How Thought Manifests

Imagine sitting in a boat on a calm lake. You toss a stone into the water and it creates ripples that reverberate out, in all directions. The invisible energy of raising your arm to throw the stone is given expression as a circular pattern in the water.

The ripple will also cause your boat to bob from side to side. Similar to the fields we see in electromagnetism, and the distortion of space created by gravity, when a field is created, it also affects whatever caused it.

Anything within a field will feel this non-contact force.

Now, imagine standing still in time where you can observe how your thoughts are conditioned by a past that recreates the future. You might ask – how is that even possible?

We approach the future like it is full of possibilities, but we can only experience what we believe we deserve.

Like throwing a stone into the surrounding water, we carry the invisible energy of momentum based on past experiences. Once created, waves and fields propagate energy that shape the trajectory of our journey.

Gravity and the force and field of electromagnetism shed light on the nature of the ‘field’ we create with our thoughts. This field effects how energy transforms and behaves around us. Ultimately, it shapes the texture of our experiences.

Because we believe we are disconnected from the source, we observe unfolding events as fate.

The Yin and Yang of Consciousness

Both gravity and electromagnetism reveal a non-contact force that occurs when objects are in a field. Like Tao, represented as Yin and Yang, what feels like a force (Yang) is actually a field (Yin) too.

One cannot operate without the other, and are different manifestations of the same phenomenon.

When we consider the fabric of space, we see that the mass of an object distorts the fabric of space surrounding it. Gravity can feel like a force, but it is the distorted geometry of space.

Like a rubber sheet pulled in 3 dimensions, the weight of a body causes a curvature or indentation that draws other bodies into a circular orbit.

We also observe how the behavior of matter and energy on the subatomic scale reveal a strange connection between the observer and the observed.

The very act of measuring an outcome collapses a field of possibilities into a single, definite state, highlighting the profound interplay between observation and reality.

This suggests that our sense of conscious separation from our experiences might be an illusion. Everything, including consciousness, seem to be part of a unified whole.

Whatever life is – it appears to remain in a state of possibilities until it is measured.

Parallels to Yin-Yang Philosophy

The field (Yin) and force (Yang) can be observed in both gravity and electromagnetism.

Yin (field) is the potential, the unseen, the quiet substratum. It is receptive, passive, and subtle, and often represents the underlying, supportive, or structuring aspects of reality.
Yang (force) is the kinetic, and the observable. It is active and dynamic, and represents the tangible, outwardly directed manifestation of reality.

The movement of thought (Yang) continuously reshapes the field (Yin), and the field provides the structure for the movement. Past ideas become the momentum that shapes the patterns of our life experiences.

The Gravity of Manifestation

Einstein’s general relativity explains gravity as distortions in the spacetime fabric, where the field appears to ‘attract,’ like a force. Just as we interpret this curvature of space as the effects of gravity, we interpret events as forces acting on us.

However, like throwing the stone into the water, energy and mass (throwing the stone) tell the fabric (water/space) how to curve, and the field that is created tells mass (boat) how to move.

Past actions and experiences (Yang) warp the fabric or field (Yin) of our experiences and create future momentum for possible outcomes.

The distorted field (Yin) can feel like an outward force (Yang) as we move through a tapestry of our own making, oblivious to how we are shaping it.

Force and Field in Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism propagates when a charge (Yang) creates a magnetic field (Yin). The changing electric field produces a changing magnetic field and a changing magnetic field produces a changing electric field, and so on.

Sunlight comes to the earth through electromagnetic radiation in this way.

Like gravity, the force that shapes the field and the field’s effect on the force are aspects of the same phenomenon.

In electromagnetism, Yang is the tangible, outward expression or charge—what we directly observe as a push or pull. It’s active, dynamic, and interacts with matter.
The field or Yin is the underlying, more subtle and magnetic field that gives rise to the force. It is pervasive, invisible, and shapes the space around it, carrying the potential for interaction.

The two are inseparable: the field exists as a potential, while the force is its manifestation when something (e.g., a charge) interacts with it.

