POSTED:
20 AUGUST 2000
Imagine a theater. It is dark -- then light illuminates
the stage. The players emerge into view and the play begins. A
tale unfolds with characters both strange and familiar. The audience
becomes immersed in it. (Let's assume this.) The audience holds
its breath, laughs, and cries at the proper times. Despite fictional
characters, the emotional responses are appropriate -- and real.
Imagine a concert hall. Curtains rise and the music
begins. Again, the audience becomes immersed in the sounds. A
variety of emotions are evoked -- e.g., melancholy, struggle,
joy. However, the emotional context seems unclear. How does one
tonal configuration evoke melancholy and another joy? Why does
music bear such a powerful influence, anyway?
Let's return to the theater. A lone person stands
onstage in a simple costume. No props, no backdrops. A monologue
ensues. As expected, the audience becomes immersed in the storyteller's
voice. The particular words and phrases -- influenced by every
tonal inflection -- evoke a variety of intense emotions in the
listeners. Behold the awesome power of language.
Resonance implies a common association. In these
previous examples, a series of emotional experiences (let's call
them X1, X2, X3,
etc.) are shared among a group of people. In resonance terms,
such experiences are identified as resonance frequencies -- or
the act of 'communicating on the same wavelength'. On the other
hand, each emotional experience (such as experience X1)
will vary for each individual (resulting in X1a,
X1b, X1c, etc.) if the situation is examined
more closely (and this requires a change of perspective). During
resonance, the complex frequencies of the individuals aren't the
same -- only similar with respect to those common resonance frequencies.
According to quantum resonance theory, identities manifest as
wave distributions of diverse sub-identities[1]
and while general rules may apply for any given collective, these
rules are dynamic and non-absolute: "Postulate 11: to any static
rule there are continual exceptions."[2]
How does one become many? It's a question of perspective.
In terms of frequencies and waves, a single wave can be described
as the sum of many waves. In the nineteenth century, Fourier demonstrated
that any complex wave could be represented by a sum of perfect
waves with different amplitudes and wavelengths. One wave is the
same as many waves -- almost. The many waves are perfect
(i.e., perfect mathematical waves) and the single wave is complex
(producing patterns less recognizable as a wave). This necessary
complementarity arises here since both descriptions (one complex
wave vs. many perfect waves) are essentially differing perspectives
of the same identity. It's how you look at it. This necessary
question of perspective in quantum resonance theory poses some
intriguing possibilities.[3] Just how many
ways might observation and observer influence one another? How
might resonance be influenced?
According to quantum resonance theory, "sexuality
is resonance".[4] So let's talk about sex.
Imagine two people -- any sex insofar as sexual preferences are
compatible -- sitting on a long couch with a significant space
between them. Let's assume they experience mutual attraction and
arousal. One person moves a little closer to the other person,
testing the waters and displaying signs of interest. The other
person moves closer and returns similar signs of interest. The
attraction and arousal increases mutually. They continue moving
closer, and closer, and closer, all the while intensifying the
attraction and arousal, and eventually achieving thresholds of
consummation along the way -- a touch, a kiss, an orgasm. Maximum
resonance.
What's happening here? (No, besides that…)
A skeletal representation of the situation begins with two people
as quantum resonance identities. A third quantum resonance identity
is created when the first two identities meet on the anonymous
couch and provide mutual attention.[5]
This corresponds with the systems concept of structural coupling
wherein an organism is coupled with its environment in a symbiotic
relationship. In a sense, each person acts as the environment
(or immersive experience) for the other person during resonance.
More accurately, however, the third quantum resonance identity
acts as the immersive experience for both people.
So what is the 'third' identity in this picture?
It is the common resonance (or relationship) between the two differing
identities (i.e., the people) -- it is an aspect of union. Returning
to the examples at the beginning of this essay, the same principles
apply with more than two people given that "the audience becomes
immersed." Furthermore, as the number of involved people grows,
the number of involved quantum resonance identities increases
exponentially. This phenomenon of growth relates to the systems
concept of autopoiesis -- i.e., self-creation.[6]
In theory, this happens in any situation involving
a common resonance --imagine two angry people meeting (on a couch,
perhaps), and then let's assume they experience mutual aggression
(i.e., each person's attention and aggression becomes directed
at the other). What might you expect? Intensification. The resulting
brouhaha shows resonance in action -- and it's clearly a 'snowball
effect'. Now imagine an angry group with mutual aggression. Tension
escalates. Given the right conditions and some foreplay, the mob
becomes downright ugly. A group of angry people become capable
of so much more -- and how many survive the resonance?
