Thanks, Elizabeth and Maria for mentioning my book. I realized after studying Dogon mythology that their detailed myths (on one level) describe the actual scientific structure of matter, and that Dogon culture, language and mythology seem to be directly related to Ancient Egypt. I show in Hidden Meanings that several key Dogon symbols equate to specific Egyptian glyphs. Since the publication of HM, I have carried the study of the relationship of Dogon symbols to Egyptian glyphs much further.

In string theory, it is the vibration of cosmic strings which cause what we see as forces and particles of matter. When cosmic strings interact, they can cause a membrane to be formed, which then twists into a coiled or tubelike form. I understand the serpent symbol as it relates to the structure of matter to represent this coiled membrane.

However, in all of my study of the original Dogon and Egyptian symbols, I have found no lurking darkness of any kind - only what seems to have been a sincere, bonafide effort to help us understand. But that effort seems to have gone against a specific prohibition, and triggered later steps by some other group to reverse/discredit/vilify that effort. It is these secondary efforts that I associate with darkness.

- Laird