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Yet there are redeeming things about The Da Vinci Code. Not least the idea of the God in Man, and the Sacred Feminine, without the awful weight of the Church. If that is a man’s real grail quest, I was very wanting and lost my quest. Unless modern consciousness cannot cope with such a desire for the sacred too, some sacred without a split consciousness, and in the story of Parsifal The Grail Castle is something else too. The knowledge in Man of how to cure the ‘God Wound’ of Childhood to adult consciousness, and bring back the really connected glories of being alive, united and whole, like some flourishing brook. Like the cup the wounded Fisher King cannot drink from unless Parisfal asks the healing question at the right time. He got lost for twenty years, before he knocked again on the doors of his own unconscious! Funny Parsifal, he was the weakest of all Knights.

It’s probably the funniest line in any movie, ever. It tops the famous “My Lord, my Lord, the hundred years war has begun.”The Da Vinci Code was the most atrociously written book, but it does have that page turning skill, despite non existent characterisation, and uses the technique of the growing riddle you just have to solve. You can do it in something as cerebral as a book. The film on the other hand was the most phenomenal flop, precisely because of those reasons. There was no real character in action, and so no convincing drama whatsoever. The actors really struggled and Paul Bethany, a really fine actor, as albino Silas is just pure comedy.

But the funniest line ever, in a film with no true dramatic tension? – “I HAVE TO GET TO A LIBRARY – FAST”.

Actually the truth of this to me is that moment Akela misses his kill in The Jungle Book and the ravening pack turns on him. Don’t miss your moment, hold your ground, and guard your ‘kill’, and your rights. Above all don’t let Alpha become Beta, by being too kind or too inclusive and know your true friends. We are not advanced enough yet to talk of bigger connections, while the duties we expect shown to us, we so often fail to show to others, so perhaps the world must be a battle, and in life’s fight of course things and others must be shut out. Just hope your are grown enough to know your full and best self, at the right time, and not miss your joy and real path.

I know what the problem is. In stories, fiction and fantasy, you can literally effect good miracles, if only in people’s hearts beyond the page, but it doesn’t change the reality around you. I can’t write the world or myself better than it is.

The drama The Man Who Put Hitler on Trial the other day was quietly and well done, both moving and frightening. But it was Hitler’s remark in the courtroom, taken from real transcripts, that was so interesting, fuming against why justice should be ‘blind‘. In fact, the statue of justice over the Old Bailey in London does not wear a blindfold at all, but the idea of blind justice has obvious reasons. Namely that justice must be some kind of abstract and absolute standard, wielding her sword both against high and low, without fear or favour. In fact, Hitler’s almost demonic desire to strip away the blindfold and root out the ‘illegal’ enemies of the state, reminds you of Sauron’s single eyed horror, some monstrous, all-controlling will, and of course led to real searchlights and real concentration camps. Hitler’s rise to power may have reflected some German zeitgeist, out of the state’s humiliation and economic collapse, the turmoil across Europe, but it was also an object lesson in political manipulation and simultaneous criminality and murder.

It was chilling how the drama showed the corruption of the independence of the German judiciary, and the absolute need for separation of Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. It is why here, in responding to recent riots, for instance, David Cameron may rightly give a clear political lead, but each case must be handled under the law, and through the intelligent independence of judges, trained in their profession. There may be guidelines to operate within, but they, no doubt with different modulations of compassion and sternness, of harshness and leniency, set the benchmark. Indeed, the process of the law itself can actually be a civilising thing.

‘It is only in the mysterious equations of love that any logic can be found.’ John Nash

Since we like to say what others won’t, this in from our newly appointed humour correspondent, who should of course be paying us, and admittedly has singularly resisted a posting to Libya, for the better jokes. It’s from friends in the US, sent from Virginia, with the tag that with the recent quake, the American Media went nuts, predicted thousands of deaths, and nuclear meltdowns alla Japan. See what sells a story – hysteria! With real respect for the world, and for the looming anniversary too, many of our good cousins do have a sense of humor, just like when they posted apologies about Bush’s election – ‘sorry, world’. Maybe we will be one planet, one day, united in courage, awareness and connected consciousness, and realise neither markets, nor quakes, quite respect borders, or plastic chairs.

PS Though we cannot compete, this entire blog, like a very good book, is actually a work of art!!! Keep trusting the storytellers.

It might be absurd that a blog that has included the failure of several relationships could blog such a top ten, but here goes!

1) You cannot predict the future, you can only enter things with the right intention. Trust yourself, unless you are nuts.

2) If something wrong happens never wear it as a life crisis, just say sorry and get on with it.

3) If therapy happens outside, never take that back into the relationship, leave it outside. On the other hand never go to a therapist, they are all nuts, or just trying to make a living and so keep you in expensive therapy, so they feel a little better.

4) If two people want to part ways, avoid the judging mirror, but acknowledge and respect each other too. What’s wrong with that? Co-dependency is a collapsing relationship where neither can grow, but all this is the ghastly language of therapy.

5) If the masculine tries to hold on too late it’s a disaster. (We know)

6) The deep feminine always seeks out the strong masculine to order its own feeling function and grow. Besides, sex is fun, or certainly should be, though boys should try not to wear girl’s underwear in public, unless they are Eddie Izzard.

7) All of us need to feel safe, but do not take too much for granted. If complete knowledge of what you both want is there, then you can perfectly trust and rely on each other. Surely happiness is just not worrying and getting on with creative life, but do try to get a proper job.

8) The lost masculine can turn tyrant in the face of the passive feminine and go very dark. Two pillars hold up the roof of a house and stand apart, mutually supportive. Kahlil Gibran is very beautiful, but he doesn’t tell very good jokes. (We do not know about the smiley face)

9) Dont talk about or analyse your relationship instead of having it, just keep having it, unless it’s too expensive or your teeth fall out. Always try to shock Americans, though try to be nice too, they really are charmed by the funny British accent.

10) If there is some big secret you feel a partner will not understand, try stopping and asking yourself if they might very well understand, but dont seek to invade everything either. If necessary share it elsewhere, just not with a therapist or your own publisher.

11) (We lied) Get a life.

Isn’t it a fundamental irony that Phoenix Ark Press should be using the very medium it is so sceptical of. Personally, although there is some merit in eBooks, and the stories being told and heard are what count, I far prefer well done, real books and reading them. Needs must, but we also need educating about what the internet is for, and its enormous disconnections and problems, especially the young. The dangers of the supposedly social connected world have just been highlighted by an investigation into ‘Smart Phones’ and how easy it is to hack into everything you say. I found it better to deal with that by just trying to tell the truth! But perhaps there is an enormous cynicism and failure of trust and actually honour everywhere, that is enormously dangerous. One story that highlighted it for me last year was when I had being talking to a friend about possible work. I was under pressure and pressed him on some kind of promise and it turned out he had taped an entire conversation on his phone, when we had been having a perfectly casual dinner together, over a pint. Besides, I had never intimated anything was set in stone anyway. I found it quite extraordinary and actually sinister. Maybe you can’t be an innocent in the modern world, but what the hell are we doing to one another? If life is about friendships, connection and people, maybe the old phrase in terms of some technologies should be ‘only disconnect!‘ At least then we wouldn’t bore you here. DCD