Book #9: An Electrician’s Guide to Our Galaxy – Living Life On The Widest Frequency
Chapter Two: The Divine Power of Words; Reflecting on John 1:14
Now before you close this book in disgust because an electrician, OF ALL PEOPLE, is reinterpretting the Bible, I ask you to be patient and open-minded with me for a few moments. I am not a Christian or a Jew, but I am a seeker for truth, wherever it is to be found. And sometimes the greatest truths may be discerned from the inevitably misinterpreted passages of the sacred scriptures from our world’s religions. I was taught spiritual discernment by the mystic and healer Joel Goldsmith, founder of the Infinite Way, and his teachings still inspire me. Many people have no inclination to or have not yet developed spiritual discernment with it’s associated insight and intelligence, and this opens them up to all manners of self deception and delusion when considering any religious texts.
All too often so-called experts in religion “cannot see the forest for the trees”. They often feel forced to replicate others’ failed attempts at digesting almost incomprehensible material. Sometimes it takes fresh, unconditioned eyes to look at something problematic, to detect some clue for the solution that has been overlooked by the experts. I do not look through the stained glass etched windows to peer at the sunlight of truth like others are conditioned to do. On the other hand, I do understand that if I were to trust a plumber’s or carpenter’s interpretations of the electrical schematics, while eschewing my own intelligence, how effective would I be, and how professional would I look to others or even to myself? Sometimes the search for truth must be a collaborative effort, even undertaken with those we do not trust to have the same training and sensitivity to the relevant issues as we do.
A plumber often makes an important connection to the sewer pipe, whereas an electrician often makes an important connection to the ground, yet both are important, are they not?. A fact to remember is that true intuition, insight, and intelligence allows all to transcend the labels and boundaries that society and some of its members have pasted upon and enclosed us within. So I ask the reader to please consider the following material carefully and considerately. Profound realization may come upon some of us, especially those who have not been irreparably conditioned to accept religious propaganda and teachings as the only truth.
In the rich tapestry of theological discussion that has spanned centuries, few passages have been as widely analyzed and debated as John 1:14 – a verse that merges the concept of divinity with the tangibility of human existence. I am not advocating for any special divinity classification for Jesus, at the exclusion of the rest of the human race. So amidst the historical theological discourses, a profound reinterpretation emerges, proposing that this passage offers not merely a narrative of divine incarnation for all of humanity but an allegory for the human capacity to shape reality through language.
At its core, the assertion that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” transcends literal interpretations to reveal a metaphor for consciousness and creation through language. This perspective insists that our ability to articulate our thoughts and perceptions into words is not a mundane feature of human existence but echoes the divine act of creation itself. Every act of naming, describing, or communicating is thus an echo of the Genesis, where the world came into being through a divine utterance.
Central to this interpretation is the distinction between words that convey truth—thereby aligning with the divine or sacred—and those that deceive, which can be considered profane. Language, in its most elevated form, becomes a vessel for truth, embodying the essence of the “one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Words have the inherent potential to either elevate our collective understanding or to distort and diminish it. The power to name, to describe, and to communicate is akin to a sacred trust, with the capacity for profound impacts on our shared reality.
The Holy Spirit emerges in this analysis as the conduit of consciousness that underpins our linguistic endeavors, ensuring that our words and their meanings remain intertwined with our broader worldview in a coherent and rational manner. This interpretation elevates the Holy Spirit from a mere doctrinal entity to the very essence of understanding and wisdom that guides the relationship between word and world. Understanding John 1:14 in this light draws a direct line back to the Genesis narrative, where the world was spoken into existence. It posits humanity as participating in a continuous act of creation, mirroring the divine through our constructs of language. Just as the divine word manifested reality in the beginning, our words continue to shape the world around us—crafting narratives, ideologies, and truths.
This reinterpretation of John 1:14 thus serves as a poignant reminder of the power vested in our words and the responsibility that accompanies this creative capacity. Recognizing the divine aspect of truth and the creative power of our words invites a deeper consciousness about how we communicate and the realities we choose to articulate and manifest. It is a call to discernment and integrity, urging us to wield the profound power of language with awareness and reverence, acknowledging that, in a very real sense, the world we experience is continuously spoken into being by each of us.
