•

For people who do
not believe in or
experience what could be understood as 'god':
Replace the word 'god'
with 'consciousness' or
any other word that
for you could describe a
sense of the mysterious.

"The most beautiful
thing we can experience is
the mysterious. It is the
source of all true art
and all science. He to
whom this emotion is
a stranger, who can
no longer pause to
wonder and stand rapt
in awe, is as good as
dead: his eyes are closed."
Albert Einstein.

THE OUROBOIC FEED BACK
              When Consciousness Wakes up in Its Own Space

God is a fountain flowing into itself
St Dionysius

'Who has prepared this evening meal? asks the seeker.
A man, responds the sage.
Dost know his name? asks the seeker.
Not I. His name is not spoken.
He is more silence than speech.
He is above name.
What food has he prepared for this feast?
Himself, no less than himself, says Meister Eckhart.

The moral is that those who live the life of
the five senses never taste this food.'
Meister Eckhart

When the Void Spirals into the Void
Meister Eckhart states:

When the spirit turns from all things
 becoming into the not-becoming....
  
Then the void shines into void.

In the previous chapter, 'Atman, Job & the Son of Shame,' I proposed that within human consciousness lies the potential for a state of profound self-awareness, wherein consciousness recognizes itself by directly experiencing its own act of perception. Meister Eckhart eloquently describes this phenomenon, noting, 'What the eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me.'

In this chapter, we will explore this qualitatively distinct state more deeply. The transformative phenomenon discussed here occurs when consciousness significantly surpasses the first level of basic self-awareness by entering a state of intensified self-referential perception. Here, in this next level, it becomes aware of being aware of being aware in an endless loop of feed back.

THE OUROBOROS SNAKE
The illustration below depicts Quetzalcoatl, the spiralling self-devouring snake-god of the Aztecs.

Inspired by this ancient symbol, I will henceforth refer to the self-reflective feedback state of consciousness as 'Ouroboros'. The Ouroboros—one of humanity’s most ancient and universally recognized symbols—was interpreted by C. G. Jung as an archetypical mandala.

As T.S. Eliot articulates:

'We shall not cease from exploration,
and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive
where we started and know the place for the first time.'

The existential nature of the ouroboros cycle equates beginnings with ends, forming a perpetual, self-contained loop. Death transforms into life, just as creation transitions into destruction. Time itself assumes a repetitive nature, akin to the continuous rotation of hands on a clock.
 
The 'Kundalini'
This cyclical understanding of time resonates deeply with ancient Indian philosophy, mirroring the continuous interplay between Brahma's creation, Shiva's destruction, and Vishnu's careful preservation of balance. The illustration below reflects this symbolism within Indian yogic practice. Here, the Ouroboros manifests as the 'kundalini serpent,' lying dormant and coiled at the base of the spine until awakened through the yogic introspection of consciously directed awareness.

Expressed in terms of kundalini, the awakening serpent consumes itself, initiating a self-sustaining loop of profound inner transformation. This state transcends conventional linear perception, existing without an identifiable beginning or end, thereby embodying an infinite and paradoxical cycle.

Furthermore, the serpent imagery discussed here highlights the energetic dimension inherent in this loop. The yogi depicted sitting amidst flames symbolizes the intense energy necessary for spiritual transformation. In this context, the serpent represents the reawakening of humanity’s primal bio-energetic systems, as explored in the chapter 'Consiousnes & Evolution.' The reptilian imagery powerfully conveys the immense autonomous and archaic force that drives this transformative process.

Spiritual Autophagy
While Meister Eckhart does not directly employ snake imagery, meaningful connections between Western and Eastern mystical traditions inevitably arise. Such parallels anchor my continuous exploration and quest for spiritual unity.

The Ouroboros state of consciousness emerges when the serpent begins to feed upon itself, symbolizing a form of mental autophagy. As Meister Eckhart eloquently puts it, man, in his search for god, becomes his own meal:

'What food has he prepared for this feast?
Himself, no less than himself, says Meister Eckhart.'

Here the soul is engaging in self-reflection to the extent that it becomes its own nourishment. In meditation we enter a self referential state where we to a lesser degree are dependent on outer stimuli. Instead we get high on our own supply.
As the Meister puts it: 'The moral is that those who live the life of the five senses never taste this food.'
 
