Meditations of the X

The Astral Traveler

05/14/2025

Hello Okresiat,

This Einstein quote is one of my favorites in history: Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Freud felt that dreams were repressed desires and thoughts embedded in the unconscious. His goal was to make the unconscious conscious. The process would be a form of therapy, curing the patient of his or her malady. But, seemingly, from his perspective, the unconscious was very dark and monstrous. I must admit, as a child, I had many monstrous dreams. Monstrous dreams are a consequence of our ignorance of the material and parallel worlds. 

As you may know, Carl Jung surveyed the theory of the archetype, which is an aspect of what Jung called the collective unconscious. The archetype is an unlearned principle, which must be satisfied or completed. It is very instinctive. I truly believe that we have archetypes that try to connect us to parallel worlds. However, through ignorance, the archetypes are ignored; therefore, they mutate into unpleasantness. Remember, from an early age, we are taught to be rational (we are taught to read from left to right; we are taught not to believe in supernatural subject matter). Therefore, the creative behavior becomes unconscious. 

I believe that all beings are creative. Some people argue against this statement because they are not aware of the meaning of creativity. Most people enjoy dancing; dancing is creative behavior. Being creative is instinctual and a proclivity for people in some form. 

The class that you are taking for a math credit is interesting. I have a book called Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea, by Charles Seife. As you know, zero represents an important paradigm in science, philosophy, and religion. For example, in the Tao Te Ching, zero is represented many times by the phrase known as "emptiness." In order for a bowl to be useful, it must be empty. Therefore, zero has validity.

In your last email, you broached the question of whether our individual existence is random. We have talked about this subject in previous communications. (It is difficult to talk about your notion of life being a random occurrence.) Your concern transcends our binary system of knowledge. Binary systems of knowledge depend upon mediums of comparison, which are social or cultural constructs. It is impossible to know the cosmos… It is like trying to conceive a fourth primary color. As you know, in quantum theory, we are parts of a whole… In other words, there is only one phenomenon: God or Cosmos. It does not matter what you call it. Maybe this phenomenon is still evolving or trying to find its way home.  I want to recommend a movie called Solaris (Criterion Collection); the film is a great metaphor for the ontology dilemma.

Regarding my art, I had a studio at home. It is very important that people see my work. Art in public places is very important. Moreover, it is important for people to own my work. I feel that my work inspires people’s creativity. Creative expression is an important aspect of human behavior. I spend most of my days and/or nights creating art, which includes sculpture, works on paper, painting, and writing free verse. This is my lot in life--Sometimes during the creative process, I create without rationalizing; I have no expectations; sometimes I use thumbnail sketches from when I cerebrate. I am constantly amazed when something emerges from nothingness. You may be aware of the left/right brain theory. The right hemisphere allows me to be creative, intuitive, instinctual, emotional, ecstatic, etc. Nietzsche called this phenomenon Dionysian. This is what makes me an artist. This phenomenon of creative behavior is allied with the left hemisphere, which controls speech, reading, writing, comprehension, analytical skills, etc. Nietzsche called this phenomenon Apollonian. A synthesis is required of both hemispheres. Thus, this allows me to manifest the invisible.

I admire the creative engineering of the women’s beadwork. The Maasai people are an example of where art is central to the existence of their society and culture.

A few years ago, I saw a documentary film, Nigerian Art: Kindred Spirits, that documented how modernism is changing the outer context of Nigerian art, compromising traditional values. People from rural areas (various tribes) have come into the modern, industrial city of Nigeria, bringing with them canons of their belief system, and a synthesis that has created a new aesthetic for the culture of Nigeria. The film emphasized the importance of spirituality in art. I am concerned that African art is losing its historic and intrinsic meaning when viewed from a Euro-American perspective (the museum, for example).

