How many ways are there to dream?

 

Let us count the ways...

Dreams come in many forms, from ordinary reflections of daily life to extraordinary experiences like lucid dreaming and prophetic dreams. Common types include normal dreams, vivid dreams, nightmares, recurring dreams, and daydreams. More unique dream types are lucid dreams, false awakenings, and even dreams that seem to predict the future.

The more common dreams include:

Normal Dreams...
These are the most frequent, often reflecting daily experiences and thoughts without strong symbolism or emotional intensity.

Vivid Dreams...
These dreams are characterized by intense realistic imagery and strong emotions, sometimes pleasant, and sometimes disturbing.

Nightmares...
These are distressing or frightening dreams that can cause feelings of anxiety or terror and may wake the dreamer.

Recurring Dreams...
These are dreams that repeat themselves, often featuring the same themes, settings, or characters, and may reflect unresolved issues or anxieties.

Daydreams...
These are conscious imaginative experiences that occur while awake, often involving fantasies or escapes from reality.

The more unique and less common dreams include:

Lucid Dreams...
In these dreams, the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming and may even be able to influence the dream's events.

False Awakenings...
These occur when a person dreams they have woken up, only to realize later that they were still dreaming.

Prophetic/Precognitive Dreams...
These dreams are thought to involve glimpses of future events.

Night Terrors...
These are different from nightmares and occur during non-REM sleep, often involving screaming, flailing, and a lack of memory of the event upon waking.

Healing Dreams...
Some believe that dreams can play a role in physical and emotional healing.

Creative/Problem-Solving Dreams...
These dreams can offer insights, ideas, or solutions to waking life problems.

Epic Dreams...
These are dreams that are particularly vivid, memorable, and emotionally intense.  If you have had an epic dream, you will never forget it.

What is the rarest kind of dream?

That would be a "shared dream".  

Shared dreaming is the rarest type of dream, where two or more people enter the same dreamscape, according to some dream researchers.

I believe that I came close to shared dreaming with one of my daughters.  Although we were not in the dream together, both of the dreams we had on the same night were linked in a rather horrifying way:

The other night, on my way to see a movie with my daughters, I told them about my dream the night before. One of my daughters was intensely excited when I told her that I had a disturbing dream the night before, because she said she did too, and she wanted to compare them. As I began relating my dream to her, she said, “Oh, my!”, and virtually started bouncing in her seat.

My dream ~ 

There was a shadowy beginning part that was dark and ominous, like black and white quickened clips from a horror movie, most of which slipped from my mind, except that it involvd “A Man”. This man had something to do with the second part of this dream, which in contrast is starkly seared into my mind. Some dreams are like that, I believe, because they are more than just an ordinary dream. And this was one of those dreams.

The second part -- there was a knock on my front door. I opened it and heard someone say, “The police want to talk to you.” (Your stomach kind of goes thud when you hear those words.) I went outside, where there was a squad car with two officers sitting in the front seat. I stood by the passenger side, and the officer opened the car door. He was holding a child’s baby doll in his hands. He was crying , and he was retching, and he was trying to get ready to tell me something.

I realized in one sickening moment that it had to be something unusually gruesome and extremely horrific because of his reaction. I don’t think I wanted to hear what he was going to say. I woke myself up, which sounds odd, but I believe that I deliberately pulled myself from this dream.

My daughter’s dream ~ 

My daughter told me that she also dreamed of “A Man” on the same night. She said it was a terrible frightening dark and horrific nightmare. The man kidnapped her, and she said she tried and tried to escape from him, but she couldn’t.

Note:  This phenomenon, where multiple individuals share the same dream, is estimated to occur in only about 1 in 10,000 people.

What are dreams trying to tell you?

“Dreams are often about identity, because we're figuring out who we are and what we need, and the beliefs and perspectives we hold,” says Wallace. “If you feel unfulfilled, undervalued or not the person you want to be in waking life, your dreams will often reflect that."

What types of dreams should you absolutely not ignore?

I've chosen the dreams that strike a chord with me, follow this link for more dreams that may need your attention.

• Being lost or trapped:

Dreaming of being lost or trapped usually signifies uncertainty in a particular life situation, leaving you unsure about the steps to take. These dreams, whether you find yourself lost in a vast building, in the woods, or in a maze, evoke overwhelming feelings of being unable to find a way out. They mirror the complexities and challenges you may be facing in your financial, emotional, physical, or mental aspects of life.

• Falling or sinking

Dreams of falling from a tall building, or sinking into a large body of water like the ocean, evoke feelings of helplessness and being overwhelmed. Contrary to popular belief, these dreams are not predictions of death. Instead, they suggest discontentment or dissatisfaction with your current life situation. They may reflect fear of failure in certain endeavors, or risky choices you have made that are causing difficulties.

• Being chased

This dream is most common among individuals experiencing anxiety. It often involves being chased by someone, an animal, or something else. In reality, it represents running away from a specific situation, or an emotion you are not yet ready to confront, such as a breakup or grief.

• Flying

Dreams of flying are often exhilarating. They signify your readiness to make courageous choices, seeking liberation from the pressures of daily life, whether in relationships, work, or other aspects. 

• Being naked in public

Dreams of being naked in public symbolize a fear of judgment. Putting yourself out there can be daunting, requiring courage. Everyone has a fear of exposing vulnerabilities. Overcoming these negative feelings requires embracing self-acceptance. The dream encourages you to appreciate and love yourself, accepting the reflection you see in the mirror each morning.

What does it mean to dream about a deceased loved one?

This is often referred to as a "visitation dream", and people will often find these dreams comforting, or they will come away with needed information, often inspiration, or a resolution to a problem. 

The following dreams are dreams that my former husband and I had on the same night after his father had passed away.  These dreams were an odd combination of shared dreams, visitation dreams, and lucid dreaming:

My father-in-law passed away in a mid-June. He was a very controlling manipulative man. When he died, my husband and I were estranged from him. In my lifetime, I have experienced contact with people who have passed over. I knew that the spirit of this man would come. I just didn’t know how long it would take him to get a decent bearing in his new plane of existence. I was expecting him.

My dream ~

I and my husband’s family were in some kind of house.  I don’t know if it was a country club (that’s kind of what it felt like), a funeral home, or what. There were large, spacious rooms, people milling about, mostly family. A kitchen area was along side these rooms, a galley kitchen. You could walk in one end and walk out the other.

My husband and I were in the kitchen together for a few minutes. I think we were slightly peeved with each other for some reason. On leaving the kitchen, my husband went into one of the spacious living rooms to watch TV, and I turned to the right and went into another.

Not too much later, I was hungry and thirsty, so I got up and walked through the kitchen, coming out at the other end, where there was a small table of food and drinks sat up.  This table was in a smaller nook at the end of the kitchen, where a dining table sat, and several men were seated around it playing cards. My father-in-law was one of these men.

When he saw me at the small table of food, he gathered the cards up and rose from his chair, coming over to me, extending his hand. I thought he wanted to shake hands, so I extended my hand and he took it in his.

In a flash of a split second, I knew I had made a mistake. He didn’t want to shake my hand. He began squeezing it, gradually, fiercely, the look in his eyes evilly gleeful. He was enjoying what he was doing with unabashed devilish delight.

The strangest thing about this dream is that I knew within that split second that I was dreaming, and I knew, within that dream, that I was going to have to snatch my hand away before he could really hurt me. 

I looked into his eyes, and I said, “You bastard!”  Letting him know that I knew what he was up to, and I snatched my hand away at the last second, just before his grip would’ve tightened, and I wouldn’t have been able to get loose.

My former husband's dream ~

The irony of this dream doesn’t end here. When I told my husband about this dream, and the fact that I was expecting his father’s spirit to manifest here in some way, he told me that he had dreamed of his father on the same night. 

In my husband’s dream, his father is sitting on a bench talking quietly and calmly to him. My husband told me that my father-in-law left a message for me... he said to tell me that he apologized.

Sources & Recommended Reading:

Are Your Dreams Trying to Tell You Something?
www.the-independent.com

17 Common Dream Meanings You Should Never Ignore
by Sylvester Sadua
vocal.media/education

A Beginner's Guide to Lucid Dreaming

by Damian Blair

@ Amazon

Conscious Dreaming

by Robert Moss

@ Amazon

Why We Sleep

by Matthew Walker Phd

@ Amazon

Dream Dictionary

by Tony Crisp

@ Amazon

Crystal Clear ~ a living study in cathartics

 

Crystal Clear Enchantments is a living study in cathartics.  The oddest thing I've noticed about getting old is that all of the sudden memories of something that bothered you at the time pop into your head, and here you may have thought that this was an isolated incident from the past and that it doesn't matter now.

But your sub-concious mind has other ideas.

Being a writer, I started writing down these memories, along with the feelings that they churned up.  And being a writer, I decided that I wasn't going to just write this stuff down and stick it in a desk drawer.  Hell no, I'm going to share it.

