So the thing about us using only 10% of our brain is a myth, but there definitely are things that our poor little noggins just cannot grasp. Infinity is always the first thing that comes to mind for me, like the concept of Neverending--even though the concept of death, the complete cease of existence, is just as irrational. Surely one of those so-called unused bits of brain holds that ability to understand.
Hence the "agnostic shrug". Thanks for this Mary. It seems like we would ALL benefit mightily from a collective dialing down of certainty about ... well, everything. For a primer on this edge of this particular topic, I highly recommend a book from Alan Watts called 'The Wisdom Of Uncertainty'. It's wonderful!
I am you, you are me. I feel that’s why the synchronicities during this time are so aligned and poignant. Because we are tapping into the same source. The source of all of Us. We.
About 6 months ago I had a dream about the “WE” movement.
I was standing in the middle of a crowd of all kinds of peoples.
We were all coming to the knowledge of what has been done to us as people, and WE were taking a stand for what is True! And that was/ is that
WE are not against each other! And that WE had/ have been aimed against one another in order for the kings of the Earth to gain/ keep absolute control.
Interconnection is remarkable at the very least and continually intriguing; however, I do believe the ability and capacity to embrace it falls short on far too many.
Thank you Brandon for sharing your thoughts and introspections, really enjoying your writings as always. Reading this passage along with the others made me feel oddly at peace - with all the thinking about not knowing and knowing others have deeply pondered such a question without knowing the exact answers. The piece of togetherness in that exists so deeply. In the floundering of life, the in between moments of living and forgetting what it feels like to be alive in as so much as when not being fully present, when one can snap back into the knowingness of being human- it feels like a ride with too many adjectives to name. I can’t help but dwell in the unknowns sometimes, more mystery than truths in the days we are meant to exist in this body, in this place and time. To be ok with that in the midst of finding it terrifying at the same time can make one deeply appreciate that we as human beings can even feel and sense what we do (most of the time). And to top it off, as it is, that we are all here so magnificently placed together on a single livable planet gliding through space (in the Virgo supercluster of galaxies) filled with stars, planets and galaxies beyond which we will never know intimately as our own or reach. Perhaps this is all a quest. There’s an open book and we get to fill it in.
These are good questions that you ask: is there another species (older version) from the past that has evolved and is founded on interconnectedness? And you're questioning what's really going on and looking beyond the surface. I do believe everyone is interconnected, but we are experiencing things separately, as we are individuals, each are made up of a different combination of genes and have had different childhoods and experiences - and this is also where our egos come from. Sometimes, though, we get glimpses of this interconnectedness. I'd like to believe that there is another species that is less egocentric that can teach us to go in the direction of collective consciousness, or that we will eventually progress to that.
I once took a trip to the other side (NDE). The consciousness was there like a steady beat of a drum. I had to search where it was coming from. Standing in the beautiful field just listening to the beat. Strange that the beat was so pulling it's all I felt. I ended up back here. I believe it's the energy that brings the beat! I searched, now I'm here again still searching and learning. I think, consciousness in a wide way is freedom to drift. Could you ever sit in total silence and darkness and if so what do you think would arise? Would you have fears, or would it be pure bliss? In doing this, would we find that oneness within the space that separates us. Could you imagine a silence while looking at the stars on a beautiful night. Maybe much like our ancestors did without all the lights and noise we now have. Just laying there without words and knowing the vibe of things around you. There are too many questions to answer so I just drift in the learning and creativity and see where it goes. Enjoy your day! One more question, why do humans always wonder about where we came from? Do frogs wonder the same or any other animal for that matter.
Lol at the extraterrestrials’ beauty certifications. And interesting point that our biggest fears are indeed a projection of our own worst impulses onto the would-be foreigners to our planet.
I was watching a documentary style episode on Octopuses recently, and was reminded of what is touched on here; we humans take for granted our self-gifted status as the most “intelligent” creatures on earth. I repeatedly have and continue to wonder, by which measurement? There are beings that can perform mind-numbingly beautiful tricks unattainable to us humans. Looking at this one cephalopod as an example, with its ability to seamlessly assimilate itself with its background with both textural and chromatic camouflage (something we humans would in fact look quite “dumb” attempting ourselves), how is this not seen as an incredibly intelligent feat? While it’s not directly applicable or necessary for us to have this skill, the potential in the animal kingdom to evolve such survival skills makes me think that, given enough time, any being could and will evolve to survive in its prospective domain. Perhaps consciousness is just one such survival skill, giving us a leg up over those violent, savage beasts from which we desperately need to protect our young. I suppose one could argue that consciousness is the most useful survival tool, but maybe that’s only for the time being. What we do with it may determine the outcome of our species.
