20 Shifting Methods

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 7, 2023 References

Are you ready to shift into a new reality? “Shifting” is a form of meditation and visualization within your mind. Those who practice it believe that they can enter their desired reality by using affirmations and positive self-talk. If you’re interested in trying to shift, you can pick a method from the list below to begin your shifting journey.

Things You Should Know

The Raven method, the Julia method, the Pillow method, and the Blanket method are all easy methods for beginners to shift realities.
The Heartbeat method, the ADHD method, and the Estelle method all involve listening to music or noise to help you shift.
The Alice in Wonderland method, the Mirror method, the Hug method, and the Piano method all involve a lot of visualization, so they’re best for more advanced shifting.

1

The Raven Method

The Raven method is a popular (and easy) shifting method. Lie in your bed with your entire body relaxed. Count down from 100, breathing in and out the entire time. Focus on your Desired Reality (DR) as you count. When you reach 1, focus on entering your DR and staying there for a while to shift your reality.^{[1]
X
Research source}

2

The Julia Method

Use music to shift your reality with the Julia method. Put on some theta beats or binaural beats (often called “focus music” on YouTube), then meditate for about 10 minutes. Repeat an affirmation that starts with “I am” until you feel a sense of lightness or see a bright light in your mind’s eye. Picture your DR before slowly opening your eyes.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Pick an affirmation like, “I am living in Lisbon,” or, “I am a successful artist.”
- If it helps, you can also count to 100 while meditating.

3

The Pillow Method

Shift realities while you sleep with the Pillow method. Write out what you want your desired reality to look like, and be as detailed as possible. Then, place this script underneath your pillow, and sleep on it for at least 8 hours. When you wake up, you’ll be in your DR automatically.^{[3]
X
Research source}
- When writing a script for your DR, include all of your senses: what do you want it to feel like, smell like, sound like, taste like, and look like? These details will help you manifest your desired reality.

4

The Blanket Method

Use a cozy blanket to shift realities. Get into bed and snuggle underneath your favorite blanket, lying in a comfortable position. Recite “I am” affirmations to yourself, then count to 100 slowly. Come out of the blanket and enter your DR.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- If you’re claustrophobic, this method is not a good choice for you.

5

The Intent Method

Use intentions to shift while you sleep. Before you go to bed, think about why, exactly, you want to shift (your intent). Say, “I intend to wake up in my desired reality,” out loud, then lie down and go to sleep. When you wake up, you will be in your DR.^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Some people find it helpful to meditate for 5 to 10 minutes before trying this method.

6

The Sunni Method

Trick your mind into thinking you’re already in your DR. Lie down in a comfortable spot, and visualize yourself in your DR, being as specific as possible. Explore your 5 senses: touch, smell, sight, hearing, and taste. Recite affirmations to yourself until you feel yourself shifting, then open your eyes.
- Shifting affirmations are phrases like, “I am shifting,” or “I am entering my desired reality.”

7

The Heartbeat Method

Shift your reality using a heartbeat sound. Search for a heartbeat on YouTube and play it while you lie in bed. Picture someone from your DR and imagine yourself falling asleep on their chest. Recite affirmations in your mind as you fall asleep, then open your eyes to enter your DR.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- During this method, you might feel like you’re falling, which is a good sign! Falling means that you’re falling into your DR.

8

The ADHD Method

Remove all distractions to enter your desired reality. Put on headphones and listen to an 8D audio track, like white noise or ambient noise. Lie down and focus on the audio, then start counting upward to 100. Repeat an affirmation as you count until you start feeling the symptoms of shifting. When you feel ready, open your eyes to enter your DR.
- This method is called the ADHD method because people with ADHD often use 8D soundtracks to help them focus.

9

The Estelle Method

Use a song and a dance to enter your desired reality. Put on a song that you can dance to, then lie down and close your eyes. Visualize yourself dancing to the song with someone important from your DR. When the song is over, follow the person you were dancing with through a door to shift into your DR.
- You might feel dizzy, numb, or like you’re falling, which are all signs that you are currently shifting.

10

The Alice in Wonderland Method

Use the story of Alice in Wonderland to guide your shift. First, lie down on your back and breathe deeply, imagining yourself sitting against a tree. Recite some affirmations to yourself until you feel any shifting symptoms. In your mind, think about someone from your DR coming up to you, and run after them. Then, follow them down into a rabbit hole to enter your DR.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- At the bottom of the rabbit hole, envision a doorway that leads to your DR. Once you open that door, you’ll enter your desired reality.

