The Truth About Time: How Our Perception of Time is an Illusion

Google Advertisement:

(Image generated by hotpot.ai)

Time is something we all experience, but how much of it do we truly understand? From clocks to calendars, we’re constantly measuring it, planning around it, and worrying about it. Yet, when you stop to think about it, time itself is an odd, slippery concept. In fact, I believe time—at least how we commonly experience it—doesn’t actually exist at all.
​
Our entire understanding of time is shaped by our mental states, our perception, and our environment. It's a construct, a framework we've built around something that’s so much more fluid and subjective than we realize. The ticking clock, the turning pages of a calendar—they’re just symbols, not the true essence of time. In this blog, I want to explore what I believe time really is, how our minds shape our perception of it, and why it might be one of the biggest illusions we live by.

Time as a Mental Construct
Have you ever noticed how time seems to fly by when you're deeply immersed in something you love, like playing a game, creating something, or having an intense conversation with a friend? But then, on a slow day when you're bored or waiting for something to happen, time feels like it stretches on forever? This is the first clue that time isn’t as objective as we think. Our experience of time is deeply influenced by our emotional and mental states.

For me, time often seems to melt away during moments of deep immersion, especially when I’m creating something—like when I’m working on a game or writing a new blog post. It’s as if I lose myself in the task at hand, and the hours that pass feel like mere minutes. On the other hand, when I’m distracted or caught up in stress, time seems to drag, like the seconds are pulling me along in a never-ending crawl.


​The Present Moment and the Illusion of Linear Time
This brings me to a more radical idea: what if time doesn’t exist in the way we think it does? In my experiences with Salvia divinorum and deep meditation, I’ve caught glimpses of something that made me question the very nature of time. During these experiences, it’s like I step out of the linear flow of past, present, and future. It’s as if everything—the entire universe—exists all at once.

Instead of time being a rigid line from the past to the future, it feels more like a single point, where every experience, every moment, is happening simultaneously. The idea of past and future disappears. It’s only the present moment that exists, and in those rare, profound moments, it’s incredibly clear that this moment is all that’s real. The rest—what we think of as time—is a mental construct we use to navigate the world, but it doesn’t actually define reality.

Google Advertisement:

Why Time Feels So Real (Even Though It’s an Illusion)
So, why does time feel so real, then? Why does it feel like we’re constantly racing against the clock, trying to meet deadlines and fit everything into our day? The answer lies in how our brains process the world around us. Time is a tool for understanding cause and effect, a way to measure change and organize our experiences. Without it, life would feel chaotic and unpredictable.

But the catch is, our understanding of time is rooted in our perception. What’s fascinating is that, if we change the way we experience the present moment—by meditating, using psychedelics, or simply being fully present—time itself seems to shift. We stop seeing time as a forward-moving force and start realizing that time is just a way we interpret events.

​
The Illusion is Power, But We Can Let Go
The illusion of time doesn’t have to be a burden. In fact, when we realize that time is more fluid than it appears, we gain a sense of freedom. We stop stressing about what we’ve missed or what we’re rushing toward. The present moment becomes our true focus, and everything else falls into place.

​
In my journey of exploring this idea—whether through deep introspection, altered states of consciousness, or simply slowing down—I’ve come to believe that embracing the illusion of time is part of living authentically. It frees us from the pressures of the past and future, and helps us sink deeper into the beauty of right now.

Support the Journey Beyond Reality:

Help Bring Beyond Reality: Incredible Wonders of Salvia Divinorum to Life!

NZ$2.00 - NZ$1,000.00

Thank you for your support! We've raised $165 of $2000 – every contribution brings us closer to our goal.


Your donation helps bring Beyond Reality: Incredible Wonders of Salvia Divinorum to life. As a thank you, your name will be included in the book to recognize your support. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to sharing these transformative insights with others. Thank you for making this vision possible! You're an absolute legend, and I truly appreciate the support. 


​Note: Please note that this is not a pre-order for the book. Your donation is supporting the creation of Beyond Reality: Incredible Wonders of Salvia Divinorum, and I’m incredibly grateful for your support in making this vision a reality. As the book comes together, I’ll keep you updated on its progress and share exciting developments along the way.

Donate Today