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"The reason I say that the fields themselves are not energetic is say that we are "in the same headspace". When describing states that according to the theory these fields have a non-local charac- of mind we often use terms such as "deep in thought", “way out", ter: they are not attenuated by time or space—they act outside of “high as a kite", or say that we are getting "into" something. time and space. And if the fields, in their non-local character, When covering distance mentally, we might say that we are involved a transfer of energy, it wouldn't be possible for them to “taking things in our stride" or are "taking. steps toward fixing a have these properties. problem". We might argue that we are “going over old ground" or "The fields are always linked to energetic systems—they always "getting into new territory”. Whilst sorting out a problem in our interact with energetic systems. The reason I say they're not them- _ minds, we might let our thoughts "wander" until we have worked selves energy is partly because of the way they're transmitted from out our “position”, at which point we might take a "stand" on place to place (non-locally) and partly because the kind of causa- _ whatever "grounds" we feel are necessary. tion they're involved in is distinct from the kind of causation Our metaphorical descriptions of time often define how we feel physics deals with, which is always construed in terms of ener- about the "mental space" we are occupying. When we are getic causation. The whole question of form has a curious rela- absorbed by something we often find that “time flies", and when tionship to energy; it can never exist without energy or activity, we are bored with our thoughts "time drags”. In highly stressful because without something having actuality or activity or energy a _ or emotional situations we might say that "time stood still". When form can't have any physical reality."* we feel overloaded we might say that we need “time out”, or if we Here, Sheldrake makes a vitally important point regarding the are annoyed at somebody's repetitive behaviour we might accuse nature of morphogenetic fields and that is that they are, in the true —_ them of doing the same thing "time after time". We may suggest a sense of the term, metaphysical fields: they exist outside of the solution that will do "for the meantime” or "for the time being”. physical dimensions of reality. We often describe our view of reality in terms of mass. For example, we might find a situation "really heavy", in which case it The Principles of may "weigh us down". We might judge someone to be “light- weight" or "lighthearted". When we have a lot do, we describe our workload as “massive”. Situations are often judged by us to "matter" or “not matter", and a person may feel "burdened" by an important "matter" when they realise the full "gravity" of its consequences. We also describe our thoughts in terms of charge, using expres- sions such as being “attracted to" or “repulsed by" something or somebody. A situation may become "highly charged” depending on whether we per- ceive other participants as having a "positive" or "negative" reac- tion to our own "currents of thought”. This may lead to the Experience According to the theoretical model postulated by Jahn and Dunne, the action of con- sciousness can be understood as being analogous to the behaviour of the subatomic world as described by quan- tum mechanics. In other words, consciousness has both particle-like and wave- like properties, and interacts with other subjectively-inde- pendent consciousness forms to create larger structures akin to consciousness molecules, and so on. It is influenced by fields, and, as is the case with matter, systems and structures that resonate coherently tend to be stable, whilst those that (Source: Yatri, Unknown Man: The Mysterious Birth a a" do not tend to break apart. of a New Species, p. 208) issue becoming "polarised", at According to this model, which point our emotions may the penetration of our consciousness into the environment, its get "excited" and "sparks" may begin to fly. Then again, we may range, is a function of the extent of our attention to it, or of our _ find ourselves interacting intimately with someone when we sense interaction with it. As our consciousness expands out into the "electricity" between us. cognitive plane—that is, the field of information (potential expe- The important thing we need to recognise is that our mental rience which, in itself, is dispassionate)—the emotional compo- _ reality shares many of the properties of the physical world, once nent of any particular interaction will generate either a positive | again supporting the hypothesis that they are in fact different man- (approach, attraction) or negative (avoidance, repulsion) state in _ifestations of the same forces. It is also important to recognise the the participating consciousness. The emotional components in role that E-motion plays in the interaction between consciousness any interaction are expressed as a cognitive orientation and may _and reality. be generated by any or every conscious element participating in the interaction. Speaking The Universal Language The very language we use to communicate descriptions of our All systems of communication speak a single language, the lan- experiences—and how we feel about them—suggests the possibil- guage of form. Speech, for example, is an audible form; writing, a ity that consciousness itself is imbued with the same properties as _ visual form. To consider the infinite versatility of form, we need space-time and the matter it contains. For example, we often use only consult the dictionary to see just how many facets of reality spatial metaphors when describing our relationship to a person. _ this word describes. Form not only suggests the shape of a thing We might say we are “drifting apart" from them, or that we find it or person: it also implies the structural conditions that determine hard to communicate with them as they seem "distant". the shape and mode in which that thing manifests. For example, Conversely, we may feel "close" to them, in which case we may _ water can take form as a liquid, a solid or a vapour depending on "The reason I say that the fields themselves are not energetic is that according to the theory these fields have a non-local charac- ter: they are not attenuated by time or space—they act outside of time and space. And if the fields, in their non-local character, involved a transfer of energy, it wouldn't be possible for them to have these properties. "The fields are always linked to energetic systems—they always interact with energetic systems. The reason I say they're not them- selves energy is partly because of the way they're transmitted from place to place (non-locally) and partly because the kind of causa- tion they're involved in is distinct from the kind of causation physics deals with, which is always construed in terms of ener- getic causation, The whole question of form has a curious rela- tionship to energy, it can never exist without energy or activity, because without something having actuality or activity or energy a form can't have any physical reality."* Here, Sheldrake makes a vitally important point regarding the nature of morphogenetic fields and that is that they are, in the true sense of the term, metaphysical fields: they exist outside of the physical dimensions of reality. Speaking The Universal Language All systems of communication speak a single language, the lan- guage of form. Speech, for example, is an audible form; writing, a visual form. To consider the infinite versatility of form, we need only consult the dictionary to see just how many facets of reality this word describes. Form not only suggests the shape of a thing or person: it also implies the structural conditions that determine the shape and mode in which that thing manifests. For example, water can take form as a liquid, a solid or a vapour depending on APRIL - MAY 1995 34 * NEXUS