Copyright ©️ Gary R. Smith
May be copied and distributed
with credit and link.
A-Z WEBPAGE LINKS
SOL CONTENTS
AHA!
May be copied and distributed
with credit and link.
A-Z WEBPAGE LINKS
SOL CONTENTS
AHA!
S025L - Symbolism of the Sky Blue Lotus
This mini-series of posts gives the spiritual and metaphysical symbolic correspondences of the lotus and each of 12 colors which correspond with the 12-sided dodecahedron die.
Other symbols minted in NFTs include the Dragon and Dragonfly. All can be used in a self-customized practice of personal growth with 'The AHA! Mantra: Attracting Higher Aspects (of Oneself'.
When one listens relaxed, repetition helps to memorize and align with the mantra.
When the mantra is memorized, and a dodecahedron die is rolled with consecrated intention for the number of the day, the color can be visualized while deep breathing to increase the potency of the practice.
This can be done in any combination with or without listening to a brainwave entrainment soundscape. So it begins.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the color sky blue?
A
SKY BLUE
1. Divine Communication: Sky blue symbolizes open channels for divine communication, encouraging a connection with higher realms and spiritual guidance.
2. Clarity and Tranquility: Representing clarity and tranquility, sky blue creates a serene space for spiritual contemplation, meditation, and inner peace.
3. Harmony and Balance: Sky blue is associated with harmony and balance, promoting equilibrium in spiritual practices and the integration of diverse energies.
4. Soothing Energies: Symbolizing soothing energies, sky blue provides a calming influence, aiding in the release of stress and tension during spiritual exploration.
5. Spiritual Awareness: Linked to spiritual awareness, sky blue encourages mindfulness and attentiveness to the subtle nuances of one's spiritual journey.
6. Connection to Higher Realms: Sky blue signifies a connection to higher realms, facilitating a sense of expansiveness and openness to spiritual insights.
7. Throat Chakra Activation: Associated with the throat chakra, sky blue supports clear and authentic communication in spiritual practices and expressing one's spiritual truths.
8. Inspiration and Creativity: Sky blue encourages inspiration and creativity in spiritual pursuits, fostering innovative approaches to personal growth and exploration.
9. Elevation of Consciousness: Symbolizing the elevation of consciousness, sky blue promotes a broader perspective and understanding of spiritual truths.
10. Purification and Renewal: Sky blue is linked to the purification and renewal of spiritual energies, encouraging a fresh start and a clear path for spiritual growth.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the lotus?
A
• Chakra Activation: The lotus is connected to the chakra system, with each petal representing a specific energy center. The gradual opening of the lotus petals mirrors the activation and balance of these energy points.
• Cycles of Life: The life cycle of the lotus—from seed to flower, then back to seed—symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.
• Divine Birth: In Hinduism, the lotus is linked to divine birth, as gods and goddesses are often depicted emerging from the petals of a lotus flower.
• Harmony with the Universe: Its unfolding petals can represent the expansion of the soul and the harmonious connection with the universe, reflecting the unfolding of spiritual potential.
• Meditative Symbol: In meditation practices, the lotus is often used as a focal point, embodying serenity, tranquility, and the blossoming of inner peace through meditation.
• Non-Attachment: The lotus's ability to float above water without being tainted by it signifies non-attachment and detachment from material desires.
• Purity and Enlightenment: Lotus symbolizes purity of body, speech, and mind, representing the journey towards spiritual enlightenment.
• Rebirth and Renewal: Its growth from muddy waters to a pristine blossom mirrors the concept of rebirth, renewal, and the ability to overcome challenges.
• Spiritual Awakening: The lotus is often associated with the awakening of spiritual consciousness, signifying a journey towards higher understanding and awareness.
• Spiritual Evolution: The growth of the lotus from bud to full bloom signifies spiritual evolution, emphasizing the continuous journey towards higher consciousness.
• Symbol of Creation: In some beliefs, the lotus is associated with creation, as its unfolding petals can be seen as the unfolding of the universe.
• Symbol of Divine Beauty: In various spiritual traditions, the lotus is a symbol of divine beauty and perfection, showcasing the idea that spiritual growth leads to inner beauty.
• Symbol of Resilience: The lotus’s ability to thrive in adverse conditions symbolizes resilience and strength in the face of challenges.
G
The divine birth symbolism is cultural. What are the universal meanings of gods and goddesses in this context?
A
In a universal context, gods and goddesses often represent archetypal forces or aspects of human experience, transcending specific cultural narratives. They can embody universal themes such as:
• Archetypal Forces: Gods and goddesses may symbolize fundamental forces or energies in the human psyche, reflecting aspects like love, wisdom, power, or transformation.
• Narrative Patterns: Myths surrounding gods and goddesses often contain universal narrative patterns that resonate with shared human experiences, such as the hero's journey, sacrifice, or the pursuit of wisdom.
• Spiritual Aspirations: Gods and goddesses can serve as symbols of spiritual ideals or aspirations, guiding individuals on a path of personal and moral development.
• Universal Traits: These divine figures might personify qualities that are universally valued, such as courage, justice, compassion, or creativity.
These symbolic associations transcend cultural boundaries, illustrating the universal themes of growth, transformation, and spiritual awakening that the lotus represents.
###
LINKS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT
Like (if you like), Reply and Repost
Drumscape by EquiSync: (used with mantra):
https://youtu.be/dx8Qb1tAtzE?si=CIT2nmKn9jYKuTG0
Emanate Presence on X: https://twitter.com/EmanatePresence
Website: https://www.wholehuman.emanatepresence.com/
Soul Vehicle NFT collections on JPG Store:
https://www.jpg.store/collection/giftsofthesoul?tab=items
The AHA! Mantra, A Daily Practice
Attracting Higher Aspects (of Oneself), by Emanate Presence
6-minute YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/7t_nPoDWowY?si=3yk8uRr3wyip4c8n
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
The kind of #knowledge that leads to true #wisdom is that of ourselves.
#AQ #EQ #Growth #KnowThyself #Mindfulness #Soul #Source 👍
The art is generated by @fuups.
This mini-series of posts gives the spiritual and metaphysical symbolic correspondences of the lotus and each of 12 colors which correspond with the 12-sided dodecahedron die.
Other symbols minted in NFTs include the Dragon and Dragonfly. All can be used in a self-customized practice of personal growth with 'The AHA! Mantra: Attracting Higher Aspects (of Oneself'.
When one listens relaxed, repetition helps to memorize and align with the mantra.
