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Difference between revisions of "Cognitive Realm"

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{{Magic
  
{{Magic
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|image=Shadesmar_Travel_by_LittleGreyDragon.jpeg
 
|related=[[Realmatic Theory]]
  
|related=[[Realmatic Theory]]
 
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
  
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[Mistborn Era 1]]
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|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[Mistborn]]
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}}
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}}{{spoilers|book=sa3}}
  
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{{update|sa4|mb7}}
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{{for|Rosharan subastral|the region that coined this term|pre=This article is about the entire Cognitive Realm, informally known as Shadesmar}}
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{{quote
  
{{quote
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| All things have three components: the soul, the body, and the mind. That place you saw, Shadesmar, is what we call the Cognitive Realm—the place of the mind.
 +
|All things have three components: the soul, the body, and the mind. That place you saw, Shadesmar, is what we call the Cognitive Realm—the place of the mind.
−
| [[Jasnah]] explaining [[Shadesmar]] to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa1|1}}
 +
|[[Jasnah]] explaining [[Shadesmar]] to [[Shallan]]{{book ref|sa2|1}}
 
}}
  
}}
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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}} As even non-living things can have a Cognitive aspect in the [[cosmere]], the Cognitive Realm is also a place where the thoughts and feelings of non-living things can be known.
  
   
  +
The '''Cognitive Realm''', known colloquially as '''Shadesmar''' is the realm of thought or of the mind.{{msh ref|2|1}} It contains the Cognitive aspects of both living and non-living things and can be accessed via perpendicularity. On at least one planet, the deceased appear in the Cognitive Realm before passing on to the Beyond. The Cognitive Realm, along with its counterparts, the Spiritual Realm and the Physical Realm are studied together as part of Realmatic Theory.
−
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.
  
   
  +
The informal name, Shadesmar, originates from the Rosharan subastral{{wob ref|5814}} and also the Rosharan word for "Cognitive Realm".{{wob ref|3010}} Although other worlds have their own words for "Cognitive Realm", when these get magically translated to another language, it results in the name "Shadesmar", even if not in reference to the Rosharan subastral.{{wob ref|10305}} Shadesmar, as coined and used by Rosharans, is also used in [[Silverlight]] as the [[cosmere]] standard.{{wob ref|10305}}
−
== Appearance ==
  
−
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 next to each other in this Realm, with oceans acting as the borders between worlds. This makes for easier [[worldhopping]].
  
   
  +
== Locations ==
−
The few regions in the Cognitive Realm revealed so far has shown major differences in composition and appearance, but there are shared characteristics. It is not known how common these characteristics are on other regions yet unseen. The Cognitive Realm looks different on every planet, with its traits partially influenced by perception.{{wob ref|11688}} If the landscape in the Physical Realm changes (such as a body of water getting filled in with dirt), the area's Cognitive counterpart will change to reflect this, but there will be a delay before the Cognitive Realm changes.{{wob ref|12569}}
  
  +
The Cognitive Realm exists as a connected plane that is heavily distorted based on the presence of cognitive thought.{{book ref|sa4|22}}{{book ref|sa4|47}} The Cognitive Realm is split into sections known as subastrals that reflect to corresponding planets in the cosmere. These subastrals can be reached from their neighbors, making worldhopping and interworld trade possible.
   
  ⚫
=== Subastrals ===
−
;Fluid-Solid inversion: Bodies of water in the Physical Realm appear as solid in the Cognitive, whereas land on the Physical Realm appear as some sort of fluid, the composition of which differs for each region.{{wob ref|11708}} According to Leras, the reason for this has something to do with the way men think and where they are likely to pass.{{msh ref|3|2}}
  
  ⚫
Parts of the Cognitive Realm that are reflections of planets are called subastrals.{{msh ref|2|1}}
   
  +
==== Rosharan Subastral ====
−
;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. Shadows in the Cognitive Realm have been witnessed as drawing towards light sources instead of away from them, though the exact reason for this is unknown.
  
