Unlocking the Brain’s Hidden Power: The Fusion of Ancient Dogon Rituals and Cutting-Edge Technology
Don Robinson
Social Innovation, Diverse Thinking, and Technology-Based learning in the 21st century. Using Ikigai 2.0 to develop a consistent voice and tone for your newsletter.
Warren Buffet once said, "Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing." Are we ready to face the consequences of unlocking the human mind?
Jeff Bezos remarked, "What's dangerous is not to evolve." But is all evolution good?
In contrast to the mythological interpretations of triple darkness, the Qur’anic concept of being "created in three veils of darkness" speaks to a different kind of sacred triad, one rooted in the mystery of physical creation. This description in Islamic scripture presents a remarkable parallel with ancient spiritual triads. In this case, however, the three layers refer to the biological gestation process.
Here, triple darkness symbolizes not life’s transitions but life’s potential—hidden and nurtured in layers of protection until the moment of birth. Just as the Triple Goddess represents the cyclical stages of life, the three veils of darkness represent the stages of physical formation, mirroring a different journey from potentiality to manifestation.
Scene: Pretoria, South Africa
General Mokoena leans forward, tapping a finger on the dossier before him. His dark eyes sweep the room, reflective of years of battle-hardened experience. Minister Miriam van Rensburg, wearing a fitted blazer, sits across from him, her fingers drumming lightly on the mahogany table, the hum of the ceiling fan filling the space between them.
General Mokoena: "The Dogon tribe’s knowledge of Sirius B must remain protected, "Mokoena’s gravelly voice reverberates off the walls. "Western intelligence agencies have begun sniffing around, searching for ways to discredit and appropriate their ancient rituals. We cannot let this happen."
Minister van Rensburg: "Their rituals, General... It's more than rituals now, isn’t it?" She pushes the dossier closer to him. "This... hypothesis from Tana. The idea is that the Dogon can perceive three versions of reality. What if they have mastered something we can’t even begin to understand?"
Mokoena pauses, eyes narrowing slightly, considering her words. He stands, moving toward the map of Africa, tapping at the Dogon region in Mali.
General Mokoena: "Their wisdom spans centuries. The Dogon’s knowledge of the cosmos predates even our most advanced modern astronomy. Sirius B, a star invisible to the naked eye, was charted in their ancient traditions long before it was discovered by Western science."He turns to face her. "Tana’s hypothesis—that they perceive three versions of reality—could explain how they tapped into knowledge we couldn’t even dream of."
Minister van Rensburg: “Three realities…” Her voice trails off, eyes flicking to the ceiling as if searching for the answers in the patterns of the fan blades. “So, if Tana’s right, the version of reality we’re living in is filtered. A distorted lens shaped by… what exactly?”
General Mokoena: "Conditioning. Fear. Ego."He clenches his fists as he returns to his seat. "The Dogon have a connection to the cosmos that we’ve long forgotten. They see what we refuse to. The three realities Tana spoke of are not separate truths but one singular truth seen through different lenses. The lens we wear is determined by our filters—how we’ve been conditioned to think and what we’re ready to see."
Van Rensburg leans forward, intrigued. The flicker of the overhead lights glints off her spectacles.
Minister van Rensburg: "You’re saying… they see more because they’re not constrained by the same filters we are?" She lowers her voice. "Then maybe our focus on military strategy and espionage isn’t enough. What if the real threat isn’t a foreign agency stealing secrets but us failing to understand this knowledge in time?"
Mokoena grunts in agreement, his jaw tightening.
General Mokoena: "If Tana’s right, the Dogon’s ability to tap into different layers of reality makes them a strategic asset beyond anything we’ve encountered." He leans forward, his gaze locked on van Rensburg. "But it’s not just about protecting the Dogon. We have to protect our future. We can’t allow other nations, or even our misled leaders, to manipulate this knowledge for gain. If this information falls into the wrong hands…"
His voice trails off, but the weight of the unsaid looms over the room.
