What is Reality Shifting?
Imagine you could write a script detailing another reality and then wake up in that life at will. Even better, you can return to your previous reality at will, with only a prescribed amount of time having passed. Proponents of a practice known as “reality shifting” claim to be able to do just that.
What is reality shifting?
Reality shifting first came to prominence in 2020 and is the belief that one can alter reality through focus and visualization. Some believe that shifters are entering a transliminal state that creates the appearance of an altered reality. Others believe it is a form of dissociation or maladaptive daydreaming. Many shifters are fans of the multiverse theory and claim that they are “quantum jumping,” or simply becoming aware of their presence in the other timeline.
They argue that what they’re doing can’t be a form of daydreaming because they can control everything that happens in a daydream. They also argue that shifting can’t be a form of lucid dreaming because they can’t control everything that happens during a dream. That sounds a little contradictory to me, but maybe it would make more sense if I experienced it myself.
Very little research has been done on the subject of shifting, but out-of-body experiences (OBEs) have been induced and practiced by various cultures for thousands of years. For those who haven’t experienced shifting, this seems to be the most common theory of what is happening.
Regardless of how it’s happening, the consensus seems to be that it’s a generally harmless practice for mentally healthy people. Those who struggle with illnesses such as anxiety, depression, or psychosis might want to use caution when attempting this type of activity.
How does it work?
There seem to be four commonly recognized types of shifts.
- Mini – a shift that involves only a slight change to the shifter’s current reality
- Perma – when someone shifts to a reality with the intention of staying there permanently
- Respawning – a type of shift where someone attempts to be reborn in another reality with no memory of their previous life
- Regular – I couldn’t find a real name for this type of shift, but this seems to be the most common type. This is where shifters visit their desired reality with the intention of returning to their current reality.
The process
Shifters begin by writing a script for their shifts. They include details such as what the reality will look like, how people will behave there, and how much time passes in the Desired Reality (DR) compared to the shifter’s Current Reality (CR). Some communities have created “master scripts” to help shifters travel to fantasy lands such as Hogwarts, Narnia, or Coruscant.
Next, the shifter will practice some grounding exercises and get themselves into a meditative state. Some like to play special music that makes them feel calm. Others like to practice deep breathing exercises. Once the shifter is relaxed and grounded, they’ll start repeating positive affirmations about shifting. “I believe I can change my current reality.” “Nothing can stop me from shifting.”
At this stage, some shifters will ingest psychotropic plants to assist in the shifting process. Most shifters who participate in this practice use cannabis, but some use psychedelics. I also saw some shifters mention blue lotus and mugwort.
Then the shifter will attempt to shift using their chosen method. There are several to choose from. Some like the “Alice in Wonderland” method, where you imagine yourself leaning against a tree, and then chase someone or something down a rabbit hole into your DR. Others prefer what’s called the “Raven” method, where you lie down with your arms and legs spread and then slowly count to 100 until you fall asleep. Others shift by simply sticking their script underneath their pillows. As shifters become more experienced, they’re often able to skip some or all of these steps.
Shifting back
Shifting back seems to be much simpler than the initial shift. Most shifters say that all you need to shift back is a wish to do so. Others like to establish a safeword that will return them to their CR. The general consensus is that once you shift, it’s impossible to get stuck. You can always shift back.
How to tell if you’ve shifted realities
In some cases, it’ll be obvious that a shift has happened. People will be wearing clothing that matches the era or land that you shifted to. The smells or sounds might be different. Some shifts are more subtle though. Shifters often experience symptoms such as a feeling of weightlessness or dissociation. Others report chills, dizziness, and a ringing in the ears.
Something that stood out to me was that shifters frequently report being stuck in a “waiting room” of sorts before entering their DR. Up until this point, I was pretty skeptical of the whole phenomenon. However, those who embark on large-dose psychedelic trips also often report being stuck in a waiting room for part of the trip. This makes me wonder if shifters aren’t somehow triggering a type of endogenous DMT response. I’m going to do some research into the waiting room phenomenon and see if there’s any correlation with OBEs. In the meantime, Moxie is going to give reality shifting a go. We’ll let you know how it goes!
What do you think? Have you ever tried reality shifting? How did it go? Let us know in the comments!
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