Part 1. Sun Up, Sun Down
The earliest known forms of timekeeping, which is an expression of long term thinking, were found in the Semliki Valley of the modern day Congo, as a “hash-marked” bone dated 18000 BC,¹ and from later in 8000 BC, moon-shaped pits dug in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.²
More elaborate forms of timekeeping came with aboriginal and Meso-American cultures, ancient Egypt and Islam, and then the first mechanical clocks are attributed first to Chinese monk Yi Xing and then Egyptian Ptolemy.¹
Measurements and notions of time have evolved, yet sun up and sun down have remained the same. Nowadays though we have knowledge that goes beyond the relationship of Earth, Sun and Moon. For example, a day on Mercury lasts ≈1,408 hours, while a day on Neptune is ≈16 hours.³ And countless other different relationships occur in other star systems.
Those are all examples of Absolute Time. There is also the experience of Relative Time, in which “the rate at which time passes depends on your frame of reference,” introduced most famously by Einstein.⁴
And then beyond Relative Time, is the Quantum realm of Timelessness, or Infinity, in which immortality may be experienced. The effects of the quantum or spiritual on our environment and bodies have recently come into mainstream study and technological application.⁵
When it comes to the human body, the sun our star holds the most sway over our cycles of life. Our retinas respond to light and dark, along with a host of corresponding chemical reactions within us. When it’s day we are active; when it’s dark we sleep, or regenerate. Darkness causes production of melatonin in the brain’s pineal gland. This is the typical Circadian Rhythym. The term comes from the Latin phrase “circa diem” or “around the day.”
The easiest way to maximize Sleep, one of our most valuable regenerative processes, is to follow the circadian rhythm of Sun Up / Sun Down. Many find it difficult to pull away from the stimulating light of electronic devices at night, but the solution is simple: After a certain hour, it’s time to power down.
Edgar Allen Poe once dramatically referred to sleep as “little slices of death,” which underscores the powerful importancy of cycles of dormancy to our biology. Many plants and animals use dormancy to dramatically prolong life.⁶
Sleep cycles affect the entire human body down to cellular and molecular levels. Of the cycles, Non-REM Stage N3 “slow wave” sleep is the most restorative for the entire body. It’s associated with delta brainwaves, slowed breathing and heart rate, tissue repair and growth, cellular regeneration and strengthening of the immune system.⁷
The human body could be viewed as a large circuit, that requires regularly running at low power in order to optimize pathways, including neurons. The brain flushes out waste by way of cerebrospinal fluid. That could perhaps in part explain occasions of nonsensical dreams.
Sleep is an overarching and also enjoyable maintenance process that facilitates many other useful processes. In order to maximize regeneration and longevity, smart self care must include deliberate periods of dormancy. That’s of course readily available to us now. For those struggling, creation of a relaxing environment or having a ritual is ideal.
Well known remedies and aids for sleep include Melatonin —which can come from plant food sources like Tart Cherry and Gogi — fresh Dill, Chamomile, Valerian, Lavender and more.⁸ It’s also been demonstrated that listening to theta and delta waves in the form of binaural beats before sleep helps to synchronize brainwaves.⁹
https://www.youtube.com/embed/DDT6Isb3AeE?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparentThere are many more a/v links like this on YouTube
1. “A brief, 20,000-year history of timekeeping” BY KELSEY D. ATHERTON | PUBLISHED NOV 13, 2017 | https://www.popsci.com/brief-history-of-timekeeping/
2. Gaffney, V., Fitch, S., Ramsey, E., Yorston, R., Ch’ng, E., Baldwin, E., Bates, R., Gaffney, C., Ruggles, C., Sparrow, T., McMillan, A., Cowley, D., Fraser, S., Murray, C., Murray, H., Hopla, E. and Howard, A. 2013 “Time and a Place: A luni-solar ‘time-reckoner’ from 8th millennium BC Scotland,” Internet Archaeology 34. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.34.1
3. “How Long Is One Day on Other Planets?” NASA Official: Kristen Erickson, Program Manager: Heather Doyle | October 6th, 2021 | https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/days/en/
4. “A Matter of Time” | American Museum Of Natural History | https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/time/a-matter-of-time
5. “Quantum Biology & Multidimensional Life” | Sarah Ikerd | IMMORTALISTS MAGAZINE Oct. 13, 2021 | https://www.theimmortalistsclub.com/post/quantum-biology-multidimensional-life-by-sarah-ikerd
6. “Examining Biological Immortality In Nature” | Sarah Ikerd | IMMORTALISTS MAGAZINE May 12, 2021 | https://www.theimmortalistsclub.com/post/examining-biological-immortality-in-nature-by-sarah-ikerd-016
7. “Everything to Know About the Stages of Sleep” | Eleesha Lockett, MS | Healthline September 30, 2021 | https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-sleep/stages-of-sleep#takeaway
8. “Dietary Sources and Bioactivities of Melatonin” | Xiao Meng, Ya Li, […], and Hua-Bin Li | NCBI April 9, 2017 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409706/
9. “Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don’t affect mood” | Society for Neuroscience, February 17, 2020 | https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200217143447.htm
Part 2: The New Old Plant Medicine
It’s important to remember in embarking on an exploration of herbal or botanical medicine is that at first, it was the only medicine. And modern medicine is not all that far removed. At times remedies direct from earth are referred to as “alternative,” yet both choices being interrelated, both branches have value.
The vast majority of plants are edible, medicinal or both, from seaweeds to the common dandelion. Plants provide dense vitamin and mineral content, protein, antioxidants and many useful compounds. In fact, it can be said if people allowed themselves to eat all edible plants, nobody would starve. That said though, our modern palettes have become very particular.
Early humans learned amongst and as an offshoot of fellow creatures, which plants to eat and which to avoid. Cataloging and different traditions then grew from there. Archeological excavations have revealed that as far back as 60,000 years ago in Sumeria or modern Iraq, primitive humans were using medicinal and even psychoactive plants.¹ And one of the earliest records of medicine came from that same area roughly 5,000 years ago in the form of 1,000 cuneiform tablets, which are purportedly astute by modern day standards.²
Among other ancient and well-documented traditions are Chinese medicine, including the influential text “Huangdi Neijing” connected with Taoist philosophy,³ and Indian Ayurveda, of which the first known text was “Charaka Samhita,” connected with Hindu philosophy.⁴ Both are holistic or whole body systems that inseparably connect bodily well-being to mind, spirit and Earth. Ayurveda, part of extensive teachings, connects its origin to the providence of Brahma(n), or Universe, God. The teachings flow as consciousness through every organism, and develop with each one.
It should also be recognized that both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda are alive and well, and popular in the United States. The pendulum of Western medicine has swung from Hippocratic integrative medicine towards overly compartmentalized and impersonal. Today, there is a need for balance.
There are also numerous tribal and shamanic traditions, both documented and undocumented, that contribute to the compendium of global knowledge of the Earth’s remedies. Two examples among many are Native American and Amazonian. From Native American medicine came “salicin,” for example, derived from willow bark and the main ingredient in Aspirin.⁶
The Matsés of Brazil and Peru live right next to the forest for easy access to its therapies.⁷ In both these cases and others, environmental conservation is vital. And what serves humanity in the bigger picture is the not only the preservation of these traditions, but also respecting them more — in the form of study, responsible cultivation and supporting sustainable agriculture.
The reality is that many medicines are plant derived on some level, with either direct or synthesized ingredients, and food as medicine — like turmeric. What was “natural” or “supernatural” once caused a schism long ago. People even became alarmed at geometric forms. Nowadays we can know better. What the Earth provides is as natural and truly conventional as it gets.