Minister van Rensburg: "The consequences could be catastrophic."
Silence falls between them, both lost in thought. The hum of the ceiling fan, once background noise, now seems louder, more oppressive.
Minister van Rensburg: "We need Tana’s expertise. Get her in the room with us."
General Mokoena: "I’ve already arranged for it." A rare smirk tugs at the corner of his lips. "She arrives tomorrow."
Van Rensburg nods, understanding the gravity of what’s to come. As the meeting concludes, the lights flicker once more—an omen, perhaps, of the unseen forces they are about to challenge. And in that room, beneath the maps and the tension, the ancient wisdom of the Dogon tribe waits to be revealed, layered in truths that only the prepared can perceive, along with the power of a hungry AI guided by greed.
The Race for the Algorithm
The shadowy figure Silk reemerges from Innovation is a Double-Edged Sword funding another questionably ethical technology. Companies use his services to avoid controversial research necessary to explore these financial opportunities. Silk hired Jax to help bring this lucrative project online.
Jax sat in a tech lab, the screen before him alive with cryptic codes. His team worked in silence, their focus razor-sharp. They were closer than anyone had ever been to creating an algorithm that could interpret and adapt to the shifting biochemistry of the human brain. And this was no ordinary human. It was designed to evolve after receiving the ancient initiation of the Dogon tribe.
The initiation was more than a ritual; it was an unlocking. The sacred ceremony passed down through generations altered the brain's neural pathways, tapping into a long-dormant part of the mind. The Dogon believed this was the key to transcendent knowledge, connecting them to the cosmos. Jax, however, saw something more—a tool. One that could manipulate not just the individual but entire systems of power.
"We're almost there," one of his lead coders whispered, eyes glued to the data feed. "The neural mapping is holding stable even after the simulated initiation."
"Good," Jax replied, calm but charged with hidden intensity. Jax leaned back, watching the cascading lines of code as if they were the very strands of fate being woven. "Once we have this, we can reprogram them all—one brain at a time."
The urgency of their work was fueled by a competitor who had caught wind of the mission. Corporate giants had begun to take notice, sniffing at the trail Jax’s team had left behind in the AI community. Jax knew the executives were watching. They were curious, but most importantly, they were vulnerable.
Silk’s plan was simple. Once the algorithm was perfected, it would seduce the Corporate executives' minds, gently rewriting their desires to align with her destructive agenda. They would never see it coming. Silk would whisper promises of power and transcendence into their ears, guiding them to the edge of their
undoing. Silk’s weapon wasn’t force—it was the elegance of control.
"How long until it's ready?" Jax asked, his gaze hardening.
"Hours, maybe less," the coder replied.
"Good," he said again, his smile curving in the shadows. "Get it done."
The Seduction of Power
The boardroom was immaculate, the kind of place where the flick of a pen-shaped empires. Around the polished glass table was a small group of the most influential executives in the world, each one silently regarding Jax, their eyes filled with suspicion and curiosity. He stood at the head of the table, dressed in an understated yet sharp black suit, her presence commanding without effort.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Jax began, his voice smooth as silk, "I present to you the future of human evolution."
Behind him, a holographic display flickered to life, revealing intricate visuals of the human brain. The executives leaned forward, captivated by the neural maps that pulsed on the screen, shifting in real-time as though the brain was alive.
"This," Jax continued, "is an AI algorithm designed to adapt to the changes in brain chemistry after a very specific initiation. One that awakens parts of the mind, long thoughts that are unreachable. The Dogon tribe has known of this power for centuries, and now, with our technology, we can harness it."
The executives exchanged glances. They had heard rumors—whispers of a secret project that could control the brain in ways never before imagined. But Jax wasn’t just offering control—he was offering them -power.
"The algorithm doesn’t just read the brain," he said, pacing slowly, his heels clicking softly on the floor. "It adapts. It learns. It evolves with the individual, subtly guiding them toward decisions that benefit us all. Imagine influencing entire markets governments without ever lifting a finger."
He paused, letting the idea sink in.
One of the executives, a grizzled veteran of corporate warfare, leaned back in his chair, skeptical. "What’s in it for you?"
Jax smiled, a predatory glint flashing in her eyes. "I’m not interested in power for myself," He lied, his voice like honey. "I’m interested in reshaping the world—starting with the people who can do it. People like you." He knew that Silk had plans for this technology for beyond what Jax hinted in the presentation.
Jax watched as their faces shifted, the allure of omnipotence sinking its teeth into their ambition. They didn’t know that the moment they agreed, they would be signing over not just their companies but their minds. The algorithm, once integrated, would subtly influence their thoughts, nudging them toward Silk’s hidden objectives.
"All I ask," Jax said, his voice lowering into a conspiratorial tone, "is for your trust. Together, we can achieve what no one else has even imagined."
The room fell into silence, the weight of his words pressing down on them. The executives began to nod one by one, their hesitation fading like morning mist. They had no idea that they were stepping into a carefully laid trap.
Silk watched from through a satellite feed from a remote location, satisfied. The algorithm was already working, invisibly rewiring their neural pathways, feeding on their deepest desires for control. Soon, they would be his—pawns in a game they never knew existed.
And by the time they realized the truth, it would be too late.
The Dream in the Desert
Tana Maeko lay restless in her tent under the vast Malian night sky. The warmth of the day had given way to the cold, but the temperature wasn’t keeping her awake. Something stirred in the air—an energy that prickled her senses. She had come to Mali as part of a scientific expedition funded by a mysterious company linked to Harvard University. Still, something about this journey had always felt off to her. The company wasn’t just interested in research. They were after something much more valuable—the ancient psychoactive herbs used by the Dogon tribe, said to induce prophetic trances. And they were willing to do anything to get it.
That night, as her exhaustion took hold, Tana finally fell asleep. But it was no ordinary slumber. In her dream, she stood before an ancient Dogon shrine, its weathered stones glowing under the light of a star-filled sky. The air buzzed with a low, melodic hum. Suddenly, three towering figures appeared before her—women cloaked in shadow, their faces obscured by darkness. She could sense they were ageless, embodying something far older than time.
“You stand at the threshold of knowledge,” one of the figures said, her voice echoing the wind through ancient cliffs. “Three stages of life, three veils of darkness, three paths to understanding. But the path you walk is fraught with danger. You must protect the knowledge from those who seek to exploit it.”
Tana’s heart pounded as the veils surrounding the women parted, revealing layers of cosmic energy swirling in the void. She felt like falling into a bottomless well of time and space. The women spoke again in unison: “The secrets of the Dogon cannot be bought. They belong to the earth and the stars.”
Just as quickly as it began, the dream shattered, and Tana awoke, gasping for air, her mind spinning. The message was clear—this was no ordinary expedition, and the fate of the Dogon’s sacred knowledge was at stake.
The Discovery and the Betrayal
Later that evening, as the sun set behind the cliffs, Tana ventured out alone. Guided by the memory of her dream, she made her way to a hidden cave the Dogon elders had hinted at but never revealed. Inside, the air was thick with incense, and the walls were lined with ancient symbols depicting the stars, the moon, and veiled figures. In the center of the cave, on a stone altar, lay the herbs the company sought—small, unassuming plants with leaves shimmering faintly in the dim light.
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Tana knelt before the altar, a sense of awe washing over her. This was the key to the Dogon’s visions, the herbs that connected them to the triple darkness—the unseen realms of existence. A noise behind her made her freeze as she reached out to touch the plants.
Dr. Harland and a group of armed men stepped into the cave. “You’ve found it,” Harland said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. “I knew you’d lead us here.”
Tana’s heart sank. She had been followed. “You can’t do this, Harland,” she said, standing tall. “These herbs, this knowledge—not meant for you to steal.”
