LAYERS OF REALITY

Understanding reality as a layered structure, not a single surface.
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Reality is not flat.
What we experience is only one layer among 
many each with its own rules, signals, and limits of perception.

What Are Reality Layers?
Reality layers describe different levels of perception and interaction,

from physical experience to symbolic and unseen domains.

They do not replace reality. They explain why different realities can coexist without contradiction.
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Quick Map

1

Physical Layer

The layer where experience feels grounded in the body, time moves normally, and events follow familiar physical rules.

2

Perceptual Layer

A layer where perception becomes slightly altered, details feel sharper or distorted, yet the sense of self remains intact.

3

Symbolic Layer

A layer dominated by symbols, metaphors, and imagery, where meaning matters more than literal sequence.

4

Informational Layer

A layer where experiences feel like receiving data rather than living events, often fragmented, compressed, or oddly precise.

5

Observational Layer

A layer where the experiencer feels present but detached, watching rather than participating, with reduced emotional involvement.

6

Transitional Layer

A boundary layer where scenes shift rapidly, identities blur, and movement between states becomes noticeable.

Layer Cards

Physical Layer

What it feels like
Experiences in this layer feel grounded in the body and environment. Events follow familiar physical logic, and the sense of time and self remains stable.

Common signs
  • Strong bodily sensations
  • Clear sense of location and sequence
  • Little to no symbolic distortion
What to log
Note physical sensations and environmental details rather than interpretation.

Informational Layer

What it feels like
Experiences resemble receiving data rather than living through events. Information may arrive compressed, fragmented, or oddly exact.

Common signs
  • Sudden knowing without context
  • Non-linear or incomplete scenes
  • Clarity without emotional buildup

What to log

Write down what was known or conveyed, even if the scene felt incomplete.

Perceptual Layer

What it feels like
Perception becomes subtly altered. Details may feel sharper, stretched, or slightly unreal, while identity and awareness remain continuous.

Common signs
  • Heightened or dulled senses
  • Mild distortions of space or scale
  • Familiar places feeling subtly different
What to log
Record changes in perception rather than narrative meaning.

Observational Layer

What it feels like
The experiencer feels present but detached, as if watching rather than participating. Emotional involvement is reduced or neutral.

Common signs
  • Third-person perspective
  • Lack of urgency or reaction
  • Clear awareness without engagement
What to log
Note position and distance from the scene rather than its content.

Symbolic Layer

What it feels like
Experiences unfold through symbols rather than direct events. Scenes may appear illogical, yet feel meaningful or emotionally precise.

Common signs
  • Repeating images or figures
  • Actions that feel metaphorical
  • Meaning without clear storyline
What to log
Focus on symbols that persist after waking, not the plot.

Transitional Layer

What it feels like
A boundary state where scenes shift quickly and identities may blur. Movement between states becomes noticeable.

Common signs
  • Rapid scene changes
  • Blurred sense of self
  • Feeling “in between” states
What to log
Track moments of transition rather than stable scenes.
How to Use This Map
Identify the layer that feels closest to your experience.

Note recurring signals rather than isolated scenes.

Use the map to track patterns over time, not to label events.
Cross-Layer Signals
Some signals do not belong to a single layer.

They recur across dreams, memory, and waking perception, not as scenes to interpret,

but as markers that reveal continuity beneath shifting experiences.

These signals are explored further in the Underlayer Signals section.