In contemplating the vast expanse between the sacred and the profane, between truth and falsehood, this perspective on John 1:14 invites us to consider more deeply the world we are participating in creating. It challenges us to hold sacred the trust of truth, recognizing in our words the reflection of a primal divine act of creation and the ongoing responsibility we carry in shaping our collective reality. Oh, and a word of warning to any reader who has ventured this far; I will be providing much more material on this ultimately important subject matter in two chapters later in this book..
The Transformative Power of Naming in Expanding Human Consciousness
In the beginning was the Word. Whether we are ready to accept this mystical truth or not, it is the very creation of words in our minds that concurrently creates and supports our present sense of self. Are we the divine son or daughter of cosmic consciousness, are we Satan the fallen angel, or are we just imaginary creations within human consciousness? Rarely do we see anyone exceed their vision of who they think that they are, so a self-image based upon the highest possibilities for ourselves is the best place to launch our galactic search for truth from..
Fill up that coffee cup, we are about to take a fantastic voyage through the infinite galaxy of consciousness itself.
Words are far more than mere placeholders in our lexicon; they are potent symbols that wield the power to connect us with the world around us. When we engage in the seemingly simple act of naming, we do not merely assign labels but partake in a fundamental act of recognition and understanding that forms an “energy bridge” between us, the knowers, and the objects of our knowledge, the known. This process goes beyond the mere identification—it is an expansion of our consciousness, enabling us to articulate, share, and evolve our collective understanding of reality.
Naming is an intrinsic part of our encounter with the universe. It is through the act of naming that we discern one entity from another, identifying and categorizing the world around us. By assigning a name to something, we acknowledge its existence and, more importantly, its significance within our lives. This is not a mere imposition of our will onto the external world but an act of engagement. It signifies a relationship, an acknowledgment that what is being named holds importance or value in some manner. Through this act, we expand our understanding, integrating new aspects of our environment into our consciousness.
Words shape how we perceive reality. They are the tools through which we build our understanding of the world, influencing our thoughts, actions, and interactions. Consider the myriad languages that exist across the globe—each with its unique way of naming and categorizing experiences. These linguistic differences reflect diverse perspectives of reality, highlighting how pivotal language is in constructing our worldview. The dynamism of language, with new words constantly being created to describe novel discoveries or societal changes, underscores its role in reflecting and catalyzing human progress.
The act of naming enables us to articulate complex thought and emotion, bridging the gap between the internal and the external. It is an act that ties the knower to the known, creating an indelible link in our consciousness. Through naming, we immortalize our experiences, allowing them to be shared and understood by others, thus weaving a collective tapestry of human knowledge and emotion. This communal exchange of understanding is what propels society forward, fostering empathy, innovation, and collaboration.
The evolution of language attests to the growth and change in human understanding and experience. New words emerge to describe technologies, concepts, or phenomena that were previously inconceivable, showcasing the limitless adaptability and creativity of human thought. This linguistic evolution is not just a reflection of new inventions or discoveries but a sign of how our collective consciousness grows, adapts, and redefines itself in an endless dance with the universe.
The power of words to create and shape reality cannot be overstated. Naming something brings it into existence in our consciousness, as evidenced by the example of the coffee cup. This act of naming, while seemingly mundane, is a profound demonstration of the power we hold to define and interpret our experience of reality. Through naming, we assert a form of control over our perception, transforming the unknown into the known, the abstract into the tangible. This process is at the heart of progress, enabling us to conceptualize and pursue new horizons.
The process of naming is a testament to the beautiful complexity of human thought and the intricate ways in which we engage with the world. It is through words that we map the contours of our existence, crafting bridges between ourselves and the myriad entities that populate our universe. Naming, then, is not just a linguistic exercise but a deeply philosophical one, expanding our consciousness and tethering the known to the knower in a dynamic interplay of understanding and discovery.
