Understanding Reality Through Three Lenses: Objective, Subjective, and Unconscious

Reality is not a monolithic structure but an intricate interplay of three distinct yet interconnected realms: objective, subjective, and unconscious. By learning to differentiate between them, we gain the power to recognize how our beliefs shape our experiences and, in doing so, develop the ability to heal from past codified belief systems.

Objective Reality: The Grounding Anchor

Objective reality represents what exists independently of our perceptions, emotions, or personal narratives. It is the domain of verifiable facts and universal truths—the Earth orbits the Sun, water boils at 100°C at standard pressure, and gravity exerts a constant force on physical objects. Objective reality provides an unchanging foundation against which we can test our beliefs and assumptions.

However, many limiting beliefs persist because they are accepted as objective truths when, in fact, they stem from subjective interpretation. For instance, a person may believe, “I am destined to fail because bad things always happen to me.” Examining objective reality—by analyzing past successes, external factors, and logical evidence—may reveal that this belief is not universally true. Objective reality thus becomes a crucial tool in challenging deeply held, self-defeating narratives.

Subjective Reality: The Personal Lens of Perception

If objective reality is the unchanging framework, subjective reality is the dynamic, ever-shifting lens through which we interpret it. It consists of our personal experiences, emotions, biases, and cultural conditioning. While objective reality remains constant, our perception of it is shaped by past experiences, mental conditioning, and personal meaning-making.

Recognizing the subjectivity of beliefs is liberating. If we acknowledge that our thoughts, fears, and interpretations are not absolute truths but rather personal perspectives, we gain the freedom to rewrite them. For example, someone who distrusts others due to past betrayals might assume, “People cannot be trusted.” However, this is a subjective belief, shaped by past experiences rather than objective reality. By shifting perspective, they can ask, “Is this belief serving me? Could there be a different way to see trust?” This realization opens the door to change.

Unconscious Reality: The Hidden Forces Beneath Awareness

Beneath both objective and subjective reality lies unconscious reality—the realm of unseen influences that shape thoughts, emotions, and behaviors without conscious awareness. This includes psychological conditioning, repressed memories, cultural programming, and instinctual drives. These hidden forces often dictate patterns of behavior and belief without the individual realizing their source.

To truly transform limiting beliefs, one must uncover and address their unconscious origins. If someone believes, “I am unworthy of love,” it may not be based on conscious logic but rather on a deeply rooted childhood experience. By bringing these unconscious beliefs to light through introspection, therapy, or symbolic exploration, an individual can confront the origin of their perceptions and release the emotional weight they carry.

Alchemical Framework: Salt, Mercury, and Sulfur as Reality’s Blueprint

Alchemy offers a powerful metaphor for this triadic model through its three primes: Salt, Mercury, and Sulfur. These elements correspond to the three layers of reality and provide a structured approach for transformation:

Salt (Objective Reality) – The Stable Foundation: Salt represents what is fixed, tangible, and measurable. Just as salt remains after a chemical reaction, objective reality remains constant, independent of individual perception. It is the solid framework against which we measure our beliefs.

Mercury (Subjective Reality) – The Fluid Interpreter: Mercury, the shifting, reflective element, mirrors how personal interpretation colors reality. It flows, adapts, and takes the form of our emotions and personal meaning-making. Recognizing Mercury’s role in shaping our perception allows us to reshape our beliefs consciously.

Sulfur (Unconscious Reality) – The Hidden Catalyst: Sulfur, the fiery essence of transformation, symbolizes the unconscious forces that drive behavior and belief from beneath awareness. Like the unseen heat fueling alchemical reactions, the unconscious influences our choices until it is consciously integrated and transformed.

Transforming Reality Through Conscious Recognition

By using this triadic framework, we can systematically deconstruct limiting beliefs and rebuild healthier, more empowering ones.

Identify the Objective Reality – Anchor beliefs in verifiable facts. Ask: Is this belief objectively true? Is there evidence to support or refute it?

Recognize the Subjective Influence – Understand how personal experiences and emotions shape perception. Ask: Is this belief a universal truth, or is it my personal interpretation? Could I see this differently?

Uncover the Unconscious Roots – Trace beliefs to their unconscious origins. Ask: Where did this belief originate? What past experiences or hidden fears might be reinforcing it?

Through this process, transformation becomes possible. Just as an alchemist refines base metals into gold, we can transmute limiting beliefs into empowering ones, reshaping our reality by shifting perception, healing unconscious wounds, and aligning with objective truth.

In doing so, we reclaim the power to consciously shape our lives, freeing ourselves from inherited narratives and stepping into a more intentional, self-aware existence.