The Cyclic Nature of History and Consciousness

In this podcast episode, the cyclic nature of history and consciousness is discussed. The guest, John Michael Greer, emphasizes the cyclical theories of history put forth by Spengler and Toynbee. He explains that these theories suggest that civilizations go through a cycle of springtime, summertime, autumn, and winter, each representing different societal and cultural characteristics. The current state of Western civilization is described as being on the edge of winter, where the foundations of civilization are breaking apart. The discussion also touches on the importance of understanding the cyclical nature of consciousness and the impact of secular ideologies like the belief in progress. It is noted that the fear of death and the obsession with binary divisions are rooted in Western cultural and religious influences.