seen as sequel series, and so could Prodigy and Voyager.

Like the others mentioned, they arent a direct sequel series, granted, but they sure do feel like a spiritual successor in so many ways. The shows have a lot in common, more in common than some seem to realize. Especially Voyager and Prodigy.

Were going to look at just three of the reasons that Voyager and Prodigy are seemingly connected, in order to show that these shows are far more interwoven than meets the eye.

Like with Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Prodigy starts its story in the Delta Quadrant, even if they didnt stay there the entire series. The show starting there is a sign that theyre paying homage and respect to the series that came before it.

Bringing in aliens domestic to the Delta Quadrant, aliens we never met before, and having them be the stars of the series is a great idea. It helps connect the two shows in a way that very few other series have had a chance to do.

The only close relation that any of the shows have that even rivals this is the Discovery, Strange New Worlds, and Original Series. All three shows feature Spock and Christopher Pike, uniting all three shows with a linear timeline. Even if some fans wish that wasnt the case.

Prodigy and Voyager sharing a quadrant is meaningful in a way thats unique to them. Sure, they werent very close, Voyager only got through about half of the way from their point of arrival to the Alpha Quadrant, and Prodigy takes place near the border of the Delta and Beta Quadrant, but Im still counting it. Well see where the show goes next now that its in the Gamma Quadrant but that may just open up a connection to Deep Space Nine.

Wouldnt that be something?

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3 reasons Star Trek: Prodigy is a spiritual successor to Voyager - Redshirts Always Die

The practice of meditation spans from the strictly spiritual to secular. – Monterey County Weekly

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Khenpo Karten, a Tibetan monk who leads the Manjushri Dharma Center in Pacific Grove, recommends beginners start with silent, five-minute meditations three times a day.

When confronted with a global pandemic, there is almost something trite about the idea of New Years resolutions forget an after-work walk or healthy lunches, I hope youve gotten vaccinated and boosted. But once youve taken care of those essential projects, your personal part in the public health mission to slow (and eventually end) the pandemic, there are, of course, other layers to keeping ourselves well, from mindfulness to injury prevention.

This annual Health & Fitness issue explores a range of related topics. Whether youre training for a big race or trying to find mental stability in an unstable time, we wish you the best in your journey.

Sara Rubin, editor

The tongue lightly touches the palate, the eyes are set down the length of the nose, Kharten says as he folds his hands on his lap, palms up, thumb tips touching. Kharten, a Tibetan monk, explains that people new to the Buddhist form of meditation must first learn how to sit. Hips slightly elevated above the knees, shoulders strong but not tense, spine straight. You need to slow down the body, speech and mind. This body, everyday, is working; this mind, always thinking; this mouth, always talking. We lose connection with our mind and forget how to take care of it.

The Dharma Center is covered wall-to-wall in a colorful bouquet of Buddhist symbols, portraits and books, scored by Tibetan hymns; however, Kharten, who alternates between joyful laughter and grave seriousness while discussing meditation, explains the practice is for everyone, not just those in burgundy robes.

People should meditate because we all have a monkey mind. Sometimes the mind is very difficult. Meditation is medicine for the mind, Kharten says.

The term monkey mind is common lingo in meditation circles, referring to the noisy, restless, thinking mind; the one that clouds us with narratives about ourselves and the world around us. The one that, for many, has probably been on hyperdrive over the last two years, and much longer. Meditation, in its many forms of practice in Monterey County, offers a vehicle toward inner silence and connection, some more expedient and expensive than others.

During an hour-long introduction to Transcendental Meditation, Lindsay Dyson, director of the Carmel TM center, uses the analogy of riding a boat in the middle of the ocean when, suddenly, massive swells approach and strong winds overwhelm. Stuck on the surface, the entire ocean appears turbulent (our monkey mind), but zooming out, you see the ocean is a mile deep, and silent and still at its depth.

Developed by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi the man the Beatles visited in India in the 1960s TM uses a silent mantra to help reach the minds silent depths, and is recommended in 20-minute sessions twice a day. The technique prides itself for its ease and its distinction from any philosophy or spiritual dogma; however, TM needs to be taught by a trained practitioner. Although centers across the world began offering income-based rates in recent years, they arent cheap, ranging from a course fee of $420 to nearly $1,000. Dyson says the Carmel TM center offers some scholarships.

