#vulcan mind meld

[theranilord]

"First use of forcible Vulcan mind-meld to interrogate an unwilling subject." - IMDB on Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

.....uh, have you SEEN Mirror Mirror? McCoy wasn't fighting physically, but he was not willing...

[harley-rose25]

another star trek vulcans thoughts

Thinking about how mind melds with vulcans should be far more dangerous than depicted because dieing from a broken heart is, like, a real thing. And I'm pretty sure anger causes heart attacks and aneurysms in men. Basically if your emotions emotion to hard it might kill you, cause your brain or heart will just be like "I wasnt meant for this cruell world!" But also some people react to extreme emotional situations by going numb so like some humans could meld with an emotionally disturbed vulcan (which is all of them actually) and end up with a dissociative disorder.

[sixbucks]

Don’t even try it, Spock!!!

[gean-grey-blog]

Every time I three finger tap to take a screenshot I feel like I'm tryina Vulcan mind meld with my phone

[self-made-purgatories]

Love this part: "Usually we watch Star Trek, be it TOS or the movies, through Jim’s eyes. Maybe that is why Spock always seems to be ethereal and graceful, maybe that is why we, the audience, always catch those little glimpses inside Spock’s very soul. Because we experience what Jim sees. Maybe that’s why people tend to fall for Spock, because Jim couldn't help but do just that."

Vulcan Mind Link - Analysis Part 5/5

This is the last part of the analysis and it deals with “The Motion Picture” movie. Although there is no direct mind meld between Spock and his captain, it’s very important for this discussion, because there are several traces of a permanent link, someone might call it a bond, between them. 

There are a few scenes that don’t directly involve psionic contact, but I will at least mention them anyway. Simply because they give us an inkling of the nature of Spock’s relationship to his captain and vice versa. Since this is going to be a REALLY long post: let’s just go over the scenes chronologically.

The very first thing in the book is how Jim, while on vacation, gets a transmission from Starfleet that there is something powerful and possibly dangerous that destroyed an entire Klingon armada. 

Now what has this little tidbit to do with a mind-link meta post? I’ll get to that in a minute, but first there is a matter that is not nearly enough talked about: 

10.6 light years away from Jim Kirk there is a Vulcan acolyte that seeks answers to a question that the audience, we, never get to know. But we know one thing: Spock is in pain. Pain is a reoccurring theme throughout the entire book and it is shown in the movie. Although it is never quite said, we see Jim suffering before he re-takes command of his ship and even after he takes back the Enterprise, he’s still not completely himself. And I have to hand it to Nimoy that he was incredibly at portraying Spock’s inner life and his silent pain, when the dialogue couldn’t show it. 

It drives me up the wall that this is one of the things that never get resolved.The other thing, of course, is the reason why Spock left. It never gets explained either. The fans are just left wondering. It’s probably pretty safe to assume that Spock decided he couldn’t bear living with his human half anymore. Since getting rid of it is on the forefront of his mind. 

If there was an instance that drove him to this decision or if his nearing second pon farr is the reason, we will never know. But it had to be something drastic. One has to keep in mind that Spock did not only leave the Enterprise, he left Starfleet service entirely. It goes right against Spock’s undying loyalty for the cause, if you think about it…

I won’t talk about the footnote that’s related to this quote in this particular post, since there is already a perfectly sound analysis of it (by the incredible Judith Gran). And I agree with her that Kirk’s in-character reaction was just him talking nonsense to create a smoke screen (he sounds like a politician, it’s hilarious).

This is still one of the most famous, if not THE most famous quote of the book so I won’t keep it from you. And I’d die to know what other thoughts would have gone through Spock’s mind, if he hadn’t sensed Vejur’s consciousness the exact second after his farewell to Jim. 

On a different note: It may be interesting to mention that this exact scene is on the very first page of the book. Before the preface, before the first chapter, before anything, right behind the cover. You just open the book and read:

This may seem like a minor thing, but it still carries an interesting notion with it. Without knowing what TMP is about, the unsuspecting reader opens the book and reads about Spock saying farewell to Jim, while confessing his love for him. (T’hy’la = Friend, Brother and Lover remember?) 

Of course the scene was chosen to make the reader curious, since no one could ever imagine Spock leaving the side of his captain (however one chooses to interpret their relationship is not relevant here). It raises the questions “What made Spock leave Jim’s side?” and “Why is he saying goodbye forever?”. 

Ironically we don’t get an answer for any of them, at least not to a satisfying one.

But back to the task at hand.

