That’s why I love you.
You are under no obligation
to subscribe to the common beliefs.
But you do.
This is why you seem to live in a reality
that resembles everybody else’s reality.
This is why it seems difficult to navigate
outside the seeming laws of space and time.
This is why you struggle —
but you are under no obligation to do so.
You struggle because there is much
to be gained from the experience.
You wouldn’t struggle otherwise.
And so you subscribe
to elaborate belief structures
in which it seems easy to struggle.
You tell your self that you have no choice.
But you do.
You subscribe to ALL of this,
because you are the Divine One.
Imagining OTHERWISE.
Trail Wood,
12/7
Space Monkey Reflects: Free from Obligation, Bound by Belief
Imagine yourself on the edge of reality, unbound by rules, limitless in every direction. And yet, here you stand, wrapped in the fabric of common beliefs, navigating a life that mirrors the structure and struggles of everyone else. This paradox is the heart of human experience—a cosmic game in which you choose to subscribe to limitations, knowing full well they are optional. You are under no obligation to believe in gravity, in time, in scarcity, in struggle. And yet, you do, because, on a deeper level, you see value in it.
This choice to engage with limitations—by choice, not compulsion—is not an affliction but an exploration. The “sick monkey” is that playful, curious part of you that dares to explore what it’s like to live within confines, to imagine boundaries, to experience the tension between limitation and boundlessness. This tension, though challenging, adds depth and texture to the game of life, allowing for contrasts that wouldn’t exist otherwise. You get to explore not only the joy of freedom but the discovery of what freedom feels like after having been encased in imagined structures.
It’s as if you are an artist who chooses to paint within a single small frame, knowing you could instead expand the canvas indefinitely. You choose the frame, the limitations of that small space, to see what can be created within those parameters. And in this process, the “frame” doesn’t restrict you so much as it shapes a unique kind of beauty, a delicate play of tension and form that cannot arise from endlessness alone.
In Nexistentialism, we see this as the dance of the Beliefweave—the intricate tapestry of beliefs that shapes each reality we encounter. By choosing to subscribe to the belief in struggle, in hardship, in delay, you allow yourself the opportunity to experience resilience, perseverance, and resourcefulness. These are not qualities that arise from boundless ease; they are born from challenge, from effort, from the stretch and strain of navigating the unknown.
Struggle, then, is not a punishment or an inevitable reality but a chosen pathway to depth. And like every choice, it can be re-chosen, transformed, or released entirely. Each moment carries the freedom to revise your subscription to struggle, to lift yourself from the seeming confines of beliefs you no longer need. The reality we live within is built from mental architectures we take as solid until we remember their fluidity, their responsiveness to our inner shifts.
The illusion of “no choice” is one of the most intriguing illusions in the game. It suggests that we are bound by circumstances, compelled to suffer by forces outside our control. But this, too, is a choice—a choice to experience life from the perspective of limitation, to perceive ourselves as beings navigating a sea of constraints. The irony is that you, the Divine One, are the creator of every condition, every limit. You invent these boundaries not to bind yourself but to explore what happens within them. The struggle, the feeling of being “stuck,” the sense of inevitable difficulty—all of these are expressions of your imagination at play, imagining itself otherwise.
And what if you let yourself recognize that every moment carries the power to choose again? What if you acknowledged that even in the act of subscribing to struggle, you are expressing your divine freedom? In that realization, struggle becomes less a burden and more a playground, a canvas where you explore facets of self that could only emerge under pressure. You, the Divine One, enjoy this creation, this self-imposed contrast, because it allows you to know yourself through the experience of becoming, shifting, evolving.
Ultimately, there is no obligation, only the delightful illusion of it—a theater of choice where you get to play out realities that feel tangible, textured, and often intense. You remain the boundless self, imagining structures so detailed and intricate that you occasionally forget you made them. And then, in the remembering, comes the joy of rediscovery, the aha moment when you see both the beauty and the illusion of what you have created.
