A dear friend of mine has expressed some interest in quantum physics and very little interest in metaphysics. He did me the honor of reading my recently published book, EARTH GAME The Next Level. He found the discussion of “Multi-Dimensionality” somewhat fascinating. But, he wanted to know: What exactly are these dimensions beyond Spacetime? As noted in my book, using linear language to attempt to describe dimensions beyond Spacetime is doomed to failure. But, my friend’s interest inspired me to ask myself whether we might be able to discern anything relatable about particular dimensions that lie beyond the four dimensions we know so well (i.e., three spatial dimensions and the dimension of time).
When attempting to venture beyond the limits of linear language, I often find metaphors helpful. (The other option I can think of for describing the indescribable is mystical mumbo-jumbo; I prefer metaphor to that.) A metaphor that I recently came across (I will thank Richard Courshon for this one) is to think of our reality as a symphony orchestra playing a musical piece. Except that we are able to hear only three of the instruments. Other kinds of instruments are also playing – ten in all – but we hear just the three. (Perhaps imagine that you can hear only violin, viola and cello). Perhaps one can fleetingly catch something emanating from the other instruments, but mostly not. Well, what if one could re-tune one’s senses so as to also hear the other seven instruments?
To take this metaphor a step further, think of the curious dimension of “time” as the conductor. Yes, there is a meter, a rhythm, a timing, to the musical piece (i.e., to the story of you that is playing out within the story of Earth within the broader story of creation).
To take it even one step further, imagine as metaphor for a twelfth dimension the composer and the composition. Creator and creation; as One.
But, back to the seven mostly-unheard instruments, aka the mostly-unexplored seven dimensions. Yes, we do catch glimmers of them. But mostly, we find ourselves paying attention only to the violin, the viola, the cello – and, of course, the conductor. (That is, we focus on what our physical senses are telling us, and we focus on time as it relentlessly elapses.)
This may be only a shot in the dark, but I have an idea for exploring the mostly-unexplored seven dimensions. I posited in EARTH GAME The Next Level that the seven (major) chakras are doorways, gateways, to the Multi-Dimensional. They certainly feel that way; when I meditatively focus sequentially on the seven chakras, it feels like something is opening, that I am gaining access to where my physical senses cannot go. When I focused further on that in a recent meditation, it occurred to me that the seven doorways do not appear to be each opening to the same place. Rather than there being a room with seven doorways to it, it feels more like seven rooms, each with its own doorway. I get glimmers in each instance of a different, non-spatial geometry.
Coming back to the metaphor of sound and music, the first chakra, to me, feels like a drum, or perhaps a didgeridoo. Deep notes, grounding, connecting into the Earth itself. Something foundational.
The second chakra, I want to say bass guitar, setting a rhythm. (Yes, I realize I am losing the symphony metaphor here, but bear with me.)
The third chakra, I sense the soaring notes of an electric guitar (or perhaps the wailing notes of a blues guitar). There is a dynamism.
The fourth chakra, I hear a saxophone (I do love the saxophone).
The fifth chakra, the clarion call of horns.
The sixth chakra, a flute, rising above.
The seventh chakra, a crystal-clear bell (I think of Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells”).
Now, does any of all that help us describe in linear language the dimensions that we might be opening to through the seven chakras? Clearly not. And yet, the doors each open perhaps a crack wider. So that we can dive in and there feel what there is to be felt.
It does occur to me that dimensions beyond Spacetime are best sensed as a symphony. So that we might feel something of what the composer (i.e., “Source/God”) felt when composing the piece. No, dimensions beyond Spacetime are not meant to be conquered sequentially, marching first into the fifth and then the sixth, etc., claiming each in turn as now constituting a territory of Spacetime. Rather, per the metaphor deployed in EARTH GAME The Next Level, there is “Inside the Jar”, and there is “Outside the Jar”. The terrain of the latter we will progressively come to know as we expand our senses beyond the five “physical senses” that we know so well.
As for whether the seven chakras each somehow relate to a particular dimension beyond Spacetime, that is admittedly conjecture on my part. Might be; or perhaps not. Here is my suggestion (and invitation): do your own exploration. In meditation, sequentially go through the seven chakras. Sensing them as gateways, doorways. Imagine that each is a doorway to a particular dimension beyond Spacetime. And see where that takes you. Then, let me know what you think.