Zaq November 12th, 2005 01:29PM  
Amazing song. Definitely one of my top five. Extremely complex, but here goes nothing...(Listen to the song while reading and contemplating this and it will make more sense. It's not really in order, by the way)
The referance to a snake should be fairly obvious. "Crawling on my belly," "My shadow's shedding skin." Snakes are usually seen as evil. Your shadow can be called your "evil" side, it is the part of you that gets angry, wants to kill, lies, steals, hates and fears. The other part of you is the part that you embrace, the part that loves and gives.

"Listen to my muscle memory" = Do what comes naturally, not what you think you should do. Not that you should do this all the time, but you need to know the "evil" side of yourself as well as your "good" side.
"Contemplate what I've been clinging to" = Think about what you normally would have done.
"I've been crawling on my belly" = I've been acting like a snake/"evil".
"clearing out what could've been" = Acting evil, doing the morally "wrong" thing, getting it out of my system.
"I've been wallowing in my own confused and insecure delusions" =Delusions of sinning, doing all the things considered the "wrong" thing to do.
"For a piece to cross me over/ Or a word to guide me in" = been waiting for anything to come along and convince me to go into my shadow.
"I wanna feel the change consume me/ feel the outside turning in" = I wanna fell the bad take over/ Feel the shadow coming out.

He chooses to do the good along with the bad, the right along with the wrong. To simply, "Do what it takes to move through."

"See my shadow changing,
Stretching up and over me.
Soften this old armor."

= See the dichotomies become one, each one softening the other.

"Hoping I can clear the way
By stepping through my shadow,
Coming out the other side."

= Hoping that by seeing and experiencing the evil, I will move past it, and come out the other side.

"Step into the shadow.
Forty six and two are just ahead of me."

= Actually do it. A brand new, improved you is right around the bend.
"MY SHADOW/ CHANGE IS COMING THOUGH MY SHADOW."

anonymous November 14th, 2005 10:39PM  
I did a project on this song around 5 years ago. So here is what I remember.

46 & 2 refers to chromosomes. A regular human has 46. Someone who has 46 & 2 reaches the Christ Consciousness. Essentially it is a sort of enlighten state. It allows a human to evolve to the next leveling being.

The song is basically about trying to reach this state. Most of the lines refer to this struggle.

The term Muscle Memory refers to genes and genetic history. The shadow is part of your self image. It based on a Carl Jung theory. The old armor is his body. So the chorus is basically him saying I am looking into myself for the path and will help me leave this body/state of being

anonymous February 15th, 2006 02:03AM  
It's self-evolution... He's saying that within ourselves is the key to our own divinity.

Zaq February 17th, 2006 09:39PM  
Scientifically speaking, chromosome number has nothing to do with spirituality or anything like that.
Humans have 46.
Apes have 48.
Cows have 60.
Chickens have 78.
Carp have 104.
Butterflies have 380 chromosomes.
FERNS have 1200!!!
So, unless you think ferns are 25 times more spiritual than us, don't take all this too literally.

anonymous May 10th, 2006 08:23AM  
Obsidian here.

Alright SMRTy pants, that was real polite and not the least bit pompous! Thanks for that.

Anyways - dare I say it? - I'm not a doctor either! So please discredit everything I'm about to say because unless you're a doctor, or studying to become one, you can't possibly contribute to an intelligent conversation regarding chromosomes!

Riiight. So what I wanted to add here is that, unless I am mistaken, a chromosome is made up of thousands of individual genes. So the exact makeup of these +2 chromosomes that result in the higher state of conciousness or whatever could be virtually nowhere NEAR the same extra chromosomes that results in the hemaphrodites the good doctor-to-be mentions here. There are genes that are responsible for transmitting ions between cells, there are genes that facilitate the transmission of messages between nerve cells, neurotransmitters which are doubtless inexorably linked to thinking. Take Autism for example; while some may consider these people 'retarted' although I really hate that word, some Autistic people uncannily brialliant in certain other respects, all as a result of gene duplication / abnormalities. So, would it not be reasonable to assume that (in keeping even with the dogma of survival of the fittest & evolutionary theory) nature will keep mixing and matching genes incrementally, and those that don't quite get it right (like the aforementioned hemaphrodites, or even, sadly, the Autistic folk) don't make it? It is only as a result of our - ahem - evolved society that no longer clubs their meals (and for that matter their dates) that people like this make it in life, right?

