Friday, June 22, 2007

Whole earth on adoration


The Last Whole Earth Catalog
updated August, 1972


As stated on page 1, here is the purpose of this publication: "We are as gods and might as well get good at it. So far remotely done power and glory--as via government, big business, formal education, church--has succeeded to the point where gross defects obscure actual gains. In response to this dilemma and to these gains a realm of intimate, personal power is developing--power of the individual to conduct his own education, find his own inspiration, shape his own environment, and share his adventure with whoever is interested. Tools that aid this process are sought and promoted by the WHOLE EARTH CATALOG

This excerpt is from "ADORATION OF THE LIGHT," page 291:

Beyond those looming shapes is brilliant light but here are only shadows reaching out across a vast and and empty plain. I'm crossing an enormous floor, an ancient oceanbed so smooth I didn't even stumble when the light was far away. I'm near it now. It pours down in a shower from up above. It streams, it falls, it's a column made of light, a light that's shaped like stone and stone with light inside.

4 comments:

The Fool said...

It's a way of life. I sure hope my old tattered copy isn't missing from the shelf...that photo looks way too familiar. Happy Solstice, Erin.

Anonymous said...

I remember this catalogue fondly. When I was a younger I used to go over to my 'alternative hippy parents' many a time to thumb through that, Ram Dass 'Be Here Now' and some other one I only remember for the nude women LOL.

Erin O'Brien said...

Hi Fool! Welcome Zarnon!

Norm said...

Whoa, this brings me back. My folks had this one, too. Awesome, awesome publication. Wish I'd saved it from the recycler.