At first I was afraid that these experiences and the emotions surrounding them would sound small and petty, and then I thought to myself, what the hell.  If these experiences and the emotions that resulted have stayed lodged in my sub-concious brain, they are important to me.

So here you go, the handful of posts that are up at this new blog right now show-casing experiences that have shaped and molded me into the old crone that I am today.  There will be more to come, I'm pretty sure.  The sub-concious mind is a deep well, and it seems to get deeper with each passing decade.

Read them with patience, empathy, compassion, and understanding.

The Ultimate Oddball

The Ultimate Radio Silence

"I prefer to speak to the owner," he says

The Baby Shower That Wasn't

Introducing:

Crystal Clear Enchantments

This is my new blog that will contain posts and topics that might not be appriopriate or fitting for my other blogs or websites. There are a handful of posts up at Crystal Clear right now, and there will be more in the future.

Enjoy!

The Baby Shower That Wasn't

 

The one explosive moment of absolute clarity that came to me was the knowledge that these women weren’t really my friends.

[Post from Cyrstal Clear Enchantments]

In the good old days (cough), we belonged to a local Home School Support Group. They were a fanatical group of self-righteous women who pretended to be your friend to suck you in so you would accept Jesus and all that crap. To be honest, when we first joined this group the name of the group was not leaning towards anything religious. They changed the name of the group some time after I joined, at one of our meetings around Ava’s dining room table, where they gave me the impression that I had something to say about it and that my input was important. I didn’t, and it wasn’t.

They wanted to change the name of the group from “Fremont Home Schoolers” to “Christian something-something Home Schoolers”. I told them I didn’t think it was a good idea, and that they would alienate people who were not home schooling for religious reasons, because you could opt out of public school two ways, and religious reasons was one of them.

My opinion didn’t matter. It reminded me of how public schools make you think you have a say in your child’s education, but you don’t really. It’s almost like a salesman’s knack of making you think you need to purchase a product when you don’t need it at all.

Anyway, one of the little things that our hostess, Ava, did for the group was to hold baby showers for its members at her house. I had gone to several, joining the quiet and serious group of women oohing and ahhing over each present that was opened.

I was closest with two of the members, Carol and Jane, ladies that didn’t live far from us.

I attended Carol’s baby shower, for her umpteenth baby, and she had many, thirteen I think before she was done. Her husband was an executive with a local company that produced irrigation systems that were shipped around the world. He was a systems analyst, and when they built their grand house — seven bedrooms and five bathrooms — we got the full tour. Afterwards, the little group that attended were quietly stunned. We had no idea they were so wealthy. Carol was thrilled when she found blue jeans for her boys at $2 a pair at the local Good Will. Crazy.

Anyway, after her baby shower at Ava’s house, at our next meeting, she was proudly telling us about all the wonderful things the church members gave her at yet another baby shower. It was big items too, like a playpen and a stroller, and one other equally impressive item that I don’t remember.

Then it was Jane’s turn. We all gathered at Ava’s house one sunny afternoon for Jane’s baby shower and drank punch with a big block of melting sherbert icecream in it and watched Jane open box after box after box, making sure that she showed equal appreciation for each thing. “OOoohing” and “Ahhhhhhing”.

Then I became pregnant with my fourth child.

Mind you, I had three babies up to this point and — I had never had a baby shower.

I was very excited, but at our next home school meeting, while Ava was in the kitchen getting us coffee and tea, Carol started off by saying to me:

“You should tell Ava that you don’t want a baby shower.”

Her reasoning was that there were so many women in the group, and they were always having babies, and it just wasn’t fair to Ava. This coming from a woman who had multiple baby showers for one baby. Why did Carol think I needed to be the designated expectant mom to stop this tradition?

I was floored.

Part 2

Several months into my pregnancy, another home school meeting came around. This time something happened that had never happened before:

Ava called me before the meeting, she said, “Now, you be sure to come to this meeting, okay? Be sure to come.”

Carol called me before the meeting, and she said, “Now make sure you come to this meeting, Okay? Just make sure you come?”

I was SO EXCITED!! I was absolutely 100% sure that they BOTH were calling me to make sure that I come to this particular meeting, because they were planning a baby shower. Ava would do this quite often. At the end of a meeting, she would say, “Okay, let’s clear the table!” And then she would reset it for a baby shower.

