the Thiaoouba Prophecy,just finished it last night. This video brought to mind Michel's mention of the forests on Thiaoouba, and how they created soft music all the time. Of course, that was a level 9 planet,ha!       Wasn't there also a mention of this in the old Celestine Prophecy books ?  very beautiful !Of course, the emotional climate surrounding them also makes a difference, which should serve as a warning to us environmentally. I would think that noise pollution also contributes to their well being. Just look at the dull colors in the forests along highways, as opposed to those in the rare remote settings we have left to enjoy....T

I don't mean to burst anyone's bubble, but I researched Damanhur during my quest to find and join an ecovillage.  There is a lot of trickery associated with this group...

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Damanhur_a_mind_control_cult

Is Damanhur a mind control cult?

Hi Noa,

I've noticed that when you hear about something new, you seem to have a tendency to first want to go and look if there is some conspiracy behind it. In my own experience, when you are looking for conspiracy, that is what you are likely to find. What if instead, you first looked at the transformative aspects behind new things you find, and then look at the conspiracy angle. This might help to give you a more positive and balance view on things.

I have known about Damanhur for about 10 years, and though they do have a few cult like aspects, they are one of the few communities I admire above any other on this planet. I've had at least half a dozen friends visit Damanhur, some staying for several months. Almost everyone came back with glowing reviews. The most negative comment I got was from a woman friend who originally was thinking of moving there, but came back saying it was too far out for her, that "they are not from this planet." I invite you to explore some of the positive things about Damanhur and see what you find, Noa.

With much love and warm wishes,
Fred

How could you possibly know what my mindset was when I researched Damanhur in 2010?  In actuality, I was considering visiting this group (with hopes to join them) until my research led me to some of the information I shared here.  Do you think all that testimony is fabricated? 

How is it that the creator of http://wanttoknow.info/, whose very foundation is built upon conspiracies, can be so critical of someone else sharing negative information?

I could just as easily say, Fred, that once you latch onto an opinion about something you refuse to look at anything that contradicts it, despite the evidence.  This is called "selective reasoning."

I didn't create the Damanhur controversy and I didn't go looking for it.    I'm not telling anyone what to believe; I am only sharing my research.  You can make up your own mind... or don't you want-to-know-info that tells another side of the story?

Why are you so quick to shoot the messenger? 

The Gathering Spot used to be a safe place to share one's comments, beliefs, and ideas.  Now, I never know when my posts are going to be misunderstood and held up to criticism.

This is why I rarely post anymore and it's why my time here may be drawing to a close.

Shame!

I want to make some statements in defense of Noa. My perspective is that we live in a world where people are frequently manipulated by pulling on their heartstrings. The recent example was the Kony video that spread around so quickly. Yes, it brought light to a subject that badly needed it but the solution it offered, a call for more Africom involvement in Africa, probably will make matters worse, not better. Overall as has been stated here before, the film may be more positive than negetive in effect if people get better educated and are wise enough to find other ways to truly help those who need it in Africa and also learn cooperation through the internet.

My point is that I can understand Noa's reaction, given all the events in the last few decades like the Kony film, the babys taken from incubators used as a pretext to invade Iraq, calls for donations from the American Cancer Society when this organization has been instrumental in suppressing real cures, and calls for more money spent on all kinds of wonderful sounding humanitarian projects that the government uses poorly or the government creates the exact opposite condition than what the money was originally intended for. So my first impression of these singing plants was similar - it sounded a bit too wonderful to be true.

From my perspective, the idea of looking for the positive aspects of something first, then the negative, sets me up for a big let down and I feel like I've had WAY too many of these lately. But I do understand your point - that we ought not to only look at the downsides of something without giving it a chance.

I think it's important to just stick to the facts when we disagree, rather than asking someone else to change their filter, which personally, I'm not sure how I would go about doing that myself, other than constantly reminding myself to stay open minded. Who can say who's filter, or perspective is more real than anyone elses? Is a balanced view really corect if the whole boat is tilted sideways? I'm not sure I know the answers to these questions, I'm really just asking.

