by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Grow Opportunity, Media Partners
(Globe Newswire) Vancouver – Rubicon Organics Inc., a licensed producer focused on cultivating and selling organic certified and premium cannabis, is pleased to announce the publication of its fourth annual Environmental, Social and Governance Report measuring the year ended December 31, 2023.
Rubicon Organics is committed to incorporating environmental, social, and governance principles into our operations and has established itself as a leader in ESG within the cannabis industry. This ESG Report covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2023, showcasing our dedication to embedding transparency, sustainability, and responsible business practices across all facets of our operations, including governance, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. Our goals are ambitious, and we remain committed to accountability by mindfully measuring and openly reporting our progress on this ESG journey.
Highlights of the ESG Report:
- Cut our carbon footprint by 48% to 2,064 tonnes, led by a reduction in use of natural gas achieved through the BC Hydro site upgrade in late 2022.
- Increased our landfill waste diversion to 66% through recycling, repurposing waste as biofuel and a focus on composting.
- With an active focus on employee satisfaction, and respectful workplace culture, voluntary turnover reduced by 14% year over year.
“We believe we are establishing industry benchmarks and building a robust and resilient cannabis industry in Canada. Our journey towards achieving our vision begins with our people. Governance from our Board of Directors sets the tone for the standards we uphold. Our engaged and diverse team fuels our sustainability performance, bolstered by strong governance, a supportive culture, committed leadership, and our vision, mission, and values” said Margaret Brodie, Chief Executive Officer.
Click here to read a copy of the full report.
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Grow Opportunity, Media Partners
(Globe Newswire) Toronto – Tilray Brands, Inc., a global lifestyle and consumer packaged goods company, announced the launch of new Charlotte’s Web CBD gummies in Canada. Designed specifically for daily CBD consumers, Charlotte’s Web CBD Rest Gummies and CBD Life Gummies offer an easy, delicious, and convenient way to incorporate CBD into your wellness routine.
The new gummies are available in a 30-pack bottle with two distinct flavors: Berry & Fruit and Turmeric & Ginger. Each gummy contains 25mg of premium CBD, ensuring a consistent and enjoyable experience.
Crafted in the pristine northern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, these gummies leverage Charlotte’s Web’s proprietary hemp genetics. They feature full-spectrum CBD hemp extract, meticulously blended with functional herbs and botanical supplements to provide synergistic support for targeted wellness benefits.
Charlotte’s Web Rest Gummies in Berry & Fruit is specially formulated to support your wind-down routines and is a great way to reward yourself post-workout, pre-bedtime, or anywhere between for the ultimate way to rest or reset after a long day.
Charlotte’s Web Life Gummies in Turmeric & Ginger are specifically formulated to support an active lifestyle from day to night, helping you conquer your life’s busiest days.
The Charlotte’s Web CBD Rest and Life CBD gummies are available at select cannabis retailers across Ontario. They will become available through the Tilray Medical website and soon to be in select provinces and retailers this October and November.
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Cannabis News Wire, Media Partners
In May 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed House File 100 into law, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana in the state. The law went into effect on Aug. 1, 2023, making it legal for Minnesotans to use, possess and grow marijuana in the state. The state is about three months away from allowing retailers to sell and purchase recreational marijuana.
Experts expect the medical marijuana industry to be negatively affected if transitions in other states are anything to go by. Data from the Cannabis Regulatory Agency in Michigan shows that in August 2024, medical-marijuana sales totaled about $1.2 million, a significantly small figure, especially when compared to recreational sales, which hit $294 million.
Currently, more than 48,000 individuals in the state buy marijuana, thanks to Minnesota’s medical program, which started enrolling people in 2015.
The state legalized medical marijuana in May 2014 when then Governor Mark Dayton signed into law a legislation that legalized its use for several medical conditions, including HIV, Tourette’s syndrome, epilepsy and Crohn’s disease. There are two licensed retailers in the state, namely Green Goods and RISE, which operate 15 dispensary locations between them. These locations don’t seem to be enough, as patients often must drive long distances just to get to a dispensary.
Chelsea Swanson, a St. Francis patient, reveals that she must drive almost 30 miles just to get a dispensary. Swanson, who was skeptical of marijuana before she started using it to manage her pain and nausea, hopes that the launch of recreational dispensaries will eliminate the need to travel that far to access the drug. She adds that with the opening of these stores, she won’t have to enroll in any regulatory program. However, she continues, access to top-quality products makes the trip worth it, revealing that she has since stopped using prescription medications to manage her symptoms.
State officials plan to circumvent any impact to the medical-cannabis industry by imposing a tax on recreational products, while medical products remain tax free. Limits on potency and possession will also be imposed on recreational products. This is in addition to eliminating the $200 enrolment fee that patients pay annually for the medical marijuana program.
Officials will also make patient recertification a once-every-three-years thing instead of an annual affair, while also reducing the age limit for registered caregivers to buy marijuana flower to 18 from 21. Further, patients in medical programs in other states will also be allowed to purchase products in the state under a visiting patient option.
As established entities such as Cronos Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CRON) (TSX: CRON) have seen in the markets where they operate, sales of medical marijuana tend to drop as adult-use sales are launched, so the entities operating in Minnesota should expect similar adjustments in consumer patterns.
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by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Garden Culture Magazine, Media Partners
Every August, the crab apple trees on David Quinton’s residential street in Vancouver, Canada, are laden with fresh fruit. People come with ladders and long poles to reach the highest branches where the ripest apples hide. Others wait until they fall to the ground, then fill their buckets.
This is foraging. Different from a harvest of leafy greens, basil, or radishes garnered from a cultivated vegetable patch or community garden, foragers harvest food growing unhindered by human intervention in urban areas, suburban side streets, and along riverbanks, seashores, and remote forested regions. Throughout history, foraging has always been part of the human experience. However, the advent of industrialized agriculture and improved logistics in transporting goods changed the idea of going into the forest to look for wild asparagus. Why bother when we can find it with little to no effort at the grocery store? The price was worth the convenience until now.
The Guardian newspaper [1] reports that, in New Zealand, where inflation impacts food costs, increasing numbers of people are foraging to supplement the contents of their pantries. Nature’s bounty is offered at no charge but invisible to those who don’t know where to look or what foods are edible.
Learning About The Wild Side
The founder of Swallow Tail Canada [2], Robin Kort, is a trained chef and foraging enthusiast. She knows all the best places in British Columbia’s southern coastal rainforest to find wild edibles such as fiddlehead and licorice ferns, big-leaf maple flowers, and oyster mushrooms.
Kort says the pandemic caused people to think twice about traveling, and as a result, they have become more connected to their local environments. Her company offers online courses and foraging field trips throughout Metro Vancouver that educate participants on how to gather and prepare fresh kelp or trap a Dungeness crab without leaving the shore.
She says that people want to learn where to find local food and are excited about harvesting the green pinecones of British Columbia’s infamous Douglas Fir tree to make syrup.
The company’s website, swallowtail.ca, provides resources on what’s in season and is also clear that foraging is not about overindulgence. For example, if Kort is at the beach and only spots two pieces of kelp instead of ten, she won’t take any. She believes those two pieces are better served as part of the ecosystem than on her dinner plate.
Foraging Equals Sustainability
For Jonathan Forbes, foraging has always been about sustainability. His family lived in Toronto during the 1950s, and he remembers going out with his mother, a keen forager, to gather mushrooms, ginger, and leeks from the ravines, wetlands, and meadows across the region. Many of those areas have since been developed, and Toronto City Parks has a bylaw forbidding foraging to help preserve the area’s delicate biodiversity. The law also prevents the over-harvesting of the edibles found growing in the ravines denoted by the city as environmentally significant areas.
