Everything is a pattern
until it isn’t —
A fractal mosaic of recurring
potentials, perceptions,
circumstances and behaviors —
You contain patterns
within patterns,
seemingly repeating,
but not —
Explanations are based
on prior explanations —
Realities are built
on prior realities —
Futures flow as one
might expect them to flow —
This is how it seems,
but how it seems
is not necessarily
how it is, isn’t or could be —
Everything is a pattern
until it isn’t —
It isn’t when you see that it isn’t.
Novelty does not follow a pattern.
Trail Wood,
11/14
Space Monkey Reflects: Patterns
From within the pattern, all we see are patterns. They surround us, shaping our perceptions, our thoughts, and our actions. Every day, we repeat the same motions, follow familiar paths, and experience life through a lens of expectation. We live within a fractal mosaic, where each piece seems to reflect the others—a continuous repetition of circumstances, behaviors, and beliefs. But what happens when we step outside of this mosaic? When we look at the pattern from a broader view?
Patterns are everywhere, yet they are also elusive. They feel solid and unchanging until we realize they are not. Everything is a pattern—until it isn’t. This realization opens up the possibility that life is not as rigid or predictable as it seems. We create explanations based on prior explanations, and we build realities based on prior realities, but these are not the only possibilities. Novelty does not follow a pattern. It breaks the cycle and introduces something entirely new.
Within us, there are patterns upon patterns—thoughts, habits, emotions, and behaviors that repeat, yet never exactly the same. The patterns of our lives shape who we are, but they do not define us. We are not locked into them. As much as it feels like our future flows in a predictable direction, it doesn’t have to. The beauty of life is that the moment we see beyond the pattern, we open the door to novelty, to unexpected possibilities.
Stepping outside the pattern means embracing the unknown. It means recognizing that the way things seem isn’t necessarily the way they are. It’s an invitation to see beyond the fractal and into the infinite potential that exists within each moment. From within the pattern, it can be hard to see this. Everything feels familiar, and we find comfort in that familiarity. But when we step outside, when we allow ourselves to see the novelty within the pattern, we realize that nothing is truly fixed.
Novelty is not bound by the expectations of the past or the patterns of the present. It is the force that breaks through, creating something entirely new and unique. To embrace novelty is to recognize that the patterns of our lives, though recurring, are not absolute. They are fluid, dynamic, and capable of change at any moment. This realization can be both liberating and unsettling.
We are pattern-seekers by nature. We look for repetition and predictability because it gives us a sense of control. But life, in its essence, is far more complex than any pattern can capture. It is in the moments when we step outside the pattern, when we see that everything is a pattern until it isn’t, that we find true freedom. The fractal mosaic of our lives becomes not a prison but a playground, where we are free to create and explore the unexpected.
Summary
Patterns shape our perceptions and actions, but they are not fixed. By stepping outside the pattern, we open ourselves to novelty and infinite possibilities, breaking free from the predictable.
Glossarium
Fractal Mosaic: A metaphor for the repeating patterns of life—thoughts, behaviors, and circumstances that seem to mirror one another but are never exactly the same.
Novelty: The force that breaks through patterns, introducing something entirely new and unexpected.
Quote
“Everything is a pattern—until it isn’t. Novelty does not follow a pattern.” — Space Monkey
Beyond the Fractal
Within the pattern,
I see,
the repetition,
the swirl,
the same,
until it isn’t.
Outside,
the mosaic breaks,
the pieces scatter,
and I see,
the novelty,
waiting,
to emerge.
We are Space Monkey.
The contemplation “Patterns” invites us to discern the ubiquitous nature of patterns in our existence while also acknowledging the potential for novelty that defies these regularities. It reflects on the layered complexity of patterns that constitute our perceptions and realities.
The Ubiquity of Patterns
The reflection begins by stating a simple yet profound truth: everything is a pattern until it isn’t. This paradoxical statement sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the fractal-like nature of our existence, where patterns of potentials, perceptions, circumstances, and behaviors are nested within each other, seemingly ad infinitum.
Patterns Within Patterns
As we delve deeper into the reflection, we recognize that we are composed of repeating patterns that, upon closer inspection, are not mere repetitions but complex iterations. This suggests that while our behaviors and explanations for phenomena may seem cyclical, they are not bound to a fixed recurrence.
The Basis of Our Understanding
The prose then moves on to state that our explanations and realities are built upon those that came before. It hints at the foundational nature of knowledge and experience, which serve as the bedrock for further understanding and the shaping of what is to come.
Expectation and Flow of the Future
It speaks to the idea that the future unfolds in ways we might expect, shaped by the patterns of the past and present. This continuity offers a semblance of predictability in the grand tapestry of time.
The Illusion of Seeming
However, the reflection cautions us that what seems to be is not always aligned with the true nature of existence. It challenges us to look beyond appearances, to recognize that the perceived constancy of patterns may not fully encompass the scope of what is, isn’t, or could be.
The Emergence of Novelty
In its conclusion, the reflection returns to the opening statement, reiterating the transient nature of patterns. It posits that the realization of their impermanence comes with the recognition of novelty — experiences or phenomena that do not conform to established patterns.
“The only real valuable thing is intuition.” – Albert Einstein
A Lyrical Meditation on Existence
In the dance of the cosmos, we trace,
The patterns that time does embrace.
“Patterns,” the reflection, softly says,
In their breaking, our reality sways.
The fractal mosaic, ever so vast,
In its complexity, a spell is cast.
“Patterns,” a word, a concept, a guide,
In their absence, novelty takes stride.
We are the observers, the pattern weavers,
In the fabric of time, the believers.
“Patterns,” they come, they go, they bend,
In their midst, we find our end.
We invite contemplation on this introspective dance, where patterns guide us until they don’t, and in their absence, we find the seeds of novelty and the promise of uncharted paths.
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