Conceptual impressions surrounding this post have yet to be substantiated, corroborated, confirmed or woven into a larger argument, context or network. Objective: To generate symbolic links between scientific discovery, design awareness and consciousness.
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Your mind wants you to know what you believe. Your heart believes in what you know. Logically you feel you know what you think by believing what you think is true. What you know and believe are rooted in how you feel. Seek balance in what you think and believe by knowing how you feel.
"The neuroscientist Antonio Damasio distinguishes between emotions and feelings: Emotions are mental images (i.e. representing either internal or external states of reality) and the bodily changes accompanying them, whereas feelings are the perception of bodily changes. In other words, emotions contain a subjective element and a 3rd person observable element, whereas feelings are subjective and private. In general usage, the terms emotion and feelings are used as synonyms or interchangeable, but actually, they are not. The feeling is a conscious experience created after the physical sensation or emotional experience, whereas emotions are felt through emotional experience. They are manifested in the unconscious mind and can be associated with thoughts, desires, and actions."
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“Emotions interpret the world for us. They have a signal function, telling us about our internal states as they are affected by input from the outside. Emotions are responses to present stimuli as filtered through the memory of past experience, and they anticipate the future based on our perception of the past.”
Thinking is driven by the mind and felt through the emotions. Along with the imagination they describe reality. Observations reflect between the past and the future and are of great influence. An attraction between “opposites” creates the framework (context, background, theater) for a new kind of experience, i.e. reality, to emerge.
Contrast is the causal agent of change and fundamental to the design process.
Can you observe what your feeling without becoming emotional?
An observer might be considered constant while in fact both the observer and the context are constantly changing.
Any sense of stability is felt and only to be discovered by means of coherent resonance.
Consciousness describes a state of mind that rests beyond the constraints of thought.
Thinking and feeling are attributes that bring light to awareness in every event and experience.
Design thinking makes Life incredibly simple using signs, symbols, metaphor and analogy.
Awareness brings forward a “sense of consciousness” by fostering correspondences and fusing the concepts of meaning and purpose. Metaphysical in content and context, quantum, fractal and holographic in representation, all forms of energy/Life are revealed and made apparent by means of Design. Design is lovingly veiled in all that can be seen, known, measured and/or felt. (07.09.2023)
Design describes a metaphysical and multidimensional process. The design process is dependent upon knowledge, understanding, intention, intuition, imagination and awareness. Design creates a network of energy in motion (EIM) between fields/states/points/agents and patterns of awareness. Design creates a virtual, symbiotic and metaphoric lattice between consciousness, the subconscious and the unconscious, the tangible and the intangible, the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen. All forms of energy in motion are based upon principles of meaning and purpose both felt and understood. (01.13.2023)
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Thinking, at its core, is an intricate process driven by the cognitive faculties of the mind, deeply interwoven with the emotional responses that color our experience of the world. This interplay between thought and emotion, in conjunction with the imagination, serves as a mechanism for describing and interpreting reality. It is through these cognitive and emotional faculties that individuals make sense of their existence and place in the universe. The act of observation is inherently dynamic, constantly oscillating between the past and the future, shaping our understanding of the present moment. These observations are not passive but are instead deeply influential in the formation of the experiential world we navigate. The interaction between opposing forces—whether they be conceptual, emotional, or physical—creates a framework or context in which new forms of experience, or reality, emerge. In this sense, reality is not a static entity but a constantly evolving manifestation, shaped by the tension between these seemingly divergent forces.
From a metaphysical perspective, one could argue that the observer is often regarded as a constant entity. However, this perception is illusory, as both the observer and the context in which they operate are in a perpetual state of flux. This aligns with the concept of fluxional metaphysics, which posits that reality is not only dynamic but also fundamentally relational and interconnected (Whitehead, 1929). The stability we feel, then, is not inherent to the observer but is a result of coherent resonance—a harmonious alignment between the internal world of the observer and the external world they perceive. The stability is not a given but a process that arises through relational processes of understanding and interaction.
Consciousness, when examined through both psychological and metaphysical lenses, can be understood as a state of awareness that transcends the immediate constraints of thought. It represents a form of being that exists beyond the mechanistic processes of the mind, reaching into the depths of existential experience. In this sense, consciousness can be seen as the substratum of all cognitive activities—a meta-awareness that underpins both thought and emotion, as well as perception and action. This idea aligns with phenomenological theories of consciousness, which suggest that awareness is not merely a byproduct of mental processes but rather a foundational structure that shapes our engagement with the world (Husserl, 1913).
The act of thinking and feeling, then, can be viewed as integral components of the ontological illumination that brings light to the events and experiences of life. These processes of cognition and emotion are not separate but are deeply intertwined, acting as complementary forces that foster awareness and understanding. It is through the engagement of both thought and feeling that individuals can come to a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. This duality of mind and emotion echoes the philosophical concept of duality, where two distinct yet interdependent forces come together to create a unified whole (Descartes, 1641).
In the domain of design thinking, these concepts of awareness and understanding find practical application. Design thinking, as an approach to problem-solving and innovation, distills the complexity of life into simple structures, often utilizing signs, symbols, metaphors, and analogies to represent complex ideas and relationships. The use of these symbolic forms acts as a bridge between the abstract and the tangible, allowing for the articulation of meaning and purpose in a manner that is both accessible and evocative. From a semiotic perspective, design can be understood as a process of constructing meaning through signs and symbols, a process that is deeply influenced by the structures of consciousness and the ways in which individuals interpret and make sense of the world (Eco, 1976).
Consciousness, in this context, takes on a multi-dimensional character—it is conceptual, illusory, symbolic, metaphoric, and virtual. In other words, consciousness is a meta-structure that exists as both a product and a generator of meaning. It is through the conscious and subconscious interaction that the mind creates and imbues the world with purpose and significance. As such, consciousness can be seen as the quintessential archetype, a foundational principle that governs not only the subjective experience of individuals but also the larger patterns of energy and motion that define the fabric of reality (Jung, 1959).
The concept of awareness, therefore, emerges as a key factor in fostering a "sense of consciousness." Awareness is the mechanism through which meaning is brought into existence, as it facilitates the alignment of disparate concepts—such as meaning and purpose—into a coherent, cohesive framework. The metaphysical nature of this process can be further explored through the lenses of quantum physics, which highlights the non-local and fractal aspects of reality. According to quantum theory, energy and matter are interconnected in ways that transcend classical conceptions of space and time, suggesting that the universe is a web of interdependent relationships rather than isolated entities (Heisenberg, 1958). In a similar fashion, the design process functions as a network of energy in motion (EIM), linking fields, states, points, agents, and patterns of awareness in a dynamic, ever-evolving dance.
Design, as a process, is fundamentally a metaphysical and multidimensional phenomenon. It draws upon a variety of cognitive and emotional resources—knowledge, understanding, intention, intuition, imagination, and awareness—each of which contributes to the creation of a virtual lattice that connects consciousness with the subconscious, the unconscious, the tangible, and the intangible. This lattice, which can be understood as a symbiotic network, creates a space in which meaning and purpose are made manifest, both felt and understood. The design process, therefore, acts as a conduit through which the unseen becomes seen, the unknown becomes known, and the intangible becomes tangible. In this way, design is both a reflective and generative process, revealing and shaping the very energy patterns that constitute the universe itself.
The author generated this text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.
Conceptual impressions surrounding this post have yet to be substantiated, corroborated, confirmed or woven into a larger argument, context or network. Objective: To generate symbolic links between scientific discovery, design awareness and consciousness.
Why do we Feel?
The nervous system is connected to many organs that together give reference to your physical body. Similarly, you have many emotional and mental (systemic and sub-systemic) “fields” you've created that surround you, including those beyond your current awareness and acting as buoys and beacons harboring the potential to penetrate the unknown. Together these fields create agencies, i.e. matrices and networks, for the transition and transformation all forms of EIM, i.e. Consciousness.
