"Reality or Illusion"

Project Description:

"Reality or Illusion" is a poetic and visual journey of self-discovery and enlightenment. At its core, this work is built on a metaphorical poem that explores themes of inner fears, illusions, and true self-awareness. The project uses deep symbols and visual imagery to highlight the transformation and growth of the main character.

The main storyline of the video revolves around a mysterious castle, symbolizing the prison of the mind. The heroine, dressed in a purple gown, begins her journey through the castle, confronting her inner fears and illusions. The color purple is associated with mystery, spirituality, and the search for meaning in life, emphasizing the depth of the heroine's experiences.

Throughout her journey, the girl traverses the corridors and dungeons of the castle, encountering prisoners who symbolize outdated negative mind patterns. Her attentive observation and calmness help dissolve these negative emotions, revealing a window to truth.

On her path to liberation, the girl faces battles that symbolize the struggle with her own thoughts and fears. Standing before an ancient mirror, she realizes her inner essence, with the mirror serving as a metaphor for self-awareness.

In the finale, the girl understands that the surrounding world is a reflection of her inner state. This realization takes place in a sunny garden where her gown changes color to blue, symbolizing inner purity, clarity of thoughts, and harmony with herself and the world. She reaches a state of blissful solitude under a white sail in the endless ocean, symbolizing eternal freedom and new possibilities.

The project "Reality or Illusion" uses deep symbolism to show the path to self-awareness and inner harmony, inviting the viewer to reflect on their own illusions and true essence.

Creation Story:

The inspiration for this song came from a close person named R., One day, he shared with me a story from the Upanishads where a snake symbolizes illusion. This story impressed me so much that I spontaneously felt inspired to create this incredible new song.
All poems were written by Yuliya Levashova personally, except for the lines:

"If you know yourself, you will see,
That there have never been others,
There is only you - lonely bliss,
And the heart is Love, you'll hear.

When troubles and devastation come our way,
Inside ourselves we feel hatred and pain
Do not let them out on others
And also, do not hide them inside yourself.

Look at them as stormy waves of the ocean,
Look carefully, a miracle will happen in an instant
They disappear, and only You remain.
As Solitude is bliss, in the domain of Love."

These lines belong to my close person R.

The music, voiceover, and video were created with the help of AI, and the script for the video was co-written with R.

Script for the music video "Reality or Illusion"

1. Introduction

Shot: A mysterious castle in the fog, viewed from a bird's eye perspective.

Description: The camera slowly descends, revealing the grandeur of the ancient castle surrounded by mystical fog.

Symbolism: The fog symbolizes the uncertainty and mystery surrounding the heroine's mind.

Music: Mysterious music playing in the background.

2. Journey in the Castle

Shot: Inside the castle, torches burn on the sides.

Description: The main heroine — a girl in a long purple gown — looks mysteriously at the viewer, then sharply turns and heads into the darkness of the corridor, as if inviting the viewer to follow.

Symbolism of the Purple Color: Purple is associated with mystery, spirituality, and the search for life's meaning. It emphasizes the depth of the heroine's experiences.

Symbolism of the Initial Glance: The mysterious glance at the viewer symbolizes an invitation to explore her inner world together. Her sharp turn into the dark corridor signifies the start of her journey into the unknown, facing her fears and illusions.

Lyrics:

"This world around is,
It's just an illusion.
We see everything here,
A creation of our mind."

3. Encounter with Fear

Shot: Close-up of the girl's face.

Description: The scene changes, and her face suddenly shows fear as she looks up.

Symbolism of the Sudden Glance Upward: This moment signifies a sudden fear of the unknown or an awareness of danger, triggering her inner transformation.

Lyrics:

"Throughout our lives, we gather fears.
And we fight them with swords.
Having met snakes on the road,
In sweat we run away from them,
So not daring to approach fear of this."

4. Change of Mood

Shot: Close-up of the girl's face.

Description: The fear gradually disappears, leaving calmness and balance.

Lyrics:

"If we had come closer to see
That it wasn't a scary snake at all..."

5. The Path to the Door

Shot: The girl walks down a long corridor to a dead-end door.

Description: The dead-end is filled with darkness, and the ceiling sways, creating an illusion of movement.

Lyrics:

"A rope of threads lay on the ground,
But our minds created horror...

So, too, this world,
Is just illusion's might,
Yet we invent tales of fright."

