My walk through the cosmos to the post office and back . . .
Yesterday afternoon I took a walk through the cosmos to the post office. My one-mile journey over sometimes smooth, sometimes bumpy sidewalks took me through the beautiful wide maple tree-lined streets of our picturesque little rural town nestled in the Pioneer Valley of Western Mass. Conscious of my 'working hypothesis' of being totally immersed in the transparent, timeless psycho-electromagnetic-air in and around me, the Presence of our all-permeating Source -- common denominator of all cosmic dark and light -- energizing and nurturing everything -- was almost palpable.
It reminded me of what it is probably like to breathe and live somewhat analogous to a fish within an ocean. But this particular day, for some mysterious reason the reality of that analogy seemed more than usually real,
All five of my regular senses took in the colorful array of innumerable species of flowers, tall sugar maples gloriously arrayed in their brilliant orange-red foliage, the well-manicured green lawns, the ubiquitous gray-brown squirrels darting here and there, the singing of unseen birds in the tree tops, and, of course, friendly greetings exchanged with the occasional human I met along the way.
Blended with these delicious sensations, on a parasensory level I intuited the presence of the ubiquitous intelligent energy, I have come to call OmniMind, our Source, energizing each -- the flowers, the maples, the squirrels, birds, humans, and yes, ouch! the tiny black bug which just bit my arm -- within, around, above, and below me.
It is on this parasensory level of consciousness it seems to me we share our common interconnecting 'ocean' of our being, our intercommunicating cocreative omnimind-electromagnetic-airy web of all existence.
I felt more acutely aware than usual of my seamless oneness with the all-permeating invisible Presence of our Source and all the other entities -- carnate and discarnate, feminine and masculine, immature and mature -- who share It with me.
I went on to muse about bioelectromagnetism which scientists say is an aspect of all living things, including all plants and animals. As you may know, some animals have acute bioelectric sensors, and others, such as migratory birds, are believed to navigate in part by orienting with respect to the Earth's magnetic field. Also, sharks are more sensitive to local interaction in electromagnetic fields than most humans.
One bioelectromagnetic phenomenon within us humans I found especially fascinating is the brainwave. Studies by neuroscientists have shown bioelectromagnetic fluctuations of voltage between the various parts of the cerebral cortex are detectable with electroencephalo-graphy (EEG). In an intensive biofeedback workshop at the Menninger Clinic back in 1983 I remember how stunned I was to realize that when I received a telepathic 'newsflash' the EEG signal indicating theta brainwave activity was sounded, all that while I was wide awake. Previously I had thought people had to be asleep or in trance for theta to manifest.
Then I recalled that astrophysicists report their studies show electromagnetic energy pervades our entire universe. Scientists now have evidence that each living thing is an electromagnetic field interconnected with other electromagnetic fields . . . all the way from atomic particles such as quarks in cells, to us humans and other living entities such as stars and planets, all the way through the outer reaches of our universe as far as the Hubble telescope can see.
Some physicists have hypothesized the existence of a number of universes which in the aggregate could be called a 'multiverse'. Ooops! I just stumbled a bit over a hump in the sidewalk caused by the protruding root of a large tree. Thanks, tree and sidewalk, for bringing my attention back to earth, at least for a moment.
I went on to muse about my 'working hypothesis' that the probable existence of a conscious omniversal Mind which includes, is within, and encompasses the multiverse. In other words, this conscious Source Mind encloses, permeates, and 'personally' nurtures the cocreative evolution of Its-Her-His constituents -- the physical multiverse of galaxies, planets, stars, and all within It-Her-Him.
My 'working hypothesis' that our Source is personal is supported by the realization our nightly dreams appear scripted, produced, and directed by the personal representatives of our Source.
Here I am pulling magazines, bills, and junk mail out of my post office box. I put it all in my bag and begin my trek home through the cosmos. Note: This is probably a good place to interject the fact, should you be interested, I have provided a copy of this blog in larger font as an attachment.
Interesting how walking stimulates my feeling, thinking, and intuiting. It brought back a memory of a general map of consciousness I had developed while an internal organization development consultant at Honeywell in 1968. In it I had shown a series of concentric circles all nested one within the other all the way out to the cosmos. In fact I remember how one vice president affectionately gave me the nickname "Cosmic Bob" and the fun we had with that.
I thought of Arthur Koestler's conceptualization of holons and holoarchy. You probably know his view: According to an interpreter of his work in Wikipedia (caveat emptor), a holon is a system (or phenomenon) that is a whole in itself as well as a part of a larger system. Holons can be conceived as systems within systems within systems, each nested one within the other.
You probably have seen the children's toy which comes with several transparent spheres of various sizes, each nested one within the other. The thought of these various sized spheres one within the other caused me to think of holons.