“It’s not stealing if it’s progress, Maeko,” he said coldly. “We’re making history.”
One of the soldiers stepped forward, but before he could reach the altar, the ground beneath them began to tremble. The cave walls seemed to pulse with energy, and suddenly, the exact three shadowy figures from Tana’s dream appeared, their forms materializing out of the darkness. The soldiers recoiled, weapons drawn, but it was too late. The figures raised their hands, and the cave filled with a blinding light.
“You have been warned,” the figures said, echoing through the chamber. “This knowledge is not for the taking.”
As the light faded, the soldiers lay unconscious on the ground, their weapons scattered. Tana stood in awe, her body trembling. The figures turned to her, their voices softer now. “You must protect the balance, Tana Maeko. The knowledge is safe—for now.”
[Tana thought she had awakened from her last dream only to find out she was still dreaming.]
She sat up and nodded, her path now clear. She would stand with the Dogon, even if it meant risking everything. The company had underestimated the power of the ancient secrets, and Tana knew that the only way to protect them truly was to fight for the tribe’s right to their knowledge, their destiny—hidden in the veils of triple darkness.
The Hidden Agenda
The following day, Tana joined the rest of the expedition team at the dig site, her mind still reeling from the dream. The Dogon elders had welcomed the researchers, but the tension was palpable. The tribal leaders had long been wary of outsiders, and rightly so. The company funding the expedition had yet to come for academic purposes. They were interested in patenting the Dogon’s sacred herbs—plants used for centuries to induce heightened states of consciousness and visions of the cosmos.
Standing by the ancient cliffs of the Bandiagara Escarpment, Tana couldn’t shake the feeling of impending danger. She had seen how the company’s representatives—the scientists and their hired private military personnel—had begun to strong-arm the local people, applying pressure to access secret rituals and restricted areas. Their leader, Dr. Harland, a cold and calculating man, had grown frustrated with the tribe’s reluctance to share their herbs.
“We’re close, Tana,” Dr. Harland said, approaching her as she examined the rocks. “The herbs—they’re more powerful than we thought. If we can isolate the compounds, we’ll have something the world’s never seen. You understand what this means for science, don’t you? For humanity?”
Tana frowned, gripping the stone tightly. “You’re talking about exploiting something sacred. The Dogon don’t just use the herbs for visions—they’re part of their connection to the cosmos, their way of understanding life. You can’t just patent that.”
Dr. Harland’s eyes narrowed, his smile fading. “This isn’t about tradition, Tana. It’s about progress. The world moves forward whether we like it or not. And those who can’t adapt get left behind.”
As he turned and walked away, Tana’s resolve hardened. She had grown close to the tribe during her time here, and she couldn’t let them be used by corporate greed. However, defying the company would be dangerous, as armed private military groups oversee the expedition. She was already deep—more profound than she had realized—and the stakes were growing higher by the day.
The Sacred Triad in Mythology and Spirituality
A Stand Against the Company
As Tana stepped out of the cave, the weight of her decision sank in. The scorching Malian sun had set, leaving the landscape bathed in deep twilight. Her mind raced, but her path was set—she would fight for the Dogon. The company, with all its corporate muscle and hired guns, was no match for the sacred power she had just witnessed. Still, she knew that standing against them wouldn’t be easy. The private military group backing Dr. Harland wouldn’t back down, and soon, they would come looking for their fallen men.
Tana returned to the village, where the Dogon elders were already waiting. Their faces were solemn, yet their eyes had a sense of quiet understanding. She had earned their trust; now, they would share their most guarded secrets with her.
"The veils of darkness are not just in the physical realm, Tana," the eldest of the tribe began, his voice gravelly with age but still commanding. "They exist within the layers of existence, the stages of life and death. Just as the triple darkness of the womb protects the unborn, so does the cosmos' triple darkness protect the knowledge of the stars."