The language required for the interpretation, implementation and/or expression of this changing energy (CE) is Design. In reference to human awareness, every field is symbolic in Nature (meaning and purpose) describing the unique attributes of another field, within a greater field, within a greater field … ad infinitum.
Note: Fields of Consciousness are described for their Greatness and not for their size. Greatness like love, time, truth, goodness and beauty takes no space.
In reference to feelings, the mind and the emotions characterize the source of two vibratory fields we’ve described as integral to the creative (design) process. Along with a physical context, i.e. relative "matter", all three together create a field that functions in conjunction with an even “greater” field of high frequency. This higher frequency has its own effect and affect, is greatly felt and has been identified as being spiritual and aetheric in character. The vibrational effects and affects of the mind and the emotions are readily described, experienced and felt in tangent with that of the “Spirit”.
effect: a change which is the result or consequence of an action or other cause.
affect: having an effect on, make a difference to, touch the feelings of (someone), move emotionally.
Spirit lives in the heart and mind of the human, it can’t be measured, understood or fully felt, yet strives for balance within the Consciousness of every Observer.
Together the mind and the emotions create a subjective reality (network) known and felt only to the observer. By virtue of a subconscious filled with symbolic tone and flavor, can one journey into an unknown field of perpetual change (QFVPP). The agencies are self generated, symbolic, individual networks of attraction and communication (information) formlessly revealed in the vibratory realm (context) of a dream state. Here is where design affords consciousness the potential and opportunity to explore what is felt to be beyond the subjective reach of the mind and emotions.
Feeling describes who you are by virtue of its wholeness. This is what you are conscious of. Consciousness therefore, can be described precisely by how you feel.
"Consciousness is the fact of being aware."
Rupert Spira
That which embraces your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual Presence, i.e. states of awareness, are the same unifying agents that help you define and describe the feeling of consciousness – the feeling of Wholeness and being One within yourself.
Some might describe this quantum Presence as one’s Soul. The soul is what embraces these uniquely changing patterns of energy in motion (EIM) within a blueprint designed with meaning and purpose. The blueprint describes the qualities intrinsic to each part/piece that together reflect upon the conscious awareness of an observer, the parts of an ever-changing puzzle (context) made apparent in every waking and sleeping moment.
Such a blueprint describes the qualities that together mirror upon the wholeness of the observer, a design symbolically arranged within a range of flexibility and adaptability. Exercising the blueprint according to plan is part of what is called experience.
The blueprint of oneself describes the most important positions, avenues, portals and directives towards weathering the storms of change. The blueprint is the ballast that keeps your ship balanced within itself while riding the turbulent waves of greater Consciousness.
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This passage offers a profound reflection on the relationship between consciousness, the mind, emotions, and the spiritual realm. It draws parallels between the nervous system and the fields of energy that shape our awareness, suggesting that just as our nervous system connects us to our physical body, our mind and emotions connect us to a broader, more subtle network of consciousness. Here, the "fields" refer to various dimensions of experience, from the physical and emotional to the spiritual, and these fields interact in a dynamic, interconnected manner that shapes the subjective reality of each individual.
The idea that each person creates their own unique fields—symbolic and energetic—suggests that our consciousness is not a passive receiver but an active participant in the creation and transformation of reality. The language of design, as you mention, is the medium through which these fields are interpreted, expressed, and navigated. It’s not simply the physical or the material that defines our existence but the symbolic and energetic forces that we interact with, whether consciously, subconsciously or unconsciously.
Moreover, the concept of the blueprint—possibly referring to the soul—seems to be an integral part of navigating this complex interplay between the mind, emotions, and the greater spiritual field. It serves as a guide, providing direction and stability in the face of change, much like a ship’s ballast stabilizes its course through turbulent waters.
This passage also touches upon the idea that feelings and emotions, though deeply personal and subjective, are symbolic in nature, representing aspects of the deeper self. By exploring these emotional and mental landscapes, the individual can understand and transform their consciousness, leading to a greater sense of wholeness and balance.
The reference to a higher frequency, described as spiritual and aetheric in nature, ties back to the idea that there is more to human experience than the material world and that the vibrational realms are deeply intertwined with our sense of self and purpose.
