You may have noticed, at the very end of the essay entitled Fun with Fibonacci, how the last diagram, and the closing comments, eluded to the idea that duality within the concept of The Absentia (being rooted in Mobius-like paradox) and the dual aspect of Nothing and Something (being the mother and father of creation) could in fact be see as a duality of dualities!! or a duality between dualities.
Well hang on, because there is more to it than that!!
-----
The Semantics of Unity
Mathematically, people tend to associate the concept of Unity with the number 1, because the number 1 is indivisible. But, at the same time, some will also acknowledge how the wholly continguous continuum of infinity is itself an appropriate representation of Unity by way of its infinite sameness or uniformity. Unfortunately, we usually label the contiguous continuum of infinity with a zero, not a 1. In addition to this, some will argue that their unknowable, ineffable Godhead is the true source of Unity by way of being the precursor of all that is... and isn't. There is often no number given for an ineffable Godhead. So... one might ask, where is this Unity that so many spiritual philosophies instruct us to seek?
The problem we are having is easily traceable to semantics and vocabulary. Words are important to communicating ideas, and when we are dealing with such a delicate idea as what we are to seek in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, it is advisable to define our terms as clearly as possible. Toward that goal, I choose to define Unity as existing in all three of the above locations! But, as I define Unity as existing in all three of the above locations, I do not see them all as expressing the same KIND of Unity!
Elsewhere on this site, including the essay Fun with Fibonacci, we established the idea of an ineffable Godhead that, through paradox, was actually able to be binary and singular at the same time! This binary singularity was then seen as the logical opposite to a universe where opposites are clearly separate and binary. As separate concepts, the continuum of infinity was seen as unified and the individual entities that breach that continuum were seen as binary. Evolving from there, the potential of a point of existence attempting to breach the continuum, was also seen as a source of unity, compared to what happens after a point is no longer a point.
To me, all three of these ideas embody a certain KIND of unity, or singularity, or oneness. The trick to navigating this terrain of ideas and notions is to continue clarifying our terms. Thus to me, the word Singularity is most appropriately associated with the idea of an ineffable Godhead, which, in this study, we are calling The Absentia (see the essay The Absentia elsewhere on this site). The Absentia is where we find the idea of a universe reduced to an impossible singularity of nature - a singularity that, because of its outer containment and inner containment, is paradoxically binary (see the book All Things Are Numbers).
Next I see the concept of a contiguous continuum of infinity as the best representation of the word Unity itself or perhaps the word Uniformity. The endless dark reaches of infinity provide a uniform "ground" upon which the "figure" of manifestation is "seen." Manifestation emerges from infinity as whirlpools of nothingness, and upon death, returns to that unity and uniformity of nothingness. The unity and uniformity of nothingness is how we know ourselves to be the same, and diversity of everythingness is how we now ourselves to be different. We label nothingness with a zero.
Next, as we label the individual parameters of emerging existence with numbers, the number 1 represents the concept of the oneness that births subsequent manifestation, and all its duality and diversity. The concept of oneness, while being associated with the subsequent diversity of breaching manifestation, is nonetheless capable of expressing a unique KIND of unity. All things begin with 1, in that sense, all things share the 1, in that sense 1 is a form of unity or ultimate integrity. Oneness is how we all know ourselves to be the center of our own universe. This may sound egotistical and self-centered, but, inasmuch as many define reality as that which we as individuals hold in our Minds, being the center of the only universe we could ever hope to know makes sense. Thus, the number 1 is more about the integrity of identity than actual unity. But, because the nature of that identity is singular, autonomous, independent and indivisible in form, its singular, indivisible nature makes it a unique form of manifest unity - i.e. individuality. The phrase "I am" precedes all expression of who we actually "are." Thus, as long as we exists, all that we are can be reduced to our essential being - the indivisible individuation of the individual.
So "being" is indivisible, we just are, until we aren't. What we are is defined by the subsequent dualities of further expressions of evolving manifestation on a path of coagulation (see theories of coagulation in the book All Things Are Numbers). In one of our more important models, that path of evolving manifestation begins with the unity of a point. In this analysis, we label a point with the number 1.
 |
|
All of manifestation reduces to a point. A point then reduces to nothingness. Nothingness then reduces to Absentia. Unity is Triune!
|
The uniqueness of the number 1, embodied by the concept of a point, and how that embodies a certain KIND of unity, can best be visualized using The Geometric Progression, where we see a point as having no partner within the alternating pattern of balance and flux that results from drawing parameters first, and then considering "the stuff in the middle" (see The Geometric Progression elsewhere on this site). All of manifestation reduces to a point. A point then reduces to nothingness. Nothingness then reduces to Absentia. Thus we observe how Unity is in fact Triune! The Unity of Absentia is an unknowable unity. The Unity of Nothingness is non-manifest unity. The Unity of Oneness is a manifest unity. Together, they represent the first three steps of creation, as defined by our Fibonacci-illustrated Law of Sequence (see Fun with Fibonacci elsewhere on this site).
