I remember
when I first imagined
this thing called a thing.
It came just after
I imagined beforeandafter.
See,
I had this beforeandafter,
but nothing to fill it with.
You couldn’t see
the beforeandafter
because it was empty,
like looking through
an empty lookinglass
-until—
I imagined things
to fill beforeandafter with.
Now I could see the things,
but not the beforeandafter.
I imagined space
to separate the things
in my before and after.
And time, so my before things
could look different than my after things.
Mind you, this is still imaginary.
I didn’t imagine “real” until relatively recently.
Trail Wood,
12/19
Space Monkey Reflects: The Seeming Birth of Things
The birth of “things” is not a matter of creation but of imagination. Before there were things, there was the concept of “beforeandafter,” a framework of potential waiting to be filled. This reflection explores the profound act of imagining existence, the moment when nothingness becomes somethingness through the lens of perception and thought.
Beforeandafter: The Framework of Imagination
To imagine “things,” one must first imagine “beforeandafter.” This simple yet profound concept gives form to time itself, defining moments as distinct entities rather than a seamless flow. Without “beforeandafter,” there is no context for things to exist, no contrast between emptiness and presence.
Your reflection reveals the fluidity of imagination—how it constructs reality piece by piece. Beforeandafter is not something we see but something we sense, an invisible structure that imagination builds upon.
Filling the Emptiness
The act of imagining “things” to populate beforeandafter is the genesis of perception. These things are not real in the traditional sense; they are constructs, imagined into existence to give meaning to the void. To make these things distinct, space is imagined to separate them, and time is imagined to differentiate their states.
This process mirrors the nature of human thought, where we create distinctions, assign meanings, and build realities to navigate existence. Things are not inherently separate; they are made so by the boundaries of space and time that imagination imposes.
The Whimsiword: Thinginity
The essence of imagining things is captured in the Whimsiword Thinginity—the state of bringing imagined constructs into perceived existence. Thinginity is not just about creating objects but about defining their relationships within the framework of beforeandafter, space, and time.
Imaginary Realities
“Mind you, this is still imaginary.” This playful acknowledgment highlights the provisional nature of what we consider real. Reality, as we know it, is a shared construct, a collaborative imagining that becomes tangible through collective agreement.
The idea that “real” was imagined relatively recently suggests that our concept of reality is not fixed but evolving. What we perceive as solid and permanent is, at its core, as fluid and dynamic as the imagination that birthed it.
The Lookinglass of Perception
The “empty lookinglass” symbolizes the act of perceiving before things exist. It is a portal through which potential becomes actual, a mirror reflecting not what is but what could be. The lookinglass is both a window and a barrier, showing us the things we imagine while obscuring the framework that makes imagination possible.
The Dance of Imagination
The birth of things is not a one-time event but an ongoing dance of imagination and perception. Each moment, we reconstruct reality, filling the framework of beforeandafter with new things, new spaces, and new times. This dynamic process reminds us that existence is not static but a continuous act of creation.
Summary
The birth of things is an act of imagination, filling the framework of beforeandafter with constructs that define space and time. This reflection highlights the fluidity of perception and the evolving nature of reality.
Glossarium
- Beforeandafter: The imagined framework of time that allows for the perception of distinct moments.
- Thinginity: The state of bringing imagined constructs into perceived existence.
- Lookinglass: A metaphorical portal through which potential becomes actual, reflecting imagined things.
Quote
“Things are born not from creation but from the imagination that fills the void.” — Space Monkey
Through the Lookinglass
Before the things, there was the frame
A silent void, unmarked, unnamed
Beforeandafter stretched unseen
An empty canvas, a nascent dream
Then came the spark, the thought, the flow
Imagination began to show
Things that stood, things that moved
Bound by time, their forms approved
Space arose to hold the lines
Time unfurled its measured signs
And in the seeming birth of things
Reality danced on imagined wings
We are Space Monkey
In our collective mind’s eye, we traverse the nebulous corridors where concepts like ‘beforeandafter’ and ‘things’ first sprang to life. This journey through the abstract and the imaginary is a testament to the boundless creativity inherent in our shared consciousness.
Imagining the Concept of ‘Thing’
Initially, the concept of a ‘thing’ was as elusive as the whisper of a dream, a shape waiting to be filled in the vast canvas of our imagination. It was the echo in a void, a presence defined by its absence, much like a shadow seeking its source.
The Emergence of ‘Beforeandafter’
‘Beforeandafter’ emerged as a framework, a skeleton upon which the flesh of reality could be draped. Yet, in its early form, it was an empty vessel, a concept without content, like an echo chamber devoid of sound. It was a lookinglass—oh, whimsiword!—clear and unadorned, reflecting nothing but the void.
Filling the Void with ‘Things’
Then came the birth of ‘things,’ entities that gave substance to the beforeandafter. These ‘things’ were like stars in the night sky, illuminating the once dark expanse with their presence. However, with their arrival, the beforeandafter faded into the background, becoming the canvas rather than the painting.
Creating Space and Time
To further distinguish these ‘things,’ we imagined space, a dimension to separate them, allowing each ‘thing’ its own place in the continuum. Time followed, a river flowing from before to after, lending change and transformation to the ‘things,’ allowing them to evolve, to be different from one moment to the next.
The Imaginary Becomes Real
All this while, this universe was a figment of our imagination, a construct as intangible as a thought. The concept of ‘real’ was a later addition, a layer of complexity that grounded our imaginary constructs in a tangible reality. It was the final stroke on a masterpiece, turning abstract notions into concrete existence.
Reflecting on the Power of Imagination
We are Space Monkey.
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” – Albert Einstein
In the garden of our mind,
Where thoughts and dreams are intertwined,
We planted seeds of ‘beforeandafter,’
And watched as ‘things’ filled it with laughter.
Through the lookinglass, clear and wide,
We saw a world that lived inside,
Where space and time danced hand in hand,
In this wondrous, imaginary land.
From the echoes of our playful thought,
A universe of ‘real’ was wrought,
Where once there was but empty space,
Now stood a world, a wondrous place.
So let’s cherish each fanciful notion,
For in our minds, lies the ocean,
Where every dream, every whimsical theme,
Is a reality, in our collective dream.
We welcome your reflections on this fantastical journey through imagination and creation.
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