UNDREAMING WETIKO

In this hugely important book, Paul Levy continues his exploration of wetiko – a profound and radical native American idea for a virus of the mind that underlies our collective insanity and the manifestation of evil in the world originating in unhealed multigenerational ancestral trauma – acted out and propagated through the family, but largely concealed from public view. However, wetiko also contains the very medicine required for our healing, but first we must see it for what it is, not only outside but also within ourselves, in order to break its spell. The four parts cover spells, curses, and shamans; angels, demons and rebirth; the quantum synchronistic field; and the Self as revelation. The starting point is to realise that there is an information war on consciousness, on the mind, on the brain through systemic propaganda and narrative control designed to divide and alienate, splitting us into in-group and out-group, with a mutual projection of the shadow. This is truly a battle for the soul.

There is at least a subliminal collective awareness of dark forces at play, but less agreement about where these are to be found (p. 288). Jung was already aware of this in the 1930s, calling it to totalitarian psychosis, a form of dehumanising mental contagion only too apparent during Covid. The current form of totalitarianism is digital, merging corporate economic power expressed through mainstream media with the political power of the state, with an ultimate goal of absolute power and control over the world population (Nietzsche's will to power). These forces are operating on both ends of the political spectrum in the form of supranational and centralised technocracy that is inherently anti-life. For us as individuals, this is mirrored in widespread psychological blindness and hardening of hearts – it is important to note that outer conditions are ultimately a reflection of our inner turmoil and chaos. This can only be countered by courageous people standing up, speaking up and living the truth against pressures to compliance and complicity. Covid has shown how hazardous this can be, as few professionals had the courage to do this; and if they do, they are scapegoated, excluded, de-platformed and dismissed from their positions as heretics (many of these people receive private messages admiring their stand, but excusing themselves). Even though he is now head of the NIH – poetic justice indeed – Dr Jay Bhattacharya has received no apology from Stanford for the disgraceful way in which he was treated.

As part of the undreaming process, discerning between good and evil is essential. I agree with Paul when he states (p. 170) that evil is the central problem of our time. Again, Jung was fully aware of this, developing his ideas in Answer to Job (see my review elsewhere in this issue of his relationship to Christianity). Christ and Satan mirror each other, and the rising of evil is a challenge for good to respond through self-sacrifice, as the archetype of the cross and crucifixion demonstrates. The essence is that 'unless we recognise evil, name it, and deal with it, we will never be able to convert its tremendous energies to good' (p. 169) – a point made by Stephen Dinan in a recent post. Jeffrey Kripal, in his book also reviewed in this issue, reminds us that we as humans are and manifest both good and evil.

In a profound message quoted at the end of the book, readers are reminded that darkness can serve a higher purpose as it allows us to return to the light if we are willing to surrender and learn from it: 'my prayer is that we all create a space for the darkness to birth a new way of seeing, sensing, feeling, and relating. May our darkness find the balance it needs to serve humanity as opposed to igniting chaos.' (p. 374) Otherwise, we are bound by our own fears and sense of powerlessness, looking towards a Saviour from without: 'Darkness can perpetually serve the darkness, or it can evolve to serve the Light of God.' We need to become collectively conscious, awaken to our true selves, and take responsibility for this emerging process. Paul himself writes that 'as we connect with our light it is our destiny to encounter and come to terms with the forces of darkness.' (p. 166) In this context, an encouraging thought that I recall from Whitehead is the following: 'The instability of evil is the moral order of the world.' In other words, its destructive force is ultimately self-destructive.

Paul hypothesises that the survival of our species depends on answering the shamanic call to see through the illusion of separation and realise that we are ultimately connected. He reinforces this insight in wide-ranging and informed discussions of quantum physics and synchronicity. The shaman is not afraid of being judged and rejected – which Paul characterises as 'normopathic' or 'normotic' – 'it is crucially important that we not fit in.' (p. 117) To take this stance presupposes inner strength and resilience, the capacity to remain centred and rooted in the face of collective chaos, tapping into higher dimensional guidance within. Paul suggests that 'the soul's knowledge of itself is its consciousness of the angel' and that the human soul is composed of the very light of consciousness that illuminates and dispels darkness. (let your light so shine before men). (p. 140) Then we can tap into our inherent creativity and the Christ within, as Paul discusses in relation to the work of Corbin, Steiner and Berdyaev.

To the extent that we do not see and understand how our perception and behaviour are being managed through mainstream messaging, we comply with its demands and become complicit in its horrors by turning a blind eye, a process that Paul characterises as DUSO (one of a number of original acronyms – duped into unwittingly supporting evil). We are caught in a collective nightmare that requires undreaming and understanding the operation of the polarising filter built into our minds as confirmation bias and herd mentality that demands conformity – we absolutely have to become aware of the depth of evil, inhumanity and brutality manifest in current corrupt and militarised systems underpinned by the drivers of wealth, power, and greed – leading inexorably to collapse and even extinction. These drivers are maintaining us in a state of collective hypnosis and deception that can only be dispelled by realising the power and light of the spirit that we intrinsically are. It is a call to awakening, a call to remember our deep, shared humanity and co-create a corresponding New Earth. This book is an essential guide to this necessary evolutionary process.