i know very little about Damanhur before 3 hours ago, i never even heard of it. im going to share my essence in this matter. To me the thing i value most is Truth. My quest for truth really kicked into high gear right after leaving high school many years ago, i stayed with this quest and still do to this day, it will probably be with me my hole life. on my journey for truth i was shocked to realize my quest, showed me i had gathered practically no truth, that everything was / is suspect. most of the jargon in my head i accepted from what others had told me. my first step to accomplish to further my quest was a complete revaluation/brake down on all things that labeled themselves truths in my mind but were cleverly disguised assumptions posing as truth's. what i was told, what i accepted without critical examination, my beliefs, others beliefs, tribal beliefs, my hopes, my fears, and school was in high suspect in many areas. i learned that history = his story... theories on science, laws of are universe, E=mc2, mind control, esp, aliens, god, human nature, atoms, conspiracies... how the hell did i know. i realized my foundation on real experience, my own experience was minuet, especially in matter such as this. there an infinite sea of information. the question that came to mind was what to believe, what a glorious insight to me. the word BELIEVE. that was the first straw to snap. i realized im quite stupid. all i had was what a bunch of what other people told me, either directly or indirectly and they told me what they BELIEVED or they might have purposefully lead me astray, for one reason or another. Standing in almost complete unknown was i, and there beside me infinite possibilities... and i set it up as my intention (quest for truth) to search threw infinite possibilities, research, experiment, study, observe to arrive at truth. i am still stupid to this day :) im just really happy i know that lol. i have only arrived at trivial things that im confident is truth and its only to the context i list them. example(it seems water is necessary for plants to grow). i have a large amount of conjuncture that i feel confident is true, however i will not label it as such, and a ton vague notions in which i entertain and log likely-hood. i will entertain every notion. you cant arrive at truth iv you don't entertain all possibility's...

My sister Noa i understand why you might be annoyed, im not saying you are this is only my surmise(Suppose that something is true without having evidence to confirm it). in our current language words are just symbols, and this words/symbols can and do pose radically different meaning to each of us. the ability for miss interpretation is extremely high, its hard for us to have commonality upon many of the symbols themselves. then we also interplay with where the symbols are coming from and what they meant by it, is another surmise. so we all are pretty much getting symbols and projecting are surmise upon it (there are ways to limit this effect by making the symbols less flexibility for miss interpretation, which is why when we really want to get a point across we often repeat our-selves a few times in different ways...)  this is why it is possible to have to two people that are agreeing on something yet arguing till there blue in the face on what they agree to. Me and my dad do this from time to time.

i want to make this clear im not and don't want to be a moderator, im by no means an authority or trying to wiggle my way as one, each of you believe as you do im just giving my surmise here, i think it could be of benefit, but i don't know.

As i read my brother Freds post i can purposefully change my surmise on the words/symbols, from one of condescending, to one of a fellow whose intention is trying to giving me a possible insight. its the way i decided to relate to the words and symbols. iv read a post Fred put up where he stated "In searching for what archetype might be my challenge, what comes to mind is the guru. There is a (thankfully ever-shrinking) part of me that would love to be a guru. I know I have played and even abused that role in past lifetimes. However, I'm very thankful this lifetime to see how the guru also can end up feeling more separate and along by putting him/herself above others so that no one can meet them. I'm definitely finding rich benefits in letting go of this old story."  maybe that role is still something he is working on, and you have been picking up on it and its pushing you away. I DONT KNOW. this is just a surmise. i believe when we try to look past the words and see each other that nether of you want to push each other away. that we are each doing the best we can.

my intention is full of respect to you all, with caring love, your brother.

Hi Noa,

I love you. I apologize for assuming that you had not researched Damanhur. I was clearly wrong. Please forgive me. Thank you for seeing me straight and I'm very sorry that I offended you.

With sacred love and warm wishes,
Fred

Well said Thomas, like a song from the Heart.  Reminded me of the day I got the epiphany that Belief is not necessary, for we ARE Reality, each of us individually and as a Whole.  We ARE Truth already, Self aware, contemplating a vast myriad of illusion in what Clif High calls the "Materium".

And then to my delight, a few years later my epiphany about the somewhat useless and misleading intention of belief was affirmed when Terence McKenna said (in an interview) virtually the same thing I had thought.  Basically, whatever is real is already real, long before I came along in this particular illusive virtual reality to decide what I "thought" or "felt" is real.

The strongest of illusions are reinforced with the notion of belief, or art/practice of believing.  And then I came to realize the absolute folly of belief when I realized how utterly limited are our 5 senses that we use for survival to navigate this 3D materium illusion in constant flux.  I highly suspect there is so much more going on on so many levels, densities, dimensions - I suspect we limit our potential awareness of these things going on in the rest of the Reality/Truth spectrum when we cling to any belief.

It was such a relief to feel and understand the infallible logic of Reality and Truth already Being & Sacred, indestructible, regardless of anyone's particular pet belief(s).  I just felt that wonderful relaxing relieving sense of Ahhhhhhhhhhh, like unnecessary self-imposed and clung to attachments were being delightfully surrendered by the logical understanding.  It made both sides of my brain very pleased, LOL.

