Distortion
Distinct from Oneness
The second definition given for “distort” in Merriam-Webster is “to twist (something) out of a natural, normal, or original shape or condition.” Similarly, Ra uses the term “distort” to convey the infinite ways in which the Creator, or the undifferentiated intelligent infinity, can be distorted (modified or altered) to create the perception of things as being distinct from intelligent infinity—in other words, distinct from Oneness.
There are three primal ways that the Creator distorts Itself, says Ra. The First Distortion of the One Infinite Creator is Free Will. The Second Distortion is Love. The Third Distortion is Light. And from these three come everything in the universe, including space and time, galaxies, stars, planets, people, thoughts and energies. Everything that is not undifferentiated intelligent infinity itself, the primordial, unknowable mystery, is some kind of distortion of the One.
Without distortions there would be no vibrations, no individuation, no entities, no manifestation, no creation—no means by which the Creator can experience itself via manyness.
To distort the Creator is, itself, an act of creation. That which is distorted can be distorted again, again, and again—each iteration or generation of distortion birthing something new and unique.[25]
Each of these distortions contains, in microcosm, all of the Creator; however, only a portion of this wholeness is evident within any illusion. To put that another way: each aspect of the Creator’s expression is a distortion in which the Creator’s total beingness is obscured to perception (given the distortions of each observer) for the sake of becoming unique. Imagine the way in which pure white light enters a prism and is refracted into a rainbow of colors, each made totally of white light but each appearing distinct to the human eye. It is a limitation of perspective.
Each individuated facet or distortion of the One may evolve toward perfect understanding of unity once again by recognizing and accepting itself and everything as the Creator. To accept the self as the Creator is to realize that the self contains, in microcosm, all that there is—a totality that includes every single possible aspect of the Creator, despite all the apparent differences found within the illusion of separation.
The spiritual seeker, itself a distorted or differentiated aspect of the One, is upon a long journey of lessening distortions of separation in order to harmonize more deeply with, and eventually become, the One Infinite Creator.[26] As an entity learns to find love in the moment and to see the self, other-self, and the world as the Creator, those distortions that are no longer needed fall away and/or become transparent to the One. This activity of un-distorting is synonymous with healing. In this healing the self realizes ever more deeply its unity with—or true identity as—the Creator.
Dual-Function Concept
Ra’s use of the term distortion seems to function in two ways:
- That which moves away from or toward Oneness.
- That which moves away from or toward either of a pair of polarized concepts/values.
Examples of both uses are plentiful in the text. Pertaining to the first usage is this revealing Q&A:
Each generation of this knowing begets a knowing which has the capacity, through free will, to choose methods of knowing Itself. Therefore, gradually, step by step, the Creator becomes that which may know Itself, and the portions of the Creator partake less purely in the power of the Original Word or Thought. This is for the purpose of refinement of the One Original Thought. The Creator does not properly create as much as It experiences Itself. – 82.10 (Also 82.9–12)
As Ra says in the preceding bolded section, portions of the creation can “partake [more or] less purely in the power of the Original Word or Thought.” This may be interpreted to mean that something can be viewed as more distorted or less distorted from absolute truth—that truth being perfect unity.
In that sense, as we move closer to the Creator (as we become/remember/realize what we already are), we become less and less distorted. In fact, Ra hints at the “dissolution of the unified self with all that there is” at or near the completion of the octave; and toward that end they seem to point to an evolutionary process that could be described as a subtraction of distortion:
Perhaps the movement toward the octave density is a process of distortions continually falling away, dissolving, and, in a sense, being subtracted until the final release of all memory and identity in the dissolution into unity.
To the third-density entity’s perspective, there may be certain signposts about a particular person that indicate less distortion in this regard. We in third-density may sense radiance and purity in self or other self, or feel the presence of the Creator more strongly in self or other self. And if we are skilled healers we may pinpoint blockages and imbalances. However, it seems virtually impossible for any one individual to ascertain or measure the exact nature or degree of the total distortion of a given person or thing
The ability to recognize or discern distortion is always helpful, but Ra counsels also to see through the apparent distortions to the Creator in all things. In the first quote below they suggest turning from the distortions of “shape and shadow” to the One; in the second quote, Ra suggests the exercises of seeing love and the Creator both through distortion and as the distortion.
