Tim Holmes on Festival 23 (and the rise of Pronoia!)
SO here's my turn to try and write something, to express something which is not easy to express ...
Firstly PRONOIA.We all know this principle, right? The theory that others are conspiring to help you. Well within the bounds of my own reality tunnel this has been proven and it takes commitment to use a word like 'proof'. Takes a lot of evidence to provide a convincing enough argument, one that is beyond doubt. But having witnessed a woodland full of evidence last weekend I conclude that pronoia is a very real thing. As real as anything else. It's what made that happening happen!
Evidence would also suggest that pronoia is infinitely more powerful than paranoia, that it empowers one to change the world positively, to manifest one's best intents, and to realise a collective vision. Currently I'm ruminating on just what this might mean for the universe on both microcosmic and macrocosmic levels. My initial conclusions are that pronoia is the embodiment of a can do approach, a love not hate attitude providing an antidote to red top propaganda and media mind pollution. It turns the narrative on its head you see, becomes a vaccine for apathy and a linctus for depression and issues with self esteem.
The cooling salve of pronoia can be spread at will. By the act of sheer will; just unscrew your metaphysical jar and apply liberally to your hopes and dreams, to the hopes and dreams of those you love... which should be everyone by now, right?
We can use the tincture to heal scars of past failures, turn them into the lessons you always needed, to achieve the dreams you've yet to have.
Pronoia is the best medicine right now, it requires no faith to tap into its power, just effort and trust. Trust in yourself and trust that others will trust in you. These aren't easy things; effort and trust. They make us vulnerable, expose us to the potential of failure and hurt. Thank fully we have just the lotion we need should we ever fail, feel stricken or tender. For the universe itself is conspiring to help us.
I want to thank every single one of you for your efforts. For supporting my efforts. For supporting the efforts of one another, whether you were aware you were or not. I also want to thank these beautiful people personally...
Laura Fives - the person who trusts me more than I do msyself
Anwen & Bob - the instigator & the agitator, from idea to realisation
Myra, Ben & Megan - fellow plotters and inspirations
Alan Moore, Daisy Campbell, John Higgs and Pedro Threes- my cardinal points, once I convinced you I had to believe myself
Michelle Olley, Michelle Watson, Jamie Dodds, Ian Vincent, Lisa Louise Lovebucket - my handful of magicians
Pronoia merchants extrodinaire including, but not limited to; Twitchey, Paul Collins, Mark, Adam, Neal, Paul, Dolly, Kay, Kate, Jacqueline, Horton, Kate, Salena, Dave, Rob Cohen, Greg Wilson, Kermit Leveridge, Richard Norris, Melinda, Dominic, Iannes Bitt, Anastasia & Joe, Mike, Nick Margerrison, Seani, Emma, Human Robber, Matt Ann de Hammer, Josh, Scott, Sam, Ben Hirst..your collective efforts and trust gave our endeavour the potential for success way before it happened... I could easily list everyone who attended after the event but there are some who couldn't be there that I need to thank... My three kids, who've put up with so much, sorry kids it looks like you'll have to put up with more yet, but it's a worthwhole legacy eh kids. To Auntie Debs & Uncle Joe, Gemma, Grandpa & Christine and finally to my two brothers; Roofius Rackius and Ivan Gibbard - you're the two people I wish could have seen this spectacle more than any others - next time, Roofius... in the next life, dear Ivan - every drink in the Naughty Rabbit was for you X
Five hundred of us have just self administered the miraculous nectar that is pronoia and my suspicions are on high alert that we may just have tipped things in love's favour. It was a small happening, but no small feat, and it was HEROIC in every sense, our progenitors would be proud of our efforts. Now to finish on a poem, which is often my want...
Reconstructive Criticism
“It’s easy to throw stones” she said
“But people who live in glass houses..” etcetera etcetera
And she’s right you know, It’s easy to point out errors
Easy to highlight the failings of others and think that we’re being so clever
Not so easy… to say how you’d better the world, what contribution you’d give
Quite hard, in fact, to find solutions, especially without sounding glib
So I thought long and hard on the actions I’d take
The things that I would keep the same, the changes that I’d make
She was right when she said that it wouldn’t easy…
But that’s more of a reason to try.
“The problems of the world,” she said “are not so easily solved, and if you can make it a better place… it’s up to you to get involved”
So I thought about hypocrisy and the corruption that I see
The power of the individual in this latter day state of democracy
On how our power is oft removed.
But more often is given away
And being as I’m a poet, of sorts, it won't be hard to have my say
To point out some of the problems I see, the things I find devious or sinister
To arrange these arguments in a poetic form… Maybe even address the prime minister
I’ll point out my misgivings on people’s use of power
And in doing so my own power reclaim
I’ll articulate it clearly without anger or venom
I’ll give my creation a name
It'll be part of my oeuvre and I'll read it to people when occasionally invited on stage
I’ll speak my poem in a calm objective manner
Distilling my once youthful rage
I’ll try to use humour and not just derision
And I’ll call my shining opus 'Re-constructive Criticism'
So here goes…
Be nice to other people they out number you 7.4 billion to 1
Be nice to one another, we're surrounded. Outnumbered... 7.4 billion to 1
Now that's an awful lot of pronoia, right?
