A Druid takes on Discordianism

John Michael Greer

John Michael Greer writes, "One of the things I’ve had occasion to notice, over the course of the decade or so I’ve put into writing these online essays, is the extent to which repeating patterns in contemporary life go unnoticed by the people who are experiencing them."

Well, then, give me some credit, because I've noticed at least one repeating pattern. For the second time this week, I'm writing about a new full-length essay on Discordianism by someone named Greer.

A couple of days ago, I posted about J. Christian Greer's important new essay on Discordianism, and now today,  I am writing about John Michael Greer's new essay, "The Fifth Side of the Triangle." 

J.M. Greer (no known relation to J.C. Greer) is "Past Grand Archdruid of the Ancient Order of Druids in America, current head of the Druidical Order of the Golden Dawn, and the author of more than thirty books on a wide range of subjects, including peak oil and the future of industrial society" according to the bio on his blog, The Archdruid Report. Apparently his writings have an audience; his new piece has 118 comments so far.

He takes awhile to get to Discordianism in his piece — he wants first to write about fossil fuels and the contemporary political situation, topics that he's written entire books about — but eventually he talks about Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and gives us his thesis that Hegel's system of thesis, antithesis and synthesis as an explanation for the cycles of history is far inferior to Discordianism's five stages of history. (To see what J.M. Greer is adapting -- he uses a bit of his own terminology -- see "Appendix Gimmel" in Illuminatus!, "The Illuminati Theory of History."

"Am I seriously suggesting that the drug-soaked ravings of a bunch of goofy California potheads provide a better guide to history than the serious reflections of Hegelian philosophers? Well, yes, actually, I am," Greer writes.

He's promising to post a follow-up piece next week, "circling back to the place where this blog began, and having a serious talk about how the peak oil movement failed." I don't know how much Discordianism will be in it.

J.M. Greer's other blog, The Wall of Galabes, offers "Reflections on Druidry, Magic, and Occult Philosophy." 

Hat tip, John Thomas, via an email.