'Pataphysics - The Science of Imaginary Solutions By Athena and Odessa

On a blazing October Mill Valley Saturday, two inquisitive girls ambled into a wondrous library, surrounded by the statuesque, long standing redwoods. Sun filtered through leaves, creating a lacy pattern on the ground.

The two girls were us: Athena and Odessa. We were influenced with a bout of nervousness and excitement, because we were suddenly unsure of whether we got the date correctly and wandered around for a few minutes, gazing at the beautiful, hand drawn bookmarks made by young children. The stairs crepitated as we slinked down and down, into the belly of the whale… as if we were entering another dimension.

The arrival at the bottom of the stairs is anticlimactic. We stared at the fiction section, discombobulated, until we worked up the nerve to ask for assistance. A nice lady shows us the way down another stairway, and we nodded our heads as if we had known the whole time. Still unsure of ourselves, we were finally satisfied when we saw the violet poster outside the door. We saw a mysterious question mark lining the posters. ‘What could this symbol mean?’ we thought.

The 'Pataphysical Slot Machine

We hear voices, and stepped inside the shadowed room. A table highlighted by purple revealed interesting artifacts and books. A ‘Pataphysician called Dr. Day shows a Seeker the grand purple and gold machine. Dr. Canard strode in, and introduced us to the 'Pataphysical Slot Machine. A violet and gold throne with painted arms and a beaded head lamp is situated before three sets of six square doors. The symbol we saw before is repeated on every small door. A golden statue called Ubu Roi sat directly across the throne, his head turning to greet his visitor, and his eyes alit with curiosity. Odessa sat down hesitantly. Dr. Canard directed her to press the red button. As she gave it a push, the sound of a gong echoes through the room. Odessa thinks about a question to ask. When she comes up with it, she presses the red button again. “Light, slick planet” Ubu announced with a grave French accent. Now Odessa got to choose some of the cabinets to open to reveal more about her future. Intricately decorated worlds were inside them, one with another Ubu with a spinning spiral on his stomach. Next Athena sat and Ubu awaited her question. He saw into her mind, read the question, and then intoned, “light, dreamy lips.” Athena opened one of the purple cabinets to find an inky black skull staring back at her. The glowing eyes flashing rainbow colors at her are known to have the ability of possessing you, and seeing into your mind and soul. Armed with our questions, we ask Dr. Canard about the 'Pataphysical Slot Machine. “ 'Pataphysics,” she tells us is the science of imaginary solutions.

The 'Pataphysical Slot Machine picks at random one adjective, an adverb and one noun, and there are over a million possible fortunes. Creative responses to the fortune are making a collage or drawing incorporating your three words. They have a beautiful book full of them.

Dr. Canard shows us the artistic aprons and coats that they wore while working on the Slot Machine. Each had the mysterious swirl. We ask what it means. She tells us it is the Buddha’s third eye, it means unity, equality and that we are all one.

'Pataphysics began with bunch of rowdy schoolboys and a hated science teacher. The boys taunted their teacher by asking the teacher questions he couldn't answer. The teacher refused to be made fun of, so he made up answers. His imaginary, creative responses created 'Pataphysics the science of imaginary solutions.

Today there are a group of ‘Pataphysicists in every major city. In Mill Valley we have our own wonderful group of 'Pataphysicists.