Sci-Fi, Reality & The Search for Truth
Fabio da Silva Fernandes knows what it's like to stumble. In 2021, he left his long career in the fintech industry to start his own wellness practice focused on mindfulness and Reiki, and now he explores the complex topic of resilience on his inspiring podcast called The Stumbling Spirit.
As a Gen Xer, I grew up in the heyday of contemporary sci-fi between the daily reruns of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek, the birth of George Lucas’s Star Wars, and Steven Spielberg’s string of classics, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. Other Hollywood hits depicted fictional dystopias like Battlestar Galactica, Blade Runner, and Terminator. Of course, who can forget FBI agents Mulder and Scully in the popular 1990s TV series The X-Files? Now that we are a quarter through the 21st century, art is scarily imitating life when we consider the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and modern space exploration, i.e., SpaceX, Mars rovers, and telescopes like Hubble and James Webb. Moreover, there are ongoing congressional hearings in Washington, D.C., about Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). And then, there is interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, which is behaving strangely, with one renowned scientist positing that it might be alien technology instead of a common comet. So what happens when science fiction becomes reality or clashes with our sense of reality? What is the truth? In this age of sustained uncertainty and general strife testing our collective resilience, perhaps we are searching for a larger-than-life superhero to save us from ourselves and remind us who we are as humans.
The ethics of AI
In Terminator, there is an AI technology company called Skynet that loses control over its cyborg creations, which end up turning on humanity and taking over the world. While this scenario sounds extreme, organizations like UNESCO's Global AI Ethics and Governance Observatory have discussed the risks of AI and created a framework "to provide a global resource for policymakers, regulators, academics, the private sector, and civil society to find solutions to the most pressing challenges posed by artificial intelligence." UNESCO produced a recommendation document in 2021 that was adopted by 193 member nations.
While AI presents a range of benefits such as speed and efficiency in data processing and analytics, which can assist scientists, healthcare providers, and the average person, there are potentially negative implications like redundancies in human employment in some sectors, increased bias due to misinformation, the lack of social interaction, and the further degradation of the environment, just to name a few.
The challenge for AI risk mitigation efforts will be to keep up with the rate of technological change.
Related article: The Best Myth - Why Bestness Is The Death Of Excellence
The aliens we label
The term alien, meaning foreign, entered the English language sometime between the 12th and 16th centuries, borrowing from Old French and Latin as per the Oxford English Dictionary.
When I lived in Ireland for a short period in the late ’90s, I was called an alien in an official government document. At the time, I found it both odd and humorous. In Canada, the term foreign national is used to mean foreigner instead of alien.
Throughout human existence, different groups have labeled others as aliens, typically immigrants. Now, nations such as the UK are exploring high-tech solutions to help distinguish between aliens (or foreigners) and national citizens with the introduction of digital IDs, which it wants implemented by 2029. While the UK government says that digital IDs will make it easier for Brits to access public services such as education, Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently said that they would "make it tougher to work illegally in this country (UK), making our borders more secure," as per Al Jazeera.
The aliens of lore
From a theological perspective, one can argue that UAPs are the angels of the past. In various folklores, there are references to elementals such as faeries, elves, trolls, and gnomes, which, by today’s definition, might be considered aliens. The same would be true for ancient cultures that worshiped all-powerful gods who were attributed to both creation and destruction myths.
One myth that has captured our imagination is the fabled Atlantis. Did Plato make up this cautionary tale, or is it based on an actual event from the distant past? Was there a cataclysm that destroyed an advanced civilization on Earth? Some "ancient astronaut theorists" might argue that Atlantis was once an advanced alien society that sank into the abyss. As outlandish as this sounds, we still don’t entirely know what lies on our ocean floors.
Conversely, to this day, we marvel at architectural feats like the pyramids of ancient Egypt, the temples of ancient Maya, and megalithic structures like Stonehenge. While there remain outstanding questions about how these complex constructions were built with such precision, some are quick to claim that extraterrestrials are responsible for them rather than believe in the brilliance of our human ancestors and the possibility that this ancient knowledge is simply lost to the sands of time.
It is quite possible that the legendary 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, catapulted the popularity of the sci-fi genre in the 20th century up until the present day.
In addition to blockbuster movies, there are bestselling books like Whitley Strieber’s Communion, which recounts the author’s alleged alien abduction experiences. The classic cover of this memoir depicts the now ubiquitous grey alien with a bulbous head and large dark eyes.
The aliens we seek
So, are we alone? For some, it is a forgone conclusion.
While definitive proof of aliens has yet to be disclosed, we continue to search for answers. Now, with smartphones, the public at large is recording purported UAP sightings and posting clips on social media. For decades, annual UFO conferences have brought together experts and experiencers from around the world to share their latest stories and data to support the existence of UAPs, extraterrestrials, and to explain the unknown.
Reality shows like The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and its spin-off Beyond Skinwalker Ranch try to explain alleged paranormal activity at certain geographic locations through scientific experimentation, i.e., UAP sightings, inter-dimensional portals, and animal mutilations.
Earlier, I mentioned the mysterious 3I/ATLAS that is currently darting through our solar system. It is now passing the Sun and will travel closest to Earth on December 19th, 2025, before continuing on to Jupiter and beyond. Harvard University Professor, Dr. Avi Loeb, has said in various interviews that this object might be alien technology, given its surprising orbit along the ecliptic plane, unusual glow, and atypical tail. Furthermore, Dr. Loeb warns that humanity should prepare for such an extraterrestrial visitation in case it poses an existential threat to Earth.
