A Syllabus for Holoergonomics

As always, Doc played his flute as a new group of students filled the classroom. Then after a quick, "Welcome everyone!" he gave each student this handout.


themes and plots, cinematography and special effects. Yes, it's thought-provoking. But this class is a lot of fun too...so bring your candy and popcorn!

Sex, Drugs and Rock&Roll: An Exploration of Ethics

What is the "good" life? How do we humans best get along with each other and our environment? Are there universal rules and common principles that all humans should follow and respect? These questions, which fall under the category of ethics, have been asked by philosophers throughout the ages. But they are not just philosophic problems to be explored in the classroom, they are practical questions humans encounter in everyday experience. In this class we explore various ethical and situational questions and problems, as well as different approaches and possibilities for solutions. We'll explore various extreme positions, from pure stoicism to complete hedonism, and consider their consequences. We'll also look at cross-cultural approaches to ethical questions such Aristotle's Golden Mean along with Taoist and Buddhist concepts of balance. Get ready to consider your own tastes, fancies and needs, especially in relation to your similarities and differences with others. In addition to an exploration of self and free choice, this class also considers benefits and risks, virtues in tolerance and respect, as well as the inescapable necessity of personal responsibility.

About 12 at Night: Star Parties to Stretch the Mind

Nothing says awe and mystery like the night sky. And though today's city lights keep most people from enjoying this starry-domed spectacle, we can still reconnect with it through visits to darkened plains and deserts, planetariums and views through telescopes, spacecraft and the images they send us. Looking to outer space and all that it contains is the same as looking back in time, where over 12 billion years of cosmic history can be viewed and studied. In this class we learn about major stars and constellations, their backgrounds and patterns, moons and planets and their characteristics. We'll also locate and view with binoculars and telescopes many of the Messier objects---fuzzy patches of illuminated gas and dust, clusters of stars and even other galaxies. Nothing too complicated or
technical here, this class is mostly just visual entertainment, a deep and profound look into the mystery out there and our connection to it. Because it is, after all, the original place of our birth.

A Billion Years in a Day: A Real Life Journey through Natural History.

The story of the Earth, with all its various rock layers---packed one on top of another like books stacked in vertical columns---tells the history of life as we know it...life's beginnings, its changes and stages, evolutionary developments and leaps, splits and extinctions...this is the lineage of life and its many interconnections...this is human history, your ancestry. This class naturally follows the story of the living Earth too, its major tectonic plates and faults, landforms and features and the dynamic processes occurring throughout time, even now. The hallmark of this class is that you'll not only learn about your evolution from element to human, you'll also connect with it---mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually---in this primarily outdoor study. In this class we will visit rock sequences ranging in age from over a billion years ago to now, layers of rock laid down during the major advances of life's evolution, from late Precambrian times through major periods of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and early Cenozoic eras. This outdoor study is about direct observation and connection, seeing first-hand the sequences and processes that got us to where we are now. Be prepared to think long and big, because in this class(room) there's a lot of life and time to wrap your mind around.

Exercise in Expression: Fitness for the Soul

Life demands that we absorb information from our world, whether directly from our environment and the people around us, or from secondary sources like books, movies, TV, music, you name it. And with all this information coming in, something has to come out, but how? Writing, journaling, poetry and prose... painting, drawing, photography and video...music, singing, acting and dancing...there are many ways we can express ourselves. In this class you will explore, play with and discover the many ways you can express yourself. Expression is necessary for healing and good health, it encourages and allows us to process all the information we take in and to
release the consequent emotional energy that otherwise builds-up. Expressing ourselves allows others to know and understand who we are and what we think, encouraging better communication and sharing and helping to foster healthy relationships. Few rules and lots of playtime here, the point is to find your favorite voice and let it out!