11

The Train Method

Visualize a train taking you to your desired reality. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes, taking deep breaths to relax. Imagine yourself sitting in a train that’s headed to your desired reality. Repeat affirmations to yourself, and only open your eyes when you feel that the train has stopped.
- Many people use this method to shift to Hogwarts from Harry Potter.

12

The Staircase Method

Use a staircase to lead you to your desired reality. Lie down in a comfortable position and imagine yourself in a room with a large staircase. Slowly walk up the stairs, recalling memories (both good and bad) from your current reality. Keep walking until you reach the top of the stairs, then open the large white door at the top. Walk through the door and onto the second set of stairs, this time going down. When you reach the bottom, open the final door and imagine your DR behind it.
- It may help to imagine someone very important from your DR opening the door for you. When you take their hand, you’ll be transported into your DR.

13

The Elevator Method

Hop on an elevator to move into your DR. Get into a comfortable position and picture yourself stepping into an elevator. Imagine yourself going up in the elevator, and as you pass each floor, picture different realities. Once you feel like you’ve gone up enough to reach your DR, exit the elevator and walk into your desired reality.
- It might also be helpful to imagine your energy levels rising with the elevator as you go up.

14

The Eleven Method

Take a lesson from Stranger Things to shift your reality. Lie down and tie a piece of cloth or a bandana over your eyes to block out the light. Listen to some white noise and imagine yourself walking up to someone from your DR. Focus on merging together with the person in your DR as you drift off to sleep. Once you wake up, you’ll be in your DR.

15

The Piano Method

Imagine playing a piano to use music as you shift. Get into a comfortable position and imagine yourself sitting at a piano in a crowded room of people. Start playing the piano and visualize the sounds as much as you can. When the song is done, leave the room and enter a corridor filled with doors, then walk through the door that has a bright white light.
- As you walk through the doors, recite affirmations to yourself to enter your DR.
- When you feel the light waning, open your eyes to enter your DR.

16

The Melt Method

Picture yourself melting into your desired reality room. Sit in a comfortable spot and close your eyes, then imagine that you’re sitting in your DR. Recite affirmations to yourself, and count from 1 to 100. Visualize your entire body melting into your DR room, then open your eyes.

17

The Hug Method

Hug and talk to someone from your DR to shift realities. Close your eyes, then visualize yourself waking up in your DR. In your mind, get out of bed and touch the floor with your feet, and imagine someone from your DR in the room. Spend time with them, then hug them goodbye, and recite affirmations to yourself until you fall asleep.

18

The Mirror Method

Visualize your desired reflection in a mirror to shift your reality. Close your eyes and imagine that you’re in a dark room, with only a mirror in front of you. Move toward the mirror and imagine your own reflection, but the reflection shows only your desired self. Put your hands on the mirror and touch your own reflection, then slowly open your eyes.
- Since this method involves a lot of visualization, it’s best for people who have some experience with shifting.

19

The Falling Method

Fall into your DR through a doorway. Imagine yourself in a hall lined with doors. Move toward the door at the end of the hall, and open the door while imagining your DR. As the door opens, listen for your DR calling to you. Allow yourself to fall into the doorway, and let your soul guide you as you fall. When you open your eyes, you will be in your DR.
- As you fall, try to feel all of your senses. Many people feel a sense of peace and calm wash over them as they fall into their DR.

20

The Eye Method

Move your eyes back and forth to shift into your DR. Lie down on your bed and count to 100 with your eyes closed. As you count, keep thinking about your DR and what you want to see. After reaching 100, move your eyes back and forth while your eyes are closed, and keep reciting affirmations to yourself. Once you feel ready, open your eyes to enter your DR.
- If your eyes ever feel tired or strained, stop rolling them and pick a new method.

Expert Q&A

Question

What does shifting feel like?

Jennifer McVey, Cht
Spiritual Director
Jennifer McVey is a Spiritualist, Seer, and the Spiritual Director of Spiritual Answers and Solutions. With more than 22 years of experience, she specializes in manifesting, ghosts and spirit attachments, hypnotherapy, channeling, and spiritually based life coaching. Jennifer has also published 13 Affirmation Image and six Word Search Puzzle books in spirituality and self-help and has produced over 600 audio sessions.

Jennifer McVey, Cht

Spiritual Director

Expert Answer

Shifting feels like the experience of reading a good book so intently that you forget where you are.
Question

How do I get back out of my DR? Or does it just happen?

Ace

Community Answer

Usually there's a specific word, phrase or action you say or do to return to your current reality/original reality (CR/OR). A fun one is "Snap back to reality" from Lose Yourself by Eminem, because it makes sense! And don't worry, you can also return if you have your full intention to, but you can also script that you can't forget your specific phrase/action or shift back accidentally. Happy shifting!