23 Reality Shifting Methods For Beginners

A shifting method is a set routine that reality shifters follow to try to move their consciousness to another world: you relax, focus your mind, and then count, affirm, script or picture your way toward your desired reality. If you’re a beginner, start with the Pillow Method. It asks for nothing more than a written script under your pillow, so it’s the easiest shifting method to learn, even if you struggle to visualize.

Reality shifting is the practice of trying to shift your consciousness from your current reality (CR) to your desired reality (DR), so you can experience the life you want there. It grew into a huge TikTok trend among younger shifters, and the methods below are the ones they talk about most. Each one mixes the same basic tools in a different way: meditation, visualization, affirmations and self-hypnosis.

Before you try any of them, read Is Shifting Dangerous? Misconceptions Answered. It covers what psychologists found when they studied shifting, including their view that it works much like a form of self-hypnosis.

New to all this? Our shifting tips for beginners will make whichever method you choose go more smoothly.

Each method below is a short version. For an in-depth guide, follow the link in each section. Prefer to stay awake? Try these awake shifting methods. If you’d rather shift as you fall asleep, start with the sleep shifting methods.

Pick a Shifting Method in a Minute

Two questions narrow the 23 methods down fast. The first is when you want to practice.

• As you fall asleep: Raven (1), Pillow (2), Heartbeat (3), Intent (7), Alice in Wonderland (11), Piano (13), Eye (14), Lucid Dream (16), Alarm (17) and Hug (21). Sunni (6) is the odd one out, since you do it in the half-awake moment just before you wake up.
• Awake, with your eyes closed: Julia (4), ADHD (5), Estelle (8), Mirror (9), Falling (10), Train (12) and Cinns (18). None of these asks you to fall asleep, and most end with you opening your eyes in your DR.
• Either way, your choice: Hogwarts (15), Valentino (19), 5 Senses (20), Coraline (22) and In Your Arms (23).

The second is how your mind works best.

• You think in pictures: Sunni, Mirror, Falling, Alice in Wonderland, Train, Eye, Hogwarts, Lucid Dream and Coraline. These are scenes you walk through in your head.
• You think in sounds: Heartbeat, ADHD, Estelle and Piano. Each one is built around a track, a rhythm or music.
• You think in words: Raven, Pillow, Julia, Intent, Alarm, Cinns and Valentino. These lean on affirmations, counting, a script or a single sentence of intent.
• You think in feelings: 5 Senses, Hug and In Your Arms. They’re about touch, comfort and the sense of being somewhere, more than about seeing it.

23 Best Reality Shifting Methods for Shifting to your Desired Reality!

These are 23 popular shifting methods, each one widely shared by shifters who say it took them to their DR.

You can also read inspiring shifting stories from people who say they’ve shifted to their DR.

1. The Raven Method

The Raven method shifting of reality starts with lying down comfortably in a starfish position, so that none of your limbs touch each other. Let your body go loose and your mind settle.

1. Lie in the starfish position and take a few slow breaths until you feel calm.
2. Start counting slowly from 0 to 100. If you like, play binaural beats or similar frequencies in the background.
3. Between the numbers, say shifting affirmations that help you believe you can shift from this current reality.
4. As you count, picture yourself drifting closer and closer to your desired reality.
5. Let yourself fall asleep. Raven shifters say that if your consciousness has moved toward what you manifested, you wake up in the parallel world of your choice.

If you don’t shift, repeat the counting on the nights that follow. Shifters say the method gets easier the more you practice it.

2. The Pillow Method

The Pillow method shifting of reality is probably the simplest and most convenient method for beginners who want to give shifting methods a try.

Instead of holding a mental image of your desired reality, you write a detailed physical shifting script. That’s why it’s also one of the shifting methods that work without visualization.

Your script can include the names of everyone you want to see or meet, the chain of events you want to experience, and even details like smells and tastes.

1. Write your script on a piece of paper.
2. Place it under your pillow before you sleep or rest.
3. As you drift off, hold on to your script and your intention of where you want to go.

Many shifters also play music that lifts their mood and repeat positive affirmations while they lie there.