Exercise Two. The universe is one being. When a m/b/s complex views another m/b/s complex, see the Creator. This is an helpful exercise.
Exercise Three. Gaze within a mirror. See the Creator.
Exercise Four. Gaze at the creation which lies about the mind/body/spirit complex of each entity. See the Creator. – 10.14
The other use of the word is easier to grasp, as it seems to describe being distorted along a spectrum that we can label. For example, something can be distorted toward pain and away from comfort; or distorted toward or away from a particular physical, emotional, or mental state. In this sense, movement is distortion. Examples of this second usage: 4.14, 19.13, 48.2, 72.10, 106.7–8, and these revealing quotes:
Whereas we cannot easily identify just how purely or in what way our mind/body/spirit complex “partakes of the one Original Thought” (the first usage), we have the benefit of existing within a polarized illusion in which all essences seem to have an opposite (second usage).
In this second sense, distortion conveys identification with or movement toward one end of a spectrum, or imbalances therein, that we may attempt to see and balance in order to have a clearer understanding of all as Creator. This means that whenever we notice some emotion or quality about ourselves that seems to be true, such as I am angry or I am honest, we can remember that, in reality, we are everything. We can then seek to discover the potential for manifestation of opposite qualities within ourselves.
This does not mean that we have to become immediately calm or dishonest, but rather that we begin to understand how opposite experiences exist latent or unexpressed within our being. This reveals our complete Creator-selves to us, allowing our distortions to become transparent so that the Creator shines through. By giving love and understanding to these distortions (both the ones we enjoy and the ones we dislike), we can appreciate ourselves as complete beings, and can increasingly view others in the same light, thereby growing toward a sense of unity will all.
In this second sense, then, the goal isn’t necessarily to eliminate or reduce distortion, but to find the fulcrum point on any given spectrum—or between multiple converging spectrums (such as the energy centers are)—that reflects balance. Ra seems to hint that distortion may be related to balance:
In the following quote from Ra, one could construe that the goal for the third-density, positive adept is not to remove all distortion, but rather to discover the true nature of each distortion, perhaps even the true nature of distortion itself.
Author’s Note: The Beauty of Distortion
“Distortion” is a magnificent concept, perhaps one of the most enlightened in the Law of One philosophy. Here I attempt to shine some light on its treasures:
1. In one word it contains a map of the Creator.
The term “distortion” exposes the outward beating heart of manifestation (known in metaphysics as “involution”). The original, un-distorted intelligent infinity creates the very first distortion, Free Will, from which emerge Love and Light—those three together forming the three Primal Distortions.
The term “distortion” exposes the outward beating heart of manifestation (known in metaphysics as “involution”). The original, un-distorted intelligent infinity creates the very first distortion, Free Will, from which emerge Love and Light—those three together forming the three Primal Distortions.
An explosion, so to speak, of infinite layers of distortion follows, each subsequent layer free to further distort itself, creating ever novel layers and complexities of distortion. This is the illusion of manyness and separation.
But, in reverse, “distortion” reveals the inward beating heart, the return journey from separation to unity with the Creator (known also as “evolution”). Through the long span of densities, the understanding or experience becomes less and less distorted. Thus, distortions “fall away” or become transparent when they are no longer chosen as alternatives to the realization of Oneness. This leads each entity, or unique distortion of the Creator, back to its purest vibrational configuration—back to Source—eventually losing all distortion and merging/reuniting with the mystery out of which it first emerged.
2. In one word it provides the ultimate context
If everything is a distortion, what is the original thing that is being distorted? This line of questioning reveals that everything is happening within the context and against the backdrop of the One Infinite Creator.
If everything is a distortion, what is the original thing that is being distorted? This line of questioning reveals that everything is happening within the context and against the backdrop of the One Infinite Creator.
