Words can be a labyrinth, a maze of endless twists and turns where meaning gets lost in the vastness of linguistic infinity. But sometimes, the best way to grasp complex ideas is through the lens of pop culture. It’s like using a cartoon map to navigate the cosmos – simplistic, yet oddly effective.

Enter Rick and Morty, a show that’s more than just burp jokes and interdimensional cable. In its early seasons, it served up a heaping plate of existential crisis with a side of pickle humor. At the center of this cosmic comedy is Rick Sanchez, a character who embodies the concept of unlimited potential.

Rick isn’t just a drunk grandpa with a flying car. He’s a walking, talking multiverse jumper, a Quantum Leap’er if you will, capable of jumping between realities like we change channels using his trustee portal gun. He’s got the power to rewrite reality, create life, and destroy entire civilizations before breakfast. In essence, Rick is us.

Now, you might be thinking, “I’m nothing like Rick. I can barely decide what to have for lunch, let alone manipulate the fabric of spacetime.” But Rick is us – Rick is an archetype, a funhouse mirror reflection of our own infinite nature. And I promise you that it is not a lie to say that you too create and manipulate within other worlds; because your thoughts, and the inner aspects of yourself, are far more powerful than you can imagine.

But what are archetypes? Archetypes are like the source code of human experience. They’re the recurring characters in the story of existence, showing up in myths, dreams, and yes, even adult cartoons. These universal patterns represent fundamental human motifs, embodying various aspects of the human experience. When we encounter an archetype, we’re essentially meeting a part of ourselves dressed up in metaphorical costume.
In Rick’s case, he’s the embodiment of unlimited potential. He represents the part of us that knows, deep down, that we’re capable of anything. But with that realization comes a hefty price tag – the crushing weight of infinite possibility.

Imagine for a moment that you could do anything, be anyone, go anywhere. Imagine for a moment that like Rick Sanchez, One Punch Man, or Bugs Bunny, you can do anything; you have removed that limiter that you have (that has been) put upon you. You are no longer the dogmatic ally, you are not a meat machine and an object world, you are instead unlimited. Sounds great, right? But then the questions start rolling in. If you can do anything, what should you do? If every choice creates a new universe, does any choice really matter? If there are infinite versions of you making every possible decision, are you even you anymore?

This is where Rick’s nihilism comes into play. When faced with the vastness of infinite potential, Rick often chooses to numb himself with alcohol and meaningless adventures. It’s easier to pretend nothing matters than to grapple with the responsibility of infinite choice.

But here’s where we can learn from Rick’s mistakes. Facing our own infinite nature doesn’t have to lead to nihilism. Instead, it can be a gateway to profound self-discovery and growth. The key is to embrace the possibility of it without getting lost in it.

And I hear you, you keep saying that you are not Rick. You don’t have some genius intellect that can allow you to create infinite gadgets. Don’t have a portal gun. But just like any archetype, there are metaphors within metaphors. In this case Rick is a reflection of the times; the only way that we could possibly find such endless freedom and potential in modern culture. Rick becomes a little more real because of the fact that he uses technology to become omnipotent. He is the modern version of the wizard.

At this point in history, technology is king. The minutia of little contraptions, each building upon the rest, are all that modern humanity has, to represent true power in this modern Western age. As such, Rick represents an archetype modeled and suited for these modern times, made slightly evermore realistic, more contemporary, by using the beliefs of the times.

But such beliefs, such dogma of the modern age, are just outer fashion, the modern version, of a far bigger secret that hides inside that archetype, that metaphor. That secret is the fact that we have incredible potential, and that potential has little to do with the contraptions in our lives. We are more than our contraptions!

You can think of such contraptions as external manifestations of the great potential genius/genie within us. You can think of them as small and dull rays that come from an infinite sun of potential and creativity within us. An unknown. A something without words that speaks to us and allows us to feel that within ourselves exists so much more.

Ever Expanding Awareness

By understanding that unknown, we understand ourselves. But this is a difficult thing because the unknown is the unknown because it is beyond the words, the dogma, the beliefs, the mind, of the modern times. The best that I can do is give this way, these techniques, this methodology, a name, term; and I have called it inner alchemy. Inner alchemy is the ability to go within, and through that introspection, that diving into ourselves as fearless psychonaughts, exploring the very depths of ourselves, discover amazing things. First and foremost, we find that we are far bigger on the inside than we are on the outside. We discover entire terrains, vast lands, infinite universes to explore. And through that exploration we expand.

