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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
ON THE NATURE OF THE AETHER
by: Anthra Andromda
[1] The Anahat Shabd, the "soundless sound", is the subtlest element of all. It
is the etheric essence, finer than earth, air, water, or fire, beyond the speed of
light... all pervasive, the source of cohesion, of electricity, of magnetism and
gravitation, of all that exists.
The modern physicist E.C.G. Sudarshan has described the etheric essence of the
Anahat Shabd in scientific terms as follows:
"The ether as superfluid is consistent with relativity and quantum theory.
It is the support of all light, in it all bodies exist,it is attached to none, it is
ever present beyond the limitations of time and space. It has no inertial
qualities, no interactions, yet it is the very substance of illumination."
E.C.G. Sudarshan (preprint, University of Texas, 1974)
Such is the Eastern view of the aether, in the west it has been given the following
definition:
1. An imaginary substance regarded by ancients as filling all space and making up
the stars, etc.
2. In physics, as a hypothetical, invisible substance, postulated as
pervading space and serving as the medium for the transmission of light and other
energies.
This Aether has been theorized and expounded upon by metaphysists for hundreds,
perhaps thousands of years (I have so far been unable to find the true source of the
idea). Back in the 1600 there were several Aethers, but around 1638, Rene' Descartes
postulated a single Aether that was "all-pervasive".
As recently as a hundred years ago this idea was quite popular, though now it is
dismised by science, or at least most of science. There are now several physists who
are beginning to develop theories about the universe that look for all the world
like theories of the Aether, though, they are using different names for the very
ideas that the ancient metaphysists proposed.
Consider these two exerpts from papers written by modern physists. They are
going to describe two "fields" that exist in their theories, and are in all
likelyhood what the ancients called; the Aether.
[2] Space is filled with an energy field, the energy concentration of which is
extremely large (for the layman, the energy field in this lecture room could
correspond to the energy of several bombs.)
1817
This energy field has little to do with light energy or solar energy,
and instead is called the GRAVITON FIELD, TACHYON FIELD or NEUTRINO FIELD.
There are two essential models of imagination for this field and the tachyon.
We are either dealing with EXTREMELY SHORT WAVES which possess VERY HIGH ENERGY
electromagnetic radiation, or we are dealing with very small energy units
which display a PULSATING BEHAVIOR which, in turn, determines their energy.
[...]
The majority of them (tachyons) may remain relatively stationary (these
are called BRADYONS) and because of their OSCILLATORY BEHAVIOR (Prof. Seike
calls it "trembling motion" [Zitterbewegung]), they HAVE A GREAT AMOUNT OF
ENERGY.
This means that ALL MATTER is immersed in an EXTREMELY DENSE ENERGY FIELD
which we cannot percieve.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Vangard note...
Think of the Bradyon field in its continuous jiggle as having a
composition similar to syrup. Rapidly moving Tachyons can be thought of as water
or gas.
Comparison of the flow speed of the two fields shows how the Bradyon
field could "sustain" the holographic (3d) image of the universe in a matrix of
living energy.
This opens up very interesting concepts relating to Sheldrake's
Morphogenetic Fields and Burrs' Electrodynamic Fields of Life.
-------------------------------------------------------
[3] QUANTUM MAGIC
REALITY AS DESCRIBED BY QUANTUM MECHANICS
In quantum mechanics, reality is described by waves defining the
probabilities of different outcomes from the same interactions. These waves manifest
as what we have been taught to call matter, energy, particles, and/or waves when
observed.
These probability waves overlap and continue forever. The interactions between
different entities constitute a single structure of linked wave patterns, so that
the entire universe can be thought of as an unbroken whole. The waves form a matrix,
with all parts of the system affecting all other parts. Non-local relationships
exist between parts of the system that are distant from each other. It is
impossible to distinguish two particles of the same type in a region of space in
which they may be found simultaneously. Particles loose their individual identity in
such regions. Thus, the physical universe is fundamentally unified.
[...]
SCIENTIFIC THEORY
1818
Mr. Walker's ideas and equations would only be hypotheses if it weren't for the fact
that they have been tested experimentally and found to predict the results of
experiments with reasonable accuracy [4]. The evidence meets the usual rules of
proof for scientific theory, and this makes Walker's equations legitimate scientific
theory.
The non-local underlying wave patterns beneath manifestations of matter and energy
that we hold in common with our surroundings allow us to influence reality and to
obtain information about it using the power of the mind. This underlying
interconnecting pattern is the very stuff of consciousness and manifests, not only
as matter & energy, but also as psychokinesis, precognition and other phenomenon
that are only now beginning to be recognized and embraced by some theories of modern
physics.
[...]
