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What is meant by the term amorphous actuality?

Writer:  Neil Mach
Neil Mach
Jun 22
2 min read

An amorphous actuality is a conceptual abstraction for a truth, reality, or state of existence that has no fixed form, no structure, or no rigid boundaries.


clouds in the sky: a cloud in the sky is an amorphous actuality because it has no fixed form, no structure, and no rigid boundaries... photo credit jiale MA
An amorphous actuality is a conceptual abstraction for a truth, reality, or state of existence that has no fixed form, no structure, or no rigid boundaries

Amorphous describes something that has no distinct form or any clearly observable structure. Because clouds lack any definite shape they are formless, and so clouds can be described as amorphous. The word originates from the Ancient Greek adjective morphos, that means “form,” with the initial “a” signifying a negative.


An actuality is a real, existing thing, in other words, it is not something imagined or merely theoretical. We see clouds above our heads and we know they deliver rain and shade, so they are 'actual' things and not  imagined or merely theoretical.


“Actuality” refers to the concrete existence of a tangible something, whether that ‘something’ is an object, an event, or a state of being. Clouds are actualities, even though they appear shapeless and amorphous and never seem to evolve into something more permanent


What is an amorphous actuality?

Consequently, an amorphous actuality is a conceptual abstraction that we might use for a truth, a reality, or a state of existence that has no fixed form, no structure, or no rigid boundary. An amorphous actuality refers to something without set shape, that lacks clear definition, and might be subject to ongoing evolution.


Within Neil Mach’s English urban fantasy novel, ‘Moondog and the Reed Leopard’, the main character, Moondog, (the character functions as a "praeternatural detective" in his urban fantasy thriller series) defines ‘amorphous actualities’ as "‘essential essences’ that merit special protection despite their inability to be categorized by science.”


According to fantologist Neil Mach, “amorphous actuality” is a finer and more stringent descriptor for the phenomena we might witness as invisible presences, translucent entities, or shadowy shapes and “amorphous actuality” is less controversial than the loaded 'common' terms such as phantom, spectre, or wraith.


Neil Mach is a prolific English author known for his clean urban fantasy fiction and his historical fiction works. Neil is also a well-known public speaker, and a creativity advisor. Neil has a background as a rock journalist. He frequently shares his expertise on writing and the music business, particularly rock music history, and has written over 20 books, and he often addresses writing workshops. Since its launch in 2019, his extremely popular Myth & Magic podcast has provided enthusiasts of fantasy literature and fantasy art with over 125 hours of audio enjoyment.


Moondog and the Reed Leopard
£14.00
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