The Universe is What

"Scar Face" (self portrait) pencil on paper, 2000

Imagining that an atom in one’s fingernail contains an entire universe, in another dimension, or that our galaxy is but an atom in the fingernail of a supreme being, etc., has been among the wonderings of millions of human beings in many different times in many varied ways. At least occasionally, and outside of rigidly formed dogma, these musings can be part and parcel of existence when everything is in place for the curious, intelligent, and inquisitive human being.

Why is it, when an intelligent person has food, shelter, love and security, a next step can be creative wonderings and wanderings about life and the universe? This process may be universal human behavior throughout history and within every culture and civilization. Even though it seems logical that there can never come a definitive answer to these basic questions, many “answers” have been put forth and believed, defended, passed on, and elaborated upon. The search for answers has time and again become the invention of myth.

For the purposes of this book, the main thing is that the reader be of a mind to take on this journey of wonderings and wanderings about life, the universe, and everything just for the fun of it. This book is an invitation to take a little trip in time and space with no particular place to go. The point is not to replace age old dogma, or to install a new myth in place of the old, but rather to get perhaps a little clearer picture of what it has meant to be a human being on planet Earth and how civilizations and their mythologies, gods, heavens and hells have come and gone through the centuries. The more appropriate question here may be “What is human life all about, and what is the human view of the universe?

“What’s it all about?” “What is the meaning of life?” Part of the puzzle begins with the language and context within which these questions are asked. Just using the word “what” can skew thinking and give the illusion that the question is posed within an open context or placed upon a blank slate. Within the question is the preconceived idea that one may already know something about the point in question and that the answer is a matter of shedding light upon something that is already “known” in some manner.

Inherent within language is a myriad of answers, definitions and assumptions that must be transcended to reach the truly original thought. “What” is “The Universe” may be answered basically in this format as “The Universe Is What”. The universe is what we make of it – the universe is everything – the universe is a mystery – the universe is (or isn’t) what we think it is, etc. The language used in posing the question relates to the structure and composition of the answer that may be considered and the relationship the questioner has to the answering.

__________________________________________

Losing our minds.... (2000)

The Universe is not a closed mathematical system any more than a human being is. Popular Western ideas about the nature of the universe have failed in relating to natural holistic principles and basic common sense and natural laws. The ways this translates into human beliefs in our own origins, and view of human nature, seems to leave humanity without a mother, so to speak, and separate from our true source (Earth, family, ecosystem, food, water, air...). This allows us to destroy that which sustains us while our beliefs lead us to think everything is going to work out fine.

Our world, and our universe, is a dynamic mystery related to everything around us. Since everything is interconnected what reason is there to believe that the large scale cosmos is disconnected and supernaturally sprung out of nothing? The greater the effect humans have on the environment and future of all life, the more important it is to adopt holistic, ecological, and environmental principles, from our philosophy and cosmology to the way we wash our clothes. Everything is related and interconnected and ideas that things (the cosmos especially) just pop our of nowhere is not conducive to saving life on Earth as we know it. We need to wake up and evolve our fundamental global paradigm, which tends to fragment social groups with each believing their religion or philosophy is the one true one, while there is still time. There is not one single idea for everyone everywhere except that we all do not really know the big answers.

Is there a way to skip forward to see the future of human thinking envisioning a common thread while maintaining individuality and cultural identity? Can humanity accept the idea that each culture has it's own belief system, which is what it is - a belief system, and find a fundamental common ground in that we all share in the same mysterious cosmos and that no one has THE answers?

The Earth's systems continue to suffer such catastrophic change that before too long, with such things as lead poisoning and toxic waste, etc., humans may no longer be able to think big thoughts and humanity may actually devolve as a conscious intelligent species. Can we change our minds before it's too late, and before we literally lose our minds?

Human concsiousness is not sprung from a separate divine spirit dwelling in our bodies. Without the basics of life - clean air, water, food, etc., regardless of ones belief, consciousness and intelligence does not develope. Even an imbalance in the trace elements necessary for us to live can change our emotional intelligence and how we function and think. What's at stake is not only leaving future generations with a chance at life. What's at stake is whether of not future humans will be able to think, dream, and evolve consicously at all.

Humans do not flare forth out of nothingness, and neither does the universe. What is seen so far is what is seen so far, and this does not mean there is nothing else.

What difference does it make what the large scale structure of the universe is? All the difference in the world, literally.

Lets think about it while we still can.
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Lene Vestergaard Hau

Light Speed...
   What the Universe is all about, what is out there, and what is happening and how it all works is largely based on the observation of light. What is light? Does it have a speed limit and can it slow down? Does a red shift in the spectrum of distant light necessarily relate to velocity or age? Is there any way to tell?
   The Harvard physicist, Lene Vestergaard Hau has done some interesting experiments slowing down, and even stopping a beam of light. To read about her work just type in her name and do a search.
   What does this mean related to theories of the universe and the big bang in particular? That is up for debate.