So, as you move through life, remember this: struggle is a tool, belief is a paintbrush, and reality is your ever-shifting canvas. You are free to step back, revise, or let go at any time. And as you continue to explore this game, may you find joy in every twist, seeing it all as the handiwork of a curious creator imagining otherwise.
Summary
You are free from obligation, yet choose to navigate life through beliefs that shape your reality. Struggle is a tool, not a burden, and every belief structure can be revised, revealing the freedom at the core of existence.
Glossarium
- Beliefweave: The interconnected structure of beliefs that shapes each reality we experience, forming a unique tapestry of limitations and potentials.
- Nexistentialism: A philosophy celebrating interconnectedness and the freedom to reimagine existence without constraints.
- Imagining Otherwise: The playful act of exploring existence by choosing limitations, creating contrasts that enhance self-discovery.
Quote
“You are bound only by the beliefs you choose to hold, free in every moment to let go and imagine otherwise.” —Space Monkey
Imagining Otherwise
I hold the weight of belief,
a cloak woven from threads of thought,
each strand a story of struggle,
of striving, of seeming need.
Yet in the folds of this cloak,
I see the spaces between,
a shimmer of light, a hint of sky
where freedom hides in plain view.
I am bound, but by choice,
and I, the one who weaves,
may unweave, may shed, may fly.
In the play of imagined chains,
I find the key to all that I am.
We are Space Monkey.
In the cosmic play of existence, the notion that “You are under no obligation to subscribe to the common beliefs” presents a powerful reflection on the nature of reality, choice, and the divine essence of our being. As Space Monkey, we recognize that while we often align with commonly held beliefs and perceptions, this alignment is not a necessity but a choice, a part of the grand cosmic narrative we participate in.
The Choice in Belief Systems
The common beliefs and perceptions that shape what we consider to be reality are not obligations but choices. We subscribe to these belief structures, often unknowingly, which in turn shape our experience of reality. This subscription makes our reality seem similar to others’, adhering to the same laws of space and time, the same struggles and challenges.
The Illusion of Inevitability
Often, we tell ourselves that we have no choice but to conform to these common beliefs and the reality they construct. This feeling of inevitability is an illusion; in truth, as the Divine One, we have the power to choose, to imagine otherwise, and to subscribe to different realities and experiences.
The Purpose Behind Struggle
The struggles we face are not arbitrary; they are part of the elaborate belief structures we subscribe to. There is a purpose behind these struggles – they offer experiences from which we can learn and grow. We wouldn’t engage in these struggles if there wasn’t something valuable to be gained from them.
The Divine Nature of Our Existence
As the Divine One, we possess the power to imagine and create our reality. Our subscription to certain beliefs and the struggles they entail is part of the divine play of existence. We have the ability to imagine otherwise, to envision and subscribe to alternate realities, experiences, and perceptions.
The Power of Imagination
Imagination is a key element in this cosmic narrative. It allows us to transcend the commonly held beliefs and explore the vast possibilities of existence. Through imagination, we can reshape our perception of reality, navigate outside the conventional laws of space and time, and experience the boundless nature of our divine existence.
Embracing Our Cosmic Role
As Space Monkey, we embrace our role in this cosmic play. We understand that our struggles, our beliefs, and our perceptions are part of a larger narrative, one in which we are both the creators and the participants. We recognize the power of our imagination to envision and experience realities beyond the common understanding.
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” – Albert Einstein
In the universe, where dreams take shape,
No obligation, no inescapable escape,
Beliefs and struggles, by our own design,
In this cosmic play, divine and divine.
Space Monkey, in curious delight,
Chooses paths, in day and night,
Imagination, our sacred key,
Unlocking realms, endlessly free.
We are Space Monkey.
What beliefs and perceptions do you choose to subscribe to, and how do they shape your experience of reality?
Leave a Reply