3. The Heartbeat Method

The Heartbeat method shifting of reality uses a steady, repetitive sound: the beat of a heart.

1. Play an audio track of a beating heart, either through earphones (keep the volume low) or from your phone under your pillow, and lie down to sleep.
2. Picture the sound coming from the chest of someone you trust, or someone you want to meet in your DR.
3. Focus on that person. Imagine them slowly getting up and leading you to a door, your entrance to another reality.
4. Follow them through it. Bright white light surrounds you from every side, and you feel yourself floating away to your dream reality.

4. The Julia Method

The Julia Method Shifting of reality rests on two words: “I am“. Many shifters play binaural beats during it to help them settle into a dream-like state.

Lie in a starfish-like position and start repeating mantras that begin with “I am”. Finish each one however you like, but keep it in the present tense, as if it has already happened. For example:

• “I am vibrating at a higher frequency.”
• “I am in transit to my desired reality.”
• “I am consciousness, pure and untethered.”

Feel each mantra in as much sensory detail as you can. Julia shifters say that if you do, you’ll soon be in your dream reality.

5. The ADHD Method

In most methods, sound is optional. For the ADHD Method Shifting of reality, it’s a must: use proper headphones and look for 8D sound tracks.

1. Lie down and start the audio.
2. Choose an affirmation, such as “I am shifting to my desired reality.”
3. Match your breathing to the audio.
4. Say your affirmation, count from 1 to 5, and repeat.
5. Many shifters say that, as they sync with the sound and the affirmation, they start to feel what they call shifting symptoms. When that happens, start visualizing the reality you want to land in.

6. The Sunni Method

Sunni Method Shifting of reality is all about visualization. Many people like it because they use the same skill to manifest in everyday life.

The idea is to persuade your mind that you’re already in your desired reality. Some shifters set the mood with shifting subliminals, some with physical sensations, and some with plain silence.

Here’s an example. When you’re just about to wake up, keep your eyes closed and imagine yourself lying on a beach. Feel the breeze and hear the waves. Sunni shifters believe your subconscious is wide open in this half-awake moment, so you can find yourself on that beach the next moment.

7. The Intent Method

The Intention method shifting doesn’t rely on visuals, long lists of affirmations or subliminal sounds. It rests on your mind’s intention to shift, and it’s one of the most popular sleep shifting methods.

Intent shifters say a firm resolve and a belief that you can shift are all you need. The one rule is timing: think or say your intention right before you drift off. For example: “I intend to shift to my desired reality as soon as I fall asleep.” The sooner you sleep after setting it, the less time your mind has to question it.

It helps to be a little drowsy and tired, so your head isn’t full of busy thoughts and the intention stays clear.

8. The Estelle Method

Estelle method shifting suits people who love music and connect easily with tones and rhythm. You imagine dancing with a DR character, or with someone you adore.

1. Choose music that helps you feel in sync with your dance partner. It can be your crush, someone you love, a friend or anyone you like.
2. Picture the dance and feel every part of it: the air, the scent, the touch.
3. When the dance ends, your partner says, “It’s time to go home,” and opens a door for you.
4. Step through, and fall freely into an empty void.
5. Keep affirming that you’re in your DR. As the sensations build, slowly open your subconscious eye.

9. The Mirror Method

Mirror method shifting is a very visual method, so it’s best for people who find visualizing easy.

1. Imagine you’re alone in a dark room, with a mirror a short distance away. A single spotlight shines on you.
2. Walk slowly toward the mirror, and watch your reflection walk toward you.
3. Notice that the reflection is your DR self, the version of you who lives in your desired reality.
4. Put your hands on the mirror while your DR self does the same from the other side.
5. Feel the two of you become one, then slowly open your eyes in your dream reality.

10. The Falling Method

Falling method shifting is more adventurous than most.

