Matter and Energy, Part 5

Matter and Energy, Part 5

“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).

What follows is part of an exploration about which I feel abundantly curious but poorly equipped to elucidate. I may express some aspects inaccurately, but the foundational concepts which I attempt to articulate are fascinating. I trust where this wavers in accuracy is compensated for by intrigue.

When considering matter and energy in the context of the reality we perceive, it is worthwhile to examine the deceiving influence of scale. For example, compare the similarities of our images of galaxies to our images of atoms. Within our human perceptual range, one is unfathomably large and the other unfathomably small. Both, however, have similar features when scaled to a comparable size for consideration. They are dynamic manifestations of energy and matter in constant motion that appear (to us) to be mostly empty, or non-solid, space. In the bigger picture there is but a tiny range of manifestation between the extremes where things appear to us as solid. Zooming out to the scale of a solar system, we see what appears to be massive areas of nothingness dominating the heavens. Some scientists, however, theorize that that nothingness is actually teeming with dark energy and dark matter. It is considered dark because we lack the tools and perceptual abilities to see, quantify, or analyze it. Some estimates are that about 95% of the universe is made up of dark matter or energy. Scientists believe that something is there because they see the effects of these dark somethings on the perceptible somethings around them. As a related aside, many psychologists estimate that up to 95% of our behavior is motivated by unconscious (dark) means, which is to say we do not consciously control much of our behavior. Could that be an internal corollary to the dark energy influencing the behavior of the universe?

When we consider structures at the scale of atoms, we again perceive mostly empty space or nothingness, even though we theorize atoms as the primary building blocks of everything we consider solid. If we take a microscopic view of our skin, we find cells. Zooming in closer we see cellular components like nuclei and other intracellular bodies. Zooming in more we find various compounds that support the cells, like proteins and sugars. Smaller yet are theorized the existence of molecules made of atoms that compose the supporting compounds. Smaller still are the subatomic particles that make up atoms. Even before we arrive at the molecular and atomic levels, however, what we perceive is mostly empty space populated by whirling particles. Could this be the atomic corollary to the dark matter and energy theorized on a larger scale throughout the universe?

As we considered the nature of waves of energy last week, I noted that waves vibrate at different speeds. Some vibrations of energy are easily visible to us, like ocean waves. Other wave vibrations we hear as sound, while still others we see as shades of color. There are, however, countless numbers of wave forms and speeds that are invisible, unquantifiable, and incomprehensible to us. I suspect these waveforms also exist in the realm of dark energy and impact the life and universe known to us. These are manifestations of energy that we cannot control or identify except that we know something beyond our perception is impacting what we can perceive. When we consider what lies beyond the quantifications of science, into the realms of spirituality, we can reasonably theorize the existence of a God or a Divine Spirit or an Intelligent Designer organizing life as we know it through some form of dark energy beyond our human perceptual abilities.

Other beings on the earth perceive in regions of reality that are dark to us. Nocturnal animals like bats, owls, and deep-sea fish can readily perceive what is around them when all we see is darkness. All parts of creation move, perceive, and live their lives in different ways and at different speeds. And many, if not most or all, of those differences are simply a matter of scale – a matter of which frequencies they perceive within. The birds at my feeder seem hyper and anxious when judged on the scale of human experience. A sloth appears sluggish and drugged when held to that standard. Mountains appear to be unchanging because they form, change, and fall on timelines exponentially longer than ours. Could the differences in the core life expressions and experiences of matter-and-energy entities, when stripped of our severely limited human judgements, be more a matter of scale than substance? If so, then it seems the spiritual maxim of the oneness of all creation is supported, as is the scientific equivalence of matter and energy.

This is the 18^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.