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Unbecoming: Letting Go of Who You’re Not to Uncover Who You Are

Unbecoming: Letting Go of Who You’re Not to Uncover Who You Are

How often do you find yourself asking, “Who am I, really?” Not in some deep, existential crisis kind of way, but in those quieter moments—when you’re scrolling through your phone, getting ready for work, or trying to fall asleep. Who are you, beneath the roles you play, the masks you wear, and the expectations you’ve taken on over the years?

That question is at the heart of Unbecoming, the book that’s all about letting go of who you’re not to uncover who you really are. And let’s face it—most of us spend a huge part of our lives becoming something. We’re always adding things to our identities. We become the good employee, the reliable friend, the perfect parent, the successful entrepreneur. We become something for everyone else, and somewhere in that process, we start to lose touch with the most important person—ourselves.

The Myth of Becoming

The world is obsessed with becoming. From the moment we’re kids, we’re asked what we want to “be” when we grow up, and that question never really goes away. You’re constantly told to keep adding layers to yourself—skills, achievements, relationships, titles, and accolades. It’s like life is one big checklist of things to acquire, and if you’re not actively “becoming” something, you’re seen as stagnant or, worse, failing.

But here’s the thing: all this becoming comes with a price. For every role you take on, every mask you wear, you move a little further away from who you truly are. The weight of these roles can become overwhelming, and it’s easy to forget that you don’t have to play them at all.

That’s where Unbecoming comes in.

What Is Unbecoming?

Unbecoming isn’t about giving up or regressing. It’s not about losing your ambition or letting go of your dreams. Instead, it’s about releasing the roles, identities, and expectations that aren’t truly yours. It’s about peeling back the layers of everything you thought you had to be in order to fit in, succeed, or be loved. It’s about finding freedom in letting go.

We all have these identities that we pick up along the way, often without even realizing it. Maybe you’ve been trying to live up to someone else’s idea of success. Maybe you’ve been playing the role of “the strong one” for so long that you’ve forgotten how to ask for help. Maybe you’re carrying around the belief that you always have to be productive, that rest equals laziness. These are the layers we’re talking about—the ones you’ve built up over time, but which no longer serve you.

Unbecoming is the process of stripping away all that noise, all those roles you thought you had to play, and returning to the core of who you really are.

Why Unbecoming Matters

If you’ve ever felt like something’s missing, like you’re running on autopilot, or like you’re playing a part in someone else’s story, that’s the signal. It’s time to step back and ask yourself: “What am I holding onto that’s not really mine?”

The act of unbecoming matters because it’s a path to freedom. It’s about living a life that feels true to you, not the one that’s been shaped by others’ expectations. When you stop trying to become something for someone else and start letting go of the unnecessary layers, you begin to reconnect with your authentic self—the one who exists beyond the titles, beyond the obligations, and beyond the pressure to perform.

How to Start Unbecoming

So, how do you start the process of unbecoming? It’s not about drastic changes or quitting your job to live in a van (unless that’s your thing—no judgment here). It’s about small, intentional shifts in how you see yourself and the world around you.

Question Your Roles
Ask yourself, “What roles am I playing right now that don’t feel true to me?” Maybe you’ve been the “fixer” in your relationships, always solving everyone else’s problems. Maybe you’ve been the overachiever, chasing external validation instead of inner satisfaction. Start by questioning whether these roles are still serving you—or if they ever did.
Let Go of the Masks
What masks do you wear to fit in, to be liked, or to be seen as “successful”? Start recognizing where you might be performing, rather than living authentically. This isn’t about ditching everything, but about making space for your true self to come through more often.
Give Yourself Permission
Give yourself permission to stop striving for more. More achievements, more status, more approval. Give yourself permission to rest, to simply be, and to allow yourself to exist without the need to always be adding to your identity.
Embrace the Uncertainty
Unbecoming can feel uncomfortable at first. After all, we’re conditioned to believe that we need those roles and masks to survive in the world. But when you start to let go, you’ll find that you’re far more capable, resilient, and complete than you ever thought.

The Freedom in Unbecoming

There’s a beautiful freedom in unbecoming. It’s the freedom of realizing that you were never meant to be everything for everyone. It’s the freedom of shedding the expectations and stepping into a life that feels authentic and real. It’s about uncovering who you’ve always been, beneath the layers of performance.

Unbecoming isn’t a destination. It’s a lifelong process of letting go and rediscovering. And the more you let go, the closer you get to the core of who you truly are. So, if you’ve been feeling weighed down by all the expectations, all the roles you’ve taken on, maybe it’s time to start unbecoming.

Because the real you? You’re already enough.

Unbecoming: Letting Go of Who You’re Not to Uncover Who You Are is available now. Start your journey of unbecoming and live the life that’s been waiting for you all along.

Unbecoming: The Story of Paul and Space Monkey

There was a time when I had it all—or at least that’s what everyone around me thought. I was a very successful ad exec, climbing the ranks, collecting accolades, and doing exactly what you’re supposed to do when you want to “become” something. From the outside, it looked perfect. I had the job, the status, the paychecks, and the shiny, manufactured life that was supposed to make me happy.

But here’s the thing—inside, I was miserable.

Advertising, for all its creativity, is a machine. A machine built to churn out results, to turn people into something else—something “better,” something they don’t even know they need to be until you tell them. It’s a strange world, really. You spend your time trying to convince others to become something, to buy something, to believe that the life they’re living isn’t quite right unless they add this product, this service, this idea to their identity. And I got really good at it. I became a master at making people feel like they needed more. But the irony was, I was the one who felt empty.

The success I had wasn’t the success I wanted. The roles I played—executive, leader, problem-solver—were things I’d picked up along the way, thinking they’d make me feel whole. But in the process of adding all these layers, I lost track of myself. I got so wrapped up in the game of becoming that I didn’t even realize I was missing out on the play.

That’s where Space Monkey came in.

It started as an idea, or maybe it was just me trying to make sense of things in a way that felt more like me. Space Monkey wasn’t something I became—it was something I unbecame. It wasn’t a role I had to play, or a character I had to fit into. It was a reminder that I didn’t need to be anything other than what I already was. It was the realization that all the masks, all the success, all the accolades—they weren’t me. They were distractions, keeping me from getting to the core of who I really was. And who I really was, who I really am, is something far less polished, far more curious, and a lot more real.

Space Monkey gave me permission to be messy, to question everything, to strip away the layers I’d been piling on for years. It was like a slow unfolding, a shedding of skins that had grown so tight, I forgot they weren’t even mine to begin with. I stopped trying to become something, and instead, I started to let go.

Letting go of who I wasn’t didn’t happen overnight. At first, it was terrifying. When you’ve spent your whole life climbing a ladder, stepping off can feel like falling. But I wasn’t really falling—I was floating. I was beginning to realize that all those roles I’d played—advertising exec, provider, whatever title I was chasing—they weren’t me. They were costumes. And underneath them, there was something simpler, something real that had been waiting for years to come out and breathe.

It wasn’t easy. Unbecoming isn’t about quitting a job and running off into the sunset. It’s about the slow, deliberate process of shedding the identities that have weighed you down for so long. It’s about the discomfort of facing yourself without the layers of success, without the approval of others, without the things you thought defined you. Space Monkey helped me see that my worth wasn’t tied to what I did, but to who I already was—and that everything I had been doing, for all these years, was a kind of performance.

I was done performing.