Words Are Energy Storage Containers
Words are how we categorize or name each new connecting link between our sense of self and the environment in the movement of consciousness. The word we create in consciousness out of our letters and symbols and use to represent the new known becomes the equivalent in electrical circuits of storing increasing charges on the line side of the voltage source, thus increasing its potential energy. The linking of our knowing self to the latest known increases our potential energy. Each verbal creation is a new iteration of our conscious self and adds to our sense of self, our potential energy as a source, and to the vast accumulation of knowledge we already have. Our accumulation of knowledge, literally and figuratively, increases the actual energy potential of us as human energy sources.
We build up our potential energy with words, sentences, concepts, and knowledge in order to communicate with another human being, who becomes our “load” in the circuit analogy. This perceptual creation makes us, the so-called knower, the electrical equivalent of the previously mentioned voltage source in all active circuits. Like in a standard electrical circuit, there is also a reference ground that must fundamentally be connected to the voltage source, which is our fundamental understanding about our relationship to the Universe, Mother Earth, Nature, and also to our “load”, or partner in communication. Do we have a common ground, or will our communication circuit experience instability?
Unveiling Reality: The Dance of Perception and Consciousness
In our vast galaxy of consciousness, where symbols and words construct the universe we perceive, lies a potent law of awareness that governs our understanding of reality. This law posits that our perceived reality, filled with concepts and imagery, merely extends from our minds’ depths unless we’ve ventured into the realm of deep meditation or have been graced with the clarity of an unconditioned mind. Our minds, radiant with energy, harness the physical capabilities of our brains and bodies, crafting a world that is as much a reflection of our collective consciousness as it is of our individual perceptions.
At the heart of our experience lies the profound realization that perception shapes our reality. The universe, in all its complexity and wonder, unfolds to us as a mosaic of symbols and narratives, each piece an extension of our thoughts and imaginations. This realm, born from the mind’s incessant need to categorize and understand, dictates the version of reality we live in. But this reality, stitched together by common beliefs and shared understandings, is as malleable as it is unique, contingent upon the lenses through which we choose to view the world.
Beneath the surface of our perceived separateness bubbles a wellspring of collective consciousness, a tapestry of thought interwoven with the fabric of reality itself. This interconnectedness suggests that while our experiences may differ, the foundational elements of our perceptions are shared, binding us in a web of collective understanding. Here, within this shared space of consciousness, lies the paradox of our individuality and our unity, pointing to the idea that the essence of all that we perceive is, in fact, a mirrored reflection of a universal consciousness that we are all part of.
Emerging from the depths of contemplation, the unconditioned mind offers a beacon of clarity in a sea of conditioned perceptions. It is within this space of awakening that we stand the best chance of witnessing reality as it truly is, unmasked and unfettered by the constraints of our conventional interpretations. The unconditioned mind transcends the ordinary, peeling away layers of ingrained beliefs to reveal a reality untainted by the constructs of language and symbolism. It is in this sacred act of observation that we come closest to understanding the true nature of our existence, liberated from the shadows of illusion.
The dance between perception and reality is intricate and complex, guided by the primary law of consciousness that frames our understanding of the universe. Yet, within this complexity lies a simple truth—our perceptions shape the reality we experience, but it is through the lens of an unconditioned mind that we can hope to glimpse the essence of what is real. In cultivating such a mind, through meditation, reflection, and a conscious unlearning of conditioned patterns, we open ourselves to a truer understanding of the world around us. Therefore, the quest for reality begins not with the external, but with a pilgrimage into the depths of our own consciousness, where the seeds of perception take root in the fertile ground of awareness.
Further Meditation Upon The Word
In some varieties of meditative practice and experience, the practitioner is given a mantra or word to focus upon during a meditative session. The word could be any word or expression, with the intention of the practitioner to concentrate on the word, eventually at the exclusion of most or all other thoughts, if possible. Suppose the practitioner can develop and maintain a clear enough focus. In that case, all that remains during this meditative session is the knower, the practitioner’s awareness, and the known, which is the mantra word. This is a completed circuit of consciousness, and the knower, in a realized state of being, becomes ONE with the energy behind the word represented by the mantra itself. The practitioner sees a new reflection of him/herself in the mirror of the realization of the word itself.