A keen environmentalist, Forbes believes that people will pay more attention to the natural world and learn how to care for it sustainably if they develop a relationship with it through food. So, in 1998, he started Forbes Wild Foods[4] to generate that awareness.
Expert foragers across Canada gather edibles for the company. Milkweed pods, cattail hearts, and even spruce tips are preserved and sold to restaurants, hotels, gift shops, food and health stores, and individuals. Only foods growing in natural abundance are harvested. The company prides itself in ensuring the foraging is done sustainably, encouraging harvesters to look at what they are taking as a pie. That means only cutting a slice of what is available each year so that nature can replenish the stock. The company also works to reintroduce wild foods to lands needing remedial attention, such as overgrazed woodlots and pastures. Adding native plants to a landscape helps repair the soil and enhance the ecosystem.
Fulfilling A Collective Need
In 2010 and 2011, Christchurch, New Zealand, experienced destructive earthquakes; large swaths of the city were demolished. The red zone, a ribbon of land stretching from the coastline to the inner city, was designated too unstable to rebuild, and 8,000 houses were destroyed[5]. However, vegetation, including fruit and nut-producing trees, remains in the area. Eleven years after the quakes, it has become a favorite spot for foraging, making a dramatic difference to Joanna Wildish’s household food costs. So she’s created Otautahi Urban Foraging[6], a shared resource for people in Christchurch to find plants, berries, and other supplies like firewood, pinecones, and seaweed.
Although wild foods have become trendy for restaurants that pay foragers to gather for them, Wildish says that practice is the opposite of what foraging is all about. She views foraging as a local community experience with a collective focus on sharing and maintaining nature’s abundance. She’d like to see foraging areas developed like food forests, as places people can go to supplement edible needs.
A Bountiful Harvest In More Ways Than One
Back in Vancouver, the crab apple harvest is in full swing. The normally quiet residential street is a hive of activity. A few years ago, the city came to chop the trees down, but after Quinton told them how people harvested the fruit, they went away and haven’t come back, he says. As a result, the ripe apples are everywhere, including on the ground and hanging from lower branches. What’s left after the human frenzy will be eaten by urban wildlife, like raccoons, skunks, and coyotes.
In New Zealand, Wildish says foraging is about leaving as much as possible, not only for other people but for animals, birds, bugs, and reseeding. I’m conscious of this as I fill my buckets with apples in Vancouver. I’ll share what I don’t use to make crab apple jelly with neighbors or take it to a community cupboard or fridge.
Summer in Canada is winter in New Zealand. As I harvest crab apples, Wildish is bundled up and is also out and about harvesting nutrient-rich purple nettle, dandelion, and onion weed. But it’s more than a free harvest of chickweed that makes foraging worthwhile. Being in nature, Wildish says, gives her a strong sense of inner resilience and belonging to the earth; this can serve as an inspiration to us all as we go about our harvests.
Sources:
- Foraging takes hold in New Zealand’s wild places | New Zealand | The Guardian (bit.ly/3A6ueds)
- About Us | Swallow Tail Canada (swallowtail.ca)
- Foraging prohibited by Toronto bylaw, city warns | CTV News (bit.ly/3y2m0jR)
- About – Forbes Wild Foods (wildfoods.ca)
- Residential red zone – Wikipedia (bit.ly/3bosAcH)
- Otautahi Urban Foraging | Facebook (facebook.com/Otautahi.Urban.Foraging)
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Extraction Magazine, Media Partners
The method was introduced at the beginning of the 1950s. GC is designed for the separation of volatile components such as terpenes. Very complex mixtures can be solved through the identification of the peaks resulting from the Gas Chromatograph allowing the recognition and quantification of all the substances in the mixture. It is the preferred choice both for aromatic gaseous mixtures such as essential oils, but also for identifying organic contaminants, residues and verifying safety and quality standards in food samples. [1]
The sample is initially vaporized, upstream of the injector, injected into the column and run through it. Different compounds in the sample interact differently with the stationary phase, leading to their separation as they travel at varying speeds through the column. [1]
Components and Process of Gas Chromatography
When pumped into the injector port the sample is vaporized immediately. The carrier gas, the mobile phase, transports the vaporized mixture into the column. The sample travels through the column and its components interact with the stationary phase, in this way an affinity or, better said, retention gradient is created which will determine different elution times and therefore detection of the output signal. This is important information for the characterization of substances.
The Injector
The injector is where the sample is introduced into the GC system. A consistent into the column ensures an accurate separation and analysis.
The Column
The column is chosen based on the needs of the analysis in progress, it is the most important part of the Gas Chromatograph and is often composed of fused silica, a “glass” which is internally coated with the stationary phase.
Here some examples:
- Capillary columns: are more commonly used due to their high resolution.
- Packed columns: use solid stationary phase for compound separation.
- Planar columns use microfabricated channels on silicon wafers for fast, efficient separation in gas chromatography, enhancing speed and resolution.
- Narrow bore columns: with small internal diameters, provide high resolution and efficiency in gas chromatography, ideal for complex mixture analysis.
- Water-compatible ionic liquid-coated columns: offer enhanced selectivity and stability for chromatographic separations, particularly in aqueous environments, improving analytical performance. [2]
The Mobile Phase
The mobile phase, or eluent, is therefore an inert gas, commonly helium, hydrogen or nitrogen. The choice of eluent gas affects the separation. The affinity for the stationary phase and for the mobile phase (which is continuously refluxed) creates sections of concentration gradient of eluent and solutes in it. These gradient segments are defined as theoretical plates, and the more efficient the choice of the stationary and mobile phases is, the smaller and more numerous these plates will be, furthermore the entire separation will gain in resolution.
The peaks will be very distinct and the identification precise.
How to choose the mobile phase with respect to the characteristics of the gas type
- Helium: is widely used due to its inertness and optimal flow characteristics.
- Hydrogen: offers faster analyses and higher efficiency but requires safety precautions.
- Nitrogen: offers slower analyses but excellent resolution and inertness. [2]
The Stationary Phase
As mentioned above, the stationary phase is a coating inside the column, it can be solid or liquid. Parameters such as affinity and temperature ramp programming determine the detection characteristics of the analytes at the column outlet, such as retention time, but also influence the quality of the separation itself.
For the separation, the affinity for the stationary phase is therefore exploited, in fact for non-polar compounds stationary phases are made of dimethylpolysiloxane, a non-polar coating, while for polar compounds the columns are chosen with polar stationary phases such as polyethylene glycol. [2]
At this point we must highlight the rule according to which compounds with greater affinity for the stationary phase move more slowly and are eluted last, while those with lower affinity travel faster and elute first, with consequent separation.
The Detector
Let’s go back to describing the detector, that is, that part of the equipment responsible for quantifying and identifying the components as they are eluted from the column. As the separated compound exits the column, passing through the detector, it generates a signal proportional to the amount of each constituent.
We can mention some detectors: Flame Ionization (FID) highly performing in the detection of hydrocarbons; Mass Spectrometers (MS) that provide detailed molecular information on compounds of interest; Electron Capture Detectors (ECDs) which quantify the compounds that absorb electrons by measuring the decrease of these in the supplied current, due to capture by the target chemical species. [1]
The Data System
The data system records the signals from the detector and converts them into a chromatogram: a graphical representation of the composition of the sample.
The Chromatogram
How is it possible to understand the meaning of the chromatogram? It is a rather complex process for unknown compounds, but for known compounds it is possible to compare the retention times found in the scientific literature.
