Mr C , Cyclone's / Psi Clones & C Conciousness

I first heard of Mr C after he joined forces with "The Shamen" during the entact/ progeny/ synergy era. Prior to joining the Shamen Mr C was a pioneering DJ in the emerging acid house/rave scene. It was the energy and memes of the early tribal/trance that inspired me to explore thee 23rd current, reading about  Templars, Cathars, magick, mysticism, shamanism, martial arts, meditation etc. I remember seeing Mr C and the Shamen play Glastonbury festival finishing their set with re-evolution featuring the vocals of Terrance Mckenna who I was lucky to hear speak at Megatripolis. Around this time a friend told me about a "vision" experienced by the DJ Nik Sequenci or was it Richard Grey who both used to play at Megatripolis  which involved "The Knights of the round table" reincarnated as a dj's to protect an Arthur/Merlin figure, (Mr C)  a Psychic DJ communicating telepathically to his audience through trance .

Mr C's music and events for me have stood the test of time. From "the drop"  to creating Plink Plonk records and opening "The End" with the money generated by the Shamen , and more recently  Superfreq.

For a while Mr C ran a club called "Cyclone" and I enjoyed the wordplay of C clone or Psi clone.  I also attended Vapourspace where I saw The Black Dog play live. I was also lucky to catch LA Synthesis play live at the Fridge. My stand out moment at the End was probably the late set by Mr C in the main room, at Subterrain , but sets  by Matthew B and Roger Sanchez  (S Man)  came a close second.

I also also had a mix tape by Mr C called "Deep C" recorded live at Tokyo Sex Whale the weekend of the Ashton Court free Festival (the night he DJ'd and MC'd on the back a of sublime set by Dave Angel

I often thought about the meaning of the "C" for me it resonated Cybotrons or the scientlogists state of "Clear" or the more mainstream Christ / Cosmic Conciousness rather than those explanations offered by the man himself ;-)

Wilheim Reich - Orgone

Lately I have found myself resonating Wilheim Reich and Orgone energy again, I was first introduced to Wilheim Reich while studying a Pscyhology degree at U.E.L. Yes I was doing the obligatory Freudian Psychoanalysis modules ,but it was a neighbour DJ Orgone that introduced me to Reich, I didn't pay a huge amount of notice at the time as he alerted me to various other things which took more of my attention, DJ Orgone had built some orgone accumilators which we positioned at various house partys ( I wonder how much effect they really had ;-) but Reich's writing faded into the background, I became interested again (ever so slightly) a few years later when I took up tai chi , concious of the similarities between "orgone" and "chi" . Then a few years later I finally read Robert Anton Wilson "Cosmic Trigger" in which he mentions Reich.I still havent read R.A.W.s "Wilheim Reich in Hell". A couple of months ago I was lent two D.V.D.'s on the same weekend, one was a conspiracy theory thing about Beyonce,  Jay Z which started off fairly run of the mill then got increasing homophobic and nasty, the other was about a group of Neo Reichian anarchists in Brazil and something they called "Soma therapy" which uses Capoeira ( which I now practise) as part of the group therapy. So that brings us up to date I had just reread "Cosmic Trigger" and an old Capoeira mate posted the following link on facebook , while I have long overdue mix session with DJ Orgone planned this weekend.

The Boss Drum

"Shaolin or Wu Tang" "Samurai or Ninja " "Regional or Angola"

In the Mythology of Chinese Kung Fu the Shaolin were the monks of the Shaolin Temple that trained Kung Fu to protect the Temple  from bandits the Wu Tang.

In the Japanese mythology the Samurai were the honourable spiritual warriors whereas the Ninja were the thieves moving with stealth in the night. 

 

In Capoeira theres a duality is between the traditional "Angola" and Modern "Regional" styles

This weeks riots in London have impacted on me deeply, I believe there have been multiple causes, but I think many of the perpetrators have rioted in attempt to assert some sort of control, whether they have done so because they felt social injustice, boredom, disempowerment or simple greed. 20 years ago I might have joined them on the demo and I might have joined in the looting (shock horror)

For me it was Martial Arts that helped me empower myself ( The truth is I dont think I am that much tougher a person than I was twenty years ago) but practising martial arts has taught me many other things about myself I had not anticipated; my limitations, my capabilties, it has taught me about hierarchy and group organization, it has taught me about teamwork and loyalty , it has taught me humility, how to be assertive ( if necessary), how to relax, to pick my fights carefully and my role models and teachers even more so.

 My Master once said "In the old academies you never really know who the Master is, it might be the person you least expect like the one mopping the floor" the lesson is , we can all and should learn from each other.   Thanks to all who have helped me on my journey Masters, teachers and students all

Skate like a man - Off the beaten track - Culture Shock

The attached image has been a favourite of mine for years

I first encountered the image as a kid (when I was a skater) in the adverts of "Thrasher magazine" for the skateboard manufacturers "Skate like a man" I also remember "pigdog" commenting on the adverts with relish!

Years later I encountered it again when I moved to London it was the era of Spiral Tribe and the image was used for a flyer promoting a swanky west end "house" club entitled "Culture shock" which was a far cry from the hardcore raves I was used to.It was in this era that I was using the logo myself for some t-shirts and a mix tape. In recent years I have noticed it being used (with the addition of a surfboad) as the logo for "Off the beaten track" a surf shop in St Ives. I chatted to the owner of the shop this week and he told me its an Aztek symbol - my resonance with The Aztek is chronicled elsewhere.....