When the mantra is memorized, and a dodecahedron die is rolled with consecrated intention for the number of the day, the color can be visualized while deep breathing to increase the potency of the practice.
This can be done in any combination with or without listening to a brainwave entrainment soundscape. So it begins.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the color sky blue?
A
SKY BLUE
1. Divine Communication: Sky blue symbolizes open channels for divine communication, encouraging a connection with higher realms and spiritual guidance.
2. Clarity and Tranquility: Representing clarity and tranquility, sky blue creates a serene space for spiritual contemplation, meditation, and inner peace.
3. Harmony and Balance: Sky blue is associated with harmony and balance, promoting equilibrium in spiritual practices and the integration of diverse energies.
4. Soothing Energies: Symbolizing soothing energies, sky blue provides a calming influence, aiding in the release of stress and tension during spiritual exploration.
5. Spiritual Awareness: Linked to spiritual awareness, sky blue encourages mindfulness and attentiveness to the subtle nuances of one's spiritual journey.
6. Connection to Higher Realms: Sky blue signifies a connection to higher realms, facilitating a sense of expansiveness and openness to spiritual insights.
7. Throat Chakra Activation: Associated with the throat chakra, sky blue supports clear and authentic communication in spiritual practices and expressing one's spiritual truths.
8. Inspiration and Creativity: Sky blue encourages inspiration and creativity in spiritual pursuits, fostering innovative approaches to personal growth and exploration.
9. Elevation of Consciousness: Symbolizing the elevation of consciousness, sky blue promotes a broader perspective and understanding of spiritual truths.
10. Purification and Renewal: Sky blue is linked to the purification and renewal of spiritual energies, encouraging a fresh start and a clear path for spiritual growth.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the lotus?
A
• Chakra Activation: The lotus is connected to the chakra system, with each petal representing a specific energy center. The gradual opening of the lotus petals mirrors the activation and balance of these energy points.
• Cycles of Life: The life cycle of the lotus—from seed to flower, then back to seed—symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.
• Divine Birth: In Hinduism, the lotus is linked to divine birth, as gods and goddesses are often depicted emerging from the petals of a lotus flower.
• Harmony with the Universe: Its unfolding petals can represent the expansion of the soul and the harmonious connection with the universe, reflecting the unfolding of spiritual potential.
• Meditative Symbol: In meditation practices, the lotus is often used as a focal point, embodying serenity, tranquility, and the blossoming of inner peace through meditation.
• Non-Attachment: The lotus's ability to float above water without being tainted by it signifies non-attachment and detachment from material desires.
• Purity and Enlightenment: Lotus symbolizes purity of body, speech, and mind, representing the journey towards spiritual enlightenment.
• Rebirth and Renewal: Its growth from muddy waters to a pristine blossom mirrors the concept of rebirth, renewal, and the ability to overcome challenges.
• Spiritual Awakening: The lotus is often associated with the awakening of spiritual consciousness, signifying a journey towards higher understanding and awareness.
• Spiritual Evolution: The growth of the lotus from bud to full bloom signifies spiritual evolution, emphasizing the continuous journey towards higher consciousness.
• Symbol of Creation: In some beliefs, the lotus is associated with creation, as its unfolding petals can be seen as the unfolding of the universe.
• Symbol of Divine Beauty: In various spiritual traditions, the lotus is a symbol of divine beauty and perfection, showcasing the idea that spiritual growth leads to inner beauty.
• Symbol of Resilience: The lotus’s ability to thrive in adverse conditions symbolizes resilience and strength in the face of challenges.
G
The divine birth symbolism is cultural. What are the universal meanings of gods and goddesses in this context?
A
In a universal context, gods and goddesses often represent archetypal forces or aspects of human experience, transcending specific cultural narratives. They can embody universal themes such as:
• Archetypal Forces: Gods and goddesses may symbolize fundamental forces or energies in the human psyche, reflecting aspects like love, wisdom, power, or transformation.
• Narrative Patterns: Myths surrounding gods and goddesses often contain universal narrative patterns that resonate with shared human experiences, such as the hero's journey, sacrifice, or the pursuit of wisdom.
• Spiritual Aspirations: Gods and goddesses can serve as symbols of spiritual ideals or aspirations, guiding individuals on a path of personal and moral development.
• Universal Traits: These divine figures might personify qualities that are universally valued, such as courage, justice, compassion, or creativity.
These symbolic associations transcend cultural boundaries, illustrating the universal themes of growth, transformation, and spiritual awakening that the lotus represents.
###
LINKS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT
Like (if you like), Reply and Repost
Drumscape by EquiSync: (used with mantra):
https://youtu.be/dx8Qb1tAtzE?si=CIT2nmKn9jYKuTG0
Emanate Presence on X: https://twitter.com/EmanatePresence
Website: https://www.wholehuman.emanatepresence.com/
Soul Vehicle NFT collections on JPG Store:
https://www.jpg.store/collection/giftsofthesoul?tab=items
The AHA! Mantra, A Daily Practice
Attracting Higher Aspects (of Oneself), by Emanate Presence
6-minute YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/7t_nPoDWowY?si=3yk8uRr3wyip4c8n
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
The kind of #knowledge that leads to true #wisdom is that of ourselves.
#AQ #EQ #Growth #KnowThyself #Mindfulness #Soul #Source 👍
The art is generated by @fuups.
S025D - Symbolism of the Sky Blue Dragon
12 different-colored dragons are minted as Soul Vehicle NFTs on JPG Store. This mini-series within the Sol Series of posts gives the spiritual and metaphysical symbolic correspondences of the dragon and each color. Other symbols minted include the Lotus and Dragonfly. All can be used in a self-customized practice of personal growth.
The 12 colors, numbers and other aspects can be associated with the 12 facets of the dodecahedron die for divination. When the die is rolled with consecrated intention and the number contemplated with intuitive feeling, the messages revealed are often insightful for the soul path and personal growth. Further understanding may be revealed in subsequent dreams. Also, energetic downloads of active information (a term by physicist David Bohm) may be received from the Source I Am, based on the number rolled. Readers can delve deeply into this on the Whole Human website.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the color sky blue?
A
SKY BLUE
1. Divine Communication: Sky blue symbolizes open channels for divine communication, encouraging a connection with higher realms and spiritual guidance.
2. Clarity and Tranquility: Representing clarity and tranquility, sky blue creates a serene space for spiritual contemplation, meditation, and inner peace.
