From: An Electrician’s Guide To Our Galaxy.
Chapter 2: Consciousness and the Art of Measurement
What does it mean to truly measure reality and peer into the intricacies of consciousness?
Are the tools we use for both endeavors qualified to search for the truth of ourselves, our relationship with the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Universe that contains and sustains it?
These questions have long fascinated me, and through my experiences, I have come to view the act of measurement as more than a scientific or procedural practice—it is a deeply human endeavor intertwined with our understanding of existence. Unlocking this understanding of the fundamental attribute of consciousness offers insight into the workings of reality. It reveals knowledge that, while often hidden, is accessible to those seeking it.
In a university physics class, I encountered the mutual influence between human consciousness and the art of measurement, where I was exposed to quantum theory and the observer effect. This was my first exposure to the perplexing truth that observing a process influences it on a fundamental level. A corollary truth was that the act of measurement also changes what is being measured, which, at first glance, is counterintuitive.
The second time I was exposed to the relationship between the inner workings of the mind and objective processes was in a process control theory class in 1992 when I was an apprentice electrician. The course introduced me to feedback and feedforward control systems designed to maintain order, achieve goals, and correct disruptions. I was struck by their resemblance to the inner workings of the human mind. Our thoughts and actions follow similar principles, constantly adjusting to maintain balance, predict outcomes, achieve ambitions, readjust direction as needed, and respond to life’s uncertainties.
When I shared this observation with the instructor, he was receptive and praised the insight. He explained that while many of us rely on the practical applications of concepts like electrical theory in our daily lives, only a few take the time to explore its more esoteric principles. This conversation left a lasting impression on me. It reinforced an important truth: the profound knowledge of reality’s systems is often hidden in plain sight, not because it is purposefully obscured, but because most of us do not pause to look beneath the surface.
And here’s the key takeaway—no secret handshake is required to access this knowledge. The doors are open to anyone willing to observe, reflect, and seek understanding. Yet, as I learned from that teacher’s humor-filled advice, you need an electrical license in Oregon to legally make money from its utilization.
The Observer Effect and the Art of Measurement: Bridging Science and Consciousness
The interplay between human consciousness and the processes we observe has intrigued thinkers for centuries. From spiritual seekers to physicists, this fundamental idea—the observer effect—challenges our understanding of reality. It suggests that the very act of observation can influence and alter the phenomena being studied. With its roots in quantum theory, this concept bridges the seemingly disparate worlds of science, psychology, and self-improvement.
But what does this mean for us as individuals? How do these principles shape how we perceive the world, influence our actions, and pursue personal growth? In this section, I will briefly explore the profound relationship between the observer effect, feedback mechanisms, and human consciousness, offering insights into how these scientific truths reflect the mind’s inner workings—and how they can guide us toward self-mastery. In future sections, I will drill down to some of the most profound truths known to humanity on this subject matter.
At its core, the observer effect highlights a curious truth about reality: observing a process inherently changes it. This idea gained prominence with the advent of quantum mechanics, where scientists discovered that particles behave differently when measured. Take, for example, the famous double-slit experiment. When electrons are observed, they instead behave as particles, but without observation, they act like waves. This paradox stirs an essential question—how much of reality is shaped by our perception of it?
While rooted in physics, the observer effect has greater implications beyond the submicroscopic world. It invites the spiritual seeker to reflect on the nature of existence and self-awareness. If observing a system changes its behavior, might observing our thoughts and actions spark transformation within us? Conscious attention may, in fact, be the first step toward growth.
Quantum theory offers some of the most mind-bending concepts in science, often skirting the boundary between the measurable and the metaphysical. The core question emerging from quantum experiments is whether reality exists independently of observation or whether our awareness brings it into being.
Consider this about human consciousness. Just as a quantum system collapses into a particle state when observed, our awareness may collapse infinite potentialities into a tangible reality. Every decision we make, and every thought we focus on is like observing a possibility and bringing it into form. This concept resonates deeply with spiritual teachings on mindfulness and intention—the idea that where your attention goes, energy flows.
But is consciousness merely a passive observer, or is it an active influencer in shaping the fabric of reality? This conundrum invites an exhilarating exploration where science meets the human spirit.
