During my spiritual awakening I had a realization that there was a connection between basic electromagnetism and some ideas I was starting to formulate about the possible existence of God. The key was the concept that “the potential” and “the actual” are perhaps not as far from one another as I might have thought.

Drum skins

The physics is as follows.

Consider a drum skin.

Imagine that it is stretched tightly and evenly, just as it should be, and think about it sitting there waiting to be struck. Tense, but perfectly still.

When hit by the drummer, the skin will start to vibrate, but in a very predictable way. Imagining for a moment that the stick hit the skin perfectly at the center, then this center will start to vibrate, rising and falling with a frequency given by the tension and density of the skin.

The vibration will quickly expand out to the edges, and since these are firmly held in place by clamps, the vibration will reflect back towards the center. These reflections will very quickly build up into a pattern of vibration of the entire drum skin that is very symmetric around the center. Further patterns can be built up by striking the skin off-center, thereby adding to the richness of the vibration.

These patterns are known as Bessel functions, and they appear in many areas of physics and engineering.

Electromagnetism

One particular situation where these patterns are important is in the electromagnetic field present in a hollow metallic cylinder. Much like the drum skin, the electromagnetic field is free to vibrate in the center of this shape, but is strongly constrained at the metallic edges. The physics works out to be remarkably similar in both situations. A pattern — a mode — of oscillation exists that has the shape of a Bessel function.

But hold on. What do I mean when I say that the mode of oscillation exists? Sure, in the case of the drum skin the vibration is set up by striking the skin. But in the case of the electromagnetic cylinder? Is there a mode there at all?

Well, in potential, yes.

Physicists and engineers can calculate the modes of oscillation that can possibly exist given the geometry of the shape. Any small electromagnetic disturbance sufficiently close to the cavity — the passage of a cosmic ray perhaps — can and will excite the mode, thereby proving its existence.

Potentiality and actuality

Does the mode only exist when it is given power? In a sense, yes, but that is not the language used by physicists. They speak of “calculating the mode spectrum for the cavity” and of “the existence of modes” that may never be excited.

In the early days of my awakening, this was the model that appeared regularly in my head. Spirits, gods, God, etc., could be discussed, reasoned about, and even spoken to. Statements could be made about them that could be argued about.

That they existed in potentiality was undeniable.

But then, just like an electromagnetic oscillation, could they be given actuality through some suitable input of power?

The Logos & Sophia

This is an example of how I have learned to think about the spiritual lessons that surround us. It is clear that the material world we observe is governed by discernible and derivable laws. Since I’m not a materialist, I consider these laws to be symbolic representations of a more profound Idealistic reality. This means that a solid understanding of the laws of physics (of the Logos?) should be accompanied by contemplation of the symbolic structures implied by these laws.

This implies a possible understanding of the Logos as the “Symbolic Structure of the Godhead”. It also provides a possible way to think about Wisdom — Sophia.

She is the link that allows us to make these conceptual leaps. She provides the insight that shows the connection between the apparent laws of the material world and the nature of the Father.

From the beating of a drum to an insight into the Trinity.

Before the flambeaux.

Avidha-wa