From a personal perspective, for the average person, the world at large, the world “out there”, seems to be a very stable place. We wake up each morning to familiar surroundings: the walls of our homes, the streets we walk, the faces we know. The world appears solid, unwavering, and reliable. Indeed, for most of us, the “out there” is so concrete that it feels as though it is filled with hard, unchanging objects: tables, chairs, buildings, trees, and even the sky above. These are the fixtures of reality, the backdrop against which our lives unfold, and we rarely question their permanence. We exist within this apparent stability, trusting that the rules of the universe remain the same from one day to the next.

And yet, within this seemingly concrete outer world, there is always something thrown in; always, it seems, when we are not looking straight ahead. Out of the corner of our eyes, we might catch a slight adjustment, an odd event, a peculiar little ‘reset’ that momentarily disrupts our sense of certainty. These moments are subtle, fleeting, but they linger in our minds, making us wonder: is the world as stable as it seems? Or is there something more mysterious at play, something that tugs at the edges of our perception?

It is in these moments of doubt that some begin to contemplate the possibility that the world “out there” is not as concrete as we believe. Perhaps, they muse, reality is more like a matrix; a kind of simulation, constructed according to rules and patterns that are not always visible to us. This idea, once the domain of science fiction, has gained surprising traction in popular culture and even in some scientific circles. The notion that our reality could be a simulation, or at least more malleable than we think, is both unsettling and intriguing.

Take, for example, the phenomenon known as the Mandela Effect. Named after the widespread ‘ supposedly’ false memory that Nelson Mandela died in prison in the 1980s (when in accordance to now ‘accepted’ fact, he lived until 2013). The Mandela Effect describes instances where large groups of people remember events, names, or details differently from how they are recorded in history.

This kind of odd reality shift can be highly disruptive for those that are paying attention, and it forces us to confront the possibility that our memories, and perhaps even the past itself, are not as fixed as we assume.
Did things actually change? Or is it simply that our past is a chain of events with many holes in between, our recollections being as ethereal and inaccurate as the biological processes that produce them?
These oddities, these cracks in the façade of reality, inspire us and sometimes even scare us into questioning the nature of the world we inhabit. Are we living in a universe of concrete certainty, or is there a deeper, more enigmatic structure beneath the surface?

The present moment is more than you may imagine

In the past, I have often discussed what I call the “expansive present”: a “now” point that, in a very real sense, is all that truly exists. However, because we are so accustomed to a particular, established view of reality, readers might assume I simply mean the present moment as it is commonly understood: just the here and now, fleeting and isolated. This is a limited perspective.

From this limited perspective, the past becomes a kind of illusion; a collection of fleeting memories that we cling to and interpret as permanent, maintained through various forms of persistence. But what, really, is persistence? Is it the networked activity of brain cells, constantly reaffirming and recalibrating themselves to preserve our sense of self and personal history? Is it the silent endurance of computer hardware, storing our digital footprints in magnetic patterns and silicon chips? Is it the inked words on the pages of books, or the way nature leaves its mark on stone and wood over countless years? Perhaps it is even the stars themselves, their light carrying stories across the vastness of space and time.

These questions naturally lead us to deeper inquiries: What is matter, after all? What gives substance to the world we perceive, to the memories we cherish, to the records we keep?
Well, the accepted answers we embrace today are, in many ways, products of our era: philosophical constructs and belief systems shaped by the prevailing knowledge and assumptions of this particular moment in the long cycle of human history.

Our understanding of persistence, memory, and matter itself is, as I will explore in this article, limited; at least from the perspective of inner alchemy. Our sense of time as linear, with a fixed present, a separate past, and a distinct future, is not complete. In fact, our entire conception of time and the present moment is a reflection of our current era. At other times in history, there have been different answers and different ways of perceiving reality.

There is so much more to say, so much more that could be added to this. For instance, there is far more to human history (and to reality itself) than what has been recorded in our history books. There is an entire epic reality that existed before the first words were supposedly etched onto clay tablets, before ink patterned itself on parchment, before stories were codified and cataloged. The vast majority of human experience, and indeed the experience of life on Earth, is unrecorded, living only in the echoes of forgotten dreams and the silent wisdom of the world itself.

In this sense, even our books, those bastions of recorded knowledge, are as fragile as our memories. Both are subject to the same forces of change, decay, and reinterpretation. Both are built on matter that exists and is patterned in ways that remain, at least in part, mysterious to us in these ‘modern’ times. The physical laws we use to describe the world are themselves products of a particular time and understanding, and may one day be seen as quaint or incomplete as the myths of ancient civilizations.

Ultimately, life is, quite literally, not what it seems. The reality we inhabit is layered, complex, and, in many ways, fundamentally unknowable. The stability we perceive is a kind of consensus, a shared agreement that allows us to navigate the world together. But beneath that surface, there are mysteries still waiting to be discovered; mysteries that remind us that the world, and our place in it, is far more wondrous and stranger than we can possibly imagine.

The illusion of time

Let’s take the idea of persistence as an example. In modern thinking, persistence is often explained as the activity of networked brain cells and the gradual, measurable changes in external objects over time. But in reality, this seemingly fixed “out there” is, as I have suggested, far more malleable than most people realize. The stability we rely on is not truly “out there” as we believe; it is, in fact, an illusion. Those shadowy glimpses of strange happenings that make us doubt our existence, those moments that whisper of a matrix or a simulation, are as real as the most concrete thing before you now. In other words, the Mandela effect, is… Real!

