Good comments and summary, Rooster.
I do have my own “way out there” hypothesis about “the nature of the universe” that I have not seen anywhere.
Hang on to your seat belt:
If the universe/multiverse is “fractal” then it is similar “above and below”.
One of the astounding things that could mean has to do with the nature of information.
When an author writes a book they “create” characters and situations and activities (plot).
What if we are in fact characters in some advanced being’s “book”.
They could choose to give us as much or as little free will as they like.
But—this is the really cool part.
Perhaps the definition of “consciousness” is that conscious entities (which includes “us”) can write their own books—which means that we can in turn create our own universes, our own characters, our own “plots”.
And—if we make them conscious they can do the same—and their characters can do the same.....
That would fit the McKenna definition of “stranger than we can imagine”....
;-)
I like it. Actually, that is quite similar to the Biblical narrative of existence, creation, and reality.
Thoughts/imagined actions are actually real actions.