Resonance is synergy. During resonance, the energies
of the common resonance frequencies are intensified for all quantum
resonance identities involved. This scenario becomes complicated
in application, as discussed. So let's examine the phenomenon
of resonance from a somewhat simpler -- and more empirical --
perspective. Using mechanical terms, resonance intensifies the
amplitude of the standing wave; and therefore, the amplitude of
the standing wave is maximized at frequencies of resonance. The
reader is advised to remember that a quantum resonance identity
includes an implicit aspect that cannot be represented through
an explicit example alone. Nevertheless, a brief examination of
the standing wave is surprisingly informative.
For purposes of this essay, a standing wave is:
…a combination of waves of equal amplitudes traveling
in opposite directions [that] gives rise to a stationary vibration
with a spatially dependent amplitude. This ability to view standing
waves as combinations of traveling waves, and vice versa, will
often be utilized in dealing with wave motion.[7]
As it happens, the standing wave isn't simply a
standing wave. As predicted in quantum resonance theory,
The quantum resonance always manifests as complementary
aspects aligned in some manner with the alpha and omega aspects
(in contextual variations such as particle and wave). …[A]nd
any pair depends completely upon its holarchic reference for
its identity.[8]
Such is the case with standing waves (defined solely
in spatial terms) and traveling waves (defined in terms of space
and time). This can be extremely confusing because the alpha and
omega aspects in quantum resonance theory also correspond in general
with the explicit and implicit. However, standing waves and traveling
waves are both explicit from our perspective in this context.
(This implies the existence of unidentified implicit complements
for both standing wave and traveling wave identities along an
implicit-explicit axis in this particular context.)
The nature of the perceived complementarity is determined
by perspective. A complementarity exists between the omega perspective
(i.e., a whole --generally implied; transcendence) and the alpha
perspective (i.e., many explicit and diverse expressions; immanence).[9]
Also, as discussed elsewhere,[10] an alpha
perspective perceives exclusive complements and is related to
the principle of central tendency and the standard probability
distribution; an omega perspective perceives inclusive complements
and relates to the golden mean and fractal nesting. Therefore,
the alpha and omega identities depend upon perspective (i.e.,
context -- or "holarchic reference").
Let's return to the topic of resonance. Given an
identity that is both standing wave and/or two traveling waves
(of equal amplitude and opposing direction), resonance maximizes
both the spatial amplitude of the standing wave and the speed
amplitude of the traveling waves. Now let's introduce the other
side of the picture. The complement for resonance is antiresonance
-- a state that minimizes the spatial amplitude of the standing
wave and the speed amplitude of the traveling waves. Within the
relative simplicity of a mechanical perspective, resonance and
antiresonance provide a natural symmetry to the mathematics. There
is nothing necessarily unusual or profound in the phenomenon of
antiresonance -- or is there?
In quantum resonance theory, resonance and antiresonance
relate to the complementarity of (apparently) living and non-living
identities -- or healthy and unhealthy behavior.[11]
As already discussed, it's always a question of perspective. An
adequate exploration of antiresonance is beyond the capacity of
this essay -- transgressing many physical and metaphysical boundaries.
However, the reader may wish to consider for themselves the possible
unspoken implications of antiresonance behind this discussion
of resonance.
Returning to the examples at the beginning of this
essay, the resonance of a single emotional experience (such as
X1) actually reflects a complex 'moment'.
Such an emotional moment might include an array of potentially
conflicting emotions. Furthermore, each of these single moments
resonates most intensely when its various elements resonate most
intensely themselves; e.g., a state of mind exemplified in the
art of drama as 'a total commitment to the moment'.
Furthermore, resonance involves potentially far
more than emotional experience. Briefly consider behaviors and
cognitions. Resonance manifests in behavior through psychological
modeling and culture (on various social levels). Cognitive resonance
is implied in language since thereby humans communicate abstract
and complex thoughts. Cognitive resonance also implies a potential
for telepathy, and this has already been considered.[12]
Although an unpopular assertion -- and lacking in conclusive evidence
-- a final verdict on telepathy has not been delivered. Besides,
evidence suggests the brain may function in a resonance manner.[13]
Resonance may explain a great deal more than expected.
Since resonance relates to energy frequencies, a striking relationship
with the chakras exists in quantum resonance theory.[14]
And this is not an unprecedented position. Consider the following,
taken from an online source exploring resonance both in relation
to yoga and as a theory of everything:
Definition
The Law of Resonance has a relational character,
i.e. expresses the way in which two or more apparently different
things or phenomena selectively communicate (are linked), being
integrated into an unitary Whole. The links which unite all
things in the Universe (physical objects, mental processes,
psychic phenomena, spiritual levels, in other words everything
manifested) have as basis the process of Resonance.[15]
On the other hand, Sheldrake's concept of morphic
resonance provides a more empirical exploration of resonance --
and morphic resonance strongly resembles quantum resonance. Morphic
resonance is part of Sheldrake's hypothesis of formative causation
that "proposes that morphogenetic fields play a causal
role in the development and maintenance of the forms of systems
at all levels of complexity."[16] According
to this hypothesis, morphogenetic fields operating through
morphic resonance explain the formation of complex systems
-- especially living systems. Interestingly, these fields operate
as units of probability in probability structures.