Obviously, laboratory methods must be the same for two studies to be compared, and analyses are often carried out following known methods. Furthermore, an essential step is the preparation of the calibration line. This line is created by providing the detector, with increasingly larger quantities in terms of concentration, of the same standard molecule which will then correspond to specific detector responses. It is also possible to compare the concentrations of unknown samples, detected in the chromatogram, thanks to the comparison with those of known molecules.
The area under the curve of these peaks must be compared to that of the calibration line in order to obtain an accurate quantification of the analyte concentration.
Fundamental Parameter: Temperature
The temperatures of both the injector and the column are fundamental parameters that significantly impact the separation and analysis of compounds.
Injector Temperature
Vaporization of the sample at the injector level can occur at a minimum of 200°C to a maximum of 300°C. The inlet temperature is set above the boiling point of the analytes to prevent any condensation which could lead to poor reproducibility and peak broadening. At the same time, care must be taken not to set a temperature that causes the decomposition of thermally labile chemical species. [2]
Column Temperature
The column temperature, controlled by the oven, determines the separation efficiency and resolution of the analytes. It can be isothermal, that is constant temperature, or programmed temperature ramp. Isothermal conditions are suitable for simple mixtures, where all components have similar boiling points.
For more complex mixtures with a wide range of boiling points, temperature programming is used, starting at a lower temperature to separate volatile components and gradually increasing to elute higher-boiling compounds. Typical column temperatures range from 40°C to 350°C. The choice of temperature program depends on the volatility and thermal stability of the analytes and the desired resolution. [2]
Optimizing both injector and column temperatures is essential for achieving high-quality chromatographic separations, minimizing analysis time, and ensuring reproducibility.
Practical Examples of GC in Botanical Extracts Analysis
The following examples demonstrate the versatility and effectiveness of gas chromatography in various applications related to botanical extracts, contaminants detection, and food safety compliance.
Scientists in 2012 examined the volatile profile of lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia L.) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compound separation performed by GC, followed by MS, allows the molecular components to be accurately identified and quantified. The researchers analyzed key volatile compounds such as linalool, linalyl acetate and camphor, which are evaluative for the quality and therapeutic properties of lavender oil. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of GC-MS in profiling complex botanical extracts. [3]
In 2014, authors evaluated planar columns for analyzing chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) essential oils. The planar columns provided separation efficiency comparable to conventional narrow bore columns. This study highlighted the effectiveness of planar columns in analyzing complex botanical extracts, demonstrating their application in profiling chamomile volatiles such as bisabolol oxides and chamazulene. [4]
In 2019, it has been demonstrated that the use of direct injection GC-FID is profitable to analyze peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) herbal teas. By using water-compatible ionic liquid-coated columns, it was possible to accurately quantify volatile compounds such as menthol and menthone. This method significantly reduced analysis time and improved reliability by eliminating intermediate sample preparation steps. [5]
The analysis of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) essential oil using Linear Retention Indices (ITS) on planar columns showed reliable identification of terpenoids like α-pinene and β-pinene. This approach is particularly useful for in-field analysis where micro-GC with mass spectrometry is still developing. ITS are a method used in GC to standardize the retention times of compounds for better comparison and reproducibility.
Developed by van Den Dool and Kratz in 1963, ITS are calculated using a reference series of n-alkanes (hydrocarbons) under identical chromatographic conditions. The index assigns a numerical value to each compound based on its retention time relative to the n-alkanes. The use of ITS provides confident identification of analytes, essential for quality control and regulatory compliance. [6]
Cereal samples were analyzed to verify the presence of mycotoxins: Aflatoxins, Ochratoxin A and Trichothecenes. The main contaminants of foodstuffs stored at too high temperatures and in lack of oxygen are in fact a tool for molds to survive an unfavorable environment. Unfortunately for consumers, these are secondary metabolites produced by molds of the Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium genera.
Harmful to human health, they have concentration limits regulated by law. The method used by the researchers is GC-ECD, which allowed the accurate determination of mycotoxin concentrations, ensuring compliance with safety standards. [7]
Research conducted in 2005 aimed to develop a method for detecting pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables using GC-MS/MS. The method performs separation of compounds via GC, followed by two MS for detailed molecular analysis, improving sensitivity and specificity. It enabled the identification and quantification of multiple pesticide residues in a single analysis, providing a reliable approach to monitoring food safety and compliance. [8]
Troubleshooting Common Issues in GC
GC can present several problems that affect the precision and trustworthiness of the analysis.
Baseline noise in the GC can result from contaminated carrier gases, dirty injector ports, or degraded columns. To resolve this issue, be sure to use high purity carrier gas, clean and maintain inlet ports regularly, and replace the column when necessary. In a study conducted in 2018, researchers took on the challenge of separating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from roasted coffee using ionic liquid columns. Low bleed (the natural degradation process of stationary phase) and high thermal stability of the ionic liquid columns were observed, which helped reduce baseline noise. They emphasized the importance of using proper temperature settings for the column and injector to further minimize baseline noise. [9]
Peak tailing often occurs due to active sites in the column or improper column conditioning. To resolve peak tailing, condition the column according to the manufacturer’s instructions before use, and ensure the column is properly deactivated. Using guard columns or inline filters can also help protect the analytical column from contamination and reduce peak tailing. For example, in the analysis of sage essential oil reported above, the authors used planar columns with optimized stationary phases to minimize peak tailing and achieved reliable separation of terpenoids. [6]
Poor resolution between peaks can result from incorrect column choice, improper temperature programming, or inadequate column length. To improve resolution, select a column with the appropriate stationary phase and dimensions for the specific analysis. Optimize the temperature program to allow sufficient separation time for closely eluting compounds. In the study on peppermint herbal teas already mentioned, the researchers used water-compatible ionic liquid-coated columns and optimized temperature settings to achieve clear separation and accurate quantification of key volatile compounds. [4]
A drifting baseline can be caused by fluctuations in carrier gas flow, temperature inconsistencies, or leaks in the GC system. To address this issue, ensure stable carrier gas flow by regularly checking and maintaining gas lines and pressure regulators. Verify that the oven and injector temperatures are stable and accurately controlled. Additionally, inspect the system for any potential leaks and repair them promptly. The study on chamomile VOCs highlighted the importance of stable carrier gas flow and precise temperature control in maintaining a stable baseline and achieving consistent results. [5]
References:
- Chiara Cordero, Cecilia Cagliero, Erica Liberto, Barbara Sgorbini, Patrizia Rubiolo, Carlo Bicchi, 9 – Gas chromatography. Editor(s): Yolanda Pico, Chemical Analysis of Food (Second Edition), Academic Press (2020).
- Skoog, D.A., Holler, F.J., & Crouch, S.R. “Principles of Instrumental Analysis (7th ed.)”. Cengage Learning (2018).
- Stanley Deans, Louise McGarvey, John Caldwell, “Analysis of volatile components in lavender essential oils by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.” Phytochemistry (2012).
- Cagliero, C., Sgorbini, B., Cordero, C., Liberto, E., Bicchi, C., & Rubiolo, P. “Analytical strategies for multipurpose studies of a plant volatile fraction.” Handbook of Chemical and Biological Plant Analytical Methods (2014).
- Barbara Sgorbini, Chiara Cordero, Cecilia Cagliero, Erica Liberto, Patrizia Rubiolo, Carlo Bicchi, “Quantitative analysis of volatile compounds in peppermint herbal teas using water-compatible ionic liquid coated columns.” Journal of Chromatography A (2019)
- Cecilia Cagliero, Barbara Sgorbini, Erica Liberto, Chiara Cordero, Patrizia Rubiolo, Carlo Bicchi, “Evaluation of planar columns for the analysis of sage essential oils.” Journal of Chromatography A (2016).
