The "reality shifting" (RS) phenomenon began during the pandemic, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. It was then that this mental activity, known as reality shifting, became more popular (and practiced). Understandably so.
In practice, reality shifting involves intensely focusing on an alternate reality you wish to experience, aiming to "move" your consciousness there. This reality can be created with details: scenarios, characters, situations, sensations, and feelings. Those who practice it are called "reality shifters," and this can generate situations as realistic as real life. Reality shifters report intense and vivid sensations, such as hearing sounds, feeling touches, and perceiving authentic emotions in that "new world," as reported by several reality shifting accounts by the BBC.
Online communities like Facebook groups and Reddit threads share these experiences, forming a support network among practitioners. Shifting culture is replete with unique terms, such as DR (Desired Reality), which refers to the world or universe a person wishes to access; CR (Current Reality), which is the world we live in and from which we wish to "escape." And S/O (Significant Other or "romantic partner"), which often represents a character from a movie, TV series, or book with whom practitioners develop a relationship in their DR. Some universes, like Harry Potter's, are the most popular destinations, but some teenagers create their own realities, where they experience enhanced versions of their everyday lives.
Furthermore, there is a symbol representing reality shifting, consisting of two spheres, one partially overlapping the other, intersected by a line or a rift—a rift between two worlds—where shifters transition to their desired world.
EEG (electroencephalogram) studies show that during deep meditative states and lucid dreams, the brain exhibits distinct wave patterns, particularly increased theta and gamma waves, associated with creativity, emotional processing, and memory formation. In this sense, these neurological states may partially explain the vividness and emotional impact of shifting accounts. There are also historical accounts of similar practices, such as deep meditation, visualization with religious use of psychedelics, shamanic practices, life-or-death experiences, lucid dreams, and other practices in which adherents would travel to another reality to gain knowledge from another world.
It's all really fascinating. So, don't you want to try it?