Whatever the subtle level of reality underlying matter and energy, we are that
(including our consciousness). If hidden variables exist, we are the hidden
variables. It has been theorized that consciousness is an inseparable aspect of
this underlying reality. When our awareness connects with the deepest layer of
reality interconnecting everything, we may experience the level of consciousness
beyond time and form reported by many mystics. It is this non local structure that
we share with nature that makes it possible to "attune to nature," to psychically
participate in nature, and to live in accordance with
it.
What we are usually aware of (normal waking consciousness) is a relatively
superficial movement in the order of things. Behind the things we are aware of in
waking consciousness are a vast array of less strongly linked phenomena. This
latter realm is commonly called the unconscious (and parts of it the subconscious).
The unconscious is not very accurate, since it forms a kind of ground of conscious-
ness. Our awareness can link with this ground of consciousness to gain information
and to influence events.
-------------------------------------------------
As may be seen from the two quotations above modern science is developing theories
that are harmonious with the Thelemic concept of the Universe. True they are using
different names for the particles and fields, but they are none the less the same.
It should be noticed in the above that one writer talks about a particle field,
while the other writes about probability waves. These should not be confused -- it
is entirely likely that these are one in the same -- much like the photon, which is
alternately thought of as a particle and a wave -- yet it is still our mundane
light.
This Tachyon field is in all likely-hood a field of Hadits -- after all Hadit is
omnipresent. At any rate this does seem to fit into the current Thelemic and
Enochian theories of that which underlies reality, and even in the worst case
science is describing a field of RA-HOOR-KHUITs. This goes a long way to explaining,
in modern scientific terms, why and how Magick works.
---------------------------------------------------------
It is Descartes' "All-pervasive Aether" or field of infinitely small particles that
is becoming known as the Tachyon or neutrino field by modern science.
1819
In the Enochian theories, the universe is filled with a virtually infinite number of
'infinitely small' points of consciousness, these are known as the 'Monad'. These
Monads are the very stuff of which all things are made, and are in all likelyhood
the 'fundimental particle' of modern science. These monads then would also be the
'unit' particles which make up what the ancients called the aether, since at this
level they would be indistinguishable from energy. They would also form a great
'matrix' which would fill the material universe.
Since these particles are not only infinitely small, but are infinitely close
together, any action on one given particle would have an effect on ALL others. As
was noted above; these particles are 'points' of consciousness. This brings to mind
statements made by Hermes; The ALL is MIND (or something to that effect). If these
infinitely small particles are indeed consciousness, then it would follow that the
All or the Universe is mind. The universe would indeed be a living 'thinking'
creature in itself -- this idea is consistant with the theories of Enochian Physics.
But I think I digress. As is pointed out above, modern physics is beginning to
formulate theories that there is an 'all-pervasive' field or structure that includes
and penetrates all things. This idea is harmonious with the ancient idea of the
aether. Science postulates that this 'field' underlies all manifestion, the two
exerpts above seem to agree on this point, as do the ideas of the aether. It seem to
follow that the 'waves' that Mr. Cornett speaks of are what 'cause' what we call
"physical manifestation", and that these waves are caused by mind (did the universe
litterally 'think' itself into existance?). These waves could also be caused by
aggreates of monads acting as a unit (the manifestation of an intelligent creature).
The possibilities are endless, and all equally valid. So what does all this
have to do with the price of tea in China? Just this;
1. It goes a long way in proving the Thelemic Cosmology, though we Thelemites would
use different nomenclature. The Ideas of Nuit (infinite space) and Hadit (the
infinitely small particle which fills and manifests Nuit) are beginning to be
accepted by modern physics. The conjunction of these infinites, Ra-Hoor-Khuit, any
and all events occuring within Nuit and Hadit, is therefore a 'given'.
2. It shows the mechanics of Magick. Since it can be observed that one consciousness
affects another, it follows that one may affect the entire universe by simply
'fixing' an idea in their consciousness. This may seem a bit over-simplified...it
is! The process is not an easy one, however, the rituals and processes that have
been given us by the ancients do begin to make some sense in the light of modern
physics. It is these ancient mechanisms that allow us to put our mundane minds into
the proper 'frame' and therefore 'excite' our consciousness, thus allowing us to
have a 'physical' effect on
or enviroment.
References:
1. S.S. Guruka Singh Khalsa, Research Associate
Department of High Energy Physics
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
December 13, 1987
2. The Symposium on Energy Technology in Hannover
November 27 and 28, 1980
Topic of the Symposium (Tachyon Field)
Dr. Hans A. Nieper
1820
3. AMARANTH Vol. E.1.1: QUANTUM MAGIC
An Electronic zine by Larry Cornett 8/22/88
4. Evan Harris Walker...Scientst and author. Worked for US Army
Ballistic Research Labs. at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. He is the author
on several papers and book concerning psychic and other para-normal
phenomenon.
1821