Cognitive torque and its fruitful associations

Engaging with Globality through Cognitive Circlets (Part #4)

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The concern in the speculative exploration that follows is whether greater significance might be associated with such devices in practice, both in terms of their integrative capacity and the potential for psychoactive cognitive engagement. This necessarily goes beyond their mnemonic function and implies some form of existentially enhancing role. A potentially fruitful point of departure is the role of the torc as a more rigid form of necklace that has been the focus for symbolic and speculative treatment, as well as constituting a problematic symbol of high or low status -- even an indicator of property or enslavement in the latter case.

The torc (torq or torque) can be worn as an arm ring, a circular neck ring, or a form of necklace. Whereas a necklace or a rosary typically has a point of discontinuity, in the case of a torc it may be open-ended in that the ends do not meet -- the integrity being ensured by the rigidity of the material (typically metal). This is also true of the bracelet form or as a finger ring.

The significance of the torc may be understood through various fruitful associations:

Halo: as a halo (nimbus, aureole, glory, or gloriole), it is depicted as a ring of light that surrounds a person of spiritual significance, typically in religious art representing holy or sacred figures. So depicted, it may notably surround the head or be positioned as a ring above it. Rather than a ring, from some representations it is readily to be inferred that it is considered to be a sphere, namely a form of crown.

Mark of property and dominance:

• notably as a mark of enslavement, as offering a means through which slaves could be chained, Slave collars made of iron were used to discipline and identify slaves who were considered to be a risk of becoming runaways
• this being one controversial interpretation of its use on women, even of the highest social standing and irrespective of the quality of the torc
• in relation to dominance and bondage in a range of role-playing activities (known by the acronym BDSM) outside of commonly held social norms regarding sexuality and human relationships. A collar (possibly with an attached leash) is then a device of any material placed around the neck of the submissive partner -- owned by another.
  

Enabling "metapsychic powers": as enabling distinct "metapsychic" powers, notably as imaginatively explored in the science fiction series of Julian May (Saga of Pliocene Exile, notably The Golden Torc, 1982) where several torcs conferring such powers are distinguished: gold (ensuring complete operacy of those with latent powers), silver (ensuring control of the powers of the wearer by those wearing the golden form), grey (enabling only a degree of "farspeech" and ensuring control by those wearing the golden form). The series provided early imaginative support for understandings that now permeate online role-playing games and movie variants.

Signifying secular powers or bonds: as implying or conferring "powers" of some kind, if only in secular terms:

• "Collar":
  • a clerical collar (or "dog collar") worn by all ranks of Christian clergy. It was allegedly adopted as a symbolic gesture to reflect the iron collar that slaves were often made to wear around their necks.
  • a livery collar (or chain of office) is a collar or heavy chain (usually of gold, possibly linking jewels) worn as insignia of office or a mark of fealty or other association in Europe from the Middle Ages onwards. Related significance is attached to widespread current use of collars of orders of knighthood, mayoral collars, and collars of freemasonry regalia (with the addition of a suspended jewel indicative of rank and having distinct symbolic significance)
• Necklace: as a necklace (or neck ring), notably as associated with indigenous knowledge systems, for example:
  • the Native American tradition inspired the wearing of long-beaded necklaces (love beads) within the hippie culture and by its inheritors
  • inspired by Egyptian tradition, the community of Damanhur promotes the use of selfic bracelets
  • use of lapis lazuli (from Afghanistan and ancient Babylon to Peru and the Inca civilization) to form "power amulets" were formed when shaped into the form of an eye and ornamented with gold.
  • the sacred thread (Yajnopavita), accorded through a Hindu Brahmin ritual recognizing the status of twice-born. It symbolizes the connection between material and spiritual worlds and is composed of nine fine threads; three such threads being connected by a knot. As a whole, the thread is circular, normally supported on the left shoulder and wrapped around the body, falling underneath the right arm.
• Tiara: as a tiara, namely a semi-circular band, often metal, and decorated with jewels, which is worn (especially by women) as a form of adornment on very formal or high social occasions, possibly as a feature of bridal wear; tiaras are frequently used to "crown" the winners of beauty pageants. Award winners may be described as "officially entorced".
• Wreath: In contrast to metallic forms, are those woven from leaves or flowers. Wreaths are common to many cultures; laurel wreaths were used as a form of crown in classical Greece and Rome; the are depicted as part of the logo of the UN and some of its Specialized Agencies. Floral wreaths continue to be used as crowns at midsummer festivals, especially in Scandinavia (Elizabeth Jane Lloyd, Enchanted Circles, 1991) and in neo-pagan celebration of Beltane.
• Crown (the focus of Dimension 3): with arches or covering to the basic circlet arrangement of a tiara, typically indicating that the wearer's power, wisdom, and authority comes from on high as well as symbolizing power, rank, honor, victory, elevation, wealth, reward, perfection, and achievement:
  • as a crown of royalty
  • the papal tiara, being the symbol of his authority, is a high cap surrounded by three crowns and bearing a globe surmounted by a cross (see more extensive discussion of the triple crown in Dimension 3).
• Bracelet: as an anklet, bracelet, or arm ring, etc
• Ring: as a ring (whether on the finger, ear, toe, arm, or elsewhere), perhaps echoing or focusing the function of a necklace and the integrity (or sense of most highly valued wholeness and bonding) it implies, as indicated by:
  • as a mood ring, changing colour in response to the mood of the wearer
  • as a sentimental association
  • as a fraternity ring: notably as worn by students and by members of masonic and other fraternal lodges
  • as an engagement ring or as a wedding ring: presented in many marriage ceremonies to signify marital commitment (Matt Jacks, The History of the Wedding Ring: a recognizable symbol of love, 2008)
  • as a signet ring: an emblematic, often familial, ring, often bearing a coat of arms, notably for use to imprint a wax seal on official documents etc; may also be indicative of authority typically acknowledged in a ritual of kissing the ring as a recognition of fealty. Prominent examples are the papal Piscatory Ring and the ecclesiastical rings.
  • as a rosary ring: with 10 indentations and a cross on the surface, representing one decade of a rosary; used to keep track of place in the prayer by rotating the ring on a finger and feeling the marks.
  • as magical ring, the imaginative focus of many lengends and popular tales including The Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner, and that of J. R. R. Tolkien.(The Fellowship of the Ring; The Lord of the Rings; see commentary on The One Ring); also .Will Kalif (The Symbolism and the Power of the Ring in Epic Fantasy). In addition to their representation in movies, they also figure in internet role-playing games. In the Wiccan tradition, rings are ritually imbued with magical power as "witches' rings" -- presumably echoing processes of consecration of ecclesiastical rings.
    
  See further discussion in Peter Breslin (Sacred Geometry and Ring Symbolism, 2006),

Of particular interest is the associated use of piercing, recalling the practices of indigenous peoples and the symbolism (of wholeness?) they may have attached to rings used in this way. However piercing also suggests an intuitive sense of the higher dimensionality that can only be reflected at lower dimensionality through such "cuts" (in psychoanalytic terms). On the other hand, disparaging references are made to being led by "a ring through the nose" -- as with a bull.

Rings as a mode of psychosocial organization: Widespreads reference is made to "rings", as in organized crime (drug rings, call-girl rings, criminal rings), and web rings. (including a Witches Circle Web Ring). A related variant is reference to a circle of contacts or a circle of friends, possibly reflected in circle, ring and round dances, including those of children (Ring a Ring o' Roses). .In the Wiccan tradition the construction of a ring is of ceremonial significance (R.J. Thompson, Drawing the Witch's Ring of Art, 28 January 2008)

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