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1974
Within the field of parapsychology there exists the growing belief that we are now on the verge of discovering a "new force" in nature.
This "new force" is generally unrecognized by conventional science, but throughout history accounts of a strange luminous energy run like a silver thread through ancient occult and spiritual traditions.
It has become called many names:
...and the like (see far below appendix for complete list).
I believe that an important key to
understanding this new force or "energy," in reference to our
present technology and sociology, resides in the study of these
ancient and spiritual traditions.
Physical theory is usually built on observable and measurable phenomena.
It concerns itself with the uniformity of behavior underlying the apparent irregularities and then expresses itself in the language of number and geometry.
Plato (427-347 B.C.), however, held that physical laws can be found from directly intuitive principles, the aim being to explain specific phenomena in the context of a philosophic system.
The truth of a principle was not measured, as it is today, by its usefulness in every conceivable known or predicted physical system.
As Plato states in his Phaedo:
The Greeks thought that metaphysics was easier than physics, and tended to deduce scientific principles from a priori conception of the nature of things.
Metaphysics was the
discipline which studied principles of knowledge or of being in
terms of intuitive, self-evident concepts, concepts of direct
"everyday" experience and analogies. Thus, physical theory to the
Greeks was intelligible only in the context of a prior specific
metaphysical theory.
These characteristics of science and metaphysics were
unrecognized in the early days of civilized thought.
We sometimes ignore them
altogether, even though, from another point of view, they stand
before our very eyes. Even the most general and modern scientific
theory does not hope or even seriously attempt to accommodate every
single detain of a specific case.
As a consequence, the history of science is studded with cases in
which it turned out too late that the neglected part of a phenomenon
was actually its most significant aspect.
Force is usually now defined as "that which changes the state of
rest or motion in matter, measured by the rate of change of
momentum. In more general and simplified terms, "energy" is the
ability to do "something" or overcome some "resistance."
There are:
There are many
different areas where these types of "energies" are observed but
when new observations are made which do not include any of the above
energies, these observations are usually either ignored or
considered in error.
The phenomena known as "the laying on of hands" is perhaps the most common example of some force other than electromagnetic fields somehow interacting and causing changes in biological processes.
Historically, the process of healing by the
imposition of hands was first mentioned in Ebers Papyrus,
1552 B.C. Today we still have excellent examples of this "new
energy," causing much re-evaluation on our whole concept of energy
in general.
The most classic was that of Franz Anton Mesmer, M.D. (1773-1815).
After acquiring his Ph.D. in Philosophy, Mesmer studied Medicine at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1766.
His thesis topic:
Mesmer drew freely upon the magnetic fluid theory reported by such alchemist-physicians of the preceding two centuries such as Paracelsus, Van Helmont and Robert Fludd.
The fluid, which supposedly permeated all space, was said to sympathetically link all beings, inanimate objects and the stars:
Mesmer condensed his theories into 27 major postulates, the knowledge of which would constitute a new departure in Physics and universal means of healing and preserving men.
Mesmer termed this new force "Animal Magnetism."
A study of his theory of Animal Magnetism yields a notion very
similar to that of mana held by the Malanesians.
The nearer this descendant is
to the source, the more powerful the content of mana. A
Polynesian chief who was chosen because of his close kinship with
the Gods would have a greater degree of mana than a commoner.
It was viewed as a type of aura pervading all objects, living or
not-living.
He discovered what he termed the primal biological energy of the body. He termed this new energy Orgone and states that there are a number of phenomena which are,
His discovery led to a series of experiments and theories of orgone biophysics, the point he was trying to make was that this orgone was a new force which has not yet been described by classical physics.
Reich's concept of a mass-free "primal orgone energy ocean" is akin to both the mana notion and to Mesmer's animal magnetism:
Reich's concept of life energy and its function is strikingly similar to those used by the various lay healers.
Orgone was inimical to disease and therapeutic in
itself. Diseases such as cancer were thought to exist only in an
energy-depleted individual. The infusion of orgone meant
normal functioning.
Vital
force, mana and orgone were apparently the same
energy, some fluid which pervaded space and was somehow transmitted
from on object or person to another. The infusion meant healing and
normal health. His experiments were performed on "sensitives" or
those who exhibited exaggerated nervous sensitivities and were prone
to nervous diseases.
