A Pall Hangs Over New Age Convention

Generally, I don’t like my consciousness raised, altered or otherwise modified.

I try to imbibe my reality straight. Accordingly, I don’t wear sunglasses, read cover stories in alternative weeklies, or take Ted Leitner seriously.

But I’m still attracted to the Whole Life Expo at the San Diego Convention Center this weekend. If cosmic kvetching were energy, there should be enough candlepower there to light (or levitate) the entire county.

Check out the headliners:

Among them are Timothy Leary, Terry Cole-Whittaker, Kevin Ryerson (one of Shirley MacLaine’s “trance channels”), thanatologist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and Cherokee medicine man Rolling Thunder (former spiritual adviser to Bob Dylan).

The whole New Age battalion will be present: the UFO specialists, the psychics, the spoon-benders, the out-of-body crowd, the past-lifers, the self-realizers, the crystal power believers, the electro-magnetic healers, and more.

In all, 125 speakers and 300 exhibitors. Karma, of course, does not come cheaply.

Admission will be $12 a day, $25 for a four-day pass. A workshop package ranges from $32.50 to $145.

I talked to Rolling Thunder. He’s 73 and lives in the wilds of northeast Nevada.

He believes in dream analysis more devoutly than anyone except the FBI agent in “Twin Peaks.” He sees a future so dire he recommends the immediate evacuation of San Diego and Los Angeles.

“The air, earth and water are dying,” he said.

He has issued similar jeremiads in the past. Angered over the arrest of a Shoshone for killing a deer out of season, he predicted in 1968 that a doomsday storm would wipe out the white man.

This time he feels more confident in his prediction.

He arrived to stay with friends and followers in Campo just as the malathion spraying commenced over El Cajon:

“Poison from the sky. It’s a bad sign.”

As I said, wisdom is where you find it.

Politics, Politics . . .

Political follies.

* It’s been a busy week for Rep. Jim Bates (D-San Diego).

He called Encinitas racist, declared a “state of emergency” in City Heights and began television commercials accusing reelection opponent Byron Georgiou of unspecified scandal without offering proof.

Comment: I love the thoughtful, high-road approach to public service.

* Fay McGrath, candidate for the Republican nomination in the 75th Assembly District, doesn’t have money for television commercials.

Instead, she’s hired a sound truck, decorated it red, white and blue, and hopes to draw crowds with John Philip Sousa music and free ice cream.

Her slogan: “I survived five teen-age daughters. I’m ready for Willie Brown and Moammar Kadafi.”

* San Francisco Dist. Atty. Arlo Smith brings his campaign for the Democratic nomination for attorney general to San Diego today.

He’s got a 5 p.m. press conference at Fat City to explain why he opposes the SDG&E-Edison; merger. And, to make nasty allegations about why his opponent, L.A. Dist. Atty. Ira Reiner, is neutral.

* State Treasurer Tom Hayes comes to town next week for a fund-raiser.

His opponent for the Republican nomination is Bay Buchanan, younger sister of columnist Pat. The top Democrat is Kathleen Brown, younger sister of former governor Jerry.

Maybe that explains why Hayes drinks coffee from a mug that says, “I’m Nobody’s Little Sister.”

The Price of Atmosphere

A $39-a-night hotel in downtown San Diego promises “European charm.”

Translation: the bathrooms are down the hall.