The Revolt of the Reasonable
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WINTER 2011 Volume 19 Issue 4 www.aquarianonline.com INSIDE FEATURES Occupy: the revolt of the reasonable .............................1 Jack Canfield’s mystical motorcycle gang ...................1 Karen Armstrong on compassion ............................4 COMMUNITY Community acupuncture hits town ...................................2 Ben Willemsen remembered ..2 HORIZON Elizabeth Warren kicks class ........................................3 Canada’s geothermal lode ...3 Eggs > prostate cancer? ......7 COLUMNS Kristi’s Kaleidoscope: Grief’s silver linings .............12 Alan Cohen: Kitty Hawk moments ...............................13 PLANT-BASED Vesanto Melina: “Basic” nutrition.................................14 Produce that prevents strokes ..................................15 BOOKS Becoming Raw ...................16 And more! Occupy Wall Street occupies Times Square. Photo: Jessica Warren. The Revolt of the Reasonable The Golden Motorcycle Gang Move over, Age of Stupid, Epoch of Greed. Smart, caring, committed citizens have occupied the hole you tore in the fabric of democracy. Jack “Chicken Soup for the Soul” Canfield on By SYD BAUMEL Adbusters magazine (coincidence? yes). grievance is that the system – whether in the inspiration for his Preceded by similar uprisings countries run by oppressive dictatorships autobiographical new book funny thing happened on the way to in countries most of which had no or dysfunctional democracies like our A the apocalypse. democracy at all, the Occupy movement own (case in point: 60% of Canadians By LINDA M. POTTER Almost exactly ten years to the day after is still a months-old fledgling, albeit a will continue to be governed for another the terrorist attacks of 9/11 plunged the fledgling on growth hormones. Like four years by a party they voted against) icture Jack Canfield, the charismatic United States and much of the Western some precocious populist chia plant, – isn’t working for most people as it Pco-author of the Chicken Soup For world into a quagmire of militarism, it has sprouted branches in some 2500 should. The system is failing “the 99%” the Soul book series and “America’s state deception and petulant patriotism; towns and cities in over 80 countries, whose share of affluence and political #1 Success Coach,” vroom-vrooming four years after a deregulated financial including Winnipeg. influence has been plummeting since through the cosmos on a solid gold Harley, industry drop-kicked the world into the It’s as if a mentally disturbed world accompanied by a Gang of spiritual soul worst recession since the 1930s; three has been occupied by a warm blanket of mates. Then picture yourself joining the years after a would-be transformational sane. Occupy may come from Gang. It’s hard not to smile, or at least United States president proved unable “Sane,” you ask? But aren’t these the progressive side of the raise an eyebrow. or unwilling to buck the pay-for-play uncouth protesters merely an incoherent But it’s more than just a whimsical political system; and two and a half mob of malcontents? political spectrum, but it image. It’s the inspiration for Canfield’s years after a popular movement of the It’s bad enough that the “lamestream stands for all citizens who new book, a mostly factual, adventure- extreme right arose in the United States, filled account of his personal spiritual media” – most notably its noisy believe in an uncorrupted demanding to make the rich even richer Foxstream rump – has fixated on journey and his subsequent awakening to and the government even weaker, smart, painting caricatures of the movement. democratic enterprise. his life’s purpose. rational, civic-minded people said Many people see only caricatures, too Partnering with fellow Gang members enough is enough. (coincidence? no). the 1980s as more and more money and such as William Gladstone and Barbara It was as if the forces of Light and As someone who sees courage and power has been pumped up the value Marx Hubbard, Canfield uses the book to Compassion had risen up to save the political insight where others see bums, extraction chain to the richest 1% and to set the stage for the ride of a lifetime — planet from the tyranny of Mean and let me summarize in broad strokes what the 1% of the 1%, among whom reside the one we’re all invited to participate in, Dumb. I believe the Occupy movement is about: the corporate executives and top-tier the one that ushers in a new age of global The Occupy movement sprung to life Wake up and smell the inequity. The financial industry gamblers who earn consciousness and Universal Humanity. in a Manhattan park near Wall Street (a Occupy movement is a long overdue millions of dollars a year for their skill in Your new book, The Golden Motorcycle private park owned by a Canadian real correction. It aspires to deflate the greasing that