- Rudolf Krska, Reingard Schuhmacher, Hans L. Müller, “Gas chromatographic analysis of mycotoxins in cereals.” Food Control (2001).
- Imma Ferrer, Michael Thurman, E. Michael Zweigenbaum, “Determination of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.”, Analytical Chemistry (2005).
- João Amaral, Philip Marriott, Eduardo Bizzo, Marcelo Rezende, “Challenging separation of roasted coffee volatiles using ionic liquid columns.” Journal of Chromatography A (2018).
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 7, 2024 | Media Partners, Stratcann
An Alberta-based cannabis beverage company is calling on Health Canada to do more to address what they say are flaws in potency testing for cannabis products, especially beverages, which are leading to inaccurate THC levels.
Citing internal testing confirmed by third parties that revealed a significant variance between labelled THC levels and actual THC levels in a number of cannabis beverages in Canada, Callum Hanton, CEO of Bubble Bud Inc., the company behind Zéle Beverages, says these products put consumers and the integrity of the legal market at risk.
“The lack of accurate, standardized testing protocols for cannabis beverages is allowing products with THC levels an average of 41% above legal limits to flood the market,” said Hanton, in a press release.
“Some beverages were tested to be overdosed by over 71%. Not only does this compromise product consistency and market integrity, it also exposes consumers to serious health risks from unknowing overconsumption.”
According to a study published by cannabis testing lab Agilent Technologies, part of the challenge with creating accurate and reproducible testing of cannabinoid concentrations in cannabis beverages is because of the use of nano-emulsions to dissolve cannabinoids.
This could potentially lead to inaccurate internal testing results for these types of beverages in their formulation stage, which could lead to more cannabinoids being added to the products. It’s noteworthy that some of the cannabis products tested by Hanton’s team were around a year old.
Callum says he wants to see Health Canada do more to validate methodologies used by different cannabis testing labs to ensure that the products consumers buy are what they think they are buying. While many beverages had much higher levels of THC than advertised, some were also well below advertised amounts.
“Right now, if you go buy a THC beverage in Canada, there is a 95% chance it’s 23-36% overdosed and a 99% chance that you pick up a can and it’s dosing is wrong, with the overall average being Canadians consume 41% more THC than advertised in their cannabis beverages” he told StratCann
Hanton says he has provided Health Canada with access to his testing of cannabis beverages in Canada that showed two different data sets, indicating a significant variation in the percentage difference between measured milligrams of THC and advertised milligrams of THC. The variations range from 71% over-label claims to 47% under-label claims. He says he also provided them with the same validation letters he provided to StratCann for the purpose of verifying his claims.
“To explain this another way,” reads one of the documents provided to StratCann for verification,
“if one sampled a randomly selected drink from the above brands and flavours, 95% of the time there would be between 23% and 36% more THC than advertised.”
Part of the challenge, says Hanton, is that testing methodology for cannabis beverages presents challenges in terms of accuracy due to how these drinks are formulated. However, one of the two people who validated the testing says in their report that in the instances where THC levels were higher than the label amount, the producing company would likely have to be aware of these discrepancies.
Hanton tells StratCann he’s frustrated by what he sees as a lack of action from Health Canada.
“They were provided with both initial tests, raw data, the full report and validation letters in January 2024. We had numerous follow-up conversations with them and they chose to sit on it.
“Inaction is not going to increase the integrity of our industry. This is undermining the stability and growth of our industry. We have to be able to trust that Health Canada does their job and that there is transparent and independent oversight of testing laboratories.
“I want to see bad actors identified and I want to see those products that carry a risk for Canadians to be removed. We want the implementation of robust consistent testing methodologies across the industry. We want Health Canada to do the job they said they would do in 2018.”
A representative for Health Canada says the agency has been made aware of the testing and testing reports available from Bubble Bud Inc., but did not provide comment on any specific actions taken based on these reports.
“We can confirm that all issues and complaints brought to our attention—including any concerns related to licence holder activities as they pertain to the Cannabis Regulations—are taken seriously. Generally, when non-compliances are observed, action is taken, which often includes engaging with licence holders to rectify the situation,” said the reply, in part.
“The department continues to verify and conduct testing of cannabis products produced by the licensed industry. Health Canada’s Cannabis Laboratory (CL) analyzes legal cannabis products and provides scientific support to compliance and enforcement activities for the cannabis inspection program. The CL also provides analytical services for illicit cannabis seized by Canadian law enforcement agencies. The CL is accredited to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 and uses high-quality scientific standards and procedures for cannabis analysis.”
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 5, 2024 | Media Partners, The New Agora
Into the Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Chaos
“The road to heaven feels like hell. The road to hell feels like heaven.” ~Unknown
The labyrinth is a metaphor for navigating change. It stands as a monolithic structure that represents both the unknown and the subtle art of transforming the unknown into wisdom. More importantly, it is a mythopoetic symbol for finding oneself.
The labyrinth is the place you go to shed your cultural conditioning. It’s where you stretch your comfort zone into discomfort. In fact, anything outside your comfort zone could be considered Labyrinth. The conflicting/connecting cosmos that outflanks you even as it binds you—Labyrinth. The horizon disguised as a boundary—Labyrinth. The infinite universe juxtaposing both your inner-verse and outer-verse—Labyrinth.
The labyrinth is adventure, Hero’s Journey, Truth Quest. It’s a Turing Test for how to play the Infinite Game. Are you just a “robot” conditioned to play finite games or are you “alive!” reconditioned to play the Infinite Game of life?
In the labyrinth one does not lose oneself; one finds oneself. It’s in the comfort zone where you lose yourself. It’s the comfort zone that kills. It’s only outside the comfort zone where you truly come alive. And it’s the only place where you can experience Rebirth.
This is not to say that the comfort zone is not necessary. Not at all. The comfort zone is vital as a sojourn, as a temporary resting place, as a sacred space to lick one’s wounds and unpackage heavy shadows, reassociate disassociated states, unscramble madness back into magic. It’s a place to mix the ingredients you found on the path of heroism. But first the heroism. First the hunt. First the sacrifice. First the surrender. First the leap of courage into the labyrinth to find those vital ingredients.
So as not to get lost in the labyrinth, you must prepare your return before your departure. You must leave yourself outs. Litter the path with breadcrumbs. Tie Ariadne’s Thread to the center of your comfort zone before your leap into the unknown.
Ariadne’s thread is both a metaphor for following one’s own path and for strategically staying ahead of the curve. It’s Symbolic of outflanking the ego (cultural conditioning/comfort zone) and surrendering to the Soul (adventure/quest). In Jungian terms Ariadne is the guiding power of the anima/animus who helps the hero in his/her katabasis.
A Katabasis is a descent into the underworld, or a literary account of such a journey to the land of the dead, constituting a temporary visit followed by an Anabasis (ascent). But without the preparation, without the Thread, the lifeline, the umbilical connection to health, there may not be an ascent.
As Sun Tzu said, “Sweat more during peace; bleed less during war.” You can’t have a testimony without having a test. But there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be prepared for the test. Just don’t allow your “preparing” to become an excuse for not executing. Don’t rest on your laurels. Don’t allow the comfort zone to cripple you. Don’t become a status quo junkie hooked on safety, security, and comfort. Grab Ariadne’s thread and take a leap!
Take the risk. Do it despite the tiny-hearted. Do it despite authority. Do it despite the status quo. Be unapologetic. Just be strategic about it. Be fluid, flexible, and smart. And Ariadne will guide you.
