User:Stargazer/Realmatic Theory

{{magic
|related=[[Physical Realm]], [[Cognitive Realm]], [[Spiritual Realm]]
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
}}

“All things exist in three Realms, Gaotona. Physical, Cognitive, Spiritual. The Physical is what we feel, what is before us. The Cognitive is how an object is viewed and how it views itself. The Spiritual Realm contains an object’s soul—its essence—as well as the ways it is connected to the things and people around it. ”

—Shai discussing the application of Realmatic Theory to Forgery with Gaotona

Realmatic Theory refers to the study of the three Realms—Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual—that constitute the fundamental structure of the cosmere. Along with other fundamental properties like space and time, the Realms were created at the cosmere's equivalent of the Big Bang, before the Shattering of Adonalsium.

Components

Physical Realm

For more information, see Physical Realm.

Of the three Realms, the Physical Realm is the most readily understood as it behaves in much the same way that our universe does. It is the natural world as we experience it with our senses, consisting of space and time and adhering to empirical scientific law. Unlike the Cognitive Realm, the Physical Realm is a three-dimensional plane. The two Realms are not mapped perfectly to each other for this reason. The cosmere is a single star cluster within the Physical Realm consisting of between fifty and one hundred stars, though at least one person has tried to travel beyond that. Travel between planets within the cluster can be achieved without using either of the other Realms through purely Physical FTL travel.

Investiture within the Physical Realm will manifest as a solid, liquid, or gas. Solid Investiture in the Physical Realm is metallic. Pushing the entirety of a Shard’s Investiture into the Physical Realm would have disastrous effects. Changes in the Spiritual Realm filter down to and cause changes in the Physical Realm. Perception has a part in those Physical changes. After a person dies, they need a continued tie to the Physical Realm to prevent passing to the Beyond after death. Someone with such a tie could become a Cognitive Shadow.

Cognitive Realm

For more information, see Cognitive Realm.

The Cognitive Realm is the world of thought and perception. It is also referred to as the subastral, and is known locally on Roshar as Shadesmar, though at least some academics of Silverlight have taken to using the term to refer to the entire Realm. The nature and appearance of objects in this Realm are shaped by the views of people and even the objects themselves. The environment itself changes from one world to the next, often exhibiting features characteristic of that world. Investiture, including that within souls, glows visibly within the Cognitive Realm.

While time appears to flow normally, space is also warped by perception. Some aspect of the nature of the Realm allows one to walk to space, and the distance between worlds is significantly contracted, so that travelling from one world to the next by foot is possible. Indeed, Worldhoppers generally make use of this Realm to move between worlds. Travelling between the Physical and the Cognitive Realms may be accomplished at Perpendicularities.

One effect of existing in the Cognitive Realm seems to be unusual longevity, perhaps not aging while in there, allowing worldhoppers to appear in multiple books that take place hundreds of years apart. This attribute of the Cognitive Realm has not been confirmed.

Spiritual Realm

For more information, see Spiritual Realm.

Little is currently known about the Spiritual Realm, which contains the souls, or essences, of people, objects, and ideas. It is believed by some on Roshar that the Spiritual Realm is a place of absolute truth—where things exist in their pure forms. Connection plays a very important role in the Spiritual Realm, where space and time have little meaning. It also seems to be a place where the past and future are able to be seen and discerned, with various beings (usually) showing different levels of skill at predicting the future using the Spiritual Realm, from Preservation's skill enabling him to predict events thousands of years in the future, while Honor is far more limited.

Most of the power that makes up the Shards exists in the Spiritual Realm.

Trivia

• The phrase "Realmatic Theory" has only been used once in the books, when Kelsier reads some of the Ire's notes

Quotes (temporary, should be distributed)

“I have come to see that each power has three aspects: a physical one, which can be seen in the creations made by Ruin and Preservation; a spiritual one in the unseen energy that permeates all of the world; and a cognitive one in the minds which controlled that energy. ”

—Sazed's earliest experiences after his ascension.

“Giving water to the tiny plant causes a chain reaction of sudden growth, energy, and Realmic transition. Certain people can control this reaction, using the water from their own bodies to forge a brief cognitive bond. They can draw Investiture (in very small amounts) directly from the Spiritual Realm, and use that to control the sand. ”

—Khriss's assessment of Dayside's magic system, sand mastery.

“All things exist in three realms, Dalinar. The Physical: what you are now. The Cognitive: what you see yourself as being. The Spiritual: the perfect you, the person beyond pain, and error, and uncertainty. ”

—Nohadon to Dalinar

Notes

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