3. Harmony and Balance: Sky blue is associated with harmony and balance, promoting equilibrium in spiritual practices and the integration of diverse energies.
4. Soothing Energies: Symbolizing soothing energies, sky blue provides a calming influence, aiding in the release of stress and tension during spiritual exploration.
5. Spiritual Awareness: Linked to spiritual awareness, sky blue encourages mindfulness and attentiveness to the subtle nuances of one's spiritual journey.
6. Connection to Higher Realms: Sky blue signifies a connection to higher realms, facilitating a sense of expansiveness and openness to spiritual insights.
7. Throat Chakra Activation: Associated with the throat chakra, sky blue supports clear and authentic communication in spiritual practices and expressing one's spiritual truths.
8. Inspiration and Creativity: Sky blue encourages inspiration and creativity in spiritual pursuits, fostering innovative approaches to personal growth and exploration.
9. Elevation of Consciousness: Symbolizing the elevation of consciousness, sky blue promotes a broader perspective and understanding of spiritual truths.
10. Purification and Renewal: Sky blue is linked to the purification and renewal of spiritual energies, encouraging a fresh start and a clear path for spiritual growth.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the dragon?
A
1. Spiritual Guardianship: Dragons are often seen as spiritual guardians, watching over realms and guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys.
2. Connection to Elemental Energies: Representing various elements like fire, water, air, and earth, dragons embody a connection to the fundamental forces of nature, symbolizing harmony and balance.
3. Symbol of Ascension and Higher Knowledge: Dragons, with their ability to soar in the sky, are associated with transcending earthly limitations, signifying spiritual ascension and the pursuit of higher knowledge.
4. Spiritual Protection and Warding: Believed to possess protective qualities, dragons are considered guardians against negative energies and spiritual threats, offering a shield to those in need.
5. Mastery of Personal Energy: Dragons symbolize control over inner energies, teaching individuals to harness their personal power, emotions, and spiritual essence for personal growth and enlightenment.
6. Balancing Dualities and Opposing Forces: As creatures often embodying dualities, dragons represent the balance between opposing forces, encouraging harmony within oneself and in navigating life's challenges.
7. Inner Strength and Courage: The dragon's formidable presence signifies inner strength, resilience, and courage, inspiring individuals to face challenges and overcome obstacles on their spiritual journeys.
8. Gateway to Hidden Realms: Dragons are considered gatekeepers to hidden realms and mystical dimensions, acting as guides for those seeking deeper spiritual insights and exploration.
9. Transformation and Rebirth: Often associated with transformation, dragons symbolize the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, encouraging individuals to embrace change and personal evolution.
10. Alignment with Cosmic Forces: Dragons are linked to cosmic energies and celestial forces, fostering a connection between the spiritual realm and the vast universe, emphasizing the interplay of macrocosm and microcosm.
###
LINKS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT
Drumscape by EquiSync: (used with mantra):
https://youtu.be/dx8Qb1tAtzE?si=CIT2nmKn9jYKuTG0
Emanate Presence on X: https://twitter.com/EmanatePresence
Oneself Mantra YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/GBBmxJbzONw?si=SdOHJZDFFBFVfQX0
Like (if you like), Reply and Repost
Website: https://www.wholehuman.emanatepresence.com/
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
#AQ #EQ #Growth #KnowThyself #Mindfulness #Soul #Source 👍
The 'AHA!' practice has three main parts --
1. Mantra: 'A Call to Higher Aspects of Oneself'
2. Brainwave entrainment soundscapes to reduce brain noise (EquiSync recommended)
3. Divination: A way to access Superconsciousness for specific purposes (no WiFi required)
A dodecahedron die (pictured below👇) is part of a daily practice that helps return focus to constant felt connection with higher aspects of Oneself. The art is generated by @fuups.
The dragon is part of the Soul Vehicle NFT collections on JPG Store:
https://www.jpg.store/collection/giftsofthesoul?tab=items
12 different-colored dragons are minted as Soul Vehicle NFTs on JPG Store. This mini-series within the Sol Series of posts gives the spiritual and metaphysical symbolic correspondences of the dragon and each color. Other symbols minted include the Lotus and Dragonfly. All can be used in a self-customized practice of personal growth.
The 12 colors, numbers and other aspects can be associated with the 12 facets of the dodecahedron die for divination. When the die is rolled with consecrated intention and the number contemplated with intuitive feeling, the messages revealed are often insightful for the soul path and personal growth. Further understanding may be revealed in subsequent dreams. Also, energetic downloads of active information (a term by physicist David Bohm) may be received from the Source I Am, based on the number rolled. Readers can delve deeply into this on the Whole Human website.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the color sky blue?
A
SKY BLUE
1. Divine Communication: Sky blue symbolizes open channels for divine communication, encouraging a connection with higher realms and spiritual guidance.
2. Clarity and Tranquility: Representing clarity and tranquility, sky blue creates a serene space for spiritual contemplation, meditation, and inner peace.
3. Harmony and Balance: Sky blue is associated with harmony and balance, promoting equilibrium in spiritual practices and the integration of diverse energies.
4. Soothing Energies: Symbolizing soothing energies, sky blue provides a calming influence, aiding in the release of stress and tension during spiritual exploration.
5. Spiritual Awareness: Linked to spiritual awareness, sky blue encourages mindfulness and attentiveness to the subtle nuances of one's spiritual journey.
6. Connection to Higher Realms: Sky blue signifies a connection to higher realms, facilitating a sense of expansiveness and openness to spiritual insights.
7. Throat Chakra Activation: Associated with the throat chakra, sky blue supports clear and authentic communication in spiritual practices and expressing one's spiritual truths.
8. Inspiration and Creativity: Sky blue encourages inspiration and creativity in spiritual pursuits, fostering innovative approaches to personal growth and exploration.
9. Elevation of Consciousness: Symbolizing the elevation of consciousness, sky blue promotes a broader perspective and understanding of spiritual truths.
10. Purification and Renewal: Sky blue is linked to the purification and renewal of spiritual energies, encouraging a fresh start and a clear path for spiritual growth.
G
What are the spiritual and metaphysical (universal, not cultural) symbolic correspondences of the dragon?
A
1. Spiritual Guardianship: Dragons are often seen as spiritual guardians, watching over realms and guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys.
2. Connection to Elemental Energies: Representing various elements like fire, water, air, and earth, dragons embody a connection to the fundamental forces of nature, symbolizing harmony and balance.