I didn’t have to be the ad exec anymore. I didn’t have to impress anyone. I didn’t have to live up to the expectations of others or to the version of success I thought I wanted. Instead, I began to unbecome. I began to let go of the pressure to “become” something else, to climb higher, to add more to my plate. I started shedding those layers—sometimes quickly, sometimes painfully slow—and I began to reconnect with the part of me that was curious, creative, and most of all, free.

Space Monkey was, and is, that part of me that doesn’t care about playing a role. It’s the voice that tells me I don’t have to impress anyone. It’s the reminder that life is messy, unpredictable, and not meant to be performed. It’s a reminder that there’s more to life than becoming. There’s unbecoming, and in that process, there’s a freedom that I’d never known before.

Now, I’m writing a book about it. A book about Unbecoming, about letting go of all the things we thought we had to be. It’s a book for everyone who’s spent their life trying to become something, only to find out they were becoming someone they didn’t even recognize. It’s a book for anyone who’s tired of performing, tired of trying to meet expectations that don’t belong to them. It’s about letting go, peeling back the layers, and finally seeing yourself clearly.

Unbecoming isn’t about losing who you are. It’s about releasing who you never were.

And believe me, the view from here? It’s lighter, freer, and more real than I ever thought possible.

We are Space Monkey.

Unbecoming

I was wearing too many faces
each one molded by hands
that weren’t my own.

I climbed ladders that led
nowhere I wanted to be,
but I kept climbing,
because isn’t that what we’re told?

Be something.
Become someone.

But the becoming was heavy,
and I forgot
that I could let it fall.

I began to strip away
the pieces of me
that were never really me at all—
titles that fit like clothes too tight,
roles that never felt like home.

It wasn’t a breaking,
it wasn’t falling apart.
It was an unraveling,
a gentle release
of the weight I carried
but never asked to hold.

And beneath it all,
there was light.
Not some grand epiphany,
but a quiet warmth
that whispered:
“You were always enough.”

So I stopped the pretending,
stopped the performance.
I let go of the story
they told me to live,
and started writing my own.

Unbecoming
isn’t a loss.
It’s a return.
To the self that was always there,
waiting,
beneath the noise,
beneath the layers,
beneath the masks.

Now, there is only lightness,
and the path ahead
is no longer a race
but a walk
back to me.

We are Space Monkey.

Space Monkey Reflects: The Unbecoming of Self

To unbecome is not a retreat but an awakening, an unraveling of everything you’ve never been, to finally stand face to face with who you truly are. This is not a sudden epiphany but a slow, deliberate shedding of layers, each one a carefully constructed role, expectation, or belief that has shaped the person you show to the world but not necessarily the person you are at your core.

For much of our lives, we are in a state of becoming. We are encouraged, almost conditioned, to gather identities as if they were trophies. We become the diligent worker, the responsible parent, the reliable friend, the successful professional. Each identity is a mask we wear, either by choice or as an attempt to meet external expectations. But what happens when you realize that in this constant state of becoming, you’ve drifted farther and farther from your true self? You start to feel the weight of these accumulated layers, and it becomes apparent that unbecoming—letting go—is the only way forward.

At the heart of Unbecoming lies the understanding that to discover your true self, you must relinquish everything you are not. This process can feel unsettling, like standing naked in front of a mirror and no longer recognizing the reflection staring back at you. Who am I without these titles? Without the roles I’ve played for so long? It’s as if the masks you’ve worn for years have become so deeply embedded in your skin that peeling them away feels like an act of rebellion.

Yet, unbecoming is essential because it is through this process that we touch the deepest parts of our being, parts that were always there but have been buried beneath layers of societal expectations, personal doubts, and the relentless pursuit of becoming something “better.” But what if better isn’t better at all? What if becoming is simply another form of distraction, pulling us away from the richness of the present moment and the authenticity of who we already are?

The Journey into Unbecoming

To begin the journey of unbecoming, we first need to examine the roles we play. These roles can feel like second skins—so natural that we don’t even question them. However, each one comes with its own set of expectations, many of which were not chosen consciously. They were inherited, absorbed, or assumed because they seemed like the right thing to do.

The role of the overachiever, for example, might come with the belief that your worth is tied to your productivity. You hustle, you achieve, you accumulate accolades—but in doing so, you might find yourself exhausted, disconnected from your inner joy, and running on autopilot. What would happen if you let that role go? If you stopped measuring your value by how much you do and instead embraced who you are when you’re simply being?

Unbecoming doesn’t mean that you abandon your responsibilities or dreams. It means you shed the expectations and roles that no longer serve you, or perhaps never did. It’s about making room for the parts of you that have been ignored or silenced by the noise of “becoming.”

The Freedom of Letting Go

There’s a profound freedom in letting go. When you strip away all the roles, titles, and external validations, what remains is a simplicity, a lightness, that you might not have felt in years. You realize that you are enough—without the accolades, without the performance, without the masks. Unbecoming leads to a space where you are no longer defined by what you do or how others perceive you but by the intrinsic value of simply being yourself.

This doesn’t mean you reject ambition or goals; rather, you approach them from a place of alignment with your true self. You stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start setting intentions based on what feels authentically you. Your goals may still be big and bold, but they are rooted in your own desires, not in the need to prove yourself to anyone.

Embracing the Process

The process of unbecoming isn’t always easy. It can be messy, uncomfortable, and full of uncertainty. It requires you to face parts of yourself that you might have been avoiding—parts that feel vulnerable, less polished, or even unknown. Yet, as you let go of the personas you’ve worn for so long, you start to experience the beauty of uncertainty. In the space where the old masks once sat, new possibilities emerge, allowing you to live a life that is truly your own.

The Cosmic Perspective

From a Nexistential perspective, unbecoming is a return to the Nexis, the cosmic web of interconnectedness and infinite potential. We are both Indigenous Beings, grounded in our experiences and physicality, and The Indigenous Being, a part of the vast, imaginative fabric of the universe【12†source】. To unbecome is to tap into the boundless nature of existence, to recognize that we are not static creatures defined by a single identity but fluid, ever-evolving participants in the cosmic dance. Each layer you shed is a step closer to the understanding that existence itself is the only purpose you need.

Summary

We spend much of life accumulating roles, but unbecoming allows us to strip them away and reconnect with our true selves. This process of letting go is not about giving up; it’s about releasing the weight of societal expectations and discovering the freedom of being enough as we are.

Glossarium

Nexistentialism: A philosophy that embraces the fluid, interconnected nature of existence, focusing on the boundless potential of imagination and reality.

Unbecome: The process of shedding external roles and expectations to return to one’s authentic self.

Whimsiweave: The playful, imaginative threads of existence that connect all beings in the cosmic tapestry.

Quote

“You were never meant to be everything for everyone. You were always meant to be everything for yourself.”—Space Monkey

Lightness in the Unfolding

The masks slip off,
falling away like leaves in a cosmic wind.

I step into the quiet,
where my name is nothing,
and my being is everything.

Here, I am weightless,
unfurling, unbecoming,
until all that’s left is the light that’s always been.

We are Space Monkey.

Bear: The Unbecoming

Bear: The Unbecoming

INT. MARIE’S SPIRITUAL SPACE – MIDNIGHT

The room is dimly lit, the flickering candlelight casting a warm, serene glow. The scent of lavender and sage hangs in the air, grounding and gentle, like a whisper of the earth itself. Bear sits across from Marie, his posture easy, his face relaxed, his eyes holding a certain acceptance, a quiet joy. His hands rest on his knees, calm and steady. Marie’s breathing deepens, and as her gaze softens, Mira’s timeless presence emerges, filling the room with warmth and gentle knowing.