Scientific literature on the impact of meditation is surprisingly thin, as many studies have tested small sample sizes or lacked control groups. However, the existing research has tied meditation to various signs of improved health, regardless of whether the meditation is motivated by religion or discovering an inner awareness.

The American Heart Association promotes meditation as a way to lower blood pressure. Studies have linked the practice to treating irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and depression. A 2018 Harvard study indicated that meditation alters the expression of 172 genes that regulate inflammation, circadian rhythms and glucose metabolism.

ValiAnna Francis rings a glass bowl has she leads a peace meditation session at The Center for Spiritual Awakening. ValiAnna has been practicing sound meditation for 13 years.

BEHIND THE CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN PACIFIC GROVE,a woman named ValiAnna, a master sound practitioner and shaman activist according to her business card, enters the courtyard tapping a hollow, rust-hued cylinder like a gong. She is decked out in amethyst crystals. The bowl, she explains, is made of quartz, ruby, white diamond, yellow gold and iron; it is singing an F tone, which she says connects to the heart chakra. Six other bowls of varying sizes one for each of the other chakras, or energy centers in the body sit on a table under the courtyards magnolia tree. Around 11:45am, people, mostly older, mostly women, begin trickling in, filling up roughly 20 chairs for the weekly Wednesday vibrational detox.

Over the course of the next hour, the group, eyes closed, meditates while ValiAnna plays the bowls, chiming in now and then with vocal intonations. Toward the end, she approaches each participant individually with a humming bowl to bless their biofields. The effect is overwhelming for some who wipe away tears as the session ends. What began as a silent courtyard now sings with chirping squirrels and various types of bird calls.

The crystal bowls, I think, deepen the experience, but some people prefer no noise, says Coleen Gsell, executive director at the center.

The Center for Spiritual Awakening, which offers a full menu of meditation techniques, is a nondenominational spiritual center that Gsell says focuses on inner wisdom. The center, located in a former Christian Science facility, doesnt require membership and is open to the public.

Bill Little, spiritual director at the center, has maintained a strict meditation practice for 60 years, which began with TM. He recommends starting with whats known as the Hamsa breath mantra. Sit comfortably in a seat, close your eyes, and breathe. On the inhale, silently say the first half, pronounced hahm. On the exhale, the second half, pronounced, sah.

Just keep patient, eventually the mind will slow down, Little says. The crucial thing is that the breath stops for a split second between [the inhale and exhale]. In that split second, not only is the breath not moving, the mind is not moving either.

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The practice of meditation spans from the strictly spiritual to secular. - Monterey County Weekly

The Bible’s spiritual purpose – Downtown – Church of the Resurrection

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One of my favorite parts in my job is watching students go through Confirmation. The Church of the Resurrection offers a Confirmation course for current 8th-12th grade students. In Confirmation, students have the opportunity to explore their faith by asking questions, they get opportunities to serve their community, and they journey alongside adult mentors to participate in small group discussion. At the end of Confirmation, they are invited to make a public commitment to Christ and become a full member of our church community. In addition to all that, they dig deep into reading the Bible!

Many of our Confirmation students grew up in the church. They remember reading the Bible in Sunday School--the stories about Adam and Eve, Jonah and the whale, Jesus walking on water, and so many others. Some of our Confirmation students are new to the church and are hearing some of these stories for the first time. The powerful thing about Confirmation is that students open up their Bibles together while sitting in a circle, they read a Bible passage, and then reflect on it together. They ask the question, How is this useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character? (like 1 Timothy 1:16 talks about).

It is always powerful to learn from students the perspectives and insight they are bringing into reading Scripture. When I listen to our Confirmation students reflect on the Bible, I feel like Im learning just as much as them as I hear how the Holy Spirit is nudging them in their reading. Im constantly saying, Ive never heard that perspective, or, you view that in a really unique way. Sitting with students and reading the Bible together reminds me that even though Ive been through seminary, sometimes I need to have the posture of an 8th grader when reading the Bible! Reading the Bible together allows us to hear the passages more fully and recognize how the Holy Spirit is working in each others lives.