1. How Long Have Humans Used Botanicals? | Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing | Dennis McKenna, PhD | https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-long-have-humans-used-botanicals
2. Historical Perspective of Traditional Indigenous Medical Practices: The Current Renaissance and Conservation of Herbal Resources | Si-Yuan Pan, Gerhard Litscher, […], and Kam-Ming Ko | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4020364/
3. The Su Wen of the Huangdi Neijing (Inner Classic of the Yellow Emperor | https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666312
4. Medical geography in Charaka Samhita \ K.R. Bhavana and Shreevathsa| https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4492020/
5. Holistic Medicine and the Western Medical Tradition | Sneha Mantri | AMA Journal of EthicsIlluminating the Art of Medicine | https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/holistic-medicine-and-western-medical-tradition/2008-03
6. 7 Native American Inventions That Revolutionized Medicine And Public Health | Nicole F. Roberts | Forbes | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2020/11/29/7-native-american-inventions-that-revolutionized-medicine-and-public-health/?sh=b4c6f101e73b
7. Amazon tribe creates 500-page traditional medicine encyclopedia | BY JEREMY HANCE ON 24 JUNE 2015 | Mongabay, News & Inspiration From Nature’s Frontline | https://news.mongabay.com/2015/06/amazon-tribe-creates-500-page-traditional-medicine-encyclopedia/
Part 3: The Human Circuit, The Infinite Self
Transformation from archetypical self to infinite self is both philosophical and physiological. The infinite self is multifaceted and maleable. To be experienced, one must allow it.
An archetype is a model or example that can be copied or emulated. In mythology and literature, a common archetype is the Hero, and a classic Hero’s Journey is that of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey.
Another well known example of the journeying Hero is Siddhartha Gautama. In a way, all people personify this archetype in the journey of life, and this is one reason why epic stories are so popular.
In 1959, psychoanalyst Carl Jung published “The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious,” in which he described 12 character variations. These were based on historical accounts, the work of previous philosophers, and mythological literature.
Archetypes, and also stereotypes, have been somewhat embedded into cultures, for better or worse. And though Shakespeare wrote, “All the world’s a stage…,” the archetypes perhaps fit dramatic entertainment best. In the interest of evolution, there must be some kind of change or improvement — and not just copies copying copies.
In reality, a person is an infinite self who can inhabit multiple roles at once. A person doesn’t necessarily fit a singular mold or model. Biologically, a human being is the evolutionary genetic aggregate and distillation of all that came before, and so contains a multitude.
There are plenty of examples though, of those who conform especially to one role or archetype, and to associated hierarchies. Very clear examples of this are soldiers in the military, or members of royal families.
The individual or “ego” mind may choose to play within certain cultural constructs; the Universal Mind is all-encompassing and has no limits.
Anaxagoras of Greece or “Hellas” is documented as having discussed Universal or Cosmic Mind, “nous,” in 5th century BCE.² He was influenced by ancient Egyptian (Kemetic) cosmogony, in which “Nu” was the primordial waters, or chaos.
Some concurrent metaphysics and cosmogonies came from the Vedic and the Indus River Valley civilizations (modern India), ancient China “Qin,” Maya, and Persian, as well as innumerable undocumented goings-on around the globe. Trade of course facilitated exchange of ideas.
Hindu, Egyptian and Greek cosmologies adopted the use of deities as characterizations to represent aspects of nature. Egyptian or Kemetic hieroglyphs represented cosmic concepts. The aforementioned “Nu” was the original substance from which was birthed the universe.
Cosmologies ancient and modern have much in common, because of the common experience of existence itself! What’s different are the languages. The breadth of understanding and level of detail have always been increasing.
The living Cosmic Mind or consciousness could be equated in essence to the Unified Field in physics, and to concepts of God. And in the author’s opinion, “dark matter” sounds something like “Nu.”
On the humanly visible level of reality, mechanics and physics apply; on the infinitesimal and cosmic levels, metaphysics and quantum physics apply. We really participate in and partake of both.