I love you and I trust in your efforts XX XXX
Tim Holmes
Firstly PRONOIA.We all know this principle, right? The theory that others are conspiring to help you. Well within the bounds of my own reality tunnel this has been proven and it takes commitment to use a word like 'proof'. Takes a lot of evidence to provide a convincing enough argument, one that is beyond doubt. But having witnessed a woodland full of evidence last weekend I conclude that pronoia is a very real thing. As real as anything else. It's what made that happening happen!
Evidence would also suggest that pronoia is infinitely more powerful than paranoia, that it empowers one to change the world positively, to manifest one's best intents, and to realise a collective vision. Currently I'm ruminating on just what this might mean for the universe on both microcosmic and macrocosmic levels. My initial conclusions are that pronoia is the embodiment of a can do approach, a love not hate attitude providing an antidote to red top propaganda and media mind pollution. It turns the narrative on its head you see, becomes a vaccine for apathy and a linctus for depression and issues with self esteem.
The cooling salve of pronoia can be spread at will. By the act of sheer will; just unscrew your metaphysical jar and apply liberally to your hopes and dreams, to the hopes and dreams of those you love... which should be everyone by now, right?
We can use the tincture to heal scars of past failures, turn them into the lessons you always needed, to achieve the dreams you've yet to have.
Pronoia is the best medicine right now, it requires no faith to tap into its power, just effort and trust. Trust in yourself and trust that others will trust in you. These aren't easy things; effort and trust. They make us vulnerable, expose us to the potential of failure and hurt. Thank fully we have just the lotion we need should we ever fail, feel stricken or tender. For the universe itself is conspiring to help us.
I want to thank every single one of you for your efforts. For supporting my efforts. For supporting the efforts of one another, whether you were aware you were or not. I also want to thank these beautiful people personally...
Laura Fives - the person who trusts me more than I do msyself
Anwen & Bob - the instigator & the agitator, from idea to realisation
Myra, Ben & Megan - fellow plotters and inspirations
Alan Moore, Daisy Campbell, John Higgs and Pedro Threes- my cardinal points, once I convinced you I had to believe myself
Michelle Olley, Michelle Watson, Jamie Dodds, Ian Vincent, Lisa Louise Lovebucket - my handful of magicians
Pronoia merchants extrodinaire including, but not limited to; Twitchey, Paul Collins, Mark, Adam, Neal, Paul, Dolly, Kay, Kate, Jacqueline, Horton, Kate, Salena, Dave, Rob Cohen, Greg Wilson, Kermit Leveridge, Richard Norris, Melinda, Dominic, Iannes Bitt, Anastasia & Joe, Mike, Nick Margerrison, Seani, Emma, Human Robber, Matt Ann de Hammer, Josh, Scott, Sam, Ben Hirst..your collective efforts and trust gave our endeavour the potential for success way before it happened... I could easily list everyone who attended after the event but there are some who couldn't be there that I need to thank... My three kids, who've put up with so much, sorry kids it looks like you'll have to put up with more yet, but it's a worthwhole legacy eh kids. To Auntie Debs & Uncle Joe, Gemma, Grandpa & Christine and finally to my two brothers; Roofius Rackius and Ivan Gibbard - you're the two people I wish could have seen this spectacle more than any others - next time, Roofius... in the next life, dear Ivan - every drink in the Naughty Rabbit was for you X
Five hundred of us have just self administered the miraculous nectar that is pronoia and my suspicions are on high alert that we may just have tipped things in love's favour. It was a small happening, but no small feat, and it was HEROIC in every sense, our progenitors would be proud of our efforts. Now to finish on a poem, which is often my want...
Reconstructive Criticism
“It’s easy to throw stones” she said
“But people who live in glass houses..” etcetera etcetera
And she’s right you know, It’s easy to point out errors
Easy to highlight the failings of others and think that we’re being so clever
Not so easy… to say how you’d better the world, what contribution you’d give
Quite hard, in fact, to find solutions, especially without sounding glib
So I thought long and hard on the actions I’d take
The things that I would keep the same, the changes that I’d make
She was right when she said that it wouldn’t easy…
But that’s more of a reason to try.
“The problems of the world,” she said “are not so easily solved, and if you can make it a better place… it’s up to you to get involved”
So I thought about hypocrisy and the corruption that I see
The power of the individual in this latter day state of democracy
On how our power is oft removed.
But more often is given away
And being as I’m a poet, of sorts, it won't be hard to have my say
To point out some of the problems I see, the things I find devious or sinister
To arrange these arguments in a poetic form… Maybe even address the prime minister
I’ll point out my misgivings on people’s use of power
And in doing so my own power reclaim
I’ll articulate it clearly without anger or venom
I’ll give my creation a name
It'll be part of my oeuvre and I'll read it to people when occasionally invited on stage
I’ll speak my poem in a calm objective manner
Distilling my once youthful rage
I’ll try to use humour and not just derision
And I’ll call my shining opus 'Re-constructive Criticism'
So here goes…
Be nice to other people they out number you 7.4 billion to 1
Be nice to one another, we're surrounded. Outnumbered... 7.4 billion to 1
Now that's an awful lot of pronoia, right?
I love you and I trust in your efforts XX XXX
Tim Holmes