Time is usually understood as a linear progression from past to present to future, but non-binary thinkers challenge this view. They argue that time can be experienced differently and that there are multiple ways of experiencing it simultaneously. This article will explore how non-binary understandings of time could expand our understanding of what it means to exist, potentially opening up new ontological possibilities for human life.
Non-binary time experiences can take many forms, including synchronic perception, diachronic perception, anachronistic perception, and kairotic perception. Synchronic perception involves perceiving all moments of time as happening simultaneously, while diachronic perception involves seeing events as sequential and progressive. Anachronistic perception involves shifting between different temporal planes, and kairotic perception involves being aware of opportunities in the moment.
By embracing these alternative perspectives, we may be able to see ourselves as multidimensional beings who exist across space and time, connecting with other realms and dimensions beyond our immediate experience. We might also learn to navigate time more effectively, taking advantage of its potential for transformation and renewal.
Non-binary time experiences can also pose challenges to traditional conceptions of reality. If we can see multiple timescales at once, do they coexist or intersect? Can we reconcile conflicting notions of the passage of time? What happens if we try to manipulate time, such as by time travel or reincarnation? How might non-binary time impact social structures like gender, race, class, and power?
Despite these complexities, exploring non-binary time offers a rich and exciting opportunity to rethink our place in the world. It encourages us to question assumptions about linearity, stability, and predictability and opens up new ways of thinking about consciousness, identity, and connection. By experimenting with alternative timeframes, we may gain greater agency over our lives and create more meaningful relationships with others and the environment around us.
How might non-binary understandings of time expand the ontological possibilities of being?
Non-binary understandings of time can expand our understanding of existence by allowing us to see it as an inherently flexible concept that cannot be limited to linear models of past, present, and future. Rather than viewing time as fixed and finite, we can acknowledge its fluidity and complexity, recognizing how it is shaped by multiple factors such as culture, language, social structures, and personal experiences.