We have discussed A LOT in this article series, and we aren’t done yet. I hope you will push through this to the end, because only once you have a basic understanding of the science can you grasp what all this means for your life.

Let’s recap briefly:

1. Materialism, the idea that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that everything, including your thoughts, are results of matters’ interactions, was killed off by quantum physicists in the early 20th century. Matter is not the base substance of existence. Reread it here.
2. There is no objective reality because matter does not exist unless there is an observer. The observer comes before the matter. YOU first. There is no matter without YOU. In the beginning… Reread it here.
3. You, the observer, cannot be made of matter because you create matter. The most likely candidate for what you are made of is consciousness. That would be good if you are made of consciousness, because it would mean you might be eternal. Reread it here.
4. There is no scientific evidence that the brain creates consciousness. Rather, science seems to suggest that consciousness works on and through the brain, perhaps through microtubules, by singing and playing a song creating quantum vibrations in the neurons. Reread it here.
5. As the observer, the way you create matter is by choosing (thinking and praying into existence) from probabilities that exist in a non-local realm connected to but outside of space-time. These many probabilities (i.e. possibilities) in the non-local realm are like prayers that can be answered. This sounds the craziest of all the things we’ve talked about, but actually non-locality is beyond dispute in quantum physics. I edited this post to try and make it easier to understand. Reread it here.  

Phew! That’s a lot. You have a PhD now.

This is a world view that gives you an incredible amount of responsibility, doesn’t it? Because you’re choosing your reality; you are making matter out of clouds.  Of course, the universe is the real power player here, because you can only choose things that are in the clouds, and the universe is responsible for those.

I know this non-local realm is really confusing, because it’s a place that’s not a place. I described it previously like the upside down in the TV show “Stranger Things.” Read about it here.

In quantum mechanics, places like the non-local realm are called Hilbert Spaces. A Hilbert Space is a mathematical concept used when a space has an infinite or unknown number of dimensions. See, the non-local realm has an unknown number of dimensions, because the math doesn’t work in there unless the mathers use Hilbert Space math. Magic unicorn, right?!!! This is really BIG stuff here. We are connected to a place with potentially multiple dimensions!! Surely there is a dimension where I have a yacht and a man servant to rub my bunions. Or at least one where Boy is not getting a C in English. Sweet!

As you can imagine, the non-local realm created a HUGE problem for scientists, a problem that they have not solved to this day. And the crux of this problem is where we find the notorious G.O.D.

The problem is that non-locality seems to create two different worlds made of two different substances governed by two different sets of rules: Process 1 in which matter, Euclidean geometry and classical, deterministic and predictable mechanics rule: inside space-time, where we live, and Process 2 in which probabilities, Hilbert space calculus and quantum mechanics control: the non-local realm. This idea of two different worlds, made of two different things, is known as dualism.

What’s really funny about this dualism we see in quantum physics is that it is exactly what Galileo implicitly and Descartes explicitly proposed in the 1600’s, that there are two separate realms, one involving physics (everything here we can measure– Process 1) and one involving metaphysics (an Aristotelian term referring to an inner, spiritual realm– Process 2) and never the twain shall meet.  This idea, of course, appealed to both the church and scientists, because it allowed each to retain its own area of expertise, so fewer scientists had to be burnt at the stake.

See, we like to think we are so much smarter now in the 21^st century, but scientists had been nosing around this concept of dualism for centuries before quantum mechanics rediscovered it.  And this rediscovery is why Erwin Schrodinger said at the end of his life, “I don’t like it, and I’m sorry I ever had anything to do with it.” God, I hope that’s not what I’m saying about my life’s work as I approach death. Remind me to tell my man servant not to repeat anything I say. Or show anything I journal. Burn it all, please!!! If you love me,  BURN.  IT.  ALL.

But I digress.

The dualism implied by the non-local realm creates a bigger scientific problem than just offending the scruples of scientists like Schrodinger. Dualism conflicts with the law of conservation of energy, a bedrock law of science. The law of conservation of energy is that no energy is made or destroyed, all is merely transformed. Implicit in this is that everything is made out of the same substance, because only like can communicate with/transform into like. The law of conservation of energy, therefore, means that our world and the non-local realm have to be made of the same thing in order for them to work together. But there are only probabilities in the non-local realm, no matter or atoms like here.

Scientists have still not worked out this problem. It’s why Richard Feymann, the notable quantum physicist, said, “I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.”

There are lots of theories, as you can imagine. One of them was unintentionally proposed by the father of quantum mechanics, game theory and modern computers, the madly brilliant John Von Neumann. Von Neumann is considered one of the greatest mathematicians of the 20^th century. A friend recently suggested that if I ever start dating again, I need to give guys a heads up that they should just send me quotes from John Von Neumann to get me hot. But I don’t think so. I would never have been able to get over the fact that he worked at the Manhattan Project, even if he did whisper in my ear about the schnitt. The word “schnitt” sounds dirty, doesn’t it? It means “the cut” in German, and it’s relevant to our discussion.

Von Neumann intimated in his work Mathematical Foundations of Quantum Mechanics that consciousness was the base substance of which everything is made, because the observer is the place where the non-local realm and our local world inside space-time communicate. The observer is the location of the schnitt: the cut where the mathematical equation switches from quantum math (the non-local realm) to classical math (our local world). Additionally, the equation requires the observer’s observation, his or her consciousness. Von Neumann thereby unwittingly suggested that the non-local realm and our world might both be made out of consciousness. The scientific name for the non-local realm under this theory is “Non-Local Consciousness,” and the name for our world is “Local Consciousness.”

If it’s all made of consciousness, that solves the problem of dualism and further explains many weird things that we observe in our world, which modern science cannot explain. If everything is made of consciousness, animals, vegetables and minerals all have consciousness. Even cells have consciousness. This would explain why plants respond to music. And how cursing or blessing water will change the structure of the water under a microscope. And how cells in the body respond to our thoughts and beliefs in the form of the placebo effect.

The theory of consciousness as the base substance of existence works scientifically.  It is a full-on LEGIT theory that can be squared with the math. And it lines up with religious mysticism and the sayings of your groovy yoga teacher Astrid. Shout out, Astrid!

We are one. With everything. One big mass of consciousness energy ever expanding toward greater and greater expressions of love. Together.

It’s what the Big Bang and Evolution already told us anyways.

And my boyfriend, John Von Neumann.

So I say we ride this big ball of consciousness love through the holidays. Look for the oneness, see the oneness. God knows, you may need to stand on the love of the great all to get through all this family time, especially if you’re from Alabama like me.

But do it.

Because this psychedelic hippie, consciousness love sh*t is science.

Until next time, joy and laughter to you. And triple sinks.

Ashley