Stepping outside quantum physics, a second layer of understanding emerges through feedback theory. Feedback control systems are fundamental in engineering, designed to achieve stability and accuracy by continuously adjusting output based on input. If the system deviates from its desired state, it self-corrects. One example is a thermostat, which adjusts heat based on current and target temperatures.
The human mind works in much the same way. Our thoughts, decisions, and actions create feedback loops, helping us maintain balance amid life’s uncertainties. Our mind tracks its goals and adjusts accordingly—thinking critically when something feels “off” and refocusing on objectives when distractions arise.
This overlap between machine feedback systems and mental processes reveals something profound about human cognition. Just as machines are programmed for precision, our minds unknowingly follow principles of correction and recalibration.
Understanding the parallels between feedback systems and mental processes unlocks a new way to approach self-improvement. If feedback loops govern machines and the mind, we can consciously manipulate these mechanisms to drive positive change.
- Goal Setting and Adjustment: Just like a thermostat recalibrates to maintain a steady temperature, we can set specific goals and adjust our actions to stay aligned with them. Regular reflection acts as a “measurement” to track progress.
- Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation: Observing your thoughts—like observing particle behavior—helps shift them. Mindfulness empowers you to notice intrusive or unhelpful thinking patterns and redirect your focus.
- Resilience and Adaptability: Feedback systems thrive on learning from disruption. Similarly, setbacks in life offer valuable information, allowing you to adjust and grow stronger over time.
- Creating Intentional Reality: If the observer effect influences outcomes at a quantum level, then paying conscious attention to specific goals or qualities in life can shape situations in your favor—whether through refined focus, openness to opportunities, or more profound clarity.
The observer effect doesn’t merely raise scientific curiosity—it stirs up rich philosophical debate. If the very act of observing reality alters its course, what does this suggest about free will? As conscious beings, are we active architects of our lives, or are we mere players in a deterministic universe where observation and change are inevitable?
To accept the observer effect also means grappling with the fluidity of reality—it’s an acknowledgment that nothing is fixed, not even ourselves. Our choices are not linear but a dance with infinite alternatives continually collapsing into the next moment. The deterministic view asserts that while natural laws govern outcomes, our conscious observations inject an unpredictable streak of agency into the cascade, blurring the dichotomy between preordained paths and autonomous control. This philosophical interplay fuels a dynamic dialogue between science, spirituality, and psychology.
Rather than existing as isolated fields, physics, psychology, and self-improvement can converge to illuminate a unified framework for understanding human potential. Quantum theory suggests that our thoughts influence reality, feedback systems teach us how to measure and correct our processes, and psychological principles show the capacity for awareness to foster growth.
Imagine applying this integrated model to daily life. When we align the discipline of physics with the introspection of psychology and the intentionality of self-improvement, we open the door to profound transformation—not through external change alone but by harmonizing inner and outer realities. The observer becomes the creator.
The intersection of quantum mechanics, feedback theory, and human consciousness reminds us that science and the human experience are not opponents—they are dance partners, interwined in their exploration of galactic truths. Science provides the tools to measure and observe reality, while philosophy and spirituality interpret a wondrous and bewildering reality.
We stand at the threshold of profound self-discovery by uncovering how observation shapes outcomes, how feedback guides improvement, and how our conscious awareness opens portals to greater potential. The systems around us—the atoms, the circuits, the machines, even our galaxy—mirror the systems within us. Both offer an invitation to reshape, recalibrate, and refine our lives with purpose.
And so, the question remains for you to ponder: in this grand interplay of science and consciousness within our Milky Way galaxy,
What reality will you choose to observe, measure, and create?
What can truly be measured?
What is left in the unmeasurable shadow of our tools and methods?
These questions might appear to belong in a philosophy or quantum theory class rather than a book about spirituality. Yet, they form the bedrock upon which all systems of understanding are built. Measurement, an act often regarded as mechanical and impartial, carries profound implications for how we define reality. Beneath its precision and utility lies a question too often sidelined in favor of practicality—what is the nature of that consciousness that observes, measures, and interprets? And most importantly, what is the nature of and how do we measure that which measures?