  ⚫
:''Main article:'' [[Rosharan subastral]]
  +
{{image|Shadesmar_(TWoK).jpg|side=right|height=350px}}
   
  +
Shadesmar is a bustling land and home to the spren. Shadesmar is composed of an inverted ocean made of beads that represent the souls of Physical Realm objects, while living souls from the Physical Realm are represented by flames. There is a thriving society that lives in the area with both spren specific and mixed spren cities being found in the region. Humans can also be found living in Shadesmar however they are rarer and are more commonly travelers. Trade is common between Rosharans and off worlders, with goods being bought and sold using the local Investiture, Stormlight. Relations, however, between spren and humans are not always positive with many spren treating humans poorly due to the lingering effects of the Recreance on their peoples. As well as this, several factions, including Odium's Forces and the Ghostbloods became active in the area c. 1174. Odium's forces have worked to gain influence over the Realm, while the Ghostbloods have sought to build a network for Stormlight trade off world.
−
;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 on the Physical Realm glow in the Cognitive. 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.
  
   
  +
==== Scadrian Subastral ====
−
;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 differ in each region.{{wob ref|1546}}
  
  +
The Scadrian subastral is also known as the [[Expanse of the Vapors]]{{map ref|Shadesmar}} or, in popular accounts, the 'ghostly dimension'.{{file ref|The Two Seasons broadsheet.jpg|''The Two Seasons'' Broadsheet}} This region is characterized by its misty environment, with all objects from the Physical Realm appearing as misty figures. Like with the Rosharan subastral, bodies of water in the Physical Realm reflect as rocky shores, while the ground appears as a misty liquid. Living beings, as well as all metal, glow brightly in the Cognitive Realm, to the point that they can mask objects in the Physical Realm if concentrated enough.{{msh ref|3|2}}
   
  ⚫
Worldhoppers have been known to travel by boat across the misty fluid of the Scadrian Cognitive Realm,{{wob ref|1542}} but [[Cognitive shadow]]s, [[Shard]]s, and the souls of the dead appear capable of walking on the fluid. It is not known whether such beings can also walk on the Cognitive seas of other worlds.
−
== Inhabitants ==
  
−
While everything in the cosmere has a Cognitive aspect, most sentient beings only perceive the [[Physical Realm]]. However, there are several ways to move one's consciousness, and even one's existence, away from the Physical Realm and thereby experience the Cognitive Realm. [[Worldhoppers]] do this in order to easily traverse the space between worlds via the Cognitive land. Furthermore, the souls of the dead appear in the Cognitive Realm before passing on to the Beyond. Through [[Investiture]], a soul can last longer in the Cognitive Realm, and some even hold on long enough to be considered [[Cognitive shadow]]s, souls that fail to pass on and are stuck in the Cognitive Realm.
  
   
  +
==== Selish Subastral ====
−
There are beings that are considered native to the Cognitive Realm. Whole civilizations can even be formed, with sentient beings residing in cities built on the Cognitive land.
  
  +
The Selish subastral is also known as the [[Expanse of the Densities]].{{wob ref|8595}}{{wob ref|10301}} Due to the Splintering of the local Shards, and subsequent locking of those Splintered bodies in the Cognitive Realm, the Selish subastral is uninhabitable, as the Shardic substance has formed into a highly pressurized plasma-like storm known as the Dor.{{wob ref|8241}}{{au ref|selish}}{{wob ref|2546}} This makes the Cognitive Realm on Sel extremely dangerous as anyone who comes there unprepared would be ripped apart by the power of the Shards.{{wob ref|7212}} It is possible to pass through the Dor and survive, though by what means it is unclear.{{book ref|sa3|97}}{{book ref|sa1|i|1}}{{book ref|mb7|39}}{{book ref|mb7|42}}
   
  +
The Selish subastral appears different based on where it is linked in the Physical Realm.{{wob ref|16385}}
−
One such city is [[Silverlight]], a human-inhabited city fully located in an unspecified region of the Cognitive Realm. The city has several universities, and is where the cosmere scholar [[Khriss]] is based.{{au ref|selish}} Aside from [[worldhopper]] residents who came from the Physical Realm of other worlds, there are also humans who were born and raised in Silverlight{{wob ref|2520}} and are therefore native to the Cognitive Realm.
  
−  
⚫
== Subastrals ==
  
⚫
Parts of the Cognitive Realm that are reflections of planets are called subastrals.{{msh ref|2|1}}
 
   
−
=== Roshar ===
 +
==== Lumaran Subastral ====
  +
Little is known about the Lumaran Subastral, however, the solid-fluid inversion is weirder than normal in comparison to the other subastrals shown.{{wob ref|16133}}
⚫
:''Main article:'' [[Shadesmar]]
  
   
  +
==== Canticle Subastral ====
−
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.
  
