Plané, or Greek for “wandering,” is the root of Metaplanetic Observation, which is the structured method for observing and harnessing imaginative wandering. The method works in sessions, usually starting from a “seed thought,” or beginning iteration; the user allows the mind to rapidly and cyclically ruminate on the beginning iteration with the intent of connecting spontaneous ideas which emerge from the unconscious plané––and after filtering via conscious observance to separate the wheat from the chaff, you’re left with an insight from the original “seed.” This method is extremely versatile and can be used in a few ways, including 1.) to encourage new connections between ideas to form that wouldn’t be made otherwise, and 2.) to generate new ideas based on the seed thought.
This method can be visualized using the following formula:
I(t) = \int_{0}^{T} W(t) \cdot O(t)dtExplanation of Terms
Represents the integrated insights or filtered creative ideas over a period of time.
Definite integral taken from the start of the session (t=0) to its planned end (t=T). It aggregates the product of two instantaneous processes over the whole interval.
Describes the wandering function of the psyche at time. This function models the spontaneous generation of thoughts, which can be nonlinear and chaotic.
Represents the observer function at time. This function reflects the intentional observation or filtering mechanism, which assigns a weight or value to each wandering thought based on its perceived relevance or creative potential.
Multiplication (pointwise product). The product W(t) O(t) reflects the effective contribution of wandering that is being observed at that exact moment.
Infinitesimal time element. It tells us we are integrating (adding up) an infinite number of infinitesimally small contributions.
The integration over time represents the process of collecting insights during the observation period.
In Summa
The integral tells us that insight grows only when wandering and conscious observation happen together; the longer and more synchronized they are, the larger the final insight I(t).
The Metaplanetic Observation Method was first outlined in a forward for my play, Hang Man, which was used for writing dialogue of different archetypal characters. The method has been seminal for the future of my work as an artist due to its ability to bridge the gap between the conscious selective-mind and the subconscious sporadic-mind.