Examining measurement means untangling a web of assumptions about objectivity, perception, and existence. It brings us to a critical juncture—understanding its relationship with what some might call “foundational consciousness,” the substrate of awareness from which our capacity to know springs.
By its very act, measurement represents an attempt to impose boundaries upon the boundless. Consider measuring time through the ticking hands of a clock—a sequence of discrete moments boxed and delivered as “minutes” or “hours.” Yet time itself, as lived and felt, is anything but discrete. It bends, swells, and contracts under the weight of perception—a dinner with loved ones feels fleeting, while an hour of dull labor stretches endlessly.
Herein lies the paradox. To measure is to collapse the infinite into the finite—to reduce the shimmering complexity of experience into useful, comprehensible units. It is a necessary artifice, but an artifice nonetheless. Measurement is not truth; it is merely an approximation, a scaffold upon which we attempt to hoist the elusive threads of reality.
And at the heart of that process is the observer. The human mind, the consciousness that creates the instrument, defines its purpose and interprets its results, cannot be removed from the equation. Foundational consciousness—the inner repository of awareness that recognizes and interacts with the outer world—is therefore woven into every “objective” act of measurement.
Quantum physics invites us into this space of philosophical wonder, challenging the presumed objectivity of measuring tools. Enter the previously mentioned observer effect, where particles behave differently under observation. The act of measurement collapses probabilities into singularities; possibilities into perceived realities. What was a range of potentials becomes, under the watchful eye of the observer, a defined “this” or “that.”
Is it not poetic that the universe itself seems to respond to consciousness? What we examine, we alter. What we neglect, we leave undefined—vague and free, as though awaiting the touch of awareness to take form.
This phenomenon reminds us of the fluid dance between subject and object, between seer and seen. Measurement, in this sense, is not an analytical process alone. Instead, it is a co-creative act, a conversation where reality and perception weave together into something tangible.
Might this insight not apply far beyond the subatomic? Could it suggest that every social system, every relationship, every word we form to measure the world, and every self-reflection, undergoes a similar effect? Does measurement, whether of time, progress, character, concept creation, or success inevitably reflect the conscious or unconscious frameworks of those who perform it?
If observation informs reality, then what is the state of the observer’s consciousness? This question transports us to a spiritual inquiry—into the nature of foundational consciousness itself. Can we measure that which measures?
Imagine consciousness as a mirror. Consider this potentially transformative thought: all that we see are projections of our intentions to see upon as yet undiscovered or undefined parts of ourselves.
Measuring tools, whether they count temperature, wealth, or well-being, are like etchings upon its surface. They create specific patterns, enabling us to see light differently. But these etchings are not the mirror itself. The reflective surface beneath shines beyond the constraints of grids and grooves.
Similarly, foundational consciousness is both vast and formless, a potentiality containing all possibilities. Our tools of measurement—though ingenious—are temporary layers projected over this limitlessness. Without understanding this, we risk mistaking the etchings for truth.
A great conceptualization of this concept is the Zen Buddhist truth that states that the finger pointing at the moon is not the moon. The word, the measurement, or the representation is only an image cast upon the fabric of reality and is not the reality itself.
This brings us to a challenge unique to our modern age. We worship the measurable, often at the cost of the immeasurable. Business leaders demand “metrics” of success, reducing human fulfillment to KPIs and quarterly reports. Individuals chase measurements of self-worth—bank balances, Instagram/Facebook likes, productivity software reports—as though life can be summed up by tidy graphs.
But these tools, for all their value, do not measure the soul. They cannot capture the ineffable—the texture of a quiet sunset, the depth of a healed wound, or the simple joy of being alive. Here, the art of measurement must evolve into the art of discernment.
To measure effectively, we must balance the practical with the existential. We must ask ourselves:
- What is worth quantifying? Productivity might be measured, but creativity must be nurtured without bounds.
- How should we measure? Metrics shaped by scarcity mindsets lead to competition, while those grounded in abundance foster collaboration.
- Who is the observer? Metrics often reveal more about the values of the measurer than the measured. Awareness of this opens the door to ethical, holistic measurement systems.