Consider the cosmic force known as electromagnetism, which encapsulates electric currents, magnetic fields and the general interaction of particles. At all times this force and these particles surround us, and flow through us.
The human body is a conductor of electricity. A conductor absorbs and allows for flow of energy in one or more directions. And one function of our cells membranes is to allow positively charged ions across the barrier in order to generate electricity crucial to our function.³
Signal flow is pervasive within and without. When people talk about being in “flow” or “flowstate,” there is indeed an electromechanical side to this feeling.
The study of electricity and magnetism, or electromagnetism, branches from Physics. Also connected is the study and creation of electronics. Bioelectromagnetics then, is the study of interactions between organisms and electromagnetic fields.
Two ancient health systems address bioelectromagnetic energy flow: Traditional Chinese medicine with Meridians and the Hindu or Vedic Chakra system. Respectively, life force is referred to as “Qi” and “Prana.”
There are 108 acupressure point along 12 main meridians, or channels, and there are 7 major chakra centers along the spine, although more chakric points can be considered in the extremities.⁴ Both energetic systems are associated with the nervous, endocrine and circulatory systems.⁵
Physical and metaphysical, seen and unseen, electromagnetic processes keep us running, plus an infinitude of other processes. When Walt Whitman wrote “I sing the body electric,” he was deeply precise.
And artistically, building circuits is the externalization of internal and natural mechanics. So by extension AI, a hot button topic of late, helps us further deep-learn ourselves!
When we sleep, we recharge our multilevel batteries — the muscles, for example, store energy.⁵ When we meditate, we can consciously effect neural circuitry and brainwaves, which is a form of electromagnetic energy. And there’s an ever increasing body of studies to support the benefits of different types of meditation, an ancient practice renewed.⁶
Using directed chakra syllable mantras is one of the author’s favorite ways to meditate. This involves focusing on and passing electromagnetic energy pulsations from one area of the body to the next until a bioelectric flow sensation is experienced, in particular from the base of the spinal cord to the crown of the head. This charging from the (electrostatic) field can be energizing as well as relaxing.
The easiest way to experience one’s bioelectric field: “…rub your palms together strongly for a minute, concentrating on the energy which you are consciously stimulating in your hands. Then separate them a little bit, palms facing, and move them a little closer and farther from each other. You might feel that same attractive force. It is prana, and a wonderful thing to explore.”⁷
1. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Science Mission Directorate. (2010) | http://science.nasa.gov/ems/01_intro
2. “Anaxagoras on Mind” | St J Baloyannis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321106739_Anaxagoras_on_Mind
3. “How the human body uses electricity” | Amber Plante | https://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/gsa/gazette/February-2016/How-the-human-body-uses-electricity/
4. “What are Meridians and Points? | Iona Marsaa Teeguarden, M.A. | http://www.jinshindo.org/meridians
5. “ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE HUMAN BODY” | Alan Tatourian | https://tatourian.blog/2018/10/22/electrical-architecture-of-the-human-body/
6. “EEG Derived Neuronal Dynamics during Meditation: Progress and Challenges” | Chamandeep Kaur and Preeti Singh | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684838/
7. “What Is That Magnetic Force Between My Hands?” | Tyagi Jayadev |https://www.ananda.org/ask/what-is-that-magnetic-force-between-my-hands/
Part 4: Deep Learning Biology To Realize Immortality
The pieces necessary to live indefinitely are already in place. Each of us inhabits a powerful vessel, the human body, with vast potential. After all, look at how far life has come. We can continue knowing ourselves even better in the 21st century and beyond, and appreciate the fascinating intricacies of our composition. This Part 4 analyzes a few of the many regenerative biological processes already at work for us, as well as how they can be augmented.
The first example of regeneration is the repair of the skin. Considered the largest organ and first line of immune defense, the dermis undergoes regular maintenance. When damaged, specialized engineer cells called Fibroblasts synthesize a matrix structure made of partly collagen and elastin to repair the site.¹ Remarkably, there are 28 known types of collagen throughout the body, and the shapeshifting fibroblasts determine which kind to make for the given task.
