Tool - Reflection Lyrics Meaning
Reflect on what he says, and what you see
Reflection on Reflection
The moon, the dark side (like the shadow for Jung) holds the key to self development. To self actualize, one must step into the shadow, learn, then either unlearn or relearn. What's to relearn??? Who knows, maybe nothing, learning and believing nothing is the key to understanding everything. Think for yourself about everything you think of, then understand we are all one mind. One observation I must point out is that what is published as being said, is not what is necessarily always said. This also goes for Maynard's words, hell probably even my words. The differences between lyrics on the official TOOL site, vs. what is heard is different. Not drastically, but enough to change contextual significance. Example of "I have come curiously close to the end, down" vs. "I find that I can see light" show a difference between beginning and endings. To begin to understand is a birth, but to end is also a birth of death itself. The circle, the point, they are all cyclic. They continue, and are perpetual. To perpetuate, one must feed off oneself. Absorb, and learn the truth (BUT THIS TRUTH CAN NEVER BE EXPRESSED. That is the only way to never say never, is to acknowledge its existence by denying it.) It's like taking all the light, all opinions, all that is observable, but at the same time seeking the darkness, emptiness, and being at one with everything. Take this light that is not your own, and recognize what it is, go to the dark side of the moon in your mind, and see the nothingness. That is what the wall is: nothing. It is the barrier of nothing that prevents you from seeing nothing. Outer space and the space in synapses, or within electrons is the same sort of barrier towards/against development (Rocky Kolb, a cosmologist has evidence that suggests 95% of the universe is composed of either 'dark matter' or 'dark energy'). By looking for something always, people are blind to the fact that nothingness exists when it is right in front of them. If it's nothing will you perceive it? No, you have to imagine it. That's the only perception. That leads to another misprint I perceive from the song when compared to the lyrics. "Just", or "Don't" let the light touch you...the dif being that "just" would be submission, while "don't" would be the way to let it pass through, and bring out hope and reason, the two guiding forces or traits that lead to existence, and more importantly, consciousness. Hope and reason power survival. But if they are nothing, then people must power themselves. Light yourself, don't rely on others and theirs. This will let you leave this place (life as commonly perceived) that is so negative and blind and cynical. To do so is complicated, and I have a hunch that crucifying the ego is key in that living off of the id and superego working in tandem will be more productive than having one's ego operational. Self actualization may be the ending of anxiety by leaving the ego to it's own space, and dealing only with the id and superego which should be able to balance each other out once they have an agreement. Kinda like the saying "Two's company, three's a crowd" The too many chefs spoiling the broth syndrome could be the cause of chaos within the mind. Then again, if everything was about light and darkness, the only way to know about darkness, is to extinguish the light, and vice versa. What is needed is the other, but not a third party. Crucify the ego before it's far too late. - VA69, Oct 23rd, 2004. P.S. Peace of mind to all who can imagine it.