Every system -- from a subatomic particle to the universe as a whole -- can be considered a holon, On a non-physical level, words, ideas, sounds, emotions—everything that can be identified as simultaneously part of something bigger than itself, yet be viewed as having parts of their own within themselves, are viewed as holons.
Since each holon is embedded within progressively larger and larger holons, each having the ability to cocreatively self-manage, intercommunicates with, is influenced by, and influences these larger wholes as well as those smaller holons nested within it. Since a holon also contains communications systems, or parts within itself, it is similarly influenced by and influences these parts. Information flows directionally between smaller and larger systems as well as in a more random (rhizomatic) manner, perhaps similar to energy running through many entangled roots beneath the surface of the earth. That picture suggests 'entangled minds' and various degrees of complexity and chaos to me.
A hierarchy of embedded holons is termed a holarchy. The holarchic model has been seen by cosmologists as an attempt to modify and modernize perceptions of natural hierarchy so I decided to take a crack at it.
As I walked briskly, sometimes lurching a bit due to the uneven sidewalk, I visualized some nested transparent four-dimensional spheres (holons) all contained within and permeated by an infinite, transparent, timeless 'ocean' of conscious intelligent energy. Some might assume it to be "God" or "Goddess" or "Goddess-God" or some equivalent, but as you now know my agnostic view is that it is more logically viewed as our Mysterious Source.
To explain that a bit more, after much deep psychospiritual wrestling, including four-plus intense years in theological schools, with deep questions about the existence of an autocratic, micromanaging, bloody sacrifice-loving, judgmental Supreme Being, more or less similar to the Judeo-Christian version, I came to the conclusion that the existence of such an erratic -- sometimes loving, sometimes violently destructive -- being could neither be proved or disproved. (If interested see my SIA blog titled " God: Great Imperceptible "Ink Blot"?" http://www.shiftinaction.com/node/4298.)
Although no one concept of a God (to date) can be proved or disproved scientifically, I as an agnostic can readily see the logic of there being a mysterious cocreative Source of all creative evolution.
Consequently,I prefer to use the 'working hypothesis' that there is a mysterious, non-theistic, timeless "Source of All" and study Its-Her-His behavior through the integral natural sciences, namely, cosmology, physics, biology, ecology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, etc.
Such a mysterious all-pervading Source of all cocreative evolution makes It-Her-Himself known in, around, above, and below Nature. I have come hypothesize our Source Mind as permeating our atmosphere as a blend psycho-plasma-electromagnetic-air.
Through various experiences of synchroncity (Jung's term for meaningful conincidences) over the years I have experienced Its-Her-His care for me personally and for others in my sphere of social life (For examples see my blog titled "Dragor Hotel Experience: Spooky Action Up Close?" http://www.shiftinaction.com/node/6688).
After reading books by the likes of cosmologist Brian Swimme, neuroscientist Candace Pert, evolutionary biologist Elisabet Sahtouris, and systems scientist Ervin Laszlo together with personal coaching from OM (my psychospiritual soul consultant), I surmised our conscious feminine and masculine Co-Source has cocreatively evolved and continues evolving everything based on their four fundamental laws of the universe which scientists say appeared soon after the primal event some call "The Big Bang" or "Great Radiance".
Those four fundamental laws are gravitation, strong nuclear, weak nuclear, and electromagnetic energy. I hypothesize that another "law" may be the most basic of all, namely, omniversal consciousness, or what I call OmniMind, The Source of All.
When I arrived home from my two-mile trip through the cosmos to and from the post office I sat down to my PC and began writing about my thoughts and drawing (MS-Pub) my ten-holon graphic as our Source channeled all that through and with me.
With all the above in mind it seemed logical to me to draw my holarchic representation of holons starting with atomic particles such as quarks and atoms near the center of my big picture of consciousness. They would be embedded in the larger holon composed of molecules, and those within holons of larger organisms on Gaia. Our earth is embedded within our ecosystem, and progressively on out through our solar system holon, then larger and larger holons of the Milky Way galaxy, encompassed by our universe and possibly, say some scientists, other universes called multiverse or omniverse. My 'working hypothesis' is that all physical holonic systems are encompassed by and permeated by OmniMind, our cocreative Source all.
In my mind's eye I envisaged drawing my cosmological big picture, all ten of those holons represented one within the other on my four-dimensional holarchical map of consciousness. While unintentioned on my part, some folks, like one fellow in my IONS 1999 conference workshop in Orlando, said my 'big picture' reminded them of concentric "cosmic eggs" nested one within the others. And it was quite appropriate to have drawn the concentric circles which represent spheres as not only of different sizes but also not quite the same because these spheres in reality are far from perfectly round or elliptical. They may, in fact, may be rather odd in shape.
Nevertheless, in the attachment to this post is a representation of my big picture, ten nested spheres of holarchic consciousness.