Anyways, my point is that just because there are examples of people with 47 & 48 genes that didn't turn out right, does not mean we can discredit the possibility that the right mix of genes in these chromosomes won't result in telepathic, spoonbending floating people who won't die but in fact will instead will their consciousnesses into the great ether with the rest of our collective minds... or something like that.

Djinn May 12th, 2006 12:55AM  
There are many congenital genetic disorders resulting in a negative side affects, but why could there not be positive side affects? We can already see this by the subtle differences in people, some people are obviously better equipped for sports and some are better at computing math functions.
To steal from another article:
As James Watson, co-winner of the Nobel Prize for discovering the structure of DNA, put it: "No one really has the guts to say it, but if we could make better human beings by knowing how to add genes, why shouldn't we?"

Furthermore, to add to the point of “as adding chromosomes makes for greater spirituality”, it is my understanding spirituality is ones own realization of the supernatural regarding Man’s ultimate nature. Was it not during the course of human evolution when we moved from purely instinctual animals to more a critical thinking animal, that we developed our first notions of spirituality? So why would not another step in human evolution, be it through artificial means or natural, provide a greater understanding in spirituality?

So if SMRT has in fact said anything of value it is this:
“….Embryology classes in our quests to become Doctors (oh, wait. Is that just me?)”

The true genius that one may find within is someone has spent too much on an education and not learned a damn thing, other than the ability to regurgitate what little they have learned. You are obviously are still in the “quest” phase and have a long road ahead of you...

Djinn May 29th, 2006 09:02AM  
Well SMRT I don’t think you are less capable serve humanity, nor do I think that furthering ones education is a bad choice. I am a very strong advocate for going to college. I am sure 8 years has taught you a lot as would anyone that has been in school for that long. Also, I commend you for taking the route of doctor; it is a path I would not want to take.

However I do think that there are people who gain an education are full of themselves and do regurgitate what little they know. I meet them everyday, in class, the store, at work, and online. They all feel that I owe them some sort of respect because they have a degree. I find that is completely ludicrous, people should earn respect.
So yes, when one reads “non-disjunction, trisomy, or another type of translocation” is that really necessary? It completely sounds like a sentence from a medical book.

I think you may have misunderstood some comments. I never said you were stupid, I did say that you have not learned a damn thing. By this I mean, you have been going to school a long time, and I am sure you know a lot about genes, genetic disorders (how about KTS?) etc. This is all stuff you have been taught. Where is the knowledge that you have realized outside of the class room? As a self proclaimed scientist where is your imagination and creativity? That is what I mean by you have not learned anything. Having such an education, especially being a medical student, you should have very good critical thinking abilities. I would expect you to be able give solutions to these questions. As far as your “journey” goes, you interpret journey in much to narrow of scope. I don’t simply reference your degree or even your genetics knowledge to this journey. I mean life in general. I assume you are in your late 20’s that would constitute you have a ways to go in your journey. This is further obvious in the fact that you spend you time picking on Tool and Modest Mouse fans.
Also, I never said we could add chromosomes, nor did I suggest, only the resulting possibilities.

What proof do you have that we are the “perfect system you can imagine” I guarantee you I can imagine a much more perfect human. How about a human that produces no waste for starters? And yes, given the proper tools (supernatural powers) I definately could alter humans for the better. And as far as aspects that have not changed, such as brain size and GI tracts. Brain size has increased in the human lineage, all one has to do is look at pictures of early Homo Sapiens and it is obvious. And our GI tracts; what about the appendix? It is still there, but we don’t use it, that is a change. I think what you should have said is, we have not changed significantly by losing or gaining any of these vital necessities for life. Because we still have appendiges, tonsils, brains and so do our early ancestors. Even fish, bats, and birds, have bone structure similar to humans, but they have changed. To make such comments suggests a brow raising, ear wiggling, and funny noise making is disrespect for evolution.

