Reality shifting

Reality shifting (also known as "shifting") is a term that refers to the spiritual practice of "transferring" or "shifting" one's consciousness to an alternate reality, and/or the attempt to alter the reality one is experiencing and transcending one's physical confines to visit alternate universes. It gained mainstream popularity on the internet in 2018. It was discussed on multiple social media platforms and was a popular trend in 2020 with over 2.1 billion views on TikTok, as of 2023. Proponents believe the practice involves the exploration of deeper consciousness and claim to have experienced reality shifts. Reality shifting has been compared to lucid dreaming, a scientifically accepted phenomenon, and astral projection, a pseudoscience.

Methods

There are many methods of reality shifting. They include, but are not limited to, relaxation, visualization, manifestation, affirmations. These methods are considered to be similar to meditation and self-hypnosis. Nicole Hernandez, a hypnotist stated that "...shifting essentially taps into two techniques: lucid dreaming, associated with REM sleep, the fourth stage of the sleep cycle before waking up, and self-hypnosis, which shifters have rebranded into different methods." Although each method is a little different, they all involve the individual having intent, being relaxed, affirming oneself, and visualizing their desired reality, (DR.)

While there are different ways by which one can shift, it is important to be in a certain state of mind before one can begin the process. One must be half asleep or in a meditative state. It is said your body must be asleep while still remaining conscious. The beginning of the process mimics self-hypnosis. "Hypnotic inductions are simply a series of rituals, such as counting down from 10 to 1 and imagining walking downstairs," Hernandez explains. "These rituals act as suggestions that help [people] dissociate from the external world and associate with their imagination or inner world. Hypnotic inductions often help the [person] relax, leading them toward a hypnagogic state, the natural transitional state between wakefulness and sleeping. Within this state, you are fully conscious and therefore have control over the visualizations that a hypnotist would suggest."

Religious views

Reality shifting is considered a spiritual practice for people seeking an out-of-body experience. Although not a well-known practice, it has gained enough popularity to be reviewed by religious scholars of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. As Christians avoid astral projection and transcendental meditation, they do not believe in and avoid reality shifting. They believe it is a "new age" practice that goes against the beliefs of Christianity.

In Islam, it is known that astral projection is not permitted. Reality shifting is debated, but overall known to go against the beliefs of Islam.

In Hinduism, a core belief is that a human being's basic nature is not confined to the body or the mind. The existence of multiple realities and realms is also a belief. Although shifters often cite Hinduism and ancient Hindu practices as evidence for the validity and efficacy of shifting, there is no connection between reality shifting and Hinduism.

Astral projection is a part of Buddhism and is said to be a very powerful tool for spiritual development. However, reality shifting has not been a subject of discussion in the Buddhist community.

See also

• Altered state of consciousness
• Astral projection
• Escapism
• Desire realm
• Dream world
• Isekai
• Lucid dream
• Multiverse
• Quantum jump method
• Reincarnation
• Siddhi
• Tulpa
• Vision (spirituality)

References

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