3. Symbol of Ascension and Higher Knowledge: Dragons, with their ability to soar in the sky, are associated with transcending earthly limitations, signifying spiritual ascension and the pursuit of higher knowledge.
4. Spiritual Protection and Warding: Believed to possess protective qualities, dragons are considered guardians against negative energies and spiritual threats, offering a shield to those in need.
5. Mastery of Personal Energy: Dragons symbolize control over inner energies, teaching individuals to harness their personal power, emotions, and spiritual essence for personal growth and enlightenment.
6. Balancing Dualities and Opposing Forces: As creatures often embodying dualities, dragons represent the balance between opposing forces, encouraging harmony within oneself and in navigating life's challenges.
7. Inner Strength and Courage: The dragon's formidable presence signifies inner strength, resilience, and courage, inspiring individuals to face challenges and overcome obstacles on their spiritual journeys.
8. Gateway to Hidden Realms: Dragons are considered gatekeepers to hidden realms and mystical dimensions, acting as guides for those seeking deeper spiritual insights and exploration.
9. Transformation and Rebirth: Often associated with transformation, dragons symbolize the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, encouraging individuals to embrace change and personal evolution.
10. Alignment with Cosmic Forces: Dragons are linked to cosmic energies and celestial forces, fostering a connection between the spiritual realm and the vast universe, emphasizing the interplay of macrocosm and microcosm.
###
LINKS AND WAYS TO SUPPORT
Drumscape by EquiSync: (used with mantra):
https://youtu.be/dx8Qb1tAtzE?si=CIT2nmKn9jYKuTG0
Emanate Presence on X: https://twitter.com/EmanatePresence
Oneself Mantra YouTube Video:
https://youtu.be/GBBmxJbzONw?si=SdOHJZDFFBFVfQX0
Like (if you like), Reply and Repost
Website: https://www.wholehuman.emanatepresence.com/
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." - African Proverb
#AQ #EQ #Growth #KnowThyself #Mindfulness #Soul #Source 👍
The 'AHA!' practice has three main parts --
1. Mantra: 'A Call to Higher Aspects of Oneself'
2. Brainwave entrainment soundscapes to reduce brain noise (EquiSync recommended)
3. Divination: A way to access Superconsciousness for specific purposes (no WiFi required)
A dodecahedron die (pictured below👇) is part of a daily practice that helps return focus to constant felt connection with higher aspects of Oneself. The art is generated by @fuups.
The dragon is part of the Soul Vehicle NFT collections on JPG Store:
https://www.jpg.store/collection/giftsofthesoul?tab=items
S025 - Sol, Soul, Source, Self-Awareness, Self-Improvement, Self-Empowerment and more...
Born Divergent, Part One
Autism Spectrum and the Human Condition
Some of the posts in this series were composed in a piecemeal way and may not make a smooth read. Apologies for that. Eventually they will be rewritten. Thank you for reading.
This was written by a person on the Spectrum — but applies to anyone with a nervous system — and gives clues to transform oneself.
In the German winter of 2012/2013, while visiting our son, I awakened in the night from a vivid dream-vision that felt very real. In that vision, people stood on a sand beach in low light, and began rising above the earth, each person in a translucent plasma sphere. I rose high above the beach and navigated the sphere.
When I read recently his reference to the soul as a plasma self in Robert Temple's book, 'A New Science of Heaven,' the two pieces connected.
Earlier in Germany, in the winter of 2007/2008, the forest I hiked through opened to a meadow and revealed a stone Cretan labyrinth and sheep walking it while they grazed! During my subsequent morning walks of the winding path, the inner voice spoke to me, 'To find God, look into the atoms.' Another piece of the puzzle fit.
The next came as a growing acknowledgement over 9 years, from the first inklings until full acceptance. I was born divergent with misophonia and Asperger's, and both come with distinctions in the brain. The two conditions (and coping mechanisms built around them) were the most formative of my personality and impacting upon my life.
Western medicine didn't even have words for these neurological anomalies until recently. I went through 60 years not knowing why I was so different. Learning about my neurological condition was greatly relieving, as it helped make more sense of my life.
All that is, in actuality, is the consciousness of the Causal One Being, the Source I am. The multiverse of reality formed into matter, is an extension of that Unmoved Mover.
Individuated units of Source emerge as souls, with the possibility of evolving and retaining their existence for further growth into freely chosen service. There is service to self or service to 'others', and both have consequences (cause and effect.)
In a human lifetime on earth, in this timeline, relationships in general can be quite challenging. In every challenge there are opportunities for soul growth by facing one's shadows and rising above. Shadows can mean whatever hinders one from living from the soul.
Sometimes when dark clouds of heavy emotions are overwhelming, it can seem impossible to see any silver lining. Faith in faith itself can touch the greater reality by reaching beyond appearances and choosing to trust what intuitive feeling is saying. Source is always there to nurture, support, and protect the beings who place their trust in the Eternal Beyond.
Out of the acceptance of my brain strengths and limitations, grew the understanding that my sense of self-identity is generated by my neurology. The personality that meets the world pretends to be me, but is not who I Am as an eternal soul.
Reality is not the same as actuality. Realizing these things, I started seeing the distinctions between the neuro-me and my true identity.
From childhood the mystical attracted me, and later the deaths of my two brothers in separate car accidents moved me more deeply into the spiritual. The older was 19 when the MG he was driving went off a mountain road in 1965.
My younger brother wrote a song (Star-Gazing Wanderer) whose lyrics refer to his soul being free. Two weeks later, a drunk driver hit him head-on and his separation from body was instant. Mark and I were close. He was 17 when he died in 1974.
(Continued in the next post)
Death Transformed - the Song of the Star-Gazing Wanderer
https://hubpages.com/health/Authenticity-and-the-Art-of-Life
Born Divergent, Part One
Autism Spectrum and the Human Condition
Some of the posts in this series were composed in a piecemeal way and may not make a smooth read. Apologies for that. Eventually they will be rewritten. Thank you for reading.
This was written by a person on the Spectrum — but applies to anyone with a nervous system — and gives clues to transform oneself.
In the German winter of 2012/2013, while visiting our son, I awakened in the night from a vivid dream-vision that felt very real. In that vision, people stood on a sand beach in low light, and began rising above the earth, each person in a translucent plasma sphere. I rose high above the beach and navigated the sphere.
When I read recently his reference to the soul as a plasma self in Robert Temple's book, 'A New Science of Heaven,' the two pieces connected.