I encourage you today to open your Bible. Turn to one of those stories you know well. While reading it ask yourself, How is this passage useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character for me today? Maybe take the posture of an 8th grade Confirmation student the next time you read the Bible and ask, How would a student read this passage? There is no limit to what the Holy Spirit can reveal to us, and there is always the opportunity for the Bible to change our hearts. May the Holy Spirit guide you in your reading, and may the Bible's words encourage you today.

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The Bible's spiritual purpose - Downtown - Church of the Resurrection

David Bowie Said It’d Be Really ‘Hard’ to Have George Harrison’s Spiritual Life – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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George Harrison was a profoundly religious man, whereas David Bowie described himself as more of a spiritual seeker. During an interview, Bowie discussed his desire to find clarity. Bowie contrasted his internal life with Georges. Notably, Bowie covered a song George wrote.

On the album Reality, Bowie covered a song George wrote called Try Some, Buy Some. During a 2003 interview published in Vice promoting Reality, Bowie said the song was important to him. Bowie interpreted Try Some, Buy Some as a song about personal metamorphosis. He also mused on Georges beliefs.

For him, there is a belief in some kind of system, Bowie said, perhaps referring to Georges Hindu faith. But I really find that hard. Not on a day to day basis, because there are habits of life that have convinced me there is something solid to believe in.

RELATED: George Harrison Said The Beatles Yellow Submarine Wasnt Any Good But He Had a Theory About Why It Was Popular

Bowie discussed his philosophical side. But when I become philosophical, in those long lonely hours, its the source of all my frustrations, hammering away at the same questions Ive had since I was 19, he said. Nothing has really changed for me. This daunting spiritual search.

Bowie further elaborated on his thoughts about spirituality. If you can make the spiritual connection with some kind of clarity then everything else would fall into place, he opined. A morality would seem to be offered, a plan would seem to be offered, some sense would be there. But it evades me. Yet I cant help writing about it.

RELATED: The Beatles: John Lennon Said Paul McCartney and George Harrison Overshadowed Him on This Song

George released his version of Try Some, Buy Some on the album Living in the Material World. It wasnt a single. Living in the Material World reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for five weeks. It lasted on the chart for 26 weeks in total.

Meanwhile, The Official Charts Company said Try Some, Buy Some did not chart in the United Kingdom. Living in the Material World reached No. 2 there and lasted on the chart for 12 weeks.

Bowie never released Try Some, Buy Some as a single, so it never hit the Billboard Hot 100. Meanwhile, Reality hit No. 29 on the Billboard 200. It stayed on the chart for four weeks.

The Official Charts Company reports Bowies cover of Try Some, Buy Some did not chart in the United Kingdom. On the other hand, Reality reached No. 3 in the U.K. and remained on the chart for five weeks.

Bowie had a different spiritual life than George; however, that didnt stop Bowie from recording one of Georges tracks.

RELATED: The Monkees Davy Jones Said He Could Have Easily Been David Bowie I Could Have Been and Done What He Did

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Author Takes Readers on a Spiritual Journey and Provides Life-Changing Tips and Tricks – Benzinga – Benzinga

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In Ascension: Awakening in 5D' Heather Lee shares her own life experiences as a medium and healer to teach others how to take the first step to live an idyllic life

OAKHAM, Mass. (PRWEB) January 24, 2022

Author Heather Lee has published her third book, titled "Ascension: Awakening in 5D," which acts as a guide for readers who are ready to dive into their ascension journey. Learning to expand awareness and live through the heart is a tough art to master, but reading this book is a huge step toward doing just that. Throughout the book, Lee provides real-life experiences that teach the reader it is possible to live in heaven on earth.

Lee has encountered a lifetime of career experiences in counseling and healing, which she discusses in her book. She shares stories from her personal life as well as some of those she has been involved in with her clients. Working in this career for over 25 years, she has plenty of pointers to share when it comes to embarking on a spiritual journey and learning how to make life-altering realizations.

"I would love for this book to be able to reach an audience who is looking for insight on ascension and has the desire to discover how they can utilize their own life lessons to progress on their spiritual journey," the author said.

In this book, Lee starts at the beginning by explaining the fundamentals of the spiritual world, such as how living is defined for each individual and how to understand the collective consciousness that humans are. Ultimately, by the end of the book, readers will have obtained all the necessary knowledge and tools to begin gaining awareness in new areas of life and live in complete bliss and harmony.