The entire scene on Vulcan is interesting in many ways, especially concerning Vulcan Culture and Spock’s own character development. 

After almost three years apart Spock’s most intimate thoughts still revolve around his captain and their conversations during the five year mission. 

Even without Vejur’s interference I don’t think Spock would have been able to complete Kolinahr. He thinks about “exorcising” his human half like a demon or an evil spirit, instead of cutting off a poisoned limb, which would be logical. He is in pain and although the cause is still unknown the pain itself is very much present and Spock blames his human half for it. 

It’s touching to read that Jim tried to convince Spock that his human half was just as much a part of him as the Vulcan one and that he wouldn’t be whole without either one, that he wouldn’t be Spock. Because for Jim Kirk Spock is a single complex entity made up of so many facets that only the sum of all it’s parts can make a whole. I think Jim was devastated when he learned later of how was Spock trying to cut out a piece of himself. 

Apart from that it’s interesting to note that acolytes trying to achieve Kolinahr form some kind of bond to one of the grand masters of Gol: “And T’sai would become a part of the consciousness that was Spock”. Which gives me at least an idea how Kolinahr is supposed to work, because if they bond with one of the grand-masters, even for a short time, they may be able to achieve “Nome”. 

It would go too far to explain the principals of Vulcan society here. It should suffice to say that “Nome” is not as much a philosophy as an instinctual sense of oneness with the universe that Vulcans are able to feel. Roddenberry went as far to say that “Nome” is the sixth sense that all Vulcans have, complementing the other five that humans also possess. 

So by reaching a certain level of epiphany, of oneness with the universe, they ready themselves to see the world through the eyes of a grand-master. Being able to see the world with absolute detachment, absolute logic and thus understanding how it’s done. 

So far for the importance of the relationship between Kirk and Spock and a few things about Vulcan Culture, but let’s go on with the analysis. What about the mind link?

Well thanks to Gene Roddenberry it is very much canon, because the scene goes on as follows. 

I could just stop this right here, publish this post and start shouting from the rooftops: “I told you so!”. Because this is it. 

Jim has NO IDEA that he is contacting Spock by simply thinking of him. And Spock, the Vulcan who had an entire lifetime of telepathic contact, who had training in these matters, did not even contemplate that this could be possible. 

It’s no big deal to feel the mood of the room for a Vulcan. Even stray thoughts can be perceived in close proximity, but a thought directed straightly at Spock from more than 10 light years away? That’s not something that just happens! 

The way the scene is written suggests that Spock had closed off his human half, a part of his mind, as completely as possible in order to get rid of it and undergo the challenges of his training. In the end when he has to open all of his thoughts to finish Kolinahr, he HAS TO let go of the tight hold he had on his human half all the time. He opens his mind and lays bare his very soul, no shield, no protection. And the moment he does, he receives Jim’s thoughts, Jim’s wish to have him at his side…and I am supposed to think this is a coincidence??? 

I mean, yes of course, I know the Federation is in danger and there is a giant death cloud on it’s way to earth and yada yada yada. But I can’t just ignore that of all the possible moments Spock could have heard Jim’s thoughts it happens to be the one time when he is almost ready to kill off every emotion, ESPECIALLY the ones tied to his friends and his T’hy’la? I don’t think so…

But wait, there’s more. 

Usually we watch Star Trek, be it TOS or the movies, through Jim’s eyes. Maybe that is why Spock always seems to be ethereal and graceful, maybe that is why we, the audience, always catch those little glimpses inside Spock’s very soul. Because we experience what Jim sees. Maybe that’s why people tend to fall for Spock, because Jim couldn’t help but do just that. 

The scene above is a good example for this. The second Spock steps on the bridge Jim reads him, like he always did, even though Spock tries his hardest to be impassive. Jim sees his eternal struggle and tries immediately to rekindle their relationship. It makes me wonder what it was that drove them apart in the first place…

The best thing is still to come, though. Are you ready? Here it is…

I’m not kidding, they really published that. 

The closeness between Spock and his captain was always joked about and well known, but how can one deny the nature of their relationship if THIS^ is canon? They can write the word “friendship” until their fingers bleed. A friendship that is “superior to the wild physical love during pon farr” is not exactly something that fits the definition of the word. I’m not saying Jim and Spock were not friends, that would be a horrible misinterpretation. I’m just saying that what is normally understood as the concept of friendship tends to remain platonic.

The next scene happened right after Spock’s appearance on the bridge, when he goes off to meditate to regain his equilibrium. 