  +
Little is known about the Canticle Subastral besides the fact that it has constant and dangerous shakings and tremors.{{wob ref|16319}}
   
  +
=== Notable Locations ===
−
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.
  
  +
Other regions that can be found in the Cognitive Realm include;
  +
* [[Expanse of the Broken Sky]] - an unknown region that borders the Rosharan subastral{{map ref|Shadesmar}}
  +
* The [[Ire]] Fortress - a stronghold adjacent to Scadrial.{{msh ref|5|2}}
  +
* [[Silverlight]] - a Realmatically aware city based somewhere in the Cognitive Realm.
  ⚫
* A world that is an empty wasteland of near-nothingness.{{wob ref|3517}}
  +
* A completely transparent sea, supposedly the space between worlds. It is notably quite viscous.{{book ref|mb7|epilogue|6}}
  +
* A place where [[Hoid]] keeps his "home base."{{wob ref|3479}}{{wob ref|1261}}
   
  +
== Geography and Ecology ==
−
There are cities of spren in Shadesmar. Some spren travel the seas using ships pulled by giant flying spren called Mandras. One of the cities is named Celebrant and it is in the Sea of Lost Lights.
  
  +
=== Environments ===
  +
The Cognitive Realm looks different on every planet, with its traits partially influenced by perception,{{wob ref|11688}} and although the composition of each subastral differs, there are certain shared characteristics between the different parts of the realm. The landscape is also not fixed - as it is a reflection of the Physical Realm, changes in that Realm, such as a body of water getting filled in with dirt, will be reflected in the Cognitive Realm, albeit with a delay.{{wob ref|12569}} The Cognitive Realm is flat, and does not have a curvature; it is unknown which projection it uses.{{wob ref|16521}}{{wob ref|640}}{{wob ref|15598}}{{ref|group=fn|text= Peter Ahlstrom has stated that it may be a Dymaxion map, but with the edges connected so that one can seamlessly walk into the next section even though a gap should exist. But this has yet to be entirely confirmed.{{wob ref|15598}}}}
  +
{{image|Starspren_Connor_Chamberlain.jpg|side=left|height=450px}}
   
  +
The Cognitive Realm overlays the Physical Realm,{{book ref|sa2|1}} however, as it is more compact,{{book ref|sa4|i|2}} locations do not map one to one between the two realms.{{wob ref|13234}} As the realm forms based on people’s perception of objects and space, the vertical dimension,{{book ref|sa4|22}} space between planets,{{wob ref|5671}}{{wob ref|1392}} and unknown locations in the Physical Realm,{{wob ref|4132}}{{wob ref|5671}} are particularly compressed. Areas, such as the middle of oceans or in between planets, where thought does not exist are shrunk in the Cognitive Realm to be little to no distance at all, though the Cognitive Realm does still exist in these spaces.{{wob ref|5480}}{{wob ref|15667}} Cognitive Realm geography does not need to be based off naturally occurring Physical Realm geology, and can also form as a reflection of man-made land or water sources.{{wob ref|11870}}
−
=== Scadrial ===
  
−
The Scadrian subastral is called the [[Expanse of the Vapors]] on the [[Shadesmar#The_Shadesmar_Map|Rosharan Shadesmar map]]. On this region, Physical things 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.{{msh ref|3|2}}
  
   
  +
The sky in the Cognitive Realm is pitch black{{book ref|sa2|7}} with no moon or stars.{{book ref|sa3|95}}{{book ref|sa4|22}} On the horizon sits a small, frail,{{book ref|sa4|22}} white sun,{{book ref|sa1|45}}{{book ref|sa2|1}} that provides enough light to illuminate the lands but not the sky, despite appearing almost too weak to achieve even this.{{book ref|sa4|22}} The sun does not move or change regardless of time of day or distance traveled - because of this, the Cognitive Realm does not have any natural day and night cycle.{{book ref|sa3|91}}{{book ref|sa3|95}}{{book ref|Sa4|24}} On some worlds, clouds create certain formations which they strictly hold to, however this is not the case for all worlds.{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{msh ref|1|1}} It has a natural, breathable atmosphere due to air permeating into the Cognitive from the Physical Realm.{{wob ref|9512}}
⚫
Worldhoppers have been known to travel by boat across the misty fluid of the Scadrian Cognitive Realm,{{wob ref|1542}} but [[Cognitive shadow]]s, [[Shard]]s, and the souls of the dead appear capable of walking on the fluid. It is not known whether such beings can also walk of the Cognitive seas of other worlds.
  
