Bionics & Our Biophysical Future, Wk 13

{Our 1st Bionic Trial Subject, Harold}

Support the development of a Bionic person?

Well...that depends.  I think that creating artificial limbs is amazing!  We're already in the midst of creating organs from skin tissue.  I'd like to see what they can do with nasal mucous!  Sorry, just kidding.  Can you tell I'm the treacherous, eldest sister in my family?  One of my favorite past times is to scare the living #@$*& out of my loved ones.  Now, what if I befriended a Bionic person and they absolutely no sensation to what it felt like to be startled?  Selfishly, I would be disappointed.

So, I'm not up for creating a real-life Frankenstein and I don't want to be partially responsible for that.  This possibility is going to be on the proposition, right next to stem cell research.  As much as I prefer to think of myself as open-minded, I have to acknowledge one issue I have with that term - not even the scientists studying these things know what they're doing.  So, I don't feel knowledgeable enough about their intentions.  This is still coming from a hopeful place that Bionic Monsters aren't going to join forces with the Blob to demolish the humans and take over the world...that's our job!   :o)  What's next, rotating skyscrapers for King Kong to climb?!?  Now that would be a hit!

{The Evolution of Women & Leggings...The New Bionic Woman!!!}

How would you rate "the control of artificial limbs by thought alone"?

I'm stunned, but not surprised...does that make sense?  I found it very enthralling that we have the means of technology to achieve such a thing.  "Wow!" was my reaction, I believe.  Again, this is one of those things that has a positive & negative side, just like many of the crazy ideas scientists have made into reality, with the help of imagination.  I could see this being great for somebody who doesn't have the means to work because they're paralyzed.  However, we're also raising these technological geniuses who can pass Sonic the Headhog in just 10 hours...that's amazing!  Seriously, it just might happen!  Those kids would insert this chip and go crazy telling the machine when to jump, what to jump on and how.  Doo-doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo.

Energy Medicine & Energy Fields, Wk 11

Acupuncture, a very effective energy medicine...

Acupuncture has been proven to work even if somebody doesn't believe in it.  I always thought that people didn't heal if they didn't have faith, period.  I was partly right, according to me.  Now I understand that our faith in healing ourselves is essential to the healing process, with the help of a specialist and a healing modality/ies that are effective for the ailment.  If we believe that we can heal ourselves, then we can be helped with the use of modalities like Acupuncture.  Not only will the healing process go by more smoothly, like Qi, but it will be a little more painless because we are actually doing something about it.  That's the energy that it takes to heal!  So, yes...Acupuncture is effective, and more so when the patient puts the good energy toward it and themselves.

What conclusion can you draw from Kirlian photography?

Energy can be captured on film!  Another example of how a picture can say 1,000 words, or 500, depending on if you have to write a term paper for Larry about it.

I was very interested in my aura photo and the little booklet that explained the colors.  I know that I have a Baby Bean, which I could have sworn was the printer's way of taking a stretch break.  Apparently, the little beam of no light was a reflection of a baby I made a pact with in another life who is trying to enter mine.  Sorry lil Baby Bean!

All jokes aside (rarely), it was a fun field trip, to say the least.  And, Kirlian photography is something that I plan on doing again when I'm going through a major transition.  Good times!  Thanks Larry!

Human intent as it affects health...

Yes, yes, yes!  Since I started here at AIMC, I've heard more on intent in 8 months than I have my entire life.  I love it!  Intent is essential, good and bad.  This reminds me of what I wrote about Acupuncture and faith being the key to a healthier lifestyle.  Intent is definitely involved in somebody's journey to a healthier lifestyle, a more effective healing session, a smooth relationship.  Intent is something that can also be negative, depending on one's reason behind an action, their intent.  If we intend to be happy, then you'll be happy, even if it's not immediate.  If we intend to be miserable, then that intent turns into an Interior Pathogenic Factor that used to be Exterior.  Damn those PFs!!!  Intend to take them out and it'll happen.

Life and Living Systems, Wk 10

I know I am a "living system" because...

I'm different systems held together inside a human body, complete with all the fundamental organs and systems within systems that keeps my body composed in this gigantic organ of epidermis. My heart beats, I generate thoughts (I think), I sweat, I bleed. I feel pain, emotions, tension, energy. I speed, I hike, I swim, I dance. I am.  I am, I am, I am.  Using the word "I" is a sign that I am a living system, a system that isn't just composed of myself, but as part of the whole, the sheres within spheres within spheres, a complete system.  Even if I was dead, I would still be part of the living system, because I lived.  That's why I am part of a living system.