It might just be my favourite moment in the book, because it’s the most personal insight to Spock’s thoughts that we get, after he comes back onboard. It’s the second time Spock thinks of Jim as his T’hy’la and this time he’s not saying farewell. 

But let’s go back to the initial purpose of this meta.

It annoys me to no end that the dialogue in the movie is so different from the one in the books, because they left out completely the nifty little fact that Spock confesses to hearing Jim’s thoughts. When you’ve only ever watched the movie you can’t possibly know that this mind link is even a thing.

Nevertheless I have to hand it to the actors to perfectly show what couldn’t be said in the scene. 

Jim is desperately trying to reach Spock and holding himself back at the same time, because he doesn’t want to corner him, doesn’t want to scare him away (again?).

Spock shields himself and gives his very best to remain unaffected (and he’s failing harder the longer he is in close proximity to Jim, as is shown in the scene when he tries to meditate his reawakened affection away). 

And Bones is already past despair, he just takes it with humor, while teasing Spock into feeling emotions again.

The best part is that Bones is the one who saw this coming a mile away, he is not even surprised to find out that Spock had been able to hear Jim’s thoughts! He is just surprised that Spock admits it…that one sentence in itself is enough to brighten my day. 

We also have this single strand of Bones’ medical expertise on the matter: “It was common knowledge that telepathic rapport between Vulcan and human was possible only in cases of extraordinarily close friendship.” 

Again, I would never EVER say that Kirk and Spock weren't friends, but being friends was only a part of their relationship, only one tiny facet of a thing so much bigger than I can imagine. I always struggle to really describe what they were, because the word “lovers” is just not fitting. But “friends” is not enough and to describe them as “brothers” is simply not correct (Spock said so himself). 

In the end, as horribly cheesy as it sounds, the closest approximation may still be “soulmates”. And, thanks to the TMP Novelization, I think even calling them “bondmates” is correct. Because what else is “telepathic rapport” supposed to mean if not a permanent link? A bond? 

There will be a conclusion to this analysis, but I’m pretty sure by now you all can guess which direction I’m going with this. 

Thank you for reading. 

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Conclusion

[bojackson54]

How About a (Non) Vulcan Mind Meld?

Something to keep in mind As we begin 2024, I mentioned that we are going to look at testimonies about Jesus: who was he? How did he approach and impact others? What credentials did he have to proclaim himself as the Son of God? Saul of Tarsus wrote not just about how Jesus changed his life, but how that transformation took place. In the old Star Trek episodes, there was a very unique thing…

[purpleenma]

Finally the ✨Zine O'biology✨ @zineobiology is out for everyone to feast upon! 🙌

*Please, click for better quality

"With a Mind as Fertile as the Chenesi": A Brief Exploration of the Interrelatedness Between Telepathy and Sexuality of the Vuhlkantra.

Read in AO3

And within its many pages full of absolute genius of all kinds you can find this new collaboration with amazing @ex--astris--scientia (CampySpaceSlime) where this diagram comes from. If you like Vulcans, mind melds and the fra'als I highly recommend you give it a read 🖖✨

✨ Download your copy for free here

✨ Get your physical copy at cost here

[bumblingbabooshka]

Misc Doodles Side effects of repeated mind melds under duress Mind melds as self soothing & self harm They should invent a body that doesn't keep score [Patreon | Commissions]

[uncheckedaggression]

An excellent analysis 💙🩵💛❤️

We have to talk about the sexual implications of the mind meld scene in Spectre of the Gun. Spock figures out that the solution to their predicament is to internalize without a doubt that their enemies' bullets don't actually exist and can't kill them. Since Spock's Vulcan constitution is the only one with the strength to make a completely logical assertion like that, the gang decides that Scotty, Bones and Kirk must be convinced through a Vulcan mind meld with Spock.

Mind melds are so erotic. The touching, the closeness, the whispering. Spock's. hands. The fact that there is canonically a person inside of another person. Need I remind you about the first time they showed it, the way Spock was groaning and gasping "yes, yes" over Dr. Simon van Gelder in Dagger of the Mind? So basically my theory is that, just like fighting is often a stand-in for sex in this show, mind melds are definitely also a stand-in for sexual experiences. Come on this journey with me as we explore each of Scotty's, Bones', and Kirk's Seven Minutes in Heaven with Spock behind this barn.

