Although I am thoroughly in the camp that we must collectively go through this catastrophe that seems to be triggered by the “invisible enemy” (the dreaded virus), I do keep writing about something deeper that “wants” to come through the chaos, or be born from it. Not mere speculation on my part but paying attention to subtle signs appearing in dreams, language, or anomalies. No guarantees of course but paying attention this way keeps me going, as the darkness darkens .
So, for example how about this subtle sign? The virus is physical, material, yet is said to be invisible ( yes, said to be an enemy but let’s get past the paranoia). So we have a definitely physical “x” that is too small to influence and control with the mind or with technology. It is its own “agent”, an “uncanny other” with definite effects on our bodies. Well, there is a body of work begun in the 90’s that is paying philosophical attention to this kind of invisible material agency. The movement is called the New Materialism. We are working theoretically towards a momentous discovery but only using theoretical tools to “get there”. This “method” won’t work but these theoreticians are sensing that this near-discovery IS critical to any future that may include human beings.
Here is one hint of what is to come. I dreamed that I was watching a birth. The entire material process was happening “on the outside” i.e. I could perceive the physical “inside” as though it were on the “outside”. I was watching the physical processes that are involved in birth, the invisible but still physical forces that are “behind” the manifest physical birth. The physical, i.e. fleshly, organic, living bodily physical “inner” processes were emphasised by the dream, much like my “death” dreams of 2010 emphasised the physical aspects of ineluctable death, terrifying me at the time.
Maybe the capacity to perceive this way is the new birth!
And yes, I had to write another essay…