Tana felt the gravity of his words. She had thought of the triple darkness as merely a scientific or mystical concept, but now she understood—it was far more. It represented the different stages of existence, much like the Moirai and Norns she had studied in her earlier academic work. The Dogon’s triple darkness was not just a protective force but an ancient cosmic principle woven into the fabric of all life.
As they prepared for the inevitable clash with the company’s forces, Tana felt a deep connection to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Her mind returned to her academic studies of mythology, where similar principles had always guided humanity’s understanding of existence.
The Unfolding of Fate
Night had fallen completely when Tana was sitting by the fire, her thoughts drifting back to her research before joining the expedition. She had always been drawn to fate—the concept that some higher force wove the threads of life and death, determining the outcome of all things. She had read extensively about the Moirai, the Greek Fates, who spun, measured, and cut the threads of every mortal’s life. These three figures were, like the Dogon’s veils, guardians of destiny, presiding over the natural cycle of birth, life, and death.
In Norse mythology, the Norns served a similar role, governing the world's fate, existing outside of time and space yet profoundly connected to the lives of every being. They embodied the cyclical nature of existence, representing youth, maturity, and old age, just as the Moirai did. And now, Tana saw how these ancient, mythological constructs mirrored the Dogon’s understanding of the cosmos and their connection to triple darkness.
As the stars flickered above, she realized that the struggle she now faced wasn’t just about preserving herbs or rituals—it was about safeguarding a timeless truth. The Moirai, the Norns, and the Dogon elders all spoke of the same fundamental principle: the power of three, the triple stages of existence, and the inescapable flow of destiny. Whether in myth or reality, this knowledge had always been hidden, layered in veils of mystery, accessible only to those who dared to look beyond the surface.
With the coming dawn, she would face the company again. But now, Tana understood this fight wasn’t just about preserving culture. It was about protecting humanity’s connection to something far older—something that transcended borders, languages, and even time itself. The triple darkness had revealed its secrets, and Tana knew she was now part of something much more significant.
The Meeting in Pretoria
High-ranking South African officials gathered around a mahogany table in a conference room within the heart of Pretoria’s government offices. Maps of Africa and tribal regions adorned the walls. At the head of the table sat General Mokoena, a man known for his calm yet commanding presence. Across from him, the Minister of State Security, Miriam van Rensburg, reviewed a classified dossier marked "Top Secret: Dogon Intelligence and AI."
"The Dogon tribe’s knowledge of Sirius B must remain protected and not be used to power some rogue AI algorithm," Mokoena began, his gravelly voice cutting through the tension in the room. "Western intelligence and AI corporate interests have begun sniffing around, searching for ways to discredit and appropriate their ancient rituals. We cannot let this happen."
Van Rensburg nodded, her brow furrowed. "The Westerners think it’s just mythology. They have no idea how the Dogon rituals elevate perception, making the unseen visible. This knowledge has been passed down for generations. It’s sacred and cannot be weaponized."
"We’ll need to deploy a team," Mokoena said firmly. "The Western spies are getting closer. If they uncover the truth behind the Dogon’s abilities, it could shift the global power balance."
A Hidden World
In the heart of Mali, deep in the cliffs of the Bandiagara Escarpment, the Dogon tribe gathered for a sacred ceremony. The rhythmic sound of drums echoed through the mountains while the air was thick with incense and smoke. Elders, their faces painted with intricate patterns, led the younger initiates in chants that resonated with the frequencies of the cosmos. Among them was N’Dali- Tana’s trusted tribal confident, a young tribesman whose eyes burned with intensity. He had recently undergone the ancient rites that granted him heightened perception.
As the stars twinkled in the sky, the elders guided N’Dali and the others into a trance. They spoke of the celestial bodies, of the invisible star that moved alongside Sirius A—Sirius B. The Dogon had known of its existence for centuries, long before Western telescopes had confirmed it.
Miles away, Tana automatically felt a strong emotion related to her friend N’Dali. Suddenly, N’Dali's eyes snapped open. He could feel something—an intrusion. The air shifted, and in his heightened state, he sensed the presence of foreign eyes watching from afar. "The spies are here," he whispered to his elder.