Biophysics and Oriental Medicine...

Biophysics is summed up into many different categories, just like TCM.  TCM involves the body, mind and spirit and within those three categories lie different systems that all work together.  Biology and Physics go hand in hand, and more appropriately together.  Just as well, TCM and Western Medicine compliment each other.

Synthesis, Wk 9

My E-Prime Day

I awoke this morning, noted as Saturday, to a seemingly beautiful day.  As I recall, I slept somewhat peaceful during the dark part of this particular day.  The sun shone brightly and felt pleasantly warm against my face. I recall hearing a somewhat scratchy-weak sounding voice from the couch next to me.  "What time does the clock on the wall show?"  My friend Maria seemed in a state of sleep and wake mode.

"About 10:30 a.m.," I answered.  "I think we should all get going so we could potentially avoid traffic on our way to the river."

My friend Blake scrambled up some eggs and toast, and then we attempted our seemingly long journey to the north for some inner-tube and river action.  I think it was hotter on Sunday, but nevertheless, Saturday seemed to feel like a nice day to go on the river at the time.  From what I observed, everybody seemed to have a great time.  Apparently, we enjoyed the food, the many drinks, music and company.  All in all, the day went well...I think.

East & West, Synthesized

I would love to say that East & West have synthesized, but they haven't...completely.  I believe that our communication in language has been so developed that we've already come to some of the same conclusions.  However, it's my understanding that the East & West haven't synthesized completely because we seem to have a lack of self-evidence, trust and faith in each other.

Our minds and bodies have showed over and over again that they/we are in sync.  Our awake conscience and our dream state are in sync.  I think that once we individually overcome the feeling of separation from our environment, then our environment will continue to be a different entity, continuing to shut us out from one another.

Classical Physics, Wk 8

Newton's 3 Laws & Me (Katy)

1) Objects at rest stay at rest and objects in motion stay in motion in a straight line at constant velocity.  A force must be applied to change the state of motion of an object.

This is how I would describe just one part of the pattern that is my life, and I'm sure everybody else's.  I feel like my spirit keeps going on and on, on a constant ride of life.  I'm just not sure how straight that line is, it seems pretty bumpy, but in a good way.  We could all use a little friction in our lives!

2) The acceleration (velocity, not speed) of an object is directly proportional to the force acting on it, and inversely proportional to its mass.

I'm living for something, a big picture in my mind about who, what and why I'm here and I'm making those thoughts and goals a reality.  We are all capable of this.  This drive to be what we want to be is how I see this law.  If I put in the time, effort, love, understanding, patience, etc, I'll get that back and my life will be as bountiful as I made it to be.  This is my responsibility to myself.

3) It two objects interact, the force exerted by object 1 on object 2 is matched by a force exerted by object 2 on object 1 of the same size, but not in the opposite direction.  In other words, action and reaction.

This law just makes sense.  For every action, there is a reaction.  Brilliant!

Our "Energy Efficient" Culture

Energy efficient?  Unfortunately, not our culture.  I think we waste a lot of pretentious energy talking about how energy efficient we are.  Not everybody agrees completely that we are energy efficient, as they shouldn't.  Admittedly, on those nights when burning a candle seems more logical, I don't always think about it.  I'm too much into this culture to even think about it until after the fact, when I acknowledge my poor efforts to be energy conscious.  I can't give myself too much of a hard time, I mean, we're in the age of technology, right?  Well, technology has its positives and negatives, and it also leaves an imprint on our brains that energy isn't just a resource of luxury that should be valued and used appropriately.  Energy is wasted every day on stupid stuff, using our dryers as irons for 15 mins in the morning while showering.  Good trick, invest in a water bottle, spray and walk out of the house.  It's that simple!

I could be a smart-a$$ about all of this, but it is a serious issue and it deeply saddens me that there are cultures out there that haven't ever had a warm bath!  That's something that we take for granted everyday; we're just so wasteful.  I would like to think of myself as somebody removed from that greediness, but it's all around.  We're fortunate, but we're also extremely spoiled.  Of course there's a lot more to say, but that's all for now.  :o)  YANG!!!

DESCARTES

Whadda man!  I learned that Descartes abandoned his life in the army for a pursuit of truth, using mathematics for his explanations.  This doesn't seem like a wasted life to me.  I took this from an article I found online:

"In 1628 Cardinal de Berulle, the founder of the Oratorians, met Descartes, and was so much impressed by his conversation that he urged on him the duty of devoting his life to the examination of truth. Descartes agreed, and the better to secure himself from interruption moved to Holland, then at the height of his power. There for twenty years he lived, giving up all his time to philosophy and mathematics. Science, he says, may be compared to a tree; metaphysics is the root, physics is the trunk, and the three chief branches are mechanics, medicine, and morals, these forming the three applications of our knowledge, namely, to the external world, to the human body, and to the conduct of life."

