Mesmeric

Reflections on the Challenge

When you notice someone behaving intensely, try to identify something unique about them and add more intensity to whatever you are doing. Speak a few words inwardly to someone who has passed away, and consider any synchronicity which may recently have occurred.

• Experiences

  A few days before, L had met a disabled man whilst walking home, who asked for help carrying a guitar to a higher floor. On a previous occasion, this man, who was of intense character, had said he recognised L from hundreds of years before, though L had no recollection of this. L inwardly spoke to his late father. Later, on a walk to see the sunset, L noticed a banner reading “Sunset Club” and saw a group gathered there. A Google search revealed the club posed questions to prompt social interaction, including one about speaking to the dead. This synchronicity seemed allied to the challenge.

  

  N had been saddened by the recent death of French actor Alain Delon, whom N had admired for his intensity in acting and business success, despite a difficult childhood and challenges in his personal life. His ability to maintain a striking presence throughout his life stood out. N had planned to mention Delon at a talk, but an earlier speaker made exactly the point that N was planning to make, that people are their own brand. N felt the timing was extraordinarily synchronistic.

  T had noticed people gazing at their phones intently on the train, and she in turn looked out more intently out of the window at the beautiful sunset, which nobody else saw. She had become aware of the contrast between light and shadow, noting how the darks seemed darker, and the lights brighter. The sharpness of the shadows had left a visual memory, with distinct squares of shadow standing out in her recollection.

• Responses

  L found the synchronicity in N’s experience interesting, particularly the notion that thoughts might be floating around. L referenced the philosopher Gad Saad, who discusses a similar concept in his book The Parasitic Mind. According to Saad, beliefs can spread like diseases, existing independently of individuals.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  ... thanks to the fact that at this period most of the learned beings there had already become learned beings of new formation they sat upon this new revival so firmly that before the poor thing had time to develop, it soon found its way into their common what is called ‘rubbish heap.’ ...

  This particularity of the learned beings of the Earth of new formation is called 'pecking to death'.

• Discussion

  N said that sometimes new ideas got "pecked to death", but more often new things never come about because people got too much invested in the past.

• Passage

  of new formation had in general become mechanized to do, he was, according to the custom there, very meticulously ‘pecked to death.’

  For instance, all the books now existing there on the question of this hypnotism—and of such books there are thousands there—always begin by saying that this Mesmer was nothing more nor less than a rogue with an itching palm and a charlatan of the first water, but that our ‘honest’ and ‘great’ learned beings very soon saw through him and prevented his doing any kind of mischief.

  The more the learned beings of recent times of this peculiar planet are themselves personally, in the sense of ‘idiotism,’ ‘squared,’ the more they criticize Mesmer and say or write concerning him every possible kind of absurdity to bring him into contempt...

• Discussion

  T drew a parallel to how Elon Musk was facing similar public scrutiny, noting that some individuals today were being “pecked to death” in various ways for expressing ideas that governments might not be sympathetic to.

• Passage

  As this Frenchman also made practical experiments, not in the usual fashion there, for the elucidation of the details of his discovery, other contemporary learned beings thereupon also manifested toward him that same particularity of theirs—‘to peck him to death.’

  This terrible disease is called there ‘cancer.’

  ...there will never proceed in the presences of the three-brained beings of this ill-fated planet Earth of yours what is called the sacred ‘Antkooano,’...

  that process of perfecting the Objective-Reason ...

  As a rule, everywhere on those planets of our Great Universe upon which three-brained beings breed, the perfecting of Objective-Reason can proceed in them only from personal conscious labors and intentional sufferings.

• Discussion

  T suggested that cancer could be a metaphor for obstruction and internal decay within systems that resist innovation. N said similarly it brought to mind systems which forght themselves, and L gave the example of ever higher taxation to prevent change to a status quo, which then became more expensive.

Art and Reverie

Reflections on the Challenge

Each time you encounter a person or object whose nature and title do not match, reflect on how it makes you feel. Use an air quotes gesture ✌️ and verbalise the disparity. Look around you, and consider any shadows cast as symbols of true depiction.

