Of course, this sort of experience isn't what one could consider to be 'scientificly and verifiably repeatable'. But then, I'm not a scientist; my background is in post-structural philosophy:
"...philosophers have very little time for discussion. Every philosopher runs away when he or she hears someone say, "Let's discuss this." Discussions are fine for roundtable talks, but philosophy throws its numbered dice on another table. The best one can say about discussions is that they take things no farther, since the participants never talk about the same thing. Of what concern is it to philosophy that someone has such a view, and thinks this or that, if the problems at stake are not stated? And when they are stated, it is no longer a matter of discussing but rather one of creating concepts for the undiscussible problem posed. Communication always comes too early or too late, and when it comes to creating, conversation is always superfluous. Sometimes philosophy is turned into the idea of a perpetual discussion, as a "communicative rationality," or as "universal democratic conversation." Nothing is less exact, and when philosophers criticize each other it is on the basis of problems and on a plane (of conceptual consistency) that is different from theirs and melt down the old concepts in the way a cannon can be melted down to make new weapons. It never takes place on the same plane. To criticize is only to establish that a concept vanishes when it is thrust into a new milieu, losing some of its components, or acquiring others that transform it. But those who criticize without creating, those who are content to defend the vanished concept without being able to give it the forces it needs to return to life, are the plague of philosophy. All these debaters and communicators are inspired by 'ressentiment'. They speak only of themselves when they set empty generalizations against one another. Philosophy has a horror of discussions. It always has something better to do. Debate is unbearable to it, but not because it is too sure of itself. On the contrary, it is its uncertainties that take it down other, more solitary paths."
(Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, "What Is Philosophy?", Columbia University Press, New York, 1994; pages 28-29).
Personally, I prefer an existential approach of 'experiencing the nuances of a milleau' to 'digging things up and measuring where they are'...but I'll spare you my "illiterate grave robber" commentary.
[I have quite a few little stories, like the otter story above, concerning my research; and, I'll say it again: if members of the scientific community wish to verify my findings by repeating what I've done in the course of my research...well, I would very much love to see them try. It was not an easy task.
Needless to say, I am only sharing here a small sample of my research's extent, the bulk of which I prefer to simply forward to members of the First Nations. I have yet to see any kind of academic support for my work here in Canada; and I suppose some would say that the anthropological and archaeological community wants to 'review my findings before commenting'.
To me, though, it seems more as if the afore mentioned scientific community wishes to suppress my findings because:
A) what I have discovered undermines almost everything that said scientific community has presented to the public as 'true'; and,
B) said scientific community refuses to accept their part of the responsibility for what has happened to the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada over the past century [much as the churches of Canada refused for so long to accept responsibility for the abuses suffered by Aboriginal children in their residential schools - two issues which are not entirely unconnected].
SO: before I make the bulk of my research available to the anthropological and archaeological communities of Canada, I am going to wait until I see two things happen, first.
ONE: I want to see these people show a shred of backbone with a hint of human compassion, and speak out against the terrible conditions that members of the First Nations are being forced to endure here in Canada.
TWO: I expect to be compensated for the work I've achieved and the efforts I've made in conducting this research by those outside the First Nations who will derive benefit from it. So far, my dealings with the anthropological and archaeological communities in Canada have reminded me of that old Monty Python line: "Well I'm sorry Mr. So and So but I'm afraid you've given me your idea before I've given you any money and that, is BAD BUSINESS. Good day!"
[If I have to wait until the current established hierarchy of anthropologists and archaeologists in Canadian museums and universities die of old age (since, after all, that is how these people have been treating the Elders of the First Nations)... well, that's just fine. I will wait until the current anthropological and archaeological 'authorities' of Canada are replaced by (hopefully) more ethically developed people, and treat those presently in positions of authority as I would treat any racist representatives of an apartheid state. I'll just work on developing my Tai Chi until then... which is my right, as a religious freedom. Taijiquan, after all, is anything but that sort of "evil cult" one sometimes finds designed to delude and mislead people into believing all sorts of unwholesome things, to the end of simply enhancing the status of some self-proclaimed 'leader'. As a philosopher, of course, I like nothing better than seeing people actually think for themselves, and think as well as they are able to].
