CDLXX

461. If you travel perpendicular to the current—in other words, orbit the center—you experience time at its absolute rate, no matter how fast or slow you go.

462. This makes possible the theory of currents and short-cuts through space. The experienced space sailor will tack before the winds; pull out of strong currents; perhaps take cross-currents through space. If one actually found a whirlpool of space, conceivably one could use it to come out at a time before one went in and not suffer from the classic contradiction of existence. Perhaps that is what black holes are all about.

463. Among the first subjects treated in this work (43-45) is that of multiple relationships—assumed to be on any mental or physical basis with which the parties are comfortable. This appears to be as Utopian a philosophy today as it was when H.G. Wells first wrote of it.

464. Such relationships may never be possible in some societies where monogamy is so deeply seated that the results are an immediate guilt response, insecurity, and jealousies. However, were such a situation to prove possible, it would still be possible only in relationships which are completely, mutually open and honest. The alternative, of course, is that it will work in non-relationships in which nothing done by either party makes a difference to the other.

465. Typically, the relationship in which this is tried and fails is one in which one or both partners fail or refuse to recognize that anything they do might have any effect on the other partner. Therefore, their own acts are viewed as isolated and unrelational.

466. Honesty is empowering. (180-181) If Diogenes were to complete his search for an honest person today, he would find a person empowered to affect his or her own destiny.

467. An adjunct to self-empowerment is an inescapable power to effect other people’s lives. The self-empowered person (completely honest) must recognize and accept his or her ability to affect other people’s lives and accept his or her responsibility for the effect. Failure to accept the ability and responsibility will ultimately undermine the honest and the power. Failure to accept is dishonest.

468. A careful distinction should be noted in that honesty generates power to, not power over.

469. We tend to view energy like heat and light as mystical phenomena. This comes from our rational senses. You can’t touch light. You can’t see heat. You can’t smell or taste or hear either one. You can’t put a quart of light in a bottle and store it for use later.

470. There may be an advantage in assuming a physical nature of heat and light. I’m suggesting that light does not travel. Instead, two other physical phenomena occur. First is displacement. If you drop a stone in a glass of water, you raise the level of the water. Similarly, if you introduce light into darkness, you raise the level of dark or push it outward, away from the source of light. This forces a compression of the darkness at the edges of its container or simply forces it ever outward if there is no container. Theory of the ever-expanding universe—the more light that is introduced, the further out the darkness is pushed. You can see this effect in a darkened room when a light is introduced. Objects near the light are illuminated, but those farther away stay dim. The darkness resides in the shadows.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Even after expounding on relationships, Wesley returns to Light and Darkness. One wonders if that is how he defined his relationships.