In July of 1987, while performing this exact style of meditation, I had a unique, transformative experience. My mantra was “Master Teacher of the Light,” which I recited repeatedly. I had used this mantra for several days, with little success, yet I was persistent and kept after it. After about five minutes of reciting the mantra, without warning, I was lifted out of my everyday bodily awareness and started having an “out-of-body experience.” I perceived that my life was like driving an automobile, with my mind as the operator of the car’s steering wheel. I had a choice to make, to continue letting my conditioned mind, which is the sum total of my past experience of my body and my previous 32 years of life, dictate the direction of my life in the present and the future or let go of the controls, and experience a new realm of understanding and being. Well, the choice had been made long ago, and almost magically and mysteriously, I did let go of the controls and was lifted out of my bodily awareness. I no longer had any awareness of my body or my past, just of my present state of being, which was a total mystery, yet had an irresistible, magnetic attraction to my awareness.
I was carried by the river of the unknown through a fantastic, infinite, vibrating array of interconnected living structures, which I came to understand was the actual matrix of consciousness itself. As if in a half spiral downward, my awareness was carried through this matrix, and I then “materialized” within a chamber without boundaries, where there was no light or darkness, just Peace and Joy. An inexplicable SILENCE and a VIBRANCY felt so familiar, yet I had never been here before in my regular or meditative life. My time here might have been a fraction of a second, ten minutes, or 2 hours in length, yet I will never know, for here there was no sense of space or time, only SILENCE and an inexplicable sense of the presence of an ENERGY.
Here is where things go from interesting and unusual to transformative and transcendent. As I remained in this meditatively inspired womb, I could clearly see the entirety of consciousness itself, its truth and magic, its nonsense, and all variations of it between these two apparent poles. I saw how each word that I created and incorporated into my personal knowledge was ONE with me; there is no such thing as YOU in this exalted state of being. I saw that every concept of YOU that I have ever created is only an extension of me, YOU cannot ever be real in any lasting, spiritual sense, without a “me” arising concurrently. There is no duality, only ONE, no matter how tightly I cling to the MANY. Each so-called “known” in this new understanding is another iteration of my sense of self, so me as a knower and me as the knowns are forever ONE.
Some spiritual masters interpret this truth as meaning that if we want to know what, if anything, exists beyond the “me” and “you”, we can stop thinking thoughts, at least for a moment, and experience the “not me”, and “not you” states with pure silent awareness. It is fine with me that these masters of reality believe or “think” that way. For me, ego and its thinking is not the enemy. If our egos become infused with wisdom, love and compassion they become divinely inspired, and are not just another movement of profanity.
Our liberated thoughts are impressions born of words married together in a creative and/or evolutionary movement in an increasingly sophisticated fashion. Communication is words and concepts in an interpersonal movement, transferring actual energy, intelligence, and understanding. And spirituality is words, concepts, communication, and action in a creative, loving movement of consciousness extending everywhere, without thought’s limitations.. By definition, any energy that moves over time is doing work, and all of these energies can be harnessed to do the work necessary for the betterment of mankind. The intention will become prime movers of consciousness and its action in the world and become the directors of a great energy in this world that we share.
Harmonizing Humanity: A Call for Mindfulness and Mother Earth-Centric Living
Like all electrical and human systems that I have studied and attempted repair upon, I always seek to understand each installation or human being entirely and then improve all faulty or underperforming supporting systems as necessary. Suppose the system was created from a defective foundational understanding. In that case, I will even be part of the creation of a new system that will more effectively carry our intentions, and do more meaningful and efficient work for us. If establishing or maintaining order and balance is our concern, we can channel all relevant knowledge into intelligent systems of control that will maintain maximum stability wherever necessary, but only under those conditions where we understand most or all of the variables. The basic process control theory underlying all modern industrial and manufacturing systems has an equivalent in the human mind, where feedback and feedforward information loops are used for defining, refining, and maintaining order. The human and spiritual equivalence is called mindfulness practices, purpose-driven goal setting and achieving, personal inventory, course correction and the making of amends, and meditation.
In the relentless pursuit of progress, humankind has often overlooked the fundamental limitations inherent within our own bodies and minds. This oversight, driven by an insatiable quest for control and advancement, has led to a disconnect from the very foundation upon which our existence rests—the intricate balance between our biological selves, our societal interactions, and our spiritual wellbeing. The crux of achieving stability, control, and enhancing our evolutionary potential lies in acknowledging and catering to these aspects. However, humanity’s greatest misstep has been attempting to stabilize itself while blatantly disregarding the laws of nature and our spiritual heritage.