Also, I felt as though I did clearly define what I think spirituality is and again it is “spirituality is ones own realization of the supernatural regarding Man’s ultimate nature”. However, to clarify spirituality is the realization of ones existence of spirit or soul, and how that is dealt with in death and birth, Is it reborn into someone else, etc. This also goes hand in hand with the realization of self; this then becomes a soul/spirit. But, I don’t think that one has to recognize a soul as we have come to define it. Simply understanding the essence that we would call life, and that the realization of this essence and its inability to be described (supernatural), is what we call spirituality. It is that whole feeling of something that is greater than us. This is what I think spirituality is on its basic level. When you start throwing God(s)/religion into the mix these are just subsets of spirituality and limiting the term spirituality. If you feel the need to conform to god’s will, this definition would be more suited of a religious god fearing person (more likely Christian), and not necessarily a spiritual person. I think you can have spirituality yet not believe in any god. So as I stated in my previous post about evolution and spirituality. During the course of evolution we developed a sense of spirituality, believing rocks, trees, ourselves, etc., having spirits/souls/supernatural power/the ability to see ones self in a different perspective. This is what gives way to spirituality. So, since you don’t know what a Tool believes metaphysically, that is a portion of what one believes.

So that being said, why is it you have a personal vendetta against Tool (or Tool fans)? You post comments and review all pertaining to Tool (well except the one I found for Modest Mouse) on other sites. Notice review is not pluralized, because they are all the same. Was it that you were picked on by Tool fans growing up?

anonymous July 12th, 2006 01:24PM  
Okay, let me try....

Being an obsessive Tool fan with too much time on his hands, (and no, that doesn't make me better than you) I've read an awful lot of interviews and such. Maynard mentions once or twice a 'temporary belief system'. Basically, you believe in something, be it a scientific theory or religious idea, for long enough to learn from it, and then you move on. like a theological locust, for want of a better analogy. Think about it, the best person to talk to about religion would be someone who had genuinely believed in all religions, one after another. Right? Anyway, I think I can see this process reflected in the song, and also in this discussion. Basically you happen across the theory that extra chromosomes will improve you in some way. You believe this theory. You then attempt to gain these extra chromosomes, but somewhere along this process, you realise that not only would this be extremely difficult, to say the least, but there might not necessarily be any improvement, and indeed there are risks. In testing this theory, and learning from it, you find that you have improved yourself after all... You are encouraged to continue your quest for enlightenment (or whatever) and you move on to the next theory.

Thanks for not falling asleep.

voldo_the_great@hotmail.com

anonymous July 17th, 2006 07:59AM  
46&2 isn't really what is going to happen when we evolve, Tool just said that to represent the change in evolving.
In the unconcious part of your mind there lays a shadow. It is often in conflict with your concious mind, and is the part of your mind that provides you with hunches and instinct. It is irrational, but is nessassary evil although it may appear to be so.
What Tool is trying to get across is that you must enter into this shadow and discover all there is to discover, then come out the other side. It is then when you will take the next step in evolution.
46&2 are just ahead of me...

anonymous October 7th, 2006 10:50AM  
The 46 and 2 reference isn't ment to be taken literally.
Tool writes about the same type of things over and over
again.... Think for yourself, overcome your own faults,
keep an open mind, be a dreamer and a realist.. So on and so on. 46 and 2 is about overcoming your own past, your own mistakes and faults to 'evolve' into your perfect self.
Take the first few lines for example... "my shadow's shedding skin, I've been picking scabs again" (picking scabs, to me means reliving painful memories from the past) I'm down, digging through, my old muscles looking for a clue (to me this means looking into the past at prevoius actions to determine why I continue to make these mistakes and looking for a way to stop)" the next few lines are basically talking about the same thing. "crawling on my belly, clearing out what could have been, wallow in chaotic insecure delusion ect ect"
for me clearing out what could have been means to quit thinking about the possibilites of making different choices in the past and their results.. After so much analyization this type of thinking is counterproductive.
Next few lines are the most important of the song for me.. All the realizations are there in the lines before.
Eyes have opened. Next is a vow to be a functional healthy person.. " I choose to live and to, grow.. Ect. Ect. Do what it takes to step through!!!" the final lines of the song sum up the way human has to overcome theirself. "see my shadow changing, stretching up and over me (to me shadow is the preception of self, self preception changing, expanding to cover the whole to love the self) soften this old armor(to me means ending self doubt), hoping I can clear the way by... Stepping through my shadow, comin out the other side, step into the shadow, 46 and 2 are just ahead of me. (to me means becoming the shadow or self one truely is, to look through the self onto a broader preception.

-antismob

anonymous October 20th, 2006 07:57PM  
I did not mean that the whole song is about evolution of consciousness, and agree that the song is about your past and moving on from old memories. But why is he moving on?
I think that this song is much more than most give it credit for. Overthinking, overanalyzing, seperate the body from the mind. Think outside of the box. Digging for a clue, clearing out what could have been, he is cleaning out the garbage from his psyche to find something. Feel the outide turning in, cleansing what he has endured.

It is two sided. One, he is getting rid of his old memories and turning a new leaf from regret and guilt.
Two, he is searching for something, the forty six & 2. Then when he finds it, he steps through his shadow, and the forty six & 2 is just ahead.

What is the forty six & 2? Previous posts including mine have stated all different opinions of it, mainly centralized around one big thing, so I don't think I need to regurgitate what 40 people have already said.

Blue tape
learn to swim

anonymous December 1st, 2006 06:13PM  
READ THIS:
i read this from "nothing in this book is true, but it's exactly how things are" by bob frissell. This is almost word for word:

There are 5 levels of consciousness. They are related to the # of chromosomes we have and they prescribe a range of height.

1) the first level has 42+2 chromosomes. Its harmonic with unity consciousness. collective consciousness operates such that if one person experiences something, its possible for everyone else to access this memory and relive it. The range of height is associated with this level of consciousness is 3 and 1/2 - 5 feet.

2) the second level is where we are now (44+2). we no longer have this unity consciousness; we are cut off and separated. The range of height is from 5 - 7 feet.

3) the 3rd level is christ-consciousness (46+2). range of height is from 10-16 feet. This brings us back to unity memory again but the 3rd level is no longer dreamtime but realtime so when you remember something its real. Its not just your memory but the memory of all christ-conscious beings who ever lived. There is only really 1 consciousness that moves through everything so its key is memory. This is what immortality is all about. If you are immortal you won't stay in a body for long because there is always a higher place to move. The key is to not have a break in consciousness (memory loss) as you move through the diff levels being able to leave when you want and continuing to know where you've been.

4) the fourth level has 48+2 and a height range of 25-35 feet. Its disharmonic like the second level but you have to go through it to get to the highest level.

5) 5th level has 50+2 and a height range from 50-60 feet.

If we all stay in the 2nd level for too long we could distory ourselves off the planet. anyways I don't think I really have to explain this much anymore. I'm pretty sure you can put two and two together from this.... ohhh!! and read that book its great and its so obvious Tool read it.

anonymous December 9th, 2006 02:16AM  
I've done an interpretation a couple of months ago, and I'm even more obsessed with the song than the last time I posted. Here is what I have discovered sence then...
transcendentalism: any system of philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical and material.
what Tool is saying is listen to your mustle memory, your "gut", and the intuitive part in you. contemplate what you have been clinging to (your posesions) and realize that it is holding you back.
another huge part of transcendentalism is self reliance. I believe Tool put this fact across very clear in their lyrics: "MY shadow....I'VE been picking..I'VE been crawling..join in MY child...etc." and that they believe you evolve through self realization and self revelation in thought.
in this self revelation, in this "shadow", there is something beautifull that can come from it all. It is in this metamorphosis that we can evolve, and finally transcend.

lvledusa December 20th, 2006 10:34PM  
i think what he means by "listen to my muscle memory" or "digging though my old muscles looking for a clue" is that he's trying to get back to unity consciousness or our unity memory that we are all suppost to be in together. because we are at 44 and 2 we are cut of from this "unity memory"(read about my 5 levels of consciousness above^) leaving us "wallowing in our-my- own confusion". now the only way we can get to 46 and 2 is to over come fears (or our shadow) and have unconditional love for everything. you have to step through these fears, anxietys, addictions, irritations, etc. or else you can't get to christ consciousness. I don't know how I can explain it any better.

