Eternalism and Epigenetics

The New Art of Self-Talk

Photo by Marcus Ganahl on Unsplash

Introduction

Imagine two groups engaged in a tug-of-war, the rope is taut. Neither side ever relinquishes so there is never any slack. Instead, over time sections of the rope are simply removed. As these pieces are taken out, the distance between the two positions diminish. Such is the case between Science and Mysticism. 

There have always been humans among us who have understood reality at a deeper level. These people were considered sage, wise, mystic, genius, physicist, philosopher, etc, etc…In the past people who comprehended things unseen were treated as novel, abnormal, or special. What if that’s changing? What if our ability to sense and engage sub-optical phenomena is enhanced? What if, collectively, we’re better barometers of atmospheric energy?

What are the implications of our burgeoning energetic sensitivity on our psychology? Would someone who believes the ‘madness’ I’m about to discuss in this post be considered mad?

Have you ever read a scientific experiment that instigated a barrage of creativity in your consciousness? This post is about one of those experiments and the abstract ideas it generated. Hold the ‘facts’ lightly, but embrace the implications.

Terms and Questions

Eternalism: Past, present and future all exist simultaneously.

Epigenetics: How our environment impacts our genes.

Self-talk: Talk or thoughts directed at oneself.

Far out question: Can I, from the present, alter my Epigenetics in the past through coaching and other forms of intercession?

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How It All Started

I recently read about an experiment conducted in 2000¹. In summation, a scientist conducted an experiment to determine if intercessory prayer positively impacted patients suffering from a bloodstream infection. ‘Is there power in prayer?’ is the way I read that summation. As a scientific quandary, that isn’t super controversial, right?

Here’s what I found most interesting, the prayer experiment was retroactive. They were measuring whether or not the power of prayer positively impacted patients from the past.

Is the power of prayer impacted by time, can present day prayers change things in the past?

The findings were published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), I found this in the National Library of Medicine, reference attached footnote. Here are the listed objective and conclusion:

• Objective: To determine whether remote, retroactive intercessory prayer, said for a group of patients with a bloodstream infection, has an effect on outcomes.

• Conclusion: Remote, retroactive intercessory prayer can improve outcomes in patients with a bloodstream infection. This intervention is cost effective, probably has no adverse effects, and should be considered for clinical practice. Further studies may determine the most effective form of this intervention and its effect in other severe conditions and may clarify its mechanism.

From a scientific perspective this experiment lacks rigor, it isn’t conclusive, it doesn’t prove anything. But, I’m super intrigued that they even conducted this experiment in the first place! 

What a Door to Open

When I walked through the door of curiosity left cracked by the intrigue of this experiment,

I Googled, clickity clack clickity clack.

I searched Claude AI, clickity clack clickity clack.

That’s how I stumbled across a theory called Eternalism. I heard fragments of this idea in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, but I don’t remember hearing a name. According to Claude AI, this is the ‘key idea’ of Eternalism.

• The key idea in Eternalism is that time is laid out eternally, and all moments in time -past, present,and future -are equally real. They all exist tenselessly, rather than only the present being real.

Let that sink in…

My past self and future self exist, right now. If that’s true. Can I speak with those versions? No matter what time I’m in, my brain is still my brain. What are the implications for self-talk? Can I send my past self encouragement and comfort, can I send my future self warnings and tips? I wouldn’t even need a time machine my thoughts are the only things traveling.

Please suspend disbelief a little longer.

If ideas and thoughts have distinct energy signatures in the brain, could that be a way to share ideas across time? It’s a lot like blockchain technology, a public ledger that all versions of myself can access. Messages are validated because they all originated from the same brain.

Maybe routing is handled this way:

Past (P)

Present(PR)

Future(F)

Messages are just initialed by the version that sends the message. 

Homemade Graphic

Here’s a diagram I thought up while pondering these ideas. It illustrates how my past, present, and future selves might work together. 

