in/audible - Ibiblio

Neo-psych and folk and the revival of their forefolks is currently
exploding, and the peaceful space provided by the mesmerism and hypnotism
of this music may well be replacing the jerk of electro, machine
grind and disco punk among the mainstream. New popularity of psych
and folk music is reviving the fantastical possibilities of the music’s
prior heyday and rescuing it from the taint of conformed, watereddown
hippy-sters. The difference in the influence of The Incredible
String Band today vs. its influence 30 years ago may be the size and
global span of its popularity. Among a populace that seeks knowledge
and progress from more sources than ever before, the combination
between this music and its masses – gens and gens into the future –
may support a more enlightened and psychically evolved human being.
A “vibe” is again being sought. San Fran is the place to be. We can talk
to trees.
Folk resurgence, in particular, re-introduces tales of a possible past
that may have existed but was perhaps never known. Even the mythological
creatures often starring in this music are a reality in that myth
is fo’ real. It is not mere fiction or history. It is ongoing in the human
psyche. The idea is that the human brain, human consciousness and
the evolving “story” that provide the context for understanding all
evolve. This is not a promotion of ritualistic practice like that so enjoyable
in Peter Schaffer’s The Wicker Man. This is about thinking. This is
not about traditionalism. This is about progress of perception. This is
a choice to change the story used to explain life. If it is spirituality, then
at least it is gimmick-free.
So fluid perception is not only a plus for the listener, but a big oneup
for plants. When the powerful voice of music expresses reverence
for the pods and petals in nature, these breathing beings are allowed
a presence not afforded them by their more frequent revelers – scientists.
Plant science, despite its progress, has maintained a largely
complex method of viewing plants by their comparative morphology.
An effective approach, it has limited plants to a fairly inactive role in
world ecology. Even as predominantly sedentary beings, plants can be
understood to have activity, “mental” processes and the ability to make
decisions. Plants’ ability to converse with the sun, for instance, is not
fully respected as a form of active communication. Plants’ chemical
communication with one another is not a major focus of plant studies.
And an even more absent consideration is that plants have knowledge
and control of their evolutionarily beneficial traits, such as color and
taste, that make them more directly manipulative in their relationships
with animals. The trippy idea is that plants are our brothers and sisters
and companions – but like seriously – on an evolutionary scale.
Not only does such proclamation of plant/human mutual beneficence
guide the expansion and alteration of humans into natural spaces
in a more sustainable, peaceful and aesthetic manner, but allowing
plants a more cognizant independence and simultaneously a co-evolutionary
companionship with people permits a logical understanding
of humans as capable of developing aspects of plant consciousness.
People change through time just as any plant and animal must, and the
psyche is not removed from this movement.
As we become more plant-like beings (and we
may very well possess the necessary physiological
precursors), utilizing smell and light in a more
advanced way, information gathering and processing
could improve. Telepathic communication between
people via aromatic chemicals could allow for more
relaxed and contemplative, less physically aggressive
persons to survive – living longer, more regenerative
lives. These emerging floral properties could permit
empathetic telepathy to replace civilized debate
and a new consciousness to replace the mammalian
version necessary for humans when they explored
unknown lands and built civilizations. Yes!
New understanding and recognition of possibility
in all things enables a stepping up of the voltage
of the mind. A new logic, first obtained through
metaphor (parable) of the relationships between
plant, animal and object, creates this modern mentality.
Should perception expanding become the
activity, rather than the result (learning how to
make porn rather than studying its effects on society),
perhaps we could rise above our own concepts
and ideas and wade in thoughts of our own (lack
of ) true perspective. Perhaps there be no need for
ideological movements/struggles. Just maybe we
will reach such a pervasive exhaustion in approaching
meaning that we will collapse into a new way of
thinking – or not thinking – and being. No longer
will the concepts of “peace,” “love” and “equality” prevent
their own reality. Emerging will be a new level
of existence that will find the human race in a more
peaceful state of co-existence – loving each other
like we’re all the same and shit. And plants, too.
ELLIE BLAKE works in research administration at
the Carolina Population Center and has been a DJ
since spring 2001. She would like to thank Dazed and
Confused magazine, Arthur magazine, Tom Robbins
and the N.C. Botanical Gardens.
Main illustration by STEWART SINEATH. Face
illustrations by RYAN MARTIN.
IN/AUDIBLE fall 2004 15