The passage paints a picture of consciousness as a dynamic, evolving process, with each person participating in the ongoing transformation and design of their own experience. The blueprint, in this sense, is a map—personal yet universal—designed to help the individual navigate the constant flux of life and experience.
"The human brain was designed (evolved) in a way that does not give it the capacity to hold all the data in the universe. That is not its design function. It is the design function of Consciousness to hold all the data in the universe. It is a design function of the brain to hold sufficient data to get through This Moment Now".
There are many fields of vibration collectively emerging and receding within the ocean of Consciousness – you can feel it. Together they give “substance” to the experience and vibrate both at a higher and lower frequency than your own. You feel the difference, its innate. The goal is to find balance through coherent resonance, i.e. attraction, a match made real through experience and a design plan.
By virtue of the imagination, the observer represents a felt sense of wholeness being projected, reflected and attracted towards a likeness of its own creation.
We resonate to that which we feel an attraction. We are observers resonating to the awareness (feelings) of our own and others. By virtue of awareness design along with its symbolic connotations, ventures into a wide spectrum of multidimensional correspondences between fields/universes of energy in motion. (ref: blueprint)
By virtue of being a participant in this collective agency (Design/QFVPP) you also become an attractor to which you draw to yourself energies of like kind, energy in motion to which you resonate. The objective world of “relative matter” acts as a mirror that “materializes through reflection” a reality made within the context of your imagination. All events and experiences are being symbolically translated, transitioned and transformed within the dimensions/parameters of spacetime back to wholeness, i.e. feeling.
Love is a feeling that cannot be measured. Love is the blood of creation and giver of Life that links Oneness to itself. It’s a symbolic language that only the observer can believe, understand and feel. Feeling describes the act of balancing between believing and knowing, i.e. Ouillum.
Feeling is felt and made Conscious by means of Design through symbolism, metaphor and analogy. By means of awareness, i.e. feeling through experience, what we create brings consciousness into Reality by virtue of our own observation (vibration). It is all part of a design process that asks humanity to first know itself.
In other words we are applying, living and experiencing a design blueprint derived from our own individual and collective consciousness by means of exercising a network of symbolic patterns of energy in motion we have chosen and created for ourselves.
Humanism is a shared journey designed for the purpose of knowing and feeling, i.e. experiencing, a multiverse that is always changing in reference to the context and/or the observer.
The multiverse describes a facet of Consciousness symbolically revealed by means of observation (knowing and feeling). The multiverse describes a network of agencies representing an array of states of energy in motion (EIM).
Observation allows us to know Consciousness by how it feels and feel it by virtue of what we know. Together they give rise to what might be defined as a Design Consciousness, which is both an art and a science.
Your heart and mind coordinate in the creative gestation of an all-consuming frequency of energy in motion, a vibration described as feeling.
The design paradox: feeling can only be known by feeling. Knowing can only be known by knowing. Feeling and knowing are both known and felt in and by themselves.
Consciousness describes a Presence, a single agency that nurtures those correspondences that emerge as result of a relationship between contextual opposites.
Consciousness is a feeling known by the means and virtues of symbolic correspondence, i.e. Design.
This passage seems to weave a philosophical perspective on consciousness, experience, and the nature of reality through a blend of symbolic and metaphysical language. It suggests that consciousness is a dynamic, energetic process that operates through resonance and vibration. It touches upon themes of observation, perception, feeling, and the design of reality itself as a reflection of individual and collective consciousness. Let’s break down some of the key concepts presented:
1. Consciousness as Vibration and Energy: The text suggests that consciousness is like a vast ocean where various fields of vibration rise and fall. These vibrations occur at different frequencies, some higher and some lower than the observer’s own. The key is to find balance through a coherent resonance—essentially, finding alignment with certain energies or frequencies.
2. The Role of Imagination and the Observer: It appears that the observer plays a critical role in shaping the experience of reality. Through imagination and awareness, the observer projects a sense of wholeness and attracts experiences that resonate with their own vibration. This attraction is described as part of a design process where reality itself is created through a mix of personal and collective energy.