Nostalgia is a message from the future telling you you’ve missed something in your past. 

Ambition is a message from your past telling you what you seek is in your future.

Both past and future share messages through the present because the present is the conduit.

The next thing I thought was, ‘how would I use this ability to improve my health?’. If strangers could pray for strangers and potentially heal their medical ailments, could I do the same for myself, or something like it? So I started thinking about the implications of Eternalism on Epigenetics. 

Practical Use of this Imaginary Ability

Epigenetics is the study of changes in organisms caused by modification of gene expression rather than alteration of the genetic code itself.

I’m interested in the way our experiences can alter our gene markers, specifically for Type II diabetes. As I’ve noted, my endocrinologist diagnosed me with diabetes but did caveat it with ‘atypical’. 

To be chronically stressed is basically our default setting and the consequences are disastrous. We often acknowledge stress’s destructive effects on our minds, but don’t talk nearly enough about how it can destroy your physical body. 

Well, I’ve had some traumatic childhood experiences and they occurred at important developmental markers. I suspect it’s this stress, at those important milestones that has in some way contributed to my diabetes. What if I could use the concept of Eternalism to change that?

Center on the Developing Child: Harvard University

My cells are insulin resistant. It’s a common but abnormal trait. My cells were literally designed to accept insulin, so why shouldn’t they? Something went haywire, if it’s stress related I may be in luck. Some research suggests that negative environmental impact on gene markers can be reversed, I’m hopeful it’s true. Self-talk can be damaging or healing, past me, after a traumatic event wasn’t using self-talk for good.

Time to investigate

I’m setting up an experiment because, why not? I haven’t had an A1C under 6 in probably nine years. My last A1C reading was April 2023 it was 6.2. I have an appointment soon and whatever that new number is will be my baseline.

Experiment parameters:

• Observation: Epigenetics is gaining traction in the medical community, and Eternalism is an interesting theory regarding time. If my past, present, and future exist simultaneously, then perhaps these versions can work together. Positive 

• Question: Will my present be able to intercede on behalf of my past and help coaching myself at or around the times of traumatic experiences reverse the negative Epigenetic effects of chronic stress associated with those events?

• Hypothesis: If my A1C is 6.2  at my next appointment, then my goal is to have an A1C under 6 by October 2024. If it is already under 6 then I will attempt to lower it by .3. 

  • I think after 6 months my A1C will drop below 6 or drop by .3

• Method:15 minutes of daily meditation for 6 months.

  • Change nothing else in my diabetes maintenance regimen

  • 5 minutes of breathing and centering

  • 5 minutes of intention setting

  • 5 minutes interacting with and interceding with the past as close as possible to the time after a traumatic event. In my case, the repression of traumatic event may have triggered the alterations to my gene markers.

    • I’ll offer encouragement, prayer, and wisdom, I’ll coach myself.

• Results: I’ll let you know what happens!

• Assumptions: Eternalism is a theorem. My diabetes is a result of Epigenetics. Epigenetics is valid. I can route self-talk messages to my past.

How This is Different

This isn’t shadow work, because I’m not trying to psychologically uncover anything from my past. I’m attempting to prevent my past from repressing those emotions in the first place.

This isn’t inner child work, because I’m sending messages directly to my past self. I’m not interacting with aspects of my past self that are still a part of my psyche.

Conclusion

If my hypothesis is correct then it took approximately 37 years from the day of my first message to the past for me to validate that impact of Eternalism, self-talk, and Epigenetics on my health.

If it works for me, maybe it’ll work for you too.

Pretty out there, but how exciting! Let’s see what happens. 

P.S. I’m securely tethered to reality but there’s a lot of slack. : )

1.  Leibovici, L. “Effects of remote, retroactive intercessory prayer on outcomes in patients with bloodstream infection: randomised controlled trial.” BMJ (Clinical research ed.) vol. 323,7327 (2001): 1450-1. doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7327.1450