I was on pins and needles for days, and when the evening of the meeting came, I loaded the kids in the car and took off, my heart pounding in grand expectation. When I got to Ava’s house, I went in and noticed immediately that there were no tell-tale signs of a baby shower to come, but I thought to myself that she’s going to wait until the meeting is over.

Half-way though the meeting, I go to the kitchen to refill my coffee cup, and I notice that there is not a sign of all the goodies and treats and punch that’s always been served at the other ladies’ showers. I thought this was rather strange, and this burst my bubble, my tummy went “thud”, and I had that sinking feeling. I began to wonder if I had totally misconstrued those phone calls from BOTH Carol and Ava.

“Now you be sure you come to this meeting, okay? Make sure you come.”

I sat back down at my spot at the table, and as I listened to the women’s voices, they sounded tinny and far away. My own thoughts were filling my head, and I was feeling worse and worse, sadder and sadder, and extremely disappointed. Part of me still rebelled and kept thinking — Ava’s going to wait until the meeting is over and pull everything out like she does for the other women; okay, now that they’ve put away these notebooks, now she’s going to surprise me… and so my thoughts went like this for the rest of the evening, and still as I was leaving, all the way out the front door.

I felt absolutely crushed. I cried all the way home.

The one explosive moment of absolute clarity that came to me was the knowledge that these women weren’t really my friends.

If anyone is wondering, I had a total of seven children, and no, I have never had a baby shower.

Introducing:

Crystal Clear Enchantments

This is my new blog that will contain posts and topics that might not be appriopriate or fitting for my other blogs or websites. There are a handful of posts up at Crystal Clear right now, and there will be more in the future.

Enjoy!

Starseeds

 

What are starseeds?

Starseeds, within the framework of some New Age beliefs, are individuals whose souls are believed to have originated from other planets or star systems before incarnating on Earth. They are thought to possess a deep cosmic connection and a unique spiritual purpose related to planetary evolution and human enlightenment.

Basic concepts of Starseeds...

Extraterrestrial Origin:

Starseeds are believed to be souls that have had past lives on other planets or star systems before incarnating on Earth.

Cosmic Connection:

They often feel a strong affinity for the cosmos, stars, and other celestial bodies, sometimes experiencing a longing for a home they can't quite place.

Spiritual Purpose:

Starseeds are thought to be here with a specific mission to help humanity evolve, raise consciousness, and heal the planet.

Forgotten Origins:

While starseeds are believed to possess innate spiritual wisdom, they often incarnate with a veil of forgetfulness, unaware of their true origins and purpose.

Awakening:

 
Starseeds may experience an awakening process where they begin to remember their true nature and their mission.

What types of Starseeds exist?

Various belief systems propose different classifications of starseeds based on their origin:

• Pleiadian: Believed to originate from the Pleiades star cluster, known for their focus on love, harmony, and well-being.

• Arcturian: Believed to come from the Arcturus star system, often associated with wisdom, healing, and technological advancements.

• Sirian: Believed to originate from the Sirius star system, associated with a strong presence and leadership qualities.

• Lemurian: Connected to the ancient civilization of Lemuria, often associated with healing, spiritual knowledge, and connection to the Earth.

• Indigo, Crystal, and Rainbow Children: These categories are often associated with starseeds who are thought to be born with specific traits and missions related to spiritual awakening and planetary healing.

What are the characteristics of Starseeds -- and do you have any of these characteristics yourself?

Feeling different from others, a sense of being an outsider.

Strong intuition and psychic abilities.

Deep empathy and compassion for others.

A desire for knowledge and spiritual growth.

A tendency to question societal norms and traditions.

Starseeds do have their critics and are surrounded by a healthy dose of scepticism.

• The concept of starseeds is rooted in New Age beliefs and is not supported by mainstream, scientific, or academic research.

• Some critics view starseed beliefs as a form of pseudoscience, or a way to feel special and unique.

• There is also the concern that some individuals may use starseed beliefs to justify harmful or unethical behaviors.

Star people, or starseeds, are a variant of the belief in alien-human hybrids in New Age belief and fringe theory. Introduced by Brad Steiger in his 1976 book Gods of Aquarius, it argues that certain people originated as extraterrestrials and arrived on Earth through birth, or as a walk-in to an already existing human body.

Steiger described Star People in his 1976 book on contactees as... "humans who come from a special gene pool linked to visits by extraterrestrials".

They claim to channel human lifeforms and suffer helplessness and total amnesia concerning their identity, origins, and life-purpose. The awakening process claimed to be experienced is described as either a gradual series of realizations over time, or an abrupt and dramatic awakening of consciousness. Through the awakening process, they regain memories about their past, origins, and missions.