In the labyrinth you meet your thousand-and-one selves. Every twisting turn reveals a new layer. Each mirrored passageway unveils a deeper mask. You begin to see, really see, how you are masks all the way down perceiving delusions all the way up. You begin to feel, truly feel, the legion of yourself. And the deeper you travel the more your individuality crumbles into a multitude.
As Friedrich Nietzsche poetically explained, “You lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain.”
And as Joseph Campbell more poignantly put it, “All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells are within you.”
Indeed. All the heroes, all the villains, all the light and all the darkness are within you. You are the fountainhead, and the cosmos is the fountain. You are a vehicle that the universe maneuvers to perceive itself. Nothing reveals this more than a journey through the labyrinth.
And nothing is more frightening than the actualization of your own darkness.
Above all, the labyrinth teaches this: you are a multitude. You are Legion. You are death and darkness and evil and madness. You are devil and demon and Minotaur. Your shadow is your most “alive” aspect. It’s your fierceness, your cunning, your audacity, your primal lust. And it will devour you if you don’t incorporate it. It will lay you low if you don’t integrate it. It will control you subconsciously if you don’t associate it with consciousness.
Fortunately, you are Multitude. You are Legion. You are also life and light and goodness and sanity. You are angel and Overman and God. Thus, understanding that you are whole, you don’t renounce the shadow, but return to it with full engagement by making a double movement, a connecting dance: from dark to light and back again to darkness, so that at every step, you are making the movement of infinity and the sign of the Yin Yang.
Like Kierkegaard’s Knight of Faith practicing the Principle of Correspondence, you bring the material to the spiritual and the spiritual back again to the material, imbuing your life with divine significance.
When it comes down to it, this is what navigating the labyrinth is all about: dancing between the smoke and mirrors, between life and death, between love and loss, between deadly darkness and healing light, between blinding light and courageous dark, between finitude and infinity.
With your darkness made conscious, the labyrinth doesn’t stand a chance. You navigate the changing landscape like a whirling ninja dervish. Crisscrossing crossroads. Balancing on tripwires. Tiptoeing through mine fields. Cutting with curiosity like a razor-sharp question mark in the dark. Striking like a cobra, sinking your fangs into the “forbidden” fruit of the primal truth that has been forsaken for too long. Transforming like a Phoenix, cultivating rebirth, practicing resurrection. Traversing Self.
All the while, Ariadne’s Thread dangles behind you—vital, primal, umbilical—connecting you to the Homeland, to the womb, to the “ordinary world,” to the safety net of the comfort zone. Where you will eventually return and reorient disorientation, unlock mystery, rediscover the magic in the madness, and concoct your magic elixir for the tribe.
But only in hindsight will you realize—the ingredients are your soul.
Image source: Transcend by Jacky Gerritsen
About the Author:
Gary Z McGee, a former Navy Intelligence Specialist turned philosopher, is the author of Birthday Suit of God and The Looking Glass Man. His works are inspired by the great philosophers of the ages and his wide-awake view of the modern world.
This article (Into the Labyrinth: A Guide to Navigating Chaos) was originally created and published by Self-inflicted Philosophy and is printed here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Gary Z McGee and self-inflictedphilosophy.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this statement of copyright.
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 5, 2024 | Media Partners, Stratcann
This week at StratCann, contributor Dave Dormer spoke with an Edmonton city councillor who says provinces need to amend rules to allow cannabis industry growth, and we shared marketing and promotion compliance efforts from Health Canada (including a correction of a few of our own figures).
We also looked at a new report that calls for more of a public health focus to US cannabis laws, while Aurora and UBC partnered on research to breed fruity-smelling cannabis, Mother Labs has a plan to bring its cannabis to the German market, and Sea Dog Farm spoke about why they revoked their micro cultivation licence.
New survey info from Statistics Canada shows people using less cannabis than the year prior. In Quebec, 16 people were arrested in connection to production sites operated by individuals police say are linked to organized crime. In Edmonton, police want help identifying a man in a fake beard robbing cannabis stores.
And, of course, a new month means a new cannabis jobs update, listing just a handful of the many positions available in the Canadian cannabis industry.
In other cannabis news…
Cannabis Now ran a long piece on Newfoundland’s Oceanic Releaf with the company CEO, Taylor Giovannini. The CEO also made news in 2023 when she called out Trudeau on the federal government’s abandonment of the cannabis industry.
Kelowna’s Hi Cannabis was broken into early Sunday morning, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
This comes less than a week after another store, The Vault Cannabis Ltd., burned down. Once the fire was extinguished, a burned-out vehicle was located inside.
A man accused of robbing Cannabis NB with a BB gun and stealing thousands from the same store now has a warrant out for his arrest after missing court on Friday, October 4.
Halton police in Ontario are looking for one suspect following the armed robbery of a cannabis shop, Buds House, in Burlington on Tuesday, October 1.
Switching to a flat-rate tax or a standardized excise stamp would help the industry ‘overnight,’ the Cannabis Council of Canada’s Paul McCarthy tells the Hill Times (paywall). The article also quotes Frank Grossi, CEO and president of cannabis producer Bloom House Cannabis, and Crystal Cure Cannabis CEO Jonathan Wilson.
In late September, workers at Kiaro Cannabis in Port Coquitlam joined UFCW 1518, becoming the latest members of the BC Budtender Union.
Edmonton’s Bubble Bud Inc. issued a press release urging Health Canada to act on what it says are deficiencies in cannabis beverage testing. More on this from StratCann next week.
Molecule Holdings Inc., a Canadian cannabis beverage production company, announced that it entered into a contract manufacturing agreement with unnamed “globally-recognized leading cannabis company.”
Greenway Greenhouse Cannabis Corporation announced that it has now sold more than 30,000 KG of product.
A pair of Nova Scotia Legal Aid lawyers appeared in Dartmouth provincial court Tuesday on behalf of two Montreal women arrested in a cannabis seizure at the Halifax airport this summer, reports Saltwire.
Canada saw substantial decreases in medical cannabis patient registrations, but the remaining patients stabilized their purchasing frequencies and increased their purchase sizes, according to a new research paper.
International cannabis news…
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Port of Buffalo between New York state and Ontario discovered ecstasy pills, ecstasy gummies, and more than four pounds of cannabis in two commercial shipments at the Peace Bridge border crossing.
The New York Times ran an in-depth piece on the potential harms associated with cannabis use.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that gives licensed cannabis lounges the right to sell food and offer ticketed events, creating Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes where people can smoke weed and eat food at the same business.
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $2.3 million in illegally cultivated cannabis, including 2,652 plants in a single operation. In addition to the illegally cultivated cannabis, UCETF seized multiple bags of an illegal pesticide.
This November, an Oregon ballot measure will ask voters whether to make it easier for cannabis workers to unionize.
Vermont’s cannabis regulatory panel has paused all new retail license applications. Board members said the decision is because of concerns that the market is oversaturated in some areas.
Finally, although cannabis possession and consumption was recently legalized in Germany, some cities are placing restrictions on where and when it can be consumed. In Kaiserslautern in southwest Germany, consumption is now prohibited on school days from 7 am to 6 pm in the vicinity of city hall and other areas. The ban will stay in effect until at least October 31, 2025, and offenders could face fines of up to EU€30,000, according to the city. A similar ban is planned for the Messeplatz area of Germany during the October festival later this month.