Thought as a Force and a Field

Force of Thought (Yang): Thought acts outwardly as a force when it manifests in words, actions, or decisions. For instance, your intentions shape your actions, much like electromagnetic forces direct the motion of particles.
Field of Thought (Yin): Thought also exists as a subtler, pervasive "field"—a matrix of beliefs, assumptions, and subconscious conditioning. This field shapes your perception of reality, much like an electromagnetic field influences how charged particles behave within its domain.

Thus, thought operates on dual levels: as an active agent shaping the world and as an underlying structure shaping the way the world is perceived.

How Thought Shapes Reality

Shaping Perception (Field as Yin): Thought provides the context and framework through which we interpret the world:

If the thought-field is dominated by fear, even neutral situations may feel threatening.
If the field is one of curiosity or openness, experiences are more likely to be perceived as opportunities for growth.

Manifestation into Action (Force as Yang): The subtle "field" of thought becomes visible as a "force" through action or reaction:

A belief (field) might compel a person to act defensively (force), creating ripples in their relationships and environment.

Feedback Loops Between Field and Force: Just as electromagnetic forces influence the field (e.g., moving charges create magnetic fields), the actions and outcomes of thought (forces) feed back into and reshape the thought-field:

Acting on a belief reinforces it, making the field stronger.
Observing the consequences of a belief might weaken or transform the field.

Your Thought Field

If thought shapes a field like a force:

Cultivating Awareness of the Field: By becoming deeply aware of the subtle "field" of thought—beliefs, conditioning, assumptions—we can begin to loosen its grip.
Meditation or Self-Inquiry: We can observe this field without being entangled in it. In Taoism, entangling is embroiling, when we react in a way that exacerbates the conflict, rather than observing to learn from it.
Harnessing the Force Wisely: Just as understanding the electromagnetic field allows us to direct forces (e.g., in motors or electronics), understanding the thought-field allows us to channel our actions consciously rather than reactively.
Field Transformation: Changing the thought-field (e.g., replacing self-doubt with self-compassion) shifts the force it exerts. Over time, this can transform how we interact with reality.

Reshaping Your Thought-Field

Awareness of the Field

Observing Without Judgment: You can observe your thoughts as they arise without interference. Like a leaf flowing down a river, you can watch its tendencies, without interfering with its movement. Don’t be reactive when you meet conflict, but step back and observe its root cause.
Journaling for Reflection: Writing down recurring thoughts or patterns can help illuminate the structure of your thought-field. Are there specific beliefs exerting strong "forces" in your life? How are they influencing your actions or relationships? What is the root cause of the conflict you face?
Working with Your Dreams: Our dreams present symbols and landscapes that describe how we are constructing our version of reality. By exploring their meaning, you can become aware of your blind spots and actively change your conditioning and life experiences.

Shifting the Field

Mindfulness to Recalibrate: When you notice a recurring pattern of negative or limiting thought, pause. Ask yourself: Is this thought serving my highest potential? Bringing awareness to these moments can gradually dissolve unhelpful conditioning.
Affirmations and Visualization: Deliberately introducing positive, empowering thoughts into your field can reshape its influence. For example, if self-doubt is part of your field, affirmations of self-worth can counteract and transform this energy.
Exposure to New Ideas: Just as fields can merge or reinforce each other, surrounding yourself with uplifting or inspiring influences—whether books, people, or environments—can elevate your thought-field.

Acting as a Conscious Force

Alignment of Intention and Action: When your actions (Yang/force) are aligned with an aware and positive thought-field (Yin), they carry more clarity and impact. This alignment creates a sense of flow, where actions feel effortless, yet powerful.
Creating Ripple Effects: Remember that your thought-field doesn’t exist in isolation—it interacts with others. By maintaining a clear, compassionate, and empowering thought-field, you subtly influence those around you, like a strong charge influencing an electromagnetic field.

Fear can shape behavior in a way that makes us defensive and cut off from how life is seeking to release us from past conditioning. We see how life seeks this release when dreaming.

What can feel like a force (as the events happening to us) is actually a field or the condition of the charge we bring to each encounter. What we perceive as a field (as what unfolds around us) is created by the force of our beliefs.

Energy shapes space, the fields of electromagnetism, and the waves created in water. In the same way, energy creates the texture of our journey. Your thoughts shape the framework of how you create, perceive and engage with the world.

You have the power to change and create the field in which you surround yourself. If you want to experience a different outcome, take time to identify the ‘charge’ that is creating your field.