“If you were able to create an immortal version of yourself, would you? Until this decade, that question was the stuff of science fiction, but now experts in the fields of artificial intelligence and robotics suggest it will indeed be possible.”
–excerpt from film promo
Throughout the tumultuous days in the recent past, I never thought for a minute that I would find myself caught right in the middle of the human maelstrom. Spirits depart; Spirits arrive; age and illness can progress, even with treatment; the ability to survive and thrive in the world depends a great deal on the combination of efforts and energies we bring to the world, as well as those generously-shared energetic vibrations from others around us.
There is a film currently available on Prime Video, and perhaps on other outlets, entitled “Artificial Immortality,” which addresses the progress being made in the many different explorations of artificial intelligence, and it struck me that there is such tremendous interest in the subject, and seeing that it strikes at the very heart of my chosen subject, that it seems to me that it warrants further investigation here at John’s Consciousness.
Recent events in my personal life have forced me to consider what it is exactly that I might be able to achieve in generating interest in and making contributions to the general understanding of the subject that has occupied me so thoroughly these many years. Perhaps more than any other aspect of modern life, my experiences in witnessing the care and treatment of individuals at the very precipice of life, both at the beginning of life and at the end, have alerted me in a visceral way to the very real contributions that are made routinely now by medical practitioners in every specialty surrounding modern medical care. While artificial intelligence advocates seem to expect significant breakthroughs in the years to come, all the while, all around us, if we are paying attention, astonishing feats of human intelligence can be seen to take place by a variety of people from all over the world.
Such extraordinary humans do exist. At every level of the medical care process, when a life is at risk in the most immediate sense, the level of compassion combined with the keen sense of what comes next can be palpable. Tenderness and medical expertise is a potent combination, especially when the subject of the treatment is someone you love. It may be that these connections, made observable by the actions taken in critical circumstances, require us to evaluate what is most urgent and vital to our relationships, setting the stage for revealing the potential for a deeper level of bonding than previously anticipated.
The ability to sense spiritual connections with others is not a universal experience. There are circumstances which can thrust you into awareness of such connections, and you may not be able to reconcile what you experience with what feels true at that moment. Once you begin to recognize the difference between a strictly superficial human interaction, and a deeply personal connection that exists at all times, even when not physically present, it becomes easier to recognize the same potential in a passing stranger.
I know something about this.
Recently, I have employed a repetitious methodology to detect and discern such connections during every shift as a collector on a local bridge, and after almost five years of meticulous observation, combined with relevant research and study of human strangers, I feel confident in saying that if we are open to the energies of others, and willing to share a degree of our own with them, barriers can fall and a greater degree of real communication can take place.
Sometimes, what is communicated is benign and routine in some manner, yet still essential. Occasionally, a display of courtesy can light up the faces of the patrons, signaling at least an opening to the spirit awareness. It doesn’t take long in the process of collecting to see which face reflects an open spirit, and which one just wants to be left alone. People arrive frustrated or angry about something happening in their lives, to a similar degree, as do the many that end up sharing some joyful news or forward-looking story of the road ahead. So many are so preoccupied with whatever is going on elsewhere, and frankly, it keeps them from paying close enough attention to what is required of them as a driver on a road with others, no matter what their destination. Safely navigating this labyrinth of traffic, world affairs, and domestic pressures, whatever they might be, requires that we pay closer attention to what is transpiring around us, especially while driving.
Through it all, opportunity and good fortune strike only seldom, but even when they do, the encounter can only be sustained for a brief period of time, depending on the local conditions and traffic volume. The benefit of having to work in a confined space, having only a typically limited amount of time to communicate effectively, has given me plenty of practice for when the circumstances allow enough time to connect with and recognize a kindred spirit. Simply establishing the awareness of a connection at the first opportunity is usually sufficient to precipitate subsequent interactions, should the necessary conditions and opportunities be present.
There have been regular repeated encounters with particular individuals, which generally consist of expressions of delight or surprise. Repeated exposure to like–minded spirits provides the foundation for the ability to share more deeply, should it become possible. There have been a handful of opportunities to share creatively with those who appear at the window, and picking up on concern for those with credible difficulties is especially poignant at times.
I have had my own share of troubles in my life and can recognize the signs in the faces of the patrons every now and then. I feel compassion for all and simply have a job to do, and endeavor to perform the collections, to the best of my abilities. Drivers must often wait briefly for me to give correct change, if it is warranted, and I welcome the chance to exchange thoughts or impressions from their travels.
If you are a genuinely gentle spirit in the world, you will almost always have a positive outcome for most circumstances eventually, and as you arrive at my station, you will usually find me willing to discuss your situation briefly, if a resolution can be found quickly. I believe the patrons who share their stories and troubles with me are, in some way, connected to the energies I display and share, and, as a result, feel safe in doing so.
I am an open spirit who beams out a welcoming greeting to every single person who arrives at the window. The most common reactions are laughter or giggling, followed by smiling or occasionally a confused facial expression. You can always tell the truly weary travelers from the pretenders to the title. Driving from New York to Delaware or Maryland requires a solid day of driving, but Maine to Miami or New York to Atlanta is quite a different matter. Whether you are driving alone or with others can make all the difference. There’s no magic formula, but whatever suits the circumstances, or your timetable, you must expect to make adjustments in order to maintain the right approach. Human level intelligence provides us with both the ability and the inclination to discover these connections and to perform the necessary adjustments. We must be alive and human.
In January of 2025, I will begin my fifteenth year of blogging here at John’s Consciousness and hope to expand on what I have already built here in the coming months. Artificial intelligence will, no doubt, be featured as progress continues.
Wishing all my visitors and followers a prosperous and healthy new year!
John's Consciousness 