Paranormal Experiences

[EarlJam]

Kind of piggybacking the "Something from Nothing" thread here, but this is a different topic.

I am interested in learning about any paranormal experiences any of you have had in your lifetime. Only serious responses please. I'm talking about experiences you had that to this day you can not explain. Ghosts, UFOs, channeling, life after death and so on.

This doesn't have to be YOUR experience but if it isn't yours, I'd want it to be the experience of someone you were or are very close to (e.g. "My mom saw the tunnel, light, and past relatives just before she passed away.")

I've always had a fascination with this stuff and I'm hardly ever dissapointed with the feedback I get from folks on this board.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

-EarlJam

[rthomas]

I once met the ghost of Christmas past, and then Christmas future and the next day, I bought a big turkey for a little crippled boy whose father worked tirelessly in my sweat shop.

[snowdenscold]

I once met the ghost of Christmas past, and then Christmas future and the next day, I bought a big turkey for a little crippled boy whose father worked tirelessly in my sweat shop.

Guess that whole "only serious responses please" was a bit unclear.

[EarlJam]

Not sure if how "paranormal" this is, but years ago a close friend of my father's passed away. He first had a heart attack and was in the hospital. Everyone thought he was getting better.

His wife told him he was getting better but (according to her), he looked at her and said. "No, I'll see you in church Sunday." He claimed to have seen the whole tunnel, white light thing. He died (another massive heart attack)that night and the funeral was on Sunday.

I've read about a lot of experiences but haven't really had that many myself.

-EarlJam

[DukieInKansas]

One morning, a few months after my mother passed away, I hit the snooze button and started to doze off when I heard, as plane as day, my mother call my name. (It was the tone of voice she would use when I was in trouble.)

We also knew what day Mom was going to die. Told a friend on Thursday that she was going to die on Tuesday. It really freaked my friend out when it was true.

[Fish80]

My wife talks to her late grandfather, Papa Joe. He appears to her at night, she wakes up from her sleep, and they talk. My wife's mom is pissed, because Papa Joe doesn't appear for her.

I don't see dead people, but I am a peripheral visionary. I see the future, but only around the edges.

[rsvman]

When I was in 8th grade, my math teacher was way into ESP. She actually dedicated a couple of class days to ESP experiments. The one I remember is that the class would place a ring somewhere in the room. A student who didn't know its location would be blindfolded, spun around, and then asked to find the ring. All the class members thought about where it was or sent directions via ESP. It never failed.

I was convinced the whole thing was a set-up, and, determined to PROVE once and for all that the whole thing was bogus, I made a fuss when she asked for volunteers to be the blindfolded kid. I was very surprised when she chose me, but I still figured I'd prove it was b.s. when I failed to find the ring.

She spun me around until I was slightly dizzy, the let go. I stood there for a time, thinking to myself, "Ha! Told you so. This will prove it's bogus," but then I started to fall forward. I thought it was just because I was dizzy, so I stepped my foot forward to keep myself in balance. Then, it happened over and over again. It was as if somebody was gently pulling my forehead in the direction I was supposed to walk. When I needed to turn, I started to feel like I was falling sideways, and stepped accordingly. At some point in time I began to feel steady again, and I just stood there doing nothing. Then, my hand reached out and grabbed the ring, seemingly without any volition on my part.

I've been a believer in ESP ever since. She even did one experiment in which half the class thought of the wrong spot and half the correct spot, and we played a tug-of-war of sorts. The poor student started one way, then turned around and went the other, then turned around again, back and forth.

[BlueDevilBaby]

I don't see dead people, but I am a peripheral visionary. I see the future, but only around the edges.