i guess I can add that whales and dolphins are in unity consciousness. do some reasearch on drunvalo or bob frissell they both talk about the merkaba spherical breathing which, if you get good at it, you overcome fears and you have unconditional love for everything, it will bring you to 46 and 2. Thank you!!!
this is lvledusa
much luv!!!!

anonymous December 23rd, 2006 11:59PM  
First let me state that I have no degree in anything, but the greatest ideas in any field will always come from outside the field. But, I have been reading a very very interesting book called Psycho-Cybernetics by maxwell maltz, which is based on scientific research and proven theories as well as the author's own theories on human conciousness. Its a must read and has changed my life, even every time I re read it. It scientifically explains why you are what you believe, and states that it has been "proven" that your "sub-concious" cannot tell the difference between whats real and what you imagine. In one study, they had 3 groups of basketball players. The first group practiced their freethrow for 2 weeks. The second group did not engage in any practice at all. The third group engaged in "imagining in realistic detail, like the feel of the ball and everything, that they were practicing their freethrow, making mistakes and correcting their shots in their heads" for about 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks. The results, group 1 improved their freethrow by 25%, the second, no improvement; the third improved by 24%.

Anyway, It also explains that in order for your creative mechanism(body) to work like its ment, you have to forget all negative past experiences and only, when remembering the past, the positive. It also contains research on what the aurthor calls "extra-physical" energy, connected conciousness, and such things like telepathy.

As far as this song, I love it, to death. It puts this electrical feeling around me, the hair on my neck stands up, because I do beleive that we humans, all of us, each have the access to a greater power that can only be acheived if you believe its there. You have to develope a theory, test it, keep whats true, abandon what doesn't work, and develope another theroy based on what you've learned. But you must always keep a main target goal in mind. Then lay out all the possibilities to get this goal, then comes the action part once you've decided the course. This is where "living in the moment" comes into play, because to be scientific and rational...the only real thruth for YOU is in the moment you are living in and you can only assume for so long before you must move foreward and find more truth. Then you correct your course to that goal, based off what you've discovered to be facts, and lay down more possibilities to your goal. Changing the way to the goal is necessary, and that goal will never be what you've imagined it to be, but if you have some idea of what it is, all you have to do is move foreward and let your body figure out shit on its own.

So, read this book, then compare it to what your theories and belief's on 46 and 2 are. Try not to buy into the truth on anything completely, but the ability to imagine is what makes humans so superior to all other species.

As far as what I think he means by the song, he's expressing his new self awareness of the truth he as found so far by casting off old beliefs, beliefs that are fed to people by other people. This is wrong, that is right. You have to figure it out for yourself whats right and wrong and to be honest there isn't much absolute when it comes to right and wrong. Everything is in the moment.. If lying is bad, then would it be bad if during the holacaust, a man lied about having jews in his attick? Then, at that moment, lying isn't so wrong anymore now is it. The truth is in the moment, nothing is absolute, everything is changing around you every second. The abandoning of old tradition and wandering off into new territory is what helps us evolve. He's saying "i'm sick of buying into this bullshit that I've been believing this whole time, and by realising this I can feel myself becoming free and aware."

One more thing, nobody is absolutly correct on any of this, unless Maynard himself were to put a thread in. Dont knock people's opinions, you could be just as wrong as them, no matter what little book you studied from. Eggs are bad, no no, eggs are good, no no, new discovery, eggs are bad. Even scientific facts are changing constantly. People need to be more open minded and atleast consider other's views. You don't have to believe what they think, but like I said, the best ideas come from those who arent experts in that area.

Dont get me wrong, there are arrogant,egotistic, ignorant people in the world and I think, if they arent contributing to the world in any way, they are cheating as far as life and need to be killed. This includes retards, I don't mean to sound cruel, but if I had a retarded child I would not love it. I would not keep someone around just so I could pity them and wipe their asses for them. Live strong or die. This is part of my shadow everyone...i hate retards.

anonymous January 5th, 2007 03:47AM  
hello, I actually joined this forum just to give a word of advice....please as fellow intelligent beings don't let small and insignifigant comments lead us down a path of not sharing our ideas just because we don't like each other. If one of us has an idea the others should carefully ponder it for long hours before discrediting it. After all, all of the most inovative ideas were thought to be crazy at some point. Please just let us discuss things in a calm and cival fashion. thank you for your time. and power to the brains!!!

anonymous January 17th, 2007 02:46PM  
Wow, that was a crazy sequence of interpretations to read. I love the song, partly because I'm a geneticist and a fan of Jungian psychology. And... yes, I couldn't help but put in my humble two-cents.

