Higher Dimensions

[Jimmy]

Use your imagination. That's the primary way humans interact with the otherworlds. It's not that complicated, except when it is.

Different cultures and traditions have, as expected, varying opinions and experiences on the matter. It would take quite some time to go into it, even just limiting to my own tradition. Honestly, I don't much care what is believed about these things and focus on the experience which is not atypical for Pagans. Words are routinely a poor conveyance for the experiences. In part because unless you've been there it just sounds... modern culture is pretty hostile to it, unfortunately. In spite of routinely engaging with otherworlds (e.g., "fictional" universes), which is a bit weird, but it is what it is.

My imagination doesn’t go beyond the five senses. For me, those five senses that God gave me are exquisite, magical and quite enough to be processed for thinking. Personally I find that touch is quite eye opening when processed through the brain. Especially when thinking of the infinite cosmos. One can begin to feel the heart. The recognition of oneself if you will.

Can’t image a sixth sense more capable of delivering experiences like our 5. I think God hit the mark rather nicely.

 

[Jimmy]

I'm not sure if qualify to answer.

I prefer to use the word "realm" or "domain" not dimension, and, I do not describe them as "higher" or "lower". They are "super-imposed" on each other, co-existing, concurrent, and omnipresent.

I think a lot of people feed into this sort of thinking and buy into it. I think it fills a hole in their life and makes them feel a little bit more powerful. I can see why it’s so enticing. The way I see it, there’s only one reality.

 

[Quintessence]

My imagination doesn’t go beyond the five senses. For me, those five senses that God gave me are exquisite, magical and quite enough to be processed for thinking. Personally I find that touch is quite eye opening when processed through the brain. Especially when thinking of the infinite cosmos. One can begin to feel the heart. The recognition of oneself if you will.

Can’t image a sixth sense more capable of delivering experiences like our 5. I think God hit the mark rather nicely.

Fair enough.

Honestly, the five senses are a myth anyway. That is, humans have (and always have had) more than five senses - it's a major oversimplification of how the human body is capable of receiving information from the environment. Even if you're a strict physicalist (which I am not). Other senses humans have that are routinely overlooked and ignored include our sense of balance and sense of body position in spite of us experiencing it on a daily basis. But it is easier to teach kids growing up that there are only five, so the myth persists.

 

[Kathryn]

Fair enough.

Honestly, the five senses are a myth anyway. That is, humans have (and always have had) more than five senses - it's a major oversimplification of how the human body is capable of receiving information from the environment. Even if you're a strict physicalist (which I am not). Other senses humans have that are routinely overlooked and ignored include our sense of balance and sense of body position in spite of us experiencing it on a daily basis. But it is easier to teach kids growing up that there are only five, so the myth persists.

Also, some people can see many more colors than other people, and some people can taste some things while others cannot.

 

[Trailblazer]

I can see how the world is good for you but I think it is a leap to go from there to characterising the whole thing as good

That is what some people do. The world is good for them so they say it is good.
They have blinders to the other people for whom the world is not good, and worse yet, some people blame those people for their suffering.

 

[Trailblazer]

Sounds a bit ungrateful.

We can be grateful for what we have and at the same time sad for what we have lost or never had.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I think a lot of people feed into this sort of thinking and buy into it. I think it fills a hole in their life and makes them feel a little bit more powerful. I can see why it’s so enticing. The way I see it, there’s only one reality.

There may only be one reality, but two things are obvious imo; that we each experience it differently, and that we each see only a tiny fraction of the totality of everything.

 

[Jimmy]

There may only be one reality, but two things are obvious imo; that we each experience it differently, and that we each see only a tiny fraction of the totality of everything.

Yeah, I see it is what you see is what you get. There’s nothing hidden beyond. The existence we were given is the epitome of complex.

 

[dybmh]

I think a lot of people feed into this sort of thinking and buy into it. I think it fills a hole in their life and makes them feel a little bit more powerful. I can see why it’s so enticing. The way I see it, there’s only one reality.

" ... there's only one reality."

I agree.

 

[Kathryn]

" ... there's only one reality."

I agree.

I think reality can differ from person to person.

 

[dybmh]

I think reality can differ from person to person.

I distinguish this in terms of perception and experiences:

Spoiler: more explanation

Each person's experiences and observations are part of one reality. However. Two individuals who are living very different lives, under very different circumstances, will naturally perceive their world differently. In this case, or cases like it, the two individuals feel and behave as if they are living in two totally different realities.

The "one" big reality, includes other smaller realities. It's not unlike comparing a corporate reality with a freelance reality. Both exist within the larger reality. The smaller realities are not fully distinct and separate from each other. There's overlap and inclusion in a larger system.

 

[Jimmy]

I think reality can differ from person to person.

The way I see it, perception might differ but not reality.

 

[Quintessence]

Also, some people can see many more colors than other people, and some people can taste some things while others cannot.

Color is an interesting one because it is more of a sociocultural thing than a biological/physical thing. As far as I'm aware, sight in humans is more or less analogous amongst individuals (colorblindness and age-related declines notwithstanding). But the way we talk about color and put it into categories is very socialized and cultural. Anyone who takes a color theory class as an art major will "see" more colors than someone who hasn't. Not in a literal sense, it just changes how you think about color on a fundamental level.