Earlier in Germany, in the winter of 2007/2008, the forest I hiked through opened to a meadow and revealed a stone Cretan labyrinth and sheep walking it while they grazed! During my subsequent morning walks of the winding path, the inner voice spoke to me, 'To find God, look into the atoms.' Another piece of the puzzle fit.
The next came as a growing acknowledgement over 9 years, from the first inklings until full acceptance. I was born divergent with misophonia and Asperger's, and both come with distinctions in the brain. The two conditions (and coping mechanisms built around them) were the most formative of my personality and impacting upon my life.
Western medicine didn't even have words for these neurological anomalies until recently. I went through 60 years not knowing why I was so different. Learning about my neurological condition was greatly relieving, as it helped make more sense of my life.
All that is, in actuality, is the consciousness of the Causal One Being, the Source I am. The multiverse of reality formed into matter, is an extension of that Unmoved Mover.
Individuated units of Source emerge as souls, with the possibility of evolving and retaining their existence for further growth into freely chosen service. There is service to self or service to 'others', and both have consequences (cause and effect.)
In a human lifetime on earth, in this timeline, relationships in general can be quite challenging. In every challenge there are opportunities for soul growth by facing one's shadows and rising above. Shadows can mean whatever hinders one from living from the soul.
Sometimes when dark clouds of heavy emotions are overwhelming, it can seem impossible to see any silver lining. Faith in faith itself can touch the greater reality by reaching beyond appearances and choosing to trust what intuitive feeling is saying. Source is always there to nurture, support, and protect the beings who place their trust in the Eternal Beyond.
Out of the acceptance of my brain strengths and limitations, grew the understanding that my sense of self-identity is generated by my neurology. The personality that meets the world pretends to be me, but is not who I Am as an eternal soul.
Reality is not the same as actuality. Realizing these things, I started seeing the distinctions between the neuro-me and my true identity.
From childhood the mystical attracted me, and later the deaths of my two brothers in separate car accidents moved me more deeply into the spiritual. The older was 19 when the MG he was driving went off a mountain road in 1965.
My younger brother wrote a song (Star-Gazing Wanderer) whose lyrics refer to his soul being free. Two weeks later, a drunk driver hit him head-on and his separation from body was instant. Mark and I were close. He was 17 when he died in 1974.
(Continued in the next post)
Death Transformed - the Song of the Star-Gazing Wanderer
https://hubpages.com/health/Authenticity-and-the-Art-of-Life
ARTICLE BELOW:
"Social clues were not intuitive" Musk said during a TED conference last year. In 2021, the billionaire said during his performance on "Saturday Night Live" that he has Asperger's syndrome.
"Social clues were not intuitive" Musk said during a TED conference last year. In 2021, the billionaire said during his performance on "Saturday Night Live" that he has Asperger's syndrome.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk: His career and biography
REPRINTED: https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
His mother, Maye Musk, is a professional dietitian and model, appearing on boxes of Special K cereal and the cover of TIME magazine. Last year, at the age of 74, she was on the cover of Sport Illustrated's swimsuit edition.
Maye and Musk's father, Errol, were married for nearly a decade before they divorced. Maye said in her book that she'd wanted to end the marriage earlier, but the Divorce Act, which legalized the termination of a marriage in South Africa, was not enacted until 1979. The couple was divorced the same year the law was passed.
After their parents divorced, 9-year-old Musk and his younger brother, Kimbal, decided to live with their father. It wasn't until after the move was made that his notoriously troubled relationship with his dad began to emerge. "It was not a good idea," Musk said of the move in an interview with Rolling Stone.
In 1983, at the age of 12, Musk sold a simple game called "Blastar" to a computer magazine for $500, according to a WaitButWhy report from journalist Tim Urban. Musk described it as "a trivial game ... but better than Flappy Bird."
Education
Musk's school days weren't easy — he was once hospitalized after being beaten by bullies. The bullies threw Musk down a set of stairs and beat him until he blacked out, as detailed in Ashlee Vance's book "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future." Musk's father told Insider the incident took place after Musk made some insensitive comments to a classmate.
The Tesla CEO has said he didn't always feel he was on the same wavelength as his classmates.
"Social clues were not intuitive" Musk said during a TED conference last year. In 2021, the billionaire said during his performance on "Saturday Night Live" that he has Asperger's syndrome.
Musk has said he spent a lot of his childhood reading and coding late into the night — and it paid off. At 17, he took a university-level aptitude test on his computer programming skills. Examiners made him retake the test because they had never seen such a high score, his mother said in a tweet.
After graduating from high school, Musk moved to Canada with his mother, Maye; his sister, Tosca, and his brother, Kimbal, and spent two years studying at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, according to the school.
Musk during his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. RR Auction.
He later finished his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in physics and economics.
While studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Musk and a classmate rented out a 10-bedroom frat house and turned it into a nightclub. The move, which Musk undertook with Adeo Ressi, was one of his first entrepreneurial experiments, Vogue reported.
After graduation, Musk traveled to Stanford University to study for his Ph.D. — but he barely started the program before leaving it. He deferred his admission after only two days in California, deciding to test his luck in the dot-com boom that was just getting underway. He never returned to finish his studies at Stanford.
Musk's college girlfriend Jennifer Gwynne would later auction a set of photos of Musk from his time studying at the University of Pennsylvania.
Late 1990s - 2000: Early career
With his brother, Kimbal, Elon Musk launched Zip2. A cluster of Silicon Valley investors helped to fund the company, which provided city travel guides to newspapers like The New York Times and Chicago Tribune, per the Rolling Stone interview with Musk.
While Zip2 got off the ground, Musk lived in the office and showered at a local YMCA, he said in a Stanford University video. The hard work paid off when Compaq bought Zip2 in a deal worth $341 million in cash and stock, earning Musk $22 million.
Peter Thiel (left) and Elon Musk (right) pose for a 1999 story about their company PayPal. AP
Musk next started X.com, an online banking company. He launched the company in 1999 using $10 million of the money he got from the Zip2 sale, Investopedia reported. About a year later, X.com merged with Confinity, a financial startup cofounded by Peter Thiel, to form PayPal.
Musk was named the CEO of the newly minted PayPal — but it wouldn't last long. In October 2000, he started a huge fight among the PayPal cofounders by pushing for them to move its servers from the free Unix operating system to Microsoft Windows, according to a Forbes report. PayPal cofounder and then CTO Max Levchin pushed back — hard.
While Musk was en route to Australia for a much-needed vacation, PayPal's board fired him and made Thiel the new CEO. "That's the problem with vacations," Musk told Fortune years later about his ill-fated trip in late 2000.
