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ABOUT BOTH SIDES NOW
Both Sides Now got its name from the title of a popular song of the late ’60s by Joni Mitchell. (The most played version was by Judy Collins.) In that song the writer tells of a conflict between two views of life and the world: the harsh "realities" versus idealistic "illusions." In the song Joni's friends thought her strange because her mind kept turning to the world of illusions.
Through the ages, wise ones have told us that reality is indeed in the realm of spirit, and it is the physical world which is an illusion. In the 20th century leading edge physicists have confirmed what mystics have been telling us along. They have shown that what we think of as the physical world is the dance of molecular energy taking recognizable form.
With this as a basis for its thinking, BSN sees itself as a bridge between worldviews. We have a world of events and a world of ideas. In one way or another, many people are aware that these worlds are undergoing great and bewildering changes. BSN has taken on the challenge of surveying these worlds, attempting to see connections between seemingly unrelated factors, and making some kind of sense out of cultural chaos. It's a tall order.
Although this may sound "highbrow," BSN puts things in plain talk and does not take itself too seriously. Mingled with the more serious items, one will find satire, humor, and cartoons as well as spiritually uplifting material. When we refer to ourselves as lightworkers and peacemakers it is because we not only see what is wrong in the world, but also seek ways of making it a healthier and less violent place. This calls for a radical change in the way we view spirituality and politics, with spiritual values having priority. We hasten to note that this does not imply the intrusion of sectarian religion into partisan politics which we are seeing today. Rather, it is the application of universal ideals of integrity, reverence, and justice to all relationships on the planet.
INSIDE THE PAGES - The kinds of material you will find in BSN include editorials, informational articles, spiritual teachings, think-pieces, reviews, letters, fiction, poetry, and artwork. Some of the themes include spirituality and religion, politics, nonviolence and peacemaking, social awareness, philosophy, health, ecology, wisdom teachings, media and culture, networking information, and much more. The unifying theme is that BSN takes an alternative view from that of the mass (commercial) culture and its media.