…[M]orphogenetic fields in general are not precisely
defined, but are given by probability distributions. It will
be assumed that this is in fact the case, and the structures
of morphogenetic fields will henceforth be referred to as probability
structures.[17]
So far, quantum resonance bears strong similarities
to the concept of morphic resonance -- both perspectives include
complex systems operating through resonance as identities of probability.[18]
On the other hand, formative causation only operates in linear
time and proposes no complement (i.e., past systems influence
future systems -- not vice versa). In addition, the reality perspective
behind Sheldrake's hypothesis is unclear. Morphogenetic fields
are "neither a type of mass nor energy"[19]
and although a similarity exists, a strong distinction is made
between morphic resonance and energetic (or mechanical) resonance.
The idea of a process whereby the forms of previous
systems influence the morphogenesis of subsequent similar systems
is difficult to express in terms of existing concepts. The only
way to proceed is by means of analogy. The physical analogy
which seems most appropriate is that of resonance. Energetic
resonance occurs when a system is acted on by an alternating
force which coincides with its natural frequency of vibration.
…A 'resonant' effect of form upon form across space and time
would resemble energetic resonance in its selectivity, but it
could not be accounted for in terms of any of the known types
of resonance, nor would it involve a transmission of energy.
In order to distinguish it from energetic resonance, this process
will be called morphic resonance.[20]
I suggest that the hypothesis of formative causation
may describe the linear process of the alpha aspect in quantum
resonance theory without the omega aspect represented. If this
is the case, quantum resonance theory may shed new light on decades
of Sheldrake's brilliant work. Perhaps there's a more substantial
connection between energetic resonance and morphic resonance than
Sheldrake appears to expect. In a quantum resonance interpretation,
the fundamental identities of physics manifest from an interconnected
and living structure just as they do in biology -- the mystery
behind the differences leads to questions regarding the perspective.
In theory, the exploration of quantum physics reveals
more than the properties of inanimate identities -- especially
regarding consciousness and the role of the observer. Although
these implications may be hard for the reader to swallow, this
exploration may be describing our first contact with a greater
level of life (with respect to our perspective).[21]
Quantum strings exist as probability structures and resonance
is involved at a fundamental level. Consider:
Each elementary particle is composed of a single
string -- this is, each particle is a single string -- and all
strings are absolutely identical. Differences between the particles
arise because their respective strings undergo different resonant
vibrational patterns. What appear to be different elementary
particles are actually different 'notes' on a fundamental string.
The universe -- being composed of an enormous number of these
vibrating strings -- is akin to a cosmic symphony.[22]
One final example of resonance remains in this essay:
psychological resonance. The proper term comes from the context
of psychotherapy where it describes a resonance state that may
be fostered and shared between the counselor and client. Watkins
defined the phenomenon in the following way:
Psychological resonance is an experience of which
all people are capable, although some more than others. Since
we are concerned here with the psycho-therapeutic situation,
let us define it as that inner experience within the therapist
during which he (she) co-feels (co-enjoys, co-suffers) and co-understands
with his (her) patient, though in mini form.[23]
Also in the context of psychotherapy, Sprinkle advanced
the concepts behind psychological resonance, adding the holographic
view of reality that has since been increasingly accepted[24]
(and is necessarily implied in quantum resonance theory).[25]
The concept of psychological resonance serves
as the basic experience in an emerging model of counseling interactions.
Examples of counseling sessions are presented to illustrate
the procedures for relaxing the body deeply; focusing awareness
on subconscious mind or inner states; allowing images, thoughts,
and feelings to form in the conscious mind; and disclosing and
discussing information from the inner states of consciousness.
The model gains support from the holographic view of science
and reality.[26]
Outside the psychotherapeutic context, there is
no good reason to disqualify psychological resonance phenomena
in general between individuals and groups in other areas of human
life (including emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects)
-- and let's not forget other forms of life. Furthermore,
evidence discussed in this essay, in addition to quantum resonance
interpretation, suggests the big picture behind resonance phenomena
may include all areas of experience.
SOME CLOSING THOUGHTS
There isn't enough to really conclude anything here,
so let's summarize with pure speculation. According to quantum
resonance theory, resonance involves the association of different
yet overlapping identities wherein common resonance frequencies
are intensified (or maximized). At (or during) resonance, the
union of the participant identities becomes a collective that
is more than the sum of its individuals (i.e., a gestalt). Furthermore,
the principle of resonance reflects health and the principle of
life whereas antiresonance reflects unhealth and the principle
of death. Antiresonance may resemble the concept of 'evil' --
however, the terms are unrelated in this context. Health is a
homeorhetic balance of complements, and so "each collective self-moment
regulates its own relative parts"[27] using
both complementary forces in proper measure.