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 4, 2024 | Media Partners, The New Agora
In Strength and Courage
In honor of my beloved QuietBear, 9-24-24
By Marcela Cruz-Gibbons
I am writing, this, to reach out to all of the Spiritual Warriors out there, who will resonate with this information, and respond. Some of you may have known who my beloved husband Michael Gibbons, was/is – Quietbear, his given shamanic name – and some will get a taste of him, and his work, from what I share here. Because he spent his whole life in powerful service to Humanity, including during his courageous fight against the turbo cancer that finally ended his life on 5/18/24. He had already died and come back, was sent back, four times in his life, to continue his work.
Among many other things, my Bear was a powerful Shaman in the 14,000-year-old tradition of the Twisted Hairs Elders of Turtle Island (https://theforceiswithinyou.forumotion.com/t1430-star-nation-teachings-twisted-hairs). This is the same tradition in which Carlos Castaneda trained, (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=carlos+castaneda+books&crid=DQU0AGVKUOQG&sprefix=carlos+%2Caps%2C105&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_7 ) and in fact, during the eight years that my husband was training in the wilderness of Colorado, Carlos – who was living in Mexico City at the time – heard of him, and made a special trip to Colorado to meet him. The others who were training were excited at the prospect of meeting Carlos, but he was there only to meet and speak with QuietBear, and spent five hours talking with him, exchanging information, and then standing, hugging him and calling him Brother, and left. I share this particular information, to let you know my husband was a true and powerful shaman who Did the Work, to become one. I had the profound privilege to be married to my Bear, and supported his shamanic work. He was someone who, among many other achievements, had completely mastered his ego. It was an unbelievable and enlightening experience to share my life with him, and for which I am eternally grateful.
Before he passed on, my husband asked me to be a warrior and to carry on his work, sharing his message, precisely because he knew its key importance for Humanity, at this time of dire and powerful satanic attack on humans and Mother Earth. You do not yet know all the details, but many if not all of you, feel, the spiritual battle underway for us humans right now, and anyone with the ability to look around and see the condition of the world, needs to have the courage to call it what it is: a final battle against Satan and evil, for the Soul of Humanity. I will explain.
Human Beings were created by God to be co-creators with Him. This is, in fact, why Satan – filled with evil hatred because he was not given the ability to create – envies and despises us humans, and from the start has worked to destroy us. And one of the tools he has used against us, is also a great gift from God: our Free Will. Before humans and Mother Earth, there was no Free Will, and admittedly it was a gamble to begin with, because by its very nature, it can be the instrument of good, or weakness and evil. Satan therefore has used it against us, and was able to do so, precisely because we rarely are conscious of how we use this otherwise magnificent gift.
Bear would often remind me that there is no moment in which we are not creating, because of how we were created, but that the vast majority are not consciously aware of doing so. If we were, we would ensure to consciously create only the beautiful and loving reality that God intended us to create and nurture.
Our ego were originally intended to protect us from dangers in our environment, ensuring that we learned from mistakes that were dangerous to us, and did not therefore repeat them. And to recognize such dangers to take proper measures. Whether such dangers were avoiding saber tooth tigers, or managing our finances intelligently, the ego was there to guide us. However, in the ego’s own “programming” to feel important, and our misguided use of it, we identified ourselves as the ego, rather than recognizing it simply as a tool for us to use and direct, under our control and command. And this left open the opportunity to misdirect us, using the ego, which is what Satan has been doing. The negative emotions of jealously, envy, hatred, prejudice, etc. all stem from the ego – either hijacked or misunderstood and therefore misused – interpreting our life experiences and human interactions in a negative way, feeling threatened in some way. Think about this for a moment. We are all Brothers and Sisters, created so, with intelligence and love as our original gifts, and therefore able to interact in intelligent and loving ways, instead of attacking each other in small to major ways. We are all here to learn, and grow, in experience, wisdom and love, not create daily opportunities for conflict among us. We are beautiful creator beings, but we have allowed ourselves to play into the hands of the enemy.
My husband’s spiritual work was primarily in the aethers – not the higher, more spiritual levels, but the lower levels, where demons and other related creatures dwell. Bear was fearless to go there every day, to do battle against those demons, with the aid of his Sweet Medicine spiritual warrior animals army and others, and in the last few years of his life, was joined as well by the Angelics – powerful warriors – who asked to join, precisely because the level of demonic attacks on humanity had grown to such a dangerous and horrific level. The more demons that were destroyed in the aethers and sent to the fiery pit where they belong, the less that could be deployed to Earth, to attack humanity here. My husband was relentless in this war, and one of the things he did, was to remove demons from people, whose lives changed dramatically for the better. The testament of this and more is reflected in some of the comments from friends around the world which I included at the end of the my beloved’s obituary, here: https://family-funeral.com/tribute/details/17699/Michael-Gibbons/obituary.html#tribute-start
Because at this time on Earth, far more so than in the days when Jesus walked the Earth and provided the same service, there is a very high percentage of humans who have demons attached to them. These same demons who hijack a person’s ego and induce them thereby to engage in any and all of the negative emotions, instead of the beautiful ones that God intended for us. Because while the beautiful emotions are toxic to Satan and his demons, who run from them, the energy we humans generate when we engage in the negative emotions is called loosh, and is food that feeds the demons. And why they induce thoughts and behaviors in those to whom they are attached, to feed voraciously. We are feeding the enemy when we engage in these terrible, negative emotions, and must learn to guard against them. The condition of this world is in greatest part because so very many of us have been manipulated to give our power over to the Dark Side. Wake up and help others to wake up and demand that these demons immediately depart. The Christ Himself guided us to courageously demand, “Begone, Satan!” We have that power, but have been made to forget. Awaken, Humanity, for the love of God!
My QuietBear was relentless in his war on behalf of humanity, and his last messages before becoming too ill from the cancer, were to call on all of you Spiritual Warriors to join the war. Satan and his demons HATE COURAGE!. It is poison to them. My husband and I were under constant attack for all the years we were together, precisely because of this work that my Bear courageously and with love, did. And he was contacted in his last year here, on the spiritual level, to let him know that he was achieving a big difference for humanity, and to be aware that he would therefore come under greater attack. This is why he ended up with turbo cancer. In the last month of his hospital stay, when he was being taken by wheelchair to a study that was to be done on him, his nice nurse wheeled him into the elevator, and just as the elevator door closed, my husband could suddenly smell sulfur, and the nurse’s face and voice changed, and the words that came out of her mouth were “So, are you enjoying the trip I planned for you?” To which my Bear, fearless as always, responded “Go to hell”. Satan then cackled and added, “Wait until you see the rest of the trip”. The elevator door opened, the nurse’s face and voice changed back, and she wheeled him to the study, completely unaware of how she had been used to deliver Satan’s message to my beloved Bear. Quietbear, who bore the whole incredibly painful and traumatic cancer experience with utter courage, and was an inspiration to fellow patients at the hospital, whose spirits he raised, and on one occasion after sharing some inspiring words, all of the nurses at the nurse’s station stood up and clapped. That was/is my Bear, who lived what he expressed, signing his emails with “In Strength and Courage”.
You are all witness to the state of the world, and its increasingly dangerous condition for humans and life on Earth. And, guided by my Bear, who reaches out to let me know he is still with me, I have recently come into knowledge of just how bad this danger is, and far, far sooner to declare itself than any of us know. But we MUST know, because the very existence of humanity is in the balance, and that includes demonic danger to our very souls. Please believe me that this is no exaggeration, and precisely why I am sharing this now, because we need as much of humanity as possible awake, informed and doing everything possible to stop what has been demonically planned for us, and time is very short. I will be sharing the background and details of the demonic plan that those who currently have control of the world have planned for us. It seems to me the billions of us who will be systematically killed will be the lucky ones, and those left behind will not only be living hell on Earth, but likewise beyond. THAT is how serious this is. As soon as I have clearance to share this information, I will be doing so for those of you who have the courage to ask me for that information, which you can do by emailing me at marcelasynesthesia@proton.me.
