"chief chaos officer" - interview with willi paul, principle of planetshifter.com by alexis thompson, stories to change the world

Willi Paul is the long-term publisher of permaculture related stories and now brings "sound mythology" to the progressive interwebs.

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Who should read PlanetShifter.com and what will they get out of it?

Everybody!! Including your neighbors, 5th graders, compost pilers and Trump!

We've been following each other's work for a couple years now, and this is the first time I've gotten into your audio work as The Chaos Era. It's very interesting. What are you hoping to accomplish with this work?

I am always trying new things, hoping to break out of my own box; experience another dimension and continue to enhance my posts with sounds. I am especially enjoying my investigation of sound archetypes and the many sound myths that have erupted to date. I found the space between consciousness and the unconscious a very cool space to work.

Are there other creators producing Sound Mythology in a similar way?

This is an emerging sector and I have few collaborators. I have included historical references where I found them.

Some of the building blocks of the sound myth language include:

* Text / Graphic Symbols
* Noise / Samples
* Sound Symbol
* Nature sounds
* Sound / Text Metaphors
* Artifacts
* Environmental & Sound Archetypes
* Soundscapes (often in stages)

I like this explanation:

Archetype and Sound Archetype: a constantly recurring symbol, sound or motif in literature, music, painting, or mythology that works at the dream and sub-conscious - conscious boundary (source) that drives fears, joys and imagination. Is it a matter of debate as to whether archetypes can be changed (or added) since pre-historic time.

I believe that archetypes are malleable forces, often era-centric and their interaction can help support the evolution of human values and our experience together.

Archetypes are sound segways and emotive connectors.

How are you hoping to expand this work?

It is expanding. And I am always looking to work with others.

Inspired by "Permaculture Willi and the New Town Square", a video you have available on YouTube, I wonder where does your heart find its Town Square in 2018?

My town square is a dynamic, spiritual duality: it's in my heart and in my studio in Burlingame, CA. I work in both spaces locally and globally each day.

Stories to Change the World publishes work from people of color, youth, and informed optimists. You present yourself with that critical eye that is necessary in order to be informed. Do you consider yourself an optimist?

Thank you. I have a long way to go on social bias issues. No, not an optimist, really. I just get up and work as smart and dedicated to my principles as I can. I share. My new myths are how I see the future in our Chaos Era.

In an article titled: "What to do about Near-Term Human Extinction?" you listed "Paydown debt" as one of many tactics. Can you elaborate on how paying debt will be beneficial as we look extinction in the eye?

Reducing our dependency on a morally corrupt and time-worn Capitalist system makes good sense to me.

What are some technologies that you believe could increase carrying capacity? Why are they such high-risk investments?

Well, first off technology won't save us. Secondly, we must wrench the alternative technologies away from the old toxic corporate masters and their control over our resources to make a new world. We are at in the climate-change apocalypse now. High risk is us.

Why can't we focus on the technologies that we can share we our neighbors?

I was drawn to The Teenager's Guide to Permaculture, a free eBook you provide at planetshifter.com. How are folks using or reacting to that book?

It has gotten a ton of reads. As with most of visions and posts, I can't stop and talk too much about one piece. It's on to the next song and the next tweet.

Is there any way that "The Hillsborough Alliance for Local Food Security" could become a reality?

Maybe. I walk up there every day. Between the handy men, the gardeners and the baby sitters, I often get a hello from the rich folk walking their dogs. Their lawns are often the size of the State of New Jersey!

Which sustainable traditions have you been able to keep alive in your own life?

I am supporting Jacki Saorsail's beta test and excellent vision at Regenerative Dynamics.com and will bring the following new Regenerative Principles and Values to my new willipaul.studio. The Studio's design values are forged with "community first" and shares priorities from the permaculture with the transition towne movements. I put Nature and sustainability first.

Purpose-driven Decision Making - Make every decision in service of an inspirational purpose.

Conscious Leadership - Cultivate awareness with resiliency.

Transparency and Accountability - Update budget and deliverables throughout the project life cycle.

Community Investment & Networking - Connecting clients with the larger movement.

Connecting Local to Global Solutions - Support neighborhoods and build up.

Who is on the PlanetShifter.com team?

The PlanetShifter.com network is deep, organic and growing daily. It includes:

5 Primary Websites -

http://willipaul.studio
https://www.planetshifter.com /
http://communityalchemy.com
https://soundcloud.com/the_chaos_era
https://independent.academia.edu/WilliPaul1

3 Twitter accounts -

https://twitter.com/PermacultureXch
https://twitter.com/openmythsource
https://twitter.com/planetshifter

2 Primary Facebook Pages -
https://www.facebook.com/william.paul1
https://www.facebook.com/OpenMythSource/

Google+
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+WilliPaul

YouTube -
https://tinyurl.com/yaqabr3s

Willi's LinkedIn Groups -

Regenerative Mythology
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13600876

New Mythology, Permaculture & Transition
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/5080106

Global Associates -

Permies.com
https://permies.com/u/169745/Willi-Paul

Permaculture Research Institute
https://permacultureglobal.org/users/204-willi-paul

If you could pick just one thing to say to the world, what would it be?

As a young adult, my life was torn apart many times due to bi-polar experiences. I have finally made peace with genie thru invaluable medical and family support. No matter what the challenge that you may face, you and I can overcome it and join our brothers and sisters on the loving path.