“To whom much is given much is tested.” Hope we don’t completely fuck it up (:
“Hence the need to accept the notion that there is more going on here than we might have the capacity to understand.”
One may balk at the idea of an octopus, or an ant, or a speck of dust, containing a level of intelligence parallel or at all relatable to our own. “For heaven's sake they can’t comprehend interstellar travel or self-driving cars!” But I’m left wondering if that makes them somehow less magical or relevant in this vast and incomprehensible universe. I think only time will tell.
With regard to different iterations of consciousness witnessing itself, what if, (and perhaps with certainty) the intelligence of the next iteration, the ones who came before, and/or the ones who exist somewhere out there, is something incomprehensible to our brains in their current evolutionary state, or our current collective consciousness? What if there existed a world where a creature’s ability to camouflage is what determined intellectual superiority? Poor lieutenant Dan wouldn’t stand a chance. Ok, enough with the octopus analogies. But it seemed to help me explain myself.
Digression is to be expected whilst speculating about consciousness and oneness! I ask, what do you imagine previous versions of this expression of consciousness might be like? A rudimentary version of us? The opposite? Something unimaginable and wild? Many beings? One being? And, with regard to the axiom of interconnectedness and whether or not it would still apply to us (if I’m reading that correctly), my question is, what factors would point to it no longer applying ? Does interconnectedness have a tipping point? Does consciousness effectively separate us from beings unable to self-reflect? Maybe, but unless we can get our ish together and actually use this one gift that seems to “separate” us from the unconscious beyond self-absorbed preoccupations like social status or the stroking of our collective human ego about how great we are, then I can’t help but think we are somehow dropping the ball on our current dot in the space-time continuum. Maybe the octopuses will pick it up for us (damnit, I did it again)!
I love the “agnostic shrug” descriptor. But also love that, although that can be done, here we all are, discussing the impossible-to-know unknown, relentlessly motivated in our desire to connect, discuss, and know. More, more, more please!
Hey Shay, I love your questions and observations in this thread. In regards to your first query; I completely agree that it feels absurd to anoint ourselves the most intelligent of all known species. We invented the metric of how that is measured, (brain to body mass ratio) and I am sure that it is fungible to certain degrees and also fairly certain that it does have some salience, scientifically speaking. But as far as I can tell, it is a "terrestrial" based observation. What of the possibility of inter or extra-dimensional forms of life? Being that we have so little, if any experience with these forms of consciousness, how can we have an accurate metric of intelligence writ large? There is another, vastly interesting conversation to have about our potential interactions, historically, with these variations on consciousness. One that is tied at the hip to age-old trance states, religious practices, entheogenic rituals, etc. I have been fascinated by "access" to these potential realms my entire life and I honestly think Art is a window or even an attic door into these domains.
I also really like your idea about consciousness being an evolutionary adaptation! Though I am officially at the limits of my knowledge on these topics, I do enjoy flirting at the edge of our collective understanding. Thank you!
‘ Hence the need to accept the notion that there is more going on here than we might have the capacity to understand. And again with the agnostic shrug.’
This is my conclusion every night I look into a clear sky and find ‘my smudge’ aka the Pleiades. Realizing that many of those stars have planets of their own—in this universe, not to mention the billions of other universes in existence. That those stars and said planets are probably long dead and gone, just given the speed of light, we’re just seeing history.
We-humans- are so infinitesimal in this vastness. Is that terrifying? Does it give me peace? Is there another being out there that has called my beloved smudge, their own? So many questions, and my feelings shift night to night.
Alas, the conclusion that we’re alone in this existence? My brain cannot do the mental gymnastics to make sense of that notion. That in, and of itself, is so humbling.
I can relate to how you said your feelings shift night to night. It's nice to know I'm not alone. And how you described your perspective that your inability to comprehend aloneness (or not) as humbling instead of frustrating (which is how I can sometimes leave those thoughts), brings me peace. Thank you for sharing.