I see the future too, in dreams of extremely short scenes. They are very unremarkable and seem totally random. Then months or even up to a couple years later, the scene will happen. I'm waiting for the dream about a winning lottery ticket.:D

[Bostondevil]

I get this weird feeling sometimes where I know something is going to happen, not just think it will, but I know it. It doesn't happen very often and it's not enough lead time to make any gambling bets but they do usually involve sporting events. Here's an example, I was home alone watching the 1988 World Series and I flat out knew Kirk Gibson was hitting that home run, there was no doubt in my mind and I thought, "Darnit, nobody here to share this incredible moment with." BAM, there it goes. It's never been wrong, this feeling. I keep waiting to have it sometime when it is wrong but it hasn't happened yet. It's like being able to predict the future by about 30 seconds. Here's another one, I won a raffle in high school where they had the drawing at an assembly and as they were reaching into the bowl full of names, I said to my friend sitting next to me, "It's my lucky day!" But I really only get the feeling once or twice a decade, so ultimately not that useful except for the storytelling later.

[killerleft]

I'll never forget the experience that I had at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC, when I was growing up.

My dad did the P.A. announcing, and we were walking around talking to different drivers and pit-crew members before the races.

Suddenly I had the feeling that I knew what was going to be said before anybody said it. This went on for maybe 3-4 minutes. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I had goose-bumps the whole time.

Weird! It was a strange feeling, but I've never really had the situation repeat itself.

[EarlJam]

I'll never forget the experience that I had at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC, when I was growing up.

My dad did the P.A. announcing, and we were walking around talking to different drivers and pit-crew members before the races.

Suddenly I had the feeling that I knew what was going to be said before anybody said it. This went on for maybe 3-4 minutes. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I had goose-bumps the whole time.

Weird! It was a strange feeling, but I've never really had the situation repeat itself.

I think kids have special gifts of intuition that get lost over time as we become older. I believe they, more than any other group of humans, have the ability to see paranormal things.

Remember those pictures from the early-mid nineties that you had to stare at for a while before a 3D image popped out at you? I can't confirm its validity, but someone once told me that kids could see the 3D image much, much faster than adults.

-EJ

[aimo]

A couple of years ago, I had a dream about a deceased uncle. He was talking to me (about what, I don't remember). I don't think I had ever dreamed about him before. I awakened suddenly and looked at the clock. Then I realized it was the one-year anniversary of his death and he had died right around that time, early in the morning. I had not thought about this anniversary for a couple of weeks, so it wasn't like the date had been weighing heavily on my mind. I am not a believer of such things, but it was pretty weird.

[hurleyfor3]

I was home alone watching the 1988 World Series and I flat out knew Kirk Gibson was hitting that home run, there was no doubt in my mind and I thought, "Darnit, nobody here to share this incredible moment with." BAM, there it goes.

I watched the 1992 Kentucky game with a UNC fan friend at my parents' home. After Sean Woods hit the shot with 2.1 seconds left, he kept telling me, "Don't worry, Duke's going win... I promise you... I KNOW they're going to win... I can feel it." Everyone else in the room (my parents and I) thought it was over.

After Laettner hit the shot, I was screaming with joy while he sat there calmly and reminded us, "See, I told you."

In case it bothers anyone that I watched the Greatest College Basketball Game Ever Played with a UNC fan, he eventually ended up at Duke Divinity School, and we are still friends.

[Udaman]

When I was 6 years old, I lived on 13013 Emporia Street in Houston Texas. We had an attic that we never went into. One day my step father decided to see what all was up there and he pried open the attic door (there were no steps up, so he had to lift himself up there).

After a while he came back down and looked really spooked. He said there was a bunch of junk type stuff up there (old torn suitcases, empty boxes, etc) and a crib. When he lifted a blanket up out of the crib there were bones underneath it. He said it scared him so bad he pretty much ran to the door and hoped down.

That night, around 2 a.m. or so, my brother and I woke up with what sounded like the cry of a baby right above our room, coming from the attic. We then heard a thump sound that landed heavy in each corner of the house. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. It was loud when it was over us, and then distant as it moved around the house. Then it was silent. I was terrified, but my brother said it was probably just our step dad messing with us.

The next morning he nailed shut the door and said, nobody is ever going up there again. I asked him 10 years later if it had been him, and he said, "Your mother and I were as terrified as you were. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't me."

You make the call....

[hc5duke]

My grandmother swears that on the day my grandfather died, she saw him in her dreams wearing white clothes (traditional attire for funerals in Korea... you'd know this if you watched 30 Rock) and hanging out with other dead relatives. She also says he appears in a lot of dreams and she stays away because she thinks if she goes towards him she'll die.