It is precisely this concept of a nervous energy that the Western medical science are having trouble coping with in the study of Acupuncture. Acupuncture, with its stimulations of meridian points, is based on the existence of a mana-like force called "Chi" or universal energy.
It is for this reason that Acupuncture has been left for so long to languish in the realms of the occult.
If science can, in fact, demonstrate the existence of a force described in Acupuncture and as postulated by various researchers, it will then provide a clue to what transpires biophysically in the process of faith healing.
It may well be that
the processes and concepts which are necessary to the understanding
of faith healing, as well as other paraphysical phenomena, depend on
going beyond the limited categories provided by our culture.
His belief is that there is a basic energy which permeates the entire universe.
The healer, by the use of his hands and other means, can
direct this energy from his body to one who is deficient in vital
force or life energy, which is a manifestation of this energy.
There was no special ceremony or preparation necessary. He simply proceeded to "diagnose" me with a pendulum which registered "emanations" from my body as he passed it up along my spinal column. Where the pendulum swung around in a slow, tight orbit he pronounced "low in vitality" and prone to disease.
Where the oscillations were fast and described a large
circumference, it was an indication of a healthy organ and freely
flowing in vital force.
He then re diagnosed me and declared that my vitality
level was higher than it was before. I did feel better and I am a
skeptic.
Oral Roberts technique involves preaching until he feels
the "power of God" come over him. He then knows that
God is ready to
heal through him. Roberts defines the necessary condition as a point
of contact which is usually his right hand. For Roberts, God
is a being of miraculous power omnipotent and all prevailing, in
whom there is unlimited supply of power available.
People who do get healed experience
effects such as ice cold shocks, electricity, intense heat or the
overwhelming sense of peace and joy which is often interpreted as
Christ's presence. The sense of religious ecstasy experienced by
many is also termed the presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Greek healer Hippocrates,
revered as the Father of Medicine, is reported to have said that
disease does not appear purely as a malady (pathos) but is
This inherent healing power is known as the Vis Medicatrix Naturae. What we have here is a first statement of this new form of energy, previously unrecognized by modern science. It is an inertia of a pattern.
The
harmonious pattern of behavior assures it's own continuance.
We at present do not have any models, of wide belief, which unite the mind with the physical world.
Rather, most all current beliefs are
oriented around the concept that the human body is nothing more than
a machine. We see this in terms of chemical therapy to the
interaction of electromagnetic fields on biological/cellular
processes. Everything going on in the body is explained from a
strictly physical plane point-of-view.
Unfortunately, in the
present material age, this concept is regarded as an abstract idea.
There is, however, nothing abstract about the healers. They do heal,
manipulating "energies" not of a physical character: as we yet
understand, but somehow intuitively correct from Plato's point of
view.
A good review of that material in reference to today can be found in The Holographic Concept of Reality. (6)
The DNA are considered
grains of holographic projections of three-dimensional energy fields
which direct the flow of materials and direct the structuring of the
creature. I do not believe my model is this "new force" described in
this paper, although the full implications are just now being
explored.
Sarfatti has suggested the possibility of some form of
bio-gravitational field which is somehow connected with organic
room-temperature super-conductors that may be found in biological
systems. (7)
He maintains that whether one travels without or journeys within, whether one goes as a Physicist or mystic, the same unitive experience is seen.
Throughout history this
single pattern persists within all occult teaching: There is
something beyond, Space, Time and Good/Evil "realities."
My model would be something
like electrophoresis, superconductivity mechanisms within the cell.
I would probably also find that these radiation points probably
would correlate to Chakra points or some other metaphysical concept
which is still around.
He does it by altering his perception of "reality" through techniques of song and dance: a trance. In this state, time has no meaning (as LeShan indicates) so he really is not on the coals, and his feet are not burned.
A shaman may be described as a psychically unstable
person who has received a call to the religious life. As a result of
this call, the man usually goes through a period of solitude or
"retreat" where he then emerges with the power, real or assumed, of
passing at will into a state of mental dissociation.
From these experiences, he derives the skill in divination, religious poetry and magical medicine. He becomes the repository of supernatural wisdom.
