Dialogues with Derek

"What is the foundation of civilization? Is it science, bloodline, technology, military? The sci-fi story Arrival, the book by Ted Chiang and 2016 film directed by Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part One and Part Two), offers an intriguing solution to this riddle...Language. To understand these enigmas of language, we must drill down deeper than the level of linguistic technicalities. When we arrive at the end of our excavation, we will have unearthed a most surprising discovery, bigger than the Arrival story, deeper than language itself."

Excerpts from the essay 'Arrival & The Universal Language' by Derek J Fiedler originally published on the Symbolic World website, which is hosted by Jonathan Pageau.

This essay is part of a larger project exploring the deeper meaning of Arrival. The first book, Arrival & Exodus, will be released on 11.11. Be 1-of-12 to own the handmade deluxe edition.

I have made a PDF version available for my Substack subscribers. Thank you for your support and joining the journey.

If you are interested in becoming a member, click the button below:

Watch more Arrival analysis podcasts and essays - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHxBkl6ci7xfHKFgypaXyAVfAw5Bl4cKc

I want to create a (more concise) video version of this essay with clips from the film and animation. However, I don't have great editing skills. Do you know a video editor interested in collaborating? Reach out, let's do this.

Colin is reviving the art of binding books by hand. He shares his process for crafting readable works of art and starting his company, Sylvan Bookwarks: visit the substack Sylvan Bookworks. Colin Miller and Derek reveal a secret book project, The Symbolism of Arrival: Exodus.

Relevant Links

- How Colin bound the Arrival book - https://sylvanbookworks.substack.com/p/arrival-february-20

- Sylvan Bookwarks Substack: https://sylvanbookworks.substack.com/

- Watch conversations about the story 'Arrival': https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHxBkl6ci7xfHKFgypaXyAVfAw5Bl4cKc

- Symbolic World Summit: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit

- Collins astounding Wood-Bead art piece video:

Listen to more quality conversations from the Dialogues with Derek podcast:

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Author, Podcast Host, Role-Playing Game Designer, Seraphim Richard Rohlin tells the tales of rescuing Snow White with Jonathan Pageau, the origins of their Universal History podcast, Star Wars and the ‘myth of evolutionism’, and the deep meaning of the Medieval Model and other themes from C.S. Lewis's last published work 'The Discarded Image'. 

Read Derek's notes and quotes from 'The Discarded Image'.

Relevant Links

* Watch Rohlin, Fiedler, DeGraide, & Kotar round-table discussion on making modern myths.

* Get your Symbolic World Summit ticket before they sell out: https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit

* S.R. Rohlin's YouTube Channel

Philosopher and Cultural Commentator, James Kourtides, returns to the Dialogues with Derek podcast to discuss what to expect in 2024, apocalyptic moments, towers of babel, using chaos as potential for transformation, and the two of the most powerful things you can do in 2024 to give you “eschatological optimism” in the shadow of the apocalypse.

Watch the video version on the Derek J Fiedler YouTube Channel and access Derek’s notes below.

Read Derek’s personal notes from the conversation:

Meet James and Derek in Florida! Get your Symbolic World Summit ticket before they sell out - https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit

J.P. Marceau and Derek discuss J.P.'s upcoming course and book, how J.P. overcame zombie nightmares, and the opportunity to meet in person for the first time at the Symbolic World Summit on Feb 29, 2024.

J.P.'s new course - https://thesymbolicworld.com/news/symbolic-world-metaphysics-course-with-jp-marceau

Get your Symbolic World Summit ticket before they sell out - https://thesymbolicworld.com/summit

Watch the video version of the podcast.

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​Jonathan Pageau shares stories from his pilgrimage to Mount Athos in Greece with his son and father - including legends and mysteries of vanishing icons, ancient 12th century manuscripts, rites of passage, and wonder-working relics.

Jonathan also gives some of the behind-the-scene action from his latest project 'Snow White and the Widow Queen' - visit the Kickstarter campaign. As well as announcing exciting developments like the Symbolic World Press and the Symbolic World Magazine - check out the website for more, thesymbolicworld.com

Derek shared his personal insights from the conversation. You can view Derek’s notes for free:

If you enjoyed this conversation, you might like to listen to previous conversations with Jonathan and Derek.

Neil DeGraide of Dirt Poor Robins joins the channel to announce his newest EP 'Prelude to Firebird' featuring the track 'To the Heights' and give insight to the writing process with his co-writer and wife, Kate DeGraide. We get into profound topics like the purpose and problems of modern music making, AI deep faking, analog, societal control, the bargain of compliance, the two sides of fragility, and more.

"People are exhausted, disconnected, and disenchanted. My goal is to help people connect to deeper meaning that stabilizes them to not get tossed to and fro by the waves of change. This record gives more hope than anything we've ever done." - Neil DeGraide

You can read Derek’s personal notes from the conversation here:

Relevant Links

* dirtpoorrobins.com

* Prelude to Firebird - Listen on Spotify

* Dirt Poor Robins YouTube channel @dirtpoorrobins 

* 'Queen of the Night' silent film - watch film for free

* Derek's film essays of Queen of the Night

* More Neil + Derek conversations

* Roundtable discussion on Myth-making with Neil, Derek, Nicholas Kotar, and Richard Rohlin

James Kourtides gets Derek to open up about his most profound spiritual moments - mountain-top transformations, good/bad psychedelic trips, bargaining with succubi, guided trip with a medicine woman in Huatla de Jimenez, and enrapturing prayer.

Watch the Conversation

YouTube video podcast of James interviewing Derek

Relevant Links

* Watch/listen to the full conversation over at James YouTube Channel.

* Listen and watch all of Derek and James conversations.

* Ground Zero for the psychedelic movement, Huautla de Jimenez. Maria Sabina, The Mexican medicine woman that hipped America to magic mushrooms.

If you dare, join Derek’s merry band of subscribers

Matthieu shares new insights his upcoming books and from 'The Language of Creation' (2018). In this rare conversation, Matthieu discuss deep symbolism in Scripture and opens up about his life, living off-grid in a yurt in Northern Canada in winter.

Watch the Conversation

You can watch the video version of the conversation at Derek’s YouTube Channel.

Listen on Podcasting Platforms

Essential Links

Matthieu's book: 'The Language of Creation' - https://www.amazon.com/Language-Creation-Symbolism-Genesis-Commentary/dp/1981549331

* Derek's commentary on 'The Language of Creation' - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHxBkl6ci7xeqmA7giy9EonpgA9dO8TT0

* Podcast w/ Matthieu's brother Jonathan Pageau on Symbolism & Sexuality -

* Podcast w/ Matthieu's comment on initiation - Symbolic Directions with a Cosmic Compass

* Podcast discussing Matthieu’s Unpublished Writings on Music

* Cormac Jones 'Cosmic Chiasmus' article - https://thesymbolicworld.com/articles/the-cosmic-chiasmus/

Derek’s Notes from the Interview with Matthieu Pageau

You can view Derek’s personal notes from the conversation in this post: