Who is Peter Kjærulff?


Peter Kjærullf is a music researcher. Alongside with many years´ research into the application of myth language and dream language in topics and texts within the realm of classical music, Peter Kjærulff has studied the human consciousness. PK feels so familiar with discussions about what is scientific and what is not, that he has come to the conclusion that the scientifically most responsible method to research the human consciousness, is to allow the object of research to determine its own course of research. Thus PK has let the consciousness tell its own story. The result of this approach is that his thesis, "THE RINGBEARER´S DIARY", the fruit of 36 years´ research, has the character of a novel. Or, to be more precise: the story has become a synthesis of earlier attempts of this same genre (to let the consciousness tell its own story), so that "built into the story" we find Homer´s "Ulysses", Dante´s "Divine Comedy", Mozart´s "Magic Flute", Wagner´s "Ring of the Nibelung" and Tolkien´s "Lord of the Rings" - and an abundance of other mythological, religious and philosophical contexts.

This kind of research demands a particular method: you must be able to listen, discern and listen yet again. If the human consciousness is the object of exploration, the natural and obvious condition is that the researcher uses his own consciousness as an instrument of research (he makes choices, applies the span of his insight when conclusions must be drawn, etc.). Peter Kjærulff has made the choice to go all the way: to use his own experiences as the starting point of his research - fully knowledgeable that this will probably raise critical voices (however, such voices are raised anyway). As no university exists that explores the consciousness by listening to the consciousness (at least not in Denmark), PK has himself been obliged to respect the scientific rules of his area of research. This has required courage, as this method will probably lead to a future exclusion from official scientific acknowledgement of the results of the author´s research. But, as PK says - in the hope that someday someone will agree: a scientific sense of responsibility can well be observed - also outside the bounds of the universities.

Courage was likewise needed to write down the experiences that triggered the research - the journey through the human consciousness. In fact, these experiences are well beyond what can be accepted by official brain research - the experience of being able to remember previous lifetimes, etc. Nevertheless, PK does not think that the consciousness needs the approval of its experiences on behalf of official brain research, before such experiences can be taken seriously - before we may attempt - with our scientific responsibility intact - to listen to the experiences - on the conditions of the experiences themselves. As a researcher one cannot allow oneself to make shortcuts or circumvent what seems to be unpleasant, and  it will possibly be difficult for anyone besides PK himself to imagine what degree of consequence it takes to go ahead, when what you are about to write down holds experiences which - however you choose to observe it - cannot be classified as anything but the experience of having lived as actually well-known persons - Mozart, Shakespeare, Wagner, etc. etc.

PK says: When you explore the human consciousness, you cannot allow yourself the "luxury" of conceiling such details just because the current way of thinking relegates this kind of experience to immediate ridicule. Throughout historical time a lot of researchers have probably been ridiculed by people of their own time - but if besides this they have been responsible of their way of presenting their results, the laughter would be silenced sooner or later. Or, to put it differently (and here the saying is formulated that PK has distilled from his method of research): if a human being thinks a thought - it is only the respect offered the consciousness that thinks the thought that is capable of discerning from where the thought comes, and where it wants to go. Or, stated in another manner: once we begin to ridicule, we are unable to listen carefully. Also demagogic or insane thoughts can be revealed and understood in this way only - and if by this method one might be as lucky as to "come upon a goldmine" of fantastic, promising and deeply logical contexts - as PK claims to be his case - then it has been worthwhile in terms of courage and toil - no matter the attitude this "amateur research" may be met with on behalf of established scientific research (an amateur is a person, who feels love for his chosen object of attention).

PK was born in 1947. In 1966 he graduated in music and languages from Aurehøj Statsgymnasium in Copenhagen. In 1972 he concluded his four-year study at The Royal Danish Music Conservatory in Copenhagen with a diploma as a clarinettist, with piano as his second instrument and an orchestra conductor´s course in his pocket. In the following years he has in practice journeyed through and explored Danish musical life, with a special regard to the effect of music on the person who is not a professional musician. For a number of years, PK has sold musical records while doing his research; he has worked at Danmarks Radio and as a writer of articles on music - and during the last approx. 15 years, he has travelled extensively as a lecturer and leader of courses (people´s universities, public educational associations, etc.), sharing with many listeners his research results within the realms of both music and consciousness research - as well as the many areas where these two general topics overlap. Peter Kjærulff lives in Copenhagen with his wife and their two children. An updated calendar of his courses and lectures may be found at www.ringbearersdiary.com.

 

 

The Ringbearer’s Diary can now be ordered at Altre Menti Edizioni . The price of the book is € 30,10 plus postage. Please contact altrementi(at)altrementi.com for further details.


What is "The Ringbearer´s Diary"?
More about the contents of The Ringbearer's Diary
Introduction to The Ringbearer's Diary

The author's foreword "A few words before you start"
A message to all Tolkien-fans

A Letter to Eleven Nobel Prize Winners
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