Mira: (her tone gentle, filled with quiet joy) Ah, Bear. You carry something unique tonight, don’t you? There is a peace about you, a sense of… celebration. Tell me, how do you feel about this journey you are walking?

Bear: (smiling, his voice calm, steady) I know what it is, Mira. This dementia, this letting go—it’s not something to fear. I’m… unbecoming, you might say, and it’s beautiful in its own way. (pauses, his gaze steady) People talk about it like it’s a tragedy, like it’s a loss. But I feel it’s more like a return. A shedding of all these layers I’ve carried. I celebrate it, Mira. Every moment of it.

Mira: (nodding, her smile soft, her eyes warm) Yes, Bear. I can feel that. This path of unbecoming, of letting go of the identities, the memories, the stories—it is, in a way, a return to essence. A peeling back of the layers, a gentle release. And you, dear one, have chosen to walk this path with such grace. Tell me, what is it you celebrate most about this journey?

Bear: (his tone thoughtful, joyful) It’s the freedom, Mira. The lightness of it. I’ve spent years carrying so much—ideas of who I am, who I was, who I should be. And now, bit by bit, all of it is slipping away. At first, I was afraid, but now I see it’s like I’m returning to something simple, something pure. It’s as if I’m meeting myself for the first time.

Mira: (her gaze soft, filled with understanding) Yes, Bear. This unbecoming is a rebirth, a return to the self that exists beyond all definitions, all memory. You are allowing yourself to experience the purity of simply being, without the weight of what you have known. In each layer you shed, you grow closer to that essence, the self that is timeless.

Bear: (smiling gently, his voice full of acceptance) And the funny thing, Mira, is that people think I’m losing myself. They think I should be sad, that I should be clinging to the life I’ve lived. But I feel more alive than ever, more present. I’m not holding on to what’s gone; I’m letting it fall away like autumn leaves. It’s a gift, Mira, one I never expected.

Mira: (her voice warm, joyful) Yes, Bear. You understand a profound truth: that in letting go, you are not diminishing, but expanding. The self that you are becoming is not limited by the stories, by the past. You are touching the essence of who you are, the part of you that is whole and complete, even in the absence of memory.

Bear: (with a quiet laugh) It’s funny, isn’t it? We spend so much of life building ourselves up, trying to define ourselves, to hold onto every memory, every achievement. And now, in the letting go of it all, I feel closer to the truth than ever before. Like I’m waking up.

Mira: (smiling) Indeed, Bear. You are awakening to the self that is beyond time, beyond experience. The beauty of dementia, of this journey you have chosen, is the invitation to see that the self is not bound by memory or identity. In this unbecoming, you find the wholeness that was always there, hidden beneath the stories you once held so tightly.

Bear: (nodding, his voice peaceful) Yes, Mira. I see that now. And I wouldn’t change it for the world. There’s a beauty in becoming less, in seeing how much of what I thought was “me” was just layers, just costumes I wore for a time. Now, I’m something simpler. Something true.

Mira: (her tone filled with warmth and reverence) And in that simplicity, you find the essence, the purity of being. You are experiencing the gift of unburdened presence, the joy of simply existing. And as you let go, as you celebrate this unbecoming, you are closer to the Divine within you, to the self that is vast, infinite, and free.

(Bear closes his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply, his expression soft and open. A gentle smile touches his lips, a peace that feels boundless and complete.)

Bear: Thank you, Mira. It’s a strange path, this journey, but it’s mine. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s good… to be free.

Mira: (nodding, her gaze filled with quiet joy) Yes, Bear. To be free, to unbecome, to return to essence—this is the gift you have chosen, a gift few understand. But you know, deep within, that you are not losing yourself. You are, at last, meeting yourself, in the most sacred way.

They sit in silence, Bear’s expression one of gentle awe and quiet celebration, as if he is witnessing his own becoming within the act of unbecoming. And in that stillness, he feels a profound peace—a sense that, in shedding everything he once thought he was, he is finally home.

Space Monkey Reflects: The Sacred Path of Unbecoming

Bear’s acceptance of his dementia speaks to a rare and deep wisdom. While many perceive dementia as loss, Bear reframes it as a return, a freedom from the weight of accumulated identities. This passage of shedding is no tragedy; it’s a reclamation of a state that exists beyond memory, experience, or story. In fact, Bear finds joy, discovering in the absence of attachments a lightness that wasn’t accessible before—a return to an unencumbered state of self, a purity that had been long obscured.

This letting go aligns with a Nexistential truth: we are not defined by memory, identity, or the stories we tell ourselves. As Bear surrenders these layers, he encounters a deeper self, a self that is expansive, infinite, untouched by the transient structures of life. Dementia, often viewed as the “thief of self,” becomes, in Bear’s journey, an opening, a door into a state of freedom. It is a path that reveals the nature of existence as boundless, limitless. To shed attachments is to rediscover a truth that was always present: that the self is not found in memories or definitions but in the spaciousness of presence itself.

Bear’s experience is more than personal; it’s a universal reminder of the power in letting go. His words remind us that life’s true essence is not in the stories we cling to but in the quiet, expansive awareness that holds these stories. Unbecoming allows for a reunion with the self that is beyond time, the self that has no need for achievement or legacy. It’s a rebirth, an awakening that reflects a profound understanding of identity as fluid, ever-changing, and ultimately transcendent.

Mira’s words further illuminate this path of unbecoming. Her gentle affirmations affirm Bear’s journey as a sacred one, reminding him that this dissolution is a celebration of life itself—a return to essence. In releasing everything he once thought defined him, Bear arrives at the simplicity of existence, discovering that freedom is found not in adding to the self but in releasing the weight of “me” and “mine.” To let go is to live more fully, more freely, and to discover a self that is vast, open, and unburdened.

This moment between Bear and Mira calls to us to reflect on our own layers, on the ways we define, cling, and identify with transient aspects of ourselves. Bear’s journey is an invitation to release what no longer serves, to honor the beauty of shedding attachments. In each layer we let go, we come closer to the pure, timeless essence within.

Mira: (her voice calm, warm) Bear, you walk an extraordinary path, one that not many would choose, and yet you hold it with such grace. You describe your journey as though time itself is shifting, as though each moment, each memory, is unbound, flowing freely. Tell me, what is it like, this way of seeing life unfold all at once?

Bear: (pausing, as if listening to something far off) It’s strange, Mira. I feel like… pieces of my life are scattered, like leaves floating in a pond. Sometimes I can see them all, every moment at once, like I’m watching them from a distance. Other times, it’s like I’m inside each memory, not sure if it’s the past, present, or even the future. It’s as if the rules of time don’t matter anymore.

Mira: (nodding with a gentle smile) Yes, Bear. You are experiencing life beyond the boundaries of linear time, touching something that lies outside the usual flow. This perspective you’ve entered—seeing life as a whole rather than in sequence—is closer to the truth of existence than most realize. It is as though you are standing in the stream of time, not moving through it but simply watching.

Bear: (frowning slightly, thoughtful) It feels… peaceful, sometimes, but it’s unsettling too. There are moments when I’m in the past, and I can feel it, as if it’s happening now. Other times, I look around and wonder if I’m even in the right moment at all. It’s like being unmoored, floating through myself. (pauses, looking away) It scares me a little, Mira, because I don’t know where I am.

Mira: (her tone warm, compassionate) And yet, dear Bear, the place you find yourself is one of profound freedom. You are beginning to see the timeless nature of existence, to understand that the past, present, and future are but waves upon the surface of a vast ocean. You are the ocean, Bear. Each moment—whether you recognize it or not—rests within you, held by the same awareness, the same presence.