Discovery on the Edge:  Explorations on the reEvolution of Thought

Great ideas throughout time...ideas that have changed the world...ideas that direct the way humans think and live...ideas very practical and down to Earth...ideas of the highest fancy and imagination...from pure dreaming to workable engineering, this class will explore a variety of thoughts, philosophies and ideas throughout time from a variety of cultures. And in doing so we'll also consider the big picture: how ideas affect us both personally and collectively, how ideas shape culture and human evolution, how ideas come and go, and how the best ideas, perhaps even the truest, come back around again. From artists and philosophers to shamans and scientists, no idea is off-limits for consideration in this class. Come prepared for some heavy reading and discussion, as the topics and disciplines are endless. So put on your thinking cap and leave your dogma at the door...it's time to explore!

The Fine Art of Dreaming 101 and Beyond

Envisioning your future, creating the life you want, finding your path and making your dreams come true...that's what this class is all about. What some might call goal-setting or high aspirations or big ambitions, this class calls dreaming, thus challenging us to transcend conditioned limits, to dig deep and reach out to our greatest imagination. In this class you'll take everything you've learned in all the other classes and apply your mind to its fullest potential. This one is about recognizing, cultivating and realizing the awesome power of your imagination. No bones about it, align the best of your dreams with the greater collective purpose, and yours will, somehow, happen. No sweat here, this class is passed with a single key...Practice!
Student requirements: Young adults ages 16-19 (give or take a few) who:

1) have voluntarily left traditional high school and seek alternative education, or
2) have been expelled from traditional high school for marijuana use/possession, or
3) have a high school diploma/GED and are considering college or what to do next, and
4) have a very strong desire to improve their self and their world.

Entrance requirements: All candidates will be interviewed prior to acceptance and take a written test to ensure a proper student-teacher fit. (12 students are accepted in program per year)

Class Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11-4pm
(Students may join the instructor at 10am for morning practice.)

Tuition: Sliding Scale (average $5,000/year)

Grading: While much feedback will be offered as to student progress, no formal grades are given.

Assignments: Work and study is mostly self-directed. Various assignments and projects (practical, "real world" and studend-motivated) will be expected outside the classroom. Whenever applicable, do extra-credit assignment as much as possible.

Rules: Mutual respect, fair give and take, honest expression, freedom and responsibility go hand-in-hand here, violent and intrusive behavior is NOT tolerated (though constructive/consensual outlets for aggressive energies may be explored under sportsmanlike circumstances)

Degree Offered:  What you get out depends on what you put in. No sheepskin given. Your portfolio will say it all. An honest evaluation along with a letter of recommendation may be given depending on your effort and involvement in a final major class project, the nature of which will be determined at the year's outset.

After going over the syllabus and answering a few questions, Doc said, "Ok, there you have it. The underlying intent of this class is about exploring and improving your self and your world beyond the usual bounds. Thank you for your attention. Class dismissed!"

Ding.

Ding.
Holoergonomics

Holoergonomics is the study of the design and workings of the Cosmos as a whole unit and the relationship of human beings within it.  The discipline seeks to understand the overall characteristics and dynamics of Nature and the underlying processes of Creation within the framework of holistic science and holographic principles. Holoergonomics is primarily concerned with repeating patterns of structure and behavior which emerge both temporally (over the history of cosmic evolution) and spatially (between various size scales of matter and life, macro to microscopic). Through this study, holoergonomics seeks to understand how humans best fit within the larger context of their environment and ultimately harmonize the human-environment relationship. By its very nature within the larger picture and process of Creation, holoergonomics is itself both an art and science.

A Major Course Study in Holoergonomics

For those wishing to study holoergonomics and gain a further understanding of its approach and offerings, seven interrelated courses have been developed. The seven courses are based on the East Indian chakra system of mind, whereby each course is associated with one of the seven chakras. Thus the coursework's foundation reflects the holistic nature of existence, that is, the development of the individual organism within the greater Cosmic Organism. From base to crown, the courses progress as follows:

Paradise Theatre: Myth and Mythmaking in Movies

In our time, film is the great conveyor of mythology, the storyteller of the modern age. Through both film viewing and discussion, along with a look at the history and background of filmmaking, this class provides a greater understanding of both the role of the movie in mythmaking as well as the power of myth in the human experience. This class presents films in multiple genres, both popular and cult classics, documentary and fantasy, comedy and drama, as well as films old and new. In addition to the films themselves, we'll a take peek at great filmmakers  and actors, characters and archetypes,