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Self Referential Reality
1. A Marriage of Occult Technique and Physical Sciences
2. A Sentient Model of the Universe
A marriage of occult techniques and physical sciences. Even I must admit that this is a pretty audacious claim. So, before recklessly diving into the ideas for which this article exists, let me get a few things straight. Understand that ultimately all of this is just a thread of ideas stitched into what has become a way of examining the world and our own individual existence within it. My ego would very much like to come off as an original thinker and brilliant man. But I would be lying if I were to say that a lot of the ideas that will be postulated here were all my own. Some of the connections within these fragmented theories and ideas come from my own studies. But I would be doing a disservice to you readers if I were to pass myself off as something more than I really am. If the truth were told, I'm really not that intelligent. These ideas have been tossed around by others with more smarts and experience than I possess. It was the discoveries by exceptionally brilliant men and women that make this sort of speculation possible. I give credit where it is due and very little of it belongs to myself.
Throughout this article I will be discussing theories and ideas from the various realms of physical sciences, these being Biology, Theoretical Physics, Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, among others. Let it be made absolutely clear that I am not a scientist. My only claim towards knowledge in these areas is nothing more than a healthy, and sometimes obsessive, interest in physical sciences. The same thing applies towards the aspects of psychology that will be briefly touched upon. In fact, the only thing that I can lay claim towards having any practical application with would be Occult Technique. And as any non-biased nor self serving practitioner of Occult Technique will more than happily confess, it would be difficult to know enough in one lifetime to gain a complete grasp upon the subject. In many ways, there are as many branches within the occult world as there are within the scientific world. And now with the personal explanations and apologies out of the way, lets approach the ideas.
My first stumbling block is how to briefly get across an idea discussed in the realm of Theoretical Physics called the Holographic Paradigm. This may be tough, so attempt to do your best to think outside of the box and see where it takes you. Keep in mind that these ideas may be outside of the normal realm of conventional and practical thinking. Hopefully, my explanation will be enough
Have you ever seen a holographic plate of film? These are not the sort of holograms you may see on a baseball card, advertisement, or credit card. This is something totally different. When looked at under normal conditions, all that you would see are patterns upon its surface resembling ripples on a pond. But if you were to direct a laser through it, the effect that is produced is a three-dimensional image or picture. And this is not it's only odd quality. If you were to take this same slide and snap it in half, and then direct a laser through each of the two halves, each piece would contain the complete and exact three-dimensional image, though smaller. And if you were to divide the two halves again, each piece would continue to contain the full original image though even smaller still. Unlike normal photographs, every part of a piece of holographic film contains all the information possessed by the whole. And in the realm of Quantum Mechanics, theoretically speaking, this is how the universe operates as well.
Part of the proof comes from an event that took place at the University of Paris in 1982. Physicist Alain Aspect discovered that under certain circumstances, subatomic particles such as electrons are able to communicate instantaneously with each other no matter how far the distance between them was. Yet according to Einstein, there is no way this can happen. The theory of General Relativity states that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. And if this is true, how could this event have taken place when it seems to defy the standard laws of physics?
Imagine an aquarium with one fish. Two cameras are pointed at the aquarium both from different angles that also lead to two different viewing monitors. If you were to take a person who didn't understand the technology and placed them in front of both monitors, they would see what appeared to be two different fish moving at exactly the same time. When one turns, the other makes a slightly different but corresponding turn. And after a period of time, one might gain the understanding that the fish are related in some way. Remember the electrons I spoke of in the earlier paragraph? Theoretically speaking, they move the same because they are all a part of the same system and in a way, there is only one electron. This tells us that there is a deeper level of reality that we are not able to comprehend as of yet, a more complex dimension beyond our own. What this also states, is that what we comprehend as concrete reality is also an illusion. The house you live in, the clothes you wear, even the body you occupy is nothing more than a projection or a 'hologram'. Our version of conventional reality is a byproduct of this paradigm.
Now let's examine our place in all of this. With the above in mind, not only are we cut from the same cloth, but in essence, we are the same cloth. Not only that, each particle of us contains the same cloth. To go one step farther, the world that your senses show you is nothing more than an illusion and that goes for all that you are as well, at least in the conventional reality of our senses. And folks this is not metaphysics or some New Age ideology. Though this does mirror Eastern Philosophical ideas in most ways, this is Western Science, the gage from which we judge reality on a daily basis.
Okay, now let's move on to another scientific model. What follows is a brief explanation of Chaos Theory. As before when talking about Holographic Theory, I'm going to do my best to get some of the ideas across to you the best way I can. In addition, I won't be going into the Chaos theory as a whole but just a few of it's aspects.
