Out On A Quantum Limb

Barbara: I was never a very science-y, math-y type of person. In fact, in my last years of high school, I scraped by in Chemistry, never took Physics, and completely flunked Math. I know, I know, if I’d had the right teacher or the right method, I might have grasped one or all of these. Believe me when I say it’s one of my life-regrets that I didn’t. Oh, to be mathematically savvy—and more importantly, to believe yourself so!!

So imagine how surprised I was (and still am) when I got an email from a friend the other day asking if I wanted to go with her to an 8-week course on, wait, how did she put it? … Oh yeah, like this: “It is about quantum physics + the metaphysical implications of the findings of theoretical physics.” Officially titled Philosophy and Quantum Physics. I could barely understand my friend’s sentence, never mind understand a course like this, never mind understand why I wanted to take it with every fibre of my being.

Here are some of the other pithy tidbits designed to seduce a plebe like me: The wave particle duality - what is the ultimate reality behind light and matter?
· The Heisenberg uncertainty principle - the consciousness of the observer seems to intrude into the physical world. What does it mean?
· The Schrödinger wave equation - What is its significance?
· Quantum Entanglement - the ultimate connectedness of all matter.

I’m sure there are many of you reading this who can not only get it all, but can argue, delve, debate, trumpet, agree and disagree. But I am not one of you. And yet, last night I took my (as it turned out unnecessary) notebook (okay, unnecessary in that this was designed to be a sit-in-a-circle-and contribute kind of course) and my meek little mind to this actually very comfortable and intimate classroom. There I found myself amidst other curious beings of various aptitudes and began an adventure that I am thrilled and excited to be part of.

I haven’t knowingly been hungering for classes or lessons, although I do remember bemoaning on these very pages that I envied the lesson-takers (thanks, Deb, for that unwitting shot in the arm). And here, a mere week later, the universe has seen fit to offer me a mind-shifting microcosm. And I have seen fit to jump in with both my ears and mind open. Woo-hoo!

I’ll see you on the other side of the Quantum Leap (or, if they make their case, now–– because now and then is all happening at the same time).

Deb: The closest I come to understanding what you're talking about is loving the show Quantum Leap with Scott Bakula. I understood every single word of that show, so, ummmm, just sayin’ I think I would be top of the class!

Barb, I am so so proud and happy for you. Learning! And learning impressive stuff. You have inspired me right back! I may just go out and become an astronaut. Can’t wait to hear more on these very pages!!!! Wait. Is Scott teaching it by any chance ‘cause...