When approached with this awareness, measurement becomes something sacred, even meditative. It stops being a blunt tool of control and instead transforms into an invitation to understand.
Consider this analogy. A musician strikes a note upon a tuning fork, listening with care to its vibration. Such an act involves not only hearing the resonance but also the silence surrounding it. The sound becomes meaningful not simply because it is measured, but because the act of measuring is imbued with reverence.
Similarly, consciousness infused with mindfulness can illuminate measurement as more than mechanics. Whether we measure profits, performance, or personal growth, this understanding has the power to transform the relationship we have—not only with what we measure—but with ourselves and the world around us.
To reflect on foundational consciousness and the art of measurement is to challenge the rigid systems that dominate so much of modern thought. While measurement is necessary for structure, its limitations remind us of the vastness that lies beyond its reach. It is in this balance where true possibility resides.
The next time you measure something—whether it’s the length of your commute, the revenue of your company, or the moments of joy within a day—pause for reflection. Consider not only the number but also the awareness that perceives it. There, in that boundless awareness, you may glimpse a truth that no data point can capture.
And isn’t that the greatest measurement of all?
How the Movement of Thought as Time Keeps Us Separated from the Infinite
In the perpetual motion of advancement, humanity races forward through epochs and eras, each technological leap propelling us further away from the starting blocks of our collective origins. However, this progress comes with a paradox often unnoticed—the more we progress, the more we isolate ourselves from the simplicity and liberation of natural existence.
We live in an age where our mastery of technology manipulates time and space, bending them to our will and whim. In this manipulation, we find ourselves ensnared in a maze of chronology and material that detaches us further from the timelessness of the natural world. It is as if in constructing the clock, in measuring the immeasurable, we have separated ourselves from the harmonious continuity of life.
The relentless march of time-based thought—be it planning, analyzing, or anticipating—is the background music to the modern human narrative. This chorus drowns out the present moment, and thoughts of past and future overrun the now. Our thoughts are consumed by the ticks and tocks, casting shadows on the wall of the present, leaving many unable to fully savor the immediate joys and sorrows that are the true measure of existence.
Indeed, we glorify this relentless march forward with a rearview mirror often garnished by nostalgia, a tool of thought that glosses over the more challenging aspects of the past, offering us a rose-tinted lens to an era where we believe we lived closer to some imagined paradise or greatness. Nostalgia whispers of times less tangled in the webs we’ve since spun, allowing brief respite from our self-imposed exile from freedom, and the now.
Thus, the industry of nostalgia grows, selling us fragments of a simpler, unfathomable infinity which our ancestors once knew. But nostalgia, potent though it be, is no panacea; it merely serves to acknowledge the chasm between our present selves and the ancient, boundless continuity of existence.
It is this recognition that puts before us the clear necessity of balance—a modern tightrope walk between the relentless pursuit of progress and the need to preserve, or perhaps rediscover, our connection with the infinite. To advance sustainably, to truly craft an era that meets the needs of the children of the future, we must knit this connective tissue back together, weaving the threads of timelessness through the fabric of our frenetic time-dependent lives.
The bridge we must construct is one of mindfulness, an architectural wonder built in the mental spaces we inhabit, spanning the chasm between the now and the eternal flow of nature. We must stand firmly on this bridge, builders of a new paradigm, where the wisdom of an infinite past and the brilliance of a progressive future hold hands, acknowledging their interdependence.
In the tension between advancement and the infinite lies great creative potential. To harness this, we must awaken individually to the beauty of the present, the unadorned breadth of now that stretches out in all directions, ripe with possibility, echoing with the purity of existence. Each moment not lived in the present is a gemstone left unturned, a star uncharted, an infinity ignored.
For in the end, the paradox of human thought – that great ship steering us through time – should not steer us away from the cosmic oceans in which we find our most profound truths and connections. The infinity we seek is, has been, and always will be, right here within and around us. We are as much the architects of our separateness as we can be the builders of our reconnection with the infinite.
It is time that we choose the latter, to evolve not apart from, but within, the grand, immeasurable tapestry of existence.
Later in this book I will be spending much more time with the reader about the most important subject of time.