Many men have contributed their life works to teaching for years to come.  Their teachings have become part of science, part of a tree and roots that we can derive more knowledge from.  If only he knew he was going on in history to become a major limb in the Tree of Science.

Chaos Theory, Wk 7

"Ordered Chaos" - Sound Familiar?

Ordered Chaos makes complete sense.  Spirals are made in the place between order and chaos, which is comparable to the Yin Yang symbol.

There were periods in my life when my room would be a complete disaster.  It's usually those times when I'm out and about, only sleeping at home; leaving me time to change and get out in a hurry.  If I needed something in that mess, I knew right where it was.  If I took the time to clean my room, sometimes I couldn't find my things because I forgot where I placed them.  Being in a hurry, I would noticed I wouldn't be able to find my things in the ordered room and in the chaotic mess...it was a balance.  Then, come move time, I would find things I forgot I even had, nice and organized in little places.  I would just end up throwing them out or giving them away.  Out with the old and in with the new.  Chaotic!  My point, I was the spiral in-between the order and the chaos.

Fractals as Patterns of Complex Systems

I am totally enamored by fractals.  Not only do I think they're gorgeous, but they represent the design of so many beautiful things within the universe.  Fractals prove that everything has a beautiful side to it.  The systems we have going on even here on Earth are nothing compared to the systems that we're a part of.  We're just one part of a whole system, and that could seem a little overwhelming to think about, but it's true.

Vibrations, Wk 6

"Good" Vibrations?

Not all vibrations feel good, but they're necessary.  It's like when somebody says, "I love you, but I'm not in love with you."  A decent response after the shock could be, "That's cool!"  At least they love ya a little and it was somewhat worth it. Well,  time to get on with it then, and an extra "thank you" for the heads up.  I'm not sure where that analogy came from, but there ya have it.

Resonance

Resonance can be a double-edged sword, "good" and "bad".  If something evokes great emotions from me and I get to feel all nostalgic later, then, right on!  If something really gets my goat and I end up dwelling, I don't think it's worth the sacrifice of my time to be dwelling on it; however, there have been times when I do.

Energy & Qi

Qi is Energy and Energy is Qi.  They both change, are in constant movement, spinning & flowing at the same time.  Qi can be blocked, can be felt, exchanged, etc, etc.  My understanding of the difference between East and West (in more words or less) is that energy is something that we can measure and use resourcefully in society and Qi is something more personal and holistic.  However, to me, they are the same thing.

For more insight on Energy & Qi, I found this great article: Click Here

Symmetry & Sacred Geometry, Wk 5

My (A)Symmetrical World...

Everything has an opposite, and asymmetry would be the opposite of symmetry.  Asymmetry in my life represents the road blocks and speed bumps that arise in my life that stop me in my tracks or delay a goal I had, an illness, an unfortunate situation.  It's important to understand that these situations allow me to become a more humbled person and appreciate the good I have in my life.  I'm just as grateful for my asymmetrical world as I am my symmetrical world.  Sometimes that asymmetrical world could be something great that happened in my life, a surprise that at first I wasn't down with, but ended up being an even better situation that what I planned out in my path before.  Life is (all) good!

CP Violation

What's perfect about the world and all it's living systems are their imperfections.  This is noted in the conjugation of the charge, which transforms a particle into an antiparticle and the parity, which is a mirror image of the physical system.  So, there proves to be weak interactions, leaving broken patterns in consistency.  This is how our life system works.  We could make a goal and plan everything out perfectly, but what's perfect about the path to the goal is the surprises, the thing that you didn't plan for.  It may throw us off course a little bit, but we can still get back on.  And for whatever reason we were thrown off, it seems to be best that way and leaves room for excitement and great lessons learned.

Sacred Geometry & Physics

There most certainly are relationships between sacred geometry and physics.  It seems that we can almost always relate subjects to one another, and these go very well together.  For many, many years we have seen signs, quite literally.  Patterns come in and out of our lives, our dreams, our creations.  Humans are a creation of sacred geometry.  Heck, even Denzel Washington and Gretta Garbo have perfectly symmetrical faces!  Sacred geometry is about consciousness, unity, manifestations of single-pointedness and that is the essence of life as a whole.

