Institute of Neo-Archaic Cosmology
Proposal Synopsis

Vision Statement
Departments
The Land
The Buildings and Initial Structures
Funding

Vision Statement

A cultural renaissance is founded on the inspiration and knowledge of our predecessors, the ancient ones, grounding and animating an emergent vision of wholeness and evolution. We live at an historical turning point (a.k.a. The Turning Of The Ages) marked by the near complete breakdown and disfunctionalism of current institutions and traditions. This insight is unanimously shared by the leading edge of every discipline and every expression of human diversity.

The current evolutionary challenge is reminiscent of the Merlin’s (and other sage like beings). The Merlin lived during another Turning of the Ages. His calling was to simultaneously honor:

• The very best and most useful ways of life and knowledge of the previous age.
• The value and brilliancy of the emerging ways of life and knowledge of the new incoming transmissions and teachings.
• The eternal verities universally and eternally valid without regard to any specific time period.

This was no easy feat! In his time, the Merlin was reviled by the pre-Christian pagan animist culture for embracing some of the Christian Mysteries. Equally, the emergent Christianity scorned him for embracing many of the old ways. This situation is often shared by many exponents of evolutionary revolutionary paradigm busting in every field of creativity.

The mission and calling of the Institute of Neo-Archaic Cosmology (INAC) is similar to the Merlin’s. The Institute, functioning as a living Mystery School, serves as a laboratory and experiential classroom community assisting in facilitating a renaissance in the fields of:

• Experiential and Shamanic Astrology
• Cosmologically based arts, music, theater, dance and ceremony
• Ethnoastronomy and Archaeoastronomy

The Institute, functioning as a land based school with a supporting staff of instructors and scholars, frontline researchers, and pilgrims are “seed people” (a concept first proposed by Dane Rudhyar, a mentor of the School’s founder) for the next great cycle of human history now dawning.

“Seed People” contain within them (much like the Merlin) gratitude and appreciation of the ancient mysteries and the best of these teachings. Additionally, “seed people” have a curiosity and openness to the emergent new teachings naturally arising out of Great Mystery at this Turning of the Ages. How acute the coming changes will be is unknown. The mission of the Institute is to prepare the ‘seeds’ for any eventuality, with certain knowledge that with every winter, there follows a spring.

The vision of the Institute of Neo-Archaic Cosmology is committed to human diversity honoring all the places on the medicine wheel of life without hierarchical or cultural prejudice. This vital recognition of all life’s mystery schools with all their possible expressions of the feminine and masculine is directly based on the cosmology itself. Cosmology directly inspires the recurrent recreation of various mythic expressions that define culture, political structures, religion, economics and relational patterns.

The Institute is educating contemporary humanity to directly connect with the actual cosmology of our Earth and her sacred movements in space. This inspires the reawakening of imaginative and mythic faculties, long dormant in a technological age. So empowered and reanimated, the “seed people” then actively and easily co-create with Great Mystery to dream the dream onward.

The core philosophy of INAC originates from the ancient hermetic dictum:

As Above – So Below

As Within – So Without

This is beyond philosophical. It is a literal objective reality.

It is our love of Great Mystery and the sacred connections between land and sky as well as between the patterns of the psyche and the celestial that motivates our dedication to this project.

Addendum to the Vision Statement

INAC is participating in furthering a cultural renaissance in its geographical area of North America. The lower Mimbres river area was part of the greater Anasazi culture that stretched from Aztec to Pacquime in Chihuahua, Mexico. Already over the last ten years, a rebirth of the Mimbreno pottery techniques has occurred. INAC proposes to accelerate this renaissance with its cosmological contribution. Standing Stone Circles and Medicine Wheel Ceremonial Spaces support the rejuvenation of the land. In 1998 the first (100 feet diameter) Standing Stone Circle was built. A larger Standing Stone Circle along with other buildings and ceremonial sites are envisioned as living organic structures appropriate to the current time. These sites will function as educational and public gathering places fueling a resurgence of interest in ancient ceremonial cosmology. 

Departments

These are the departments we are currently envisioning with more to be added as the vision expands.

Shamanic Astrology Mystery School  (SAMS)                                                              
This features a regularly scheduled core curriculum tied to an apprenticeship and certification program. Seven core courses already exist (circ 2004) with 2 of these yearly courses being taught at Faywood Hot Springs. The majority of the curriculum will be taught on site at the school with other courses also being made available elsewhere.  A Teacher Training program is in development. (See Teacher Training)

Cosmological Shamanic Theater and Arts                                                        
The curriculum includes:

• Theatrical Expression of Shamanic Astrology and Cosmology
• Shamanic and Cosmological Music training with ancient and modern expression
• Shamanic and Cosmological Neo-Archaic Ceremony and Rites of Passage.
• Shamanic and Cosmological Spiritual Studies including yoga, inquiry, and meditation
• Visiting Scholars and Experts in the fields of Ethnoastronomy and Archaeoastronomy will be invited to lecture and conduct seminars

Research and Development
Cosmologically oriented research into other modalities not already included in the core curriculum. Including:

 

• Initiations cycles for children
• Diverse expression of puberty rites of passage
• Advanced research on planetary cycles
• Development of a mytho-shamanistic approach to the Lunar Mansions and the Fixed Stars

 

The Land

Located in Southwest New Mexico, between Deming and Silver City near Faywood Hotsprings. This large high desert oasis is surrounded by unforested desert and rangeland. 

There is a larger tract of land known as Antelope Hill recently purchased and is the planned future site of a larger Stone Circle and Visitor’s Center.

This high desert oasis is located very near the end of the Mimbres River Valley, an area rich with cosmologically oriented archeological sites. These sites include some of the greatest petroglyph panels in the country, as well as enigmatic ceremonial sites with Celtic inscriptions and ancient Standing Stones, plus this area is where the most beautiful cosmological oriented pottery was created by the Mimbreno culture.

The location for INAC is significant because it lies exactly on the same longitudinal meridian running from Aztec, to Salmon ruin, through Chaco Canyon, through Faywood Hotsprings and the lower Mimbres Valley, and then farther south to Pacquime located near Casas Grandes, Mexico. All these locations, along the same “Chaco Meridian” (see book and author) reflect the design and vision of a unique culture that erected ceremonial structures of cosmological significance from 1200 - 1450 AD. 

The Buildings and Initial Structures

Growing Vision of Structures currently includes:

• Large classroom with movable partitions and a large stage.
• 2-3 bedroom apartment with kitchen for caretaker and teachers – start with one apartment right away add more later.
• Large underground area for ceremonial kiva-like space and tornado refuge, storage etc.
• Outdoor amphitheater for lectures, theater and music
• Library
• Living units
• Kitchen facility dedicated to INAC
• State of the art compost solar bathroom and bathing facility

The campus design is off-grid and solar–powered whenever possible.

Larger Vision

Including but not limited to:

• Additional Buildings dedicated to each of the Archetypal Mysteries
• Additional Living Units
• The public Standing Stone circle and Visitor Center on Antelope Hill
• Gardens
• Agricultural Projects

Funding

INAC is administered by the office of the overseer of the Harbingers of the Turning of the Ages, a Corporation Sole. INAC is a not-for-profit spiritual organization and donated funds are tax deductible. Funds are sought by the following methods:

• Endowments – preferred method
• Grants
• Donations
• Contributions
• Members and Supporters
• Benefactors

INAC is already receiving tuition for core curriculum and other seminars, however like most schools it requires endowments and grants to prosper. INAC is not a profit making organization.

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