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COFFEEHOUSE CULTURE -- Issue 2

PAGE TWENTY-FOUR; TRAILER

FANTASTIC NEW FEATURES

THE MESSIAH, THE MISSION & THE MASONS

APRON AND TROWEL -- ET IN ARCADIA EGO

The other side of the story. If the Catholic Church had the lies and the deceit, who had the truth? Or did it simply disappear, buried in the elaborate fabrications of corrupt institutions? In fact, the truth did live on -- as the central ethos and powerbase of the Knights Templar. One of the most influential, pervasive and, perhaps, sinister organisations the world has ever seen, the Templars and their modern descendants, the Freemasons, built its own powerbase on a knowledge of the truth of Christianity that exceeded even the Church's. But, like the Church, it had its own agenda, its own ambitions for world domination, its own secret paths and byways. Playing with world consciousness like a yo-yo, the Templars used their esoteric knowledge in the furtherance of science and society but at the same time created a web of deceit, information and disinformation, lies and suggestion that formed some of the most enduring myths of modern society. Without the Templars, the myth and legends of the chivalric age -- of brave and noble knights, of King Arthur and the magician, Merlin, of the Fisher King and fair Parzival, of the Holy Grail and the blood of Christ -- would not exist. Nor, indeed, would so many of society's finer qualities. For the chivalry of the Templars was not merely about rescuing damsels in distress and maintaining order in a wayward and uncultured land. It was also about art and culture, manners and ideas, social grace and courtly love. Yet, still, the Templars remain a secret organisation that, even today, is still shrouded in secrecy but continues to manipulate society from behind the scenes. Although the Knights Templar are said to have been wiped from the face of Europe in 1366 by Phillipe la Bel, the central organisation merely went into hiding. In this exhaustive survey of what the Templars and the Freemasons are about, we will reveal much new knowledge. For the first time (possibly,) we will be revealing the secrets that the first Templars discovered under the Temple of Solomon on Mount Sion, we will be tracing their acquisition of knowledge, treasures and political power, their rise to dominate Europe and their downfall, their secret knowledge and powers. And on the way we will be following Christ from ancient Israel to what we think is his burial place in bonny Sco'land and tracing his bloodline down to modern times as we reveal the secret organisation that is the final refuge of the teachings and treasures of the Templars.

THE MAKING OF AMSTERDAM

The Amsterdam phenomenon didn't just happen, you know? No fairy godmother with a soft spot for dope smokers waved a magic wand over the city and gave it freedom, there was no papal dispensation (or in the case of smoking, congressional dispensation), no one said 'go on, give it a go and see what happens'. Yes, sure, there was the Dutch tradition of religious tolerance but try to translate that -- naturally -- into the freedom to expand your own consciousness and you don't get very far. No, the reinvention of Amsterdam as a Mecca for smokers was a cunning plan perpetrated by freethinking tokers to make life bearable. And what a courageous lot they were. In this major feature we talk to the men behind Amsterdam and get them to tell us how it all happened.

MAY THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN
When, in the 1890s almost the whole of the United States' recently pacified 'Indian Nation' started to dance, the settlers ran for cover. Warfare was bad enough but this was worse -- it was weird. As they chanted and danced themselves into exhaustion and sometimes death, the Ghost Dancers were playing out a last desperate ritual. But it couldn't save them. The best they could do was run for cover themselves and try to retain as much of their ancient culture as possible And that is what they did. But the spirit of the Ghost Dancers lives on. Today, the leaders of the American Indian Nation are starting to bring out aspects of their rich and colourful spiritual culture. In the first of an extended series of articles exploring the spiritual world of the American Indian we will be considering the tragic and poignant circumstances that led to the Ghost Dance.

FURTHER ON UP THE ROAD

Join us again, as we march further on up the road -- twice. Yes, with two more exciting episodes in our detailed history of the alternative culture we go striding off into the bright but unknown future that has been created by our forebearers, fivebearers and probably Goldilocks as well. Further on up the road towards our past there is a party going on. But, uh oh, it's the Communist Party. And is not wine or vodka that is flowing but blood -- blood from the cracked skulls of the American working man. It was the first wave of a revolutionary storm that still rages (somewhat) today. While those who had been disenfranchised from the American Dream by the Great Depression tried to overcome the might and power of industry and Government, those in power were seeking ways to contain and constrain the power of the people. Against a backdrop of insurrection, rabble rousing and near rebellion, we trace the invidious and insidious machinations of Government as it creates the laws that make the alternative culture truly alternative.
....Then along came the war. It looked like it might save the still economically ailing US of A. And, economically, it did. But it also set in motion the major changes in attitude that would eventually foster the alternative society. Fought for human rights and freedom, the Second World War made everyone take a step back and look at their own freedoms and rights. The concept of 'us and them' fostered in the war did not die when the fighting ended. For it was not just the people who were checking out their freedoms, it was the politicians and Governments. But from different ends of the spectrum. Fascism and communism had given definition to the concept of control, so Governments in 'the free world' had to be careful. Both sides had read 1984 by George Orwell and the battle lines were in the process of being drawn. In the second part of issue three's instalments of our beat history, we will be looking at the seeds of modern American governance. How did they manage to get into the position in which they find themselves today? How did they get hog-tied by their own lies and deceits? How did they get caught in this spiral of corruption, cynicism, duplicity and small-minded bigotry? How did they manage to destroy the credibility of not only governments but of truth itself? Join us as we mingle with the raddled and cynical control freaks who defined the post-war years. Let us start by introducing you to some G-men and their boss, who likes to be called Mary.

AND ALONG THE PATH . . . .

To Enlightenment. Join Mr Bliss for the last time -- in this series, anyway -- as he leads us to the very core of Vedic spiritual practices --- meditation. The keystone in the arch of consciousness, the essence of the divine, the temple of true worship, meditation is the greatest gift of the ancient Vedic Rishis. A powerful yet deceptively simple technique, meditation is the key to a life of bliss, joy and fulfilment. Despite its simplicity, maybe because its power is way out of proportion to its level of difficulty, meditation remains wreathed in misconceptions, misunderstanding and confusion. But here comes Bliss (in more ways than one) to bring some clarity to the situation. As he takes you through the history and the techniques of meditation, Mr Bliss will be revealing the true nature of the Rig Veda as a handbook for those on the path of developing consciousness.

ROLLING AND TUMBLING