Solstice from the Andes
Poignant Moments of History
God circled on a map for you.
Wherever your eyes and arms and heart can move
against the earth and the sky,
The Beloved has bowed there –
knowing you were coming.
Hafiz
Imagination
Imagination is one of the most important capabilities of the 21st Century. It was good to see this tweeted out on Stewart Brand’s 86th birthday recently as he was one of the most prominent futurists of the 20th Century, and still championing new pathways for humanity.
I have long believed in authoring your unimaginable dreams. And hence why I believe its possible collectively for us to reimagine, and dream a new more enlightened civilization into existence, despite how hopeless and dark our current world can appear at times.
A Note on this Newsletter
SoI am cognisant I have not written here for a while and plan to make this much more frequently. I have been putting a lot of time into writing a book and also ended up on another adventure in South America - I am currently living in the Andes, although I am scheduled to speak around the world in 2025. We will also be formally launching Embassy of the Future soon. We put up a LinkedIn page and have several events behind us, but expect some announcements in the coming weeks and months.
In the coming weeks I will also touch upon major themes including the shifting of the international geopolitical order, AI and human intelligence, quantum computing, the economy and Bitcoin, and of course the general direction of our civilization. I plan to do a State of the Future address on the 7th January. A link will be sent out soon.
My aim in this newsletter is to do some shorter term forecasting and prognostication. But more importantly to shares stories of what is possible in the future, without evangelising on one particular future.
If these are useful, I would much approach any donations as I would rather keep this on a donation basis than put it behind a paywall.
Huch'uy Qusqu - An Inca Temple in the Clouds - Summer Solstice 2024
I randomly opened up a page in a book on Andean philosophy moments after the sun emerged above the misty and mysterious mountains. This beautiful poem popped out at me, perfecting an already perfect Summer Solstice morning. I looked across the Sacred Valley of the Incas in awe and reverence. What made the moment even richer was that the book was written by a new friend, Diane Dunn.
Years ago I discovered that life often made more sense looking backwards than looking forwards. It was a moment of my life when I had zig zagged rather a lot. From a regular perspective I might have seemed lost. But as Tolkien once wrote, “not all those who wander are lost”. I emerged from the confusion of dark forests and valleys up to a metaphorical mountain peak; and looking back I discovered a golden thread through my life. These revelations seemed to happen more frequently on actual and not just metaphorical mountains - hence why I love them so much.
Of course, now I can also peer forwards to navigate as well. These required newfound visionary and intuitive skills. However, some indigenous people call God, “Great Mystery” for a reason. And maybe we are not meant to know everything and besides, this makes life more interesting doesn’t it? Personally I would not be happy if I had to plan and then engineer everything in my life, with no room for mystery, serendipity and enchantment.
Morning Pilgrimage
So on the 21st, I woke up very early and started my walk in the dark at 4am; not a soul was around as I trekked along the mountain paths up at 3600 metres in the Andes. Despite the altitude I was aware that there are lush fields all around me from a previous visit. But in that moment all I could see was the torch-lit rocky path in front of me, and the stars above.
When I crested the hill, the valley below was full of mist and I could just make out the temple buildings in the distant, slightly illuminated by the moonlight. It might have been my mind playing tricks with me, or an optical illusion, but it looked like there were eyes peering out back towards me. Were the Incas there waiting for me? Was I permitted to just show up without an invitation?
Thousands would be at Machu Pichu further up the Sacred Valley of the Incas, or back at Stone Henge in the UK. So I was wondering whether I was really going to be the only soul at this sacred site for the Solstice.
Arriving at the edge of the old Inca temple I prayed briefly before crossing a bridge into the grounds, a familiar ritual from my time in Asia. I found the old tree where we had meditated previously by the stream. Then I proceeded to a sacred fountain which has 3 mouths representing the past, present and future. I purified myself there, as one would do at temples in Asia - asking for my arrogance and impurities to be removed from me. Then I went and sat on the seat of the Inca King whilst I waited for the sunrise.
The Tumultuous Twenties
It has not been easy to be an investor-turned-futurist in the 21st Century. The uncertainty and chaos seem to constantly be accelerating. I have often said that things are getting better and worse at an accelerating pace. This still holds true.
Furthermore, I have a gift of foresight , as they say, and can see many things ahead of time. Then I can also get stuck between foresight and what to do personally in my life. I have had many anxious and emotional moments as events began playing out as I foresaw. Economic circumstances worsen, the threat of war looms and governments conitnue to crack down on freedom.