Washington Post journalist, Joel Achenbach, interviewed people who said they were starseeds from the Pleiades for his book Captured by Aliens: The Search for Life and Truth in a Very Large Universe, and noted the contrast with ufologists..."the starseeds are precisely the kind of New-age figures the traditional ufologists can't stand. Ufologists look outward, toward the universe, for answers to the alien enigma. New-agers look inward."

Sources & Recommended Reading:

Wikipedia

What are Starseeds & How to Know if You Are One
www.gaia.com

What is a starseed & Determing what type of starseed you are

www.rebeccacampbell.me

Gods of Aquairus
by Brad Steiger

@Amazon

Captured by Aliens
by Joel Achenbach

@Amazon

The Pleiadian Starseed Handbook
by Campbell Quinn McCarthy

@Amazon

 

Indigo, Crystal, & Rainbow Starseeds
by Campbell Quinn McCarthy

@Amazon

 

YouTube Videos ~ How to play them on this blog

 

If you all haven't noticed, you can no longer play YouTube videos on most other platforms except YouTube, including this blog.  When you click on a video, a strange gray screen comes up and it tells you that you have to log in to continue, but I've found that there's no link included to log in.  It might just be me.  However, when you bring up a blog post containing a video, you'll see the video sitting there in all it's glory, as though waiting to be clicked on so it can play.  Do this instead...

1.  Look in the upper right hand corner of the video, see those three vertical dots?  Click on them.

2.  The word "Share", with a rounded arrow will appear.  Click on that.

3.  A blue highlighted link will come up -- Click on that.  The video should play.

Thank you for watching, subscribing, and liking my videos.  You'll find over 800 videos at my channel, Phoenix Rising, as well as other videos at my newest YouTube channels, The Mystic Crone and Spirits n' Stuff.  

Doppelgangers ~ Have you seen yours?

 

Well, I have seen mine. It was in sixth grade at Longfellow Elementary School, and we had a man who was a bit older than average as a student teacher. He was very thin and tall.  He had a receding hairline with black hair and a small thin black mustache, and he looked like he came from another era.  He resembled the actor David Niven.  

He liked me. I liked him. So, as we were walking together on the play ground during a recess and chatting, he told me about this amazing coincidence. He said that in the previous school he'd been student teaching at, there was a girl who looked exactly like me, and he showed me her school picture, one of those tiny little photos that come with your school pictures package, the ones you hand out to classmates.

I was stunned.  It was like looking at a photo of me, and I'm not kidding you when I tell you that even I could not say that the image was not me.  I've never seen anything like it.  It was spooky, eerie, and all those other adjectives of this nature.

So, have you seen your doppelganger?  And what exactly is a doppelganger?  I had always thought that it was simply a living double of yourself, like the girl who looked like me.  But there are other more supernatural and nuanced meanings behind doppelgangers...

In a paranormal context, a doppelganger (German for "double-walker") is a ghostly or spectral double of a living person, often considered an omen of misfortune or death. It's a wraith or apparition that appears to be a replica of the person, sometimes seen as a harbinger of bad luck or even impending death.

Let's dive deeper...

The Original Meaning:

The term doppelganger originated in German folklore, referring to a spirit double of a living person. It was believed that seeing one's doppelganger was a sign of something bad about to happen, possibly even a portent of impending death.

The Evil Twin

Doppelgangers are sometimes depicted as evil twins, or sinister shadow selves, linked to malevolent intentions and death.

Omen of Bad Luck

Seeing a doppelganger is often seen as a warning or omen of misfortune. If a relative or friend sees a doppelganger of someone, it was said to signify that person would experience illness or danger.

In Fiction

Doppelgangers have been used in literature to explore themes of identity, mortality, and the dark side of human nature.

Modern Usage

While the original paranormal meaning is still recognized, the term doppelganger is also used more broadly to describe someone who looks remarkably similar to another person, sometimes even to the point of being mistaken for a twin.

Is there a purpose behind Doppelgangers?

Doppelgängers have been portrayed in various ways:  as benevolent beings warning of danger or guiding lost souls, or as sinister shadow selves, often linked to malevolent intentions and death. In literature, doppelgängers have been used to explore themes of identity, mortality, and the dark side of human nature.

Are doppelgangers demonic?

No, doppelgangers are not typically considered demons. A doppelganger is a look-alike or double of a living person, often associated with folklore and superstitions, while demons are supernatural beings typically associated with evil according to various resources.