Another thing came to mind as I read the great posts in this forum thread.  Bill Gates has been thought of by some here (including myself) as being willingly and knowingly involved in some nefarious stuff in Africa via his and Melinda's financial contributions for medicines that may be more poison than healing and helpful.  One might just assume that someone as intelligent as Bill Gates could not possibly have the wool pulled over his eyes.  After hearing him talk in an interview recently concerning his and Melinda's participation in trying to help those in Africa I couldn't help but feel that Bill and Melinda's involvement comes from a very good and genuine love and concern for others after watching Bill pour his heart of hearts out in that very human & touching interview.  He almost started weeping when he spoke of how much Melinda had and has so exceedingly enriched the quality of his inner life primarily because of her leadership in their lives for really trying to help others with all that money.

This kind of genuine love and caring can be used for "evil" purposes without them even suspecting anything if they don't do some exhaustive research into what big pharma is actually up to.  So hard sometimes to parse all of this, but sure makes life interesting on planet Gaia!!!!!

Back to the art of belief for a moment - I don't intend to dismiss the art and practice of belief entirely - After all, we are inherently creatures of belief, naturally predisposed to believing something.  I guess I am talking more about "managing" the predisposition to believe rather than dismissing the practice entirely...

Hey, we're in the process of intentionally evolving our individual and collective awareness so we can be patient with ourselves and others...  Ahhhhhhhhhh

  regardless of whether the group is legitimate,or a cult,or has a plan to rule the world, the important part of the story was,,,plants are an incredible part of our world, and the video was but a reminder that we can communicate with them. Many cultures have used this communication to learn about them,from them,to better their lives. That is the part of this post that  touches me. If we stood before them arguing this point, the music would be more chaotic, as opposed to harmonius at just being in their presence, in awe of it all.....Love bubble,,,,,,T

Thank you for that heartfelt apology, Fred.  I wasn't expecting one, but I'm glad you've reconsidered your perspective.   For what it's worth, now I feel comfortable sharing more of my thoughts about this...

Our brains form impressions in peculiar ways.  I'm reminded of this post by Wendy:  http://www.gatheringspot.net/video/general-discussion/mask-illusion  So, I'm wondering why more G-folks aren't questioning the video's authenticity.

I was going to say that I think the way I do because I'm a "realist," but now that the "reality" of our physical existence is in question, maybe the term doesn't really mean anything.  Our perceptions are, afterall, our perceptions... nothing more. And so, here is my perception of this video...

Whether or not this "singing plant" video came from Damanhur or anywhere else on earth, there is nothing in it that leads me to believe that it's genuine.  For me, there are too many unanswered questions.  Is the singing audible to the naked ear?  How was the audio captured on tape?  What kind of equipment was used?   We're really just taking this lady's word for it, aren't we?  Think about it... it could just as easily be an unrelated audio track being played in the background.

Just sayin'.

im very intrigued, i thought the video very interesting, iv researched a good amount on plants and the electric activity, in which there appears to be strong research and results that are profound when it comes to plants. if we monitor a group of trees electronically and a tree in the center gets cut down all of the neighboring trees drop significantly in there electric activity some times for weeks, weather this is do to some sort of relation to the ground(ground sky connection), or the tree's were aware of there partner and are morning its loss... is unknown to me, ill entertain all possibilities. iv also seen very strong research evidence that plants do change in electric variances and this can be connected into a machine to play sounds i have practically no doubt at all. when im confronted with this, i put my mind to work and then i experiment, im definitely going to try and set this up at home, when i get the equipment, to do so.

Noa i agree, that we don't know, it could be faked(applies to are experience with plants in this way, i have none), i would like to point out that there is also no evidence to point to the fact that it is not true, it could be happening just the way it was presented, i don't know, but i do understand how it could be hooked up and to get sound from it(the input is the electrical difference between the too electrodes that difference is input to the synthesizer then to the speakers creating the sounds). i would not be surprised if it did, it would be beautiful and change my relationship with plant's on a fundamentally new way, i already had powerful experiences where i felt strongly plants were communicating with me on more then one occasion and it gave me evidence in a way that it was happening(i believe it strongly but i will not list it truth just yet, its just a belief i contemplate, and will study further), i have a belief plants have a consciousness, i have a believe the mycelium network of fungi has a consciousness to it sure acts like it does, and close up it appear like a large growing mass of neurons. to me its to exciting to pass up ill have to set it up sometime. and the music was really nice i would love the sound track ether way :)... its great just for contemplating, its mind expanding just to entertain the possibility. 