The elder nodded grimly. "We knew they would come. It’s time to protect the whispers of our ancestors from the intruders."
The Spy’s Pursuit
A hundred kilometers away, on the outskirts of the Dogon territory, a covert Western intelligence team funded by Silk and a few wealthy Saudi investors watched through long-range surveillance equipment. Special Agent Mark Hamilton, a retired government operative from MI6, had been hired to uncover the tribe’s ancient secrets. He’d been trailing their rituals for months, watching their ceremonies with growing fascination. Despite his skepticism, he couldn’t deny the precision of the Dogon’s astronomical knowledge.
“Zoom in,” Hamilton ordered, leaning over a high-tech monitor. The camera lens focused on the tribe’s ceremony, picking up glimpses of what appeared to be an otherworldly trance.
“I’ve never seen anything like this,” muttered one of his team members, eyes wide.
Suddenly, the feed went dark. Static filled the screen, and the equipment began to malfunction. Hamilton cursed under his breath and scrambled to reset the instruments, but nothing worked.
“Something’s wrong. It’s like they know we’re watching,” Hamilton said, his voice tense.
“They do,” a voice responded behind him. Hamilton whipped around to see a group of South African operatives, weapons drawn. At the front of the team was Colonel Thandiwe Zulu, a steely-eyed woman with a reputation for getting things done.
“You’re trespassing on sacred ground,” Zulu said coldly. “We won’t let you steal the Dogon’s secrets.”
A Sacred Shield
Zulu stepped forward, her eyes locking with Hamilton’s. "You’ll leave now," she ordered, her tone brooking no argument. "If you return, you won’t be so lucky."
Reluctantly, Hamilton nodded. He and his team packed up, retreating into the wilderness. After reaching the wilderness edge, they spun around and fired at Zulu’s unit.
Tana crouched low behind a boulder, her breath steady as she watched the communication device lying in the dirt a few feet away. The faint crackle of static cut through the tense silence, followed by Jax's unmistakable voice, smooth but demanding.
“Team Alpha, report. Did you capture the initiate code for N'Dali?”
Tana’s heart raced. Colonel Thandiwe Zulu had already dealt with the mercenaries sent by Silk, the shadowy corporation pulling the strings behind this operation. The team Jax was checking on had been neutralized, and their devices were left scattered on the ground, but clearly, Jax wasn’t aware of that yet. His voice, casual and confident, was a reminder of the danger that still loomed.
She glanced at the fallen mercenaries, their bodies hidden in the shadows, victims of Zulu’s swift and precise action. Tana knew the initiate code for N'Dali was the key to unlocking whatever Silk’s algorithm was after. If Jax found out the team had failed, he would send more men, and the relentless pursuit would continue.
Her fingers itched to grab the device and respond, to throw him off course, but she hesitated. Zulu had warned her—any mistake, any misstep, and Silk would close in faster than they could react. She needed to think fast.
The device crackled again. “Team Alpha, are you there?”
Tana locked eyes with Zulu, who had just emerged silently from the darkness, her eyes cold and calculating. Zulu gave a single, sharp nod.
Tana reached for the device without missing a beat, steadying her breath as she pressed the button. In a voice just gruff enough to pass, she replied, “Code secured. Moving to extraction.”
There was a long pause on the other end. Then Jax’s voice returned, this time more measured. “Good. Don't fail us.”
The line went dead. Tana exhaled, the weight of the moment lifting just slightly. Zulu stepped forward, her expression grim but approving. “You just bought us some time,” she said quietly, “but we need to move.”
Tana nodded, adrenaline still coursing through her veins. The fight wasn’t over—not by a long shot. But for now, they had a sliver of an advantage. And in this dangerous game of ancient secrets and corporate greed, a sliver was all they needed.
With one last glance at the communication device, they disappeared into the night, and the fate of the Dogon—hanging in the balance.