When I was sitting on the throne of the Inka King looking out over the Sacred Valley, my phone pinged with a few messages. Interestingly they were all rather symbolic:
— Open AI had achieved AGI (not entirely true but a milestone nonetheless): we are living in a time that science fiction writers used to dream out, as man and machines merge.
— NATO fired missiles into Russia and unfolding news which suggested that the probability of WW3 is rising: the international order of the last 500 years is breaking down.
— Various tweets predicting Bitcoin would soon rise about $100,000 again: highlighting the unravelling of the old financial system, crisis and the emergence of a new economy.
— A British Only Fans girl was aiming to sleep with 1000 men and break the Guiness Book of Records: we are living in perhaps the most hedonistic and decadent era ever. This normally precedes collapse.
These headlines seemed to me to be quite symbolic of our chaotic and decadent era: the end of times and beginning of something new. We are living in the Tumultuous Twenties as I had named them before 2020. Unravellings and unveilings, the true meaning of “apocalypse”, are proliferating.
On a more positive note, not only do I witness plenty of midlife crises as people strive to quit old career paths and lead more meaningful lives, younger people are also very stalwart about purpose and not just blindly walking into careers which might only attract fame and fortune. We are witness to bountiful beauty as people all around the world step into their hearts and discover their soul-inspired life purpose. The personal myths they were born with.
New Journeys and A New Apprenticeship
In the twilight I entered the temple proper. It was incredibly eery to walk here at night. The last 19 years of my life flashed in front of my minds eye; what and why had I walked this path? And why was I here now? As you might know, this period converges with the end of an 18.6 year moon cycle, which is a well-documented astrological event, as well as the Solstice. By chance, the training of the indigenous Druids of my motherland was said to be 19 years (more likely 18.6 years). So it was more comprehensive and deeper than a doctorate today! What had I been learning and doing for the last 19 years, I pondered? Upon what should I focus hereon? To what should I apprentice to going forwards? I think its good for all of us to really focus on a craft or a path. And now is a perfect time to embark on something.
An inner voice said to me, “you must apprentice to the sun”.
What does that even mean? I have a lot of ideas: relating to creativity (the inner sun), love, compassion and various spiritual paths. The Sun is said to have been worshipped across many indigenous paths from Egypt and the Incas to the Druids and ancient Japan.
The Sun gives life to all creatures without expecting anything in return.
Or does it mean in terms of the sciences? I know that light is at the cutting edge of many sciences. That all said, I am sure much will be revealed if I keep an open mind.
Opening a Gate
For me, more always becomes clearer over the years. Often I just need guidance on how to implement my soul-guided mission. But sometimes I become confused. Do I really know my soul well enough? Have I completely abandoned myself to it so I might unleash the dragon within? That which I carried from other realms into this.
As I pondered what the next 19 years might be about, and whether, or how, I was going to “apprentice myself to the sun” I re-opened the book on the Munay - Ki rites:
“I believe there is a force within each of us that longs for expansion, to know and experience new and better things beyond our current awareness. I think this urge was built into our program when human beings were created. You could even call it the spark of life within us – the fire, the inner creative force that activates this impulse. The Creator Rite ignites that spark, awakens that creative wisdom, so it can rise to its potential. Perhaps you have felt that urge in your own life. Maybe it starts as dissatisfaction with the status quo, a discomfort for life as it is. It can also feel like something is calling you, calling you out of your complacency, like an inner voice saying, “Isn’t there something more, something better?” When we recognize we can co-create our lives rather than wait for life to happen, then a new energy source is unleashed and we begin to see life differently.”
This seemed remarkably poignant.
Indigenous Philosophy - Reverence as the Second Capability of the 21st Century
Some friends of mine, and probably former colleagues, wonder why a futurist spends so much time in nature and with indigenous people - and is studying his own ancestral knowledge of the Druids. But aside from it being a passion, I know that humanity will not survive this next phase unless we can reawaken our reverence for Gaia. Some believe that with $5 trillion per year (or whatever the current number is) invested into renewable energy, the “climate crisis” will be solved. But this a much bigger crisis than climate (its a Sixth Extinction) and we will not have sufficient passion nor wisdom to make the transition if we do not see a transformation in our world view. Reverence is the answer.