When consciousness turns inward, 'away from all things,' it engages in a sustained, self-reflective loop, feeding on its owen signal, enabling a profoundly deeper endless mirroring of itself. This conscious loop, in which 'the void shines into void,' has the potential to initiate an exponential and infinite expansion. As illustrated below, when an observer—represented metaphorically by a camera—is redirected from external objects toward itself, it activates an infinite feedback loop.

HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS AS A REENFORCED FEED BACK LOOP
In the most advanced and complex system known to us—the human brain—there exists the remarkable potential for self-referentiality through all five sensory gates. While, scientifically speaking, sensory experiences generally do not directly perceive themselves, this dynamic dramatically shifts during deep meditation or psychedelic experiences.
 
Just as 'a rose is a rose is a rose,' in these self-reflective states, our sense of smell can become aware of itself, our feelings can directly experience their own essence, taste can savor its own intrinsic quality, sounds can reverberate as echoes within the mind, and sight, as illustrated above, can gaze back upon itself. Moreover, this heightened state can even facilitate self-referential interactions between senses, giving rise to synesthesia—where smells can be heard, or light can be tasted.

The Human Sensory PA System
A phenomenon that can illustrate introverted attention in singular feedback is an amplifier connected with a microphone pointed at itself. When the microphone is busy sensing extroverted sounds like a singers voice, the system fufils the purpose it was created for. However, if a sensitive microphone comes too close to the loudspeaker it is connected with, an explosive sound like a howl will emerge.

 
Click for an example of a singular
feedback created sound loop.

The singularity of sound feeding into its own output radically overwrites the normal functions of the system. As sensory bio-feedback we function quite similar to this self-oscillation process. Actually a professional PA system is designed not easily to go into a feed back mode. Even professional stage microphones for live concerts are designed with a certain dullnes towards subtler weak sounds in such a way that a feed back is prevented already in its birth. Evolution has for sure made the same mechanism for our senses, in order to prevent us from the stand and stare mode when we were supposed to hunt for calories.
 
Creating a feedback loop between a microphone and speaker requires three key components that are similar to a meditative feedback loop:

• Firstly, the microphone needs to be placed near or pointed towards the speaker. Similarly, we need to get close to ourselves and direct our attention inwards by shutting out external distractions.
  
• Secondly, the input sensitivity of the amplifier must be turned up. Similarly, our senses need to be sharpened and attuned. We can only achieve this heightened inner sensitivity through intimate and vulnerable honesty.

• Thirdly, when the output volume of the amplifier is turned up, there may be a sound feedback. The greater power outlet of the amplifier is comparable to the outlet capacity of a healthy and strong person. When we have an excess of healthy physical energy, with an abundance of chemical-firing neurons, we may find ourselves in various states of flow, even in external situations like running or dancing. This form of feedback is more prevalent in young people.
 
Within this spectrum, there are basically two meditative extremes. One pole consists of sensitive introvert people, and the other of people with lots of outgoing energy.

It gives meaning to read the following quote from William Blake as a sense feed back happening only when our five doors of perception are 'cleansed' in such a way that the feed back enables an infinity function:

"If the doors of perception were cleansed,
everything would appear to man as it is: infinite."
William Blake

Visual Feed Back
A similar feedback loop can be observed when a camera is pointing at itself through a monitor screen.

Below is a video clip that illustrates a dynamic version of an accelerating introverted loop. The loop in the video is created simply by pointing a video camera at the TV screen it is connected to. The fractal, singular, and kaleidoscopic patterns are created by the handheld camera constantly amplifying its own signal. Tiny movements in the camera create unpredictable and dynamic changes, all leading towards the Great Attractor of infinity.

 
Isn't it thought-provoking that such a simple act as pointing a camera
at oneself can create such surprising and complex phenomena?

Self-Referential Amplification Through the Five Gates of the Senses
The mirror and the microphone offer illustrative examples of feedback loops involving light and sound.

In the human body, the awareness of inner sensations and feelings is typically the first sense to become activated during introspection. Once you close your eyes, an immediate and automatic rise of abstract, sense-based awareness occurs within the body. Amplification of bodily sensations is often the initial step into meditative self-referential space.

An Indian Master of Meditation in Hoshiarpur in 1995 shared with me that his groundbreaking enlightenment experience began with a simple itching sensation on the crown of his head. As he sat before an enlightened master, gazing at him, the sensation intensified until it completely engulfed him, causing him to lose all sense of time, space, and physical boundaries.

