Anomaly.Monster
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Metacosmology

Metacosmology classifications comes from PostFurry, and this is the inspiration for how our system uses it.

Paracosm as a term is defined by Wikipedia as - "A paracosm is a detailed imaginary world thought generally to originate in childhood. The creator of a paracosm has a complex and deeply felt relationship with this subjective universe, which may incorporate real-world or imaginary characters and conventions. Commonly having its own geography, history, and language, it is an experience that is often developed during childhood and continues over a long period of time, months or even years, as a sophisticated reality that can last into adulthood."

The term paracosm has also been adopted by those who experience immersive daydreaming, maladpative daydreaming, or neuronatration, etc. In those communities, paracosm is broadly used to describe a daydream world or setting.

Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder (MaDD) is a purposed disorder where daydreaming negatively impacts daily life, originating as a maldaptive coping mechanism. Some people with MaDD may not even have paracosms.
mmersive Daydreaming (ID) is daydreaming in an immersive way, often having detailed paracosms and daydream characters - or "paras". This can be non-disordered, or it can overlap with MaDD Both MaDD and ID were purposed as terms together.
Neuronaration is a term created within the autism community to describe the way immersive daydreaming can be experienced by those who are autistic.

With this overlap, metacosmology has its usage in describing the unique differences between paracosm with those in the daydreaming spectrum in addition to elaborate fantasy roleplay worlds.

Metacosmology Terminology

As described on the PostFurry Wiki, here are the different 'cosms as they are described:

  • Orthocosm: Day-to-day life, in the sense of consensus reality and quotidian primate bullshit.
  • Exocosm: Physical reality, in the sense of 'that which does not go away even if you'd prefer it did'
  • Endocosm: A personal private world
  • Syncosm: An interpersonal shared world
  • Eucosm: An ideal/perfect world. There are almost certainly more than just one.

These already can be perfect for also describing daydreaming paracosms - namely orthocosm and eucosm. "Eucorm" in reference to an ideal world is also particularly common with maladpative daydreaming disorder.

Personal Modifications and Usage

This system personally uses the terms a bit different in order to accommodate ourselves as a system with various experiences with daydreaming. We typically define use the original terms closer to this:

  • Orthocosm: A slice of life-type of paracosm. Just mundane, going about your life. Can sometimes be used to describe slice of life storylines in an otherwise unique world - like slice of life with anthro characters.
  • Exocosm: Physical reality, same as original usage.
  • Endocosm: A personal private world. For our system, used to describe the private world created by an individual (such as a self insert fantasy).
  • Syncosm: An interpersonal shared world. For our system, used to describe a group paracosm (i.e. two or more headmates getting together to create a paracosm for just them).
  • Eucosm: An ideal/perfect world, same as original usage.

We also add additional terms to this:

  • Fictocosm: A paracosm based on or taking place in a fictional world.
  • Pancosm: In the path of syncosm and endocosm, the next step is a world that is shared by the entire system. Anyone can jump in to daydream without restrictions.
  • Scapecosm: A paracosm meant to mimic the inner world, or can be used by systems who have their daydreams with direct consequences on their inner world or headmates. From the word mindscape.
  • Hypercosm: A paracosm that comes from a hyperfixation or special interest. Usually based on pure "brain will not let go of this concept" daydream repetativeness that for our system is our biggest form of unhealthy daydreaming.
  • Dyscosm The opposite of Eucosm, paracosm that comes from exploring a negative world, sometimes dystopian. Can be positive in the sense of engaging with these concepts in a safe way, or negative with obsessing over a fearful scenario.
  • Veritcosm: A paracosm which is inhabited by veritbonds, or paras with some degree of sapience.

Hierarchy - Pancosm, Syncosm, Endocosm

In our personal notes, we do use a tiered hierarchy for organizing paracosms to make things easier to sort.

Pancosms are considered a little more important to our system, since anyone can daydream in them and typically anyone will. Our notes for these are usually bookmarked so we can quickly get to them and modify them. The way it's experienced is like a group roleplaying game - similar to what you'd find on DeviantArt.

Syncosms are the next step, which can be varied by how many are participating. Usually these are groups of friends or sometimes family units, and can be experienced similar to pancosms.

We sometimes use the term "pan-syncosm" as a sort of bridge between pancosms and syncosms if it's needed, which is usually a pancosm that isn't widely opted into or has a specific headmate who is in charge of it.

Endocosms then are just personal paracosms, and are very commonly self inserts. Sometimes these are just personal worldbuilding projects, but in that case, they usually expand into syncosms or pancosms when interest is gained.

Dysfunctional Daydreaming - Dyscosm and Hypercosm

Many of our personal paracosm terms describe some level of dysfunction, as we do have maladpative daydreaming.

Dyscosm most often is. As a system who experiences obsessions and intrusive thoughts, these can manifest into vivid, terrifying daydreams with the most common topic for us being dying or watching others die. These can be impactful and traumatizing, though as we've realized what was going on, it's become manageable. Notably, our experiences with dyscosms have resulted in what we consider exotrauma, and has amplified existing trauma. Dyscosms though can also be good, and a way to explore these topics. Dyscosms are a common type of endocosm as involving a headmate working through something personal.

Hypercosm is an extremely common experience to us. Our brain experiences hyperfixations as intense and consuming all elements of our thoughts at their peaks. This causes an increase in daydreaming about the topic and can result in our maladaptive daydreaming and ADHD going in tandem. This is also notable as opposed to special interests for us because hyperfixations directly impact the type of paracosm and daydreams, while special interests for us are more consistent and usually just peppered in as topics.

Making it "Real" - Scapecosm and Veritcosm

Scapecosm usually refers to something having an impact on a sub-headspace, as very rarely will daydreams impact our system's inner world. That being said, there are a few cases where this might happen, usually in areas with specific properties.

Veritcosm and veritbonds for us is experienced similar to imaginary friends or thoughtforms. They don't exist as a part of the system, but are rather"attached" to a headmate. Veritcosm refers more to if a paracosm exists of these veritbonds, not a veritbond alone.

Other Cosms Describing Personal Paracosms

Some within the daydreaming community use the -cosm format to describe their own personal paracosms.

For example, a paracosm focused on Pokemon might be called a pokecosm or pokemoncosm. Or a paracosm with dragons might be called a dragoncosm.

This can be useful for designating when a world is a paracosm. We use this at times, but tend not to due to using metacosmology.

Describing Characters - Paras

"Para" alone is usually used within the daydreaming community to refer to a daydreaming character in a system. This is mainly because paras can be a bit unique from OCs or the word character as it's usually used.

Paras can lack any control or malleability from the daydreamer. Paras are also more likely to be based on pre-existing character and be far more indulgent. Not everyone writes, draws, or otherwise shares their paras.

Common modifiers are "parame", which refers to the daydream insert that sometimes exists within maladaptive daydreamers. "Fictpara" is also used to describe fictparas.

Our Personal Use of Para

In tandem to fictpara, we use the "para!" format to describe daydream versions of fictional paras, similar to old m!a used in roleplay.

For example, Red in a Pokemon fictocosm might be called para!Red to designate that while this para is Red, he might exist in a different reality, storyline, or have different character traits.

We also playfully use "para-site" to describe when a headmate is playing as paras different from their parame or self insert.

We sometimes use "paracosmonaut" to describe headmates who daydream in a way that influences their identity or general experiences. It can be used similar to an alterhuman term for us.