I think the concept of equilibrium is not given the proper amount of contemplation in the current state of society in the United States (whereas I cannot speak for other societies other than my own). Please feel free to disagree, but I think we have a view of this concept as being some kind of union of highly stagnate forces from non moving forms completing some sort of balance. It’s like those old scales that have two platforms, one for the object to be weighed and the other for the metal weights. When the two platforms balance on the same level, the objects on the two platforms are said to have equality. Sure. Fine. Good. But what’s really going on?

What object have you encountered that is stagnate, unmoving, or just plain motionless? I can’t think of anything (email me if you've think you've found one!). Our idea of equilibrium is things being in balance with each other or some sort of sameness that leads to a peaceful or ground state between forces that brings forth a calm. Our concept may be just a little left of cool. So here’s my take…bear with me.

Equilibrium is just a side effect or an illusion created by forces of consistently modulating opposition. If the forces are modulating or varying, that means that the perception of a balance point would be in modulation as well. The equilibrium would be kinetic, and therefore not an unmoving state of being. In other words, in order to continue to perceive a state of calm you must keep moving. To be calm, you must not act as calm.

I know it’s a confusing concept. One could venture to say it’s beyond us to view our existence in that way.

As ways to define ourselves, we use terms in black and white or possibly in shades of gray. Where does black end and white begin? Where does the shade of gray become more white or less black? Can we draw a line? A thing without borders or beginning or end is an infinite thing. An infinite thing is not one, but all things…including nothing.

How can we view the infinite? We can't just leap into it, that would be paralyzing. Since we are only human, I think we must use a series of comparison; baby step up to it. We must link two things together and notice how each thing defines each other, not how one thing defines another. With this bonding to define, these two things become one in essence. Then we bond the next. Then the next, etc.

Here’s an example. Imagine a black spiral printed all the way to the edges of a white page. The black spiral wouldn’t be visible without the page. Look closer. The white of the page makes a spiral as well. The white spiral wouldn’t be visible without the black spiral. Both these things need each other to define their existence. Without one, the other is nothing. They are in equilibrium.

Now take this comparison past the page. Bond the black, whites, and shades of gray of your world with their duty to define one another. Don’t forget to include yourself. Soon there will be no borders, no beginning or end, and no black, white, or gray. Join your universe until all that remains is one big equal sign. Can it be done? Well the problem of motion comes back into play. Existence is turmoil. As soon as a bond is made, it becomes unmade. If you can bond the world and keep it that way, with the birds you’ll share that lonely view.

With this new perspective, tackle the force problem again. Can forces of opposition exist? How can a thing oppose itself? I won’t go on and on about that thought. All I will say is that if you are striving for the big equal sign, then conflict is the definitive of peace. Chaos is the definitive of peace. The motion of existence is moving so fast that it almost appears motionless. Keep in motion but be unmoving. Surf the turmoil. Harness the chaos.

This is what drives me forward. In my music and in my life. I find my equilibrium amongst the turmoil, and it pushes me along. The ugly holding hands with the beautiful. Calm dancing with chaos. The balance of being unbalanced. That is where I live.