chain. Gang, was released this November. estate company) on September 17, the bubble of a 30-year bull run of socially Money talks – too much. The Occupy What inspired you to write this book at occupation having been inspired by a destructive public policies, especially this time? Canadian cofounder of Vancouver-based in the United States. Its fundamental See REASONABLE on page 17 See MOTORCYCLE on page 10 2 WINTER 2011 www.aquarianonline.com Community 16 Victoria Row, Winnipeg, MB R2M 1Y2 Editorial & Advertising: ph: (204) 255-4884 fax: (204) 255-5057 [email protected] www.aquarianonline.com Community acupuncture gets Publisher – Janet Whitley straight to the point in Winnipeg Editor – Syd Baumel It’s no secret that the more The Aquarian is a forum for shedding light on the path to personal fulfillment and the common good. It is published quarterly the regularly you receive a first week of March, June, September, and December. Annual treatment, the better your subscriptions to anywhere in Canada or the U.S. can be had by chances for improved sending a cheque or money order for $12 to our office. Outside health. But sometimes North America please contact us for prices. cost can become a barrier We welcome your suggestions, letters to the editor, article to frequent enough care. queries, press releases, announcements, and other input. In China, for example, Please include a phone number or email address with your letters to the editor. acupuncture is typically a daily session, albeit for a We reserve the right to edit letters for length or readability. brief period of time. Here? Not so much. Ben Willemsen, Teacher Enter community acupuncture, a new, more Advertisers and contributors assume accuracy of their claims and Human Energist, and statements. affordable way for Westerners to benefit from the The opinions and views expressed in articles do not necessarily ancient healing art. Transitions at 75 reflect those of The Aquarian or its advertisers. In a community acupuncture clinic, acupuncturists Ben Willemsen, a paranormal healer – or human All contents are copyright. We welcome reprint requests. treat patients in a comfortable group setting, slashing the cost per person. In Winnipeg, at Paul Kohlmeier’s energist, as he called himself – and spiritual Straight to the Point Community Acupuncture clinic teacher who left a lasting mark on Winnipeg in on 286 Stradbrook, a session costs $25 (plus $10 for the 1980s and 1990s, passed away on October 21 the initial consultation) instead of the usual $40 to $120 at the age of 75 following a three-year battle with charged elsewhere. cancer. A practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The author of a trilogy of books explaining Kohlmeier believes Straight to the Point is the first his unique view of “the psyche, the spirit and Season’s Greetings community acupuncture clinic in Winnipeg. Demand personal growth,” Ben – who began his career in has been strong, and Kohlmeier plans to move to a the Netherlands as an engineer – was a frequent from the Aquarian larger space at 83 Sherbrook St. this January. subject of The Aquarian and its predecessor, The With more recliners for his patients and two more New Age Connection. t’s that time of year again when we go gulp, In addition to his Wolseley practice as a human another year has passed. Unlike most years, acupuncturists on staff, the amped up community I acupuncture clinic will also be open well beyond the energist and teacher, Ben shared his metaphysical this time we’re going gulp, next year we’ll be knowledge through Continuing Education and twenty! usual weekday 9 to 5 hours. You can find Straight to the Point Community Creative Retirement Manitoba and as a guest Yes, that’s how long The Aquarian has been lecturer at both universities. in business (even longer if you include its Acupuncture on Facebook, or call 453-7286. (Ed. note: stay tuned for a feature article on community In 1999, Ben and his wife and collaborator Penny predecessor, The New Age Connection). Margolis left Winnipeg to relocate their Centre Reading this issue, you may be wondering acupuncture in a future issue of The Aquarian.) Susan Hurrell for Human Energy to the Halifax area where Ben “hey – what happened to my favourite completed the final book of his trilogy, which columnist!” or “hey – what happened to my consisted of Don’t Water The Stick: The Path of favourite editor!” Well, The Aquarian is going Spirit’s Call Choir Sings for Joy on the Psyche, The Spirit and I: The Evolution of through some changes. Tenth Anniversary Soul (originally published as Beyond a Shadow: This summer, our chief editor Anna The Path of the Spirit) and Water Your Roots: Olson retired from her position and co- Spirit’s Call Choir Walking a Spiritual Path. editor Syd Baumel stepped in to fill the void. celebrates its tenth Ben leaves behind his wife Penny, two daughters, All of us began rearranging the furniture.