"Ascension: Awakening in 5D"

By Heather Lee

ISBN: 978-1-9822-7654-6 (softcover); 978-1-9822-7653-9 (e-book)

Available through Balboa Press, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon

About the author

Heather Lee has spent 25 years as an intuitive counselor, medium and energetic healer but has possessed these natural intuitive abilities since her childhood. Worldwide, she is known for her connections and has assisted thousands of people on their personal paths through ascension and healing. Heather is often recognized for her humbleness, compassion and down-to-earth personality. Lee is devoted to maintaining the comfort of her clients while simultaneously pushing them out of their comfort zones. This results in healing, learning and growth. Heather is also the author of two other books, "A Bang into Gentleness: A Psychic`s Journey Through Spiritual Transformations" and "Second Sight in 3D: A Medium`s Memoirs." For more information, please visit the author's website.

General Inquiries, Review Copies & Interview Requests:

LAVIDGE Phoenix

Grace Connor

480-998-2600 | gconnor@lavidge.com

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/author_takes_readers_on_a_spiritual_journey_and_provides_life_changing_tips_and_tricks/prweb18446704.htm

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Author Takes Readers on a Spiritual Journey and Provides Life-Changing Tips and Tricks - Benzinga - Benzinga

Health First’s Director of Pastoral Care ‘Father Bob’ Bruckart Retires After 26 Years of Bedside Spiritual Care – SpaceCoastDaily.com

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Bruckart built the Pastoral Care department into an institution at Health FirstFATHER BOB BRUCKART, Director of Pastoral Care for Health First, over the past 26 years has built a legacy of tending to the religious needs of Health Firsts sickest patients and their families and the medical teams who cared for them. (Health First images)Bruckart built a legacy of tending to the religious needs of Health Firsts sickest patients and their families and the medical teams who cared for them.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA When you think of a hospital, religion probably doesnt immediately come to mind.

But for the patients and providers who have needed a spiritual lift, having a chaplain to turn to during a stressful medical situation is just as important as the healthcare itself.

Thats what The Rev. Bob Bruckart, affectionately known as Father Bob, has helped build in his 26 years as Director of Pastoral Care for Health First.

There are a lot of patients who wish their doctors would talk more about faith, and the doctors do not and, I think, respectfully so, Father Bob said.

But a lot of our patients have very strong faiths. Some of its institutional. Some of its noninstitutional. Some of its organized religion, some of its freeform. But when youre in the hospital, thats a big priority.

And when youre dying, its the only priority, he said.

Fresh from his role as a parish priest at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Melbourne, Father Bob joined Health First in 1995, right before it was officially formed with the incorporation of the Integrated Delivery Network (IDN).

Then 44 and the sole chaplain for Brevards community healthcare system, with the assistance of two local pastors, Bruckart built the Pastoral Care department into an institution at Health First.

Now, there are 23Associate Chaplains, 53Spiritual Care Volunteers and a fleet of others who serve Health Firsts NoOne Dies Alone (NODA) Program, which ensures that a terminal patient without nearby family or friends has someone by their bedside as they close their chapter of life.

Its something that has been significant not only to the dying and lonely but those who are privileged to sit beside them as their souls leave this earth.

On Friday, Father Bob, 70, officially handed over the spiritual reigns to Chaplain Derly Foerste, who will step into the role.

At Health Firsts Holmes Regional Medical Center the day before, leaders and associates gathered in the cafeteria to share stories, cake and well-wishes. This hospital is the place where one of his three sons was born, as well as three of his five grandchildren.

It wont be the same without him, said Brett Esrock, CEO, Hospital Services. When youre here that long, youre a part of the fabric of the organization.

I recently had a big birthday, and Im in good health, Father Bob explained. This is the time to step away.

He, as well as those on his team, are incredibly proud of the spiritual care model theyve put in place to help generations to come of patients, associates and loved ones.

Father Bobs love, wisdom, experience and grace turned out to be the added piece of compassion many patients and families needed during their darkest moments from pediatric and neonatal deaths to car accident trauma patients and more.

It was a natural, Father Bob, who had been doing some graduate work in mental health counseling, recalled.

The hospital really is the pastoral clinical application of Gods grace. I saw it as an opportunity to expand into some areas that I really wanted to go into, which was providing that support for patients, family and staff in a more intense way.

Plenty of those hes prayed with over the years have affirmed his teams bedside care for patients and their families. It was an evolving and natural affirmation of the direction he chose.

Were at a much stronger, higher place now, Father Bob said. We have the clinical pastoral education program thats kind of the gold standard for pastoral care in conjunction with AdventHealth. Were really different, and were much stronger and broader. Im pleased its in such a strong position.

Hes delighted how Health First has embraced spiritual care.

They realize its part of peoples experience of getting well or wholeness, he said.

Much like healthcare, no two days have ever been the same for Father Bob. Whether its an Emergency Department situation that calls for spiritual support or a patient in the ICU, Labor/Delivery or Hospice care, his role (and that of his team) helps deliver the compassionate and sometimes spiritual care our community yearns for in their darkest of months and even triumphs.

Thats the magic of it, Father Bob noted. We meet the best people under some of the worst situations. It is a true privilege that we are able to provide reassurance in those moments of need, and Im grateful to have borne Almighty Gods presence in this place.

Community feedback confirms it. A woman whose aunt died of COVID-19 last year at Holmes Regional Medical Center recently shared her appreciation in a thank-you letter to staff.

I cant put into words what your thoughtfulness means to me and my family, she wrote. I would like to thank the Chaplain that prayed with us right before my aunt transitioned. You all should be reminded of the blessing you are in healthcare and the difference you make in the lives of others, especially during very difficult and vulnerable moments of life. May God bless each and every single one of you as you endeavor to continue being the heart and hands of God in the Earth.

Patient expressions of gratitude have piled up as have those of the associates who needed some spiritual guidance as well.

Julie Strahle, an RN at Holmes Regional for 18 years, used to work in a long-term care unit.

I used to call Father Bob pretty much regularly, Julie said.

Its just so many different patients, when he would come around and pray with them, it just helped a nurses heart. It gave such support to us, too. It always blessed my heart as much as it blessed the patients heart.

Chaplain Derly Foerste, who takes the spiritual reigns as the new Director of Pastoral Care, commended the program not to mention the culture of compassion that Father Bob helped grow.

You will be missed because you are a loving, kind person, Foerste said. You are going to leave a great legacy, not only for the Pastoral Care department, but for the entire organization.

For more about the Pastoral Care services provided in Health First Hospitals, visit HF.org/Pastoralcare.

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Health First's Director of Pastoral Care 'Father Bob' Bruckart Retires After 26 Years of Bedside Spiritual Care - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Good News, Mech Fans: Armored Core Spiritual Successor Will Soon Be Free – Kotaku

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You can fight some pretty massive mechs in Daemon X Machina.Screenshot: Marvelous

Is Daemon X Machina a good video game? Yes (no). Well. Daemon X Machina was recently described by a friend of mine as a 7/10 Armored Core spiritual successor, with the important note that every Armored Core game is a 7/10. This means that it is a good game by the Renata Price B-Games Are The Best Kind Of Video Game metric, which I will stand by until the day I die. It is also free on the Epic Games Store starting Thursday, the 27th, so you have no excuse not to try it.

Like the Armored Core series that obviously inspired it, Daemon X Machina is a customization focused mech game about auto-aiming weapons and movement driven combatwhich originally released on the Nintendo Switch back in 2019. You pilot an Arsenal, a modifiable mech platform that can carry everything from swords to railguns and twin bazookas. You then pilot this mech around relatively simple maps, killing enemies and scavenging their parts as you go. You then incorporate these parts into your own robot death machine.

This feedback loop is relatively simple, and the games auto-aiming can make weapons feel homogenous over timebut theres enough of Daemon X Machina to sink your teeth into before things become too rote. Its also worth noting that the game has co-op multiplayer, which allows players to tackle massive enemy units with their friends. Like any game, co-op will greatly expand what you can get out of the experiencesince your friends will help smooth out the lulls and weaker moments of a campaign.

Its also important to note that theres crossplay between the games Steam and Epic Games Store versions, which means that youre free to play with whoever you wanteven if your friends maintain a blind vendetta against the Epic Games Store.

As a firm mech lover, I for one can say that I will be diving into the PC version the moment its free to temporarily sate my mecha desires.

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Good News, Mech Fans: Armored Core Spiritual Successor Will Soon Be Free - Kotaku