In many of our astronomy sessions —for individuals and for groups— the same question often arises: why do we perceive time as a line that moves forward, instead of as a richer and more complex structure? Arrival offers a suggestive answer. The linearity of time, this continuous movement from a solidified past toward an empty future, is not a universal property but a human limitation. Modern physics acknowledges this: in Einstein's spacetime, moments do not “pass”—they exist. The cosmos is a block where cause and consequence coexist, while we move through it trapped in a sequential narrative constructed by the brain to survive.
The heptapods in Arrival break this narrative. Their circular language reflects a form of consciousness capable of seeing an entire life as a complete figure, not as a linear path. Learning this language changes more than vocabulary; it alters the mental framework. To perceive time as a circle is to understand that memory and anticipation belong to the same space. We often discuss this during our astronomical experiences, when we explore how the cosmos expands our temporal perception and places us beyond the simple succession of minutes.
This perspective resonates with contemporary cosmology. Several models propose cyclic, bouncing, or conformal universes where the Big Bang is no longer an absolute beginning but a transition within a broader sequence. The arrow of time emerges from entropy; it is not a fixed law. And if consciousness is flexible, perhaps it can also move beyond the linear perception we are accustomed to.
Pros of a circular view of time:
• Integrates memory, anticipation, and meaning into a single coherent framework.
• Reduces the feeling of absolute randomness and gives continuity to human experience.
• Harmonizes physics, philosophy, and emotion without resorting to mysticism.
Cons:
• Can induce psychological determinism if interpreted rigidly.
• Moves away from the practical functioning of biological and social time.
• Requires a solid scientific foundation to avoid conceptual confusion.
Recommended reading:
– The Order of Time, Carlo Rovelli
– From Eternity to Here, Sean Carroll
– Time Reborn, Lee Smolin
– The Arrow of Time, Paul Davies
Do you want to live these reflections under a real night sky? Explore our experiences.
Kilian Víndel - Starlight certification 27/11/2025