My wife tells me her grandmother died when her (wife's) mom was pregnant with her (wife's) brother (only son), but at the time nobody knew. The grandmother's dying words to said pregnant mother-in-law were to take care of the boy.

To be perfectly blunt, I don't believe in any of this junk, or ESP. I think the above examples are people putting too much faith in dying individuals' delusional final words. My explanation is that a lot of times people can't cope with something they don't understand or have control over, so they make up this metaphysical event (paranormal) or being (god) as a security blanket. Sorry if this brings the thread over to PPB

[BuschDevil]

Similarly to others, I get that same deja vu feeling all the time. During a conversation, or something on tv, or a sporting event, or anything really, I will realize that I know what is coming next. The best way I can describe it is that it is like I've seen this scene before somehow. Also, sometimes I'll remember something from a dream, something ordinary, that then comes to pass. Once, oddly enough during 8th grade math, I blurted out (too quietly for the teacher to hear) an answer to the teacher's question before she got the first number written on the chalk board, which drew several strange looks from friends around me when she finished I had gotten it right. Both happen rarely, but often enough to keep me wondering. (& still no winning lottery ticket for me, either.)

One cool story from my family: A very short time, less than an hour for sure, after my Grandmother passed away at home in her bed, the nurse that cared for her called my Aunt came to her home. The head of her bed was against a wall that on the otherside of which, in the living room, there was a fireplace. My aunt discovered that a small bird was traped in the fireplace behind the screen. She carefully gathered the bird & released it outdoors where it hung around for hours singing before flying away. My Aunt was surprised to find that the flue was closed & a screen was still in place on top of the chimney to keep birds out. No bird should have been able to get in there. Watching & listening to songbirds was one of my Grandmothers favorite things. It is our belief that the bird was our Grandmother's spirit that had taken wing to fly to heaven.

A side note: I have a distant cousin who was convicted in the Salem Witch Trials. (She was not sentenced to death.) It may explain why we have so many Blue Devil fans in the family.:D

[aimo]

The next morning he nailed shut the door and said, nobody is ever going up there again. I asked him 10 years later if it had been him, and he said, "Your mother and I were as terrified as you were. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't me."

You make the call....

Please tell me this is a joke. And if it isn't . . . HE DIDN'T REPORT THE BONES?!?!!?

[killerleft]

I'll never forget the experience that I had at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC, when I was growing up.

My dad did the P.A. announcing, and we were walking around talking to different drivers and pit-crew members before the races.

Suddenly I had the feeling that I knew what was going to be said before anybody said it. This went on for maybe 3-4 minutes. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I had goose-bumps the whole time.

Weird! It was a strange feeling, but I've never really had the situation repeat itself.

[TillyGalore]

I'll never forget the experience that I had at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, NC, when I was growing up.

My dad did the P.A. announcing, and we were walking around talking to different drivers and pit-crew members before the races.

Suddenly I had the feeling that I knew what was going to be said before anybody said it. This went on for maybe 3-4 minutes. The hair on the back of my neck was standing up and I had goose-bumps the whole time.

Weird! It was a strange feeling, but I've never really had the situation repeat itself.


I swear I've read this before. :D

But this gives me an excuse to tell you I love your avatar!

[Fish80]

. . .was a bunch of junk type stuff up there (old torn suitcases, empty boxes, etc) and a crib. When he lifted a blanket up out of the crib there were bones underneath it . . .

Yeah, what about the bones? You left a baby skeleton in your attic? I'm pretty sure that as a kid I would have snuck up there to look at the bones.

[Udaman]

Not a joke.

Now, do I think for a second the bones were of a baby? No. It was probably some baby squirrel or some other animal, and if there were sounds, it might have been the mother coming back and finding her stuff messed with. Who knows. It might all have been some story from my step dad as a big joke. Or maybe.......

[snowdenscold]

Oh, the power of suggestion and tricks of the memory are fun things indeed.

