reality shifting: the origination, the magic, the mystery and the appeal
During the height of the pandemic, teenage girls everywhere, like myself, were locked away in their rooms with the only portal for socialization being the cell phones in their hands. As we all know, especially the last generation to experience a slice of life without the boom of technology, the innately human experience of interacting face-to-face is an irreplaceable privilege (although introverts like myself might disagree to a certain degree) — especially when technology is already fundamentally changing the way we approach connecting with other. However, an upside to technology is that it offers the ability to transform your pool of possible friends into an ocean of like-minded acquaintances with the push of a button. The TikTok algorithm encourages this, leading compatible people with similar interests to find each other, and the Harry Potter side of TikTok was no exception. Exiled to the confines of their rooms, many teens and young adults re-discovered their love of the British franchise and were inspired to share it with the world. One thing led to another, and suddenly the idea of shifting was on the forefront of “For You” pages everywhere after one fateful person decided to share how she shifted her consciousness through meditation to explore the beloved world. Thus began the four-year long debate on whether or not it is all some inside joke, or perhaps something more progressive and New Age with actual proof to boot.
The most fascinating part of all of this is how deeply personal & profound the experience is said to be by all shifting creators on social media platforms. Despite there being methods and tips to experience their success yourself, there’s no foolproof way to replicate someone’s experience and no concrete way to prove your own except earnestly retelling stories with fervent emotion and hope to reach open-minded people who see your sincerity. Despite its mainstream introduction being linked with teenagers wanting to escape to their favorite books or shows, the background of shifting is actually more spiritual than anything else and goes hand-in-hand with the Law of Assumption and manifesting, another trend that blossomed turning the pandemic due to the pressure to transform & “glow up” during this “off-time.” Many teachers of this spiritual practice claim that we are “shifting” our reality every second with our minds, decisions and how we choose to think & perceive the world. The crux of the Law of Assumption is that our thoughts create our reality, and that if we repeat mantras and live as if we already have our desires, that they will manifest accordingly. To dispute claims that this is impossible due to our inability to control others, the believers in this practice argue that our attitudes can change the way others react to us and if we truly believe something to be possible, it is. The first recommendation for newcomers to this philosophy is to manifest something simple, like seeing a niche, obscure car on the road or a simple message from someone.
Shifting is a more advanced version of this. While what most spiritual teachers in books or on YouTube encourage is more of a slow, brick-by-brick sort of approach, shifting is much more intense — one minute you’re in your own reality, the next you’re wherever your desired one is, whether that be Hogwarts or Hawaii. Some people claim that there’s in-between versions of this world-hopping, calling “mini shifting”, where slightly there but not fully conscious of it, where you can hear the voices of people you expect to or smell something synonymous with where you intend to go. Cynical nonbelievers in this practice go as far to say it is a form of psychosis, while more open-minded people, like myself, consider it to be an advanced spiritual practice that is entirely possible considering scientific texts and our vast universe. Another word for this is “quantum shifting”, something you may be familiar with.
Science is definitely not my strong suit, so I’ll try to explain this the best way I can as a right-brained person. Basically, the way physicists explain it is: every decision and movement causes the universe to split, causing infinite realities and possibilities. Shifting (and manifesting) lend to the theory that this is true, and furthermore, you can access alternate realities with focused meditation and intention. However, some of them argue it’s impossible to visit different realities — only your current one with the decisions you make.
An interesting part of the shifting phenomenon is the question it poses: why is there such an influx of young people desperate for an escape? Despite the allure of wands, potions, and broomsticks, it extends beyond just an excitement for experiencing a fantasy realm. Self-proclaimed shifters promote the control that comes with being able to outline and mold the worlds you want to visit, scripting details all the way down to freckles or interactions with your favorite characters. In my opinion, the interest in this practice peaking during the pandemic is no coincidence — in fact, it seems innately intertwined with the growing desire for connection and control during & after such tumultuous, isolated & uncertain times.
I, for one, find it exciting & groundbreaking and it comes as no surprise to me that the creators on TikTok who center their accounts around their shifting journeys have such a devout following (of which I’m definitely apart of). Whether you believe in it or not, or perhaps think of it as just an elaborate dream sequence, you have to admit it is an fascinating idea to entertain and a beautiful example of how spirituality, psychology and imagination constantly intersect to bring technicolor to lives.
