Co-Creating Reality
On multiplicity of being and intersecting worlds
A World of One
Each of us inhabits a private, personal world that is only for us. The majority of humans will unconsciously move into a broken world created for them by others, constrained by societal norms, tainted by patriarchal religions, impoverished by the demands of capitalism, stricken by the trauma of abuse and neglect, isolated and subject to the persistent surveillance of power. They accept this reality as truth and defend it with their very lives.
Some lucky few of us awaken to our power as creators of those worlds, choosing to build a world custom-tailored to our truth, cautiously and methodically sweeping away the darkness and pain imposed upon us by society and inherited from our parents and ancestors. It is no small task, but there is no greater freedom than being the sovereign ruler of your own universe.
Intersecting Worlds
The real challenge, even for the most powerful world-building sorceress, comes when two or more are gathered. At the instant we first encounter another being, we begin a dance of co-creation, constructing a new world, a liminal space that only exists when its exact creators are present. How we present ourselves in that space, in that moment, forms a first impression that imprints forever on the surface of this new world. The words we use and the truths we share shape the very fabric of reality.
Events happening in this intimate space of shared worlds echo out into the personal worlds of the inhabitants with the slightest “generation loss”, forming copies of memories, filtered through the lens of individual consciousness, and perpetually altered over time by shifting neurons and fluctuating worldviews. The inhabitants will readily access the local copy of a memory, which is separate and different from the ephemeral memory generated in the shared world, which dissipates and disappears immediately once participants move out of proximity, putting the shared world on pause. The multiverse expands exponentially as narratives and truths diverge.
Multiplicity of Being
When you fire up a new role-playing game for the first time, your initial task is to create your character, an avatar to represent you and navigate a new fictional world on your behalf. The same thing happens in the shared worlds we create. We build a version of ourself specific to these in-between worlds by choosing which information about ourselves to divulge, and by tailoring our actions and reactions according to how we wish to be perceived by the other inhabitants. The other inhabitants of our shared world will consequently create their own archetypal copy of our avatar to play our role in their personal memories back on their home worlds.
We can intentionally influence the shape of our other-world actors by more clearly defining the avatars we use in shared worlds. This is how personal branding or marketing works in the business world. At the very least, by having a clear understanding of how we are perceived, we can show up consistently on our shared world stages and reduce playback errors later on.
Being intentional about our avatars can also a be a powerful form of protection and a tool for maintaining safety in uncertain circumstances. That is to say, deciding how you show up in shared worlds is your decision, and custom-tailoring your avatar to protect your personal world is sometimes the best strategy. Bring your authentic self when it’s safe to do so, but wear a mask if needed.
Danger at the Crossroads
The power-hungry want to exert control over our shared worlds, and ultimately over the personal worlds of everyone they come into contact with, directly or indirectly. The most effective path to power is convincing enough people that your truth is their truth. Better yet, enticing others to join you as an emissary to the worlds you can’t reach directly, spreading the disease of your truth and passing judgement according to your laws - now that is power.
Our armor against this onslaught of darkness is forged of self-awareness and knowledge of our power of co-creation. We fight our battles in shared worlds by defiantly embodying our truths and upholding our boundaries, protecting our personal worlds as best we can from the influence of those we can’t avoid or ignore. Our armor is bolstered when we join together with other co-creators working intentionally to build beautiful worlds, and with enough support, we can hold the evil at bay indefinitely and even defeat it.
Co-Creating Beautiful Worlds
Hopefully we’ve all had the magical experience of gathering together with beings of like mind towards a common goal. When it works, it really works, and the impact can be widespread and long-lasting. By intentionally coordinating opportunities for beautiful world co-building, we can increase the frequency and intensity of these moments. The amazing side effect is that our personal creative powers grow and our own private worlds become more stable and sustainable in the face of adversity, and less susceptible to corruption by the nefarious.
What I hope for all of us is that we continue to discover and grow in our own creative power, and that we find more and more opportunities to co-create beautiful worlds with others. This is why we are here, and it’s how we will ultimately change the world we all share for the better.
I’m Here to Help
I’m a trained creativity and existential wellness coach, and I’m happy to help you discover new ways to design your perfect, beautiful world. If having a partner to help create your most important work of art (you) sounds promising, let’s give it a shot.
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