As someone very religious and who believes in the supernatural, I don't believe about 99% of the "paranormal" type events out there.

Though my also-religious friend swears on his life that he was eating and an extra piece of bacon magically appeared on his plate...

[Clipsfan]

I watched the 1992 Kentucky game with a UNC fan friend at my parents' home. After Sean Woods hit the shot with 2.1 seconds left, he kept telling me, "Don't worry, Duke's going win... I promise you... I KNOW they're going to win... I can feel it." Everyone else in the room (my parents and I) thought it was over.

After Laettner hit the shot, I was screaming with joy while he sat there calmly and reminded us, "See, I told you."

In case it bothers anyone that I watched the Greatest College Basketball Game Ever Played with a UNC fan, he eventually ended up at Duke Divinity School, and we are still friends.

My wife promised me that UCLA would come back to beat Texas on Sunday, but unfortunately she was just a little off.

The only slightly strange things that happen to me are deja-vu. I have occasionally found that I somehow know places I'd never been or know exactly how a conversation will unfold based upon having already seen them/heard them.

[DevilAlumna]

The only slightly strange things that happen to me are deja-vu. I have occasionally found that I somehow know places I'd never been or know exactly how a conversation will unfold based upon having already seen them/heard them.

+1, though for me it usually just involves a setting, like driving down the road, or walking into a room and it being "just like I remembered," though I'd never been there before.

The weirdest occurrence of this happened in high school -- I was walking down the hall of lockers and realized I knew who was going to turn around and what they were going to say to me, before it happened. Freaky.

[EarlJam]

I've had a couple of occassions where I've dreamed of a person and the next day found out they had died. It didn't freak me out as much as it very much comforted me.

The last occassion was earlier this year. An old basketball friend and neighbor of mine named Jeff from Burlington. He was battling cancer years ago, recovered, and then was stricken with it again earlier this year. When I went to bed that night months ago, Jeff was not on my mind. I hadn't discussed him with family and the last report I had about him was that he was doing better. We had lost touch over the years and I can safely say that up until that night I had NEVER had a dream about him.

This night, I went to bed and Jeff appeared to me, on the basketball court, donning his classic Bulls tank top, knee pads, goggles and the works. Jeff wasn't a very good basketball player. In fact, he was terrible. He knew it. We'd laugh about it. Anyway, he looked GREAT in this dream. Healthy, built. I looked at him and said something to the effect of, "Wow, I thought you were sick! You look fantastic!"

He smiled, said goodbye and went on his way.

The next morning, I got to work, opened my e-mail, and read a note from my brother telling me Jeff had passed away overnight. I was blown away.

What are the odds? Jeff wasn't on my mind at all that night.

Anyway, that is a 100 percent true story. Honest. There's a couple of other similar stories where I had dreams about my dad and my uncle, but this one was the one that really hit home.

Anyway, wanted to share. Thanks to all for sharing your experiences. I find this incredibly interesting.

-EarlJam

[captmojo]

Very early one Sunday morning, just a few days into the new year of 1995, I got a phone call from my mother. She told me that Pop was not feeling well and she thought we should take him to the hospital emergency room. I got dressed quickly, and when I arrived at my parents house I found him weak and his heart was beating erratically. I drove them to the hospital. When Mom mentioned I was speeding, My Dad said "It's OK. I'm only dying.".

We were at the hospital all day. My brother was living in South Carolina at the time and it took him until late afternoon to get up here. About an hour after he arrived, it was suggested that I go home and rest up. So, I did.

I came home and slept about an hour. I was awakened by a phone call from my brother telling me to hurry and get back. My aunt (Mom's sister) came to the house and wanted to ride with me. Along the way back to the hospital, IT happened.

As I approached an intersection, I felt a cold rush that went straight through my heart and upper chest. A stop sign ahead, but I had to stop anyway. The feeling was too intense. I knew what it was. My Dad had died and his spirit had just passed through me. I thought about saying something, but could not express what had just happened to me. I sat still and silent behind the wheel. My aunt asked me what was wrong, as I spent about twice as long at the stop sign as I normally would have. I shivered, but could not find words to speak.