He is, in fact, in control of this "new force" in nature.
This leads to what Don Juan calls the sorcerers' explanation.
In my own words, reality is that which cannot be known.
From studies by Ornstein to the latest theories in Physics, it is apparent that our physical senses are not receptors of information. They are, at best, only filters which have been genetically and socially programmed from birth. What we see and think is the real world is, in fact, a mass hallucination. Consensus opinion generally establish our "laws."
As that consensus changes, so do the
laws of Physics. This process occurs about every 40 years now.
Everything you are reading
right now is going to affect what you do and think tomorrow. From an
information theory point of view, tomorrow is occurring right now
and you are not yet consciously aware of it. But the shaman is, as
he does not relate to the space-time co-ordinates. He can "see" into
both the past and future as if it were "now," whatever that means.
The science used by the Western world today has many
limitations because of our choice or paradigms. Among them would be
Plato's emphasis on reason to the near exclusion of feeling,
Aristotle's division of philosophy into science and metaphysics, and
St. Augustine's separation of the "body" from the "mind."
If we are to truly understand how to apply this new force into our everyday lives, it will be necessary for us to choose new models for the way we approach reality. Another major roadblock in our choices or paradigms will be that this new model, if it can be developed, will be required to take everything that we presently know and understand and make it a special case of something more fundamental.
This again is different than Plato's
approach.
It is
information which directs energy. If one wished to blow up a
mountain, one would do it by pushing a button which was in some way informationally linked to detonate a nuclear bomb. The energy
released was an act of information, so directed as to control when,
where and how the bomb went off. Therefore, the act of pushing the
button is somehow linked with the nuclear energy on an information
level.
Entropy is a term used in Physics to describe the usability of energy. If we are in a room where no heat can enter or escape, we say that the energy in the room is constant. If all the heat is over at the heater, we can do work with that energy such as boil water.
We
Since we are now less able to do work with that constant energy, like boil water, we say that the entropy of the room has increased. Entropy, then is a measure of disorder or chaos.
Entropy can also be thought of as a measure or grouping of
information representing energies.
As time went on, these points of energy radiated their energy into space to make space more homogeneous in energy.
Thus, the usability of that energy decreases
and the Universe increases in entropy or disorder.
As the Universe becomes more disordered, man
becomes more ordered. Therefore, if you wished to view reality from
an ego type "I" point of view, where your physical body was where
you stopped and the Universe began, then the main purpose for
existence is for the assimilation of information. This, of course,
is only one co-ordinate system for viewing reality.
Electromagnetic influences and Lunar movement do
alter behavior patterns to such a degree that we now do agree, in
part, that man is somehow integrated with the rest of the Universe.
In fact, one could even say that man is not becoming more ordered
any more than the Universe is becoming disordered. They are simply
one way of relating to reality.
Order is found in the
connectivity of two events. The structural similarities are
expressed in our present culture as energy. A signal of information
is sent across the space/time co-ordinate system for a re patterning
of a zone. An observer sees this re patterning as a manifestation of
energy.
The concept of the Omega
Principle is this, the whole trip of what "reality" is at this
point is totally random, up for grabs by the largest and loudest
group of people.
Once you set up a specific way of looking at reality, then there are only certain information paths connecting energy to space and time.
It is therefore impossible to give a satisfactory definition of this "new force" in nature because the concept is diffuse to our present sciences. However, the Polynesians used the mana to describe something which was perfectly understandable to them and that they could use.
It did not
need any exacting scientific definition from their point of view,
its existence was an undisputed fact and its manipulation an
everyday occurrence.
With this in mind, it has occurred to me that science today is probably just another religion.
One which is particularly effective in manipulating physical reality. Magic is the manipulation of organic realities as science manipulates physical realities. The ultimate goal for this generation then will probably be the blending of magic with science. The Omega Principle then is that there exists a Life energy which manifest itself as a pattern.
I therefore offer the following postulates for this "new force" in nature:
This "new force" then is the energy which patterns randomness. Magic can be thought of as the science of patterning.
As Aleister Crowley states it in his classic text Magick in Theory and Practice:
This is the embodiment of fundamental
truth. Our next journey, then will be to understand the "energy" of
Will.
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