Have you ever wondered why things such as the weather and economics can never be predicted in an accurate manner? Oh, sure we can give you percentages of probability (70% percent chance of rain) but we can never say for sure. This same percentage of probability also falls into play with most experiments conducted in laboratories worldwide. It never falls into 100% percent accurate outcomes. And the reason for this is unpredictable variables or Chaos. Let me give you an example of what I mean.
The idea of Chaos theory came about from weather research so let's play around with a rainstorm for a bit. Also notice the distinction of micro (small) to macro (something much larger than micro). Our first element will be an environmental microcosm such as an area in a jungle or a city block. Our second element will be the environmental macrocosm or the world weather systems as a whole. Our third element will be the rainstorm. The fourth will be our well-educated meteorologist. And now we put them all together.
Our meteorologist has spent his day studying satellite photos, barometers, and other aspects of his profession. He concludes that a rainstorm is heading our way and for the present fleeting moment, he is absolutely correct in his prediction. Yet in some deep dark jungle there is a butterfly floating from flower to flower. You may not think that a flap of a butterfly's wings would change the course of an entire weather system. But it is one tiny variable. Now let's go to the city block where a man is out strolling enjoying a summer day. In his breathing, a floating piece of pollen does its work. And since our walker suffers from hay fever, he let's out a pretty solid sneeze. Now as before, you may have some trouble thinking that a sneeze could change the course of a weather system. But it is another tiny variable from a microcosmic system affecting the macrocosm of the world's entire weather system. And we now have two variables. Imagine how many more variables can take place and you begin to see what I'm talking about. So with this in mind, our poor meteorologist can not make a 100% accurate weather prediction and is forced to use a percentage of probability.
So now we have discussed Holographic and Chaos theory. Both of these ideas don't just move in the realm of Particle Physics and Meteorology, but they also affect things like Medicine, Psychology, Engineering, and just about everything you can think of. And now, we begin to move cross over into even more esoteric realms, Occult Technique.
Let's examine the Psybernetic model of magickal thought. The idea works like this. It states that the changes that are brought about in the microcosm of the mind effect change in the macrocosm of reality. Sound sort of like Chaos theory doesn't it. I do understand how improbable this may seem to sound when compared with the experiences of everyday life. But when one takes into account the Holographic Paradigm, it starts to feel a bit more lucid. I'll explain. Using the Holographic model, you may begin to think about the idea that reality isn't so concrete in the first place due to its holographic nature. And since it also states that we are sort of hardwired into this fabric of 'psuedoreality', doesn't it seem likely that we could effect change upon it?
Many scientists seem to think that this same Holographic model explains phenomenon such as paranormal abilities in certain individuals such as ESP. And on a side note to ESP experiments in a controlled environment, it was discovered that those who set out to prove the existence of this paranormal phenomenon almost always find their proof. So why isn't ESP thought of a science fact yet? Well when we look at the reverse effect we find out why. It is odd to note that those who set out to prove that ESP doesn't exist almost always find their proof as well while conducting the same experiments as those attempting to prove that ESP does exist. And now some scientists are beginning to speculate as to whether a person's belief will influence the outcome of these controlled experiments. So is it ESP that is affecting the outcome. Or could it possibly applications with the Holographic model used as an example of why? Or could it even be that there is no difference between the both of them? Wait till we get to the idea of Schrodinger's Cat, which may shed even more light upon this puzzle.
The Holographic Paradigm also explains equally esoteric but generally accepted ideas such as Freud's collective unconsciousness. Even Jung wasn't able to explain away things like synchronicities where the Holographic model does. So could we speculate that thought and belief creates reality? And by understanding these concepts and putting them into effect, could we possibly have the so-called 'cheat codes' of reality? Remember that these are the things that Eastern philosophers have been saying for hundreds of years. And only now are scientists beginning to wonder if what these Eastern philosophers were saying was just Philosophy.
The most basic of ideas of occult and magickal practices can be summed up in one statement. "Change in accordance with will." What this means is that the will of the individual can create changes in mental and physical realities. Sound sort of like applications of the Holographic principle and Chaos theory wrapped into one, doesn't it? So let's take all that you have read and start to sum up the whole occult/Eastern philosophy/scientific model. Through some meditative and occult experiments, it is my contention that these techniques are just an extension of scientific principles and are therefore, perfectly plausible.
Since we have been examining how perceptions and beliefs have an effect on physical reality, let's break down the idea of consciousness as a whole and attempt to build a bridge once again between the micro and the macro. Realize that when I use the word consciousness, I will be referring to the 'faculty of consciousness'' and not various mind states such as dreaming, meditation, awareness, or other things that make up the 'contents of consciousness'. Instead I will be focusing on the capacity for inner experience. In addition, I will attempt to prove that "faculty of consciousness" does not only apply to hairless primates that walk upright. It goes much farther down the evolutionary chain than we may have previously suspected.
