Tool lyrics forty six and two

Some of the following is taken from the Tool FAQ, but it is followed by some of my own analysis.

FROM TOOL FAQ: Some of the ideas behind this song are based on the teachings of Drunvalo Melchizadek. Here's a snip of an interview with him (Leading Edge, 12/95): "There are three totally different kinds of humans on the Earth, meaning that they perceive the One reality in three different ways, interpreted differently. The first kind of human has a chromosome composition of 42+2. They comprise a unity consciousness that does not see anything outside themselves as being separate from themselves. To them, there is only one energy - one life, one beingness that moves everywhere. Anything happening anywhere is within them, as well. They are like cells in the body. They are all connected to a single consciousness that moves through all of them. These are the aboriginals in Australia. There might be a few African tribes left like this. Then, there is our level, comprising 44+2 chromosomes. We are a disharmonic level of consciousness that is used as a steppingstone from the 42+2 level to the next level, 46+2...These two additional chromosomes change everything."

Fan submission to Tool FAQ: "Anima / Animus (pronounced On-ee-mah): In Jungian psychology, the anima refers to personality traits regarded as feminine that are often repressed into the unconscious of males while the animus refers to traits regarded as masculine that are often repressed into the unconsciousness of females.
Although suppressed from conscious awareness, the anima/animus influences our behavior in powerful ways. In most individuals,it is projected onto people of the opposite sex and accounts for the experience of falling in love with someone we hardly know. As the unconscious pole of the self, the counter-ego represented by the anima/animus can also be a guide to one's own unconscious realm. It is often experienced as the guiding female (if you're male) or male (if you're female) presence in dreams.

“The Shadow: In Carl Jung's personality theory, the ego represents the individual's sense of personal self. The sense of personal identity is purchased, however, at the expense of certain tendencies that are rejected as 'not-self'. According to Jung, these rejected traits come together as a kind of unconscious 'counter-ego' which he termed the shadow.

“We may become unduly anxious or irritated when in an environment or around a person that in some way reminds us of repressed aspects of our self. If a person has rejected his or her own sex drive, for example, that person may feel irrational fear or anger around an overtly sexual individual. The shadow may appear as a person in one's dreams, usually as an individual of the same sex.

“Of all the archetypes, the shadow is the most powerful and potentially the most dangerous. It represents everything about ourselves that we fear and despise.

“The meaning of 46 + 2: According to Melchezedek, our planet is covered with geometrically constructed 'morpho genetic grids'. These grids extend from about 60 feet under the Earth's surface to about 60 miles above the Earth, arranged in geometric patterns (see 'Sacred Geometry'). Each species has its own grid, which supports life, and connects the consciousness of its particular species. Before any species can come into existence or make an evolutionary step, a new grid must be completed. When a species becomes extinct, that particular species' grid dissolves.

“A new grid was completed in 1989 - the 'christ-consciousness' grid. This grid will allow humans to evolve into our next version. We'll develop two additional chromosomes (which are really 'geometrical images' designed to resonate with our specific grid) for a total or 46 + 2.

“The main change will be a shift to the 'unity consciousness.' Every cell in your body has its own consciousness and memory. You, the higher being that occupies your body, make the millions of different consciousnesses in your body work together as one being. How does this relate to this grid? Think of yourself as a cell and the grid as the higher being. We will still have individual consciousness, but will be united in the form of a higher being in order to work as one entity." - Rachel Wells

Adding two chromosomes makes the genetic code more complicated. I actually befriended a kid in Ohio named Dan through an old Facebook Tool page because of what he had to say about the parallel between the complication of the genetic language and the complexity of computer code. Binary is a simple code that takes a lot of energy and effort to operate, whereas Java+ scripting language is very complicated but incredibly easy to operate. As we alter (hopefully naturally) our genetic makeup, the functionality of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies may become easier, more instinctual. Oddly enough, apes have 46 + 2 chromosomes. It seems that sometimes we should be taking a step backwards (through our shadow) in order to more effectively choose our next steps forward.

Continuation of the snake imagery from H. - Maynard as a snake (like his father) crawling on his belly, shedding his skin – undoing callouses and releasing old habits and defense mechanisms (muscle memory) and thought-patterns (what I've been clinging to) possibly encoded in his genetic makeup (attempting to prove a better life is possible for his son). "Crawling on my belly" also inspires the vision of a child throwing a tantrum to mind, victimizing one's whole self in order to avoid acceptance of a negative piece of oneself.

Tool is really encouraging us to examine the shadow we project on others and the world in order to accept and better ourselves – allowing the shadow to be a medium for transformation, softening our armor rather than building it up. The “I choose to...” portions include negative things with the positive, stressing the necessity of both forces to manifest evolution/enlightenment.

This song, and especially the dialogue between fans about its meaning, is a wonderful example of the temporary nature of belief systems. We follow the rules of one system that makes sense to us until we encounter an anomaly within our mental framework that simply cannot fit into our definition of truth, so we are forced to take a step back and recalculate.