The pursuit of progress has historically been laced with an arrogance—a belief that human ingenuity can outpace and outwit the natural world and its sacred principles. In this ambition-driven race, the fundamental needs of our biological self, our social self, and our spiritual self have been sorely neglected. These needs—sex, security, and society—serve as the primary systems of control through the laws of family, society, and religion. Yet, despite the structures put in place, stability remains an elusive dream—a mirage in the desert of human endeavor.
The essence of the problem lies in our failure to fully comprehend the boundary conditions of our human experience. This understanding remains incomplete until we adopt a more Mother Earth-centered approach to living, bolstered by the practices of mindfulness and enhanced self-awareness. For too long, humanity has waged a war against the very environment that sustains it, seeking dominance over an ecosystem that demands respect, not subjugation. The laws of nature, alongside our spiritual heritage, have been consistently ignored, if not outright violated, in the name of progress and stability.
What is required now is not a reform, but a revolution—a paradigm shift in how we perceive and interact with the world around us. A more holistic, Earth-centered approach to living is not just beneficial but crucial for humanity’s long-term survival and evolution. By fostering practices such as mindfulness and self-awareness, we can begin to realign with the rhythms of nature and the whispers of our spiritual lineage. These practices do not signify a regression into primitivism but represent a sophisticated acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of all life and the wisdom that such connectivity bestows upon us.
Realigning with the laws of nature and our spiritual heritage heralds a promise of a more sustainable, harmonious existence. This alignment encourages us not only to recognize our place within the greater web of life but also to cherish and nurture it. A Mother Earth-centric approach to living—where the wellbeing of our planet is prioritized—is not only an act of survival but of profound respect and reverence for the generations yet to come.
The path to stability, control, and an enhanced evolutionary potential for humanity does not lie in further detachment and dominance over the natural world. Instead, it requires a humble return to and respect for the ancient laws that have governed life long before human consciousness dawned. As we stand at the crossroads of progress and sustainability, the choice we make today—to continue down the path of egocentric advancement or to adopt a more mindful, Earth-centered approach—will determine not only the future of our species but the health and vitality of our planet. The instability introduced into our collective Earth life system by humanity’s ignorance will not be correctable until we humble ourselves enough to learn from our mistakes, be they theological, philosophical, religious, economic, ecological, or social in nature.
Words, Self-Organization, and Our True Ground
We are all alive today due to the self-organizing principles of life itself. In manufacturing and industrial processes, our planet Earth and its journey through the solar system, and even in the human mind, we witness the wonders and mysteries of self-organizing systems in action. The human brain has evolved into a capable predictive mechanism and is the source of conscious action since the introduction of language as a tool for communication. Words are used to measure our experience and are our primary avenue for communication with each other. And, our words, and knowledge subsequently built upon the foundation of our words, are our mediums for establishing a ground of shared knowledge, and a medium for communication of that knowledge. Family cohesion and societal order owe their stability to the documention and practice of values that bind people together in interconnecting webs of safety, stability, and love.
Words are containers for energy, becoming a manifestation and representation of static or potential energy, which is the energy of rest, or kinetic energy, which is the energy of movement. The knower (you and I), when in movement towards a goal, is kinetic energy itself. However, the knower (you and I) can become quite static when our words do not motivate us to become active in this world. Those whose energy channels are clogged with religious dogma or traumatized responses to life may become burdened by this unrealized potential energy.
Remember, our words are our attempts to bridge the gap between the knower and the known, and they become part of the basic, though potentially infinite, substance that defines us as verbally conscious beings. The introduction of words into the conscious void of the ancient human being must have been the most transformational, apocalyptic event in human history, probably being more important than the harnessing of the power of fire and water for the creation of the conditions for safety, security, and even society itself. Yet, we still need those who are knowledgeable about these connections, how to safely utilize them, and understand the energy behind them to assist all of us in reaching our collective potential.
