Paranormal Multiverse Model
The Paranormal Multiverse Model was created by scientists who study Psionics to explain the supposed violations of the observable laws of physics.
Skeptics claim that phenomena, like Telekinesis/Psychokinesis, would violate such physical laws such as the inverse-square law, the conservation of energy and momentum, and the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
Psionic researchers respond that if the universe consisted of only the three spatial and time dimensions, then the skeptics would be correct. However, if the universe includes dimensions that are coincident, congruent, or intersectional with these known universal dimensions, the energy and matter that seems to appear and disappear is really just moving beyond the perception of instrument and observer.
For example, if the universe of the skeptics consisted only of two spatial dimensions, the sudden appearance of a sphere moving though their planespace would violate their laws of two-dimensional physics by appearing, changing shape, and seemingly adding or subtracting matter out of nowhere. If a magnetic entity hovered near the planespace to move ferrous material, but remained out of observation of the two-dimensional beings, it would seem like magic. Skeptics counter-argue that psionic researchers are just moving the rhetorical goalposts by creating fictional "dimensions" to fill in logical gaps much like proponents of string theory have to invent extra dimensions to support their own fictional reality.
Planes
The model of the multiverse consists of different planes or dimensions of reality. Each plane consists of varying spatial and temporal dimensions.
Material Plane
The Material Plane is the reality we live in, consisting of three spatial dimensions (x, y, z) and time (t). Observers in the Material Plane can measure these dimensions and experience the material laws of physics in that frame. Therefore, understanding, measuring, and describing planes other than that of the Prime Material Plane can be anywhere from difficult to impossible.
Ethereal Plane
The Ethereal Plane, however, seems somewhat analogous to the Material Plane, at least in terms of understanding spatial and temporal dimensions. According to the Paranormal Multiverse Model, the Ethereal Plane also has three spatial dimensions and a temporal dimension, but the spatial dimensions are coterminous (i, j, k). The temporal dimension, however, is shared between the Material and Ethereal, meaning that a unit of time in our reality is the same unit of time experienced in the Ethereal.
One consequence of this is that objects and entities in the Ethereal seem invisible to our senses and instruments in the Material. Entities in the Ethereal plane are unable to interact with objects in the Material. This helps to explain phenomena like ghosts. One difference between the Material and Ethereal planes is the lack of entropy in the Ethereal. Thus Psionic researchers claim that the Ethereal plane explains certain spiritual experiences and theorize that this plane may be where the concepts of Heaven and Hell come from. They even claim that this may be the dimension from which subatomic particles come and go when they suddenly appear in Material super-colliders. This plane is also where Magick energy originates.
Astral Plane
Less understood is the Astral Plane, which seems to be connected to the conscious mind, cognition, and dreams as opposed to the spiritual nature of the Ethereal. But unlike the coterminous coordinate relationship, the Astral Plane only intersects the Material Plane in one dimension. Likewise, the Astral Plane intersects the Ethereal Plane in one dimension, which can allow conscious creatures from that plane to also project themselves into the Astral realm. However, it is currently unknown if that one dimension is the same dimension that also intersects the Material Plane.
This uni-dimensional point of contact is observed by those projecting into the Astral Plane as a "silver chord". This is actually the connection of the subject with the Material/Ethereal universe.
Shadow or Mirror Plane
The Shadow/Mirror Plane is even more mysterious than the Astral Plane. The only hypothesis about its structure is that it consists of one negative dimension of the Material Plane (Mirror), one negative dimension of the Ethereal Plane (Shadow), and one negative inverse of the Astral Plane (Phantom, but not officially*). Time exists in the Shadow/Mirror, but "flutters", making movement there seem faster and sporadic relative to the M-E temporal line.
The Void
The Void is another aspect of the model, which accounts for the branching of the different planes. As far as it is known, the Void has no dimensional or temporal attributes. It is nothing, and nothing exists in it. It is only known as a place where one cannot go.
Alternate and Parallel Universes
The study of Quantum Mechanics suggests that certain experimental outcomes may yield different results, and there is a point where these outcomes are simultaneously true. The most infamous example of this is demonstrated in the Schrödinger's Cat thought experiment.
In the Paranormal Multiverse Model, both the Material and Ethereal Planes can split into different realities if a sufficient energy state is obtained. As far as the current research can tell, this split is always coincident with an Astral Plane node intersection, but it is unknown if the Astral Plane causes the split (the decision-making hypothesis) or is caused by the split (the mind-leakage or "déjà vu" hypothesis).
As far as we know, the Astral Plane does not have alternate or parallel states, but does have a chaotic structure that loops back, around, and through the other planes. It branches and merges, but it remains the same substance.
What is known now about these alternate and parallel universes is that many, most, or perhaps even all of them eventually collapse. While simultaneous universes can exist according to quantum mechanics, eventually only the "right one" will continue existing. But what isn't known is for how long, what happens when that reality ceases to exist, and which one is the "right one". It is impossible to determine which is the Prime Material Plane due to the temporal dimension. Accordingly, this will also hold true for the associated Ethereal Plane. However, since the Astral Plane is not time-dependent, it is possible to "see" which M-E branch will collapse—possible, but also extremely difficult. This isn't actually a problem for Ethereal beings, who somehow seem to maintain a constant consciousness regardless of which alternate universe they inhabit (To them, it might be little different than a snake shedding its skin). But it could be much more consequential to beings in the Material Plane. At this point, we just don't know what could happen. For all we know, Material beings also always maintain a consciousness in the Prime universe.