• Experiences

  T had come across a link to the top ten art colleges in the UK, but none of them included life drawing, or any reference to the art and science of drawing and painting. It was so shocking, she did the air quotes gesture and then considered what she had just read, and the true depiction of shadow.

  

  From Course Overview 2024-25 Central Saint Martins
  BA (Hons) Fine Art

  N had seen someone recently in the street, but could not remember who it was. It was only later that he remembered it was a former collegue, who had aged. A week or so later, N had got a message that the person had died. He went to the funeral, and got talking to someone there. It had been a brain tumour.

  L had gone to a pub called the Elephant Inn to meet some old friends. The pub had formerly been called the Moss Hall Tavern, which related to local history, and there was no reason, as far as he knew, for the name change, and he felt sad about that. He forgot to verbalise. He looked at shadows and noticed that the edges of the shadows were not well defined, and liable to shift.

• Responses

  Responding to N, L said that his meeting with friends, planned months before, had been reduced in number. One had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and was already in palliative care. Since the gathering, this old friend had passed away and L had attended the funeral two days before. L recounted that the day before the funeral, a musician had sent a message containing a rendition of the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto. It was a synchronicity that this same piece was the entrance music at the service. (Later in the meeting, while this was being discussed, there was the clatter of hooves outside which presages a cortege.)

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  the psyche of these three-brained beings who have taken your fancy and who breed on the planet Earth has finally become such a unique phenomenon.

  “This psychic particularity, namely, of falling into a ‘hypnotic state,’ is, as I have already said, inherent to the three-brained beings only of this planet of yours, and one can therefore say that if they did not exist, then in all our Great Universe there would not exist in general even a being-notion of ‘hypnotism.’

• Discussion

  T wondered if this meant that uniquely on our planet, we were all in a hypnotic state continually, whereas all other planets were conscious.

Doctor Do Little

Reflections on the Challenge

Once a day, when consuming food, drink, or medication, research one ingredient, consider its effect on your energy and emotions, and place your hand on your stomach.

• Experiences

  Following a doctor's appointment, which focused on the importance of weight loss to reduce blood pressure, N had decided to change his diet, replacing morning croissants with apples and integrating more fruit, and having a light meal in the evening. This had led to noticeable weight loss and improved well-being. He had also switched to decaf coffee and tea. He was feeling optimistic about the positive impact from these changes.

  L had often felt tired after breakfast, suspecting it was due to carbohydrates. He reduced cereal intake. Additionally, he usually took multivitamins and vitamin C but questioned their long-term benefits. He had become more aware of coffee consumption, noting that drinking it too early could interfere with the body's natural cortisol development. He decided to wait an hour after waking before having coffee and had shifted his caffeine intake to mid to late morning to avoid disturbing his sleep. These changes had possibly been beneficial.

  J noted that the question was in two parts: how good it was for you, and how it made you feel. He had done some research into it, and quite liked falafel. Apparently it had a lot of protein with it, and potassium, with quite a bit of iron. On the downside there were saturated fats. He thought it was not short term; it was long term. You didn't feel very differently, but the long term effects, he thought, were probably beneficial. So it was more about a lifestyle than a particular meal.

  T had taken a tangy vitamin tablet daily to ensure sufficient vitamin C intake but had concerns about unwanted ingredients and extracted chemicals. Her trust in pharmaceuticals was low, and she felt uneasy about taking the tablet every morning. She decided to stop, worrying about vitamin C deficiency. This fear affected her emotions and drained her adrenaline. She learned that foods like stone fruits, blackberries, coconut, prunes, bok choy, green bell peppers, sweet corn, eggplant, and turnips naturally contain sorbitol, an ingredient in the tablet. Despite understanding the natural sources, she had found it hard to integrate the challenge.

• Responses

  Responding to N, T recommended a podcast featuring Dr. Philip Avandia, a heart surgeon emphasizing metabolic health and the impact of processed foods on obesity and heart disease.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 31

• Passage

  In the hotel where we had the place of our existence, next to my room, or as is said there in the ‘number’ next to mine, there existed a very sympathetic pair of beings who had only recently completed the sacrament of the Union of the Active with the Passive for the purpose of serving the Great All-Universal Trogoautoegocratic process for the prolongation of their generation, or, as they themselves would say, had ‘been married,’ and they were still considered ‘newlywed.’