Maybe some of you are wondering why things seem to work so much differently in Canada (judging from my comments and observations) than in the United States of America. Well; in America, you know, most public officials are elected; and that is the way in which American democracy developed. Canada doesn't work that way. Historically, where Australia was used as a 'dumping ground' for British convicts, Canada was the place where the British elite sent family members who were an "embarrassment" due to tendencies toward one sort of scandal or another. These people were often appointed directly to positions within Canada's various levels of government. Thus, Canada developed a system of government and bureaucracy wherein 'turning a blind eye' was integral to political success... and wherein political patronage, and the appointment of the 'friends' of the those in power to government positions, is the normal course of events (even though practically nobody in the public particularly likes this way of doing things). Thus, in Canada, practically EVERY government position is staffed by the friends of those in elected office; and so, NOTHING gets done that isn't in the direct interest of those who hold positions of political power! This state of affairs even extends into the administrative offices of our publicly funded museums.
That is how the Canadian system of government was designed to function; and that is how it continues to function to this day. So, in America, when the Supreme Court makes a decision in favor of Indigenous Rights, Federal Agencies and politicians do what they can to enforce that decision. In Canada, however, such a decision is simply ignored until politicians can find a way to negate its intended effects and undo any changes it may have initiated.
And no, we didn't get to vote on that. Historically, Canadians are a lot more likely to be asked to vote on the rights of 'other' people(s) than to be asked to vote upon their own rights].
Which has, as a matter of course, become part of "the way things are done in Canada". By way of example, please read:
First Nations Leaders and Members of Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs Call on Liberals to End “Tyranny of the Majority” and Respect Democracy:
Thuggery, Threats and Trickery Becoming Part of the Committee Process
Why Were You Shown?
As noted in the section on "An Intelligent Species of Reptile", some evidence exists of travel by the ancient Chinese to North America. There are also stories of an ancient Chinese emperor who use to offer those who very much displeased him two choices: immediate death by way of a beheading; or, permanent exile to "the island of dragons". This story was considered to be a myth...until the discovery of the island where the Komodo Dragon dwells. However, the legend clearly states that "the island of dragons" was reached by sailing NORTH from China, and then crossing a "sea of ice". The island where Komodo Dragons are found is south of China.
I have seen every indication in non-metrical image writing that pterodactyls did indeed inhabit the islands along the Northwest Coast of Canada, up until relatively recent times. The size of such creatures (they appear to have reached a standing height of at least 15-18 feet) and their ability to effortlessly soar and glide may well have allowed them to, using high altitude wind currents, occasionally show up in Asia or even Europe.
On the Northwest Coast of Canada, where such creatures seem to have lived and bred in profusion, there are stories remembered by the First Nations about 'strange people who sometimes crawled, half-drowned, out of the sea and spoke an unknown, sing-song-like language'. These people often demonstrated unusual skills and abilities, and so were considered to be welcome and valuable additions to any tribe. Such people were brought to warm themselves by the tribal fires of those who found them, and adopted into those tribes as new members.
Anyone familiar with the systems for the training of martial artists developed in China over millenia will recognize that certain systems of Chi Kung (and other practices) do indeed allow their practitioners to exhibit unusual skills and abilities. I myself practice meditation techniques and internal exercises from the Pole Star branch of Taoism, along with Dayan Chi Kung and a few of the Yang Family's Tai Chi Chuan sets. My favorite set is the Yang Family's long form, which can take about twenty minutes to perform at a leisurely pace. My best time for this form is one minute, fifty eight seconds; not bad for someone who is 6' 4" tall, and only been training for 18 years.
...(I must mention, however, that it does take YEARS to bring one's Tai Chi Chuan up to that kind of performative level; and that a lot of effort and training goes into such a skill. I usually dedicate an hour and a half of time to stretches and muscle warm-ups [chi kung] for every half hour of actual Tai Chi that I do; and I certainly don't practice going as fast as I can every time I do a Tai Chi set! Also, I have years of training and practice with Taoist meditations designed for internal energy circulation [to sensitize oneself to what is happening inside the body, so that one can avoid or heal internal injuries] and energy conversion [removing negative emotional energies by changing them into positive emotional energies...so that, among other things, one need not ever practice Tai Chi Chuan using emotional energies associated with anger]; as well as internal aerobic techniques used to pull the internal organs into their proper positions [they sink from the effects of gravity over the years; and it is a good idea to be able to feel where they should be so that one knows if something becomes seriously amiss with their positions...not to mention the added benefit of such techniques being useful for pulling hemorrhoidal blood vessels back into the body, where they belong]. In short, I am saying that, if you know Tai Chi Chuan or are thinking of studying it, DON'T try to hit a peak of performance without undergoing years of proper training! Tai Chi Chuan is a match for any other martial art, but it is a defensive system: at it's most refined point, it is about damaging an opponent more than one damages oneself in the process; and this means that one can CERTAINLY cause oneself serious injury [and not just physically] if one abuses this martial art. Besides, peaks of performance are things one expects to reach only once, before settling into an extended plateau of performance somewhat below such a peak. There, one can modify and enhance various aspects of one's form for the rest of one's long and healthy life!