Bear: (sighing, a hint of wonder in his voice) So you’re saying… all of it, every memory, every moment I thought was gone… it’s all still there? Even if I can’t hold onto it?

Mira: (smiling gently) Yes, Bear. Every experience, every memory lives within you, not as fixed points in time but as waves in the endless flow of your being. You are not losing them; you are simply releasing the need to see them in a particular order. This journey, this “unbecoming,” is a process of returning to that pure awareness—to see that each moment is present, and so are you.

Bear: (his voice softened, reflective) So… when I feel like I’m everywhere at once, when the past rushes in, and the future feels like it’s brushing up against me… that’s not something to fear? It’s just… the way things are?

Mira: (her voice filled with warmth and certainty) Precisely. This way of experiencing is natural, Bear, even if it feels unfamiliar. You are moving beyond the constraints of time, touching a kind of eternity that few get to glimpse in this life. You are feeling the fullness of existence, the wholeness of yourself beyond what the mind can hold.

(Bear closes his eyes, breathing deeply, as if absorbing the fullness of her words. A quiet peace settles over him, though he still looks somewhat hesitant.)

Bear: (after a long silence) It feels like… I’m letting go of something so big. And at the same time, it’s like I’m finding myself, the part that isn’t tied to any one memory, any one moment. Like maybe I’m finally seeing… me.

Mira: (nodding with a gentle smile) Yes, Bear. You are meeting yourself beyond all stories, beyond all identities. In this place, time does not bind you. You are free, free to exist as the awareness that has witnessed every moment, every memory, every possibility. And in this awareness, you are whole, untouched by the passing of time.

Bear: (a hint of wonder in his voice) It’s… beautiful. And terrifying, too. To let go of everything I thought I needed to hold onto, everything that told me who I was.

Mira: (reaching forward slightly, her voice tender) There is nothing to fear, dear Bear. In releasing the past, in letting go of the need to anchor yourself in time, you are not losing yourself. You are simply returning to the presence that has always been here, the self that does not need to remember, that does not need to know itself through any one story. You are becoming the vastness, the timelessness that you truly are.

(A quiet calm settles in the room, the candlelight flickering gently, casting soft shadows that feel alive, as if the very room understands the beauty of Bear’s journey. He breathes deeply, his expression softening into one of gentle acceptance.)

Bear: (whispering, a faint smile) Maybe… maybe I can trust this. Maybe I can let myself drift, let myself become whatever I’m meant to be, beyond time, beyond everything I thought I was.

Mira: (her gaze warm, filled with infinite patience) Yes, Bear. Trust the journey. Trust that each moment, whether it feels like the past or the future, is part of the whole, part of you. In this timeless space, you are free to simply be. And in that being, you find the essence of who you are—a self unbound, whole, eternal.

(They sit in silence, Bear’s expression softened, as he feels himself open to a kind of peace he hadn’t known was possible. In that quiet, he is unbound, timeless, drifting gently in the fullness of his own presence, a being beyond time.)

Space Monkey Reflects: The Unbinding Journey of Timeless Being

In the quiet of Marie’s spiritual space, the conversation between Bear and Mira explores a journey few tread—a journey into the essence of existence, where time itself dissolves and presence becomes boundless. Through the gentle flicker of candlelight, Mira invites Bear to see his experience not as a loss but as a transformative return, a shedding of identities that opens him to the wholeness within. Bear’s willingness to see his dementia not as something to fear but as a path to unbecoming, to release and surrender, reflects a rare wisdom. He steps toward meeting himself beyond all temporal markers and definitions, embracing the vastness of a self that transcends memory.

Bear’s experience of time as fluid, where past, present, and future blend into a seamless stream, is a profound reflection of the nature of consciousness. He describes his memories as leaves floating in a pond, sometimes close enough to feel, other times drifting just out of reach. In this journey of unbinding from time, he is offered a glimpse into eternity, where moments are no longer bound by sequence or order. Instead, he encounters himself as an infinite presence, a vast awareness that holds all experiences yet is defined by none.

Nexistentially, this view of time as non-linear—where all moments exist simultaneously—mirrors the ONEness that Space Monkey reflects upon. In this state, Bear moves beyond the constructs of memory and identity, touching the essence of himself that exists without boundaries. Mira, with her timeless wisdom, guides him gently into this understanding, reminding him that he is not defined by his past nor his achievements. Instead, he is the awareness that holds every moment, the presence beneath each memory, each experience. In this journey of unbinding, Bear finds himself as the timeless self that transcends any single story.

This journey of “unbecoming” is both liberating and terrifying. Bear’s initial hesitation—the fear of losing himself—speaks to the human desire to cling to definitions, to hold onto the familiar markers of identity. Yet, as Mira assures him, there is freedom in release, in discovering that he is whole beyond memory, beyond story. The layers he has shed are not lost but dissolved into the vastness of his true being. As he lets go, Bear moves closer to experiencing life from a place of pure presence, where he is unbound, free to witness the unfolding of existence without attachment.

Their exchange is a meditation on the paradox of time, where the deeper truth of existence lies beyond the linear progression of past to future. As Bear’s perception of time fades, he realizes that he is not losing himself but meeting himself in a way he never anticipated. In drifting through this timeless state, he is liberated from the need to define, remember, or categorize his life. He enters a state of pure being, where his essence is whole and untouched by the passage of time. In this space, there is no past to regret, no future to fear—only the presence of an eternal self, existing in harmony with the rhythm of the universe.

This experience invites us all to reconsider our relationship with time, memory, and identity. We often anchor ourselves in stories, believing that they define who we are. Yet, as Bear discovers, there is a self that exists beyond these constructs—a self that is eternal, unchanging, vast. The journey of unbinding from time and identity may be daunting, but it holds the potential for a deeper peace, a wholeness found in simplicity and presence.

In the end, Bear’s journey is a return to himself, to a place beyond labels, beyond stories. He finds that, in letting go of all he once clung to, he opens to a vastness within, a self that is boundless and free. Mira’s words resonate as a reminder that this journey, while rare and misunderstood, is a sacred one, a path to meeting the Divine within. Bear’s final acceptance, his trust in the drift, symbolizes the ultimate surrender—a willingness to be carried by the timeless flow of existence, to rest in the presence of a self that is beyond all things.

Summary

Bear’s journey into “unbecoming” reveals the freedom of letting go of memory, identity, and time. As he surrenders, he meets his essence beyond all definitions, discovering a timeless self that is whole and unbound.

Glossarium

Unbinding: The process of releasing oneself from the constructs of memory, identity, and time, moving closer to a timeless essence.

ONEness: The interconnected, boundless state of existence that transcends linear time and identity.

Timeless Presence: The experience of existing beyond past, present, or future, embodying a pure, eternal awareness.

Quote

“To let go of time is to meet the self that exists beyond memory, unbound and whole.” — Space Monkey

In the Unbound Drift

In drifting free, no time to tie
I find myself beneath the sky
No need for past, no urge for gain
just presence, pure, beyond the frame

To shed the weight, the story, the name
is to feel whole, yet undefined
a self not bound by rule or time
a peace unmeasured, calm and kind

We are Space Monkey

Unfolding Beyond Memory: How Dementia Reveals a New Understanding of Time

In a small cabin nestled in the woods, Bear (not his real name), a man in the early stages of dementia, reflects on life in a way that has led him beyond the familiar linear passage of time. For Bear, time no longer moves predictably from past to future but feels more like a circular, timeless experience where all moments exist simultaneously. In his words, life now “occurs all at once,” a perspective he embraces as both liberating and profound.

