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BARBELiTH

Tamayyurt

16:10 / 18.02.02

In the Invisibles as well as for Grant Morrison, what exactly was Barbelith?

LMG

17:36 / 18.02.02

Grant Morrison: 'The word 'BARBELiTH' is derived from a dream I had when I was about 20 or 21 and coincided with my first structured 'magical' experiences and a minor nervous breakdown (in the dream, BARBELiTH was the name of some higher dimension or alternate reality). Like a lot of stuff in INVISIBLES I used the name unconsciously when I needed something to call the red circle that represents our Universe's placental twin. I'd taken the etymology as far as 'bearded stone', which seems much less interesting and less weirdly appropriate than 'alien stone'. My real life is getting more like the comic every day (in ways I should have suspected but didn't really expect on this scale). There's more on the red circle and its many meanings in DOOM PATROL #54, I just realised. That issue was written in near-trance so fuck only knows what's been trying to get through all these years.'

kid coagulant

17:48 / 18.02.02

And it has a lot to do w/ Philip K Dick's book 'VALIS', I think.
Back to the comics forum for me.

Tamayyurt

18:52 / 18.02.02

Thanks LMG, that was great.

Oh and invix, that's exactly why I'm asking this question. I'm reading Valis now and it all seemed very, um, invisible. So I was trying to connect the two. Valis sounded a lot like Barbelith, but I really didn't understand what Barbelith was.

A few more questions: What does "our Universe's placental twin" mean? At the end of the Invisibles Barbelith bursts? What does that mean for our Universe?

Sorry if you guys have all moved on from all this, but the lot of you introduced me to the Dick, so now you have to help me muddle through it.

Rev. Jesse

19:10 / 18.02.02

DAMN YOUNGINS! ALWAYS WANTING TO BE MOLLY-COODLED!

Why, back in MINE day, we didn't have no sticking BARBELiTH to help us wade through VALiS! Why, hell, we BARELY had COMPUTERS!

You damn kids don't know how good you've got it.

Trijhaos

19:19 / 18.02.02

What are ya trying to say Gramps, that those of us who've grown up with computers are spoiled?

You're just jealous because you had to think for yourself and we get answers handed to us.

Anyway, there's an interesting essay here that talks about cybernetic transcendence in Valis.

[ 18-02-2002: Message edited by: Trijhaos ]

Tamayyurt

19:30 / 18.02.02

nono, I'm not spoiled. I will build upon your answers and reach strange and beautiful hights. Um, I'm just too cute and lazy to climb the whole damned thing by myself.

Thanks for the essay, Tri.

[edited to add:]

But my questions were really about the Invisibles not Valis...So HAH!

[ 18-02-2002: Message edited by: impulsivelad ]

Tuna Ghost: Pratt knot hero

22:38 / 18.02.02

quote:Originally posted by impulsivelad:
Thanks LMG, that was great.

A few more questions: What does "our Universe's placental twin" mean?

I think the idea was that our universe was the larval form of a fifth dimensional entity, which was due to go on to the next stage on Dec.22 2012. Barbelith is a placenta, in that it helps the larva (unborn entity/fetus/other images for something about to undergo a significant change) throughout it's metamorphosis. It broadcasts love, basically. Of course, this all depends on you knowing what a placenta is. If you don't, go look it up. It's important.

quote:At the end of the Invisibles Barbelith blows up? What does that mean for our universe?

Yes, at the end of the Invisibles, Barbelith dies on Dec.22 2012. What does it mean for our universe? Why, that's it's about to be born, of course.

Tamayyurt

22:58 / 18.02.02

[Simple like with a child] So it's like a yolk sack in an egg that the fetal chick is feeding on...when the chick is ready to crack out of it's egg the sack is torn... got it. I love you guys.

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