5. The Dungeon

Shot: The girl finds herself in a dungeon, exploring a dark corridor.

Description: She symbolically enters the depths of her subconscious.

Lyrics:

"Books on this have been composed,
But we have forgotten how to read.
It's easier to believe in lies,
Than to seek knowledge deep inside."

6. Liberation

Shot: The girl encountering a prisoner — an embodiment of outdated negative mind patterns. She looks at the prisoner, her gaze penetrating his essence. The prisoner dissolves, leaving only the window grating.

Description: This signifies that attentive observation of negative thoughts and emotions dissolves and transforms them into the bliss of consciousness.

Lyrics:

"This rope metaphor,
Forgotten from long ago,
Wasn't crafted by me, you know.

This is a window to TRUTH, so open it."

7. Emerging Outside

Shot: The old castle is shown from above again.

Description: The girl runs along the castle's rooftop, where fears still try to catch up with her. The scene changes, and the girl slowly continues to move on the castle's surface, observing everything around her.

Lyrics:

"A window to a beautiful world,
Where maya does not live, know this,
Where reality exists forever.

And it has been waiting here so long,
In the moment of "Here and Now,"
You will see its power.

And eyes will open instantly,
Irrevocably, timelessly..."

8. Under the walls of the castle.

Shot: The girl is already outside under the castle walls, pausing in a moment of uncertainty and doubt.

Lyrics:

"Know YOURSELF entirely."

Music: Mysterious music starts slowly, then gradually builds in intensity.

9. Battle of Thoughts

Shot: Military battles around the castle.

Description: The soldiers symbolize thoughts — fears and doubts — trying to pull the girl back into the prison of her mind.

Visual Effects: Use of quick cut transitions to highlight chaos and struggle.

Music: Powerful, intense music gradually quiets down.

9. The Mirror of Truth

Shot: The girl stands before a round mirror with fire inside.

Description: She looks into the mirror, realizing her inner essence.

Symbolism of the Mirror: The mirror is a metaphor for self-awareness; it reflects not only the external world but also the inner state of the heroine.

Lyrics:

"If you know yourself, you will see,
That there have never been others,
There is only you - lonely bliss,
And the heart is Love, you'll hear."

Sound Design: Soft music underscores the moment of realization.

10. Awakening

Shot: The world around becomes beautiful; the girl observes the fire near a bush.

Description: She understands that everything around her is a reflection of her inner state.

Lyrics:

When troubles and devastation come our way,
Inside ourselves we feel hatred and pain
Do not let them out on others
And also, do not hide them inside yourself.

11. Transformation

Shot: The girl emerges from the mirror into a sunny garden near the castle, wearing a blue gown.

Symbolism of the Blue Color: Blue symbolizes inner purity, clarity of thought, and harmony with oneself and the world.

Change of Gown Color: From purple to blue signifies the transition from mystery to enlightenment and inner harmony.

Lyrics:

"Look at them as stormy waves of the ocean,
Look carefully, a miracle will happen in an instant
They disappear, and only You remain.
As Solitude is bliss, in the domain of Love."

12. Journey Through the Garden

Shot: The girl in a blue gown continues to walk forward through the beautiful garden, confidently heading straight without turning.

Description: The trees around seem to sway illusorily, enhancing the mystical atmosphere.

Lyrics:
"This world around is,
It's just an illusion.
Yet we invent tales of fright..."

13. Choice: Reality or Illusion

Shot: The activity of the mind returns to the girl; she stands before a choice: to gain eternal freedom or remain in the prison of her restless thoughts. This is depicted in a shot where the castle is seen on one side and a white sail in the ocean on the other.

Description: A sudden shift to intense music emphasizes the moment of "Here and Now" and nothing else.

Lyrics: "In the moment of "Here and Now"!"

14. Conclusion

Shot: The girl turns her back to the castle, representing the mind's prison in which she was trapped, and in a sudden change of the next scene, she finds herself under a white solitary sail in the midst of an endless ocean of Love, freedom, and eternity.

Symbolism of the White Color: White symbolizes purity, innocence, and enlightenment.

Meaning of the Sail: The sail symbolizes freedom and new opportunities; the girl attains a state of blissful solitude in the vastness of the ocean.

Lyrics:

"This is a window to TRUTH, so open it.

A window to a beautiful world,
Where maya does not live, know this,
Where reality exists forever.

Know YOURSELF entirely."