2002-2004: Elon Musk starts SpaceX and invests in Tesla
But things worked out for Musk — he made another windfall when eBay bought PayPal in late 2002. As PayPal's single biggest shareholder, he netted $165 million of the $1.5 billion price eBay paid, Money.com reported.
Even before the PayPal sale, Musk was dreaming up his next move, including a wild plan to send mice or plants to Mars. In early 2002, Musk founded the company that would be known as Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, with $100 million of the money received from the PayPal sale. Musk's goal was to make spaceflight cheaper by a factor of 10.
One early SpaceX vehicle was named after the song "Puff the Magic Dragon." The name of the spacecraft, the Dragon, was Musk's jab at skeptics who told him SpaceX would never be able to put vehicles into space, Musk later shared on Twitter.
SpaceX's long-term goal is to make colonizing Mars affordable. Musk has said that SpaceX won't file for an initial public offering until what Musk calls the "Mars Colonial Transporter" is flying regularly.
Musk had also been keeping plenty busy here on Earth, particularly with Tesla Motors. In 2004, Musk made the first of what would be $70 million of total Tesla investments, an electric car company. Tesla's founders were veteran startup executives Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning.
Musk has said he took an active product role at the carmaker, helping develop its first car, the Tesla Roadster, the Roadster.
The Roadster was built on the chassis of a Lotus Elise — a tiny British sports car that Tesla remade into an electric car with a lithium-ion battery. The all-electric Roadster debuted in 2006 when Musk was serving as Tesla's chairman.
Musk also came up with the idea for SolarCity, a solar energy company. Musk gave his cousins Peter and Lyndon Rive the working capital to get SolarCity off the ground in 2006, according to a VentureBeat report.
2008: Elon Musk becomes Tesla CEO
In 2007, Musk staged a boardroom coup at Tesla, first ousting Eberhard from his CEO seat and then from the company's board and executive suites entirely.
In 2008, with the financial crisis seriously limiting his options, a Tesla bankruptcy was personally halted by Musk. He invested $40 million in Tesla and loaned the company $40 million more. Not coincidentally, he was named CEO the same year.
But between SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, Musk nearly went broke. He described 2008 as "the worst year of my life" in an interview with 60 Minutes. Tesla kept losing money, and SpaceX was having trouble launching its Falcon 1 rocket. By 2009, Musk was living off personal loans just to survive.
Right around Christmas 2008, Musk got two pieces of good news: SpaceX had landed a $1.5 billion contract with NASA to deliver supplies into space, and Tesla finally found more outside investors.
Musk's career was starting to get noticed in other circles, too, most notably in Hollywood. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Tony Stark in the "Iron Man" movies is at least partially based on Musk, director Jon Favreau said on the "Recode Decode" podcast. Musk even had a cameo in "Iron Man 2."
2015: OpenAI
In late 2015, Musk also cofounded OpenAI, a nonprofit dedicated to researching artificial intelligence and ensuring it doesn't destroy humanity. He later announced that he would step down from the board to avoid any potential conflicts of interest with Tesla, which has made strides into artificial intelligence for its self-driving car technology.
The billionaire has since spoken out against the company on multiple occasions and is even attempting to launch his own competitor, which he jokingly dubbed "Truth GPT" after the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT.
By the end of 2015, 24 SpaceX launches had been made on assignments like resupplying the International Space Station, setting some records along the way.
That year, Tesla also released its first version of Autopilot, a driver-assist feature for its EVs. Musk later went on to release an enhanced version of Autopilot called Full Self-Driving beta several years later.
He has since said that Tesla FSD is the difference between being "worth a lot of money or worth basically zero." Though, Autopilot has generated its fair share of lawsuits, as well as investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the years.
2016: SolarCity and The Boring Company
In late 2016, Tesla bought SolarCity in a $2.6 billion deal. That same year some Tesla shareholders filed a lawsuit accusing Musk of putting pressure on Tesla's board members to buy SolarCity and bail it out. Musk later won the lawsuit in 2022.
In 2016, he also started The Boring Company, which has a mission to dig a network of tunnels under and around cities for high-speed, no-traffic driving.
Boring's first tunnel network for commercial use, located in Las Vegas, opened in April 2021.
2017: Neuralink
Musk founded another company: Neuralink, in 2017, which is trying to build devices that can be implanted inside the human brain. The billionaire has described the device as a "Fitbit in your skull" and has said it will allow people to perform tasks using only their mind. The company has experimented with putting the device in pigs and monkeys and won approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to begin human trials in 2023.
In 2017, Musk also joined President Trump's business advisory council — a move that caused a huge public backlash. He initially defended the move but then quit after Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Musk said he tried to convince Trump not to withdraw.
2018: Tesla Roadster in space
The Falcon Heavy, the successor to the Falcon 9 and the most powerful rocket SpaceX has built to date, completed a successful maiden launch in February 2018. The Falcon Heavy carried a unique payload: a dummy dubbed "Starman," and Musk's personal cherry red Tesla Roadster, which were launched toward Martian orbit.
In this handout photo provided by SpaceX, a Tesla roadster launched from the Falcon Heavy rocket with a dummy driver named "Starman" heads towards Mars. SpaceX via Getty Images
"We really wanted to get the public here to wonder, to get excited about the possibility of something new happening in space — of the space frontier getting pushed forward," Musk told an audience at the 2018 South by Southwest conference. "The goal of this was to inspire you and make you believe again, just as people believed in the Apollo era, that anything is possible."
SEC subpoenas Tesla
Musk ran into some trouble in 2018 when he sent a tweet declaring he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share and had already secured funding. Just a few days later, the SEC sent Tesla subpoenas about the company's plans to go private and Musk's comments.
By September, the SEC had formally filed a lawsuit against Musk, accusing him of making "false and misleading statements." Musk settled with the SEC, which resulted in both him and Tesla paying a $20 million fine and Musk stepping down as chairman of Tesla's board. Additionally, Tesla was required to appoint a committee to oversee Musk's communications.
One month later, Musk won a victory in court when a jury ruled he was not guilty of defaming the British diver Vernon Unsworth, Insider previously reported. Unsworth had filed a defamation lawsuit in 2018 after Musk called him a "pedo guy" on Twitter.
2021: Musk becomes richest person in the world
Musk's wealth has soared in recent years. The Tesla CEO became the richest man in the world in 2021 when his fortune surpassed $200 billion, passing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' net worth.