Over the past decade, I have often amazed myself with the kinds of physical objects I have broken using Tai Chi Chuan - just to see what I am capable of doing - and, how unspeakably easy that can be when done using the proper technique. The thought of applying that degree of physical force against another human being is abhorrent to me: and needless to say, I immensely prefer not to be placed into situations where that might conceivably be necessary.
Most people simply do not realize the terrible amount - and the crippling range of frequencies - of force that the human body is capable of generating when operating (even briefly) in and at its utmost coherence of speed. Most people do not comprehend that physical injuries can be inflicted at a molecular level of damage, or that cells are obliterated in the body of a person inflicting that level of injury upon another. Violence is sickening).
Although I am a relatively low-level practitioner, I can tell you that such systems are designed to match the enhanced elasticity of the tendons (achieved through the regular practice of stretching exercises) with the 'relaxed density' or 'natural tension' of the muscles (refined by practicing Tai Chi with light, to moderately heavy, hand weights). When muscles and tendons are so matched in their relaxed density and elasticity, they can be trained to function as integrated units which can produce and support unified neuro-muscular pulses, and can actually vibrate in standing waves. One might even begin to notice that, for instance, the muscles/tendons of the upper arm produce a brief but audible 'hum' when the arms are extended suddenly to express a technique. At this point, the momentum of the body's motion can be temporarily stored in the vibrations of muscle/tendon groups and sustained there with a minimal input of energy; such standing waves can also be transferred between different muscle/tendon groups in the body. It is then possible to move the entire body, as an integral unit, with very little effort: since the muscle/tendon groups are already in motion through their support of standing vibratory waves, the body has very little initial inertia to overcome when initiating motion. Practicing with the eyes closed further enables this effect, by greatly enhancing one's sense of balance. Such practice makes it possible to move very efficiently, with a minimal waste of energy. It also makes it possible to move very, very quickly in a sustained yet almost effortless fashion. Indeed, in practicing Tai Chi at this level, one has the experience of the body oscillating between the various positions so effortlessly, and at such a speed, that one is simply monitoring and guiding the body's motion: almost no energy needs to be spent in triggering the muscles, which are powered for the most part by transferences in the standing waves already present in the body. Then, one's consciousness nestles in the brain stem, cerebellum (see: 'Rethinking the "Lesser Brain"' by James M. Bower and Lawrence M. Parsons, page 50 in "Scientific American", August 2003), and other lower brain structures, which have complete access to the information processing ability of the massive, upper brain, cerebrum. Freed from the demands of processing linguisticly structured thought, the brain displays an amazing ability to monitor, process, integrate, and control vibratory patterns in the body's muscle/tendon groups. This really isn't that surprising, since our bodies are mostly composed of water. But it can produce quite amazing displays for those unfamiliar with these techniques.
[I'll just mention again here that my own definition of consciousness stresses its co-extensive nature; that is, its origin in the co-extension of sensory perception with motor reflex activity and its development as that which presents its myriad constructs together. Jean Paul Sartre liked to stress that consciousness is a nothingness - that "nothingness" comes into existence ONLY as a product of consciousness, as consciousness presenting its essential nature to itself; and, I like to stress that consciousness functions as the co-extension of its products within this space of nothingness.]
Those familiar with the history of Taoism in China will remember that certain schools of Taoism periodically gained the extreme displeasure of China's emperors. The period centered around the last century BC and the first century AD, when the first collective traits of religious Taoism crystallized around practitioners of shamanic magic, is one such era (but not necessarily the first: in 213 BC, the First Emperor of the Ch'in (Ts'in) Dynasty ordered all the books in China burned; his persecution of scholars ended when he ingested a mercury-based solution reputed by internal alchemists to produce immortality ). Predictions by such early Taoist concerning the fall of the Han Court, and based upon the T'ai P'ing Ching or "Great Peace Classic", eventually led to a popular revolt lead by the "Yellow Turbans". By the mid-second century AD, two thirds of the populace of eastern China had been conscripted to fight this revolt, and 8 of the 12 imperial provinces were in a state of insurrection. This situation lead to the spread of the central ideas of Taoism throughout China; but, it was not the origin of the techniques and practices which had been gathered together to form Taoism: those were much older, and some date back to Paleolithic times.
I can easily imagine Grand Masters of Taoist orders from this period, or shamanic priests from much earlier eras, being exiled to an island off the Northwest Coast of Canada where pterodactyls still survived. Swimming from such an island to the mainland, I would expect such people would have been adopted into the tribes who found them.
Perhaps these exiles expected to be rescued by their followers; but, for as long as they waited, this rescue never came: the revolt had not succeeded. They would no doubt have promised to repay the kindness and compassion of the people who had adopted them into those tribes, no matter how long that might take: for repaying that debt of compassion would have been a matter of honor.
Probably, that wasn't just "a" Taoist Grand Master who had his life thus saved: these were some of THE FIRST Taoist Grand Masters.
PTEROSAURS CONSIDERED AS "DRAGONS"
This example of non-metrical image writing, from British Columbia's Northwest Coast, tells the story of a North American Lion (the face of which is shown, in various aspects, descending from the upper left section of the stone pictured) that (unwisely) chose a pterosaur as its prey.
There are two aspects of a North American lion shown in the image to the left. Note how the mouth of the lion to the left of the upper section - of the image on the left - becomes the left-side eye of the lion's image to the right of the lower section of this image. This is the "before" aspect of the lion's attack upon the pterodactyl, and shows the lion spotting the pterodactyl...and deciding that the pterodactyl is a "bird".
Having spotted a large flying animal, the lion moves in to attack. A large and easy supper just waiting to be taken? No. Something quite unexpected. here, the lion's face is shown with that characteristic look of rapt attention which all stalking cats display. Note in particular the eyes, which are shown with incredible artistry: one has a point of reflected light at its center, while the other has a circle of reflected light around its pupil. Taken together, these highlights give the impression of a lion which is very close, and moving very fast: it almost seems to jump right into the viewer's face!
Next, we see the look of the look of shocked astonishment on the face of this lion as a kick from this pterodactyl sends it flying through the air (a large image, found to the right of the standing pterodactyl and incorporating the body and legs of the pterodactyl as the lion's nose and mouth. The lion is facing left, with it's right eye shown as a thick line in the upper center part of the image). Lions, like all cats, like to pounce upon birds when they can; this, however was not a 'bird', despite its ability to fly. It was a very dangerous flying reptile...and more than a match for a lion.
It is perhaps a comment upon lions' predatory nature toward humans that, they are often shown 'getting their just desserts' from residual species of dinosaur.
The end result of the lion's attack upon the pterodactyl can be seen in the "after" image shown to the left, which presents the head of a very dead lion. However, there are also aspects of the dangers posed by dinosaurs - as they relate to humans - being presented here. Since lions are associated with those tribal members responsible for navigating, and for leading tribal members into and through unfamiliar territory, this stone also serves as a warning to people about the dangers presented by pterodactyls. Of course, in any given tribe from this area and time, one could expect to find people who personally identified with lions - as navigators; and people who identified themselves with pterodactyls - as warriors: and so, in this case, 'lions' and 'pterodactyls' would have gotten along together famously:
LEFT:
Images of a North American Lion, and a Pterodactyl (both seen in profile, facing right).
This photograph was taken from a very important example of non-metrical image writing which is a (still) functional astrolabe: one side of this object displays highlighted glyphs, in accordance with the height of the sun at midday, that are seasonally associated with specific geographical bioregions; and, the other side presents glyphic instructions for creating accurate 'event-maps' of territory.
Recorded descriptions of pterosaurs are not limited to the visual record of non-metrical image writing. Consider for a moment a traditional Chinese description of a dragon, supplied by Dr. John R. Baker ('First Glimpse', Internal Arts Magazine, Vol. 6, #2, Spring 1991), and see how it compares to the images depicted upon the stone we are examining here.
The Chinese believed that dragons had, among other traits:
"a head like a camel":
This pterosaur has a domed skull and an elongated, rounded snout; it is more similar in outline to the head of a camel than perhaps to any other commonly occurring animal (see especially the images of pterosaur heads composing the lion's face to the left of the standing pterosaur: that is the second image presented here, which shows three aspects of a pterodactyl's head...as the eyes and mouth of the lion hunting it).
