Reality is not a single, solid truth, it’s a layered experience shaped by perception. We live in a shared world, but our minds craft individual realities through what Sifu Bill Smith calls “Subjective Grooviness.” This framework helps decode how we interpret events, clash with others, and even justify our behavior, all within a web of personal and mystical beliefs.
What Is the Structure of Reality?
At first glance, reality seems fixed: the sun shines, time moves forward, and events unfold in shared space. But each of us filters that objective world through our own lens, influenced by upbringing, trauma, culture, environment, and even DNA. This internal narrative we construct gives rise to subjective reality, a space where no two people see the same thing the same way.
This is why multiple witnesses at an event can offer conflicting reports. They aren’t lying; they’re interpreting. According to Sifu Bill Smith, a Tai Chi practitioner and philosophical thinker, our realities overlap, compete, and often clash. His concept of Subjective Grooviness offers a playful yet profound way to explore this idea.
Defining “Subjective Grooviness”
1. Subjective Grooviness (SG)
Subjective Grooviness (SG) refers to the personal flavor we add to reality. It’s the emotional and spiritual narrative we assign to events.
Example:
Two people stand beneath a cloudless sky.
One says, “This sun is scorching me, I might get skin cancer!”
The other says, “Ah, blessed sun! I soak in your healing energy.”
Same sun. Two wildly different experiences. Their individual SG filters determine their reality, not the sun itself.
SG is your psychological and spiritual operating system. It guides how you respond to life’s moments. If your SG always points to doom or grandeur, it becomes your script, whether empowering or limiting.
When SG remains personal and isn’t forced on others, it helps us understand ourselves better. Problems arise, however, when SG is projected outward and enters conflict with others.
2. Competing Subjective Grooviness (CSG)
When two people insist their interpretation of reality is the truth, Competing Subjective Grooviness (CSG) takes hold.
Example:
- Bob: “My animal guides warn of a coming storm.”
- Ken: “Well, my angelic messengers say we’re ascending to divine light.”
Both Bob and Ken believe in different spiritual frameworks. If one tries to override the other, conflict begins not necessarily physical, but energetic and emotional.
This kind of friction plays out in:
- Relationships
- Political debates
- Religious dogmas
- Even online comment sections
The goal in a CSG moment isn’t to win, it’s to recognize the dance of beliefs and either find harmony or respectfully disengage.
3. Convenient Subjective Grooviness (Convenient SG)
Sometimes, people adopt a belief temporarily to justify an action, emotion, or decision. This is Convenient SG.
It’s not always malicious. Sometimes it helps us cope. Other times, it’s an excuse.
Example:
- A person skips work claiming “the universe told me to rest today.”
- Someone lashes out in anger and says, “I was just channeling my warrior spirit.”
Convenient SG is a self-serving interpretation. When used consciously, it can be a tool for growth. When abused, it becomes spiritual bypassing.
Why This Matters in an Esoteric Age
In today’s age of spiritual awakening, mysticism, and esoteric exploration, understanding Subjective Grooviness becomes more than philosophy it’s survival. Navigating spiritual spaces, occult circles, or even social gatherings with different belief systems requires respect for other SGs.
When we become aware of our own SG (and those of others), we reduce conflict, deepen understanding, and reclaim power over our narratives.
Just like Samsara in Buddhism, the endless cycle of illusion and perception, SG invites us to see how deeply we’re embedded in our own projections. The more we recognize this, the more choice we have over how to engage with the world.
FAQ: People Also Ask
What does “Subjective Grooviness” mean in psychology?
It refers to personal interpretation layered over objective events, shaped by internal belief systems.
How does Competing SG affect relationships?
It can cause conflict when people insist their worldview is correct and dismiss others’.
Is Subjective Grooviness the same as delusion?
No. SG is a natural part of perception; it only becomes unhealthy when weaponized.
Can Subjective Grooviness change over time?
Yes. Life events, healing, or new insights often reshape one’s SG.
Is this concept related to mysticism or the occult?
Absolutely. SG reflects how mystical beliefs influence personal reality.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Your Narrative
Understanding the structure of reality through Subjective Grooviness offers a powerful tool for self-awareness and compassion. Whether you walk the path of science, spirituality, or somewhere in between, recognizing how your interpretations shape your world can free you from unconscious patterns and deepen your connections with others.
The next time someone disagrees with you, ask yourself: Are we just dancing in different grooves of reality?
Sources
- Smith, B. (2023). Teachings from the Tao of Grooviness.
- Tarnas, R. (2006). Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View.
- Watts, A. (1951). The Wisdom of Insecurity.
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy – Subjective Perception