Generally, introspective self-referentiality begins with closely observing bodily sensations. From there, it may extend through any or all of the five sensory pathways. Common meditative experiences include hearing internal sounds or seeing visual phenomena. Even the senses of taste and smell, though less frequently activated, can become prominent. For instance, Indian Sufis have developed meditations focused on experiencing various flower fragrances.

Self-Referential Thoughts
Alongside sensory feedback loops, there exists the possibility of thought feedback. Rational thought typically prefers linear structures, yet cyclical repetition of a spiritual concept or a mantra can draw thoughts into the infinite ouroboros loop.

A Healthy Soul in a Healthy Body
In this context, enlightenment can be defined as the singular feedback of consciousness into itself. Here, Rumi’s metaphor of "polishing the mirror" becomes essential. Consciousness, together with its capacity for high-quality, focused experiences, must reach a critical point—a point of no return—to enter this singular feedback state. Conversely, a dull or inattentive consciousness will struggle to reach such profound depth.

Thoughts as Sounds
Even the thinking mind can be guided into a self-referential loop. Repetition of a mantra—whether silently or aloud—engages the meditator in sound-based meditation. In continuous repetition, the cognitive meaning within thoughts fades, leaving only the pure sound itself. Fundamentally, thoughts are auditory phenomena. Techniques such as the initial inquiry of "Who am I?" similarly leverage thought-based meditation practices to dissolve cognitive structures.

It's important to note that the quality of self-referential amplification depends on the quality of attention given. Dull and low-quality concentration cannot reach the point of no return, which is necessary for consciousness to enter the state of singular feedback. An attention interface that is too obsessed with chasing external objects will only meet with boredom when looking inside.
 
This state of singular feedback, which I define as enlightenment, occurs when consciousness is amplified into consciousness in such a way that it comes close to the singularity. The capability of high-quality experience in consciousness and its correlation with time-space is necessary for consciousness to reach this point.

Two forms of meditative feedback
In a regular meditation session, most of us will only experience a full-blown explosion of pure consciousness in rare cases. However, less can also do. When turning inward, the level of feedback intensifies, not enough to go into a singularity but enough for us to feel blissful and relaxed. The Indian called this state Sat Chit Ananda.
 
The synaptic dance of the Ouroboros
The ancient symbol of Ouroboros, the serpent eating its own tail, represents the cyclical nature of life, and in the context of neurochemistry, it can also represent the continuous feedback loop of signaling chemicals in the brain. When we meditate, we can experience a range of feelings from relaxation to ecstasy, which can be explained by the activation of the brain's signaling chemical circuits. In this sense, life's purpose could be seen as the pursuit of a cocktail bar of signaling substances, each with its own unique effect, such as serotonin, dopamine, GABA, acetycholine, DMT, and many others. With up to 200 different chemical neurotransmitters keeping the party of life going, the possibilities are endless.

Psychedelics and sense-feedback 
Interestingly, people who use entheogenic substances often report profound experiences of eternity and divinity. This is because these substances increase the sensitivity of the brain's five input circuits, resulting in an explosion of a multitude of self-referential feedback loops. The similarities between meditative and psychedelic experiences is rooted in the world of feedback interfaces. In both cases, sensory impressions are intensified to the point that a singular feedback loop is inevitable, leading to visions and experiences beyond the ordinary.
 
However, just as a PA system can become overwhelmed by feedback if not properly managed, our minds and bodies must be robust to handle the intensity of self-aware states without losing balance. This analogy underscores the importance of maintaining both mental and physical health to sustain deeper levels of awareness. This holds especially true for people who experiment in the sweet spot between psychedelics and meditation.

The black hole of the Soul
When the human created space-time created simulacra consciousness in such a loop begins to chase its own tail, wakefulness accelerates in intensity. It can be illustrated by the acceleration of gravity and breakdown of traditional natural laws that happens in front of a black hole. I do believe this is more than a mere analogy. The cosmos is consisting of reuse of mathematical algorithms on all levels from the infinite small to the infinite big. We are in this sense a mini galaxy with a black hole in our soul. We fear the hole as death and at the same time we are attracted to its attraction. The brain-derived possibility of Atma-consciousness in feed-back singularity falls in love with the grand attractor abiding in ding an sich. This is the needle point where death and life meet in a dance room beyond time and space as we know it.