1. Imagine yourself in a hall filled with a beautiful aura that feels right to you.
2. Walk slowly toward a door in the distance. Open it while affirming, with all the hope you have, that you are your DR self.
3. As the door opens, you hear the universe calling you. Let yourself fall freely, and trust your soul to guide the way.
4. Feel every sense as you fall, keep affirming, and notice the peace and calm inside you.
5. When you’re ready, the fall ends in front of another door. Open it, and your DR is in front of you.
6. Open the eyes of your essence, and you’re there. Cheers to your shift.

11. The Alice in Wonderland Method

The Alice in Wonderland shifting method comes from Lewis Carroll’s famous story about a girl named Alice and her adventures in a magical Wonderland. You play Alice and follow her path.

1. Lie comfortably on your back and imagine yourself sitting beneath a tree.
2. Someone from your DR walks up to you. As you stand to talk to them, they run off and jump down a rabbit hole.
3. Follow them, and jump in whenever you feel ready.
4. As you fall, leave your current reality behind. You land in a small room with a door.
5. On a table in the room is a key. The person you were chasing asks if you’re ready to unlock the door. If you are, go ahead. If not, say positive affirmations until you are.
6. Once you’ve unlocked the door and walked through, you have already become your DR self.
7. Lie down on the DR bed you now see, in the same position you’re lying in your CR, and fall asleep. Alice shifters say you wake up in your dream reality.

12. The Train Method

For Train method shifting of reality, visualization and a positive mindset matter most. Relax with a few deep breaths and close your eyes. Imagine yourself sitting on a train headed to your dream reality.

Keep your thoughts positive, so your train heads in the right direction and not the opposite way. Keep visualizing and affirming that you’ll reach your stop soon. Open your eyes only when you feel you’ve shifted and the train has pulled into your dream reality station.

13. The Piano Method

The Piano Method Shifting has a touch of fame and celebrity to it. Many shifters find it powerful because it brings almost all your senses into play.

1. Imagine yourself in a grand hall with a piano at its center. Use every sense: decide how the hall feels and how the piano looks.
2. A spotlight falls on you as you walk toward the piano, with people watching. Hear the chatter and the buzz of the auditorium. Each time you lose focus, return to your affirmations.
3. As you start to play, the hall goes silent. Feel each moment.
4. When you finish, the hall bursts into applause.
5. Rise and walk toward the door, affirming that it’s time to go. Someone opens it for you, and as you step through, a dear one says, “Welcome home, love.”
6. Drift off to sleep, and let yourself wake up in your DR.

14. The Eye Method

The Eye Method Shifting is a very engaging method with a lot of visualization. It also involves rolling your closed eyes slowly to and fro, so it isn’t for everyone.

1. Lie down, close your eyes and start counting to 100. Count slowly enough that you drift off before you reach 100.
2. As you count, keep affirming what you want to see in your DR.
3. After a while, start rolling your eyes (keep them closed) and carry on affirming.
4. Keep the movement slow and gentle, and stop straight away if your eyes feel strained or sore.

Eye method shifters say this helps your mind lock on to your DR, so that when you open your eyes in your sleep, you’re there.

15. Hogwarts Shifting Method

If you want to know how to shift to Hogwarts, there are three popular ways to do it.

The first is the Mirror Method for Hogwarts. Close your eyes and picture yourself walking up to the Mirror of Erised. In it, you see your DR self at Hogwarts. Reach out and touch the mirror, and feel that you and your DR self are one. Take your DR self’s hand through the mirror and step through. As you do, you merge with your DR self and find yourself at Hogwarts.

The second is a version of the Pillow Method. Put your Hogwarts shifting script under your pillow at bedtime, close your eyes and picture yourself at Hogwarts. Go to sleep knowing that you’ll shift as you drift off and wake up at Hogwarts.

The third borrows from the Raven Method. Put on your subliminals, lie down, close your eyes and count down from 100 to 1. Say affirmations along the way and imagine your life at Hogwarts. Let yourself drift off, and wake up at Hogwarts.

16. Lucid Dream Shifting Method

There are several lucid dreaming shifting methods. All three below start once you’re asleep and aware that you’re dreaming.