Some years ago, iirc, at least once, Brandon shared a picture on his instagram of the physical copy of a 'book' (it's not very long) called Illusions by Mabel Collins. I ordered a copy and eventually I guess you could say I became obsessed with it in a way. Some of the ideas it contained I had encountered before (e.g., reincarnation), while others I had not. Some of it 'went in one ear and out the other' until re-reading a long time later, when it suddenly struck me as something I had better start internalizing.
The "Illusions" referred to by the title are summarized briefly on one of the pages as follows:
ILLUSIONS
Illusion 1 - That man is imprisoned in the body.
Illusion 2 - That the Unborn are unknown.
Illusion 3 - That there is any secret in the mind or memory of man.
Illusion 4 - That the earth exists apart from man.
Illusion 5 - That Nature is indifferent to Man.
Note - "Illusions" was apparently published in 1905. There's a movie starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson called "Dead Again", and in it a character played by Robin Williams says something like, "there's a whole lot more people in this world that believe in reincarnation than don't", or something close to that. That always stuck with me. I haven't had a whole lot of conversations in my lifetime about it with other people, so I don't really have much of a grasp on even what people who have 'run in my circles' as it were believe.
One of my very favorite novels that I have ever read is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, a book in which reincarnation is a theme. I seem to recall reading (or watching?) a group interview of some of the cast of the Cloud Atlas movie that was made, in which they were asked if they believed in reincarnation. Somewhat to my surprise, my recollection is that they almost uniformly answered with a flat no. When something becomes strongly enough a part of ones own world view, you can start to take it as 'axiomatic' and be caught off guard by the views of others who don't see life/things the same way. In the case of reincarnation, I personally find it somewhat alarming to hear it dismissed.
Think, for example, of the case of global warming. Suppose it to be true that most or all of us will be re-born on Earth at some point and some place in the future after death. Suppose we knew that now in our present lifetime.
If the idea of reincarnation is hard for some to swallow, wait until one tries Illusion 3 (as mentioned above) on for size!
"Tell us the truth, but tell it to us gently, lest we all go blind...."
Suppose you had life experiences consistent with ideas set forth in Illusions. Suppose you could 'prove' something to people that's never been proven.
Sean Young from Ace Ventura voice:
"Well that's a very entertaining story, but unfortunately real detectives have to worry about that little thing called (sneering) .. evidence."
(I realize that movie hasn't aged well in a certain respect - another thing about Illusions that is relevant!)
The Amazing Randi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi) came and went and I imagine that fact alone is probably enough for some to shut their minds to certain possibilities.
Suppose you could prove something to people that's never been proven, but suppose the 'proof' is of a sort that is long. Suppose you are a "nobody". Could you get anyone to listen? To even hear you out? (Spoiler alert: so far - no). Who would/could/should you tell? What if the truth itself is in some ways, to borrow a phrase, "inconvenient"? What if it's incredible?
What's really going on here?
For anyone who might read this comment who is interested in reading Illusions, it is available to read online for free here:
In my current process of healing, I'm coming to terms with how our realities are so personal and constructed by and through our own limitations. Finding ways through and beyond these limitations, for me, is the (your) big question: What's really going on here? Specifically, how can I unlock those parts of my brain that have gone dormant in my depression and anxiety? Deviating from the historical path and finding new ways to approach and react to past trauma, and even just our current environment, is a ginormous challenge. Art in its many forms has brought me some much needed relief lately, and a tiny bit of clarity. My brain won't shut up long enough to meditate, so I keep my hands busy with colored pencils and let my mind wander, or focus on the thing I'm trying to sort out. Reading/observing others' creative efforts provides a new perspective. And writing has been thoroughly therapeutic, since it's exercising a creative part of me that was slumbering for years. In essence, it makes sense that to heal our minds, we have to activate and/or deactivate various parts of our brains. For me, Art has offered a lifeline and a start at feeling grounded and comfortable in my own skin that I haven't experienced in years, if ever. Thank you for your post.
When drinking a cup of late night coffee. This thought came to mind. Ghosts, or maybe soul travelers. Do they exist or am I truly just seeing things? Interesting thoughts into where they may come from begin to emerge. Are they truly just energy beings traveling and sometimes we have glimpse into their world for reasons unknown to us or are there certain reasons that some people see them while others don't. Whether you believe or not in ghosts or spirits do you think they still sit in the realm of interstellar magic. I guess I'm asking do you believe in things that you can't see and if you can see it, is it actually there? Almost like the mist in a dream that is so real. Maybe I shouldn't drink coffee late at night!!
