On meems and 11's (as I commented in meem's journal earlier) for anyone who has ever wanted to know:
"Well.....we invented the word meem, which was inspired by the word meme. A meme is a level of consciousness, a wave of existence. Memes are "the different worlds available to the self as it develops along the great spiral of existence, driven both by its own internal dynamics and shifting life conditions" (Ken Wilbur). In simpler terms, a meme is kinda like a stage of development, or a degree of enlightenment. However, it does not proceed linearly from A to B to C to D. Each stage is intertwined and surfaces at different times of life, depending on personality and inner thoughts/feelings, and environment. So one may be A in one situation, C in another, and D most of the time, but B in their younger years. However, one can spend more time in one meme and sort of move up in a spiral. I believe there are 8 or 9 memes, and they are given different colors and characteristics, with the last one being the ultimate level of consciousness or evolution. And, as we evolve as a species, more levels (or memes) will be created, most likely.
So, back to creating the word "meem".... Under an ectasy-induced full moon night in the desert, Rojo and I began to notice strange synchronicities that seemed to gather simultaneously or closely spaced that seemed to bring a certain concept or idea into consciousness. With so many "signs" or "messages" this concept could not be ignored. Intuition and insight is required to decipher what the "signs" mean to you. We named these "signs" that occured simultaneously with other similarly themed "signs" meems. We liked the idea that it could be pronounced the same forward and backward, illustrating the synchronicity of the concept in action. So when this strange thing happens, I personally am delighted and can tell of it simply to enlightened individuals like rojo and chloe by calling it a meem. This can be hard to understand, so I will give an example:
The very first and basic meem I experienced was seeing 11:11 on the clock with alarming frequency about 5 months before 11/11/04. As that day approached, I became increasingly nervous because of it. When the day actually arrived, it was a wonderful day full of beauty and meaning that I will always remember. However, the "meems" came very rapidly that day. Of course, it was 11/11. At the time, I was living in South Mission Beach and ran out to the beach to look at the sunset at my roommate's insistence. It was gorgeous. My friend with me, who I had explained the 11's to noticed a big 11 on the sea wall, then I noticed we were standing at Tower 11. All this time, I had lived directly parallel with Tower 11 without realizing it. The next day, my roommate and her friend went to buy 2 packs of cigarettes and a gallon of water. The total? $11.11.
Months after that, I was visiting gord462 at Guru Tattoo while he was getting some work done on his half sleeve. Chloe and I comforted him and talked about getting a spontaneous tattoo. Soooo not like me.....usually takes me years to think about it. So we threw out ideas, and she finally suggested "why not get your 1111 tattooed on you?" Yeah, I thought. Then maybe I would understand what they meant. We decided I would get it on the back of my neck, and make it look obscure like a scar or a scratch, signifying once again that I did not know what they meant. I was still not totally convinced. Dhuey offered that if it was something very basic, the apprentice could do it cheap. "Want a meem?", Chloe said. Next to her on a wall on a post-it in the office were four slashes tallied: 1111. Wow. Okay, I said. The apprentice asked how big I would like it. I sketched the size and he said "you know, the address here is 1122....11 and 11 + 11." I sat down in the room I would be tattoed in and saw Turk, who I hadn't met yet, tattoing next door. On the back of his neck were 4 bars (the Black Flag symbol)....but 1111. So there were several "meems" and now I have 1111 on the back of my neck in mocha. Sometimes people ask what happened to my neck....I love it.
So there is a very long answer to a simple question.....and now you know why I was intrigued by your screen name. I actually work with Persians in my second job and am just learning some Farsi, so that's pretty fucking cool.
Oh, by the way, I moved to North Park in October. I noticed while jogging that there were several buses going by with the number 11 on them. I had unknowingly moved to bus route 11. Hmmmm. Now when I see the 11's I take it as a confirmation that I am exactly where I should be at that moment.