This is the first time that Scotty has experienced the mind meld and he's obviously terrified. Spock's hand is awkward on his face, poking his nose. I am not sure if a Spotty ship is a thing, but I could totally see there being some sort of a fanfic where there was a predicament that could somehow only be solved by a sexual encounter between these two, and I imagine their faces would look like this the whole time. Scotty freaked out but willing to do anything for the mission, Spock with detached curiosity and interest: "Fascinating."

But here's where it gets interesting. Bones is not afraid. He has done this before. He stares into Spock's intense eyefuck gaze, unblinking. They are close enough to kiss, and this meld is shown for the longest. This is a true meeting of minds. Spock growls assertions at him with conviction. Bones gives himself up, allows Spock to speak through him, actually moving their mouths in unison. This is a good hard fuck and Spock is the top.

But this, this is beautiful. Spock looks at Kirk with this burning love in his eyes, whispers to him softly and tenderly in fragments of sentences, unmoored thoughts, almost poetry. I like to think that he is enjoying the scenery inside what he called this "dynamic individual" after their recent first mind melding. He couldn't wait to come back here. This is a thirsty man quenched with fresh water. This is a meeting of souls. This is making sweet undying love.

Especially since Kirk and Spock seemed to be fighting at the beginning of this episode ("science officer"), they warmed to each other when Bones and Scotty picked on Spock about his feelings and Kirk rushed to defend him, and a few minutes ago Kirk was making those damn heart eyes at Spock again while he explained the solution to the current situation. This mind meld is the sweet makeup sex.

Basically what I'm saying is that, according to this scene, Spock is a top while hatefucking Bones and a bottom while making sweet love to Kirk and that's why we need both Spirk and Spones (or a really good McSpirk where we get both at once).

[hawkesque]

i am normal about the scifi/fantasy concept of knowing someone so well and intimately that your brains can and do overlap. let me out of the cage please i will be normal i promise.

[theranilord]

Rewatching the scene, it's possible Valeris experienced so much pain because she tried to fight Spock. McCoy probably didn't have the same mental shield training...

[redkehlchen]

Some 2003 season 2 doodles! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[saudrag]

mind meld during a kiss with your t’hy’la anyone?

[dark-ethereal-visions]

I'm a HUGE fan of Brad Dourif. Most people think of Chucky, but he carries every film he's in. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Graveyard Shift, and The Exorcist III just to name a few.

But his greatest role IMO was on Star Trek: Voyager. In "Meld" he plays a psychotic killer loose on board the starship and Tuvok must track him down. Absolutely chilling performances from Brad!

[fabuladorah]

If we accept the vulcan mind meld as a sex alegory, therefore we must also accept Spock as the biggest whore in Star Trek.

[sesamestreep]

“requiem for methuselah” crazy ass episode for many reasons. Kirk is being fully insane, like I don’t actually think, even controlling for how quickly and easily and readily he seems to fall in love with anybody at the slightest encouragement, that he’d go that bonkers for that android woman he just met while everyone on the ship was this close to dying, but that’s neither here nor there, because in the background you’ve got an equally but much more subtly insane episode for Spock, who extremely uncharacteristically admits to experiencing an emotion (or nearly experiencing, whatever) and that emotion is ENVY of all things. And then spends the rest of the episode warning Kirk away from this new love interest (something that doesn’t usually happen, even when Kirk has very inadvisable love interests) and is, in the end, the person who accurately identifies that Rayna’s competing love for Kirk and Flint is ultimately what overwhelms and destroys her with the most killer line in maybe history???

And then to wrap it up we get an equally uncharacteristic sort of denouement scene (TOS loooves to cut an episode off right after the actual climax, leaving little time for falling action or character reflection, or to stick a sitcom-y button on the end where the gang all smiles and laughs at their misadventures and everything resets to zero, which is not a criticism, it’s just the style of that era of tv, honestly) where Kirk is literally miserable over Rayna’s death (again, kind of unusual for a lot of his love interests, he tends to be able to move on pretty quickly) and Spock goes to see him and he falls asleep right in front of Spock (also odd) and then when Bones comes in to give the final word on Flint, Spock waves him off from waking the Captain (tender) and Bones gives him that awful speech about how it’s sadder that Spock can’t even imagine the love Kirk felt for this random android woman than it is that Kirk lost her in the first place (debatable but also rude) and how his great tragedy is that he can’t love at all like they can and how all he wishes is that Kirk could forget about all of this and move on. AND THEN, to have Bones leave and Spock go over to Kirk and very gently, tenderly, reluctantly touch him and put his hand to his forehead and tell him to forget and HAVE THAT BE THE END OF THE EPISODE??? What am I supposed to do with that??