Firstly, I admire the tension that Maynard creates between psychology and biology. The tension, and combination, was an interesting development in the early 1900s. TH Huxley described the period as the "eclipse of Darwin." The development of evolutionary theory is an interesting study... I think even our Doctor friend might be able to understand it.

The combination of perfecting the body and mind is an interesting way of looking at ourselves and our 'personal evolution.' Maynard uses the human physiology as a symbol for our state of being. We have these bodily things that influence our behavior, on top of this, we also have the Jungian shadow which influences our behavior, too.

To me, the song is definately about the painful process of breaking free and becoming ourselves. "Picking scabs" is definately a form of self destruction, however, it also represents a perpetual state of disturbance. We take away our "armor" by picking at ourselves and our nature.

Maynard seems to not only 'dig through his muscle' looking for things that influence him, but he actively explores his Jungian shadow. He steps through his baser instincts to understand them, 'crawling on his belly.' He sees himself thorugh the eyes of his own shadow.

I DO believe that there is an underlying assumption of transcendentalism in the song. It's very spiritual and reminiscent of buddhism. Consciously, or unconsciously, Maynard makes two statements with the song:

1. Self-realization is painful.
2. Enlightenment is achieved by casting off the base body and shadow that influence us. Freedom from these can help us to achieve a higher existence, represented by the old 46&2 theory of chromosomes.

But that's just me. Take it for what it's worth.

anonymous February 13th, 2007 10:42AM  
the song is telling you the Maynard wants to get to a high level in spirituality and god.
regular people do have 46 chromosomes take to away you will become mentally retarded of as they say you will have down syndrome and if you add 2 more you will have a high level of energy and closet spirituality toward god which is what he wants to do.
If you look at the songs on Lateralus they talk about the fact that he has gotten to that type of level. Here he wants to get there and hasn't yet.

anonymous February 15th, 2007 03:01AM  
This thread was a phenomenal read. The dichotomy between knowledge and wisdom was evident here once again, most obviously in the exchange between the exclusively-book-educated doctor-to-be and the guy who sparred with him directly. Even though I am currently enrolled as a psychology student at a university, I will always side with the people that dare to spar with the almighty ivory tower. SMRT is almost a caricature of all that is wrong with academia...mindless accumulation of knowledge acquired through rote memorization or variations thereof that leads to no true learning. His adversary (excuse me for forgetting the name, I do remember it began with "Dj") appeared to embody the sort of ideals I cherish, those that straddle the line between empiricism and mysticism. SMRT appears to struggle enough even in the empirical realm with which he is perhaps all too familiar, but the closer he gets to that line, the more lost he becomes.

At the end of the day (pardon the cliche), we do not know. The abrupt ending to that sentence is intentional; we simply do not know. The more pieces to the puzzle we acquire, the more we realize how imposing the scope of that puzzle truly is. Life is a puzzle of infinite scope, in fact. So why bother with the minutia? Why throw eight years of life away in a futile and pointless pursuit of EQUALING the attainment of others' knowledge? Either try to exceed what's been done (a 46 &2 path, I suppose), or give up and, hell, revert to a 42&2 state of harmony. Because 44&2 isn't getting us too far, is it?

That's how I feel. I thus waver between nihilism and grandiose schemes of trying to solve a puzzle that I at heart know cannot be solved by one rational being. That's my intellectual conflict; but it's really a conflict that affects my entire life.

I suppose my shadow is learning to embrace this conflict if it cannot be resolved. Whatever the end may be, Tool will have a role in my arrival there. And I hope they (and all of us) ultimately arrive at that same destination, as well.

That is all...for now.

--Matt, you can reach me at Cutthemullet1@aol.com if you wish. Peace...investigating these matters while retaining one's sanity is not always a given. I speak from experience. Truly, peace.

anonymous February 22nd, 2007 10:42PM  
I sorta thought that this song was about finding out for yourself who you really are, and that you don't have much time to do it, and that once we all do, we can really evolve as a race.