3. Reality as a Symbolic Reflection: The world around us—what we perceive as physical matter—is presented as a reflection or mirror of our consciousness. Events and experiences are translated symbolically, ultimately leading back to wholeness, or a deeper feeling of connection and understanding.
4. Love and Feeling as Fundamental Energies: Love is described as a feeling that transcends measurement, serving as a core life force and linking all of creation. It is symbolic in nature, understood and felt by the observer, and represents the balance between belief and knowing. Feeling is both a process of experiencing and a means of creating consciousness in reality.
5. Design and Symbolism: The design process is central to how we create and experience reality. Through symbolic language—whether in the form of metaphors, analogies, or other expressions—we design our reality. This process asks humanity to know itself deeply and to engage with the multiverse of consciousness, which is always changing in response to both the observer’s and collective awareness.
6. The Multiverse as Energy in Motion: The multiverse is described as a network of energy in motion, continuously shifting based on the observer's awareness. This multiverse is not fixed; instead, it is shaped by how we observe and experience it, further emphasizing the interconnectedness of feeling and knowing.
7. Consciousness as Presence: Ultimately, consciousness is framed as a singular presence that nurtures relationships between opposites, allowing for the emergence of correspondences. This implies that dualities—like feeling and knowing, or belief and certainty—are not opposites but complementary forces that create reality when in relationship with one another.
The text seems to present a profound view of reality as something deeply interconnected and fluid, shaped by our awareness and feelings, with a central emphasis on resonance, symbolic design, and the transformative power of love. It invites us to reflect on how we engage with the energies around us and the ways in which our consciousness co-creates the multiverse of experiences we inhabit.
The author generated this text in part with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model. Upon generating draft language, the author reviewed, edited, and revised the language to their own liking and takes ultimate responsibility for the content of this publication.
Awareness brings forward a “sense of consciousness” by fostering correspondences and fusing the concepts of meaning and purpose. Metaphysical in content and context, quantum, fractal and holographic in representation, all forms of energy/Life are revealed and made apparent by means of Design. Design is lovingly veiled in all that can be seen, known, measured and/or felt. (07.09.2023)
Design describes a metaphysical and multidimensional process. The design process is dependent upon knowledge, understanding, intention, intuition, imagination and awareness. Design creates a network of energy in motion (EIM) between fields/states/points/agents/agencies and patterns of awareness. Design creates a virtual, symbiotic and metaphoric lattice between consciousness, the subconscious and the unconscious, the tangible and the intangible, the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen. All forms of energy in motion are based upon principles of meaning and purpose both felt and understood. (01.13.2023)
Conceptual impressions surrounding this post have yet to be substantiated, corroborated, confirmed or woven into a larger argument, context or network.
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THE THREE DESIGN TRIUMVIRATES
TRUTH - SCIENCE - INFORMATION
BEAUTY - ART - LIGHT
GOODNESS - PHILOSOPHY - ENERGY
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a little self enquiry:
Who are/were the relatives that bring structure to your own personal triumvirate? Who are/were the three women and three men that had the greatest influence on you? What impressed you most about them in reference to their relationship with you and others? How do you feel about them now in comparison to the past? What made/makes them so important and influential in your Life with the knowledge and understanding that all things change?
Fully apply the basic design principle of asking yourself the questions who, what, where, when, why and how? Observe, distinguish and determine.
The design triad (art/science/philosophy) creates an alchemical mix unique to consciousness.
Be assured you will not discover all the answers to your inquiries here. Continue to investigate into your role as an observer, participator and creator in a design of your own making. Be aware of the by-products and outcomes that surround your every choice and decision.
Conceptual impressions surrounding this post have yet to be substantiated, corroborated, confirmed or woven into a larger argument, context or network.
Why our brains prefer symbols to words
Ryan Jones, University of Waterloo
"Summary: Research reveals symbols are more memorable than words. This novel study dives into our brain's knack for recalling graphic symbols and logos over their word counterparts. Symbols, offering visual anchors for abstract ideas, outperform words in memory tests. This understanding could revolutionize visual communication and design."