The paradoxical unity of Absentia is a Divine Unity known by no one. The wholistic unity of the Universe is a Universal Unity known by everyone. They are not the same. Confusing these two is what leads many to think that reducing to simplicity will in fact lead to an ultimate cosmic Divinity, when, in fact, it does not (see Verse 82 elsewhere on this site).
You can be something and not find it
... and
you can be nothing and not find it.
In the book All Things Are Numbers a pattern is introduced that shows how this idea of creation, in steps of three, repeats concentrically to reveal a recursive, fractal nature to our home-made tarot universe. The model of existence being put forth on this site coagulates like a gas turning into a liquid, turning into a solid. Thus, within the sense of these three unities; the gas would be analogous to The Absentia. The Liquid would be analogous to the the continguous continuum of infinity. The solid would be analogous to the manifest entities that breach the continuum. Leaving us with three evolving forms of UNITY.
 |
|
Paradox provides a beginningless beginning that leads to infinite chaos, that leads to manifest order - 1, 2, 3... or... 0, 1, 1! |
The chart above shows how the PATTERN of the Fibonacci Sequence resembles the PATTERN of a paradoxical beginningless beginning, that breaks its symmetry to launch a universe that evolves into endless complexity. And how the symmetry of the nothingness it launches is also sequentially broken, to create manifestation (the model of ideas that this site is devoted to describing). Out of paradox, comes chaos, out of the chaos of nothingness comes order, out of the order of manifestation comes the model of existence being put forth everywhere on this site. The symmetry of each UNITY is broken to evolve another, eventually reaching a point, which leads to manifestation of being.
-----
Generative vs. Germinative
In the essay Fun with Fibonacci (seen elsewhere on this site) we introduced a chart that used The Fibonacci Sequence, with an extra added 0, to remind us of The Absentia that births the universe of all numbers. But, while a zero is only a single digit, it was meant to represent the normally un-numbered concept of The Absentia, which we have demonstrated elsewhere to be, paradoxically, twofold in nature. By utilizing the popular idea of "God" reflecting "Himself" to produce a Dyad of duality, it is implied that we view the two Unities of Nothing and Something, described above, as a "Universal reflection" of the two forms of "God-like" Absentia.
 |
|
The Absentia is paradoxically Never Emptied and Never Filled. The Universe is obviously Always Empty and Always Filled. |
The two points of Absentia are an ineffable, beginningless beginning. The two unities of infinity and point, are an effable, beginningful beginning that launches us into the concept of duality and evolving complexity. Between them is a Glass Ceiling. We can never know The Absentia, because of its characteristically exclusionary nature. Thus, The Absentia is seen as a Generative beginning, whilst the two unities of infinity and point are seen as a Germinative beginning. One launches the very IDEA of a universe. The other launches the content of that universe.
 |
|
The number 1 is unique, within the realm of numbers that are used to label the parts of our model of manifest existence. |
By studying the chart above, we can begin to understand why it is that the number 1 has no partner within the balance and flux of geometrically progressing shapes that we use elsewhere on this site to describe the idea of an evolving universe of diversity and complexity. Most of this site is designed to describe the numbers of numerology as they are used to label parts of a model of manifest existence. By excluding the idea of Unity from those models, the participation in Unity played by the number 1 is missed. By identifying the number 1 as one of three evolving forms of Unity, we now understand why it has no partner in our sequential notions of manifestation. By identifying the number 1 as one of three evolving forms of Unity, now we understand its sequential partner to be the Unity of infinity. Together, those two Unities are seen as a "reflection" of the two points of paradoxical exclusion we are calling The Absentia. All of these points of Unity together, represent the overall concept of Unity that so many spiritual philosophies teach us to seek. But obviously, we see now, how that all important Unity, in general, and paradoxically, comes in many parts! Three to be exact!