• Discussion

  N thought this way of putting it suggested that beings on Earth were created for bigger purposes than might be apparent.

• Passage

  I instantly ran to them and it turned out there, that ‘himself' was not at home, for on that very day he had had to go off somewhere; and during this time she had felt faint and, almost without consciousness, had instinctively rapped on my wall.

• Discussion

  T thought this couild be a metaphor for the Work. L added there was also the connotation of something new.

A Mars A Day

Reflections on the Challenge

Whenever you feel tempted or drawn towards something, notice the cravings behind that choice. Swallow. Are they true needs or something else?

• Experiences

  N had spent time noticing his cravings over the month. He had felt a strong temptation towards chocolate, particularly around four o'clock each day. This craving had frustrated him when there was no chocolate available. He had wondered if it was a physical need for energy or a desire for a treat or reward. He was able to get chocolate bars at the office, which had satisfied his cravings. However, he thought the craving might be deeper, possibly a need for emotional recognition after working all day.

  

  L had been watching an interesting YouTube video about a new AI model but remembered the challenge. He had questioned whether it was a craving or a need and realised he needed to look at his to-do list instead of watching videos. So he swallowed and looked at the to-do list. Throughout the month, he had frequently asked himself this question. He found it often was not a need but a craving. This reflection had changed his thinking. He recalled a quote from Will Durrant on Aristotle: We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. He believed choosing needs over cravings could become a habit.

• Responses

  Responding to N, T mentioned James Clear's book Atomic Habits, which suggests recognizing and substituting habits. She suggested that N’s craving might actually be a need to move his body, as he moves his mouth when eating chocolate. She suggested substituting walking outside after a long day at the office, akin to a daily medicine.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 31

• Passage

  Now listen, my boy, to the information about the newly invented name of those terrestrial contemporary physicians articulated as ‘doctor.’

  It would seem that this invention is that also of the beings of the ‘important’ community of Germany there, and they invented this articulation for the purpose of defining some merit or other of some among them, but this same invention of theirs, which was widely spread on the whole of their planet, became, for some reason or other, the ordinary nominal name for all the contemporary physicians there.

  It must be even emphasized that, thanks to this invention of theirs, there was added there yet one more to the number of factors, the totality of which constantly leads them into error...

• Discussion

  N discussed how the term doctor initially signified merit but later became a general title, diluting its original significance. L said the word was used for many other fields outside medicine. N said there were many fake degrees, which undermining the credibility of the title "Doctor". T talked about the scarcity of doctors and the implications of reducing training standards. It was now possible to work with patients after only two years study.

Deep Pharmacopoeia

Reflections on the Challenge

Adopt the fingers gesture of 'zooming in' on encountering product descriptions or accepted narratives, to explore beneath the surface claims. Consider if they are true, emotionally appealing or addictive.

• Experiences

  L had looked at the website of a local NHS Medical Centre, which did not entirely refect reality. The website included a mission statement focused on patient empowerment and environmental well-being, accompanied by cheerful cartoons of smiling poeple. Yet to communicate with the centre, it was necessity to phone at a precise time with limited chances of getting through, prolonged waiting times, and discourteous communication. Also the artist credited with the cartoons was stated to be a patient, but in fact was a professional artist based in a different part of the country.

  N said that he had started to research the life of A E Housman, as a talk about the poet was coming up at his club, and found that contemporary interpretations often emphasised Houseman's repressed homosexuality and speculated about his private life. N noted that such perspectives might overshadow the poet's contributions, reducing them to mere reflections of societal biases rather than expressions of the human spirit.