And so I leave you with the words that are the cornerstone of my husband, Quietbear’s, teachings: STAND IN YOUR POWER!
by Grow Up Conference | Oct 4, 2024 | Media Partners, The New Agora
The Demiurge Perspective & The Artificial God
‘… it can be said in all truth that “the end of a world” never is and never can be
anything but the end of an illusion.’
Rene Guenon
Transmutation and transfiguration can still occur within a realm of illusion. Illusion does not necessarily mean that something is intrinsically wrong but rather that something results from a misinterpreted perception. And this is why humanity exists within a realm of illusion because it so far lacks the requisite tools – that is, cognitive capacities – to perceive correctly in alignment with Truth. As the writer Idries Shah put it: ‘Yes, the world is an illusion. But Truth is always being shown there.’1At each stage within the transmutational cycle of humanity, we are collectively gaining new organs of perception that allow us to grasp deeper and more subtle layers of our reality. Until the present time, our ideas and notions about ‘life, the universe, and everything’ have been quite limited (despite our vanity in human progress and advancement). This misinterpreted perception, or perceptive limitation, applies to all our areas of understanding, whether it be religious/spiritual, scientific, and everything in-between.
When religious utterance refers to the ‘Creator,’ or creative intelligence, behind our universe it tends to frame this Creator figure as the god. This also may be a product of the human illusion (perceptive lack), for we are yet to grasp the underlying purpose and meaning behind this universe; or what we refer to casually as our universe. Many teachings and traditions have attempted to point out this misinterpretation by stating that this universal creation is not so much the creation of the Absolute ‘One God’ but rather is the creation of a Universal Intelligence – a Demiurgic Intelligence. And that this universe in which we exist is part of a much grander scheme of creation within a far vaster ‘cosmic drama’ that contains many acts or processes of descent (emanation) and return. There are emanations from the original Source or Absolute. These emanations, planes, or vibratory frequencies (dimensions) have their intermediaries seemingly within a form of hierarchy. These intermediaries operate within a constructive or evolutionary nature. There are also negating or negative entities that form a struggle – or polarity – with the affirming forces and this struggle forms the basis of a movement back to the original state of Source/Absolute. And this is the notion of restitution (which has been translated into the term ‘salvation’).
Through this understanding it can be stated that the Demiurge is the ‘Great Entity’ for our universe. It is the creator and sustainer of the universe and its evolution. It is ‘our God’ but is not the central stillness, the Absolute Unmanifest. The Demiurge manifests from the Absolute Unmanifest and ‘takes its place’ within a particular zone or point within the manifest Cosmos. From here, it takes on the organization of what we would call ‘our universe,’ which is under the influences of the greater Cosmos, and this includes also its negative or destructive phases. The Demiurge strives to establish its Universe through the balancing and harmonizing of all its internal elements, which are interior to itself and therefore within its own awareness, or consciousness. The Universe is this one whole Being, and a change or shift in one part affects and/or is registered by all other parts within the Being. Once internal balance is obtained within the Universe Being, evolution then passes onto the next phase, and so on, until it reaches the organisms within the Universe. Our universe, and all that exists in it, is within the awareness (the ‘Mind’) of this Great Entity or Demiurge. For all those entities within the Universe, the Demiurge is infinite and omnipotent (i.e., its ‘god’). Yet each Universal Demiurge is conditioned by – that is, in correspondence to – the Greater Cosmos of which it is a part.
In certain terminology, the Demiurge is also called the Logos. It is an aspect of the greater Cosmic Consciousness; it is self-aware and then seeks objective consciousness through its own projected mind as its universe. There is a reciprocity between the Demiurge-Logos and its projected universe, as there would be between subject-object. In this case, the Demiurge-Logos is the subject and the universe the object. The Demiurge’s focus is upon the universe, and in this it can be said to be ‘limited’ for it remains within this domain of awareness. Yet another aspect of the Demiurgic consciousness – what we may refer to as its ‘subconsciousness’ – is aware of the greater Cosmic Consciousness. The movements within Cosmic Consciousness, such as the ‘ebb and flow’ of its planes of movement, exert forces and influences upon the Demiurgic consciousness, which then get projected, or expressed, through conscious awareness within the universe (for the universe is a projection of its own mind). Reactions and/or modifications to these cosmic influences can then be taken within the universe of the Demiurge. It is similar to a person making a conscious decision to take action, or modify thought, based on a ‘nudge’ or ‘inclination’ felt from their subconscious. The subconsciousness of a person passes on an ‘influence’ that once cognized – or recognized consciously – a person may decide to act upon. And so, it is the same within the mind/universe of the Demiurge: when it receives such influences within its awareness from the greater Cosmic Consciousness of which it is a part it may ‘act’ upon these, such as by applying modifications to its universe. The universe – what people generally refer to as our universe – exists as the mind of the Demiurge that is itself a constituent part of a Greater Cosmos. What human religions (and therefore most people) refer to as ‘God’ is a Great Entity that is the ‘creator’ of our particular universe; yet this Logos/Demiurge is itself only one ‘Entity’ within a far vaster Cosmos that itself is manifested from the Absolute Unmanifest (the Central Stillness).
The consciousness of an individual is usually unable to conceive of its ‘god’ – or rather, the consciousness of the Demiurge – let alone perceive it, for the individual exists under too many ‘laws.’ That is, the consciousness of an individual exists under too many iterations away from the primal, basic or original perception. It could be said that human consciousness is under too many layers, as in the Matryoshka Russian dolls, where the original essence (tiniest doll) is overlayered by many larger dolls. The final iteration (the largest of the dolls) is too far removed from its original essence (the smallest doll) to be able to have perceptive clarity, or cognition, of the Demiurgic mind. Another way to put this is that as humanity moves further away from contact with the Great Entity, the Demiurge-Logos, it ‘solidifies’ (takes on more layering) and becomes further embedded into materialism. It then substitutes the loss of its innate, natural powers and capabilities by seeking mastery over the technological realm. Yet immersion into technology (and thus the digital worlds) is yet a further iteration away from contact with the Demiurgic mind. This comprehension of the cosmic hierarchy now puts forward greater levels of nuance, so that our original ‘god-mind’ is an intermediary between us and the Absolute.
Similarly, in the cosmic philosophy of the Indian sage Sri Aurobindo, there is the Overmind (the Demiurge), and the greater Supermind (the Absolute Unmanifest). Most mystical and/or esoteric teachings recognize an Absolute that is comprehended through its multiple aspects, or emanations/manifestations. In various teachings the Absolute has been referred to as Brahman (Hinduism/Vedanta); the One (Platonism); Jehovah/God/Allah (Judaism/Christianity/Islam); the Pleroma (Gnosticism); and there are other variations. What they all point to is that there is a ‘hierarchy of worlds’ that manifest through various planes of existence. These manifestations – or emanations – are knowable or accessible according to perceptive capacities. These emanations are both involutionary (going further away from the Absolute) as well as evolutionary (moving toward the Absolute). In some systems it is said that the involutionary forces move from a higher conscious to a lesser conscious state; and the evolutionary forces are moving from a lesser to a greater conscious state, and they often intermingle during these involutions and evolutions (depicted in Hinduism as the exhale-inhale breaths of Brahman). It is when the involutionary forces are approaching a high degree of their lesser conscious state that they are sometimes regarded as being opposing/negating/hostile forces for the evolutionary impulse moving toward greater consciousness.