Inter-Planar Travel & Interaction
In this model, a human being coexists in both the Material (body) and Ethereal (spirit) planes simultaneously. The conscious self is primarily aware of the Material dimensions and interacts with matter and other beings and creatures in that realm. Spiritual beings interact with the spiritual person in the Ethereal plane, but it isn't a conscious interaction on the person's part. Thus, "the devil made me do it" could be a valid excuse for their actions.
Many higher functioning beings—mostly humans, but other animals like dogs, cats, dolphins, primates, elephants, whales, certain birds, etc.—can project conscious thoughts into the Astral Plane. The most common way of doing this is by dreaming, but can also occur during religious rituals, under the influence of hallucinogenics and psychedelics, hypnotic trances, or during high fevers or in a coma. Likewise, beings from the Ethereal Plane can also project their consciousness into the Astral Plane, often with more ease than those from the Material Plane. From the Astral Plane, the being can then project again to either the Material or Ethereal Plane. The consciousness "borrows" ectoplasm to accomplish this and have a "body" there.
A Material being of sufficient talent, ability, awareness, and power can enter the Astral realm with more permanence and efficacy. But it takes a lot of energy to do this, which is why dreamers don't have much real presence, impact or permanence in the Astral Realm. Once a Material being is there, however, going into the Ethereal Realm is relatively easy.
When a being in the Material world dies, spiritual and material components are no longer coterminous, and the being's consciousness moves into the Astral Plane, and then eventually into the Ethereal. This process takes time, however, which is why someone can be clinically dead and feel like they are "floating away" from their body, but can come back to it. This also explains how in Revivification, a person's consciousness can come back to a dead body. The consciousness usually finds its way to its spiritual "body" (or spirit) and then continues its existence in the Ethereal Realm, where the Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy) doesn't seem to operate.
On the other hand, an Ethereal being of sufficient talent, ability, awareness, and power has little resistance entering the Astral Plane, but has a much more difficult time projecting into the Material. While ghosts and spirits of departed individuals can project into the Material Plane, they have to utilize ectoplasm to actually interact with and affect it. The vast majority of spiritual beings can hardly make a brief appearance to a Material being, and have great difficulty even communicating. However, much stronger entities, usually the most powerful angels, demons, and gods, can appear to "mortals" and give them visions or communicate with great booming voices.
Sometimes, a Material being may project into the Astral realm, and then project back into the Material realm. If this is done, it is usually to communicate with someone who is physically far away, or to utilize ectoplasm in the Material world—useful because ectoplasm is more fluid and responds rapidly to the user's mental will. Likewise, a Spiritual being may project into the Astral realm, and then project back into the Ethereal to utilize ectoplasm. This is very rare because, being pure spiritual energy, beings in the Ethereal realm don't have the restrictions of matter. However, ectoplasm has the ability to break through the energy fields of the spiritual realm. Thus, this tactic was used during the "Great War of Heaven" and other such conflicts among Ethereal beings.
This kind of back-and-forth is very rare, however, for two main reasons. For one, it takes a great amount of energy to accomplish. Additionally, a small population of either kind of being has the ability to accomplish this feat, which can be done using other, more efficient and effective means. But the second reason has to do with the availability and nature of the Astral realm. While the Material and Ethereal are coterminous, the Astral Plane is not. Opportunities to connect, travel, and utilize Astral ectoplasm don't always line up and may be unreliable.
Very little is know about travel to the Shadow/Mirror realm, so the model doesn't currently have an explanation for how this occurs, if at all.
Manifestation
The model is conceptualized like woven fabric. The Material and Ethereal Planes are intertwined in a double-helix, sometimes portrayed wrapped around an axial golden thread. Multiple M-P strands run linearly along the x-axis and occasionally split or terminate to model alternate realities.
The Astral Planes are conceptualized as strands running along the y-axis, weaving over, under, and through the M-P strands. However, their structure is portrayed as much more chaotic as these strands can double back, loop around, split and merge.
The Shadow/Mirror Planes are usually portrayed as running along the z-axis, sometimes only in one direction from the xy-plane.
Coordinates
Traditional coordinate notation for the planes are as follows:- Material Plane: ƒ(x, y, z, t).
- Ethereal Plane: ƒ(i, j, k, t) where i is numerically equivalent to x, etc. and t is equivalent.
- Astral Plane: ġ(α, β, γ, τ) using the appropriate point of reference and cross-matrix operations
- Shadow Plane*: ℎ(-x, -y, -z, δ) and/or ℏ(-i, -j, -k, δ) using the appropriate point of reference and dimension transform function
- Mirror Plane*: ℏ(-i, -j, -k, δ) and/or ℎ(-x, -y, -z, δ) using the appropriate point of reference and dimension transform function
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