• Responses

  N said there was pressure in society that everybody conformed to a particular perspective in the world, and he thought this was very dangerous. T talked of people being cancelled for having the wrong views. L said that Gurdjieff had described somebody as having been anathematised.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 30

• Passage

  Thereafter our highly respected analytic-chemist takes from his table a form on which official title is indicated and writes:

  “The powder sent to us for analysis proves to be, according to all the data, Dover’s powder. The analysis showed it to contain…” And he copies a formula from his German pharmaceutical guide, deliberately increasing or diminishing some of the figures, but increasing or diminishing them of course only very slightly so that they may not slap you in the eye.

  ...The form thus written is dispatched to him who sent the Dover’s powder, and the famous analytic-chemist himself is quite at peace as no one knows that he has made no analysis at all...

• Discussion

  N highlighted the lack of accountability and the chemist's security in knowing that no one could double-check his work, comparing it to how evidence can be destroyed to prevent verification.

• Passage

  Personally, in my handling of these remedies for many years, a definite opinion has been formed in me that none of the remedies known to contemporary medicine can be of any use at all without faith in it.

  And faith in a person concerning any remedy arises only when the given remedy is known and when many people say that it is very good for a certain illness.

  It is just the same with this powder of ours; once it is called Dover’s powder, that is enough, because everybody already knows it and many people often say of it that it is excellent for coughs.

  And besides, speaking candidly, our new composition of Dover’s powder is much better than the real one made from the prescription of Dover himself, if only because it contains no substance injurious to the organism...

• Discussion

  N mentioned the placebo effect, that belief in the remedy's effectiveness is more important than its actual ingredients.

• Passage

  But from the powder made from our prescription this would never happen, since it contains none of that opium or any other substance harmful to the organism.

  In short, my esteemed Doctor, every one ought, when walking in the streets, to shout from the bottom of his heart: “Long live the new prescription for Dover’s powder!”

• Discussion

  N described the historical promotion of addictive substances, making this celebration of a non-addictive alternative particularly poignant.

The Bookworm

Reflections on the Challenge

When offered appealing yet false ideas, through news, books, or in conversation, note your feelings and analyse the allure. Raise your hand to your ear.

• Experiences

  T had noted the challenge's four stages: reading, remembering, doing, and noticing. Her main struggle lay in remembering to perform the actions, specifically raising her hand to her ear when encountering pseudo-scientific advice. She described an incident with a leaflet that promoted pharmaceutical products, which claimed to have won awards for boosting national trade and enhancing wealth. These products were marketed as beneficial for various life stages, using fear-mongering tactics related to health vulnerabilities during pregnancy, aging, and parental responsibilities for children's health. The products were paradoxically recommended for those in "normal health," which T identified as an oxymoron.

  L had read George Galloway's speech upon becoming the MP for Rochdale, which portrayed himself as representing those who treasured the free rights that Britain had enjoyed since the Second World War, which L was not sure was entirely true. He also discussed the challenge of managing distractions, which similarly had their own allures that were helpful to identify, and these distractions often led him to overcommit. L reflected on how internal dialogues, like promising too much to oneself, could interfere with achieving one's goals, likening it to self-sabotage rather than external persuasion.

• Responses

  N resonated with T's observation on fear-driven marketing, expanding on how these tactics are pervasive across different sectors. He shared his own experience with health products and the skepticism surrounding alternative health strategies like intermittent fasting. N stressed the manipulative aspects of commercial fear and its impact on consumer behavior.

  T agreed with N's points, adding depth to the discussion of health and pharmaceutical marketing. She elaborated on the economic motivations behind such marketing, critiquing the superficial awards and the actual nutritional value of products.

  L connected the theme of distractions to broader societal structures, such as the economic system that pressures individuals into a predefined path of education and employment. He suggested alternative pursuits like art, which provide more meaningful engagement and personal fulfillment.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 30

• Passage

  Here I could not help interrupting him: ‘You don’t mean it?… But it’s not possible!… Has no one ever discovered that instead of Dover’s powder you give them this particular mess?’

  ‘Of course not,’ laughingly replied this good acquaintance of mine. ‘These things can be detected only by sight and taste; and this Dover’s powder which we make, however you turn it and under whatever microscope you examine it, is in color the same as it should be according to the genuine prescription of this Doctor Dover.