In other words, everything is a distortion of the One, which is a constant reminder that everything is the One. The word distortion references the true nature of all that is
3. In one word it implies a spectrum to all experience
Not all distortions are equal. Something, or someone, can be less distorted or more distorted relative to a particular quality or understanding.
Not all distortions are equal. Something, or someone, can be less distorted or more distorted relative to a particular quality or understanding.
It would be easy to say here that that which seems to move away from unity (separation, enslavement, war) can be viewed as “partaking less purely of the power of the Original Thought,” and would therefore be relatively more distorted than that which seems to moves closer to unity (love, kindness, acceptance). This, however, is difficult—even impossible—to estimate, given the complexity of each entity and situation.
It is obvious, though, that distortions can move between polarized perceptions or concepts such as light/dark, understanding/confusion, etc., each identifiable aspect of creation being upon a spectrum.
4. In one word it removes all value judgment
“Distortion,” like “catalyst,” is notable for its lack of positive and negative connation. It is used as a neutral term to indicate that everything, whether lived or imagined, known or unknown, beautiful or terrible, is a facet of the One Creator. That includes art, beauty, light, love, free will, orgasm, and bliss. The most enlightened and the basest moment you’ve experienced are both equalized as distortions of the One Infinite Creator. (82.22 as example.)
“Distortion,” like “catalyst,” is notable for its lack of positive and negative connation. It is used as a neutral term to indicate that everything, whether lived or imagined, known or unknown, beautiful or terrible, is a facet of the One Creator. That includes art, beauty, light, love, free will, orgasm, and bliss. The most enlightened and the basest moment you’ve experienced are both equalized as distortions of the One Infinite Creator. (82.22 as example.)
The word’s neutrality, however, does not negate the hierarchical and holographic structure of the reality organized by the Logos; rather, it peels off any imposition of value placed on any experience.
Humans will necessarily, of course, employ systems that assign relative value, rank, and preference (this is “good, better,” that is “bad, worse”). Discerning the personal value of one experience or another is essential to progress. But “distortion” implies no ultimate standard, bias, or judgement from the perspective of the Creator.[27] As Ra says:
5. In one word it represents an act of concealment and creation
Behind all distortions, however deep and complex, is the full presence of “The One Creator which is infinity.”
Behind all distortions, however deep and complex, is the full presence of “The One Creator which is infinity.”
- It shall be understood that any portion, no matter how small, of any density or illusory pattern contains, as in an holographic picture, the One Creator which is infinity. Thus all begins and ends in mystery. – 13.13
There is nothing else but the One pouring itself out into its creation. In other words, infinity is fully present within each iota of seeming non-infinity. Thus, no matter how seemingly distorted, there is no true separation, only the illusion of separation. That is to say, the distortion only conceals the Creator to the sight of the beholder. “As in all distortions, the source is the limit of the viewpoint.” (99.5)
Truth thus concealed, we are called and driven irresistibly forth in curiosity to uncover what is hidden and to discover what is unknown.
Though paradoxes are not solved in third density, especially by any intellectual formulation, our contemplation of distortion may begin the journey of reconciling the primal, original paradox of the One and the many.
Author’s Note: Distortion Undistorted
Ra says “undistorted” twelve times in the material, including describing an “undistorted understanding of [the Law of One],” “undistorted unity,” the crystal as an analog of the violet ray in “relatively undistorted form,” and that the “archetypes are…the tool for grasping, in an undistorted manner, the nature of this evolution.”
I have a theory that something’s “undistorted” form is to say its pure, original, or intended form. Distortions (or modifications) are subsequently added to it, or it is accessed in a distorted way.
In the case of undistorted unity, there are literally no distortions. In the case of the archetypal mind, it is, itself, a distortion of the One Creator, but as the original blueprint or conception of the mind complex, it is an “undistorted tool" which then distorts through individual experience, or is accessed in distorted ways.
Then there are a few examples where it seems that Ra is saying that Object or Event A is not distorted by Object or Event B:
But, sidenote, strive as they might: “The nature of your language is such that what is distorted cannot, to our knowledge, be fully undistorted but only illuminated somewhat.” – 71.20
Citations: