In genetics, it is understood that humans have 44 chromosomes (22 pairs), plus 2 “sex” chromosomes that determine gender. That is scientific fact. Here’s where it gets tricky. Suppose one has more or less than 44? Indeed, it can happen; some genetic disorders are caused by this. But what affect could it have not simply on the human body, but on the human consciousness? From the metaphysicist himself, Drunvalo Melchizadek:
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There are three totally different kinds of humans on the Earth, meaning that they perceive the One reality in three different ways, interpreted differently. The first kind of human has a chromosome composition of 42+2. They comprise a unity consciousness that does not see anything outside themselves as being separate from themselves. To them, there is only one energy – one life, one beingness that moves everywhere. Anything happening anywhere is within them, as well. They are like cells in the body. They are all connected to a single consciousness that moves through all of them. These are the aboriginals in Australia. There might be a few African tribes left like this. Then, there is our level, comprising 44+2 chromosomes. We are a disharmonic level of consciousness that is used as a steppingstone from the 42+2 level to the next level, 46+2. We are dangerous to both ourselves and nature, but we are necessary…These two additional chromosomes change everything (Melchizedek).
In short, those lacking a pair of chromosomes (compared to normal humans) perceive all reality and being as one. This falls into line quite well with the spiritual beliefs of the Aborigines in particular (however, it must be pointed out that no group of people today currently possess the requisite 42 chromosomes). In metaphor, reality is one giant landmass with no divisions, no individuals.
Those with the 44 chromosomes (in short, us), are unstable. Our level of evolution is simply a building block to 46. We have individual lives, but now fail to ever come together. In essence, each reality is a completely isolated island from one another. Building from this, it could be reasoned that our pain, suffering, ignorance, apathy and general bad qualities stem from our chromosomal imbalance. Therefore, the only way to truly rid ourselves of these is by moving on.
Finally, to 46; the next step in human evolution. According to Melchizadek’s theories, it is at this point that we come together as individual to make one, each separate, but unified. In his words again:
The main change will be a shift to the “unity consciousness”. Every cell in your body has its own consciousness and memory. You, the higher being that occupies your body, make the millions of different consciousnesses in your body work together as one being. How does this relate to this [new evolution]? Think of yourself as a cell and the grid as the higher being. We will still have individual consciousness, but will be united in the form of a higher being in order to work as one entity (Melchizedek).
In the perspective of the Christian religion, it could be viewed as a step towards becoming more God or Christ like; individual pieces making up a whole, not far from the “Body of Christ” belief. As “all-in-one,” we would achieve universal understanding. There would be no pain, no suffering, nor ignorance or apathy. To draw another parallel, it would be quite similar to the Kingdom of God or Heaven.
Being said, how do we move from 44 to 46? In more general terms, perhaps it is simpler to ask how we can move from where we are as imperfect humans to something beyond, something greater, the next step. Here’s where the lyrics of “Forty-Six & 2” and elements of Jungian psychology come into play.
At the heart of Maynard’s “Forty-Six & 2” lies the concept of “Change is coming through my shadow.” In Jungian psychology, the mind is broken down into many parts, including the anima/animus, the ego and the shadow.
In males, the anima is a group of feminine traits suppressed deep into the subconscious. Similarly, the animus is the group of masculine traits suppressed in the subconscious of females. Though not consciously present, the anima and animus affect our behavior in powerful ways. Commonly, we seek out or project those traits out onto other of the opposite sex. This accounts for the feeling of “falling in love at first sight.” Though we may hardly know the person, our subconscious knows what they represent. As the opposite of the conscious self, the anima/animus can act as a guide to our own subconscious. They are often expressed as the guiding female (if you’re male) or male (if you’re female) figures in our dreams. In short, our unconscious egos (the anima/animus), are traits we desire in the opposite sex we ourselves suppress.
Conversely, the ego is our conscious mind, our sense of personal self. This sense of personal identity is purchased, however, at the expense of certain tendencies that are rejected as ‘not-self’. These rejected traits come together as a kind of unconscious ‘counter-ego,’ termed the shadow.