In most African societies, art is a functional tool. And, art established a more cohesive society and culture. I feel strongly that art has the power to enlighten, or heal the mind. In ancient Egypt, art was very important to its culture and society; art implemented Egypt’s politics. Art was the conduit by which to enter the after-world.... In most African societies, art is a functional tool. And, art established a more cohesive society and culture.  

As I continue my journey in life, I believe art can save the world, which means creative people can save the world. I am in the process of reinventing myself, again and again. I want art to have the ability to educate the mind, therefore making one aware of the spirit of the cosmos.

With that being said, I enjoyed the names of your children. I agree with you relative to Patrice Lumumba being an unsung hero; he solidified the Congo’s freedom from Belgium. Therefore, you have given your youngest son a name of which he can be proud. Hopefully, it will inspire him to do great things in life. I am familiar with the etymology of Samadhi and Om: they are the goals of higher meditation. John Coltrane composed a musical epic called Om in the mid-sixties. The composition expressed the nature and dialectic of the cosmos, the spiritual cosmos.

What happened to Lumumba (his assassination by two conspiring governments: Belgium and the US) is another example of what was occurring to heroic Black leaders during the 1960s. I cannot tolerate evil men. I am aware that evil is a relative concept. History has perpetrated death upon the innocent. I cannot tolerate the slaughter of innocent women, men, and children. Within the context of our society and culture, a snake is evil, symbolically. However, a snake does not have the ability to create weapons and consciously destroy millions of people. Man is the most dangerous animal on the earth.

Dreams are always an interesting phenomenon; their manifestations and meanings are multi-faceted. For example, some dreams are merely reflections of our desires or fears. However, based on the research of Carl Jung, all human beings share common unconscious themes, which he called archetypes. As a result of the hegemony of vision, we experience a 3-D separation relative to our relationship to the world. As you know, we are an expression of the creative source: God.

As you know, mandalas are very commonplace in our culture and society. However, some people take them for granted as a result of not knowing their significance. Mandalas are suggested in many public spaces. For example, if you viewed Washington, DC, from above, you would see the city’s mandala configuration. In addition, baseball fields have a minimalist, mandala-like design. In the film Field of Dreams, the main character, Ray Kinsella, heard an ethereal voice telling him to “build it and they will come.” He built a baseball field.

I enjoy the very prolific work of Jackson Pollock; Lavender Mist (1950) is my favorite Pollock painting. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of Black Abstract Expressionists, who created avant-garde work in the 1940s and 50s: Ed Clark, Harold Cousins, Herbert Gentry, Beauford Delaney, Romare Bearden….

I was aware of the new archeological discovery. Yes, I love Egyptology. For example, in ancient Egypt, King Ikhnaton proved to be a genius when he established monotheism and revolutionized the arts. Thus, he created a more homogeneous culture and society. In addition, thank you very much for the time travel information. The subject of time travel has fascinated me for many years.

I saw Shutter Island on your recommendation. When I was a college student, I learned how to deconstruct symbolism in film. So, for example, before Teddy discovered Rachel in a cave, he walked through a series of rats. As you know, rats are basically subterranean creatures. Symbolically, they imply darkness, like the darkness of the subconscious, where reality has become compromised. The same symbolism is used in vampire films.

Remember the scene in which Teddy is suspicious of being drugged. Well, he was being drugged because he was having a bad psychotic experience.

It was obvious that Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, Teddy Daniels, suffered psychological problems. However, I was surprised that he was a patient… 

I logged on to Afro… and discovered that you have hidden your profile. So, now, I am curious as to the reason why…. Sometimes, when strangers meet online, they do not take the experience seriously; they feel that it is not realistic. Well, in a way that sentiment is correct: personalities are mediated by a cybernetic medium. Thus, the aura of one’s personality is compromised.

Thank you for sharing your dystopian lament (Lamentations of a Forlorn Abode). It reminded me of my own existential angst. In addition, it reminded me of a work I composed many years ago. Wow! When I read your work, it always reminds me of my life. You are my cosmic mirror…………………………………………………………………………………………………