"
"Well.....we invented the word meem, which was inspired by the word meme. A meme is a level of consciousness, a wave of existence. Memes are "the different worlds available to the self as it develops along the great spiral of existence, driven both by its own internal dynamics and shifting life conditions" (Ken Wilbur). In simpler terms, a meme is kinda like a stage of development, or a degree of enlightenment. However, it does not proceed linearly from A to B to C to D. Each stage is intertwined and surfaces at different times of life, depending on personality and inner thoughts/feelings, and environment. So one may be A in one situation, C in another, and D most of the time, but B in their younger years. However, one can spend more time in one meme and sort of move up in a spiral. I believe there are 8 or 9 memes, and they are given different colors and characteristics, with the last one being the ultimate level of consciousness or evolution. And, as we evolve as a species, more levels (or memes) will be created, most likely.
So, back to creating the word "meem".... Under an ectasy-induced full moon night in the desert, Rojo and I began to notice strange synchronicities that seemed to gather simultaneously or closely spaced that seemed to bring a certain concept or idea into consciousness. With so many "signs" or "messages" this concept could not be ignored. Intuition and insight is required to decipher what the "signs" mean to you. We named these "signs" that occured simultaneously with other similarly themed "signs" meems. We liked the idea that it could be pronounced the same forward and backward, illustrating the synchronicity of the concept in action. So when this strange thing happens, I personally am delighted and can tell of it simply to enlightened individuals like rojo and chloe by calling it a meem. This can be hard to understand, so I will give an example:
The very first and basic meem I experienced was seeing 11:11 on the clock with alarming frequency about 5 months before 11/11/04. As that day approached, I became increasingly nervous because of it. When the day actually arrived, it was a wonderful day full of beauty and meaning that I will always remember. However, the "meems" came very rapidly that day. Of course, it was 11/11. At the time, I was living in South Mission Beach and ran out to the beach to look at the sunset at my roommate's insistence. It was gorgeous. My friend with me, who I had explained the 11's to noticed a big 11 on the sea wall, then I noticed we were standing at Tower 11. All this time, I had lived directly parallel with Tower 11 without realizing it. The next day, my roommate and her friend went to buy 2 packs of cigarettes and a gallon of water. The total? $11.11.
Months after that, I was visiting gord462 at Guru Tattoo while he was getting some work done on his half sleeve. Chloe and I comforted him and talked about getting a spontaneous tattoo. Soooo not like me.....usually takes me years to think about it. So we threw out ideas, and she finally suggested "why not get your 1111 tattooed on you?" Yeah, I thought. Then maybe I would understand what they meant. We decided I would get it on the back of my neck, and make it look obscure like a scar or a scratch, signifying once again that I did not know what they meant. I was still not totally convinced. Dhuey offered that if it was something very basic, the apprentice could do it cheap. "Want a meem?", Chloe said. Next to her on a wall on a post-it in the office were four slashes tallied: 1111. Wow. Okay, I said. The apprentice asked how big I would like it. I sketched the size and he said "you know, the address here is 1122....11 and 11 + 11." I sat down in the room I would be tattoed in and saw Turk, who I hadn't met yet, tattoing next door. On the back of his neck were 4 bars (the Black Flag symbol)....but 1111. So there were several "meems" and now I have 1111 on the back of my neck in mocha. Sometimes people ask what happened to my neck....I love it.
So there is a very long answer to a simple question.....and now you know why I was intrigued by your screen name. I actually work with Persians in my second job and am just learning some Farsi, so that's pretty fucking cool.
Oh, by the way, I moved to North Park in October. I noticed while jogging that there were several buses going by with the number 11 on them. I had unknowingly moved to bus route 11. Hmmmm. Now when I see the 11's I take it as a confirmation that I am exactly where I should be at that moment.
"VIEW 6 of 6 COMMENTS
good for you for being dtrong i need to do it as well
hope your 4thwas good