Recently, American politician Rep. Eric Burlison released footage at a congressional hearing of a UAP being shot by a Hellfire missile over Yemen, as reported by ABC News. The orb appeared to shrug it off as if it were nothing and continued flying.
It is curious to me that instead of welcoming the unknown, our instinct is to attack that which we do not understand.
12 stories that remind us we are human
Regardless of the rapid pace of technological advancement and the possibility of alien visitation, it is important for us to know and connect with who we really are as humans. Below are examples of compelling stories from my podcast to remind us of our humanity.
1. Working the breath
Everything starts with the breath. Jeyda Deyna is a breathwork practitioner from Toronto. In this extensive interview, Jeyda shares her expertise and explains why this popular somatic practice is both healing and transformative.
2. Our human tree
Award-winning molecular anthropologist Dr. Himla Soodyall has traced back some of the oldest human DNA to our origins in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this extensive interview, she explains what our genes can teach us about our earliest ancestors and how our African roots connect us all to one common tree.
3. Earth beneath our feet
Dr. Gregory Philips is an Aboriginal Australian and a medical anthropologist who works with companies, governments, and healthcare providers to develop policy and services for Indigenous peoples based on Aboriginal values and cultural safety. In our conversation, Greg explains the meaning of colonization and why true spirituality is rooted in the Earth.
4. Protecting diversity
Jade Pichette is a trans advocate and DEI professional. In our timely discussion, Jade talks about the DEI landscape in Canada and explains the significance of having safe and inclusive spaces for all equity-deserving groups.
5. From legend to legacy
Dr. Jonathan Barichivich is an environmental scientist who studies ancient trees to reconstruct the past and predict the future impacts of climate change. In this thought-provoking interview, Jonathan opens up about his research and what we can learn from ancient trees.
6. Touch of paradise
Drew Hume is a Thai yoga therapist who teaches massage and touch literacy in Costa Rica. In this down-to-earth exchange, Drew opens up about his wellness journey, the importance of human connection, and what he calls the art of compassionate touch.
7. For the love of dog
Bobby Wain is chair of Dundalk Dog Rescue in Ireland, which aims to save dogs in need. In this raw conversation, Bobby talks about responsible dog ownership and explains why adoption and fostering are critically important.
8. One peak at a time
Noel Scully is an avid hiker and mountain climber. Based in Dublin, Ireland, Noel reaches rugged summits and breathtaking vistas several times a year. In this awe-inspiring interview, Noel talks about his passion for hiking, the majesty and vulnerability of mountains, and his regular jaunts to new heights.
9. Tales of dying and death
Dr. Michele Chaban is a clinical thanatologist and founder of the mindfulness program at the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies. In this episode, we discuss dying and death and the role of mindfulness to ease suffering.
10. Everything is possible
Last year, my friend Connie Lee passed away from cervical cancer. She was only 41 years old. I had the privilege to chat with her on my show about living with a terminal illness and the true meaning of life. Connie’s words are both heartrending and hopeful.
11. Consciousness composition
Lucille Joseph encountered a glimpse of conscious awareness when she was a little girl that begged the question, “Am I in the world, or is the world in me?” In this illuminating interview, Lucille opens up about her spiritual experiences, her lifelong mentor, and the meaning of God.
12. Mapping curiosity
Lauren Walker is co-author of The Curiosity Reset, Embrace the Child Within and Discover Your True Path. In this candid conversation, Lauren highlights some practical steps to reignite our curiosity and become the best version of ourselves.
In search of truth
The famous tagline from The X-Files is “The truth is out there.”
In 1977, NASA launched Voyager 1 and 2 to explore the outer planets of our solar system. While their missions are completed, these satellites are still transmitting data back to Earth from interstellar space. Both probes contain a Golden Record or time capsule with information about our planet in case they are intercepted at some point by intelligent life elsewhere.
For sci-fi fans, the USS Enterprise with its Prime Directive might come to mind when thinking about space travel. According to Wikipedia, “In the fictional universe of Star Trek, the Prime Directive is a guiding principle of Starfleet that prohibits its members from interfering with the natural development of alien civilizations.” Starfleet refers to the space exploration organization from the imagination of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.
If 3I/ATLAS is alien technology, maybe it is a craft not unlike Voyager and the USS Enterprise with a mission to simply observe and learn about other worlds in our universe. Even if it is simply a new kind of comet (which is the likely scenario), then this discovery might still usher in a new age of scientific knowledge and human understanding.
As we humans continue to search for truth, let us look within ourselves and connect with our intrinsic intelligence, extraordinary intuition, infinite compassion, timeless creativity, and natural affinity to be our true selves and unite all beings on Earth (and beyond).
To learn more, book me for a talk and consultation today. To listen to The Stumbling Spirit Podcast, click here, or you can find my show on your favourite podcast streaming platform.
Read more from Fabio da Silva Fernandes
Fabio da Silva Fernandes, Resilience, Mindfulness, and Reiki Enthusiast
For most of his professional career, Fabio da Silva Fernandes worked in the tech industry as a customer support leader. About a decade ago, Fabio began his mindfulness journey, incorporating the practice of presence into his life on a regular basis. In his pursuit of personal wellness, Fabio attained several mindfulness certifications and, in 2018, delved into the world of energy work and started his Reiki training. Fabio is now a certified Reiki Master and Reiki Master Teacher. In 2021, Fabio left his career in fintech to launch his own wellness business called Resting Bell Wellness Inc., which is now branded under the name of his resilience podcast, The Stumbling Spirit.