Does anyone know of any enlightened masters or even master electricians whose knowledge and understanding we may access to achieve greater balance and coherence, while a achieving our individual and collective goals? Just as social engineers and spiritual masters have insight into how to bring greater balance, predictability, and stability into a person or the society that they live within, so do electricians also have their teachings around such issues.
All electricians learn the philosophy of grounding and bonding to prevent circuit instability, safety issues, or accidents from happening for any existing facility or any new installations. Grounding and bonding techniques are utilized to design and properly function any electrical system. “Ground” in the power distribution grid is the ground around you when you are walking outside. It is the dirt, rocks, groundwater, and so on . Mother Earth is the direct source of all successful grounding. Grounding is connecting electrical systems, appliances, and metal enclosures to a common reference point, typically, the potential of the ground that Mother Earth provides. Grounding provides a low resistance path for electricity to flow and is part of the return path for any complete circuit.
Bonding is a process for connecting all conductive materials together that do not have a direct connection to Mother Earth or Ground and then connecting that connecting link to Ground. Thus, bonding between discrete components and building structures supplies the necessary conductor paths to ensure that those circuits have a consistent reference potential grid tied to Mother Earth’s ground potential.
By internationally accepted electrical standards, ground potential is set to ZERO volts, and all derived or existing voltages are referenced to that ground or zeroed voltage. The safety and operational integrity of any system is preserved, protected, and
SAVED BY ZERO,
or a common ground reference potential. What is the relationship between Mother Earth as an electrical ground and Mother Earth as a spiritual ground?
Our modern world has encouraged us to become increasingly disconnected from nature. Civilization, with its need for farming and cities, has overrun vast tracks of the natural world, eliminating much of our spiritual and physical support. We eat, sleep, and live indoors, drive automobiles that are supported by insulating rubber tires, wear shoes that create a barrier to the Earth, work in offices with no plants or outdoor views, are subject to constant distraction and philosophical oppression and corruption from religious and political authorities, hyper-stimulated through smartphones and media obsession. This 21st-century lifestyle contributes to a lack of connection with nature, which is the manifestation of our True Ground.
Without being connected to the Earth, we become ungrounded. In at least a figurative sense, if not literally, we are constantly taking on frequencies that aren’t very supportive of our human minds and bodies, frequencies that conflict with our natural resonance. Without grounding, it becomes difficult to discharge the frequencies we’ve taken on board. We can even become controlled and oppressed by those chaotic energies.
Without a common reference point, our words and concepts will be out of phase with other reference points, minimizing harmonization with others. Communication failures resulting from conflicting frames of reference create stress and anxiety. Over time, it takes its toll on our mental and physical health, too. Without a connection with the Earth, we don’t share in a healing common knowledge, negating or preventing any sense of supportive calm and well-being that happens naturally when we are earthed.
The complexity and beauty of electricity lie in its fundamental requirement—a difference in potential energy that propels its movement through a completed circuit, connecting a network of components with purpose and direction. This elegant principle, at the heart of physics, also extends into the realms of spirituality and truth, embodying a profound metaphor for the human condition and the essence of understanding our consciousness and existence.
Just as electricity cannot exist without a voltage differential and a closed loop, spirituality and truth are manifestations of the difference in potential energy between a person’s collective self-concept and any ultimate, ground truth. There lies an inherent tension between what we perceive ourselves to be and what we aspire to connect with beyond our limited selves—a grounding, a fundamental reality that anchors everything. This difference in potential energy not only drives our spiritual quest but also defines the trajectory of our personal growth and understanding.
In our ceaseless attempt to comprehend and articulate the essence of our being, we generate a torrent of words. These words emerge as bridges seeking to span the vastness between our collective experience and understanding and the elusive, immeasurable ground energy of consciousness. This attempt, though sometimes seeming vain, reflects our innate need to grasp our existence and place within a broader, incomprehensible reality. We long for a vocabulary that can encompass the depths of what it means to be, to belong, to understand, and to connect.
However, these bridges of words we build are often fraught with their own limitations, fragmenting into myriad interpretations and perspectives that can, if unchecked, lead to increasing divisiveness, volatility, and incoherence within our human systems. The very tools we wield in our quest for clarity and connection can become instruments of separation when we lose sight of the common reference point—they try to elucidate.