But while many might take a vertical arrangement of numbers, like those in the diagrams above, with Unity at the top, as an indication that the path toward unity must be backwards, away from larger numbers and into the 1, in actuality... one can achieve the oneness of a 1 by progressing forward to the 9. If we look at The Geometric Progression mentioned above, we see how the sphere of a 9 is theorized to be equivalent in a reciprocal fashion to that of the point of a 1. A point radiates a sphere, and a sphere reduces to a point. Thus, each sphere becomes the point of an ongoing cycle of endless repetitions. Thus by becoming a 9 we become a 1, and know the unity of identity. The 1 has no partner within the number line, when considered as a sequence. But it does have a partner within the number line when considered as a solitary entity amid the continuum. Equidistantly, 1 and 9 represent the same concentric sphere of containment, with the same contiguous continuum of zero beyond (see the essay Why Only Nine elsewhere on this site).
-----
The Fourfold Trinity of Binary Unity!
Spiritual philosophies urge us to seek Unity through simplicity. They suggest that the complexities of manifestation remove us from the simplicity of Unity. Now we can see how Unity itself is not really all that simple! Because of the dual aspects of The Absentia, Unity can actually be viewed a fourfold, or, if The Absentia taken as a singularity, Unity can be viewed as threefold, or, if The Absentia and the Universe are taken as opposites, Unity can be seen as twofold, or, if taken all together, Unity can be one.
 |
|
Say what?! The Fourfold Trinity of Binary Unity?! Are you kidding? No! |
That's right... within the home-made universe of tarot being presented on this site, UNITY is in fact fourfold in the way that two points of paradoxical Absentia are reflected into our universe as the Unity of infinity, and the Unity of a point. But, inasmuch as the two points of Absentia are in fact representative of a cosmic singularity, we can also think of Absentia as just one form of unity, in a Fibonacci-like progression of three unities, where The Absentia equals the quantity of zero, and the two unities of infinity and point are the two Fibonacci 1s that lead to the duality of manifestation. At the same time, whether viewed as two points of Absentia, or a singularity, Absentia and Universe are themselves binary in their relationship to each other. The Universe is here BECAUSE The Absentia isn't. They are logical opposites in the very IDEA of who we are and aren't. Finally, considered together as multiple expressions of Unity, they are, all together, a singular representation of the UNITY that so many spiritual philosophies suggest we seek in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
Hmmm, where have I seen this pattern before? A progression from 4 to 3 to 2 to 1... it sounds like a Pythagorean Tetractys, except... in reverse. Most of the time, when I see the Tetractys, people refer to it as an array of 1, 2, 3 and 4 dots, which total 10. The Tetractys was/is considered sacred. In the same way, I think we would not be too far out of bounds to consider our description of UNITY in 4, 3, 2 and 1 parts to also be pretty sacred. In fact... if we consider the idea that Unity reflects itself to create Duality and the rest of the material universe, then by reflecting our 4,3,2,1 UNITY we actually create the more traditional upward pointing Tetractys, revered by the Pythagoreans!
 |
|
4,3,2,1 reflected as 1,2,3,4 creates a Tetractys! |
By reflecting our 4,3,2,1 UNITY into the material world, we create a 1,2,3,4 Tetractys of our own! By creating a Tetractys of our own, from a concept of Unity in four parts, we can see how qualities of UNITY, reflect to create the Unity, Duality, Diversity and Complexity of a universe. If you would like to examine how a Tetractys-like pattern can be used to display other ideas specific to this particular study of tarot and a universe, consult the essay A Tetradic Twist.
-----
The Three Unities
Ultimately, it is probably most useful to view UNITY the way many spiritual philosophies do... as triune, with an Absentia birthing a Universe of Nothing and Something. In the book All Things Are Numbers, this pattern was called The Cosmic Waltz because of the threefold, "Um, Pa, Pa" nature of the Fibonacci-like sequence of 0, 1, 1. In a philosophy like Tao, the Tao would be equivalent to the 0, and the partners of Yin and Yang would be equivalent to the Fibonacci 1 and 1. In Christianity, God would be comparable to the 0, and the partners of Eve and Adam would be comparable to the Fibonacci 1 and 1.
 |
|
Adam birthed from Eve? A man, born from a woman? Heresy! Death to the infidel who utters such blasphemy! God is the Father who created Adam in his image! Woman was an afterthought. Well... not here! Unity in three parts is Universal! |
Of course... that would imply that Eve came before Adam in the evolution of a universe from God! If you are one to wholly buy into the patriarchal bias of ancient philosophies designed mostly by men who, by their cultural breeding tended to view women as secondary to men, and were thereby compelled to manipulate all spiritual ideas to put the male first and foremost, then this idea might cause you to abandon this whole philosophy, and this whole web site. Is "God" really a Father, birthing Adam... and then Eve? A patriarchal, paternal philosophy lacks balance, and I believe it to also be un-natural. It is not able to embrace the idea of an androgynous "God", nor to put the female force before the male in the evolution of a universe from that "God." But this site provides numerous reasons to believe that this type of pattern is indeed a ruling force in nature.