Ever own a dog or a cat? Okay, neither animal probably perceives reality or self-awareness the way most humans do. But can you positively say that a dog or cat doesn't have it's own inner world of experience? If any of you egotistical primates can make that claim, I have a few arguments for you. Why do vet's give animals anesthetics before an operation? Could it be that they feel pain? Ever watch your dog or cat become excited when you get home or when they see food? I think it is fairly safe to say that they do have their own mental picture of the world filled with numerous sensations. And if we can say that dogs and cats possess these traits of consciousness, I think we could also apply this to all other vertebrates as well, such as humans all the way to fish in the sea. And since we have discussed vertebrates, let's move on to invertebrates. Ever come home and find ants on the kitchen counter? And what happens when we use the bug spray? Looks something like panic doesn't it? Insects have a nervous system as well and react to their environment. And though their experiences may not be as rich as ours, wouldn't it be reasonable that there is inner experience as well.
If consciousness is a by-product of processes in the material world, these processes have to take place somewhere. It is generally thought that the brain or nervous system is the obvious candidate. And this is the perspective from the Materialist Metaparadigm. But a paradox ensues from this same materialist point of view. It also states that matter is insentient. So how can any purely material process ever give rise to consciousness?
There is another perspective called 'Pansychism' that comes from a completely different perspective. It states that consciousness does not come from any material process but that instead it is inherent in all things. From every large cellular structure to subatomic particle, there is a small spark of the 'faculty of consciousness' present. Plants react to their environmental conditions as do single celled organisms. In addition, even single cells removed from larger cellular structures have been observed to move of their own volition under certain conditions. Nervous systems act as more of an amplifier of consciousness to create 'concepts of consciousness'. The 'faculty of consciousness' would be the light from a projector and the nervous system acts as sort of lens to focus pictures on a screen. Single celled organisms do not have very complex functions, therefore a nervous system or 'consciousness amplifier' is not necessary. But as multicelled organisms developed, more functions had to be performed within it's structure and nervous systems developed. The more the evolution of multicellular organisms grew in complexity, so too do the complexity of nervous systems.
To sum up, coming from the point of view of 'Panpsychism', consciousness is a constant in all things. It is the very nature of the universe and reality itself. But where does someone come up with proof behind ideas such as Panpsychism? The answer may be completely different than what you may think. Let's approach the realm of Quantum mechanics once again for the elusive answer. In addition, we will be exploring even more abstract ideas which I will do may best to explain.
Around the turn of the 20th century, it was becoming clear that 'classical' physics was failing to describe new experimental data. It could not account for the spectral lines emitted by atoms, and it could not make sense of the thermal radiation from objects. New, more accurate measurements had shown that it could not account for the movements of planets around the Sun, and neither could it explain the apparently fixed speed of light. In these areas, classical physics was replaced by two theories; a new theory of sub-atomic and atomic processes, and a new theory of gravitation. We will be concerning ourselves with the former, which is quantum theory.
Erwin Schrodinger provided the foundation for quantum theory when he found the Schrodinger equation, a differential equation that describes the behavior of atomic and sub-atomic particles. The theory was very successful. However, Schrodinger became dissatisfied with the counter-intuitive results that grew from his work, and to illustrate these problems he came up with a 'thought experiment'. Schrodinger's thought experiment goes like this. A cat is placed in a box, along with a jar of poison gas, a small amount of radioactive material and a particle detector. The items are arranged so that if a single atom in the radioactive material decays, it will be detected by the particle detector, which will open the jar of poison gas and kill the cat. So, the cat's life hangs on a single quantum event - whether or not an unstable atom decays.
Quantum mechanics says that the state of the atom, and hence that of the cat, can only be discovered by making a measurement - by opening the box. However, it also says that until we open the box, the atom is neither undecayed nor decayed. It is in a strange combination of the two possible states, and thus the cat is in trouble. Until we open the box, we have a cat that is both alive and dead at the same time!
There have been many ideas as to how this paradox can be resolved. The first to consider is the Copenhagen interpretation, developed by Niels Bohr and his co-workers at Copenhagen in Denmark. In this interpretation, the quantum system consists of the contents of the box plus the human observer. Therefore, the actions of the human observer can easily change the quantum state of the system by opening the box. This idea is supported by experiments done on pairs of 'entangled' particles, where two widely separated particles appear to act as though part of a single combined quantum system. The problem with this interpretation is the nature of the measurement; what actions of the human observer constitute a measurement, and why can't the cat 'make a measurement' in the sense of knowing its own health and so resolve the paradox?
E. P. Wigner has proposed an alternative interpretation, that the only instrument that can make a measurement is the human mind. Thus the cat doesn't signify, since it does not possess a human mind. The problems with this interpretation is that the human mind is then something separate from the rest of the Universe - on the other hand, it is then very difficult to explain why different minds come to the same conclusions about questions of measurement, if there is no reality outside our own heads.
