What It Is & How To Do It

Hello friends. I just got back from Wonderland where I was having a lovely chat with the Cheshire Cat…

Oh. I should probably explain. This happened during my last experience with Shifting Meditation, a technique in which we take fantastical voyages to other lands.

Shifting meditation is a fascinating phenomenon that blends imagination, mindfulness, and philosophy into one experience. In essence, it involves relaxing the mind, setting an intention, and visualizing ourselves in our desired reality until we feel fully immersed. Opinions are split on this technique. Some say that when they do shifting meditation, they actually go to other realities. Others see it as just a fun mental escape. But what exactly is shifting meditation, and how does it work? Let’s explore.

What Is Shifting Meditation?

Shifting meditation is a practice where we attempt to mentally transport ourselves into another reality—whether that’s a fictional universe, a different version of our own life, or an entirely new world. Some people report experiencing their “desired reality” (DR) as vividly as waking life, while others compare it to lucid dreaming, guided visualization, or self-hypnosis.

The origins of shifting meditation are hard to pin down, but it exploded in popularity on TikTok and Reddit in 2020, particularly within fandom communities. However, the concept of mentally immersing ourselves in another reality isn’t new. Practices like Tibetan Dream Yoga and Shamanic Journeying have existed for centuries. Shifting meditation, however, takes these ideas to a new level—focusing on complete immersion as though stepping into an alternate existence.

How To Do Shifting Meditation

There are many shifting techniques, including popular methods like the Alice in Wonderland method, Raven method, Pillow method, and Julia method. The general process involves:

1. Relaxing the Mind and Body – Deep breathing, meditation, or binaural beats help us achieve a calm, receptive state. Pro tip: Use 432 Hz or 963 Hz frequencies, which some believe enhance spiritual connection and ease mental transitions into other realities.
2. Setting the Intention – We often “script” our desired reality, writing out details like our environment, relationships, and experiences. Pro tip: Handwriting your script, rather than typing it, is said to strengthen the emotional connection to your desired reality.
3. Visualization – Engaging all senses, we imagine ourselves in our DR—what we see, hear, smell, and feel. For more on this read our guide to Visualization Techniques. Pro tip: Incorporate your “DR self’s” perspective—imagine looking at your hands or walking around your desired space, rather than viewing yourself from the outside.
4. Letting Go – Instead of forcing it, trust the process, allowing the shift to happen naturally. Pro tip: Falling asleep during shifting attempts is normal—many people report waking up in their DR after focusing on “I am” affirmations while drifting off.

Some people consider shifting to be a conscious activity, while others experience it as a lucid dream-like state, where imagination and consciousness intertwine.

Theories on Shifting Meditation

Shifting meditation raises big philosophical questions about reality itself. Here are a few perspectives that offer intriguing explanations.

Phenomenology: Reality Is Experience

Phenomenology suggests that reality is not something “out there,” but rather a product of our perception. If shifting feels real—if we truly see, hear, and feel things—then, in a phenomenological sense, it is real to us because the mind doesn’t distinguish much between actual sensory input and vivid imagination.

Idealism: The Mind Creates Reality

Idealist philosophers like George Berkeley argued that reality exists only within the mind. If all experience is mental, then shifting could be seen as stepping into a new, self-created reality. This perspective suggests that what we call “reality” might be no more concrete than a dream—and shifting is simply dreaming with intention.

Simulation Theory: Hacking the Matrix

Some of us believe that if reality is a simulation, then shifting could be a way of navigating different “programs” within it—like logging into another version of existence. This theory, while speculative, adds an extra layer of intrigue: what if we are indeed capable of altering our reality through consciousness alone?

Neuroscience: Lucid Dreaming and Hypnosis

From a scientific standpoint, shifting may be a combination of lucid dreaming, deep visualization, and hypnosis. Studies show that vivid mental imagery can activate the same brain regions as real experiences. In this sense, shifting could be training our brains to “dream” while awake, creating experiences that feel incredibly real, even if they aren’t real in a physical sense.

Why Do Some People Experience Shifting Meditation More Realistically?

Interestingly, there may be scientific reasons why shifting meditation feels more vivid for some of us. Research in neuroscience reveals that people with a stronger “vividness of mental imagery” (VMI)—a measurable cognitive trait—are more likely to experience immersive mental worlds. A 2020 study published in Consciousness and Cognition found that those with high VMI activate visual and sensory areas of the brain more strongly during mental imagery tasks.

Also, those of us with higher absorption scores—a psychological trait linked to openness to immersive experiences—tend to lose ourselves more easily in imagination, meditation, and even hypnosis. This may explain why shifting feels as real as waking life to some, while others struggle to fully engage with the experience.

Benefits of Shifting Meditation

Even if shifting isn’t literal interdimensional travel, it offers some genuine psychological benefits, backed by science:

Stress Relief: Visualization meditation, including practices like shifting, has been shown to lower cortisol levels and promote relaxation. A 2018 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that guided imagery effectively reduces stress and anxiety.

Creativity Boost: Immersive imagination strengthens creative problem-solving and artistic inspiration. Research published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience highlights how mental imagery activates brain regions linked to innovation and abstract thinking.

Emotional Healing: Some of us use shifting to process emotions in a safe, controlled environment. Studies on narrative therapy suggest that mentally “rewriting” life experiences through visualization can promote psychological resilience.

Lucid Dreaming Enhancement: Many find their ability to control dreams improves with practice. Research from Dreaming Journal notes that frequent lucid dreamers often report stronger metacognitive abilities, including emotional regulation and insight.

Whether real or imagined, shifting meditation invites playfulness, curiosity, and mental expansion—all essential aspects of a balanced, mindful life.

When Should We Be Cautious?

While shifting meditation is generally safe, there are a few concerns:

Escapism: If we rely on shifting to avoid real-life problems, it could become unhealthy. Mental health professionals emphasize the importance of grounding techniques to stay connected to reality and to avoid escapism.

Frustration: Many of us struggle to shift and become discouraged or obsessed with “succeeding.” It’s important to remember that, like all meditation practices, results come with patience and non-attachment.

Dissociation Risks: Those of us prone to derealization or dissociation may find shifting makes waking life feel less real. Studies in Psychiatry Research indicate that excessive immersive fantasy experiences can, for some people, contribute to dissociative symptoms.

Like all meditation practices, shifting should enhance life, not replace it.

Different Opinions on Shifting

Shifting meditation sparks a variety of perspectives:

Believers: Some of us claim to have truly shifted and lived detailed alternate lives, coming back with memories and emotions as real as any waking experience.

Skeptics: Others argue it’s just lucid dreaming or intense imagination, with no evidence of actual reality-jumping.

Middle Ground: Many see shifting as a fun and meaningful mental exercise, even if they don’t believe in literal interdimensional travel.

My Final Thoughts

Shifting meditation is a mystifying, imaginative, and deeply personal practice. Whether it’s a gateway to new dimensions or just an advanced form of visualization, it’s clear that for many of us, the experience feels real and meaningful. If it brings joy, creativity, and relaxation, then maybe the question isn’t whether shifting is real, but how it can enhance our understanding of the mind and reality itself.

If you’re curious to explore meditation techniques that can help unlock your imagination, reduce anxiety, and create a more grounded and joyful life, I’d love to guide you through a private meditation session. Let’s create something beautiful together. Book your session with me today.

Paul Harrison is a meditation teacher with 20+ years of experience and a deep passion for helping others. Known for his empathy and authentic approach, he’s dedicated to guiding individuals and teams toward mindfulness, clarity, and well-being.

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