As we delve deeper into the art of inner alchemy, we uncover a profound truth: the essence of this ancient practice lies in the expansion of awareness. An inner alchemist’s journey is one of constant growth, pushing the boundaries of perception and unlocking new realms of potential.

This expansion of awareness isn’t just about seeing more; it’s about becoming more. As our consciousness unfurls, we discover an ever-expanding canvas of possibilities. Suddenly, we can do more because we perceive more. Our intentions gain power, shaping reality in ways we never thought possible.

But here’s where it gets truly mind-bending. Inner alchemy shows us in direct and practical ways that those fleeting daydreams we’ve dismissed our entire lives are very real things. Truly, they are quite literally portals to infinity. Each seemingly insignificant thought contains universes of action and exploration. We’ve been trained to believe we’re limited beings, perceiving the world only through our physical senses. But there’s more to us than meets the eye.

Hidden within us are faculties that can plumb the depths of our inner worlds. Our thoughts aren’t confined to the cramped space between our ears. They expand and express themselves in a realm beyond physical sensation. If we could maintain focus and dive deep into these daydreams, we’d discover that we’re constantly dancing with infinite possibilities.

We’re not so different from Rick Sanchez after all. Like him, we possess the potential to perceive and interact with countless realities. In our daydreams, we explore scenarios where we live or die, where people come and go, where we pursue endless variations of our desires. What we consider “inner reality” is actually a vast multiverse of potential: this is the true secret of inner alchemy.

This realization can be both exhilarating and terrifying. As inner alchemists progress, they confront the same existential dilemma that plagues Rick: the face of the unknowable. It’s like staring into a cosmic singularity, a black hole that warps the very fabric of our understanding.

The Way Out is Through

Faced with this infinite expanse, it’s easy to spiral into nihilism. We might feel lost, questioning our identity and purpose in a sea of endless possibilities. But this is just one moment, infinite perhaps and beyond rational measure to be sure, but still just one intensity point in the grand expanse of self-experience.

The key is to recognize that we can’t truly run from ourselves. That crushing sense of meaninglessness is fleeting. If we turn our awareness towards it, trying to pin it down, it vanishes like smoke. Why? Because at our core, we are not nothing. We are, in every moment, undeniably ourselves.

As we expand our awareness, even through adventures that seem to negate our very being, we’re actually growing. That part of us that observes and experiences is becoming more vast, more aware. Instead of dissolving into a nihilistic void, we’re evolving into something greater.
The way out of this existential maze is through it. Like Rick, we might feel overwhelmed by the infinity of possible selves and realities. We might fear we’ve lost our sense of identity or the meaning of love. But this is just a phase in the grand journey of being.

By facing the vastness head-on, by diving into those infinite daydreams and exploring the furthest reaches of our consciousness, we don’t become less. We become more. Our awareness expands, our potential grows, and we emerge not as nihilistic monsters, but as beings of ever-increasing complexity and wonder.

The true art of inner alchemy isn’t about escaping reality or losing ourselves in infinite possibilities. It’s about embracing the vastness within and without, transmuting the lead of limited perception into the gold of expanded consciousness. As we master this art, we don’t just change ourselves – we transform the very nature of our reality.

An Example

It’s difficult to explain what is possible. It’s hard sometimes to think of ourselves as powerful as a cartoon character like Rick Sanchez. It’s easy to look at such a simple cartoon and ignore the underlying truth beneath it, because that rational, that most indoctrinated and highly dogmatic aspect of ourselves, endlessly repeats supposed truths. It tells us that this is a cartoon. It tells us that this is pure imagination. It tells us that it is for children, imaginative, but still not real.
The connections become difficult, and it become so easy to just ignore that feeling deep within us that tells us that there is more to reality, more to us. For that reason I sometimes find myself at a loss to find ways to try to explain, to try to explain the greater reality, the greater potential within each of us.

To that end, please forgive this potentially egoistic indulgence; at least that’s what it might sound like to some. Allow me to indulge a little in highlighting what is possible, by pointing out what is possible for me. And please note, I am no master, but perhaps through my experience I can highlight a little, of what is possible and how it is that we truly are in many ways Rick Sanchez.

As an inner alchemist, I’ve cultivated the ability to perceive each moment in time with ‘relatively’ extraordinary depth. What might seem like a fleeting daydream to the average person becomes, for me, a doorway to new dimensions at times. Through focused attention and refined awareness, I can step into these projections of thought and experience them as fully as one might experience physical reality.

