Visualize the collective mind as a vast system of interconnectedness, much like Pando, with its massive root structure supporting thousands, or even millions, of aspen trees—each one a conduit of this interconnected organism. Each aspen is an eruption of expression, a manifestation of the collective in various forms, depending on who is interacting and the pressure the collective is under. These eruptions of consciousness can be in sync with similar eruptions throughout the layers of reality, connecting what is within us to what is outside.
These eruptions do not occur in hard places like rock and stone but in the cracks and soft places within ourselves—our vulnerabilities. The aspen takes shape and grows within us, often identifying with the moving mental landscape of the individual, wishes, and beliefs, while remaining true to its interconnected roots that spread beneath the earth in our collective mind. The mental wheels of the aspen work in tandem with the individual’s mental wheels, functioning as well together as that individual has developed.
The collective mind is just that: collective. It is neither good nor bad but a pool of subjective information with an exceptionally long history.
Examples of a Mismanaged Pando
When there are too many solid, rock-like individuals living without the subjective—when too many people exist in an objective world only, allowing themselves no weaknesses or soft places for the aspen to grow—the accumulation of such individuals creates a situation where the collective mind is neglected. The aspen may erupt violently under pressure, manifesting forcibly in some individuals.
When objective and subjective knowledge in many people is replaced by materialism, and creative energy is channeled into buying into life rather than expressing oneself, the collective mind becomes singularly objective. This objective approach is safe and socially acceptable because it is much harder to incorporate a subjective perspective into our lives. However, this leads to a collective mind that is out of balance.
When very few people have empathy or understanding of the collective Pando, it overwhelms the consciousness of those who do. Just as individuals need to express and process pain and emotion, so does the collective mind. Unfortunately, few understand this stream of consciousness or allow it room to exist, except those who are already mentally ill. Instead of processing it constructively, some act on the pain in destructive ways, leading to acts of collective pain that we see in the news and in people’s lives. Those who can control it live a life of constant processing of collective emotions and pain, sometimes seen in the ebb and flow of depression in adults.
Example of Managing a Pando
To steward this collective mind, each individual must listen and create a relationship with their aspen of the Pando. By learning how to interact with it and keep it balanced, we reduce the potential for tragedy stemming from a misunderstood collective mind.
Our own hero myth narrative is a way to funnel all our ethics, beliefs, thoughts, and purpose into a manageable, interactive vision. It is the cornerstone of how we interact with our individual aspens. Through this narrative, we learn when to be influenced by, and when not to be influenced by, the effects of the individual aspen. Let us not forget that this aspen is our connection to an interconnected web of human culture and mind.
We must understand our interactions with the aspen as a trickster or an actor in our minds that plays out the visions we see. By containing this interplay within ourselves and under the pressure of our control and understanding, we affect the world around us. We must observe and witness the aspen with empathy and honest reflection. In return, we receive subtle clues and cues to navigate through space and time.
Optional: God and Pando
I want to be careful with my language here, as I am not trying to explain God but to offer perspective on God’s place in our system of interaction. I say “optional” because, from my perspective, it is not, but I respect those with a more objective viewpoint.
If we see the outer and inner layers of Pando as nesting dolls, God is both the outermost and innermost, causing effects from both sides. From this perspective, we cannot have a relationship with God without first finding a relationship with ourselves or the collective, interacting with the aspen. As the outermost shell, we can never fully reach God, but this continual reaching helps us find ourselves and our universe, always within God’s embrace. Mismanaging our aspen/Pando can have detrimental effects on our relationship with God, both individually and collectively.
To fulfill God’s plan, all our nesting dolls must be aligned, moving forward together. Though this may seem impossible, eruptions of consciousness occasionally align the nesting dolls so they function in harmony. Enveloped within God, we see how God influences through how the pantomime plays out.
Examples of Interactions with Aspen
Interactions with the aspen are prolific in our art and storytelling. A specific and current example is the movie The Green Knight, based on the 14th-century Middle English poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
The hero represents our actions or symbols, funneling our ethics and experiences. As we interact with the aspen or Green Knight, symbolizing the eruption of consciousness, we align ourselves within and without, in the flow of the universe.
In the plot, we can see, depending on our perspective, layers of development being worked on simultaneously. One perspective sees the aspen as the collective need for safety, or our instinctive need for survival, both individually and collectively. This need to conform assures the collective and the individual that he or she is working for the benefit of the collective, not against it.
Thus, we see the aspen confronting the hero, both working on their development, both making sacrifices, and both on the journey. The hero takes a symbolic journey of promised equilibrium, confronting the collective and individual consequences of unchecked power and survival instincts.
Conclusion
We are in a constant state of striving to validate our subjective experiences while seeking balance between the subjective and objective worlds. Achieving this equilibrium is crucial not just for individual well-being but for the health of the collective mind. It should not be this challenging for the collective to support a creative life without succumbing to the trap of consumerism, nor should it be so difficult for the individual to achieve equilibrium of consciousness.
The evolution of perspective—our ability to view the world through a lens of understanding, creativity, and rationality—is key to uniting ourselves with the collective mind. By cultivating a relationship with our inner aspen, we can harmonize our individual consciousness with the collective, reducing the potential for destructive eruptions.
The hero myth serves as a guiding narrative, helping us channel our ethics, beliefs, and experiences into a manageable vision that aligns with the collective. Through creativity, we can bridge the gap between the subjective and objective, allowing for healthy expressions of the collective mind.
Empathy and honest reflection are essential tools in this process, enabling us to observe and interact with the collective mind in a constructive manner. By understanding our role within this interconnected system—whether through art, storytelling, or personal reflection—we contribute to a more unified and enlightened collective consciousness. In this way, we navigate the complexities of our shared existence, ensuring that the eruptions of consciousness we experience lead to growth, understanding, and ultimately, a more balanced world.