[eightails]

In a way it reminds me of being engrossed in reading, in that there's an almost complete suspension of awareness of the outside world in favour of the fictional one. The fact that RS users report writing detailed scripts seems to support this:

> Before I plan on shifting, I write myself a script in the notes app on my phone, in which I plan exactly what happens in the desired reality. This makes it easier to visualize exactly what I want to happen

I suppose one difference is that in reading, you (or I, at least) tend to also dissociate the self somewhat in favour of the main character in the novel, whereas RS users seem to retain their sense of self.

Following this train of thought, I wonder if reading could itself be considered a kind of meditation?

This sort of thing is so interesting from a psychological perspective, is a shame it has to come laden with bogus rationalisations via the occult or pop-quantum physics, which just provides an avenue for easy dismissal of the effect.

[rg111]

Exactly this.

Just after I read the abstract, it reminded me of reading a long, engrossing novel (like War and Peace, LOTR, etc.), or watching a similar TV/Web series (like The Wire, Breaking Bad, etc.)

To a large extent I read long novels for this effect.

It gives you momentary escape from your reality, and when you "come back", you come back better.

I also want to point out that novels can be addictive in a bad way.

Long art forms suspends reality for a time period.

[Tenoke]

>is a shame it has to come laden with bogus rationalisations via the occult or pop-quantum physics

I'm guessing those help them though. The more you believe in it the better it works so having plausible (to laymen) explanations and talking as if the characters are real people improves the experience.

[ineedasername]

Good point. Constructing pseudo-scientific justifications and explanations becomes part of a self reinforcing system.

Unfortunately it is a similar mechanism that underlies various pathological delusions like paranoia, so I'm not sure how healthy of an activity it would be. I suppose like anything else it comes down to a matter of degrees?

[taylorius]

I think that's largely what it is. Reading goes out of fashion, only to emerge from it's ashes with a new, Matrix-y name.