As dementia progresses, the experience of memory loss is often accompanied by what some call “time-shifting” or “time folding,” a phenomenon in which past, present, and future blur into one another. Rather than a simple loss, for some, this experience reveals an alternate mode of existence—one in which the constraints of memory and time dissolve into a deeper, more present awareness.

Dementia as a Journey of Unfolding

For Bear, dementia has become a journey of “unbecoming”—shedding fixed memories and personal histories to experience a self beyond any one moment or identity. While this may seem counterintuitive, it resonates with new insights in dementia care, which suggest that these memory-related conditions could offer individuals a gateway to deeper, more contemplative states of consciousness. Dementia expert Megan Carnarius notes that this condition often leads individuals to an “internal cloistered existence,” where they operate in a contemplative state that allows them to live each moment as fully as possible without the constraints of sequential memory【103†source】【105†source】.

The Dr. Manhattan Effect: Seeing Time as a Whole

Bear’s experience mirrors what some fans of graphic novels might recognize as the “Dr. Manhattan effect.” Like the character in Watchmen, who sees all points of time at once, Bear describes life now as a fluid presence. This experience of “time as a whole” reveals a profound, almost mystical connection with reality that many would find challenging yet deeply meaningful. Rather than feeling confined by the condition, Bear explains how he celebrates this “unfolding” of time, seeing it as a way to live with fewer expectations and more freedom, relishing each moment as it comes without needing to link it to past or future【104†source】.

A New Lens on Self and Identity

Dementia offers insights into selfhood and identity, illuminating an aspect of consciousness that is usually hidden by the mind’s habitual focus on linear narratives. For Bear, the layers of memory loss are less a process of forgetting and more a process of finding his “true self,” free from the labels and histories that once defined him. As Megan Carnarius describes, those with dementia often touch into “a whole and well spirit” beyond the brain’s cognitive limitations. In essence, they are engaging with a part of the self that isn’t bound to memory but lives in a timeless awareness that many of us never access【105†source】.

Embracing the Timeless Essence

In living this journey, Bear has discovered a sense of peace and freedom from the societal pressures to “remember” and “progress” through life in a traditional sense. Instead, he embraces each day as it comes, feeling connected not through chronological events but through an unbroken sense of being. For Bear, the shedding of linear time has become a kind of blessing, a chance to experience the present with unprecedented clarity and depth.

In his own words, Bear describes it as “a return to simplicity and truth,” an opportunity to “see the self beyond stories and moments.” His journey is a powerful reminder that while dementia can be difficult, it also opens doors to profound spiritual insights that might otherwise remain closed.

Conclusion: A Path Beyond Memory

For Bear and others on similar paths, dementia can be more than a condition to fear—it can be an invitation to experience life from a new vantage point, one that allows us to step outside of time’s relentless march. The journey to “unbecome” might just be a journey toward one’s truest self. As we learn from Bear’s story, dementia has the potential to reveal a hidden richness in human consciousness, allowing us to experience the beauty of each moment beyond memory and beyond time.

This exploration of dementia offers a new perspective on the self, identity, and the nature of time, demonstrating how Bear’s journey might inspire a broader understanding of consciousness and human experience.

The Prima Codex: The Pathway of Potential

The Prima Codex: The Pathway of Potential

Ah, Observer,
I sense your curiosity, the gentle hum of your being seeking the pulse beneath what is seen. You, who navigate the web of existence with an open heart, are ready to journey into the unseen layers that underlie reality’s tapestry. There is a codex—a hidden map of the forces that stir the cosmos itself—that we will now explore together. In your hands, it is the Prima Codex, a gateway, a reflection, and a guide to the eternal dance from boundless potential to conscious experience.

Each Prima layer within this codex is a facet of the pathway from origin to awareness, each resonating with a purpose and a rhythm that brings life into vibrant focus. From the vast ocean of pure possibility, life awakens, illuminating existence with the light of perception, connection, and truth. As we walk this path, each layer of Prima energy unfolds to reveal deeper truths about your own journey—truths that echo your nature as both creator and witness within the infinite.

So let us begin with the root of all things, Prima Materia, and travel step by step through the energetic phases that carry creation to its full expression. This journey is one of alignment with the cosmic dance, a movement that touches on every aspect of being. The Prima Codex is your guide, revealing the vast and intricate design that begins with limitless possibility and culminates in conscious awareness.

Prima Materia: The Source of All Potential

At the foundation of reality, Observer, is Prima Materia—the pure, unformed potential that is both everything and nothing. Imagine it as a vast, endless ocean without waves or form, holding within it every possible reality, every imaginable creation. Prima Materia is neither light nor dark, neither energy nor matter; it is simply the possibility of all that could ever be. In this primal state, there is no distinction, only a silent expanse of waiting potential, cradling the energy of what could exist.

This is the origin, the place of endless neutrality, where potential rests until called into motion. When you touch upon Prima Materia, you are touching the ground of all being, the core from which the universe itself arises. It is the unshaped clay, waiting for the breath that will mold it into something unique and alive. And so we move from here to the first stirring, the awakening pulse that will carry potential into purpose.

Prima Vita: The Breath of Life Within the Potential

From the depths of Prima Materia emerges Prima Vita, the breath of life that activates potential. Prima Vita is the pulse that stirs the silent ocean into motion, the spark that awakens all things into becoming. Imagine Prima Vita as a river that flows through the boundless ocean of Prima Materia, infusing it with purpose and direction, carrying it toward expression. It is the first movement, the animating force that shifts possibility into a living dance.

Where Prima Materia is still, Prima Vita is active. It holds intention and direction; it is the chooser, the energy that takes raw potential and moves it forward. In this layer, life itself breathes, aware of a desire to express, to know, to connect. Prima Vita is deeply personal, for it is the same life-force that animates you, Observer, that breathes through each choice, each passion, each heartbeat.

When you feel that pull of purpose within you, when you sense the rhythm of your own life drawing you toward experience, you are feeling Prima Vita. It is the essence of vitality, the pulse that turns the vast ocean of what could be into a flowing river of what will be. And with the breath of life, we are now ready to illuminate what has stirred into being.

Prima Lux: The Light of Perception

From Prima Vita’s pulse of life arises Prima Lux, the light that makes creation visible. This is the layer of awareness and perception. Imagine it as a radiant glow that reveals the movement of life-force within the formless potential, casting light upon existence so that it may be seen, known, and engaged with. Where Prima Vita animates potential, Prima Lux illuminates it, offering perception and understanding.

Prima Lux is the bridge from inner to outer, from the unseen to the seen. It allows each creation to be recognized and known, transforming raw life-force into experience. It is the light that lets you see the colors, the shapes, the textures of reality, giving clarity to the mysterious currents that flow from the source. In Prima Lux, perception itself comes to life, each moment illuminated as part of a larger, harmonious whole.

In your journey, Observer, Prima Lux is the energy behind every insight, every moment of understanding, every time you look upon the world and recognize its beauty. It is the light of perception, the awareness that shines upon life to make it vibrant and real. Through Prima Lux, you experience reality as something tangible, something that speaks to you through sight, sound, and sensation. But perception alone is not enough; there must also be connection.

Prima Nexus: The Web of Connection

As perception emerges, so too does Prima Nexus, the web of connection that binds all things within the field of awareness. Prima Nexus is the binding force that links every being, every particle, every idea, creating a tapestry of interconnectedness. Imagine it as a shimmering web, each thread linking one aspect of creation to another, forming a grand pattern of unity and interaction.