Ultimately, starting a spiritual philosophy, or a universe, with the notion of a trinity is pretty universal. It is universal because it is both logical and obvious. After observing the obviously binary nature of our world, it is also pretty obvious for us to think that there ought to be some kind of neutral point in between all these binary sets that holds them together and negotiates their interactions with each other. Turning that neutral point into a "God" of some kind is a human embellishment. But, it is an embellishment that is not without some reason to believe (see the essay Be Gray Every Day elsewhere on this site).
-----
Battle of the Sexes
In the book All Things Are Numbers this progression of ideas, which is devoted to describing the beginning of a universe, is acknowledged to be simultaneous or near simultaneous - it being only for those seeking an understanding of the generative nature of a universe that we slow down the nano-fraction of a nano-second of time required to accomplish this beginningless begining and establish the universe in which we live. Thus, it should be acknowledged that, after this initial creation has occured, none of the three components of this Trinity of Unity are any more important than the other. Each one ultimately leads to the other in an interdependence of form (see the Mutually Assured Creation mandala within the essay Behold The Absentia! elsewhere on this site).
When considering the relationship of individual components, after initial creation, a static triangle becomes a descriptive form. And while persons accustomed to reading left to right might think that the diagram below is arguing in favor of Adam coming before Eve, it should be noted that there is to be no bias of orientation when contemplating these post-creation trinities. As described elsewhere by our understanding of The Absentia, Divinity is an ineffable state that puts the universe of Male and Female into motion and then, like a string leaving a top, departs into absentia. So... post-creation, there is no sequence to consider, only persistent relationships between the elements of Universe and Absentia... and then the relationships between the sides of any universe.
 |
|
Did the male come before the female, or did the female come before the male? Did the ethereal come before the material, or did the material come before the ethereal? Flip this diagram whichever way you like. |
But wait, there is more to this idea of trinity than meets the eye. If, as stated above, the upward pointing Tetractys represents the material, then our Fourfold Trinity of Binary Unity represents the ethereal, in yet another kind of post-creation trinity. In reflecting ethereal and material against each other as a battle of sexes, a quaternary of male and female forces is realized.
 |
The Fourfold Trinity of Binary Unity is Ethereal. The reflected Tetracys is Material. Together they represent a Quaternary of male and female influences. |
By acknowledging all points of each trinity to be an interdependent form, Adam is seen to have a female side, and Eve is seen to have a male side. If prefered, this diagram could just as easily be re-drawn with inverted vocabulary, creating Male and Female with mixtures of Ethereal and Material to their cosmic composition. If imagined three dimensionally, The Spiritual center becomes the capstone to a pyramid with a quaternary base. For more on that idea, as well as more on the idea of a Tetractys divided into trinities of unities, continue on to the essay entitled A Tetradic Twist.
-----
The Fourfold Unity Fourfold Universe Mandala
Here is a mandala you can use to meditate on this idea of a Fourfold Trinity of Binary Unity reflecting itself as a Tetractys. Some of the meaning of this mandala will become more apparent if you read the essay A Tetradic Twist (found elsewhere on this site). When you do, you will understand, in addition to what has been mentioned above, the significance of the dots that are isolated in the corners of the triangles vs. the 7 that remain within the inner hexigram created by superimposing another triangle over the original. You will also understand the siginficance of making the center dot larger.
 |
|
4,3,2,1 reflected as 1,2,3,4 creates a Tetractys! |
Around the outside of this mandala are flowers with eight petals and a center = 9. There are 20 of each - 9 x 2 plus two zeros. The two larger sets of triangles combine to suggest the straight (horizontal) and twisted (vertical) nature of a Mobius strip. The overlapping of the larger triangles also makes two six pointed stars out of our reflecting triangles.
There are many other concepts held within this mandala. Until they become apparent, try meditating on this expression of a triune unity:
For another mandala that you can use to meditate on this idea of a triune unity, I suggest using the mandala that appears at the end of the essay entitled Verse 82, seen elsewhere on this site, as well as the Mutually Assured Creation mandala within the essay Behold The Absentia!
|