ChrisBowers love your post i can relate in many ways. including the aaahhhhh feeling ;).

tscout i agree.

this is a rich topic i think all aspects can aid to the discussion. I believe are difference make us strong. As long as we accept we have differences and hold respect and love the best we can. i am starting to love when someone's view is different then mine it give me freedom to pursue one aspect while my other brother/sister pursue the other, they may bump into something truly amazing i would have missed, and share there experience with the hole, in which we all may benefit, that's awesome.

with much respect and love your brother.

     I don't believe in anything,,,I believe everything !  The more I try to apply it, the more it works for me.  everyone I know gives me their opinion based on some kind of belief system, and it seems so limiting. It just keeps popping up. So whether these people are faking it or not doesn't matter to me. Native Americans,(for one) communicated with plants,,sometimes fasting and meditating for days just to break through their senses to get the piece of info they needed, or,had coming to them. I see the hooking up of electronics as a way to bring attention to the fact that they have spirits too. i wouldn't give them money, and I wouldn't go live there. True or false, they have brought the idea into being. I believe they play their own music, as do the insects. If you have ever heard the song on robbie Robertson's "Music for the native Americans" soundtrack, you know what I mean. There is a song on there which is the sound of crickets,,speeded up to fit our senses, and it sounds like a string orchestra. There is a Native American woman singing with the music, and it is beautiful, and whispered spoken word in between. There are many examples, including the thiaoouba Prophecy, which mentions this soft beautiful music in the forests. It came to mind first, as I had just finished it when I saw this post. I saw the networking of all the plants in Avatar as a more "picturesque" version of the truth everywhere. That is what a living, breathing organism does, and music is a part of the universe. I think the tibetans speak of the music the body makes, another living organism, a microcosm of the big body of spaceship Earth. don't you just love it ?

RA in the Law of One sessions spoke about trees.  Said that some had been home to so many birds & squirrels for so many years that they actually attain 3rd Density Consciousness Awareness from the experience of Being nurture & home to these 2nd Density awareness life forms.  This is another source that cannot really be verified to be authentic, but I am hopeful that it is for the beauty of evolving Consciousness that it talks about...

Cool thing about plants is they have been pretty thoroughly scientifically tested to find they respond quite vigorously to certain kinds of music.  Also heard that the singing of birds has been found to make the leaves on trees respond to soak up morning dew moisture when stimulated by the singing...

everything is vibration anyway, so this isn't too much a stretch whatsoever...

the very large stones at the base of the pyramids were most likely placed while their inertia was momentarily neutralized by use of standing waves of sound produced by whomever had understanding of this kind of technology...

As for the "synthesized" music being demonstrated in this video, I have to agree with you Noa.  My first impression is "oh come on!"  "really?"  "wanna pull the other leg while your down there?"  I would like to believe that this is authentic, but my intuitive side is saying something else emphatically.  Far too complex a musical composition of synthesized music to be blindly attributed to a plant (not to take anything from the plant's natural ability to produce something electronic by connecting to it) just because I saw it on youtube.

Not to mention that if this were this easy to produce, we would be seeing it show up by many of those already doing real scientifically-disciplined work in this field for many years now!  And what a surprise, new age synthesized music allegedly coming from the plant - why not jazz?  Maybe some of the other plants will reveal an affinity for blues or jazz in the near future, LOL...

That said, it takes nothing away from what we already (scientifically-validated) understand about the amazing response plants have when exposed to certain kinds of soothing music...

Hi Thomas-

Sorry I didn't get a chance to welcome you yet. I loved the last part of your post:

"I believe are difference make us strong. As long as we accept we have differences and hold respect and love the best we can. i am starting to love when someone's view is different then mine it give me freedom to pursue one aspect while my other brother/sister pursue the other, they may bump into something truly amazing i would have missed, and share there experience with the hole, in which we all may benefit, that's awesome."

I couldn't agree more (in this case it's kind of funny but I could be saying sorry to agree!). Diversity is where it's at, I just love it. Diversity creates improvement, gives everyone more options, as you put it more freedom. Unity is boring, usually happens when there is lack of freedom, authoritarian control or the group just lacks artistic talent or innovation, or inventiveness. Love is stronger in diversity, it says I love you however you are, love is not contingent on agreement.

Im saying the only real truth we know is, in one word, "Everything".  :>

thanks for the welcome Wendy... lol (sorry to agree) its all good to agree as well too :)

with peace and much love your brother Thomas