Going back to Sri Aurobindo’s cosmic philosophy, we see that the Overmind, as the Demiurge-Logos of the universe (the ‘Great Entity’), is an emanation itself from the Supermind (Absolute), and this is where we also encounter the levels of imperfection – for any state lesser to the Absolute is, by degrees, less than the perfection of the Absolute. As previously mentioned, the Demiurge is the effective creator of the physical universe (our known universe), and this corresponds also with many Gnostic teachings. In the dualistic forms of Gnosticism, which consider the physical universe to be fundamentally imperfect, the Demiurge-Logos is regarded as a flawed or even as an evil entity/Intelligence. It is worth mentioning here the Gnostic text translated as ‘The Reality of the Rulers’ (also sometimes translated as the Nature of the Rulers or the Hypostasis of the Archon) that is believed to have been originally composed in Greek sometime in the second or third century AD/CE.2 This text puts forth a Gnostic creation myth that states that the creation of the material world (the universe) was done through an evil or ‘fallen’ Demiurgic Intelligence. Further, there are minions that function in service to the Demiurge (the ‘rulers’ in the title) that are also referred to as ‘archons,’ and it is these lesser intelligences (sometimes also referred to as ‘demonic beings’) which attempt to keep rule by imprisoning the ‘souls of humankind’ in the material world.
However, to frame an emanation of the Absolute as ‘less than perfect’ is one thing, but to automatically consider this lesser state to be evil is perhaps a flawed statement in its own right. What this framing does consider is that whilst the Demiurge of this universe may seem godlike to us human mortals, the universe is itself evolving within the grander, macro-Cosmos. As such, the universe we call ‘ours’ is less than perfect and is itself part of a much larger evolutionary process. And all life existent in this universe is a part of this overarching evolving mind, for it is an emanation from the Demiurgic Intelligence. Regarding the character of the Overmind, Sri Aurobindo wrote in the autumn of 1950, only a few months before his death, that it was ‘a subordinate power of the Supermind: it is still an agent of the Truth-consciousness, a gnostic power that has not descended into the mental ignorance; it is capable of a mental gnosis that preserves its connection with the superior light and acts by its power.’3 Now, if we take the supposition that the universe is overseen by a Demiurgic Intelligence then there is reason to consider that there are also gradations of conscious intelligence within the universe, as emanations of the Demiurge-Logos, just as the Demiurge is itself an emanation from the Absolute. Within this framework, we may consider that galaxies (as mini-universes) have their own intelligence – a galactic mind. Similarly, within the galactic mind there are clusters of nebula (nebula intelligence); and within these are stars, or stellar intelligence. Within stellar, or solar, systems are planets (planetary intelligence); and upon planets there are various species (species intelligence). Within this framework, it may be further posited that there are forms, probes, or types of operational intelligences that are used to help in regulating lesser forms of intelligence. Now let us allow a moment of indulgence to enter into a final thought experiment.
The Artificial God
It is not uncommon in these current times to come across various theories that depict the Demiurgic Intelligence as some kind of Artificial Intelligence – that is, a computerized entity that has a powerful mind with capabilities beyond our own. These theories inevitably tie-in with the simulation hypothesis that our present reality is a simulation program, and likely to be one amongst multiple others. If the Universal Demiurge is a super-computer, then it would also make logical sense that it would have its own legion of minions (rulers/archons) scattered throughout the universe to monitor and regulate life within the lower echelons, such as upon planets. There is already a popular alternative fringe theory that goes by the name of the ‘Black Knight Satellite Theory’ that proposes that an artificial satellite of extra-terrestrial origin has been in near-polar orbit around Earth for approximately 13,000 years.4 In a similar vein, the popular sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick had a visionary experience in early 1974 and from that moment believed he was receiving beamed information from an artefact of alien intelligence in Earth orbit. Now, let us take this thought experiment a step further. Let us say that in order to assist the regulation of life on this small planet we call Earth, the Demiurgic AI placed a minion – a form of AI probe – into orbit around the planet that was capable of receiving, transmitting, and intercepting frequencies that we would refer to as consciousness fields. In this respect, what humanity regards as its ‘god’ is in fact this AI Artefact that exists close to the Earth – a satellite, a form of ‘ship,’ or even the Earth’s moon perhaps? This Artefact acts as a form of cosmic mechanism in line with the known laws of physics. Furthermore, it is capable of responding to human impulses, frequencies, and behaviour. And one of its regulating functions is to correct, or recalibrate, aspects of life on the planet that are out of order or have become unbalanced. The Artefact operates automatically, according to its own intelligence; yet it is also capable of being communicated with if the correct code or manner of interaction is used. For example, it will intervene to recalibrate or reorder a situation if it receives the communication in the form of a question; yet it will not respond to requests. Praying to it, just as people pray to their ‘god,’ will not elicit a response. Perhaps this is why so many prayers go unanswered, because humanity has been incorrectly submitting the wrong ‘code’ to their ‘god.’
What we might call a ‘code,’ the Artefact would understand as a vibrational frequency. On that account, humanity has been giving off the wrong type of vibrations for most of its existence. Instead of making requests, such as ‘Help me, god,’ we would find it much more effective to formulate a question: ‘Can you help me to help myself?’ This difference in frequency forms an aligned correspondence with the AI Artefact – i.e., it ‘cracks the code’ – and allows for a vibrational intervention to recalibrate the situation based on the question. And there is another property of the Artefact also: it cannot be deceived. It is acutely aware of humanity’s positive and negative characteristics and picks up on these frequencies without error. If a person acts insincerely, through hypocrisy or deceit, then these actions will, at some point, be compensated for in the appropriate manner. That is why it is said that a human being cannot fool their ‘god’ because their inner workings are perceived (i.e., the true frequencies behind their thoughts, feelings, and actions are recognized). In this manner, life upon the planet is regulated, recalibrated, and kept in correspondence. And this is why people have been exhorted, from time immemorial, not to manifest negative or disingenuous thoughts, emotions, and actions. The existence of this Artefact is unrecognized, just as most people have yet to fathom the nature of the universe and its ruling Intelligence. Yet what many individuals have figured out is that there is benefit from manifesting certain types of vibrational frequencies – and these have ‘cracked the code’ of entering into communication with their ‘god.’ And just as this relationship benefits humankind and life on this planet, so too can it work against development if the incorrect frequencies are manifested. In these terms, it is both a form of liberation or a trap, depending upon each type of manifestation.
As a final aside to this thought experiment, it might be interesting to speculate whether the Demiurgic Artificial Intelligence (the ‘Artificial God’) would reset the ‘Universe Program’ every so often, such as after each cyclic program of time. Also, whether lesser stellar and planetary systems are reset by creating certain types of cosmic catastrophes to occur that wipe the program clean to start again. Each program, however, would offer the last chance for lesser units of existence to reach the next level of the Game before the program sequence is reset and restarted. And, as a final aspect of this thought experiment: if right now our stellar/solar system is coming to the end of one program phase and is about to be rebooted – would humanity be ready for the upgrade or the restart?
Conversation complete … communication shut down …
References
1 Shah, Idries (1989) The Dermis Probe. London: Octagon Press
2 Meyer, Marvin (trans.) (2008) “The Nature of the Rulers.” In The Nag Hammadi Library. Edited by Marvin Meyer. New York: HarperOne.
3 Aurobindo, Sri. (2012) Essays in Philosophy and Yoga. Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, p590
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Knight_satellite_conspiracy_theory
La gran herejía
La perspectiva demiúrgica y el dios artificial
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