   
  +
The Cognitive Realm is an inverse reflection of the Physical Realm, with the Cognitive Realm's bodies of "water" mirroring land in the Physical Realm, and Cognitive Realm land being the reflection of oceans, rivers, and lakes. Each subastral will manifest these bodies of "water" differently, which may relate to the way of thinking on any given planet.{{wob ref|11708}}{{msh ref|3|2}} It is possible that this inversion does not extend to all subastrals in the cosmere.{{wob ref|7200}}
−
It is possible to take the Cognitive aspect of something on Scadrial's Cognitive Realm and carry it around as a ball of mist, and then later on command it to manifest fully. Through this, both [[Nazh]] and [[Kelsier]] were able to produce fire in the Cognitive Realm whenever they needed it.{{msh ref|3|2}}{{msh ref|4|3}}
  
   
  +
Shadows behave strangely in the Cognitive Realm, depending on the source of light that is creating them. Shadows cast by the sun will point towards it instead of away,{{book ref|sa2|7}}{{book ref|sa4|22}} while those cast by manifested fire will point away from the light source as would occur in the Physical Realm.{{book ref|sa3|97}} Backward shadows occur on rare occasions in the Physical Realm, and are related in some way to the Cognitive Realm.{{wob ref|467}}{{book ref|sa2|prologue}}{{book ref|sa2|i|3}}
⚫
=== Sel ===
  
−
On the Rosharan Shadesmar map, the Selish subastral is called the [[Expanse of the Densities]]. The Shards of [[Dominion]] and [[Devotion]] were [[Splinter]]ed and trapped in the Cognitive Realm by [[Odium]]. While the power of most other Shards resides 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 could gain those Shards.{{wob ref|2546}} This makes the Cognitive Realm on Sel extremely dangerous as anyone who comes there unprepared would be ripped apart by the power of the Shards,{{wob ref|7212}} now collectively known as the [[Dor]]. This manifests as a large storm-like, highly pressurized form made of a substance similar to plasma.{{wob ref|8241}}
  
   
  +
=== Flora, Fauna, and Beings ===
−
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}}
  
  +
There is a variety of plant life that blooms in the Cognitive Realm, although its substance differs between planets. Plant life blooms on the inverted ground of the Cognitive Realm as it corresponds to bodies of water. On some subastrals, water in a cup in the Physical Realm is enough to allow the plants to bloom.{{msh ref|4|2}}
   
  +
Living beings reflect in the Cognitive Realm in some manner.{{book ref|sa2|7}}{{msh ref|1|1}} If someone is to die in the Physical Realm, their soul will disappear. In some subastrals they may appear briefly in the Cognitive Realm before passing onto the Beyond, although this does not appear to be the case on all planets.{{book ref|sa3|89}}{{wob ref|11427}} Through [[Investiture]], a soul can last longer in the Cognitive Realm, and some even hold on long enough to be considered [[Cognitive Shadow]]s, souls that fail to pass on and are stuck in the Cognitive Realm. Similar to objects, touching a person will give the impression of the person it represents and it is possible to feel their emotions and general thoughts.{{book ref|sa3|89}}
−
=== Other Regions ===
  
⚫
There is apparently a world that appears in the Cognitive Realm as an empty wasteland of near-nothingness.{{wob ref|3517}}.
  
   
  ⚫
== Trivia ==
−
It has been implied that there are regions in the Cognitive Realm that don't have the fluid-solid inversion seen on Roshar and Scadrial.{{wob ref|7200}} Whether the region of "near-nothingness" is one of these has not yet been confirmed.
  
