Matter and Energy, Part 2

Matter and Energy, Part 2

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”

Quote attributed to Nikola Tesla (1856-1943).

This essay is one part of an exploration about which I feel abundantly curious and poorly equipped. I may get some particulars wrong, but the foundational concepts which I attempt to articulate are fascinating. I trust where this falls short in accuracy will be compensated for by intrigue.

Last week I wrote about the on-going interplay between matter, or physical substance, and energy. I ended by saying that the seeming distinction between energy and matter may not be as distinct as we imagine. In fact, there is a sense in which matter and energy are a single substance moving at different speeds. This was quantified in the last century by Albert Einstein (1879-1955) in his famous formula E=mc², which mathematically defines the equivalence between energy (E) and mass (m). Mass is a property of physical matter at rest (human bodies, mountains, homes, etc.). When mass is multiplied by a specific number (c²), the result is the amount of total energy latent within that physical object should its matter be converted to energy. The constant used is the speed of light squared (c²), the speed of light being the speed at which energy travels. For reference, the speed of light is 186,000 miles per second, meaning light (or energy) can circle the earth about 7½ times in one second, an unfathomable speed for our normal human comprehension.

What follows are my layperson’s speculations about the last paragraph. First, energy (non-matter) and matter (physical substance) are different manifestations of the same thing. The difference between the two, while significant, is accounted for by motion rather than essence. Last week, I made the case that what we call spirit is a form of what we call energy, meaning that they are similar, if not identical in nature. If we substitute the word spirit for energy, we would say that spirit and matter are of a single essence, which may or may not be more relatable to those with religious leanings. Some believe that our physical bodies are separate and distinct from any spirit that may animate them, a conclusion that is incompatible with this line of reasoning.

According to the laws of physics, as physical bodies gain speed, specifically as they approach the speed of light, their mass decreases and their nature more resembles energy (spirit) than matter. The equal-and-opposite corollary would be that as energy slows down it become more physical, implying that physical matter manifests from the slowing down (or cooling) of energy/spirit. This is supported by inferences I will draw when exploring wave frequencies in the coming weeks.

Equating spirit and energy can be a difficult reconciliation because the religious training and spiritual experiences of many lead some to attribute spirit as having conscious intent and purpose, while energy is considered an inanimate, random force. Some religious reasoning presents Spirit as a reality (like God) distinct from energy and matter, but that acts upon and directs energy into matter. What troubles me about this view is its separation of spirit, energy, and matter into separate essences. The challenge is whether we are willing (1) to attribute some measure of benevolent intent to energetic forces like electricity, or (2) to strip spirit of the loving, guiding compassion typically associated with it in religious teachings. Are we comfortable equating spirit with energy forms like electricity? Could spirit be a higher (faster moving) form of energy than electricity, yet still the same in essence?

Jesuit priest and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) is credited with saying that we are spiritual beings having a human (physical) experience. This poetic statement hints at what seems a reasonable conclusion from these contorted meanderings – that we earthlings are, from the beginning and always, spirit (or energy). That that spirit currently finds itself embodied in earthly materials is a natural, though transient state of being. Because energy and matter are interchangeable states of a single essence, we can know ourselves as spirit and matter with no conflict of religious or scientific understandings, as is equally true of everything in creation. We are One in essence with all other material forms, all manifestations of energy, and everything in between and beyond.

This is the 15^th in a series of Life Notes on Space, Time, and Eternity. The opinions expressed here are mine. To engage with me or to explore contemplative spiritual direction, contact me at ghildenbrand@sunflower.com.