Yet how is this all possible? How can there be no reality outside of our own heads? Well, let's now examine the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle for some more light on this subject. Basically, it states that you can judge the speed of a moving particle on the subatomic level and you can judge where it is located. Only problem is, you cannot do both at the same time. You have the choice of either velocity or placement. But you cannot have both. And why is that? What's even more amazing is the fact that the farther we go within this principle, and taking into account Schrodinger's Cat, which is where Hesinberg's discovery began from, you begin to see that it is the observer of the phenomenon that bring it to existence. If there were no observer, you or I viewing the experiment, than there would be no outcome nor would there even be a particle. It is the observer that creates the speed of the particle. In addition, it is the observer that places the particle. Allow me to explain further.
At the subatomic level we begin to work with concepts such as actuality and possibility. Things have the quality of possibility until observation produces actuality. To put it as simply as possible, and realize that this is a very, very simplified way of explanation, an observer's 'looking' is essential in order to manifest possibility into actuality, and so when the observer looks, only then does the entire thing become manifest, which also includes time. Therefore, all of past time, in that respect, becomes manifest right at the moment when the first sentient being looks.
With the above in mind, consciousness is an essential part of nature. Without consciousness, nature and the universe itself, would have remained in possibility until there was a self-referential quantum measurement. According to the Quantum physics idea of 'delayed choice', the entire physical universe existed in a realm of countless possibilities until at one point, the possibility of a conscious, sentient being arose and that, at that point, instantaneously, the entire known universe came into being, including the fifteen billion years of history leading up to that point.
If we take all of the above mentioned ideas one step forward, we can come to the conclusion that the universe is 'us'. The universe is aware but it is self-aware through us. Consciousness is the meaning of the universe. So how do we apply this idea to our own individual selves?
One more time.... it is your own self-consciousness that creates your reality, and this is not meant to be taken as a metaphor. A liberating and exhilarating thought. Also a little bit scary as well. Go think about this one for awhile and see what you come up with. Here's some more food for thought. Remember Chaos/Occult theory? Taking Chaos Theory (Western Science) one step further and applying it to Psybernetic Occult Theory (Occult and Western Magick), changes in the microcosm of the mind effect changes within the macrocosm of reality. And for my proof once again, let's touch back upon the Holographic theory one more time. According to this theory, we are hard wired into the universe. And if we add in the models of quantum mechanics concerning probability, actuality, and 'delayed choice' we can deduce another odd fact. Not only are we hard wired into the universe, we are the universe.
Want to go even farther? Remembering that the Holographic Theory also states that what we see and experience is actually an illusion, than this would work even more with the idea of 'delayed choice'. When you read a book of fiction, you are creating in your mind a totally illusionary world. We have felt characters emotions and empathized with them to the point that we laugh with hem, cry with them, and love through them. Therefore, wouldn't it make sense that the universe also acts as a work of fiction if you compare it to a self-referential quantum application? Is the life that you experience real in the sense that you know it to be? Or is it something that you are writing as you go along?
Let me explain another idea that helps to illustrate this. Here is the idea of what is called "anthropic principle". This is an idea that has been growing among astronomers, especially cosmologists. It states that the universe seems to have a purpose. The universe is so fine-tuned and there are so many coincidences (synchronicities anyone?), that it seems very likely that the universe is doing something purposive, as if the universe is growing in such a way that a sentient being will arise or has already come into being. Hmmm. A sentient being arising. In all actuality, I think it has already happened. If your own awareness created the universe than doesn't the sentience already exist? Ever wonder why you experience deja vu? Or how about synchronicities? It makes perfect sense that you would have these occurrences. According to these ideas, you built the structure of reality and the world you live in. Granted if an illusion is real enough, it would be easy to get lost in the illusion. Think back to characters in a book or a movie and how real they have felt at times.
But think about the examples I've now placed before you. Am I real? Is this article that you are reading real? Is the screen or paper in front of you real? Is the world around you real? Or is this all just another figment of your imagination?
To sum up...it is my intention to let you know that there is more to you than you think there is. Or maybe this is you reminding yourself. And what this all ultimately leads to is two simple words. WAKE UP!! Realize self and realize your world. And once you have, there is no more Tim writing this. Tim is now an illusion. And Tim no longer exists except as a mirror you have made to see yourself in. This is now you writing to you. And this is meant to be taken literally. You have no excuses. It is you that creates the life you live. Do you want your life to reflect love? Or do you want it to reflect despair? You can live a life of miracles. You have written this story. But never forget; you can draw outside of the lines anytime you want. Or you can rewrite the story. Or you can stop writing entirely. Only you may know the possibilities of what lay beyond. You have a choice. And the possibilities are endless. So what do you choose?
Remember to breathe, you are just being born.
1:17 AM
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