Herein lies the crux of our dilemma and, inherently, its solution. Our human systems—our societies, institutions, and interactions—require a unifying reference point. Without it, we risk perpetuating a cycle of misunderstanding and conflict, driven by the varying voltages of our individual and collective experiences without a ground to unify and stabilize our interactions and growth.
In electricity, a common ground ensures safety and coherence, allowing diverse components to function in harmony towards a shared purpose. In our human quest for understanding and connectivity, establishing a ground of being or ultimate truth as our common reference point serves a similar purpose. It does not diminish the diversity of our experiences or the richness of our individual quests for meaning. Rather, it provides a foundation upon which these quests can converge, fostering understanding, empathy, and shared purpose.
The necessity for a unifying reference point in our human systems cannot be understated. Just as a closed circuit allows electricity to fulfill its potential in creating light, warmth, and movement, a shared ground of existential and spiritual understanding can illuminate our paths towards more coherent, compassionate, and interconnected communities. This fundamental shift in perspective requires us to look beyond the immediate disparities that divide us, seeking instead a deeper connection that binds us all at the core of our being.
The principles of electricity serve not merely as a metaphor but as a guiding insight into the essential nature of our existence and interactions. By acknowledging and striving towards a common reference point in our spiritual and truth-seeking endeavors, we can bridge the gaps that separate us, reducing the divisive thinking, volatility, and incoherence that plague our human systems. The pursuit of a unified reference point becomes not just a philosophical endeavor but a practical necessity, compelling us to reevaluate how we understand ourselves, each other, and the foundational truths that underpin our collective existence.
When Going Back Isn’t Moving Forward: The Paradox of Self-Organizing Systems in Human Behavior
In the world of physics, the concept of self-organizing systems is well-documented—an entity inherently seeks to maintain or return to homeostasis, its equilibrium, after a period of disruption. This principle has profound implications beyond the physical realm, intricately weaving itself into the fabric of human behavior and psyche. But as we apply this principle to our lives, particularly in the context of overcoming stress and addiction, we encounter a paradox. The very nature of returning to a “native” state, while comforting in theory, can be both a blessing and a curse.
Take the analogy of a rubber band. Under normal circumstances, its flexibility allows it to return to its original state after being stretched. This resilience is mirrored in human beings, showing our remarkable capacity to recover from challenges and adversities. However, just as a rubber band can lose its elasticity if overstretched or subjected to stress too frequently, so can individuals be changed irreparably by excessive strain or unhealthy habits. Herein lies the rub—the individuals, once having been stretched beyond their limits due to chronic stress, anxiety, or addictive cycles, cannot simply bounce back to their “original” state, especially when that state was one of disease or dysfunction.
Further compounding this complexity is the realization that for some, the “native” state or the baseline to which they unconsciously seek to return is, in fact, inherently unhealthy. This is the curse. It underscores a poignant reality for many: individuals who have normalized stress, anxiety, or addictive behaviors may not recognize these patterns as aberrant but rather as comfortable, familiar states of being. Thus, the quest for homeostasis can inadvertently become a cyclical trap, ensnaring individuals in the very behaviors they seek to escape.
This realization prompts a significant reframing of our understanding and approach to personal growth and healing. Rather than striving to return to a perceived state of normalcy, the objective becomes one of transformation—recognizing the limitations of our metaphorical elasticity and seeking not to revert but to evolve. It is about acknowledging that in some cases, going back isn’t akin to moving forward.
Breaking free from this cycle requires introspection and acknowledgment of deep-seated patterns that may have been with us since our formative years. It demands a conscious effort to redefine our equilibrium, to set a new, healthier baseline that deviates from the past’s dysfunction. This is not a simple task. It requires continuous effort, support, and sometimes professional guidance to untangle oneself from the web of habitual stress and addiction responses.
The blessing, however, is that while the human psyche may share characteristics with self-organizing systems, it possesses something a rubber band does not—consciousness. This consciousness allows for the recognition of unhealthy patterns and the agency to initiate change. It equips us with the capacity to envision a state of being that transcends the former, to build resilience, and to forge new pathways.
