The term fourth wall is one used to describe the barrier that exists between a work of fiction and those that are observing it. It has its root in theater — the fourth wall is that invisible divider that seperates the players on the stage (traditionally enclosed on three sides) from the audience that sits before them. The phrase “breaking the fourth wall” was used to indicate that an actor was showing his or her awareness of the audience — in some cases accidental, in others on purpose.

The fourth wall is often broken intentionally for dramatic effect. Actors may directly acknowledge or address the audience (the mutual understanding being that “this is a work of make-believe and we both know it”) only to reimmerse themselves moments later into the fictional world of the play, usually without so much as an odd look from the other participating characters. You’ve seen it before in movies and TV  when the person on screen would look directly into the camera, make a remark to you and whoever else was watching, and then nonchalantly continue on with the scripted production. It happens anytime the audience’s suspension of disbelief (the sense that allows them to accept the portrayed fiction as being a part of reality for a period of time) is acknowledged or confronted.

I think my first experience with this phenomena was with the Daffy Duck cartoon that had him looking directly at the screen and getting into a one-sided argument with ‘the animator’, a hand that would come in to re-draw Daffy or even rub him off the paper with the eraser end of a pencil.

It’s the cartoon character saying to the audience, “hey guys… I realize I’m a cartoon.”

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So, now on to what this topic is really about — after some recent consideration, I think that “breaking of the fourth wall” is the perfect metaphor for something I’ve had a lot of trouble trying to describe in the past. Basically, it’s about attempting to communicate the significance of a salvia divinorum trip.

Hopefully not too many of you are rolling your eyes at this point.

Shakespeare said that the whole world was a stage, and I think my experiences with salvia have cast a light on that notion. Like others who have tried this mystical plant, I’ve experienced dissociation from ‘self’, I’ve felt that the ‘salvia world’ was in fact realer than the ‘real world’ I was accustomed-to, I’ve in no uncertain terms experienced the presence of ‘other entities’ and other frightening/wondrous things… but it’s difficult to put all those things into context with what we normally experience and understand as ‘reality’. A person who has had a trip like this will know sure-enough that “you seen things from a whole different perspective,” but the thing is — if you aren’t seeing out of the lens you normally view things from, then from whose lens ARE you viewing?

To put it bluntly, I think what salvia does is reveal the space beyond, or in-front-of, the ‘stage’ that is the physical world. That is the context into which it places your consciousness. If every person and every thing that exists in materiality constitutes the players and props involved in the production, then what salvia does is jolt the affected cast member into seeing that which exists beyond the lighted stage floor — audience, dark theater hall and all. On three planes of existence salvia breaks the fourth wall and gives you a vision of the fifth dimension. ;P

For a moment in time you “GET IT” — you intuitively know and understand the punchline to the “big cosmic joke.” You can see the play for what it really is, acknowledge and interact with the observing audience, and even see the ropes, pullies, curtains, and other platform effects that give motion and meaning to the stage you occupy. The sudden realization of these things is so profound that you forget that you’re even part of a play to begin with — the information, being of a wholly different breed than that which you’re used-to, is so intense and mind-bending that the stage itself becomes the very LAST thing you’re aware of.

All of this happens… but just for a moment. “The show must go on,” and for that to occur the players must resume their roles until the time appropriate for them to make their exits… after which they may take a break in the backstage green-room, mingle with the crowd, audition to be cast in new roles, or who knows what else…

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Thoughts? :P