What is the myth behind the doppelganger?

In German folklore, a doppelganger is a wraith or apparition of a living person, as distinguished from a ghost. The concept of the existence of a spirit double, an exact but usually invisible replica of every man, bird, or beast, is an ancient and widespread belief.

The scientific low-down on doppelgangers:

Science has revealed that doppelgängers, individuals who share an uncanny resemblance to someone else but are not related, may also share DNA and behavioral traits. Research suggests that the more similar two individuals are in appearance, the more likely they are to share genetic variants and exhibit similar lifestyle traits.

Genetic Similarity

Studies have shown that unrelated look-alikes share more genetic variants than less similar pairs. This suggests that genes influencing facial features may also contribute to shared behavioral traits.

Behavioral Similarities

Researchers have observed that doppelgangers are more likely to share lifestyle traits like smoking habits, weight, height, and educational attainment.

Role of DNA

While shared DNA can explain some of the resemblance between doppelgangers, other factors like epigenetics (chemical modifications to DNA) and microbiome (microbial community in the gut) also play a role in shaping individuals. 

 

*I could've looked further on "microbial community in the gut", but I didn't, I don't feel like diving any deeper into this aspect of doppelgangers, but feel free to explore on your own.

Facial Recognition

The human brain's ability to recognize faces can be influenced by the overall arrangement of features rather than individual details. This can make it challenging to differentiate between individuals with similar facial features, potentially contributing to the doppelganger phenomenon.

  

Personal Experiences

Personal accounts of encountering doppelgangers, or people who strikingly resemble oneself, range from uncanny coincidences to more unsettling experiences. These encounters often involve physical similarities, but can also include shared interests, professions, or even life events, creating a sense of being a twin stranger. Some individuals have described feeling a strange sense of familiarity or kinship with their doppelganger.

Let's look at some personal experiences.

Bob Brody and Allan Ripp...

They met through work and have become friends despite a brief separation. They share numerous physical similarities, including height, weight, baldness, and age. Their professions are also similar, leading them to consider each other "doubles".

A Reddit user...

Saw a doppelganger on a Twister game box as a child, which they later confirmed through image search. This person also described seeing a doppelganger walking a dog, and another instance where their brother saw a "shinier" version of himself.

A family's experience

A doppelganger of the family's mother was seen by the children while the mother was away, and a doppelganger of the father was seen by the uncle.

A user on Reddit...

Found their doppelganger on Facebook, and this doppelganger also shares similar traits and has a matching life path, including marriage to someone with the same name and naming a son the same name.

Possible Explanations

While some suggest paranormal or supernatural explanations for doppelganger encounters, more practical explanations can be considered:

Shared DNA

Doppelgangers may share DNA, leading to physical similarities, even between unrelated individuals.

Chance Encounters

The probability of finding someone with a striking resemblance is higher than one might think, especially in a large population.

Psychological Factors

Our brains are wired to recognize patterns, and seeing someone who looks like us can trigger a sense of familiarity, or even a perceived "glitch in the matrix".

Note: Doppelganger experiences can be subjective and vary greatly. Some people find them unsettling, while others view them as intriguing, or even comical.

Sources &
Recommended Reading:

Doppelganger
by Femi Oyebode

@Amazon

The concept of doppelgänger, or 'double' – a conceived exact but sometimes invisible replica of a living person – has fascinated and intrigued people for centuries. This notion has a long history and is a widespread belief among cultural groups around the world. Doppelgängers have influenced literature and cinema, with writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky and Robert Louis Stevenson, and directors like Alfred Hitchcock exploring the phenomenon to great effect. This book brings together the literary and cinematic with empirical scientific literature to raise fundamental questions about the nature of the self and the human mind. It aims to establish the experience of the self and unravel the brain processes that determine bodily representation and the errors that make possible the experience of the doppelgänger phenomenon. This book will appeal to psychiatrists, neurologists, and neuroscientists, as well as interested general readers.

Doppelganger Phenomenon

by Wilhelm Scheel

@Amazon

Uncover the secrets of the Doppelgänger Phenomenon, a realm where the lines between reality and illusion blur. This captivating book delves into the enigma of doppelgangers, exploring the uncanny encounters that have fascinated humanity for centuries. With expert insights and real-life accounts, you'll question the boundaries of perception and identity. Embark on a journey of intrigue and introspection as you uncover the psychological, cultural, and spiritual significance of doppelgangers. This comprehensive work unravels the mystery, leaving you pondering the depths of our own human existence. Secure your copy today and immerse yourself in the Doppelgänger Phenomenon, an extraordinary exploration of the duality that resides within us. Let the pages guide you towards a deeper understanding of the enigmatic connections that weave the fabric of our world.