Musk said he commemorated the occasion by sending Bezos, his longtime rival, a silver medal. Musk's status as the richest man in the world was eclipsed by LVMH owner Bernard Arnault in 2023. Since, he has remained near the top of the list of wealthiest people in the world.
He also won Time's Person of the Year award in 2021.
2022: The 'Technoking' sets his sights on Twitter
In 2022, Musk started buying up shares of Twitter and later turned down an offer to join the board in favor of buying Twitter outright for $44 billion.
Elon Musk enters the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday carrying a kitchen sink. Getty Images
Musk, who has become one of the most-followed accounts on the social media site, attempted to backtrack on his offer to buy Twitter in July. Twitter sued Musk promptly, in order to force him to go through with the purchase.
After months of back and forth leading up to a trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Musk agreed to buy the company in October. The same day he took over Twitter, he ousted several key executives including then-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. Musk took over as "Chief Twit" and proceeded to cut the Twitter workforce in half in the chaotic months following the Musk acquisition.
He later brought in a new CEO for Twitter in May, 2023 after the billionaire said Twitter was no longer "in the fast lane to bankruptcy."
The billionaire has also expressed interest in launching his own AI venture. In April, Musk confirmed reports that he's planning to create an AI startup to build a ChatGPT rival.
REPRINTED: https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-ceo-elon-musk
Elon Musk was born on June 28, 1971, in Pretoria, South Africa.
His mother, Maye Musk, is a professional dietitian and model, appearing on boxes of Special K cereal and the cover of TIME magazine. Last year, at the age of 74, she was on the cover of Sport Illustrated's swimsuit edition.
Maye and Musk's father, Errol, were married for nearly a decade before they divorced. Maye said in her book that she'd wanted to end the marriage earlier, but the Divorce Act, which legalized the termination of a marriage in South Africa, was not enacted until 1979. The couple was divorced the same year the law was passed.
After their parents divorced, 9-year-old Musk and his younger brother, Kimbal, decided to live with their father. It wasn't until after the move was made that his notoriously troubled relationship with his dad began to emerge. "It was not a good idea," Musk said of the move in an interview with Rolling Stone.
In 1983, at the age of 12, Musk sold a simple game called "Blastar" to a computer magazine for $500, according to a WaitButWhy report from journalist Tim Urban. Musk described it as "a trivial game ... but better than Flappy Bird."
Education
Musk's school days weren't easy — he was once hospitalized after being beaten by bullies. The bullies threw Musk down a set of stairs and beat him until he blacked out, as detailed in Ashlee Vance's book "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future." Musk's father told Insider the incident took place after Musk made some insensitive comments to a classmate.
The Tesla CEO has said he didn't always feel he was on the same wavelength as his classmates.
"Social clues were not intuitive" Musk said during a TED conference last year. In 2021, the billionaire said during his performance on "Saturday Night Live" that he has Asperger's syndrome.
Musk has said he spent a lot of his childhood reading and coding late into the night — and it paid off. At 17, he took a university-level aptitude test on his computer programming skills. Examiners made him retake the test because they had never seen such a high score, his mother said in a tweet.
After graduating from high school, Musk moved to Canada with his mother, Maye; his sister, Tosca, and his brother, Kimbal, and spent two years studying at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, according to the school.
Musk during his studies at the University of Pennsylvania. RR Auction.
He later finished his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning degrees in physics and economics.
While studying at the University of Pennsylvania, Musk and a classmate rented out a 10-bedroom frat house and turned it into a nightclub. The move, which Musk undertook with Adeo Ressi, was one of his first entrepreneurial experiments, Vogue reported.
After graduation, Musk traveled to Stanford University to study for his Ph.D. — but he barely started the program before leaving it. He deferred his admission after only two days in California, deciding to test his luck in the dot-com boom that was just getting underway. He never returned to finish his studies at Stanford.
Musk's college girlfriend Jennifer Gwynne would later auction a set of photos of Musk from his time studying at the University of Pennsylvania.
Late 1990s - 2000: Early career
With his brother, Kimbal, Elon Musk launched Zip2. A cluster of Silicon Valley investors helped to fund the company, which provided city travel guides to newspapers like The New York Times and Chicago Tribune, per the Rolling Stone interview with Musk.
While Zip2 got off the ground, Musk lived in the office and showered at a local YMCA, he said in a Stanford University video. The hard work paid off when Compaq bought Zip2 in a deal worth $341 million in cash and stock, earning Musk $22 million.
Peter Thiel (left) and Elon Musk (right) pose for a 1999 story about their company PayPal. AP
Musk next started X.com, an online banking company. He launched the company in 1999 using $10 million of the money he got from the Zip2 sale, Investopedia reported. About a year later, X.com merged with Confinity, a financial startup cofounded by Peter Thiel, to form PayPal.
Musk was named the CEO of the newly minted PayPal — but it wouldn't last long. In October 2000, he started a huge fight among the PayPal cofounders by pushing for them to move its servers from the free Unix operating system to Microsoft Windows, according to a Forbes report. PayPal cofounder and then CTO Max Levchin pushed back — hard.
While Musk was en route to Australia for a much-needed vacation, PayPal's board fired him and made Thiel the new CEO. "That's the problem with vacations," Musk told Fortune years later about his ill-fated trip in late 2000.
2002-2004: Elon Musk starts SpaceX and invests in Tesla
But things worked out for Musk — he made another windfall when eBay bought PayPal in late 2002. As PayPal's single biggest shareholder, he netted $165 million of the $1.5 billion price eBay paid, Money.com reported.
Even before the PayPal sale, Musk was dreaming up his next move, including a wild plan to send mice or plants to Mars. In early 2002, Musk founded the company that would be known as Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, with $100 million of the money received from the PayPal sale. Musk's goal was to make spaceflight cheaper by a factor of 10.
One early SpaceX vehicle was named after the song "Puff the Magic Dragon." The name of the spacecraft, the Dragon, was Musk's jab at skeptics who told him SpaceX would never be able to put vehicles into space, Musk later shared on Twitter.
SpaceX's long-term goal is to make colonizing Mars affordable. Musk has said that SpaceX won't file for an initial public offering until what Musk calls the "Mars Colonial Transporter" is flying regularly.
Musk had also been keeping plenty busy here on Earth, particularly with Tesla Motors. In 2004, Musk made the first of what would be $70 million of total Tesla investments, an electric car company. Tesla's founders were veteran startup executives Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning.
Musk has said he took an active product role at the carmaker, helping develop its first car, the Tesla Roadster, the Roadster.