We got to the hospital to discover that he was gone. Upon inquiry as to how long ago, it was at the time I felt the chill. My suspicions were confirmed. I know that feeling. I will never forget it, nor how IT felt. It took a few days but I was able to tell my aunt what happened in the car that night. If IT has ever happened to anyone else I'd like to hear your tale. I understand also if IT is too personal to discuss.

[cspan37421]

As you all have probably inferred, I'm a skeptic, among other things. But I am not without kind wishes for fellow Dukies, so let me point out that there is $1 million waiting for any of you who can demonstrate psychic phenomena under controlled, scientific testing conditions.

You can find information about this reward, and application forms, here:

http://www.randi.org/research/

Good luck!

[snowdenscold]

As you all have probably inferred, I'm a skeptic, among other things. But I am not without kind wishes for fellow Dukies, so let me point out that there is $1 million waiting for any of you who can demonstrate psychic phenomena under controlled, scientific testing conditions.

You can find information about this reward, and application forms, here:

http://www.randi.org/research/

Good luck!

Doh I forgot to mention that - good catch!

[wilson]

Anybody ever hear of George Noory? He does a (typically late-night) radio show with guests and callers that is equal parts paranormal/supernatural and conspiracy theory. Similarly, about half of the guests and callers seem to be genuinely interested and more or less having a good time with it all, while the rest are total crackpots.
The whole bit is rather engaging most of the time:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

[EarlJam]

Anybody ever hear of George Noory? He does a (typically late-night) radio show with guests and callers that is equal parts paranormal/supernatural and conspiracy theory. Similarly, about half of the guests and callers seem to be genuinely interested and more or less having a good time with it all, while the rest are total crackpots.
The whole bit is rather engaging most of the time:
http://www.coasttocoastam.com/

Wilson,

I have not listened to him but years ago there was a radio show hosted by Art Bell - also on Coast to Coast. Sounds like the same show, audience. I will check this out. Thanks.

-EarlJam

[captmojo]

Wilson,

I have not listened to him but years ago there was a radio show hosted by Art Bell - also on Coast to Coast. Sounds like the same show, audience. I will check this out. Thanks.

-EarlJam

Art Bell retired and Norry took his place.

OOOHHH. UFO's. Aliens. Freaks. Freemasons. Just the type of crap to keep you awake.:eek:

[pacificrounder]

My Italian teacher actually just told me this story yesterday, so funny to find this thread today. He is a very sweet older man and he swears that this story is true and I completely believe him. He got a winning lottery ticket.

He woke up on morning in Prato, Italy (40 or so minutes from Florence by train) at 9am for a dental appointment but was still very tired. He dragged himself to the dentist where they found several serious problems with his teeth. He need 2.5 million lire in work done, which he said is about 1500 euro, so $2250 - not a small amount of money for him at the time so he was immediately very worried about it. He went home, still unusually tired and fell into what he called the deepest sleep he has ever experienced. When he dreamed, he was in the Fiorentina football stadium watching them play against an invisible team. He said that he could only see one of the teams - Fiorentina, but that he knew there were two there. When he looked up at the scoreboard there were three numbers on the Fiorentina scoreboard where there should have been only one: 137. He woke from the dream the moment after he saw the 137 and 1 hour later he was in a Tabacchi in Florence playing 137 for that nights drawing. Wouldn't you know it, he won 2.5 million lire that night - and he still sleeps with a pencil and paper next to his bed.

This thread has been incredibly interesting so far. I concur with people about sometimes being able to know things before they happen 30 seconds to one minute before and getting intense feelings of deja vu as if it was more than just deja vu. The only weird experience that has happened to me is that I heard a door slam in my house when I was about 17 years old and home alone. I assumed that my Mother had come home but when I called out hello to her she didn't answer. I got incredibly scared, because I am completely sure that door opened and closed, so I immediately ran to my room and grabbed a baseball bat to go downstairs and check it out. The house was empty, nothing missing, door still locked - but I am positive that the door slammed.