  +
* Although Brandon plans for Shadesmar to be used in reference to the whole cosmere and not just the Rosharan subastral, this may shift to the more scientific term ‘Cognitive Realm’ once Brandon reaches Era 4.{{wob ref|10305}}
   
 
== Notes ==
  
== Notes ==
  +
;Footnotes
  +
<references group=fn />
  +
;References
 
<references />
  
<references />
 
{{partial}}
  
{{partial}}
 
{{cosmere}}
  
{{cosmere}}
  +
[[es:Reino Cognitivo]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 24 March 2024

Cognitive Realm
Shadesmar Travel by LittleGreyDragon.jpeg
by LittleGreyDragon
Related to Realmatic Theory
Universe Cosmere
This page or section needs to be updated with new information for Rhythm of War and The Lost Metal!
Be aware that in its current state, it may not include all additional content yet.
This article is about the entire Cognitive Realm, informally known as Shadesmar. For the region that coined this term, see Rosharan subastral.

“All things have three components: the soul, the body, and the mind. That place you saw, Shadesmar, is what we call the Cognitive Realm—the place of the mind. ”

—Jasnah explaining Shadesmar to Shallan[1]

The Cognitive Realm, known colloquially as Shadesmar is the realm of thought or of the mind.[2] It contains the Cognitive aspects of both living and non-living things and can be accessed via perpendicularity. On at least one planet, the deceased appear in the Cognitive Realm before passing on to the Beyond. The Cognitive Realm, along with its counterparts, the Spiritual Realm and the Physical Realm are studied together as part of Realmatic Theory.

The informal name, Shadesmar, originates from the Rosharan subastral[3] and also the Rosharan word for "Cognitive Realm".[4] Although other worlds have their own words for "Cognitive Realm", when these get magically translated to another language, it results in the name "Shadesmar", even if not in reference to the Rosharan subastral.[5] Shadesmar, as coined and used by Rosharans, is also used in Silverlight as the cosmere standard.[5]

Locations[edit]

The Cognitive Realm exists as a connected plane that is heavily distorted based on the presence of cognitive thought.[6][7] The Cognitive Realm is split into sections known as subastrals that reflect to corresponding planets in the cosmere. These subastrals can be reached from their neighbors, making worldhopping and interworld trade possible.

Subastrals[edit]

Parts of the Cognitive Realm that are reflections of planets are called subastrals.[2]

Rosharan Subastral[edit]

Main article: Rosharan subastral
by Isaac Stewart

Shadesmar is a bustling land and home to the spren. Shadesmar is composed of an inverted ocean made of beads that represent the souls of Physical Realm objects, while living souls from the Physical Realm are represented by flames. There is a thriving society that lives in the area with both spren specific and mixed spren cities being found in the region. Humans can also be found living in Shadesmar however they are rarer and are more commonly travelers. Trade is common between Rosharans and off worlders, with goods being bought and sold using the local Investiture, Stormlight. Relations, however, between spren and humans are not always positive with many spren treating humans poorly due to the lingering effects of the Recreance on their peoples. As well as this, several factions, including Odium's Forces and the Ghostbloods became active in the area c. 1174. Odium's forces have worked to gain influence over the Realm, while the Ghostbloods have sought to build a network for Stormlight trade off world.

Scadrian Subastral[edit]

The Scadrian subastral is also known as the Expanse of the Vapors[8] or, in popular accounts, the 'ghostly dimension'.[9] This region is characterized by its misty environment, with all objects from the Physical Realm appearing as misty figures. Like with the Rosharan subastral, bodies of water in the Physical Realm reflect as rocky shores, while the ground appears as a misty liquid. Living beings, as well as all metal, glow brightly in the Cognitive Realm, to the point that they can mask objects in the Physical Realm if concentrated enough.[10]

Worldhoppers have been known to travel by boat across the misty fluid of the Scadrian Cognitive Realm,[11] but Cognitive shadows, Shards, and the souls of the dead appear capable of walking on the fluid. It is not known whether such beings can also walk on the Cognitive seas of other worlds.

Selish Subastral[edit]

The Selish subastral is also known as the Expanse of the Densities.[12][13] Due to the Splintering of the local Shards, and subsequent locking of those Splintered bodies in the Cognitive Realm, the Selish subastral is uninhabitable, as the Shardic substance has formed into a highly pressurized plasma-like storm known as the Dor.[14][15][16] This makes the Cognitive Realm on Sel extremely dangerous as anyone who comes there unprepared would be ripped apart by the power of the Shards.[17] It is possible to pass through the Dor and survive, though by what means it is unclear.[18][19][20][21]

The Selish subastral appears different based on where it is linked in the Physical Realm.[22]

Lumaran Subastral[edit]