The Roadster was built on the chassis of a Lotus Elise — a tiny British sports car that Tesla remade into an electric car with a lithium-ion battery. The all-electric Roadster debuted in 2006 when Musk was serving as Tesla's chairman.
Musk also came up with the idea for SolarCity, a solar energy company. Musk gave his cousins Peter and Lyndon Rive the working capital to get SolarCity off the ground in 2006, according to a VentureBeat report.
2008: Elon Musk becomes Tesla CEO
In 2007, Musk staged a boardroom coup at Tesla, first ousting Eberhard from his CEO seat and then from the company's board and executive suites entirely.
In 2008, with the financial crisis seriously limiting his options, a Tesla bankruptcy was personally halted by Musk. He invested $40 million in Tesla and loaned the company $40 million more. Not coincidentally, he was named CEO the same year.
But between SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity, Musk nearly went broke. He described 2008 as "the worst year of my life" in an interview with 60 Minutes. Tesla kept losing money, and SpaceX was having trouble launching its Falcon 1 rocket. By 2009, Musk was living off personal loans just to survive.
Right around Christmas 2008, Musk got two pieces of good news: SpaceX had landed a $1.5 billion contract with NASA to deliver supplies into space, and Tesla finally found more outside investors.
Musk's career was starting to get noticed in other circles, too, most notably in Hollywood. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Tony Stark in the "Iron Man" movies is at least partially based on Musk, director Jon Favreau said on the "Recode Decode" podcast. Musk even had a cameo in "Iron Man 2."
2015: OpenAI
In late 2015, Musk also cofounded OpenAI, a nonprofit dedicated to researching artificial intelligence and ensuring it doesn't destroy humanity. He later announced that he would step down from the board to avoid any potential conflicts of interest with Tesla, which has made strides into artificial intelligence for its self-driving car technology.
The billionaire has since spoken out against the company on multiple occasions and is even attempting to launch his own competitor, which he jokingly dubbed "Truth GPT" after the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT.
By the end of 2015, 24 SpaceX launches had been made on assignments like resupplying the International Space Station, setting some records along the way.
That year, Tesla also released its first version of Autopilot, a driver-assist feature for its EVs. Musk later went on to release an enhanced version of Autopilot called Full Self-Driving beta several years later.
He has since said that Tesla FSD is the difference between being "worth a lot of money or worth basically zero." Though, Autopilot has generated its fair share of lawsuits, as well as investigations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over the years.
2016: SolarCity and The Boring Company
In late 2016, Tesla bought SolarCity in a $2.6 billion deal. That same year some Tesla shareholders filed a lawsuit accusing Musk of putting pressure on Tesla's board members to buy SolarCity and bail it out. Musk later won the lawsuit in 2022.
In 2016, he also started The Boring Company, which has a mission to dig a network of tunnels under and around cities for high-speed, no-traffic driving.
Boring's first tunnel network for commercial use, located in Las Vegas, opened in April 2021.
2017: Neuralink
Musk founded another company: Neuralink, in 2017, which is trying to build devices that can be implanted inside the human brain. The billionaire has described the device as a "Fitbit in your skull" and has said it will allow people to perform tasks using only their mind. The company has experimented with putting the device in pigs and monkeys and won approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to begin human trials in 2023.
In 2017, Musk also joined President Trump's business advisory council — a move that caused a huge public backlash. He initially defended the move but then quit after Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Musk said he tried to convince Trump not to withdraw.
2018: Tesla Roadster in space
The Falcon Heavy, the successor to the Falcon 9 and the most powerful rocket SpaceX has built to date, completed a successful maiden launch in February 2018. The Falcon Heavy carried a unique payload: a dummy dubbed "Starman," and Musk's personal cherry red Tesla Roadster, which were launched toward Martian orbit.
In this handout photo provided by SpaceX, a Tesla roadster launched from the Falcon Heavy rocket with a dummy driver named "Starman" heads towards Mars. SpaceX via Getty Images
"We really wanted to get the public here to wonder, to get excited about the possibility of something new happening in space — of the space frontier getting pushed forward," Musk told an audience at the 2018 South by Southwest conference. "The goal of this was to inspire you and make you believe again, just as people believed in the Apollo era, that anything is possible."
SEC subpoenas Tesla
Musk ran into some trouble in 2018 when he sent a tweet declaring he was considering taking Tesla private at $420 per share and had already secured funding. Just a few days later, the SEC sent Tesla subpoenas about the company's plans to go private and Musk's comments.
By September, the SEC had formally filed a lawsuit against Musk, accusing him of making "false and misleading statements." Musk settled with the SEC, which resulted in both him and Tesla paying a $20 million fine and Musk stepping down as chairman of Tesla's board. Additionally, Tesla was required to appoint a committee to oversee Musk's communications.
One month later, Musk won a victory in court when a jury ruled he was not guilty of defaming the British diver Vernon Unsworth, Insider previously reported. Unsworth had filed a defamation lawsuit in 2018 after Musk called him a "pedo guy" on Twitter.
2021: Musk becomes richest person in the world
Musk's wealth has soared in recent years. The Tesla CEO became the richest man in the world in 2021 when his fortune surpassed $200 billion, passing Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' net worth.
Musk said he commemorated the occasion by sending Bezos, his longtime rival, a silver medal. Musk's status as the richest man in the world was eclipsed by LVMH owner Bernard Arnault in 2023. Since, he has remained near the top of the list of wealthiest people in the world.
He also won Time's Person of the Year award in 2021.
2022: The 'Technoking' sets his sights on Twitter
In 2022, Musk started buying up shares of Twitter and later turned down an offer to join the board in favor of buying Twitter outright for $44 billion.
Elon Musk enters the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco on Wednesday carrying a kitchen sink. Getty Images
Musk, who has become one of the most-followed accounts on the social media site, attempted to backtrack on his offer to buy Twitter in July. Twitter sued Musk promptly, in order to force him to go through with the purchase.
After months of back and forth leading up to a trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery, Musk agreed to buy the company in October. The same day he took over Twitter, he ousted several key executives including then-Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. Musk took over as "Chief Twit" and proceeded to cut the Twitter workforce in half in the chaotic months following the Musk acquisition.
He later brought in a new CEO for Twitter in May, 2023 after the billionaire said Twitter was no longer "in the fast lane to bankruptcy."
The billionaire has also expressed interest in launching his own AI venture. In April, Musk confirmed reports that he's planning to create an AI startup to build a ChatGPT rival.