[billybreen]

To be perfectly blunt, I don't believe in any of this junk, or ESP. I think the above examples are people putting too much faith in dying individuals' delusional final words. My explanation is that a lot of times people can't cope with something they don't understand or have control over, so they make up this metaphysical event (paranormal) or being (god) as a security blanket. Sorry if this brings the thread over to PPB

Amen, brother.

As with everyone else, I experience deja vu from time to time. For me, it always feels like a memory from a dream, and I can usually pinpoint with some accuracy how long ago I had the dream. My pet theory is that during the time when we are asleep but not having lucid, narrative dreams, our brains are essentially game planning, generating hundreds of possible conversations or events. Once in a while, one of these dreams is realized, and we of course only remember these surreal moments.

I am not a scientist, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (no, I stayed in a really nice hotel in downtown San Jose). This just seems like the most probable explanation of deja vu, at least given how I experience it.

[EarlJam]

Amen, brother.

As with everyone else, I experience deja vu from time to time. For me, it always feels like a memory from a dream, and I can usually pinpoint with some accuracy how long ago I had the dream. My pet theory is that during the time when we are asleep but not having lucid, narrative dreams, our brains are essentially game planning, generating hundreds of possible conversations or events. Once in a while, one of these dreams is realized, and we of course only remember these surreal moments.

I am not a scientist, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (no, I stayed in a really nice hotel in downtown San Jose). This just seems like the most probable explanation of deja vu, at least given how I experience it.


You could be wrong though.

As could I/we.

We are a pretty incredibly built piece of equipment to be the result of random happenings. Not saying it isn't possible. But you could be wrong.

-EarlJam

[Fish80]

. . . When he looked up at the scoreboard there were three numbers on the Fiorentina scoreboard where there should have been only one: 137. He woke from the dream the moment after he saw the 137 and 1 hour later he was in a Tabacchi in Florence playing 137 for that nights drawing. Wouldn't you know it, he won 2.5 million lire that night - and he still sleeps with a pencil and paper next to his bed. . . .

Get this - I just got back from a trip to Florence. My flight back, Pisa to JFK, was Delta 137! And, last night they showed the daily numbers drawing, and 137 won! This is seriously weird stuff.

[billybreen]

You could be wrong though.

As could I/we.

We are a pretty incredibly built piece of equipment to be the result of random happenings. Not saying it isn't possible. But you could be wrong.

-EarlJam

Blasphemy. The one thing I know to be true is that I'm never wrong.

[elvis14]

In high school, I opened a checking account and applied for a debit card. I got the card in the mail with a letter stating the PIN would arrive in a different letter. A day or two later I was walking out to the mailbox to get the mail and I had a vision where I was telling my best friend at the time that my PIN was the same as his phone number. You can guess the rest: the letter was in the mail box, the last 4 digits, 3819, were the same as my buddy's phone number. I was alone in the house and kinda freaked.

Now I look back at it an realize how cool it was.It was a strange enough coincidence that I was randomly assigned that number to "see" it like that made it different and special.

Interesting thread, Earl Jam, thanks for starting it.

Elvis

[EarlJam]

Blasphemy. The one thing I know to be true is that I'm never wrong.

Well, good point.

-EarlJam

[Fish80]

No joke. Look at Evening Nos. Tue.: 137

http://www.nypost.com/search/search.htm?q=lottery&s=news&t=0

Dec. 5, 2007
NEW YORK Midday Nos. Tue.: 968; Lucky Sum: 23 / Midday Win-4 Tue.: 8018; Lucky Sum: 17 / Evening Nos. Tue.: 137; Lucky Sum: 11; Evening Win- 4 Tue.: 8388; Lucky Sum: 27 Pick-10 Tue.: 2, 6, 7, 9, 12, 16, 19, 24, 26, 29, 31, 32, 43, 44, 46, 50, 51...

[Bostondevil]

Oh, if only I could control it, the $1 million would be mine! I never know when the feeling is coming, sigh. But it's not deja vu, I have deja vu from time to time, it's when the matrix is shifting, but my moments of absolute knowing what will happen next feel quite different from deja vu. Deja vu, for me at least, is a confusing phenomenon. I feel something that I know isn't true. I've read one theory of deja vu is that the brain occasionally misfires and sends images to memory sensors before the visual/auditory ones. Sounds reasonable to me.