I believe all conscious creatures have a soul. To me soul is synonymous with consciousness. I think this consciousness has always existed (ever evolving) and is what some perceive as God. And I'll stop there because I'm not great at explaining spiritual things.
Very thought provoking, indeed. Thank you for sharing! I also love reading everyone's comments.
I personally enjoy the idea of karma and reincarnation, the cyclic expression and return of energetic vibes. Or the concept that maybe everyone "else" is actually just another version of me, the "I" (the collective consciousness)--ephemeral unities having a messy little human experience. This theory helps me to keep empathy, patience, and understanding in the forefront of my daily interactions with "others" (or not-so-others) who might actually just be different versions of me!
I have the feeling that what we define as 'reality' is only an interpretation of a very small percentage of what is going on. We are missing 99% of it because we forgot ( or don't know) how to use the tools that could translate it to our little brains. We are an ocean, but we think we are only a surface wave.
Regularly I have spontaneous lucid dreams, and it opens fields of other consciousness.. I am trying to develop my ability to explore more and more in this area.
If someone can recommend a book or something on this topic, I'll be happy to learn more about it.
I feel that everyone and everything is part of ONE entity, like every cell in one body is part of the same creature. If we want to evolve, we need symbiosis.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it all. Your journal entry is from 2015, does your interpretation of the world have evolved ?
If we are going to dabble in consciousness conversation can we also dabble in quantum entanglement and non locality. I find them supremely grounding when it comes to bridging these topics.
Getting to this one a little late, I’ve been saving it. Sounds a lot like the inner workings of my mind. I often say something similar. I use, “ We are the Universe experiencing itself.” I’m always on the search for meaning. It’s the philosophy I struggle with most; I read a lot of existential philosophy. So much of existence feels like, “Everything’s made up and the points don’t matter,” but I often explore meaning and souls and light and forms of intelligence and awareness. Thank you for some points to consider.
So the thing about us using only 10% of our brain is a myth, but there definitely are things that our poor little noggins just cannot grasp. Infinity is always the first thing that comes to mind for me, like the concept of Neverending--even though the concept of death, the complete cease of existence, is just as irrational. Surely one of those so-called unused bits of brain holds that ability to understand.
Thanks for sharing!
Hence the "agnostic shrug". Thanks for this Mary. It seems like we would ALL benefit mightily from a collective dialing down of certainty about ... well, everything. For a primer on this edge of this particular topic, I highly recommend a book from Alan Watts called 'The Wisdom Of Uncertainty'. It's wonderful!
Ooh, I'll check that out. Thanks for the rec!
Edit: it appears to be out of print. You got a copy I can borrow? 😉
Next stop, library!
Libraries are the best!
I am you, you are me. I feel that’s why the synchronicities during this time are so aligned and poignant. Because we are tapping into the same source. The source of all of Us. We.
About 6 months ago I had a dream about the “WE” movement.
I was standing in the middle of a crowd of all kinds of peoples.
We were all coming to the knowledge of what has been done to us as people, and WE were taking a stand for what is True! And that was/ is that
WE are not against each other! And that WE had/ have been aimed against one another in order for the kings of the Earth to gain/ keep absolute control.
But! WE woke up!
WE.
Joni, what a beautiful vision. That’s the vision I continue to hold.
I agree with you <3
Love this thread !
Interconnection is remarkable at the very least and continually intriguing; however, I do believe the ability and capacity to embrace it falls short on far too many.
An ability that we have forgotten about. One that was pushed to the side because it was less believed by certain people.
A wasted ability, perhaps?
Thank you Brandon for sharing your thoughts and introspections, really enjoying your writings as always. Reading this passage along with the others made me feel oddly at peace - with all the thinking about not knowing and knowing others have deeply pondered such a question without knowing the exact answers. The piece of togetherness in that exists so deeply. In the floundering of life, the in between moments of living and forgetting what it feels like to be alive in as so much as when not being fully present, when one can snap back into the knowingness of being human- it feels like a ride with too many adjectives to name. I can’t help but dwell in the unknowns sometimes, more mystery than truths in the days we are meant to exist in this body, in this place and time. To be ok with that in the midst of finding it terrifying at the same time can make one deeply appreciate that we as human beings can even feel and sense what we do (most of the time). And to top it off, as it is, that we are all here so magnificently placed together on a single livable planet gliding through space (in the Virgo supercluster of galaxies) filled with stars, planets and galaxies beyond which we will never know intimately as our own or reach. Perhaps this is all a quest. There’s an open book and we get to fill it in.
Love this!
These are good questions that you ask: is there another species (older version) from the past that has evolved and is founded on interconnectedness? And you're questioning what's really going on and looking beyond the surface. I do believe everyone is interconnected, but we are experiencing things separately, as we are individuals, each are made up of a different combination of genes and have had different childhoods and experiences - and this is also where our egos come from. Sometimes, though, we get glimpses of this interconnectedness. I'd like to believe that there is another species that is less egocentric that can teach us to go in the direction of collective consciousness, or that we will eventually progress to that.
Inward. ;)
I once took a trip to the other side (NDE). The consciousness was there like a steady beat of a drum. I had to search where it was coming from. Standing in the beautiful field just listening to the beat. Strange that the beat was so pulling it's all I felt. I ended up back here. I believe it's the energy that brings the beat! I searched, now I'm here again still searching and learning. I think, consciousness in a wide way is freedom to drift. Could you ever sit in total silence and darkness and if so what do you think would arise? Would you have fears, or would it be pure bliss? In doing this, would we find that oneness within the space that separates us. Could you imagine a silence while looking at the stars on a beautiful night. Maybe much like our ancestors did without all the lights and noise we now have. Just laying there without words and knowing the vibe of things around you. There are too many questions to answer so I just drift in the learning and creativity and see where it goes. Enjoy your day! One more question, why do humans always wonder about where we came from? Do frogs wonder the same or any other animal for that matter.
Lol at the extraterrestrials’ beauty certifications. And interesting point that our biggest fears are indeed a projection of our own worst impulses onto the would-be foreigners to our planet.
I was watching a documentary style episode on Octopuses recently, and was reminded of what is touched on here; we humans take for granted our self-gifted status as the most “intelligent” creatures on earth. I repeatedly have and continue to wonder, by which measurement? There are beings that can perform mind-numbingly beautiful tricks unattainable to us humans. Looking at this one cephalopod as an example, with its ability to seamlessly assimilate itself with its background with both textural and chromatic camouflage (something we humans would in fact look quite “dumb” attempting ourselves), how is this not seen as an incredibly intelligent feat? While it’s not directly applicable or necessary for us to have this skill, the potential in the animal kingdom to evolve such survival skills makes me think that, given enough time, any being could and will evolve to survive in its prospective domain. Perhaps consciousness is just one such survival skill, giving us a leg up over those violent, savage beasts from which we desperately need to protect our young. I suppose one could argue that consciousness is the most useful survival tool, but maybe that’s only for the time being. What we do with it may determine the outcome of our species.
“To whom much is given much is tested.” Hope we don’t completely fuck it up (:
“Hence the need to accept the notion that there is more going on here than we might have the capacity to understand.”
One may balk at the idea of an octopus, or an ant, or a speck of dust, containing a level of intelligence parallel or at all relatable to our own. “For heaven's sake they can’t comprehend interstellar travel or self-driving cars!” But I’m left wondering if that makes them somehow less magical or relevant in this vast and incomprehensible universe. I think only time will tell.
With regard to different iterations of consciousness witnessing itself, what if, (and perhaps with certainty) the intelligence of the next iteration, the ones who came before, and/or the ones who exist somewhere out there, is something incomprehensible to our brains in their current evolutionary state, or our current collective consciousness? What if there existed a world where a creature’s ability to camouflage is what determined intellectual superiority? Poor lieutenant Dan wouldn’t stand a chance. Ok, enough with the octopus analogies. But it seemed to help me explain myself.
Digression is to be expected whilst speculating about consciousness and oneness! I ask, what do you imagine previous versions of this expression of consciousness might be like? A rudimentary version of us? The opposite? Something unimaginable and wild? Many beings? One being? And, with regard to the axiom of interconnectedness and whether or not it would still apply to us (if I’m reading that correctly), my question is, what factors would point to it no longer applying ? Does interconnectedness have a tipping point? Does consciousness effectively separate us from beings unable to self-reflect? Maybe, but unless we can get our ish together and actually use this one gift that seems to “separate” us from the unconscious beyond self-absorbed preoccupations like social status or the stroking of our collective human ego about how great we are, then I can’t help but think we are somehow dropping the ball on our current dot in the space-time continuum. Maybe the octopuses will pick it up for us (damnit, I did it again)!
I love the “agnostic shrug” descriptor. But also love that, although that can be done, here we all are, discussing the impossible-to-know unknown, relentlessly motivated in our desire to connect, discuss, and know. More, more, more please!
Hey Shay, I love your questions and observations in this thread. In regards to your first query; I completely agree that it feels absurd to anoint ourselves the most intelligent of all known species. We invented the metric of how that is measured, (brain to body mass ratio) and I am sure that it is fungible to certain degrees and also fairly certain that it does have some salience, scientifically speaking. But as far as I can tell, it is a "terrestrial" based observation. What of the possibility of inter or extra-dimensional forms of life? Being that we have so little, if any experience with these forms of consciousness, how can we have an accurate metric of intelligence writ large? There is another, vastly interesting conversation to have about our potential interactions, historically, with these variations on consciousness. One that is tied at the hip to age-old trance states, religious practices, entheogenic rituals, etc. I have been fascinated by "access" to these potential realms my entire life and I honestly think Art is a window or even an attic door into these domains.
I also really like your idea about consciousness being an evolutionary adaptation! Though I am officially at the limits of my knowledge on these topics, I do enjoy flirting at the edge of our collective understanding. Thank you!
Hmm... You probably like Orcas
‘ Hence the need to accept the notion that there is more going on here than we might have the capacity to understand. And again with the agnostic shrug.’
This is my conclusion every night I look into a clear sky and find ‘my smudge’ aka the Pleiades. Realizing that many of those stars have planets of their own—in this universe, not to mention the billions of other universes in existence. That those stars and said planets are probably long dead and gone, just given the speed of light, we’re just seeing history.
We-humans- are so infinitesimal in this vastness. Is that terrifying? Does it give me peace? Is there another being out there that has called my beloved smudge, their own? So many questions, and my feelings shift night to night.
Alas, the conclusion that we’re alone in this existence? My brain cannot do the mental gymnastics to make sense of that notion. That in, and of itself, is so humbling.
I can relate to how you said your feelings shift night to night. It's nice to know I'm not alone. And how you described your perspective that your inability to comprehend aloneness (or not) as humbling instead of frustrating (which is how I can sometimes leave those thoughts), brings me peace. Thank you for sharing.
Some years ago, iirc, at least once, Brandon shared a picture on his instagram of the physical copy of a 'book' (it's not very long) called Illusions by Mabel Collins. I ordered a copy and eventually I guess you could say I became obsessed with it in a way. Some of the ideas it contained I had encountered before (e.g., reincarnation), while others I had not. Some of it 'went in one ear and out the other' until re-reading a long time later, when it suddenly struck me as something I had better start internalizing.
The "Illusions" referred to by the title are summarized briefly on one of the pages as follows:
ILLUSIONS
Illusion 1 - That man is imprisoned in the body.
Illusion 2 - That the Unborn are unknown.
Illusion 3 - That there is any secret in the mind or memory of man.
Illusion 4 - That the earth exists apart from man.
Illusion 5 - That Nature is indifferent to Man.
Note - "Illusions" was apparently published in 1905. There's a movie starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson called "Dead Again", and in it a character played by Robin Williams says something like, "there's a whole lot more people in this world that believe in reincarnation than don't", or something close to that. That always stuck with me. I haven't had a whole lot of conversations in my lifetime about it with other people, so I don't really have much of a grasp on even what people who have 'run in my circles' as it were believe.
One of my very favorite novels that I have ever read is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, a book in which reincarnation is a theme. I seem to recall reading (or watching?) a group interview of some of the cast of the Cloud Atlas movie that was made, in which they were asked if they believed in reincarnation. Somewhat to my surprise, my recollection is that they almost uniformly answered with a flat no. When something becomes strongly enough a part of ones own world view, you can start to take it as 'axiomatic' and be caught off guard by the views of others who don't see life/things the same way. In the case of reincarnation, I personally find it somewhat alarming to hear it dismissed.
Think, for example, of the case of global warming. Suppose it to be true that most or all of us will be re-born on Earth at some point and some place in the future after death. Suppose we knew that now in our present lifetime.
If the idea of reincarnation is hard for some to swallow, wait until one tries Illusion 3 (as mentioned above) on for size!
"Tell us the truth, but tell it to us gently, lest we all go blind...."
Suppose you had life experiences consistent with ideas set forth in Illusions. Suppose you could 'prove' something to people that's never been proven.
Sean Young from Ace Ventura voice:
"Well that's a very entertaining story, but unfortunately real detectives have to worry about that little thing called (sneering) .. evidence."
(I realize that movie hasn't aged well in a certain respect - another thing about Illusions that is relevant!)
The Amazing Randi (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi) came and went and I imagine that fact alone is probably enough for some to shut their minds to certain possibilities.
Suppose you could prove something to people that's never been proven, but suppose the 'proof' is of a sort that is long. Suppose you are a "nobody". Could you get anyone to listen? To even hear you out? (Spoiler alert: so far - no). Who would/could/should you tell? What if the truth itself is in some ways, to borrow a phrase, "inconvenient"? What if it's incredible?
What's really going on here?
For anyone who might read this comment who is interested in reading Illusions, it is available to read online for free here:
https://www.theosophy.world/resource/ebooks/illusions-mabel-collins
In my current process of healing, I'm coming to terms with how our realities are so personal and constructed by and through our own limitations. Finding ways through and beyond these limitations, for me, is the (your) big question: What's really going on here? Specifically, how can I unlock those parts of my brain that have gone dormant in my depression and anxiety? Deviating from the historical path and finding new ways to approach and react to past trauma, and even just our current environment, is a ginormous challenge. Art in its many forms has brought me some much needed relief lately, and a tiny bit of clarity. My brain won't shut up long enough to meditate, so I keep my hands busy with colored pencils and let my mind wander, or focus on the thing I'm trying to sort out. Reading/observing others' creative efforts provides a new perspective. And writing has been thoroughly therapeutic, since it's exercising a creative part of me that was slumbering for years. In essence, it makes sense that to heal our minds, we have to activate and/or deactivate various parts of our brains. For me, Art has offered a lifeline and a start at feeling grounded and comfortable in my own skin that I haven't experienced in years, if ever. Thank you for your post.
When drinking a cup of late night coffee. This thought came to mind. Ghosts, or maybe soul travelers. Do they exist or am I truly just seeing things? Interesting thoughts into where they may come from begin to emerge. Are they truly just energy beings traveling and sometimes we have glimpse into their world for reasons unknown to us or are there certain reasons that some people see them while others don't. Whether you believe or not in ghosts or spirits do you think they still sit in the realm of interstellar magic. I guess I'm asking do you believe in things that you can't see and if you can see it, is it actually there? Almost like the mist in a dream that is so real. Maybe I shouldn't drink coffee late at night!!
I believe all conscious creatures have a soul. To me soul is synonymous with consciousness. I think this consciousness has always existed (ever evolving) and is what some perceive as God. And I'll stop there because I'm not great at explaining spiritual things.
Very thought provoking, indeed. Thank you for sharing! I also love reading everyone's comments.
I personally enjoy the idea of karma and reincarnation, the cyclic expression and return of energetic vibes. Or the concept that maybe everyone "else" is actually just another version of me, the "I" (the collective consciousness)--ephemeral unities having a messy little human experience. This theory helps me to keep empathy, patience, and understanding in the forefront of my daily interactions with "others" (or not-so-others) who might actually just be different versions of me!
What's really going on here ?
It's a question I've been asking to myself A LOT.
I have the feeling that what we define as 'reality' is only an interpretation of a very small percentage of what is going on. We are missing 99% of it because we forgot ( or don't know) how to use the tools that could translate it to our little brains. We are an ocean, but we think we are only a surface wave.
Regularly I have spontaneous lucid dreams, and it opens fields of other consciousness.. I am trying to develop my ability to explore more and more in this area.
If someone can recommend a book or something on this topic, I'll be happy to learn more about it.
I feel that everyone and everything is part of ONE entity, like every cell in one body is part of the same creature. If we want to evolve, we need symbiosis.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about it all. Your journal entry is from 2015, does your interpretation of the world have evolved ?
If we are going to dabble in consciousness conversation can we also dabble in quantum entanglement and non locality. I find them supremely grounding when it comes to bridging these topics.
Getting to this one a little late, I’ve been saving it. Sounds a lot like the inner workings of my mind. I often say something similar. I use, “ We are the Universe experiencing itself.” I’m always on the search for meaning. It’s the philosophy I struggle with most; I read a lot of existential philosophy. So much of existence feels like, “Everything’s made up and the points don’t matter,” but I often explore meaning and souls and light and forms of intelligence and awareness. Thank you for some points to consider.