“The fibroblast is a malleable cell, capable of altering its function and physiology or even transforming into a new cell type, based on its location within the body.” — “Extracellular Matrix and Dermal Fibroblast Function in the Healing Wound,” Tracy / Minasian / Caterson
One approach to upgrade dermal healing and enhance tissue regeneration is already in use: Laser Healing and Light Therapy. Non-invasive Red LED Light Therapy, for example, has been proven effective for maintenance and prevention, and shows significant clinical and aesthetic promise being it’s a non-invasive. This “non-thermal photobiomodulation” alters cellular function with light in the spectral range from 600 to 1300 nanometers, which accelerates and stimulates healing and repair, resulting in improved overall skin health and increased intradermal collagen density.²
Low power or cold laser healing can also be used for more serious repair, given the non-damaging stimulatory effect on cells. Overall, Light Therapy is crossing over from cosmetics into general medicine. Reportedly, the Air Force and Pentagon have been funding research on laser and nanotech healing at the molecular level, including a “spray-on skin.”³ Most recently, the Air Force Research Lab with the University of Michigan have been developing rapid healing based on reprogramming cells using gene transcription factors.⁴
Another similar type of specialized cell is the Osteoblast, which synthesizes bone matrix. They are, in teamwork with other bone cells, responsible for formation, resorption, and remodeling of bone.⁵ At the root is the stem cell, produced in adults in the bone marrow. Undifferentiated stem cells can then become many other types of cells, cued by “growth factors, hormones, small chemicals, and extracellular matrix.”⁶
Another type of stem cell, and the most malleable, is the “pluripotent” or embryonic blastocyst. And recently it has been shown that adult stem cells can be genetically reprogrammed to behave like the pluripotents. Stem cell therapy, part of the next chapter of regenerative medicine, is already in use as well as undergoing development. Another recently discovered and surprising source of stem cells is: Human adipose or fat tissue. So
“Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are mesenchymal cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation. This multipotentiality allows them to become adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, osteoblasts and neurocytes among other cell.”⁷
Another cellular candidate set to revolutionize regenerative medicine and bioengineering is the mutated cancer cell or “immortal” cell. The mutation allows the ongoing production of telomerase and thus the ongoing regeneration of telomeres, and indefinite cell division. The trick is harnessing this mechanism for a solely positive effect.
The answer to that is examining the complex catalytic proteins and reactions with AI-assisted sequencing, allowing certain processes to be tapped, and also limited. This amounts to using digital and electronic concepts and techniques to indeed help us deep learn ourselves.
1. Costa-Almeida R, Soares R, Granja PL. “Fibroblasts as maestros orchestrating tissue regeneration” | J Tissue Eng Regen Med. 2018 |https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28109062/
2. “A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase” |Alexander Wunsch and Karsten Matuschka | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/
3. Air Force Treating Wounds With Lasers and Nanotech | Katie Drummond | May 2010 | https://www.wired.com/2010/05/air-force-researchers-heal-wounds-with-lasers-and-nanotech/
4. The Air Force Wants to Supercharge Wound Healing by Reprogramming Cells| By Oriana Pawlyk| Feb 2021 | https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/05/air-force-wants-supercharge-wound-healing-reprogramming-cells.html
5. Osteoblast-Osteoclast Interactions | Xiao Chen, Zhongqiu Wang, […], and Chao Xie | March 2018 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5612831/
6. Physical Cues of Biomaterials Guide Stem Cell Differentiation Fate | Akon Higuchi*†‡§Qing-Dong Ling§∥Yung Chang⊥Shih-Tien Hsu▽Akihiro Umezawa‡ | Feb 2013 | https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/cr300426x
7. Adipose tissue stem cells in regenerative medicine | Vanesa Verónica Miana and Elio A Prieto González | 2018 | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5880231/
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