Moving to New Reality Tunnels
Sometimes “the facts” of the universe seem crystal clear to us, while at others we’re confused with reality and with life. Scientists, teachers, and academics may tell us they have all the answers. But do they? Is there even answers at all?
Reality. It’s a simple word, but what does it mean? Wikipedia defines it thusly:
Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary.
But here’s the thing — much of our realities already are in our imaginations. And no, I’m not just talking about your aunt’s strange political views, your cousin’s MLM crystal business, or the questionable facts your professor presents in school. Instead, I’m talking about our day-to-day perceptions. I’m talking about the things our senses tell us, and the worlds we build in our brains.
Take, for example, some of your experiences today. When you woke this morning you may have thought “Today will be a great day!” or “Oh no, I have so much work to do I don’t want to get up” or “Oh no, it’s raining again!” or even “Ugh, I really need a cup of coffee.” But what does it mean to say today will be great or terrible? That may feel true for us, but many people — and other creatures — will have the opposite experiences. While you grumble in the rain on your walk to the train, the trees and weeds around you may be rejoicing at the refreshing shower.
In his fascinating and very unconventional book Prometheus Rising, Russel Anton Wilson introduces the idea of reality tunnels.