To truly understand this, let us return to that expansive moment point; the present, the “now.” From the perspective of inner alchemy, the present isn’t just a fleeting instant, as some might imagine; particularly those who take the modern, established view too literally. Instead, the moment point in inner alchemy is a thick, expansive, and rich present that actually encompasses both the past and the future. In this sense, the moment point is not thin and fleeting, but layered and alive.
For an inner alchemist, as they progress and begin to use and expand their inner senses, something far beyond just the outer physical ones, they start to perceive reality with a deeper, inner feeling sense that transcends the illusion of the seemingly physical and concrete world. Through this expanded perception, it becomes clear (an energetic fact) that both the past and the future exist now, within this present moment point. All is connected, all is flowing together… now!

And incredibly, as such, the present moment does not only shape the future; it also changes the past. This is a highly important realization: the now point changes the past.
All those things that seem so permanent (the ink on books, the weathering of stone and wood, even the stars in the sky) are not immune. The whole of the past can change in accordance with the inner actions of the moment; they all change, and can change, from this moment point. Past events are as malleable as the future, and can shift in accordance with what we think of as present moment physical actions and mental intentions.

The world is not fixed. Things are not concrete. Instead, the “out there” is a kind of ether, a blanketing powder of sorts that is given form and stability through networked minds; not just brain cells, but the collective and individual consciousness that continually reaffirms and recalibrates reality. We humans are the thinking aspect of nature, and as such, we help form nature and give it stability. We help shape that ether, giving it structure and persistence in accordance with our collective thought and individual focus.

What is matter? What is energy? The deeper we look, the more we discover that they are actually indivisible; two faces of the same underlying mystery. The stability and solidity we perceive are not inherent properties of the world, but the result of a vast, ongoing act of creation and affirmation, in which each of us plays a part. The boundaries between past, present, and future, between matter and energy, are not as absolute as they seem. In truth, everything is in flux, everything is interconnected, and reality itself is far more magical and mysterious than we have been led to believe.

A new way of perceiving reality and the Mandela effect

So, we might finally ask ourselves: what is the thing that gives aware meaning to the various energy patterns that make up information? The answer, quite simply, is us; our awareness, our consciousness, our thinking. It is we who give form to that ether, continually shaping and molding the powder of existence at every present moment point. And as I have emphasized, that present moment point is not a thin sliver of time, but a vast, expansive field that encompasses both the past and the future.

Consider what this means: the past is what it is because you think it is what it is. In the modern world, during this particular cycle of a very long and winding history of civilizations rising and falling, we have come to imagine time as linear and separated: a past that creates a present, which in turn shapes the future. All our perceptions and models follow these patterns, like waves rolling onto the shore and then receding. But this is only one possible way to see reality.

In the distant past, in civilizations now lost to memory, there were other ways of seeing the world; ways that, I would argue, were far richer and perhaps even more accurate. Measures and understandings were arrived at that saw time not as a straight line, but as a living, breathing expanse. And just as our science is now inching toward the realization that the past, present, and future are, in a sense, illusions, so too did these ancient cultures recognize time for what it truly is: an expansive present that encompasses everything.

The Mandela Effect is real. The changes you perceive at the edges of your awareness are real. You change the past now in the same way that you form the future, and yet, this future, which seems to be a result of the past, is not given form solely through the physical actions you perceive. Those actions themselves are the result of an even deeper past, one that originates within your own inner reality. You seem to act out of necessity, inputs, environment… and then something happens. But this sequence is itself an illusion: everything intermingles, and at the heart of it all is a nucleus, a central spark; a point of divine creation that begins with inner action.

In that sense, inner action is all-important. Inner reality is all-important. Because from within, you create all of reality in this infinite moment point that contains all there is, all that ever was, and all that ever will be. The world is not fixed, not concrete, but a living energetic web woven from the thoughts, awareness, and intentions of each of us. In realizing this, we reclaim our power as creators; not just of our future, but of our past and present as well. The universe, it turns out, is far more magical, mysterious, and interconnected than we ever dared to imagine.

Addendum: Three Questions to Begin Your Journey Within
As you reflect on these ideas, I invite you to pause and ask yourself three questions that can serve as the first steps on your path to understanding your inner reality and your role as a creator, a shaper of the very powder of existence:

1. What recurring thoughts or beliefs do I hold about my past, and how might they be shaping my present experience?
   Consider how your memories and interpretations of the past may be influencing your current reality, and whether these perceptions are as fixed as you once believed.
2. In what ways do my intentions and inner feelings subtly alter the world around me, even when I am not consciously aware of it?
   Observe the interplay between your inner state and your external circumstances. Notice how shifts in your awareness can ripple outward, transforming your environment and experiences.
3. If the present moment truly encompasses all that was and all that will be, what new possibilities open up for me right now?
   Imagine the creative power you hold in this expansive now. What could you change, heal, or bring forth if you embraced the fullness of your influence over reality?

These questions are not meant to be answered quickly. Instead, let them linger in your mind and heart, guiding you deeper into the exploration of your own consciousness and your profound connection to the world.

It is important to remember that this infinite complexity (the true nature of reality) is, at its core, a vast and boundless sea of energy. Describing our existence and our true purpose within this energetic ocean is no simple task. Yet, I have done my utmost to distill these mysteries in my Magnum Opus Trilogy: a series of three books dedicated to unveiling the techniques, methodologies, and even some of the beliefs of those ancient civilizations I have alluded to throughout this article.

If you are compelled to journey further, to dive deeper into the secrets of inner alchemy and the art of conscious creation, I highly recommend exploring this trilogy. It is my sincere hope that these books will serve as a guide and companion as you discover your own power to shape reality from within.