• Discussion

  T thought the part about appearance being deceptive had a metaphorical implication of deceit and superficial qualities, akin to something looking good on the surface but being misleading underneath, like a cake covered with icing...

• Passage

  He said, ‘This young man, this mania’s darling, with the pimpled face, studies at a certain university to become a specialist analytic-chemist, but there at the university he is bound to study those special books usually fabricated in Germany by “learned beings” there.’

  … And really, my boy, among these contemporary Germans, especially during recent times, the invention of ‘scientific’ books in all branches has also increased.

• Discussion

  L said that this was reminiscent of Tony Blair's policy of sending ever more young people to university. This meant it was necessary to have extra degrees and qualifications, and then new industries.

• Passage

  After finishing the course, this young man then receives the title of analytic-chemist. Sometimes it happens that before receiving a responsible post, the young man happens to get “practice” consisting usually in this, that he serves for a certain time at a “slaughterhouse,” where he helps the local chemist, also a former mama’s darling, to ascertain with the aid of a microscope, in a certain way only known to themselves, whether the pork contains trichinae; and only later, when a place is vacant somewhere, is he appointed to the official post of analytic-chemist.

• Discussion

  T thought that the reference to trichinae might be a metaphor for how corruption embeds itself within the fabric of society. T said that the quotations marks around the word "slaughterhouse" might be significant. N said it might be a euphemism. T said it was just an ordinary local chemist, but awful things were being done, animals being killed. N said the description of knowledge and learning might be a circular. A lot of things we used in life we just accepted as being gospel, because it came in nice packaging and we were told it was a trusted product like Dover's Powders. How much did we take remedies without questioning it? How many prescriptions? What prescribed behaviour do we take at that level? What "wisdom"?

A Spoonful Of Sugar

Reflections on the Challenge

When you hear a professional confidently assert dubious suppositions, consider their motivations. Observe your emotional reaction and consciously stifle a yawn.

• Experiences

  N had been involved in a professional matter which should have been completed within two or three weeks but was prolonged by the other party's actions. The solicitor on the other side seemed to be making the process overly complicated and time-consuming, causing frustration for N, Ultimately, the person who was delaying things was dismissed and there was a period of a few weeks when things were on hold till a replacement was found, who turned out to be more helpful. During all this time, N observed his emotional reaction and tried to remain calm.

  L said there had been a recent rise in anti-semitism, with people in the public eye spreading false claims that Israel deliberately allowed the recent attack. (It was also commonly heard in social situations.) This led to questions about the motivations of those who say it, and whether there was a desire to cause trouble. Some individuals might knowingly spread these false claims, while others may do so without fully believing them. L was less interested in consuming news and more focused on creating harmony through artistic expression.

• Responses

  Responding to N, L said the motivation for the delaying tactics he had encountered might have been for the individual concerned to charge more for their time.

  Responding to L, N said the same had happened after 911 as well, similar conspiracy theories were spread, and the worst of it was that he had one or two quite intelligent friends who believed in them. It just seemed a little nonsensical, but it was extraordinary how people would promote the most extreme views in this fashion. Even though they could not possibly be accurate, this is what they asserted. L said he knew an otherwise intelligent person who believed that Israelis were involved in the 911 attacks. Also Stockhausen had perversely described them as a great work of art. It was hard to understand the motivation behind such claims. T suggested that the allure of conspiracy theories might stem from a deep-seated desire for order or control in the face of chaos, likening it to an "absent father" complex. This desire leads to elevating certain groups or entities, such as Jews and Israelis in this context, only to denigrate them, akin to a rebellious teenager's relationship with parental figures. This dynamic serves not only to externalize blame but also to cope with the fear and uncertainty that would arise if those accused truly had orchestrated such events.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 30

• Passage

  First of all, know and remember this, that the young three-brained beings there ... who prepare themselves to take ... the profession of a physician only learn by rote as many names as possible from among the many thousands of these said medicinal means now known there.

• Discussion

  N said the approach to healthcare often felt mechanical and superficial, focusing primarily on symptoms without delving deeper into the patient's overall well-being. Rote-learning was also prevalent in the study of law.