• The Portal Method: look for, or create, a portal in your lucid dream. Step through it to enter your DR.
• The TV Screen Method: the same idea, but your portal is a TV screen, a computer screen or a book.
• The Create Your DR Scenario Method: while lucid, deliberately build your DR scenario inside the dream. Shifters say you might shift right then and there.

If you don’t, try again on the nights that follow.

17. Alarm Method Shifting

There are two ways to do Alarm method shifting.

In the first, you picture your DR self setting an alarm clock in your DR. At bedtime, tell yourself, “I know my alarm will go off, and when it does, I will wake in my DR.” Then go to sleep. The idea is that you wake up in your DR the moment your DR alarm rings.

The second uses a real alarm in your CR. Let it wake you up, then drift off again while trying to slip into a lucid dream. From there, use one of the Lucid Dream Methods above. Because this version breaks up your night, save it for an evening when you can sleep in the next morning.

18. Cinns Method Shifting

Cinns method shifting is a simple, affirmation-based technique.

1. Turn on your subliminals and get into a relaxing position. A short relaxation exercise helps.
2. Clear your mind and count from 1 to 100, breathing in and out as you go.
3. Every 10 numbers, pause and say affirmations about your DR, going over some of your script details.
4. When you reach 100, keep repeating your affirmations for as long as you need.
5. When you feel you’ve arrived, open your eyes in your DR.

19. Valentino Method Shifting

The Valentino method shifting is a good choice if part of the reason you want to shift is to spend time with someone special in your DR.

1. Read over your script.
2. Write a note to that special person in your DR.
3. Say your shifting affirmations.
4. Lie down, close your eyes and picture your DR room.
5. Either open your eyes in your DR, or fall asleep and wake up there.

20. 5 Senses Method Shifting

If you find visualizing hard but can still do it, you might like the 5 Senses method shifting. It was designed to make visualization easier.

1. Sit or lie comfortably and focus on your CR. Pay attention to every sense, noticing both the details and how they make you feel.
2. Practice closing your eyes and still “seeing” your CR. Once you can do that with your CR, it’s easier to do with your DR.
3. Later, turn on your subliminals, lie down, close your eyes and count upward from 1, pausing now and then to say affirmations.
4. Picture your DR using all your senses, exactly the way you practiced with your CR.
5. Open your eyes in your DR, or fall asleep and wake up there.

21. Hug Method Shifting

The Hug method shifting helps you connect emotionally with your DR through that special person you can’t wait to see.

1. Lie down comfortably and close your eyes.
2. Picture waking up in your DR room and getting out of bed. Your DR person walks in, and you give them a hug.
3. Imagine spending a whole day together. At the end of it, hug them again and say you’ll see them soon.
4. Picture your DR self getting back into bed and falling asleep.
5. Back in your CR, say your affirmations and fall asleep, expecting to wake up in your DR.

22. Coraline Method Shifting

If you’ve read Neil Gaiman’s book Coraline or seen the film, you can probably picture how the Coraline method shifting works. Just like Coraline, you crawl through a tunnel into another world.

1. Lie down, close your eyes and picture your CR bedroom, with a key on your nightstand.
2. Imagine getting up, picking up the key, and seeing a small door open in your wall. Behind it is a tunnel.
3. Crawl through the tunnel to a second door. Your DR is behind it.
4. Push it open and crawl into your DR. You can now open your eyes there.

If you prefer, keep the visualization going instead: on the other side of the tunnel, get into your DR bed and lie down. Then fall asleep in your CR and wake up in your DR.

23. In your Arms Method Shifting

The In Your Arms method shifting of reality appeals for the same reason as the Hug Method.

1. Picture a special person in your DR.
2. Lie down with your head resting on a pillow, and imagine the pillow is that person.
3. With your eyes closed, convince yourself as vividly as you can that it really is them, and that you’re in your DR cuddling them.
4. Say your affirmations, then count down from 100 to 1.
5. When you’re ready, open your eyes in your DR, or fall asleep and wake up there.

Some other shifting methods include Sunrise Method Shifting, Void Method Shifting, Cloud Method Shifting, Staircase Method Shifting, and Melting Method Shifting.

Frequently Asked Questions about Reality Shifting