I suggest you remember my four disclaimers: One, whether there are ten holonic spheres or some other number is a matter of one's own subjective interpretation; Two, my computer refuses to draw holons as four-dimensional spheres, so they come out as one-dimensional concentric circles; Third, as I have portrayed them these holons are "too perfect" because in actuality holons are very irregular, more blobbish in appearance the than the more 'perfect' spheres in my map of consciousness. My computer just wouldn't consider drawing holonic blobs within holonic blobs. My fourth disclaimer is summed up in semanticist Albert Korzybski's "The map is not the territory." In other words, any map will probably portray just one of many possible portrayals, no one of which can portray the whole of what the territory actually is.
Having stated my disclaimers here is an outline of ten nested holons all enveloped within and permeated by all-pervading realm of conscious Mind of our feminine and masculine Co-Source Mind-Spirit of all holons.
Note that I use the 0 (Zero) to represent timeless It-Her-Him.
0 - Timeless Aware Mystery Feminine and Masculine Co-Source of All. Pervading all, She-He-It is the all-nurturing intelligent conscious energy which is not only the 'glue' which holds and integrates every holon with the whole system but participates cocreatively with each to achieve the evolutionary work of each holon in intercommunicating as needed with every other holon.
10 - The physical Omniverse/Multiverse holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed below (which show in the attached graphic as within it)
9 - Our Universe holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicating with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
8 - Our Milky Way Galaxy holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
7 - Our Solar System holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
6 - Our Ecosystem holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
5 - Our Planet Earth holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
4 - Our Social Culture holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
3 - Each Organism (including your biological body) holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
2 - Each Molecule holon within our biological bodies cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
1 - Each Atomic Particle/Atom holon cocreatively self-manages interdependent with and intercommunicates with our Source Mind and each holon embedded within it, including all holonic systems listed above, around, and below.
0 - Our Timeless Aware Mystery Feminine and Masculine Co-Source Mind-Spirit of All. Pervading all, She-He-It is the all-nurturing intelligent energy which is not only the 'glue' which holds and integrates every holon with the whole system but participates cocreatively with each to achieve the evolutionary work of each holon in intercommunicating as needed with every other holon.
I hypothesize our Source may well be the conscious cocreative evolver of and comprised of mind, plasma, electricity, magnetic, and air which is mainly oxygen and hydrogen. All those combined gave me one word 'psychoplasmoelectromagneticair'.
SOME ADDITIONAL NOTES
1. My 'working hypothesis' regarding each holonic system at all levels of the big picture is that each has a temporal internal system consisting of these phases: cocreative conception, birth, development, preservation, diminishing, death, recycling, and renewal through the cocreative conception of a new temporal form which journeys through the same general process described above.
2. According to my soul consultant OM there is a magna carta provided by our Source for souls who want to free themselves from the involuntarily conditioned attachments, identifications, addictions, habits, and hang-ups associated with the temporal cycle of conception, maturation, and death summed up in 1. above.
Now termed The Source Magna Carta (SMC) it is described as follows: OmniMind (OM), our Source has confided that a soul, defined as a "perfected soul," is the most beautiful. A perfected soul is one which has completely disidentified with attachments, identifications, addictions, habits, and hang-ups relative to temporal feelings, thoughts, images, behaviors, and possessions (including one's biological body).
More specifically, we may know these as beliefs, values, theories, hypotheses, attitudes, intentions, motives, processes, genders, roles, body types, behaviors, maps of consciousness, and material possessions.
Characteristically, a perfected soul is window-glass-clear in a quiescent state but exudes a beautiful silverish diaphanous quality when in action. Generally, this most beautiful and freest of souls is consciously one with our timeless Source, the Omnipresence.
It-she-he is a skillful cocreative self-manager of its-her-his conscious repertoire of all existentially available options, is integrally healthy, empathetic with all, sees each response to each situation as an option with caveats. In addition it-she-he is flexible, experimental, confident, receptive to feedback, makes effective adjustments to stay on course according to intentions. And last but not least, the perfected soul tends to make more money within healthful social and ecosystemic parameters in the temporal world.
CAVEATS: While the perfected soul viewed on a transtemporal holonic level is most beautiful, its-her-his cocreative self-management of its functioning and effectiveness in the temporal realm may be less than perfect. Every social and ecosystemic situation being different, idiosyncracies often require new empathies, insights, adjustments, and behaviors in communicating effectively with others.
Put another way, interpersonally (inter-soul-ly) there is always something new to learn, e.g. every persona is similar in some ways but different in others, mistakes are easily made. The ongoing mission of the beautiful. perfected. transtemporal soul is to learn from each situation in the temporal realm and keep on going to new relationships and learning therefrom on into the transtemporal.