The path to wellness and true homeostasis lies not in returning to our original state but in creating a new state—a state of genuine health and balance. It is about stretching, not to the point of breaking, but growing. In doing so, we may discover that our greatest potential lies not in our capacity to return but in our ability to reimagine and rebuild.
For our planet Earth, this may mean ridding itself of any or all offensive life forms that threaten its very existence and continue to drive it out of balance with itself. The time intervals for finding a new, or returning to an old, “set point” that indicates a healthy life is far different between an individual human life and the life of planet Earth. The Earth may take thousands or millions of years to return to or reach its optimal state. In contrast, the evanescent ones must act immediately and decisively, otherwise we eoll need to live the span of innumerable lifetimes to witness any real healing progress.
A life out of balance means more knowledge must be uncovered or applied to guarantee harmonious system operation. And it is of utmost importance to realize that, in the end, the human race is not the determiner of what homeostasis is for the world, as that has been established through many billions of years of its evolution and, thus, its changing relationship with itself and the rest of the Universe. It is also important to realize that no man or woman is an island in this vast universe. Our perception of harmony and balance is inextricably intertwined with the rest of humanity. No matter how healed, balanced, or empowered we believe we are becoming, we are eternally linked with the rest of humanity and the universe in our attempts to create order or balance out of our own unique versions of the collective chaos known as human knowledge. The temptation to follow the herd or swim with the lemming is built into the foundational nature of our socialized existence.
I dare leave this subject with the presentation of an amazing, though disquieting, theory of human population control. Our immune system is automatically activated to fight and neutralize any invader in our body. Our minds work similarly as it attempts to fight and neutralize any offender who threatens our safety, security, or peace of mind. Our planet Earth, or Gaia, is also a vibrant, living being with almost infinite potential to bring new life forms into the universe. And Gaia has its innate power to bring balance back to itself, with unexpected consequences in store for our unwary, overpopulating human race. It is not a stretch of reason to assume that whatever consciousness Gaia may be infused with may interpret our reproductive over-exuberance as indicative of an imbalance within its energy field and make attempts to correct it.
Our planet Earth is now balancing itself and its energies, just as it has for billions of years. Though it may not have consciousness of the exact nature as humans (the mind of the immortal and the mind of the mortal do not have a lot in common), the self-organizing principle of this vast system includes the elimination and/or balancing of all forces that do not positively contribute to its life and further its evolution. Due to overpopulation, the human race has brought significant imbalances to planet Earth. Some experts believe that we may have ten times the amount of humans on our planet than our planet can sustain in harmony. The stress being generated in man’s mind by this overabundance of human life forms may well be part of the self-protective mechanism of planet Earth itself.
Humanity has captured a piece of Universal consciousness, which includes planet Earth and its collective awareness. The respected mystic Teilhard de Chardin offered the world his Noosphere concept in the 20th century, which parallels this understanding. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was a French philosopher and paleontologist known for his theory that man is mentally and socially evolving toward a final spiritual unity. He is not alone in this belief and understanding, and a modern, recently deceased Buddhist master, Thich Nhat Hanh, offered many heartfelt dialogues on the unity of Mother Earth and mankind in consciousness itself. Yet, how might this truth reflect through the collective ignorance and chaos created by the human experience with Mother Earth?
Our collective desire to go to war, to kill each other, to commit suicide, and/or to not generally thrive as a collective may well be the Earth, acting through human consciousness to bring healing to itself through the removal of damaged parts of itself, at least enough to bring balance back to the Earth. The Earth is eternal, as far as we are concerned, and is PRIMARY here, while the human race presently has little conscious presence in eternity. Our own Armageddon may well be written into the operating system of Earth consciousness as it brings stability back to itself through all of its agents, be it Earth, air, sunlight, fire, or water, and its almost infinite expression of flora and fauna.
No homeostasis around a healthy operating point is possible without harmony and peace.
The miracle is not to walk on water, or in the air, or on burning charcoals. The miracle is to walk on this Earth. You breathe in, you become aware of the fact that you are alive. You are alive and are walking upon this beautiful planet. The greatest of all miracles is to be alive—-Thich Nhat Hanh.