Little is known about the Lumaran Subastral, however, the solid-fluid inversion is weirder than normal in comparison to the other subastrals shown.[23]

Canticle Subastral[edit]

Little is known about the Canticle Subastral besides the fact that it has constant and dangerous shakings and tremors.[24]

Notable Locations[edit]

Other regions that can be found in the Cognitive Realm include;

  • Expanse of the Broken Sky - an unknown region that borders the Rosharan subastral[8]
  • The Ire Fortress - a stronghold adjacent to Scadrial.[25]
  • Silverlight - a Realmatically aware city based somewhere in the Cognitive Realm.
  • A world that is an empty wasteland of near-nothingness.[26]
  • A completely transparent sea, supposedly the space between worlds. It is notably quite viscous.[27]
  • A place where Hoid keeps his "home base."[28][29]

Geography and Ecology[edit]

Environments[edit]

The Cognitive Realm looks different on every planet, with its traits partially influenced by perception,[30] and although the composition of each subastral differs, there are certain shared characteristics between the different parts of the realm. The landscape is also not fixed - as it is a reflection of the Physical Realm, changes in that Realm, such as a body of water getting filled in with dirt, will be reflected in the Cognitive Realm, albeit with a delay.[31] The Cognitive Realm is flat, and does not have a curvature; it is unknown which projection it uses.[32][33][34][fn 1]

by Connor Chamberlain

The Cognitive Realm overlays the Physical Realm,[1] however, as it is more compact,[35] locations do not map one to one between the two realms.[36] As the realm forms based on people’s perception of objects and space, the vertical dimension,[6] space between planets,[37][38] and unknown locations in the Physical Realm,[39][37] are particularly compressed. Areas, such as the middle of oceans or in between planets, where thought does not exist are shrunk in the Cognitive Realm to be little to no distance at all, though the Cognitive Realm does still exist in these spaces.[40][41] Cognitive Realm geography does not need to be based off naturally occurring Physical Realm geology, and can also form as a reflection of man-made land or water sources.[42]

The sky in the Cognitive Realm is pitch black[43] with no moon or stars.[44][6] On the horizon sits a small, frail,[6] white sun,[45][1] that provides enough light to illuminate the lands but not the sky, despite appearing almost too weak to achieve even this.[6] The sun does not move or change regardless of time of day or distance traveled - because of this, the Cognitive Realm does not have any natural day and night cycle.[46][44][47] On some worlds, clouds create certain formations which they strictly hold to, however this is not the case for all worlds.[48][49] It has a natural, breathable atmosphere due to air permeating into the Cognitive from the Physical Realm.[50]

The Cognitive Realm is an inverse reflection of the Physical Realm, with the Cognitive Realm's bodies of "water" mirroring land in the Physical Realm, and Cognitive Realm land being the reflection of oceans, rivers, and lakes. Each subastral will manifest these bodies of "water" differently, which may relate to the way of thinking on any given planet.[51][10] It is possible that this inversion does not extend to all subastrals in the cosmere.[52]

Shadows behave strangely in the Cognitive Realm, depending on the source of light that is creating them. Shadows cast by the sun will point towards it instead of away,[43][6] while those cast by manifested fire will point away from the light source as would occur in the Physical Realm.[18] Backward shadows occur on rare occasions in the Physical Realm, and are related in some way to the Cognitive Realm.[53][48][54]

Flora, Fauna, and Beings[edit]

There is a variety of plant life that blooms in the Cognitive Realm, although its substance differs between planets. Plant life blooms on the inverted ground of the Cognitive Realm as it corresponds to bodies of water. On some subastrals, water in a cup in the Physical Realm is enough to allow the plants to bloom.[55]

Living beings reflect in the Cognitive Realm in some manner.[43][49] If someone is to die in the Physical Realm, their soul will disappear. In some subastrals they may appear briefly in the Cognitive Realm before passing onto the Beyond, although this does not appear to be the case on all planets.[56][57] Through Investiture, a soul can last longer in the Cognitive Realm, and some even hold on long enough to be considered Cognitive Shadows, souls that fail to pass on and are stuck in the Cognitive Realm. Similar to objects, touching a person will give the impression of the person it represents and it is possible to feel their emotions and general thoughts.[56]

Trivia[edit]

  • Although Brandon plans for Shadesmar to be used in reference to the whole cosmere and not just the Rosharan subastral, this may shift to the more scientific term ‘Cognitive Realm’ once Brandon reaches Era 4.[5]

Notes[edit]

Footnotes
  1. ↑ Peter Ahlstrom has stated that it may be a Dymaxion map, but with the edges connected so that one can seamlessly walk into the next section even though a gap should exist. But this has yet to be entirely confirmed.[34]
References
  1. ↑ a b c Words of Radiance chapter 1#
  2. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 2 chapter 1#
  3. ↑ Words of Radiance San Diego signing
    — Arcanum - 2014-03-04#
  4. ↑ Steelheart Chicago signing
    — Arcanum - 2013-10-05#
  5. ↑ a b c MisCon 2018
    — Arcanum - 2018-05-26#
  6. ↑ a b c d e f Rhythm of War chapter 22#
  7. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 47#
  8. ↑ a b Map of Shadesmar
  9. ↑ The Two Seasons Broadsheet
  10. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 3 chapter 2#
  11. ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Chicago signing
    — Arcanum - 2016-12-06#
  12. ↑ Oathbringer San Francisco signing
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-15#
  13. ↑ MisCon 2018
    — Arcanum - 2018-05-26#
  14. ↑ Oathbringer release party
    — Arcanum - 2017-11-13#
  15. ↑ Arcanum Unbounded - The Selish System#
  16. ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Hoboken signing
    — Arcanum - 2016-12-03#
  17. ↑ Firefight release party
    — Arcanum - 2015-01-05#
  18. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 97#
  19. ↑ The Way of Kings interlude I-1#
  20. ↑ The Lost Metal chapter 39#
  21. ↑ The Lost Metal chapter 42#
  22. ↑ YouTube Spoiler Stream 6
    — Arcanum - 2023-12-19#
  23. ↑ Tress Spoiler Stream
    — Arcanum - 2023-03-31#
  24. ↑ Dragonsteel 2023
    — Arcanum - 2023-11-21#
  25. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 5 chapter 2#
  26. ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
    — Arcanum - 2015-06-25#
  27. ↑ The Lost Metal epilogue 6#
  28. ↑ /r/books AMA 2015
    — Arcanum - 2015-06-16#
  29. ↑ 17th Shard Forum Q&A
    — Arcanum - 2012-09-28#
  30. ↑ Skyward San Francisco signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-11-08#
  31. ↑ Orem Signing
    — Arcanum - 2019-03-16#
  32. ↑ Secret Project #5 Reveal and Livestream
    — Arcanum - 2024-03-22#
  33. ↑ Calamity Denver signing
    — Arcanum - 2016-02-19#
  34. ↑ a b General Reddit 2022
    — Arcanum - 2022-04-01#
  35. ↑ Rhythm of War interlude I-2#
  36. ↑ Prague Signing
    — Arcanum - 2019-10-26#
  37. ↑ a b White Sand vol.1 release party
    — Arcanum - 2016-06-28#
  38. ↑ Orem signing 2014
    — Arcanum - 2014-12-06#
  39. ↑ /r/Stormlight_Archive
    — Arcanum - 2013-03-14#
  40. ↑ A Memory of Light Baltimore signing
    — Arcanum - 2013-02-18#
  41. ↑ YouTube Spoiler Stream 4
    — Arcanum - 2022-06-16#
  42. ↑ Skyward Seattle signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-11-10#
  43. ↑ a b c Words of Radiance chapter 7#
  44. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 95#
  45. ↑ The Way of Kings chapter 45#
  46. ↑ Oathbringer chapter 91#
  47. ↑ Rhythm of War chapter 24#
  48. ↑ a b Words of Radiance prologue#
  49. ↑ a b Mistborn: Secret History part 1 chapter 1#
  50. ↑ JordanCon 2018
    — Arcanum - 2018-04-21#
  51. ↑ Skyward San Francisco signing
    — Arcanum - 2018-11-08#
  52. ↑ Words of Radiance Omaha signing
    — Arcanum - 2014-03-13#
  53. ↑ Teen Author Boot Camp
    — Arcanum - 2015-04-11#
  54. ↑ Words of Radiance interlude I-3#
  55. ↑ Mistborn: Secret History part 4 chapter 2#
  56. ↑ a b Oathbringer chapter 89#
  57. ↑ Skyward Pre-Release AMA
    — Arcanum - 2018-10-27#
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