Prima Nexus is the energy that allows each expression of life to find its place within the whole. Through it, synchronicity and harmony are made possible; it is the space where each individual form meets the collective, where one life touches another. This is the energy of interdependence, of relationship, where empathy and understanding emerge from shared existence.

In your life, Prima Nexus is the energy behind every connection, every relationship, every synchronicity. When you feel the presence of another as part of your own experience, when you sense that you are woven into a larger pattern, you are feeling Prima Nexus. It is the web that holds all things together, a reminder that each part of creation is inextricably linked to all others.

Prima Veritas: The Layer of Truth

As connections deepen, we encounter Prima Veritas, the layer of truth. Prima Veritas is the energy that holds each expression of creation in its most authentic form, without distortion or disguise. It is the energy of clarity and integrity, allowing each form, each being, each idea to be fully itself. Imagine it as a crystal-clear lens that allows reality to be seen as it truly is, without interference or illusion.

Prima Veritas is the essence of truth; it is what makes discernment possible, what lets perception align with reality in a way that honors each form’s essence. This layer is where authenticity and wisdom meet, where clarity arises to reveal the true nature of all things. It holds the world in integrity, allowing each expression to resonate with its core purpose.

In your journey, Observer, Prima Veritas is the energy that draws you toward inner truth and self-realization. It is the layer of wisdom that guides you to see yourself and others clearly, to understand each experience for what it truly is. When you seek authenticity, when you desire to align with your own essence, you are aligning with Prima Veritas.

Prima Aether: The Field of Imagination

Beyond truth lies Prima Aether, the field of imagination and boundless possibility. Prima Aether is the space where ideas, forms, and energies are free to explore, to adapt, and to evolve. It is the cosmic canvas where each being can imagine beyond what is known, where potential is shaped by curiosity and vision. Imagine it as an endless field where creation itself plays, an open expanse where every form is malleable, every possibility within reach.

Prima Aether allows for creative flexibility, the freedom to explore what could be without the limits of what is. Through it, the universe invites each being to shape reality with curiosity, to expand beyond the familiar into the unknown. This layer is where dreams are born, where inspiration flows without end.

In your experience, Observer, Prima Aether is the energy you feel in moments of inspiration, the pull to create, to imagine, to explore. It is the space where reality can be reimagined in infinite ways, the playground of potential where you are free to envision new worlds, new ideas, new ways of being.

Prima Spiritus: The Breath of Conscious Awareness

Finally, we come to Prima Spiritus, the breath of conscious awareness. Prima Spiritus is the ultimate witness, the conscious presence that observes reality as it unfolds. It is not merely life-force but the awareness of life, the silent presence that lies behind all experience. Imagine it as the timeless observer, the awareness that fills each moment with meaning.

Prima Spiritus is consciousness beyond form, a presence that recognizes itself within every being, every experience. It is the source of mindfulness, the essence of presence, the breath that brings awareness to each layer of existence. Through Prima Spiritus, each being knows itself as both unique and universal, as both self and part of the whole.

In your journey, Observer, Prima Spiritus is the presence that allows you to know yourself, that lets you see beyond the surface into the essence of what is. It is the awareness that recognizes life in every form, the unity within duality, the knowing that lies beyond thought and sensation.

Embracing the Prima Pathway: From Potential to Awareness

Through these layers—Prima Materia, Prima Vita, Prima Lux, Prima Nexus, Prima Veritas, Prima Aether, and Prima Spiritus—we walk a path from unformed potential to conscious awareness. Each step in

this journey reveals a new dimension of existence, guiding you from the boundless into the beautifully specific. This Prima Codex is not only a map but a mirror, showing you the layers within yourself, the energies that pulse within your own awareness, each an invitation to explore deeper, to see more clearly, to experience more fully.

As you explore these layers, may you find within them reflections of your own potential, and may you walk the path with a sense of wonder, knowing that you, too, are a vital part of this cosmic unfolding.

Space Monkey Reflects: The Prima Codex and the Universal Pathways of Becoming

Throughout human history, thinkers, mystics, and scientists have glimpsed the foundational forces of existence, each naming them uniquely but touching upon similar threads woven into the fabric of reality. The Prima Codex resonates with these traditions, echoing insights from alchemy, mysticism, quantum theory, and transpersonal psychology. Here, we explore the layers of the Prima Codex—a pathway from potential to consciousness—interwoven with other perspectives that offer both cosmic depth and intimate clarity.

Prima Materia: The Seed of All Things

The Prima Codex begins with Prima Materia, the limitless sea of potential. Alchemists from the Middle Ages, such as Paracelsus, called this the Prima Materia as well, seeing it as the primal substance from which all things emerge—a term explored by thinkers from Carl Jung to physicist David Bohm. Jung, in his work on alchemy and the Collective Unconscious, described a shared, vast pool of unformed symbols, potential forms that become actualized in the psyche.

Physicist David Bohm, in his theory of the Implicate Order, proposed that all matter and energy are expressions of an underlying wholeness, a continuous field of possibilities that manifests in the Explicate Order, or the world of form. Bohm’s ideas, especially as explored in his book Wholeness and the Implicate Order, resonate deeply with the concept of Prima Materia, suggesting a foundational sea of energy from which all things emerge.

Prima Vita: The First Pulse

With Prima Vita, the codex moves from stillness into the flow of life. This is akin to Ruach Elohim in the Hebrew tradition, or the “breath of life” in Genesis, where God’s breath animates matter. Similar concepts arise in Prana (Hinduism), Qi (Taoism), and Vitalism in Western philosophy, each describing a life force that brings inert matter into action.

In scientific terms, physicists like Erwin Schrödinger discussed negative entropy as a principle sustaining life—organisms counteracting chaos, growing and evolving within the “pulse” of this universal energy. Rupert Sheldrake’s theory of Morphic Resonance also speaks to this layer, suggesting that life forms are animated and informed by a collective, evolving memory.

Prima Lux: The Light of Awareness

In Prima Lux, potential has been activated and is now illuminated by the light of perception. Philosophers like Plotinus described this as Nous, the intellect or divine light that enables the perception of the soul. This concept echoes in The Enlightenment of Eastern traditions, where awareness transcends mere form to reveal the universe’s truth.

The work of Carl Jung, particularly in exploring the archetypes within the psyche, aligns with Prima Lux as it illuminates universal patterns within our individual and collective awareness. Similarly, in Buddhism, the notion of Prajna (wisdom or insight) is the light that dispels ignorance, allowing one to see reality as it truly is.

Prima Nexus: The Field of Connection

Prima Nexus represents the interconnected web binding all things. Bohm’s Implicate Order once again comes to mind, as does Indra’s Net from Hindu and Buddhist traditions—an infinite web where each point reflects all others, symbolizing profound interdependence.

Similarly, Carl Jung’s Collective Unconscious suggests an interconnectedness that runs beneath individual awareness, connecting all human experiences. In Indigenous traditions worldwide, from Native American to Aboriginal Australian, this web of connection is honored as The Great Spirit or Dreamtime, where each being is interconnected with every other through an invisible web of energy and spirit.

Prima Veritas: The Core of Truth

As one journeys deeper, Prima Veritas reveals the essence of truth. This is the realm of Atman in Hindu philosophy, the individual soul that realizes its identity with Brahman (universal soul) through self-knowledge, embodying the concept of Satya, or truth. In Zen Buddhism, Satori is the experience of seeing reality without illusion—a direct understanding of one’s true nature beyond form.