Sacred Geometry used in Feng Shui to harmonize our surroundings:

Used in linking the Great Pyramid to human forms: Click Here

Energy, Matter & the Four Forces, Wk 4

How has e=mc2 affected you?

"Gravity is reality, man!" I have a friend who didn’t believe in Astrology - western nor Chinese. She exclaimed, “I believe in gravity! It’s all about gravity!” Well, she had a point there. After explaining the theories behind astrology, she was a little convinced, but not as convinced as she was in gravity. This was her “go to” theory, and it’s understandable.

Gravity is here for a reason; it keeps us grounded. The movie Crash is a good example of the implications of gravity and quantum mechanics, among other things, involved in society's struggle to overcome racial tension. The further we put ourselves above everybody, the harder harder we'll crash when we're brought back to Earth.

I relate level-headed(ness), being grounded and so one to gravity. Gravity is the reason why we're sitting on this planet. We can measure gravity - it's understandable on paper and it’s just one part of a hole of energy forces that helps to explain who/when/why we are. Gravity explains where we are.

How would you compare the four “forces”?

This is similar to many things, the human body and TCM, the Holon Theory, etc. These are forces that interact with one another to make up for a larger task.

Electromagnetism is in itself a balance. The electric field and magnetic field depend on each other to produce an electromagnetic field. The electric field sends off charges and the magnetic field attracts them.

Strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force are given their names because of the difference in magnitude. Strong nuclear force, which holds quarks and gluons together, changes non-visible color. The weak nuclear force only acts on left-handed particles (quarks & leptons) and is the only interaction which changes flavor.

Gravity is explained as a curvature of space time and no longer an actual force. Gravity doesn't have a magnitude, but is somehow related to the other 3 forces, which is still being researched.

What is the function of gravity?

The function of gravity is to hold or put things in their place. Gravity is like the “Big Mama” of Earth and will tell you like it is, even so far as to put the “smack down”. This is reassuring, reminding us that when on Earth, we really are here, in this spot at this time. It’s like the reality of this planet, for lack of better terms.

Synchronicity, Wk 3

Synchronicity Evidence

"It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards." ~ Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

Synchronicity is one of those things that pops up constantly; it happens to me all the time!  Weird?  I think not!

Many other people have studied synchronicity, and the term Apophenia was coined in 1958 by K. Conrad to describe the "spontaneous perception of connections and meaningfulness of unrelated phenomena."  We're unconsciously and consciously searching for reasons/answers/explanations/meaning.  This has been part of human's existence since the beginning of our time!

Synchronicity is part of cause and effect which make up our experiences and learning experiences, which we are constantly doing.  Master Charles Cannon, a modern mystic, teaches meditation courses based on The Synchronicity Experience, which is named in the understanding that experience always precedes concept.  "In other words, when we want to know something - it is far more effective to actually experience it before attempting to intellectually grasp its meaning."  Personally, I believe this to be true.  Things happen for a reason.

Check out this website for examples and brief descriptions and references of Synchronicity: 
http://home.clara.net/heureka/books/synchronicity.htm

Check out this fractal video done to the Police's song, Synchronicity:

Connectivity

Based on what I know from life, text and historical experiences is that we're all connected. Connectivity is us and because of that, we're many thing(s).  What connects humans are stories and experiences (among other things), and within those connections are connections, down to the most infinite and minute particles which make up our whole.  We're not just connected to humans, but everything.

I recently referenced a book called A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber.  I had heard this book mentioned before and found it fascinating; I actually couldn't put it down in time to really focus on my project.  Ken Wilber was able to explain how everything is connected.  Instead of just describing the Universe as the top of the hierarchy of all that is, he explained that the Universe is part of the Holon theory which contains all the spheres (biosphere, atmosphere, etc), coined by Arthur Koestler, which I find fascinating.  Holon = whole (Greek word, "holos") and part (proton/neutron), suggesting a particle/part.  So, a holon is a part-whole.  Everything is a part of a whole, changing constantly.

Here are a couple websites to describe the Holon theory in more detail:

http://www.emrgnc.com.au/tenets.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Wilber
http://www.integralworld.net/edwards13.html

I've always felt connected to everything, even growing up.  My uncle once asked me about my spiritual beliefs when I was about 7 or 8 and I answered that God is in the trees, the mountains, the water, etc.  That was my own reality, as I didn't grow up in a religious household.

Again, we're all connected, as noted in A Brief History in Time by Stephen Hawking about the Big Bang Theory.  I caught the gist of the book, despite the scientific terms, but I needed more detail in Lamen's terms.  This was explained very well in The Book by Alan Watts.  Another reference that helped me to explain connectivity on a more spiritual level is no other than the infamous Joseph Campbell.  After reading about him, I re-watched all the Star Wars episodes and grasped a better meaning of heroism, based on Heroes of 1,000 Faces.  My favorite book by him was The Power of Myth, though.

