Editing User:Skaa/Cognitive Realm

In [[Realmatic Theory]], the '''Cognitive Realm''' is the realm between the [[Spiritual Realm|Spiritual]] and the [[Physical Realm|Physical]]. It is described as the world of the mind{{msh ref|2|1}} Because even non-living things can have a Cognitive aspect in the [[cosmere]], it is possible to communicate with or at least listen to non-living things while in the Cognitive Realm.

Space on the Cognitive Realm is heavily distorted such that areas that have little to no Cognitive presence are diminished significantly. This means that the vast empty space between planets in the Physical Realm do not exist in the Cognitive Realm. Different worlds sit right to each other in this Realm, with oceans (which are solid on this Realm) acting as the borders between worlds. This allows someone on the Cognitive Realm to travel from one world to another just by walking.

Some beings like [[Soulcaster]]s and [[Shard]]s can have their consciousness or even their whole body appear on the Cognitive Realm using their Invested ability. It is also possible to use [[Perpendicularity|Perpendicularities]] to move to and from the Cognitive Realm.

== Appearance ==

The few regions in the Cognitive Realm revealed so far has shown major differences in composition and appearance, but there are common characteristics:

;Fluid-Solid reversal: Bodies of water in the Physical Realm appear as solid in the Cognitive, whereas land on the Physical Realm appear as a vast sea, the composition of which differs for each region. It has been implied that there are regions on the Cognitive Realm that don't have this reversal.{{qa ref|1108|17|ground/water inversion|date=Mar 13th, 2014}}

;A tiny sun: There appears to be a sun in the Cognitive Realm's sky, but it has consistently been described as being smaller than what each character seeing it is familiar with. The sun disappears in the space between worlds.

;Investiture-based illumination: All [[Invest]]ed Physical objects glow in the Cognitive Realm. Since life itself appears to be a form of Investiture, living things glow as well. Certain objects might also glow even though they are not Invested, as in the case of metal in [[Scadrial]], though why this is so has not yet been revealed.

;Plants on Cognitive land: Some areas in the Cognitive land (which is water on the Physical Realm) appear to have plants or plant-shaped objects on them, the type of which differe in each region.

It is unknown how common those characteristics are on the Cognitive Realm of other cosmere worlds.

== On Roshar ==
:''Main article:'' [[Shadesmar]]

Rosharan scholars call the Cognitive Realm '''Shadesmar'''. Non-living things on Roshar's Physical Realm appear as dark glass beads in Shadesmar, while living things appear as flames. Bodies of water in Roshar's Physical Realm appear as dark obsidian land in Shadesmar, while Physical land appear as a dynamic sea of glass beads. Shadesmar's sky is black, with narrow clouds lining up towards a tiny sun.

Shadesmar is the natural habitat of the [[spren]], and is where their true form can be seen. There are spren cities around Shadesmar, presumably on the obsidian lands, on which trees made of crystal also grow.

== On Scadrial ==

Physical things on the Cognitive Realm on Scadrial appear shrouded in mist. Living things, as well as metallic objects, appear to glow. The Physical land appear misty and fluid, while bodies of water on the Physical Realm appear as solid, dark, smoky stone where mist-emitting plants grow.

== On Sel ==

The Shards of [[Dominion]] and [[Devotion]] was [[Splinter]]ed and trapped in the Cognitive Realm by [[Odium]]. While the power of most other Shards reside in the [[Spiritual Realm]]{{au ref|selish}}, Odium has locked the power of Dominion and Devotion in the Cognitive Realm to ensure that nobody on Sel would [[Ascend]].{{17s ref|post|512956|Arcanum Unbounded signing in Hoboken, NJ|date=2016-12-03}} This makes the Cognitive Realm on Sel extremely dangerous as anyone who comes there unprepared would be shredded by the power of the Shards, now collectively known as the [[Dor]].

It is unknown if the area of Cognitive land where the [[Ire]] are positioned during the events of [[Mistborn: Secret History]] is in Sel, though the Ire appear to be [[Elantrian]]s who are native to Sel. The area around the Ire building has tall jagged rock formations that look like trees.{{msh ref|5|2}}

== Silverlight ==
:''Main article:'' [[Silverlight]]

'''Silverlight''' is a human-inhabited city fully located on the Cognitive Realm. The city has several universities, and is where [[Khriss]] is based.{{au ref|selish}}

Not everyone on Silverlight Worldhopped from the Physical Realm of other worlds, as some people there were born in the city itself.{{17s ref|post|513021|Arcanum Unbounded signing in Hoboken, NJ|date=2016-12-03}}

== Trivia ==

According to an interview with [[Brandon Sanderson]], there is a world that appears in the Cognitive Realm as an "empty wasteland of near-nothingness."{{reddit ref|mistborn|2ytg2h|cshtsde|text=Could you describe what the Cognitive Realm looks like in a Shardworld other than Roshar?|date=2015-06-25}}.

== Notes ==
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