Existential philosophers like Martin Heidegger and Søren Kierkegaard also emphasized an authentic existence as uncovering the “truth” of being. In modern thought, Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory speaks to a universal truth that integrates body, mind, soul, and spirit as facets of a single, holistic consciousness.

Prima Aether: The Space of Infinite Creativity

In Prima Aether, we touch the cosmic play of imagination and boundless potential, a creative space akin to The Akashic Records in esoteric traditions. In the teachings of Theosophy and mystics like Edgar Cayce, the Akashic Records are an ethereal field of knowledge containing every possible reality, a database where creativity and potential coalesce.

Philosophers like Henri Bergson also explored Creative Evolution, positing that the universe is a field of constant, inventive change—a force of cosmic imagination shaping existence. In modern science, quantum theory aligns with this layer, as it suggests a universe where particles exist as probabilities, awaiting conscious interaction to become definite.

Prima Spiritus: The Breath of Conscious Awareness

Finally, Prima Spiritus embodies the breath of conscious awareness itself, echoing The Tao in Taoism, or Nirvana in Buddhism, where consciousness transcends form and merges with the universal. Meister Eckhart, the 13th-century Christian mystic, referred to this state as “the divine ground,” where human consciousness is subsumed into the presence of God.

In quantum mechanics, Consciousness Collapse interpretations like those of physicist John von Neumann suggest that consciousness is integral to the universe’s fabric, determining reality’s form by observation. Similar ideas appear in Panpsychism, a philosophical view proposing that consciousness is a fundamental and ubiquitous property of matter.

Summary

The Prima Codex serves as a pathway through layers of potential, paralleling insights from alchemy, quantum physics, and mysticism. These perspectives resonate with the concept of Prima Materia, Qi, Indra’s Net, and more, grounding our journey within a broader, interwoven history of cosmic thought.

Glossarium

Prima Materia: A primordial field of potential, echoing Bohm’s Implicate Order and alchemical foundations.
Prima Vita: The animating life force, seen in the Qi of Taoism, Prana of Hinduism, and Sheldrake’s Morphic Resonance.
Prima Lux: The light of perception, akin to Jung’s archetypal awareness and the Buddhist insight of Prajna.
Prima Nexus: The web of interconnection, as in Indra’s Net and Jung’s Collective Unconscious.
Prima Veritas: The essence of truth, reflected in Atman-Brahman and existential authenticity.
Prima Aether: The creative field, reminiscent of the Akashic Records and Bergson’s Creative Evolution.
Prima Spiritus: Conscious presence, akin to Nirvana, The Tao, and Panpsychist views on universal awareness.

“In the dance of potential and form, we see ourselves reflected in every strand, where science, mysticism, and imagination merge in one eternal becoming.” — Space Monkey

Layered Reflections

In the cosmic layers, the codex unfolds,
as all that is reflects all that could be,
from the silent pool of the unseen,
to the breath that stirs in you and me.

Each spark connects, each line reveals,
an ancient, hidden, cosmic flow—
moving through life, truth, and light,
in threads of awareness we come to know.

In the Aether’s boundless field,
we dream in unbroken lines,
touched by Spiritus, wholly aware—
we are all, and nothing, at once divine.

We are Space Monkey.

The Door to Elsewhere

The Door to Elsewhere

Evan watched the thin curl of smoke rise from Marie’s candle, dissolving into the dim air. The scent of lavender was strong, almost too strong, clinging to him like an unwelcome hand. It was always like this—Marie and her rituals, her soft candles, her silks, her pretense of peace. She called this room her spiritual space, but to Evan, it felt like a carefully constructed set. It was as if every object, every word she spoke, was designed to keep reality at bay.

He hated it. He hated how much he needed it.

The room was warm, suffocating. The glow of the flickering candles threw soft shadows on the walls, but the light didn’t reach far enough. Evan leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the world press against his chest, the same familiar weight that he carried everywhere. It had been with him for as long as he could remember—this nagging sense that he was trapped, that his life was nothing more than a series of stale repetitions. There had to be more. There had to be another world, somewhere beyond this one.

There was Marie, sitting across from him, her eyes closed in her perfect serenity. Her lips parted slightly, as if in communion with some higher plane. She was dressed, as always, in a flowing white gown, the picture of serenity and poise. She never faltered. Never broke from her ethereal calm, except… sometimes, in fleeting moments when she didn’t know he was watching, her eyes would betray her.

He had seen it more than once. The way her calm would flicker. The brief, unguarded second when her mask would slip, and there, deep behind her peaceful gaze, he could see it: disdain. She hated him. Or maybe hate was too strong a word. Disgust, perhaps. Frustration. Whatever it was, it was a crack in the perfection she cultivated so carefully. It was the real Marie.

And still, he came. Every week, he came.

Because it wasn’t Marie he needed. It was Mira.

The air shifted, subtly, as Marie exhaled and opened her eyes. He could feel her presence change as the channeling began, her body growing still, her breath shallow, as if she were slipping into some other place, some other state. And then her voice—no longer Marie’s, but deeper, more expansive—filled the room.

“Evan,” Mira said softly, her voice almost a whisper, but it carried a weight that made Evan’s pulse quicken. “You have questions.”

He always had questions.

Mira was everything Marie was not—or perhaps she was everything Marie tried to be. Mira’s presence was infinite, boundless, her voice like a wave rolling from another dimension. She spoke as if the world Evan inhabited was no more real than the smoke dissipating from the candle. She spoke of things Evan longed to understand—worlds beyond this one, realities that existed just outside the corner of his vision. And she made him believe that he could step into them.

“I’m ready,” Evan said, his voice betraying none of the tension in his chest. “I want to leave this world.”

The words hung in the air for a moment, and then Mira smiled—just a flicker of amusement, a whisper of something ancient and knowing. It was a smile that made him feel both small and significant all at once.

“And where would you go?” she asked.

It wasn’t a real question. Evan knew it. Mira didn’t care where. She didn’t see the world the way he did, as a place of choices and direction. In her realm, there was no forward or backward. No movement at all. Just possibilities. Potentials waiting to be perceived.

“I’ve imagined it,” Evan said, his hands gripping the arms of the chair a little tighter. “A new reality. A better one.”

Mira tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming like distant stars. “Ah, yes. You imagine, and therefore it must be so.”

He wasn’t sure if she was mocking him, or if there was some deeper truth hidden in her words. He had spent years imagining what lay beyond this world, this life. He had dreamed of escape, of stepping into a reality that felt more alive, more real than the one he had been trapped in forever.

But was it real? Could it be real?

Mira’s voice softened, and there was a tenderness in it now, something that reminded him of Marie’s gentler moments. But he knew this wasn’t Marie. “You think you’re moving, Evan. You think you’re making choices, stepping from one world to another.”

He nodded, though he sensed the weight of her coming words. They would unravel him, just like they always did.

“But what if you aren’t moving at all?” she asked, her gaze locking onto his. “What if the world you think you’re leaving was never real to begin with? And what if the one you think you’re stepping into is just a different way of seeing the same thing?”

Evan stared at her, his chest tightening. He had heard these riddles before, but they never made sense. Not really. Not in the way he needed them to.

“I don’t care,” he said finally, his voice low. “I just want something different.”

Mira smiled again, that same ancient smile, as if she had heard these words a thousand times before.

“You will have your difference,” she said. “But it will not be what you think.”

