West Virginia in the Fall

Hello, Amorella here amongst the autumn lit hills. Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Aristotle’s four ancient elements and a symbol of the fifth element from my perspective, the spirit human. A bridge. What a wonderful design and setting for reflection. A bridge builder was thinking on track and this is what came up.

I was thinking that, as a symbol, Aristotle’s fifth element would be better served, that is more specifically served, by human consciousness. Human spirit seem too broad, but to be honest I do not know the difference. In fact, I have not thought about it before, or at least I cannot remember having thought about it before. Day in and day out stuff just whizzes by in my head. Another reason for me to write it down and try to make sense of it.

A few minutes ago I quickly skimmed through this Encounters In Mind blog to date before commented on your opening paragraph and noticed that I had written consciousness as the fifth element a few days ago. Thus my remark seems fitting here. Again, it is a matter of connecting my thoughts and putting them in an order I can deal with as a conscious being.

You moved to the web and I picked out the best definition to go with in context. Yahoo Questions has a reasonable response to the question, “What is Aristotle’s Fifth Element Suppose To Be?” > answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090205181350AAf9a6V <

“Aristotle posits the existence of a fifth element (corresponding to the fifth remaining Platonic solid, the dodecahedron) called quintessence, of which the cosmos itself is made. Aristotle included aether in the system of the classical elements of Ionic philosophy as the "fifth element" (the quintessence), on the principle that the four terrestrial elements were subject to change and moved naturally in straight lines while no change had been observed in the celestial regions and the heavenly bodies moved in circles. In Aristotle's system aether had no qualities (was neither hot, cold, wet, nor dry), was incapable of change (with the exception of change of place), and by its nature moved in circles.[4] Medieval scholastic philosophers granted aether changes of density, in which the bodies of the planets were considered to be denser than the medium which filled the rest of the universe.[5] Robert Fludd stated that the aether was of the character that it was "subtler than light". Fludd cites the 3rd century view of Plotinus, concerning the aether as penetrative and non-material.

Aether (also spelled ether) is a concept used in ancient and medieval science as a substance. The aether was believed to be the substance which filled the region of the universe above the terrestrial sphere. Aristotle included it as a fifth element distinct from the other four, Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. Aether was also called Quintessence (from quinta essentia, "fifth element"). Quintessence was also supposed to be a definition of pure energy. Its force is imagined to be like a lightning. This element also has the power of life. Its Platonic solid was the Dodecahedron. Mythological origins.”

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I concede Amorella. Logically, Quintessence, i.e. the human spirit, has to exist before Consciousness.

You see, you are correct. You have to write the thoughts out first to better think them through.

In context, I am going to be in trouble taking my written thoughts with me to the grave. Me, a disembodied spirit, with no pencil or pen or paper to write on, and with no memory, what would I do with my thoughts whizzing by in such a hypothetical circumstance?

I shall see you through it, at least hypothetically. You posted that I was in the deepest part of your heart. I did not deny this. As such, your heartansoulanmind, logically would be your disembodied spirit. Thus, I will be there too as a small essence of added friendship.

         Metempsychosis is the first thing that comes to mind but it is generally thought of in terms of the transmigration of souls, which is not exactly what I have in mind. I flipped through Google and found another word from Jewish Kabbalistic teachings – an ibbur, an impregnation of one human soul into another for a short time supposedly for a beneficial purpose.

I am intuitively thinking – like the soul of one friend ‘linking’ with the soul of another friend. Male to male, female to male, or female to female – it makes no difference. A deep heart enclosed spiritual-like binding that for all intents and purposes is real enough to act upon.

This is all hypothetical of course. I appreciate the gesture, Amorella, but if all dies with our bodies, and I have no spirit, no intellect, no imagination, then it makes no difference whatsoever.

As a romantic, I would like to believe in such an ibbur-like union, Amorella. If we survive physical death, then such an event like an ibbur might indeed be possible, and I would need you more than ever. So, I will take you on your word, and I am satisfied and will be ever-thankful for your kindness and help. Without you, I cannot imagine remembering all the words. I am nearly useless without pencil, paper, a dictionary, a thesaurus, encyclopedias, and now Google.

All the more reason you would need such an internal friend as myself. – Amorella.