Much is made of the ‘out-of-body’ phenomenon -

that other-worldly experience

that can shift or shaft accepted ideas.

And rightly so: such events deserve our unbiased scrutiny.

Defining the boundaries, or non-boundaries,

of Soul and Mind occupies serious thinkers constantly -

probably uselessly.

 

I declare that the subject is up for grabs

from anyone who gives it any thought at all

and THIS is my harangue.

Not knowledge, of course, just effrontery,

throwing my cap into the fray unasked

and climbing upon the soapbox -

quite bravely to be honest

because I know: who cares!

Nevertheless – onwards and upwards

For the sheer hell of it!

 

I think that the human mind/soul does not hold

the germ or the death of creation

as a single point.

I postulate (dig me) that the mind

is the machine of associations and interpretations

out of which may arise new ideas and novel ‘happenings’

but always as a result of

the interlinking of prior ‘real time’ experiences.

 

Therefore, I believe Transcendentalism of any kind

must have its roots in specific exposure

(no matter how discrete and whether directly or indirectly)

to an incident or series of incidents

which stimulated the subconscious

or the imagination

to navigate deep unexplored channels

of the Mind or Soul (or Whatever.)

Such connections may lie dormant

unknown and perhaps unknowable

until a physical drama like danger, drugs or dying

triggers the brain to resurrect  the association.

I believe that deliberate deprivation of food and sleep

even motion

sufficiently unbalances the human body

to predispose the brain to hallucinations

already conceived as plausible in the mind.

 

That was a real mouthful, yes, I know.

and I'm not one bit sure of my 'logic' here,

but my theory nevertheless  is:

we dream only what we want to dream

perhaps even what we have to dream

but just to the extent that we are allowed to dream

through experience or suggestion.

 

These ideas have been festering for years

and finally they are in words, however weakly expressed.

Good for me

Too bad for you -

If you have taken the time

To read this through.

Respond if you like

and don't if you don't.

Will I be offended?

No, I won't.

 

Cynthia Buell Thomas