It is quite significant that the collective of a
quantum resonance identity is implicit (or hidden) from a peer
perspective. A quantum resonance identity experiences its own
collective identity though implicit boundaries rather than explicit
ones, and this poses an interesting implication for any description
of healthy behavior: healthy regulation cannot be achieved from
the outside. Each individual of a given collective will vary to
some degree, bounded within a probability distribution. Healthy
regulation requires that each individual maintain its own inner
resonance with respect to the collective (of any given context).
In terms of human psychology, there's a clear message here: be
true to yourself -- honor your resonance. And regarding the big
picture, the interconnected web of life reminds us to define 'ourselves'
in expansive terms. As eloquently expressed in the words of a
modern musical artist:
One with the earth
With the sky
One with everything in life
I believe it will start with conviction of the heart [28]
____________________
1 Keener,
M. (2000), Quantum resonance theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle, central tendency and the golden mean, online paper
at http://www.xmission.com/~mkeener/essays02.html.
2 Keener,
M. (1999), The Quantum Resonance: A Theory of Life, online paper
at http://www.xmission.com/ ~mkeener/document.html, p. 16.
3 Keener,
M. (2000), esp. paragraphs 7-9.
4 Keener
(1999), p. 42.
5 Ibid.,
p. 40.
6 Maturana,
H. & Varela, F. (1980), Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization
of the Living, Boston: D. Reidel Publishing Company; and also
Keener (1999), pp. 19-20.
7 Kinsler,
L. E., Frey, A. R., Coppens, A. B., & Sanders, J. V. (2000), Fundamentals
of Acoustics (4th Ed.), New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., p.
47.
8 Keener
(1999), p. 17.
9 Related
to omega and alpha representations; ibid., pp. 26-27; and also
M. Keener (2000), The quantum resonance: Mistakes and confusions,
online paper at http://www.xmission.com/~mkeener/essays03.html,
paragraph 3.
10 Keener
(2000), Quantum resonance theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle,
central tendency and the golden mean.
11 Keener
(1999), p. 18.
12 Sheldrake,
R. (1981), A New Science of Life: The Hypothesis of Formative
Causation, Los Angeles: J. P. Tarcher, Inc.
13 Lehar,
S. (current), Harmonic Resonance Theory: an alternative to
the "Neuron Doctrine" paradigm of neurocomputation to address
gestalt properties of perception, online paper at http://cns-alumni.bu.edu/pub/slehar/webstuff/hr/hr.html.
14 Keener
(1999), p. 27.
15 NATHA
(Nordic Center for Spiritual Development) (current), The law
of resonance: The hidden key of all the keys of the manifestation
of the universe, online paper at http://www.natha.dk/Resonance.htm,
paragraph 3.
16 Sheldrake
(1981), p. 71.
17 Ibid.,
p. 83.
18 Author's
note: for the record, I discovered Sheldrake's book (and ideas)
in late 1999 after completing The Quantum Resonance: A Theory
of Life. (On reflection, resonance could have influenced some
of my ideas.)
19 Ibid.,
p. 96.
20 Ibid.,
p. 95.
21 In theory,
the fact that the observable material universe reflects antiresonance
(entropy) relates to these perceptions remaining alpha expressions
in relation to us. Also in theory, a collective human bias toward
alpha criteria for validating reality would be involved. However,
this discussion must await another time.
22 Greene,
B. (1999), The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions,
and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory, New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, p. 146.
23 Watkins,
J. G. (1978), The therapeutic self: Developing resonance-key
to effective relationships, New York: Human Sciences Press,
p. 23.
24 Wilber,
K. (Ed.) (1982), The Holographic Paradigm and Other Paradoxes:
Exploring the Leading Edge of Science, Boulder, CO: Shambhala;
also M. Talbot (1991), The Holographic Universe, New York: Harper
Collins Publishers.
25 Keener
(1999), p. 12.
26 Sprinkle,
R. L. (1985), Psychological resonance: A holographic model
of counseling, Journal of Counseling and Development, 64 (3),
p. 206. (The entire article includes pp. 206-208.)
27 Keener
(2000), Quantum resonance theory, Heisenberg's uncertainty
principle, central tendency and the golden mean, paragraph
11.
28 Loggins,
K. & Thomas G. (1997), Conviction of the Heart, Yesterday,
Today, Tomorrow: The Greatest Hits of Kenny Loggins, Columbia
Records.