Unexplainable feelings of annoyance, anxiousness or even anger can be a result of being in contact with someone who possesses elements of our repressed selves. In dreams, out shadow may take a physical form, often as an adversary of the same gender. Of all the elements that make up our psyche, the shadow has the potential to be both the most dangerous and the most critical to our personal developments. It represents everything we most fear and despise, but also represents everything we must master to move forward.
Maynard’s suggestion for moving from our level to the next is by embracing the shadow. By taking in the previously rejected aspects of ourselves (the “not-self”) and learning to live with them (it), we take a great leap towards making ourselves whole again. “Do what it takes to move through,” to “lie,” “cry,” “die,” and “kill” but also to “move,” “grow” and to “learn” are fundamental.
Deep concepts and New Age theories are nothing new for Maynard and Tool. With track titles like “Stinkfist,” “Pushit,” “Third Eye,” “Schism” and “Parabola,” Tool has never been, nor tried to be, a band easily understood from the surface. Their song lyrics, stage shows and even album artwork all reflect this. The cover to the album Aenima, from which the song “Forty-Six & 2” is taken, even follows some of the themes from the aforementioned song. At first glance all one notices is the burst of white light at the center. Closer inspection reveals a series of out of focus eyes ringing the light. In typical Tool fashion, they’ve said exactly what they’ve wanted to say without seeming to have said anything coherent at all. Think outside the box (literally). Sure, we can all see or understand out personal shadows to some degree (hence the shadowy, out of focus eyes). What lays beyond them, though, no one truly understands. It’s a revelation so blindingly bright there’s no seeing through it, nor any turning back. Those willing to think for themselves (a motto of soft for the band), will see the album cover, open the CD and learn things they may never had known before. With luck, they’ll never be quite the same for it.
Our shadows are elementary, almost primal. Only by looking within, to “listen to my muscle memory” and reflect on what makes us “us” can we find our way through to the other side. By “picking scabs” and metaphorically uncovering old wounds we can confront what we previously rejected and avoided. We can step “into the shadow” and find new understanding on the other side.
Works Cited or Consulted
Keenan, Maynard James. “Forty-Six & 2.” Aenima. Rec. Sept. 1995. Volcano, 1996.
Melchizedek, Drunvalo. “Leading Edge Interviews Drunvalo Melchizedek.” Interview
with Val Valerian. Leading Edge Interview with Drunvalo Melchizedek. Ed. Joshua Shapiro. Dec. 1995. VJ Enterprises. 13 Sept. 2008
Tool. Album Booklet. Aenima. Rec. Sept. 1995. Volcano, 1996.
Appendix A
Written by Maynard James Keenan of Tool
My shadow’s
shedding skin and
I’ve been picking
Scabs again.
I’m down
Digging through
My old muscles
Looking for a clue.
I’ve been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could’ve been.
I’ve been wallowing in my own confused
And insecure delusions
For a piece to cross me over
Or a word to guide me in.
I wanna feel the changes coming down.
I wanna know what I’ve been hiding in
My shadow.
Change is coming through my shadow.
My shadow’s shedding skin
I’ve been picking
My scabs again.
I’ve been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could’ve been.
I’ve been wallowing in my own chaotic
And insecure delusions.
I wanna feel the change consume me,
Feel the outside turning in.
I wanna feel the metamorphosis and
Cleansing I’ve endured within
My shadow
Change is coming.
Now is my time.
Listen to my muscle memory.
Contemplate what I’ve been clinging to.
Forty-six and two ahead of me.
I choose to live and to
Grow, take and give and to
Move, learn and love and to
Cry, kill and die and to
Be paranoid and to
Lie, hate and fear and to
Do what it takes to move through.
I choose to live and to
Lie, kill and give and to
Die, learn and love and to
Do what it takes to step through.
See my shadow changing,
Stretching up and over me.
Soften this old armor.
Hoping I can clear the way
By stepping through my shadow,
Coming out the other side.
Step into the shadow.
Forty six and two are just ahead of me.
Appendix B
Aenima album cover
Forty-Six & 2
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