Ethan ‘Indigo’ Smith, Contributor
Waking Times

Some philosophical work is so profound as to be influential for thousands of years. Plato’s ‘The Republic‘ is one such series of dialogues. It explains and explores the relationship between state institutions and individuals, and has provided humanity with lessons in politics, philosophy and individual enlightenment since it was penned some two thousand years ago.

One of the central dialogues in The Republic is called the Allegory of the Cave. The lessons the Allegory of the Cave provides to today’s world are numerous, and its depiction of our insidious societal structure is extremely accurate and insightful — despite often going unacknowledged as such.  Through its exploration of our political outer states, it also explores our psychological inner state as well.

Ida Lawrence, Contributor
Waking Times

Oh the obstacles to seeing things As They Are…

Let’s start with a debunked idea: the Natives couldn’t see the ships of Christopher Columbus because their minds could not comprehend something so far out of their range of experience. They looked at the sea and saw nothing approaching.

Very imaginative but not likely. People can see strange and unfamiliar things, but they do sometimes try really hard not to. Especially if what is on the horizon smells of hell.

It seems that if we see what is, we know, and to know makes us accountable. Accountability is not often wanted, even if it ultimately leads to something that benefits us. So we have learned how to allow ourselves a blind eye.

By Steve Chandler

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

Richard Dawkins famously once said; “Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence”. Dawkins professes not to believe in God or Gods, nor to have any faith that there is substance to our spiritual world. (That he has forged a career through tales of why he doesn’t believe in something – something he clearly believes in enough to seek to disprove its existence – is a paradox that, due to hubris, eludes the Professor).

God – the existence of, the role of, the power of – has challenged brighter minds than Richard Dawkins over millennia. And simpler minds have poured over scriptures, debated the flight path of birds and made icons out of implements of death, all in the search for meaning as to who and what is ‘God’. Yet the true nature of God remains elusive. Which is a curious thing; for God is of mankind. But in a manner that would shake the Professor to his core.

By Jean Wiley

Here are some of the important dates and what to expect as Mars transits Gemini.

Significant Dates for Mars Transits Gemini

May 15th: Mars opposition Saturn (2 degrees Gemini to Sagittarius) hard work, focus, low energy, fear based reactions, obstacles to overcome and adjustments in discussions, travel, educational activities and communications.

May 23rd: Mars trine True Node (8 degrees Gemini to Libra) mindful actions, positive developments in understanding, discussion and negotiation within key partnerships. Destiny, growth and future developments

May 25th: Mars square Neptune (9 Gemini to Pisces) dissipated energy, escapism, passive aggressive behavior, denial, over indulgence in alcohol/drugs, con artists, adjustments in spiritual and moral behavior

Credit: Clipartist.net

By Wes Annac, Culture of Awareness

I don’t know how this ascension process is affecting all of you, but personally, I’m going through a massive internal transformation. This will probably become more apparent in the work I do and the subjects I explore from here on out, and to put it bluntly, I’m ready to rise up and take charge of this life.

I’m ready to really use my voice, and I’m ready to tap into my higher, intuitive wisdom and my grounded, earthy wisdom at the same time. I’m ready to take charge of this life and become a voice for other people to hopefully benefit from, and my goals now stretch beyond simply wanting to uplift people.

I still want to uplift all of you who’ve dedicatedly read my work over the years, but I’m ready to do more than just that. I’m ready to empower people and encourage them to empower themselves.

By Phillip J. Watt

Guest Writer for Wake Up World

We have all been through personal suffering but only some of us have broken mostly free of it. One way that is becoming more and more common in an ‘awakening’ society is to embrace a philosophy of unity and live via the principles of love and light. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter how much peace we create within, the outside world – which is us – remains in a chronic state of suffering and chaos.

To the more enlightened individual, it’s as if we’re living in ‘Crazy Town’. Seriously, everywhere we look we see madness. It dominates our media, governments, corporations, and even scientific establishments. And so, if we no longer want to live alone in Crazy Town, embracing the love and light within (as well as the dark side of our inner duality too) is really only one side of the awakening story. While this madness continues, the awakening and empowerment of our society is just as important as the awakening of our Self. We need to actively manifest change in the outer world if we’re ever going to transcend this madness.