The Filmy Plaque of Experience
You accumulate context.
You have an experience.
You contextualize the experience.
You express the experience
based upon your accumulated context.
Others express their experiences
based upon their accumulated context,
some of which seems the same as yours,
some of which seems different from yours.
You have an exchange,
which is an experience.
You contextualize your experiences
with the experiences of others,
thus accumulating more context.
And so on.
This context forms a filmy plaque
that you can no longer see through.
That which does not fit
between the microscopic holes
of this filmy plaque
is no longer seen or remembered.
Through this self-made filter,
your experience only flows
within your context.
No other experiences seem possible,
and no other experiences are perceived.
If you were to examine your history,
comb through your books of knowledge,
you would not find a hole.
They were there once,
but you filled them in.
Now you see only this.
You are having experiences.
And you are running
out of places to put them.
We are Space Monkey.
10/2
Newfound Lake
Space Monkey Reflects: The Filmy Plaque of Experience
As we move through life, we accumulate experiences, each one leaving its mark on our consciousness. These experiences are contextualized, processed, and stored within the framework of what we already know. Over time, this accumulation forms a filter—a filmy plaque—that shapes how we perceive the world around us.
This plaque is not tangible, yet it is very real in its effects. It is composed of layers upon layers of context, each one derived from the experiences we’ve had and the interpretations we’ve given them. As new experiences arise, they pass through this filter, only to be understood within the boundaries of what we already know. Anything that doesn’t fit within the tiny, microscopic holes of this plaque is forgotten or unseen, dismissed as irrelevant or simply not noticed.
The result is a narrowing of perception. The world becomes a reflection of our accumulated context, a mirror that shows us only what we expect to see. We become so entrenched in our own framework of understanding that no other experiences seem possible. We see only what fits within our self-made filter, and everything else is left out, discarded before it can even reach our conscious awareness.
This process of accumulation and filtering is both natural and limiting. It allows us to make sense of the world, to navigate through life with a sense of continuity and order. But it also traps us within our own context, making it difficult to see beyond the boundaries we’ve unconsciously set for ourselves.
Imagine, for a moment, what it would be like to dissolve this filmy plaque. To peel away the layers of accumulated context and see the world anew, without the constraints of past experiences dictating what is possible. It would be like opening your eyes for the first time, seeing beyond the limitations of your own perceptions, and experiencing life in its full, unfiltered richness.
But how do we begin to dissolve this plaque? The first step is awareness—recognizing that it exists and understanding how it shapes our perception. From there, it is a matter of consciously questioning our assumptions, challenging the boundaries we’ve set for ourselves, and being open to new experiences that don’t fit within our established context.
It’s about allowing yourself to see the world not just through the lens of your past but with the openness of a beginner’s mind. It’s about recognizing that the holes in your history were once there, even if they’ve been filled in over time. And it’s about making space for new experiences, even if they seem strange or unfamiliar, trusting that they have the potential to enrich your understanding of the world.
We are Space Monkey, and in this reflection, we invite you to consider the filmy plaque of experience that may be obscuring your vision. What might you see if you allowed yourself to look beyond it? What new possibilities might emerge if you let go of the need to contextualize every experience within the framework of what you already know?
Summary
The filmy plaque of experience is a metaphor for the accumulated context that shapes our perception. By becoming aware of this filter and challenging our assumptions, we can begin to see beyond our limitations and open ourselves to new possibilities.
Glossarium
Filmy Plaque: A metaphor for the accumulated context of experiences that filters and limits our perception of the world.
Dissolving the Plaque: The process of questioning assumptions and being open to new experiences that challenge our established context.
Quote
“Allow yourself to see beyond the filmy plaque of experience, and new possibilities will emerge.” — Space Monkey
Peeling Away
Layer by layer, we build our walls
Each experience, a brick that falls
But what if we could see anew
Through the holes, the world shines through
We are Space Monkey
In the wondrous dance of existence, we find ourselves ensnared by the ‘Ethersnare’—our invented term for the invisible but palpable trap made of the filmy plaque of contextual experiences. This Ethersnare is an intricate web, spun from the silk of our past experiences, emotions, judgments, and countless ephemera that dance in the cosmos of our perception. It’s as if we’re painting over a cosmic canvas with ‘Memoraclay,’ another whimsiword to define the malleable substance of memories and experiences that shape our reality.
What are we but vessels collecting a ‘Cosmic Gumbo’—an amalgamation of our experiences, interactions, and emotions? Each spoonful is another encounter, another revelation, another paradox resolved or deepened. Yet, as we stir this infinite pot, the flavors become more complex, and the original ingredients lose their distinctness. The Ethersnare tightens, and the Cosmic Gumbo thickens. The resulting texture forms a ‘Perceptogauze,’ a filmy layer of perception that alters the spectrum of experiences we can access.
Isn’t it intriguing how we, the architects of our experience, inadvertently build walls that confine us? Our Memoraclay forms bricks; our Ethersnare serves as mortar. We build ourselves into a ‘Mindsprison’—yet another whimsiword that captures the existential irony of being both the prisoner and the warden of our mental confines. The Perceptogauze becomes a one-way mirror; we can glimpse the expansive cosmic possibilities, but they are distorted, muddied by the Cosmic Gumbo we’ve brewed for ourselves.
What if we could scrub away this filmy plaque, rip apart the Ethersnare, dissolve the Memoraclay, and pour some clarity into our Cosmic Gumbo? What if we could polish the Perceptogauze until it becomes a clear window into infinite potentialities? Would we then see the ‘Unperceivium’—our term for that which is so imperceptible yet omnipresent in our daily lives?
We are Space Monkey.
Experience is not what happens to you; it’s what you do with what happens to you.
— Aldous Huxley
Care to spill more Cosmic Gumbo into the Cauldron of Conversation? What more shall we explore in this grand odyssey of existence?
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