It's time to find your voice...

 

Link: click HERE

For my tarot people, there's a new post up at The Mystic Crone...

Sometimes you've tried as long as you can try, and now it's time to find your voice and your courage.

Audio Version

How are you being haunted?

 

Let us count the ways...

Residual

Residual hauntings refer to the phenomenon where a ghostly apparition or other supernatural event repeats the same actions, events, or sounds over and over, as if it were a recording playing on loop.  Residual hauntings are believed to be imprints of past events, often linked to traumatic or significant occurrences.

The thing about residual hauntings:

•   Repetitive nature
  

Residual hauntings often involve repeating the same actions or scenes, such as apparitions appearing in the same location, walking down the same hallway, or repeating a specific event.

• No interaction

The spirits involved in residual hauntings are generally unaware of their surroundings and do not interact with living people.

• Even imprints

Residual hauntings are thought to be imprints of past events, often traumatic or significant, that have left a lingering energy or "residue" at a particular location.

• The "stone tape" theory

The concept of residual hauntings is related to the "Stone Tape" theory, which suggests that buildings or objects can store records of past events, which can be later played back.

• Examples

This could include hearing the echoes of a party, seeing a spectral figure walking down a hallway, or hearing the sounds of an event that occurred at a specific location.

Interactive/intelligent

Intelligent hauntings refer to paranormal events where spirits or entities are believed to be aware of the living and able to interact with them in a conscious and interactive manner.  Intelligent hauntings are characterized by the entity's ability to react to the environment, communicate, and potentially interact with individuals.

The thing about intelligent hauntings:

• Awareness and Interaction

The entity is believed to be aware of the living and can react to their presence or actions.

• Communication

Entities may communicate through various means, such as moving objects, making sounds, or even appearing as apparitions.

• Unfinished Business

Intelligent hauntings may be linked to an entity that has unfinished business, such as a traumatic death, or a desire to interact with specific individuals.

• Intelligent Behavior

The entity may demonstrate behaviors that suggest intelligence, such as responding to questions, reacting to emotional states, or even exhibiting a degree of control over their environment.

• Potential for Harm

While some hauntings may be benevolent, others can be mischievous or even malicious, potentially causing harm or distress.

Crisis Apparitions

Crisis apparitions, also known as "deathbed apparitions," are visions or sensations experienced by a person that seem to coincide with a loved one's death or a significant life event.  These encounters can manifest as visual hallucinations, auditory experiences, or physical sensations like a touch or pain.

The thing about crisis apparitions:

• Definition

Crisis apparitions are described as a vision or sense of a loved one around the time of their death, often experienced by the bereaved.

• Nature of Experiences

These experiences can be visual (seeing the deceased), auditory (hearing voices), or involve physical sensations like a touch or pain that corresponds to a loved one's injury.

• Potential Explanations:

While some paranormal researchers suggest they might be a form of telepathy, others explore psychological and cultural factors, such as grief and family dynamics, that could influence their interpretation and reporting.

• Historical Significance

The concept of crisis apparitions has been explored by researchers like Edmund Gurney, Frank Podmore, and Frederic William Henry Myers in the 19th century, who found value in these experiences as potential evidence for paranormal phenomena.

• Examples

Stories often involve a dying person appearing to loved ones, sometimes communicating or bidding farewell, or a loved one's pain being felt by someone nearby.

• Verification

Crisis apparitions are often accompanied by notes about the time and details of the visitation, which can be later corroborated with the date and time of the death.

• Cultural and Religious Beliefs

Some cultures and religions interpret these experiences as evidence of the soul's existence beyond death, or as a way for the dead to communicate with the living.

 

Spontaneous Apparitions

Spontaneous apparitions refer to the unbidden appearance of a figure, often described as ghostly, that occurs without warning or prior indication. These experiences can involve various senses, but are most commonly visual, with the apparition appearing solid and realistic. While some may interpret these events as a manifestation of a deceased person's spirit, others view them through a religious or psychological lens.

The thing about spontaneous apparitions:

• Definition

An apparition is a visible non-physical phenomenon that resembles a human being, sometimes described as a ghost or spirit.

• Spontaneous Nature

These occurrences are unexpected and not predictable, happening in everyday settings and under low arousal conditions.

