What is the Great Awakening? It is the expansion of consciousness taking place now among the Earth human population. It can be felt in various movements, including human rights, freedom of expression, equality and representation, spiritual awareness, medical freedom, and an increased interest in life beyond this planet. Beyond this dimension, even.
Not all these schools of thought get along, but that is part of the natural awakening process. Our mind cages have unlocked, and we can roam more freely than ever before. Within this newly-expanded ocean of thinking, however, people have set up separate camps and regard the perceived other camp their enemy. Old programs die hard, but eventually we shall realize we all come from, and still belong to, the same tribe.
The creative community I am part of that produces sequential storytelling in the form of comics, graphic novels, manga, webtoons, etc. has been as caught up in this expansion, and its resultant growing pains, as the rest of the world at large. What I wish for this community as it moves forward in this time of massive change to Earth society is that we learn to embrace true diversity of thought. That we grow to recognize and respect different ways of thinking. A true progressive never demands it be their way or the highway.
For any artistic medium to contribute towards the raising of human consciousness, creators must constantly challenge themselves and their audience to see beyond individual perceptive bubbles. As storytellers, this is something we ought to have been doing all along, but the Great Awakening demands the bar be raised. I may not resonate with the Flat Earth theory, but if I were to include a character in my story who believes in Flat Earth, it behooves me as a writer to do my homework, to research and understand what makes the idea compelling.
Creators ought not shy away from exploring controversial, divisive issues. We simply need to exercise greater sensitivity and care, avoiding lazy generalizations. One cannot always be politically neutral, but it is beneficial and necessary to represent both sides fairly, and avoid demonizing or glorifying any particular group. Such an approach is not only ethical, it enhances one’s creative work, making it richer and multi-faceted.
A recurring theme in my work is inclusivity. The stories I write are set in a reality not unlike our present one, where the surface-dwelling human population is experiencing increasing contact and interaction with non-human intelligences – some from under Earth’s surface, some from other planets and dimensions. Against this backdrop, a conflict arises between two opposing camps: Embracers – those who welcome contact with NHI, and Protectors – those wary and suspicious of anything non-human (and intelligent, as defined by us humans).
Though I never intended to inject a political theme, the analogy is quite obvious to me now, looking back. Embracers reflect the progressives of society, while Protectors are the conservatives, but that did not consciously come into my thinking while writing. I always wrote from a genuinely curious standpoint regarding the multiple realms that exist outside our 3D matrix, and the possibility of interacting with intelligent beings that reside there. In other words I was, and still am, very much an Embracer.
Despite that, the world of Corridor Realms is filled with cautionary tales. A first-time astral voyager returns to her body to find it inhabited by a malevolent entity. A channeler finds himself taken over by spirits of extinct animals. A woman seeking to reconnect with a former lover in another plane of existence runs into a soul-harvesting operation. A group of teens keenly exploring the paranormal become the target of a vengeful hive consciousness. An alien human hybrid seeking knowledge is seduced by a regressive faction belonging to her own extraterrestrial lineage. Looking back at these stories I wonder, why did I paint such a threat-laden portrait of the extradimensional cosmos? Am I truly the progressive-minded explorer I perceive myself to be, one who embraces contact with the unknown and rejects fear of it?
The answer is rather nuanced. For a start, without drama and conflict how engaging would any story be? However idealistic my outlook, I remain aware of my responsibility as a chronicler. Just as with creation, art requires contrast, and every story needs an antagonist. Art serves as a mirror to reality, and over the years I have learned that along with much beauty and thrill, the extradimensional universe is indeed fraught with peril and darkness beyond what we dare to imagine exists. Without being fully aware of it, I was crafting a somewhat accurate portrayal of reality. Am I still an Embracer? Yes, though older, wiser, and armed with sturdier protective gear.
As artists, we can contribute to this Great Awakening by using art as a mirror to reflect the times we are living in – the triumph, the wonder, and occasionally, by necessary contrast, the horror and absurdity. And through this process, we further the expansion of our own consciousness.
