“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.”
-Albert Einstein
For my dissertation, I have taken the path of trying to quantify the unquantifiable: consciousness. But here’s why… it is speculated that the awareness of a unified field of intelligence (i.e., Universal Consciousness) could be the basis of more favorable health outcomes like reduced depression and anxiety and higher rates of psychological well-being.
I started my journey as a faith-based researcher analyzing the associations between religion/spirituality (R/S) and self-reported physical health. Using a sample of African American adults (one of the most spiritual groups in the US), I investigated if those who reported higher levels of religiousness or spirituality also reported better health outcomes.
Results from this 2018 analysis were consistent with most faith-based literature that R/S individuals typically report better health. Although there were a few limitations to my first study, I was hooked on understanding how awareness of the connectedness of humanity could improve population health.
This curiosity has led me to the intersection of quantum physics and spirituality and the surprising links and benefits of understanding both.
The Basis of the Material World is Non-Material
My quest to understand how consciousness relates to improved health outcomes has led me to great thinkers like Dr. Bruce Lipton, Dr. Joe Dispenze, Eckhart Tolle, and, most recently, David Lynch and his work with improving health through the practice of Transcendental Meditation.
In an interview, David Lynch explains the connection between consciousness and quantum physics and how to use spiritual practices like TM to tap into this unified field of awareness that is present for all, despite their religious or spiritual beliefs.
Modern science is only beginning to comprehend what the spiritual community has understood for eons: everything is energy.
unified field: the unity of all the particles and all the matter of creation (Oneness)
David Lynch walks us through the similarities between quantum physics and spirituality, showing how if you break matter down to its smallest form, you start to tap into a quantum world that quantum physicists refer to as the unified field: the unity of all the particles and all the matter of creation (Oneness).
However, on the other side of the spectrum, we have Mind (commonly referred to as One Mind), that through the technique of TM, can be used to turn within and “dive” into this unified field of awareness. The video proceeds to connect quantum physics and spirituality and bring the listener into this new reality of understanding. David highlights the correspondence between deeper levels of Mind and deeper levels of matter.
One does not have to identify as spiritual to use TM to tap into this unified field of awareness. However, meditation has traditionally been used as a key practice of spirituality in the East.
What does quantum physics have to do with consciousness?
Quantum physics and consciousness are two complex and distinct fields of study. While there has been much speculation about the relationship between the two, there is currently no conclusive evidence that quantum physics directly influences consciousness. However, I feel that we are only at the beginning of understanding how these two seemingly separate subjects may collide to reveal the truth of our physical world.
Some researchers have proposed that certain aspects of quantum mechanics, such as the idea of quantum entanglement, superposition, and observer effect, may be relevant to understanding consciousness.
For example, the idea that particles can be in multiple states simultaneously (superposition) and that the act of observing them can collapse their wave function into a definite state (observer effect) has been suggested as a possible mechanism for how consciousness may interact with physical reality in such a way.
However, these proposals remain highly speculative and have not been widely accepted within the scientific community. It is possible that with the rise of technology and a shift to a global society, we can begin to use what we know to understand the interconnectedness of humanity. Despite the side you are on, one thing we can agree on is that we are all connected in this quantum universe.
Overall, while the relationship between quantum physics and consciousness remains an interesting topic of discussion, there is currently no solid evidence to support any direct connection between the two. However, we may discover a shift in this area in the recent years to come.
The Role of the Observer & Quantum Theory?
Quantum theory is a scientific explanation of the behavior of tiny things like atoms and particles. It suggests that these tiny things can exist in multiple states at once and that the act of observation influences them. This means that the mere act of observing a particle can change its behavior or location.
Quantum theory also describes how particles can be “entangled,” meaning that they are connected in a way that allows them to influence each other even when vast distances separate them. This strange and fascinating theory has led to many discoveries and technologies, including the development of quantum computers and cryptography.
Ideas like subatomic physics, quantum mysticism, quantum phenomena, and quantum healing have also blossomed from this theory. Some even beyond what modern physics thought possible.
