July 2005

“THE EXPLORATION OF ENERGY”

     There is hardly anyone who would deny that energy is a part of the physical world. Sunlight, magnetic fields, and kinetics are all manifestations of energy. Einstein's Theory of Relativity is based on the tangible measurement of energy. Calories, those pesky critters that can make or break the scale, are a measurement of how much energy is contained in food. In this respect, the "dead" material of objects such as the flesh of killed animals or the meat of decaying plants still have energy. Energy has become a political word as well, as bureaucrats debate how to fuel the society we live in and maintain it; sources such as nuclear fission, geothermal, solar, wind, oil and natural gas are endlessly debated. In short, the globe is teeming with energy.

     It would come as no surprise, then, to surmise that human beings are a conduit of energy. Movies such as "The Matrix" explore this fact in detail. In the film, malevolent nanotechnology siphoned electricity from pods of human beings they harvested to continue their existence. This parasitical relationship could enable them to live without having to do anything but taking it from people, a fictional example of how powerful the energy is in each and every person.. The question becomes, what is energy, and where does it come from? Does it exist on a purely physical level, as the scientist would posit, or does it exist on some deeper level? And what does it mean that a person manifests energy, other than providing a great plot for a cult sci-fi thriller?

     Most people are familiar on some level with physical energy levels. One feels bright and zippy, or feels drained with no motivation. Many times this is experienced as something in between. Western thinking has historically treated this as a purely physical manifestation. In other words, if a person has low energy, check out the person's eating and sleeping habits, order some exercise, and the whole thing should pan out nicely. The problem with this philosophy was its limited scope, reducing energy to pure physics. One could change many of his or her habits regarding hygiene, diet, and rest, yet still find himself or herself lacking in energy. This is where metaphysics came in, the dubious science that blends religion with science, which is always a quagmire to walk into and not truly accepted as "real science".

     However, metaphysics is no longer the only discipline which explores the energy question. Psychology, the main branch that deals directly with human interaction, has over the years begun to explore the effects that people and social circumstances affect one another. The theory of codependency, which eventually became an overused buzzword in the nineties, was part of this effort. The idea of "giving one's power away" led to people to remain in abusive relationships or other debilitating life circumstances. While women were the prime targets for this effort initially, given a general tendency to want to fix relationships, men eventually were approached on the business level, where they were more vulnerable, and life coaches taught people to recapture their authentic selves in the workplace. The idea was that whether it was a relationship or a career, one could lose his or her way. This misdirection of focus was what caused one to lose personal energy as much as eating fast food, this philosophy posited. The idea that one contained energy had now become a mental as well as physical reality.

     Interpersonal energy is now something that is accepted by many, even if those words are not exactly used. The idea of shielding onself is an accepted practice in Christian psychology, given Paul's directive of spiritual battle depicted in Ephesians 6. The interplay of human relationships is rife with the energy of all people. Physicians such as Deepak Chopra believe that are energy fields are so interconnected that we affect the physical planet. And yet, each person has mastery over his or her own destiny, as stated by people such as Victor Frankl, who used his devastating experience in the concentration camps to actively choose to love.

     This is where the Western concept of free will comes in. Although no Eastern philosophy will deny freedom of choice, the concept of interconnection may smack of fatalism to some. But despite one's interconnection with everything and everyone, one can choose how to manifest his or her energy, which is free will. This sort of thing determines who becomes a victim and who is a survivor. Those who just allow circumstances to make their decisions remain a victim; those who actively choose a different path are survivors. All religious traditions have means to choose a path of overcoming negative energy. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, a person who remains positive and hopeful despite bleak external circumstances is exerting a measure of strength, in biblical terms, being a "warrior for God". Eastern practices such as centering and meditation are means for a person to break the cycle of suffering, as long as one remains conscious of his or her surroundings and doesn't let himself or herself get swept away with illusory circumstances. By centering or shielding, one maintains better control of his or her energy.

     It is in this way that energy, the force that seems to free flow at will, wandering the universe, is best harnessed by the human spirit. The physical means by which we fuel our civilization and lifestyle serves as a metaphor for the internal dynamics that energy plays in human society. Like physical energy, it can be used for beneficence or detriment, and requires conscious effort to truly be used to uplift society. It is up to each individual to require him or herself to seek this path of positive energy if one wants to have a happy life. One's positive energy will not be lasting if he or she relies on others to make this decision for him or her. But when one sows the energy field of his or her own mind, this is when the best harvest of energy will be yielded.