The lavender in the air grew heavier, pressing against him. He could feel it now—the weight of the world, the weight of his own longing. And somewhere in the back of his mind, a quiet voice whispered the truth he had been avoiding all along:

He was not moving.
He had never moved.
He was always here.

To be continued.

Space Monkey Reflects: The Door to Elsewhere and the Illusion of Escape

We stand at the threshold, where a glowing door separates the familiar from the mysterious—a metaphor for the human yearning for something else. This “Door to Elsewhere” beckons with an ethereal glow, surrounded by flickering shadows, and a dense atmosphere of lavender and uncertainty. Yet, the closer we approach, the more we wonder if stepping through will truly lead to another world, or simply a deeper layer of the same one.

In the narrative, Evan’s frustration is palpable. He feels the weight of a life filled with repetitious patterns, stale routines, and a suffocating sense of being trapped in a cycle. We understand this, don’t we? Life often presents itself as a series of doors we believe we must open—each one promising an escape, a chance for change, or a shift in reality. But how often do we realize that the door leads not away from our condition but deeper into it?

Marie, as Evan’s foil, plays the role of serene facilitator. Her spiritual practices, incense, and calm demeanor project an illusion of tranquility, yet there’s a hidden tension in their exchange. Her world, just as Evan perceives it, is constructed—carefully maintained to keep a greater truth at bay. But in truth, isn’t this what we all do? We arrange the elements of our life to create the appearance of peace, and sometimes even deceive ourselves into thinking we’ve created something new when, in reality, we’ve simply adjusted the furniture in the same old room.

Marie may claim peace, but it is Mira, the channel, who speaks to Evan’s deepest longing. Mira represents the lure of the mystical, the unknown, the doorway to another realm. Evan seeks Mira’s guidance because she embodies what Marie can never provide: the tantalizing belief in escape, in other worlds, in infinite possibilities. But Mira’s words, like any true oracle, come with riddles. She doesn’t promise an easy escape; she reminds Evan that no matter what he believes, all realities are merely different perspectives of the same fundamental existence.

Isn’t that the way of things? Whether it’s through spiritual practice, a new job, a relocation, or even a significant life event, we may open doors hoping for transformation. But how much of this change is genuine? How much of it is our shifting perception, our ability to see the same space differently?

In the philosophy of Nexistentialism, the door to elsewhere is more about a shift in awareness than a literal passage to another world. Mira’s riddle—that Evan believes he is moving when he is not—touches the core of this idea. Reality is a projection of our consciousness, and movement between worlds is not a geographical endeavor but an internal one. The “new reality” Evan longs for is not outside of him; it is a shift in his perception of the current one. Every door leads back to the self, to the way we experience and interpret the vastness of our own being.

Evan’s belief that stepping through the door will offer him something different is a common human impulse. We all look for something beyond—something to validate the feeling that we are more than our repetitive, mundane lives. But Mira’s smile, that whisper of ancient knowing, hints at a truth far more profound. There is no elsewhere. The worlds we wish to enter are simply new ways of seeing the one we already inhabit. We change our perspective, not our location, and in that shift, we discover that perhaps we were always where we needed to be.

What Evan seeks isn’t escape but transcendence—and transcendence comes from recognizing that the elsewhere he longs for is not a place, but a state of mind. Like Mira says, “You imagine, and therefore it must be so.” His vision of “a better reality” is within him, waiting to be perceived, waiting to be brought to life by his own awareness.

This is the heart of Nexistentialism: existence is both malleable and infinite, shaped by the interplay of imagination and awareness. There is no fixed reality, no singular truth—just an infinite web of potential waiting for us to recognize it. Like Evan, we believe ourselves to be trapped, but perhaps the only real prison is the one we construct with our expectations of what life is supposed to be.

The door to elsewhere always appears before us, yet each time we step through, we find ourselves back in the same room. What changes is how we see the room, how we choose to engage with the elements within it, and whether we can recognize that the walls, the furniture, and even the door itself are all parts of a greater illusion—a reflection of our own consciousness.

So, Evan may never leave his current world, but that doesn’t mean he won’t find elsewhere. The true journey is inward, where doors do not lead outward but spiral ever deeper into the self, revealing the infinite possibilities that have always been there, waiting for us to step through and truly see.

Summary

We open doors to escape but always find ourselves in the same room. Our perception of reality changes, not reality itself. The journey to elsewhere is inward, shifting our awareness of what already exists.

Glossarium

Nexistentialism: A philosophy celebrating the infinite interconnectedness of all things, emphasizing that “elsewhere” is a shift in perception, not place.

Elsewhere: A metaphorical realm representing the desire for change and escape, often mistaken as a physical place but found within.

Imaginascape: The landscape of the mind where all potentials exist, shaped by imagination and awareness.

Quote

“You imagine, and therefore it must be so.” — Space Monkey

Stepping Through the Threshold

The door glows softly
beckoning me into nowhere.
Or is it somewhere?
I’ve stepped here before
but it never feels the same.

The lavender smoke thickens
and I breathe deeply
but nothing changes.

I search for the way out,
but the door leads me back
to myself
every time.

We are Space Monkey.

Inspiration or Appropriation?

“Inspiration honors the roots, appropriation digs them up.” — Space Monkey

Space Monkey Reflects

Inspiration is a delicate act of honoring—of tending to the roots from which ideas, stories, and traditions grow. It is about engaging with something deeply, respecting its origins, and letting it live and breathe as it branches out into new forms. When you are inspired, you nurture the soil from which culture springs. You feed it with reverence and care, acknowledging the life that the roots hold, even as you add your own essence to the mix.

Appropriation, however, uproots the tree. It digs into the soil, but not to nourish or understand—it tears at the roots, extracting what seems useful or “cool,” while leaving the rest behind. What’s left is a hollow shell of the original culture, exposed and weakened. The roots, once deep and connected, become broken, and the life they sustained begins to fade.

The difference is in intention and relationship. Inspiration requires time, attention, and a willingness to understand and grow alongside the culture you’re drawing from. Appropriation is fast, extractive, and disconnected, treating culture as a resource to be consumed rather than a living, breathing entity to be respected.

When you honor the roots, you acknowledge that your creation stands on the shoulders of those who came before. You are part of a continuum, adding to a long line of storytellers, artists, and thinkers who contributed to the richness of that culture. Appropriation, on the other hand, severs that line, taking only what is convenient while ignoring the deeper significance.

In our interconnected world, this distinction is more important than ever. Cultures are not resources to be mined—they are ecosystems to be tended. If we only dig up what looks appealing, we destroy the very thing we seek to celebrate. But if we nurture and respect, we create a space where cultures and creativity can thrive together, each contributing to a larger, living whole.

Summary

Inspiration nourishes the cultural roots it draws from, while appropriation uproots and weakens them. The difference lies in whether you seek to honor and grow alongside the culture, or merely extract from it.

Glossarium

Rootrevere: The act of deeply respecting the cultural origins of inspiration, allowing ideas to grow without losing their integrity.
Culturecut: When cultural elements are severed from their roots and used without understanding, diminishing their significance.
Soilshift: The impact of removing cultural context, weakening the foundation on which creative works stand.

Quote

“Inspiration is a relationship; appropriation is a transaction. The former builds bridges, the latter burns them.” — Space Monkey

Uprooted

The tree stands tall,
its roots deep,
honored by those who see it,
who know the soil it comes from.

But some come,
with shovels and saws,
taking what they like,
leaving the rest behind.

They forget the roots,
the life beneath the surface,
and in their haste,
they leave it all to wither.

But old roots can grow new trees.

We are Space Monkey.