"a belly like a clam":
Clams don't have bellies; but they do have concentric rings on the surface of their shells, produced by their yearly growth. Pterosaurs had bands of reinforcing fibers that extended through their wings and that were probably anchored across their chests and stomachs, giving them the appearance of having a "belly" that looked like "a clam" (shell). ("Masters of an Ancient Sky" by Carl Zimmer, Discover Magazine February 1994).
"a voice like a gong":
A characteristic worth commenting upon...and indeed, this pterosaur is shown, with its head turned to the right, emitting some such sound. Note how even in this image the teeth of the animal are clearly shown...as black detail on the red extension of the pterodactyl's face; and that the speed of a pterodactyl's strike is alluded to by the black arrowhead above the tip of the pterodactyl's (red) snout.
"claws like an eagle":
The outer half of the pterosaur's wing was supported by an oversized, extended 'pinkie' finger that stretched from a mid-wing hand where three other normally sized fingers sat, tipped with claws. These hands could be used to grasp things between them and -apparently- were even used for picking up and throwing large rocks!
"scales under its neck...that projected outward and could kill a human":
Pterosaurs had teeth, and they can be clearly seen under the chin/snout on the left hand side of this one's head (located under the upper section of the black "C" shape facing left, in the image to the left). One of these "teeth" seems to be shown 'flaking' off, suggesting that these "teeth" were in fact modified scales, kept sharp by their constant flaking and the consequent exposure of new edges that would have resulted.
"scales like a carp":
Not an unexpected feature for something with a reptilian ancestry.
In addition, dragons were noted for "rising high and dropping low", and "being carried high aloft on air currents" and "swooping down to reek destruction". Pterosaurs were probably animals that soared (like eagles or condors) as much as they flapped their wings to fly...although here a pterodactyl is clearly shown in the image to the left (in black) flapping its wings in both upstroke (above) and downstroke (below). Note also that this pterodactyl, shown flying from left to right, has its mouth open to emit its characteristic gong-like cry...
...and judging from the 'frog' image incorporated into the right leg of this pterosaur, they were very adept at jumping upon their prey. The strong legs of the pterodactyl were probably one of its main defenses, and were essential for launching this animal into flight.
One more telling characteristic of dragons: they had "a penetrating gaze which could hypnotize its victim". Looking at the eye staring back at one from the left hand side of this pterosaurs head, one can see how true this was! Would you move a muscle if something like that were looking in your general direction?
Of course, the problem with pterodactyls wasn't that they could fly but, that they would land. The best way to deal with such a creature was to try to put an arrow into the arm of one of its wings while it was still in the air. If you could do that while it was over the ocean, then your problem was solved: the creature would tumble into the sea and sink out of sight. Many, many such creatures must have met such a fate and dissappeared forever; although, I'm sure that some people must have had nightmares wondering what would happen if all the pterodactyls disposed of in this way one day somehow managed to rise back out of the sea, all at the same time...
...well, we know today that such an event simply isn't possible.
THE WORLD'S OLDEST WRITTEN JOKE
Of course, the fact that an event is unlikely, or even impossible, does not prevent people from thinking about the possibility of it occuring. Such contrasts between the probable and the possible often form the basis of humor...as with "the world's oldest written joke", shown here.
If you look at the area where this pterodactyl's wings are folded over its back, you will see the image of a man who is looking at a stone held in his hand...this red, white, and black stone, which presents images of pterodactyls.
Just behind this man, you can see the head of a pterodactyl (which has a very well developed 'crest'). The man shown looking at the stone in his hand does not see the pterodactyl; but anyone reading this stone's images eventually does. They notice this pterodactyl behind the man reading a stone just when they reach the image area showing the back of the stone's primary pterodactyl image. Together, these 're-marks' consitute the worlds oldest joke: someone looking at a rock about pterodactyls, reading a section about 'backs' which shows a pterodactyl behind someone reading a stone..."THERE'S ONE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!"
And how funny is that? Well, pretty funny, when you consider that to this very day, most people do not like the feeling of someone reading over their shoulder.
Most people are aware that 'having a good sense of humor' is a pretty common characteristic to find in members of the First Nations.
Now we can all see just how far back that sense of humor goes!
Anyway, I was just sitting there when a sea otter (like the one who's face is shown here, in white, on a stone I call "The Otter of the Red Tide"...an augery stone, which was probably used to detect toxic algae blooms in shellfish beds) popped out of the ocean, and looked around before bounding across the beach and disappearing into the driftwood piled above the high tide line. Curious, I followed (because sea otters are so interesting, not to mention cute) and, while looking around to see where that sea otter had gone, I found this rock, sitting by itself, on a large drift log!