There are processes for becoming a perfected soul free of temporal attachments, identifications, addictions, habits, and hang-ups. If you want you can review these optional processes at:
A Transformational Ten-Step Process to Integral Noetic Consciousness http://www.shiftinaction.com/node/5533
Cocreative Self-Management Transformation and Development System: My Ten-Step Affirmational Process http://www.shiftinaction.com/node/2075
Soul Consciousness Expansion Process: An Integral Noetic Overview http://www.shiftinaction.com/node/3923
SUGGESTED PSYCHOSPIRITUAL EXERCISE
I have used this map of consciousness I call "Ten Nested Spheres of Holon Consciousness I" as the focus for contemplation on the 'big picture'. Some fascinating experiences with it has often sent me excitedly to my encyclopedia.
Having said that I cannot guarantee results for you, however it may be a useful exercise with which to experiment for expanding your consciousness on your own terms.
Steps:
1. Place the map of consciousness titled "Ten Nested Spheres of Holon
Consciousness I " in front of you.
2. Sit quietly in a comfortable position
3. Close your eyes.
4. Deeply relax all your muscles, beginning at your feet and progressing up through your head
5. Breathe slowly and naturally as you focus on the center of the map of consciousness and repeat to yourself: 'I am a pure, transparent, timeless center of our Source of All. I am not any temporal feeling, thought, image, attitude, behavior, or possession. However, I include all temporal feelings, thoughts, images, attitudes, behaviors, and possessions in my repertoire of options, deploying each option healthfully and practically as I see fit.'
6. Assume a passive receptive attitude and open your eyes. Focusing on the center holon first, accept without judging, evaluating, or modifying all para-images, para-audibles, para-thoughts, para-touches, para-smells, and para-tastes.
Should you find yourself overwhelmed with para-data, you can say in response to each of those paranormal messages, "That's an option," or "I am pure, transparent, timeless awareness. I am not __________ (whatever the paranormal message was). That is simply an option which I choose to use or ignore as I wish" or "I visualize that para-information transforming into something healthful and useful to me."
Any one of those interventions will probably help you manage incoming psychospiritual data. If not email me at omnimind@admin.umass.edu for additional options.
Don't worry about how well you're doing. If distracted you can simply say to yourself something like "Oh well" and gently return to focusing on the holon of your choice.
If I want to remember my paranormal messages I simply write them in a journal or PC or laptop.
7. Continue for as long as you feel comfortable.
8. If you are new to this kind of process, upon finishing the exercise it may be wise to continue sitting quietly for a minute or so, allowing your other healthful regular thoughts to return.
9. Express gratitude to our Source of All for the para-data you received.
10. Move on to focusing receptively on other holons as you feel ready.
Yours with empathy, probabilistic evidence-based natural science, freedom, integral health, and joy!
Bob Johnston
P.S. If you would like to read this blog in larger print access the attachment.
Should you have difficulty accessing the attachments try this: After you have clicked on the attachment you want and when you get to the message box which gives you "Open" and "Save" options, click on "Save" -- that should get you to another message box where you can click "Open", that should give you access to the attachment you are after. If not, write to me at omnimind@admin.umass.edu and I'll send the documents via email. Bob
REFERENCES
Assagioli, Roberto (1965). PSYCHOSYNTHESIS. New York: Putnam Press.
Johnston, Robert Wayne (1979). THE INTEGRAL LEADER-MANAGER PROCESS WORKBOOK. L.A.: Western Gear (currently updating)
___________________ (1999). Ten Spheres-Plus of Integral Noetic Consciousness Transformation and Wisdom, Workshop presented to the IONS International Conference, Orlando, FL.
Jung, Carl G.(1968). PSYCHOLOGY AND ALCHEMY. Bollingen Series XX. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press
Koestler, Arthur (1967). THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE. London: Hutchinson (1990 reprint edition Penguin Group)
Korzybski, Alfred (1990). COLLECTED WRITINGS 1920-1950, Institute of General Semantics, 1990, hardcover
Pert, Candace B. (1997). MOLECULES OF EMOTION. New York: Scribner
Sahtouris, Elisabet (2004). EARTHDANCE -- Living Systems in Evolution. NY: iUniversity Press
Laszlo, Ervin (2004). SCIENCE AND AKASHIC FIELD – An Integral Theory of Everything. NY: Inner Traditions
__________ (2008). QUANTUM SHIFT IN THE GLOBAL BRAIN. NY: Inner Traditions
Swimme, Brian and Berry, Thomas (1992). THE UNIVERSE STORY. San Francisco: Harper Collins
Unknown author (2008). HOLONS. Wikipedia website..
©Copyright 1968; Rev. 1998, 2008 - Robert Wayne Johnston - OmniMind Constituents . . . for integral self, social, and ecosystem health and wellbeing
