Voqeaning

Voqeaning is a fictional practice described in speculative philosophy and contemporary fiction. It denotes a structured cognitive-narrative technique intended to reframe personal experiences by aligning memory, language, and ethical values through deliberate storytelling. Proponents describe voqeaning as a means to resolve cognitive dissonance and to foster adaptive behavior without denying past harms.

Origin and scope are described in fictional and theoretical discussions dating to the early 2020s. The term is a neologism, combining concepts of voice, action, and meaning in narrative form. In its fictional portrayals, voqeaning is presented as a voluntary, reflective discipline rather than a medical procedure.

Method and process typically involve several stages. Practitioners identify a memory with unresolved meaning, map the associated emotions and narrative voice, generate alternative narratives that preserve agency and intent, select a preferred interpretation, and test it through corresponding behavioral changes. The practice is commonly accompanied by journaling or peer feedback to document insights and track shifts in perception.

Variants and applications vary by context. Some writers describe affirmation-focused voqeaning, which emphasizes empowered interpretation, while others discuss tracing or reconstructive voqeaning, which centers on linking past decisions to current values. In fiction and hypothetical discussions, voqeaning is used as a plot device to illustrate character growth, or as a framework for creative worldbuilding and role-playing.

Reception and critique note that voqeaning lacks empirical support and may risk memory distortion or ethical concerns around rewriting traumatic experiences. As a conceptual tool, it is primarily explored as a thought experiment rather than a proven practice. See also narrative therapy, cognitive reframing, memory reconsolidation.