Follow The White Rabbit

U.R.

There have been two organisations to use the title U.R. that I have encountered over the years. 

The first a band of Intestellar Fugitives and Knights of the Jaguar whom I came into contact with through the Techno music emanating from an operational base somewhere in Detroit. The "Underground Resistance".

The second disparate band of Hipsters, Skaters , B-Boys & Gals ,Aerosol Artists and Capoeiristas , who practice their "Urban Rituals" in East London and beyond.

Promise, Loyalty, Truth

Which of these values is most important ? In what order would you choose to prioritise them ? is such an abstract question absurd ?

Today I chose to put Truth first ,Loyalty second and a Promise third

C's in my Conciousness

2011 is Census year in the UK and the branding includes a big "C" . The organisers  have acknowledged they are expecting a signifant number of people to record "Jedi" as their religious affiliation.

Today after a conversation about "Clears" in Scientology I started to experience more   C's on my conciousness which I have blogged about

"The Deep Blue C" (Conciousness) 

Luna C

Hinkley point C - Nuclear reactor

Clear Records - Jedi Knights

C3PO - Star Wars

"Clears" "Clear Channel" & The Sea Org - Scientology

C & C Music factory

Mr C

The Christ/Cosmic Conciousness

Yellow Dragons, Lion Dances, White Rabbits, Boomtown Rats & Flying Stars

This week my Tai Chi / Chi Gung / Kung Fu school "Yellow Dragon Fist" were invited to perform a Lion Dance live for the BBC's "Chinese New Year"  (Year of the Rabbit ) edition of their Flagship "One Show". Chinese new year is always a busy time for the school with request to perform Lion Dances and make alterations to clients Feng Shui.  (My Master Simon Wong is  Taoist/Buddhist and a Practioner of Flying Star Feng Shui.)
Despite various obstacles (including the car breaking down) we arrived at Television centre in good time and met Chris Evans dressed as a White Rabbit and Sir Bob Geldof of  the Boomtown Rats before the show. This was my first ever time performing a Lion Dance in public. I usually play the drum or cymbals. But all went well and a link to the performance on The One Show can be found here.

Click the links for more on  Dragons , Dungeons and Dragons , Dragon Dice and Puff the Magic Dragon.

Clowndestine Occurences

This week the darker side of clowns reentered my consciousness when a work colleague who had been read Stephen King’s “It” ( featuring the evil clown ”Pennywise” who uses balloons to tempt his child victims) was freaked out by the synchronous appearance of balloons in his back garden. This was followed up by a number of balloon and clown syncs in quick succession. Like one does when bamboozled by synchronicity he shared the experience and of course the meme was passed on, I went home to see an article on T.V about an undercover UK policewoman who infiltrated a non violent direct action environmentalist group called the Clandestine Rebel Clown Army. There’s a lot of stuff on Spy Cops (undercover police work) about in the media at the moment.

The dark side of clowns first entered my consciousness as a kid when my parents used to enter my brothers and I in an annual carnival in my mothers hometown. For the first few years we dressed in cool costumes as grenadier guards ,knights of the round table and snow white and the seven dwarves, the first year i didn't really like the costumes was when we dress as black and white French Peirot clowns, I had always associated the clown with the red nose circus big top variety and typified the commercial arena Ronald Mcdonald.I had never thought of a dark side.

In my teens I read “It” watched the film and became aware of the “psycho clown” typified by Penny wise and the Joker of Batman. and even fantasied about being a pro skateboarder with my own model of skateboard with a killer clowns design.

It wasn’t until much later I made the connection with the Court Jester / The Joker in the modern deck of playing card who is represent by the Fool in the Tarot. My knowledge of the symbolism of "The Fool" is limited but I understand he can represents the querant at the beginning of their journey to enlightenment but also the querant at the end of the journey having achieved enlightenment and a new found playful freedom bringing the querant full circle.

Click the links for more on the trickster / sacred clown  or the Insane Clown Posse

The Jeronimo's - Master and Professor

Over ten years ago I met a famous Brazillian Capoeira Master named Jeroimo who now teaches Capoeira in Australia ,I did a workshop with him and always regretted not buying his book -"Capoeira, A Slave Ritual" .

More recently another Brazillian Capoeira teacher named Jeronimo entered our circle as a blue belt "Professor" I didnt take advantage of his classes as perhaps I could have and now it seems he may be moving on. Is there a pattern repeating here ?

Tarra Xinha - Green Tara

So you know what its like when you go on holiday and a sound track presents itself "Kizoumba" has been on the horizon for a while now (courtesy of Sandra and Aaron) and i'm not sure how close the rythmms of Tarra Xinha are .The Family in Brazil were referring to Tarra Xinha  as a type of  "Forro" , but that category is so wide its meaningless to me. , The production of the cd they were caning ,struck me as having an oriental twang so reminded of me off Green Tara so anyway here's a Tarra Xinha track for your delight.

Click the links for more Taras

First transmissions (Eradication of infectious diseases)

21 MCs ,  Seconds , Taras 

Black Tara