• Sensory Experiences

While primarily visual, apparitions may also involve auditory or olfactory sensations, such as smelling flowers or hearing voices.

• Interpretation

The meaning attributed to an apparition can vary greatly, depending on individual beliefs and cultural context.

• Psychological Factors

Apparitions have been linked to states of stress, grief, and altered states of consciousness, suggesting a potential psychological component.

• Religious Context

In some religious traditions apparitions are seen as divine manifestations or theophanies, with the Virgin Mary or other figures appearing to communicate messages.

• Haunted Locations

While some apparitions may occur in reputedly haunted locations, they are more likely to happen in familiar and mundane environments.

• Examples

Marian apparitions (appearances of the Virgin Mary), crisis apparitions (appearances of deceased individuals), and poltergeist phenomena (noisy spirits) are all examples of apparitions.

Thoughtforms

In Theosophy, a thoughtform is a tangible manifestation of thoughts, ideas, and emotions, often perceived as a form or shape. These thoughtforms are believed to be energetic structures that can be sensed, or even projected, by individuals. They are essentially a kind of energetic imprint of thoughts, feelings, and even music, according to theosophical sources.

The thing about thoughtforms:

• Manifestation of Thoughts

Thoughtforms are seen as physicalizations of our mental and emotional states, acting as energetic blueprints for reality.

• Energies and Aura

They are believed to emanate from the auras of individuals, potentially taking on the form of the person, objects, or even representing inherent qualities from the astral or mental planes, according to occultists like William Walker Atkinson..

• Clairvoyant Perception

In Theosophy, thoughtforms are primarily described as being perceivable by individuals with clairvoyant abilities.

• Influential Forces

Theosophists believe that the quality of our thoughts, and the thoughtforms they generate, can significantly impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

• Types of Thoughtforms

Annie Besant categorized thoughtforms into three classes: forms resembling the creator, forms representing objects or people, and forms representing astral or mental qualities.

• Examples:

Examples of thoughtforms include the energetic imprint of a room after a tense argument, or the lingering emotions after a concert.

Spirit Guides

In a haunting context, "spirit guides" might refer to entities, often perceived as spirits, that are causing or contributing to a haunting. These entities could be misunderstood or misrepresented guides, negative entities, or even lingering souls with unresolved issues.

The thing about spirit guides:

• Misunderstood or Misrepresented Guides

Some individuals believe in spirit guides as benevolent mentors and allies, but these guides could be misconstrued as negative entities if not properly identified, or if the individual has a poor understanding of their nature.

• Negative Entities

Some believe that negative entities, potentially including demons or beings with a bad attitude, can cause or contribute to hauntings by manipulating and scaring individuals.

• Lingering Souls with Unresolved Issues

It's also possible that spirits, or even ghosts, that are stuck between worlds due to unresolved issues or a lack of a proper afterlife transition, might be the source of a haunting.

• Differentiation from Angels and Ghosts

Distinguishing between angels, spirit guides, and ghosts can be challenging, but generally, angels are considered positive and helpful, while ghosts are more likely to be associated with lingering emotions or unresolved issues.

Poltergeist

A poltergeist haunting is a type of haunting characterized by disruptive physical phenomena, rather than the presence of a visible spirit. These disturbances, often involving moving objects, loud noises, and sometimes violent acts, are thought to be linked to a person or a location.

The thing about poltergeists:

• Physical Manifestations

Poltergeists are known for causing things to be moved around, knocking to be heard, objects to fly through the air, and even sounds, like growling . Some accounts mention more violent acts like pinching, biting, or tripping people.

• Focus on a Person or Location

Unlike traditional hauntings where a spirit is tied to a specific location, poltergeist activity can be linked to a person, even if they move to a new place.

• Emotional Connection

There's a belief that poltergeist activity is often linked to emotional turmoil, especially in adolescents or pregnant women, though it can also occur in seemingly stable individuals.

• Examples

The famous Enfield poltergeist, involving the Hodgson family in London, is a well-known case where the activity centered around the teenage girls. Other examples include cases where furniture moves, objects are thrown, or strange smells are detected.

SOURCES &
RECOMMENDED READING:

Theosophy
& the Theosophical Society
by Annie Besant

@ Amazon

Theosophy, an Introduction

by Rudolf Steiner

@ Amazon

Hauntings & Poltergeists

by James Houran & Rense Lange

@ Amazon

Thought Forms
by Annie Besant & CW Leadbeater

@ Amazon

The Ghost Studies

by Brandon Massullo

@ Amazon