What Is Similarity Theory?
Similarity Theory is a metaphysical and philosophical framework that proposes the universe — and all phenomena within it — are governed by recurring patterns across scales, dimensions, and states of being. At its core, the theory suggests that reality is not linear or random, but inherently recursive: a system in which structures, experiences, and consciousness repeat in varied but recognisable forms, from the microscopic to the cosmic.¹
The theory draws inspiration from the Hermetic principle “As above, so below”, reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. It proposes that everything that exists is a variation or echo of something else — shaped by similarity, not sameness. A galaxy may mirror the structure of an atom, just as a single moment in time may be a frozen reflection of a larger eternal pattern.² Through this lens, reality becomes a spiralling mosaic of resemblance, where cause and effect are embedded in repeating forms — across time, dimensional layers, and levels of consciousness.
The Three Pillars of Reality
At its foundation, Similarity Theory rests on three interconnected constants:
Dimensions represent the structural layers of being. Each dimension constitutes a unique cosmos — not merely a variant, but a distinct order of reality. Higher dimensions contain more internal layers, and while they are more expansive, progression through them becomes easier once their underlying patterns are known. The most significant leap is always the first: the shift from nothing to something, from zero to one.³
Time is not experienced as a smooth continuum, but as a series of discrete, snapshot-like frames. Each of these frames is a complete version of the universe, preserved eternally. Consciousness moves through them, creating the illusion of motion and continuity.⁴ For higher-dimensional beings, time may appear as a landscape — multidirectional and navigable — yet still essential as the measure of progression.
Consciousness, or soul, is the animating force that brings these frames to life. It exists not only in humans or sentient animals, but in all things. Like light shining through a photograph, consciousness imbues each frame with motion, presence, and identity. It is both individual and cosmic — and while some traditions posit a single divine mind, Similarity Theory suggests a multiplicity of conscious fields across many dimensions and cosmoses.⁵
Parallel vs Higher Dimensions
A core distinction within the theory is between parallel and higher dimensions. Parallel dimensions may contain versions of reality much like our own — perhaps with subtle or even advanced variations. But higher dimensions operate on entirely different principles. Entities within them may appear to us as formless or incomprehensible — not because they are divine in the religious sense, but because our consciousness is not structured to perceive them.⁶ These are not simply more advanced civilisations; they are categorically other.
Philosophical and Scientific Integration
Unlike purely scientific models, Similarity Theory allows for the integration of metaphysical elements. Soul, memory, sentience, and higher forms of awareness are not dismissed as mystical abstractions, but understood as resonances — patterns that emerge across complex layers of being. What may appear “spiritual” or “psychic” could simply be high-frequency echoes of structures we do not yet have the tools to measure.⁷
A Living Framework
Similarity Theory is not a fixed doctrine, but a living, evolving framework. It encourages synthesis across disciplines — science, philosophy, cosmology, and inner experience — offering a model through which one might recognise the repeating fingerprints of the universe within themselves, and themselves within the universe.
This theory did not arise from academia alone, but from the lived reflection, inner inquiry, and philosophical journey of its originator, Simon Raphael. It is both a cosmological vision and a personal lens through which to explore the resonant rhythm of existence.
References
Capra, Fritjof. The Web of Life (1996). A systems theory perspective on the interconnectedness of life and pattern emergence.
The Emerald Tablet, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. Source of the Hermetic maxim: “As above, so below.”
Raphael, Simon. Similarity Theory (unpublished manuscripts, 2025). The leap from zero to one is a recurring motif in dimensional progression.
Einstein, Albert. Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (1916). The relativity of time perception based on frame of reference.
Bohm, David. Wholeness and the Implicate Order (1980). Introduces the concept of an underlying reality enfolding all things.
Jung, Carl G. Modern Man in Search of a Soul (1933). Explores archetypes and the limitations of human perception when confronted with the ‘Other.’
Panpsychism and integrated information theory (Tononi, Koch). These contemporary models suggest consciousness may exist at multiple levels of complexity and form.