These daydream-like realities are not vague or fleeting—they are vivid and tangible. My internal senses within these spaces are as sharp and precise ‘at times’ as the external senses of an average person. I can see, touch, feel, and even taste within these inner worlds with a clarity that makes them as real as anything experienced in physical space. Through this ability, I can exist in extended times and perceptions, exploring realms that are impossible to access through physical senses but are, to me, entirely real.

This practice is something I call “The Way of the Projectionist,” a technique I’ve written about extensively. It’s not an ability reserved for me or a select few—it’s something anyone can learn and develop if they dedicate themselves to the techniques of inner alchemy. By practicing these methods, you too can expand your awareness and unlock the ability to explore the infinite possibilities contained within your own mind.

As a projectionist, you begin to understand that every thought, every idea you’ve ever had contains within it an entire universe waiting to be explored. What might seem like idle imagination is actually a vast realm of potential action and experience. Within these realms, you can perceive an infinitude of possibilities—an endless array of worlds, scenarios, and outcomes. This expanded awareness allows you to touch infinity itself, standing at the edge of what I call “the maw of singularity.”

But standing in this singularity—the black hole of infinite possibility—can be overwhelming. It’s easy to feel like Rick Sanchez or even the Joker after his mind breaks under the weight of all that can be perceived. The human mind, with its limitations and imposed walls, struggles to cope with this vastness. It breaks under the pressure, unable to maintain the routine patterns that define everyday existence. In this moment, you become something else entirely.
This breaking of the old mind can feel like insanity—a loss of the familiar self—but it’s also a necessary step in understanding your true potential. As you come to terms with this transformation, you realize that nihilism is not the end. The despair you might feel when confronted with infinite possibility is just a phase—a fleeting shadow cast by your expanding awareness.

The key is to go beyond nihilism by recognizing that you can never truly become nothing. The void that seems so overwhelming is not emptiness—it’s a space filled with your presence and potential. As you embrace this truth, a whole new world opens up before you. What once seemed like an endless black hole becomes the frontier of a new beginning.

Indeed, as some scientific theories suggest, even within actual black holes there may exist entire universes. Similarly, within the perceived void of expanded consciousness lies the potential for creation—a new world waiting to be born from your awareness.

By embracing these techniques and cultivating your own abilities as a projectionist, you too can step into this expanded reality. You can overcome despair and find meaning in infinity. You can discover that within what seemed like darkness lies light—within what seemed like nothingness lies everything. And in doing so, you stand not at an end but at the threshold of endless possibilities—a new world waiting to unfold before you.As we conclude this exploration of inner alchemy, the nihilism of Rick Sanchez, and the art of the projectionist, it’s crucial to recognize that you, too, can embark on this journey of expanded awareness. Many of us already sense an intuitive feeling that there’s more to reality than meets the eye. This inkling often leads to a brush with nihilism as we grapple with the vastness of possibility; especially if you have been incorporating the techniques of inner alchemy and have begun to personally experience the infinite possibilities out there.

No End, Just New Beginnings

You might find yourself feeling like Rick Sanchez, questioning the nature of reality, pondering simulation theory, or feeling trapped in an inescapable existential dread. These are common waypoints on the path of inner exploration.
But here’s where the inner alchemist must dig deep and find the strength to press on. It’s about cultivating self-discipline and understanding that each mind-shattering revelation, each seemingly insurmountable void, is not an end but a gateway to new realms of discovery.

Every time your old perception of reality crumbles, a new world of exploration opens up. It’s like standing at the threshold of a black hole and seeing not oblivion, but the birth of new universes. Each shattered paradigm is a fresh dawn breaking over unexplored territories of consciousness.

To truly embrace this journey, the inner alchemist must become a psychonaut – a fearless explorer of the mind’s furthest reaches. Like a battle-hardened veteran of a thousand psychic wars, you learn to face the abyss with excitement rather than fear. You begin to trust in your own being, knowing that each expansion of self leads to greater possibilities and new laws of existence.

In this light, nihilism transforms from a dead end into a frontier. It becomes the border between what was and what could be. As you push these boundaries, you’ll find that meaning isn’t something you discover – it’s something you create through your explorations and experiences.

So, as you stand before the seeming void, remember: you’re not facing an end, but a new beginning. The expanses of your mind are as vast and full of potential as the cosmos itself. By embracing the art of the projectionist and the path of inner alchemy, you open yourself to infinite possibilities, each one a chance to forge new meaning in the philosopher’s crucible, the alchemical vessel, of expanded awareness.

Your eyes can be used to look into boredom and nihilism or they can be used to peek into infinity!