[overu589]

Yes, most of what is experienced is curated. Large parts of our minds evolved to suppress and filter raw perception, that it does not drive us mad and we can think with clear purpose upon consciously important issues (whatever they may be.)

The first years would be spent quieting the mind, though the real work is rigorous and exhausting.

Aside from the immense crevasse which cuts one off from even perceiving the many subtle distinctions, those experientially adept may merely manipulate your perception. In fact, without an uplift curating your experience you could not in a thousand years stumble upon Power yourself.

Other than the immense difficulty, it really is kind of tame. The wormholes are in our heads. Some are masters in creating their own hyperdimensional space (which the flat lander may have trouble comprehending.) this may be every bit as amazing as generative AI creating an HD interactive experience, or a fuzzy blob in the back of the mind which leaves you with a forever haunting impression.

Anything substantive will be trivialized or made taboo (called “insane” ending all argument.)

And dark designs do thrive in the shadow of humanity’s incredulity.

“Yes Virginia, magic does exist in the world; like all things beautiful, dark minds covet and it is the innocent who pay.”