Prickles & Goo by Alan Watts

Your point of view -  Are you Prickley or are you Goo?  How bout both?

If you have some time (about 40 mins), watch Alan Watts' Conversation with Myself (3 parts), taped 1hr outside of S.F:

Quantum Mechanics, Wk 2

Reflections on Uncertainty

For many reasons, there are things that don't have or require an explanation.  Either we can't explain it due to lack of detailed knowledge or, we just don't need to explain it.  We can prove that not everything has or needs an explanation, even in TCM.  Why does activating a certain point help to alleviate an ailment?  An old acupuncturist may look at you with a twisted face and say, "It just does."  That's the explanation!

Check out this joke presented by Stephen Hawking; it's cute!

Comments on Causality

How often have we wondered, what it?  Now, measure it.  How can we measure something that happened, may not have happened, or almost did?   Would that require stopping time to measure the moment in-between the cause and effect?  What would we compare the decision to?  I think it would be possible if we measured parallel universes, but we haven't gotten there yet.  We make decisions and the energy it takes to do so depends on the person and the universe and the distinguishable choices.  I don't want to say that it's impossible to measure causality, but it seems irrelevant in the scientific aspect and only relevant to human experience.

Causality, "we're constantly slaves to it", "we're completely out of control"

(the volume is a bit low on this video clip)

Weird Universe?

Defined in Wiktionary, weird is:

1) Having supernatural or preternatural power

I believe that the Universe is all-encompassing; that would include the 'supernatural'.  Like 'weird', 'supernatural' is also one of those words that I find to have a unique meaning in our language because it implies that it's almost unnatural, when in fact, it's the closest thing to natural we can get.  Some of us have tapped into that weirdness, that supernatural state, but that doesn't make it 'weird' in the negative sense.  For instance, when the phone rings and you know it's somebody else on the other line, that's not 'weird', I think that's one of the most natural thing in the world.  It's almost like we wouldn't need phones and develop Yoda-like powers in the future instead.

2) Having an unusually strange character or behavior

I think that humans have strange characters and behaviors.  When we learn to work with our universe, then our behaviors will be in tune, perhaps fading out words like 'weird' and 'strange'.

3) Deviating from the normal; bizarre

Yes!  It's about time.  Be somebody!!!

Sister Paula on Strange Universe...

She claims, "I am organized religion's best friend and worst nightmare...hallelujah!"

(disclaimer - this in no way is intended for religious promotion, but rather sheer interest)

The Meaning of Time, Wk 1

Quiz & Answer

Chinese Medicine just makes sense! It's that simple, it just makes sense. It is the understanding that all the things we put energy into affects our bodies and vice versa. Spirituality, nutrition, activity, bodywork, energy - all of those things are encompassed into a wise modality of healing. I've been healing people since childhood and my first experience with Chinese Medicine where everything seemed to click for me. I saw my own beliefs and theories of healing combined into this one ancient form of art and I remember feeling relief that something so profound in its simplicity had already been understood and established.

Already a massage therapist, I'm obviously attracted to the healing arts and believe that it is a calling that I'm here. This is the time for this art to gain honorable recognition in the West (was past overdue) and I feel blessed to be part of it. Chinese Medicine pulled me into a field of never-ending holistic opportunities in providing preventative medicine versus putting a band-aid on side effects.

Physics, honestly...

To be honest, I don't think about Physics much; although, I am interested. I felt a little overwhelmed with regards to studying physics. I may understand a little more than I think I do, but the extent of my knowledge lies in The Book by Alan Watts, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, What the Bleep Do We Know and a childhood guilty pleasure, Quantum Leap reruns. That's about as deep as I go down the rabbit hole.

Time Slowing Down

I've experienced time slowing down, time flying by, time seeming to stop and I definitely take my time. I felt time slow down the first time I had Acupuncture; I felt like I was floating down the hall on my way out of the treatment room. My journey to AIMC seemed to take forever, as well. I started looking at the school at the end of 2005! I believe that time could be measured like anything on a large scale, but I find that our "inner clocks" are drastically different. Like with anything, we put our extreme views onto time, rushing and smelling the roses.  Many disagreements are based on time and the reason why we can't come to agreements is because everybody has their own clock. So how do we end up on the "same page"? Well, we don't...we make a book. That's the beauty of time - it's all relative!