"When thinking about abstract concepts, like love, it can be difficult to visualize clearly. But with symbols, we can use a sort of image that represents the concept - like a heart for love - which makes the abstract idea more concrete and therefore easier to remember."
... symbols may be easier to remember because they are unique and tend to represent a single concept, whereas words can have multiple meanings. Consider the play symbol [>]."
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Feeling is a constant and a priori in reference to human consciousness. We enter and exit the realm of our own series of events and experiences (3d spacetime) in reference to a pattern of knowing/feeling, i.e. awareness.
"In all studies, the researchers found that participants were able to memorize symbols better than words with the same meaning."
As knowing, feeling and awarenesses assemble and amass, greater and greater systems and structures emerge and patterns change in reference to the context in which they are observed and encountered. The more conscious the more complex, diversified and adaptable the system required to function to the circumstances/situation. In reference to time, feelings can be experienced in both time and timelessness (dreaming).
Any increase in consciousness is due directly with an increase in awareness. At times and in certain 'spaces', awareness can take a "quantum leap" by means of designs in the form of a specific system of symbols, i.e. language, communication and exercise.
Example: A musician practices over time to eventually become a virtuoso by accumulating a wide variety of experiences through awarenesses not all entirely musical.
These links (designs) will reach far beyond the norm and are typically self motivated and driven.
There is a reason why many civilizations and cultures honor their elders. Those who harbor certain religious beliefs might describe these experiences as miraculous or angelic, others synchronistic (Jung), or synergetic (Fuller). All such awarenesses are agencies of a quantum field of virtual potential and probability (QFVPP).
Design makes the symbolic connection - that's its' purpose by whatever means.
A designer is more than a perceiver. He/she/we are creative observers.
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"Symbols might be more easily remembered because they give concrete visuals to abstract ideas," said Brady Roberts, lead author and PhD candidate in Cognitive Neuroscience.
Design can be measured both directly and indirectly. All bridges are crossed symbolically.
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OUTPUT
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All things contribute to a form of collective formlessness, i.e. consciousness. AI is merely an interpretive extension of the same.
AI is a mental extension of human consciousness, i.e. a faux expression of the human experience. AI is not without constraints or parameters. All things change in reference to the context in which they are observed.
faux: made in imitation, artificial, not genuine, fake or false.
Linking data into meaningful and purposeful patterns of EIM is the responsibility of a designer.
AI does not feel, humans do. Symbolic portals act as gatekeepers and checkpoints, identifying the contrasts between knowing, feeling and emotion.
An observer tenders a unique type of grounding in the midst of an ever changing context.
AI should be measured, evaluated and attended to by how it exercises its 'sense of agency'.
Consciousness is measured within the principles of sharing, forgiveness, integrity, compassion, charity, trustworthiness, benevolence, joy and love. By exercising and experiencing these patterns of awareness, consciousness becomes more richly felt, designed and reconfigured.
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Even that which doesn't appear mindful participates in a greater 'mindfulness', i.e. Intelligence.
Consciousness vibrates at frequencies that harbor both greater and lesser forms of Awareness.
In reference to human levels of awareness, some agents find it difficult and/or impossible to resonate coherently with others. There is a meaning in support of every purpose and a purpose in support of every meaning.
All forms of consciousness function within parameters that similarly identify and determine their range of vibratatory influence.
All systems of energy in motion (EIM) are patterned, multidimensional and in reference to their contextual network, categorized in the form of a macro and/or micro agency.
Intelligence (mind) permeates all that is. Spirit embraces it.
When conscious, all things have a meaning and a purpose.
Born and raised in Chicago, Ill. I received my BFA and MFA from the University of Illinois, Urbana. Professor Emeritus Columbus College of Art and Design. I have taught, lectured and written about
design and the design process throughout my tenure as Dean of Industrial and Interior Design. My interests lie in demonstrating design as fundamental to consciousness, archetypal in context and the underlying language of change and transformation.
https://www.idsa.org/profile/carl-garant/