Here’s some interesting research on the function of tears that shows a link between crying and a decrease in sexual arousal and is prompting a flurry of interpretation. I’d like to suggest how this might fit into my emotion-as-energy model. First of all, the animal mind creates a virtual shell of insulation, a buffer zone, between it and the external world, this is the same as the bubble we create in our mind around our car when we’re driving. It accounts for the distance one likes to keep from others. We can think of this as a semi-permeable membrane of a cell, some things can pass through freely, somethings must be kept out dependent on an internal and external milieu. (I believe this provides a coherent model for evolution wherein the higher reaches of consciousness evolved from the lowest aspects of cellular function.) Now when a situation is conductive enough (i.e. the animal mind can perceive a preyful aspect within an object of attraction) then the membrane dissolves and the individual feels as if it is a part of its surroundings and connected to the object of attraction. Meanwhile in my energy model, sexuality is not first and foremost about procreation, its fundamental role is to turn the perception of resistance (sensations related to the perception of resistance are the stuff from which the mind construes this bubble) into a stronger form of attraction. It’s how the animal holds onto a positive aspect in the face of resistance. For example, note how the puppy mounts the other puppy when it stops running in a chase game. The humping knocks it over and they start running again. So sexuality is how emotion gets an object in motion again. So if the object of attraction resists the ardor of its pursuer, due to a sexual nature this can trigger aggression, and the intensification of the bubble sensations will quickly show up in hackles rising etc. On the other hand, if there is no resistance between them then there is no need for sexual arousal. So when someone cries, they are completely surrendering their bubble and not investing mental energy into its propagation. Therefore, there is no need for sexual arousal to overcome a non-existent barrier of insulation and these test subjects reported a decreased state of arousal that was also confirmed by brain imaging.
So why do humans cry and dogs don’t? Because humans have a far harder time given our powerful intellect apprehending the magnetic resonance between ones self and the world, unlike a dog. It’s just like our sense of palate, we can’t sense the magnetic resonance between ourselves and our food unless it’s plated with the various portions separated appropriately. Even the sequence by which we imbibe our foods matters. Whereas dogs don’t care if it’s all mashed together and if creme brulee precedes a steak, they get it on sight. They don’t need to get through an intellectual set of filters to perceive a things’ energetic essence. But we have to keep on pushing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/science/07tears.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=todayspaper
This was one of my recent epiphanies…I actually felt a very big bubble dissolve, preceded by an unexpected flood of tears. It took me awhile to understand the significance of what had happened; actually, light dawned in the deep, dark tunnel when I read this blog ♥ btw, I don’t consider this blog to be mere happenstance; I believe it to be more akin to Providence, especially since the big bubble concerned my personal relationship with my God.
This seems relevant to something I have noticed with my dogs, but not sure I understand it. There have been occassions recently where, just sitting quietly with all 3 dogs around me I have been overcome by emotion and started to cry. The behaviours of the three dogs are very different. Jack (intact hamiltonstovare) will get up from across the room and try and get as close to me as possible, just sitting, leaning into me. The intact labrador gets up and starts to try and lick my face or my ears. The neutered trailhound gets up and leaves the room. This pattern is always the same. How does that fit with what you are describing?
It takes energy to maintain the “bubble” every social being erects around itself. When the bubble dissolves, we release that energy. Each dog is responding in their group mind way to the movement of this energy. For example, the trail hound feels the most vulnerable about this feeling of exposure and so moves out of the way in equal/opposite counterbalance to the others that are drawn in.
Thanks Kevin, Its great when you see practical examples of emotion as energy and the interaction with the dogs. I had thought it might be a good way to fix Jack’s recall – go on walks in tears – I don’t think he’d leave my side 🙂
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