[TillyGalore]

I've always been intrigued by the paranormal, particularly past/future lives.

Before I moved to NC lived in Boston for 8 years (grew up in the military and moved all over the world, something that is important to what I'm sharing). While living up there, I remember, though not exactly when this happened, dreaming about being/living in the south during the Civil War and my house (the one in the dream) burning and trying to fight the fire. I tucked that dream away in my memory bank as I wondered if it was significant.

About 2-3 years after moving to NC I was in Dunn or Erwin on business (I know that sounds odd, was working for a managed care company and visiting with practices in our network there). Keep in mind, I have never been to Dunn or Erwin or anywhere else in NC prior to moving here in 1998. I drove by a green dilapidated house and was immediately struck bu a sense of being there before. The feeling was pretty intense, nothing I'd ever experience before or since.

Neither the house in my dream nor the house I saw look anything alike. But I've always wondered what exactly it was that drew me to NC, other than my love for Duke BB. I don't have any family here. I had a great uncle go to Catawba College many many many years ago, but he didn't stay here after graduating. Could it be that in a past life, say about 140-150 years ago I lived in NC?

I would love to explore this more someday, perhaps hypnosis will help.

[killerleft]

I swear I've read this before. :D

But this gives me an excuse to tell you I love your avatar!

Thanks. A co-worker (unc fan, no less) photoshopped it for me. I was scared of it for awhile!

[dkbaseball]

First of all, in the "my how times have changed" category: Is everybody aware that Dr. Rhine and Duke were the center of paranormal studies for decades, famous worldwide? They had plenty of hard evidence. Wonder what their old building on Campus Drive is used for now.

My own strange experiences would fall under the category of coincidences, possibly qualifying as what is called synchronicity in New Age circles. A couple of examples:

Driving along in 1988 contemplating the Devils' pre-season number one ranking. My train of thought: "When were the Devils last ranked number one pre-season? Ten years ago. Who won it that year? Mich. St. Who'd they play in the finals? Larry Bird and Indiana State. What was Indiana State's team nickname?" Got my answer instantly by changing the radio station and the first words I hear are from an old Mama Cass song, "birds singing in the sycamore tree." And I recalled that Larry Bird's team was the Indiana State Sycamores.

Another one: A friend told me that in his high school band they used to horse around with a version of the song Downtown, for which they made new lyrics and titled it "Ground Round." A week later I was driving and Downtown came on the car radio when I was at a stop light. I looked to my right and there was the Ground Round restaurant.

I've had lots of these, usually involving the car radio. I find them terribly curious, but I'm inclined to follow Emerson's advice and not try to attach any meaning to them.

[wilson]

First of all, in the "my how times have changed" category: Is everybody aware that Dr. Rhine and Duke were the center of paranormal studies for decades, famous worldwide? They had plenty of hard evidence. Wonder what their old building on Campus Drive is used for now.



If I'm not mistaken, the Rhine Center is still at it, and still well-regarded (in the appropriate circles), just not affiliated with Duke anymore.

Edit: Indeed. http://www.rhine.org/f_cont.htm Just a couple of miles from campus.

[dkbaseball]

I have to add a bit to my own story about coincidences. Actually, I did try to attach meaning to them. At one point in the mid '90s there was a cluster of them that I interpreted as instructing me to go to Denver. So off I went for a week's vacation. Took in a game at Coors Field and ran into an old pal from Duke I hadn't seen in 16 years -- Wayne Krivsky, now general manager of the Cincinnati Reds. We got caught up after the game over a few beers, and his parting words to me, offered in the manner of enthusiastic advice, were "great expectations."

The phrase has many levels of meaning for me, which I won't go into. But it's interesting to consider it in the context of Wayne's life. At Duke, I don't think he was thought of as a good candidate to rise to the top of a strenuously competitive bureaucracy, not because he didn't have several good qualities, but because he seemed to be the sort of person who always got overlooked, as he often was at Duke, to his enormous frustration. But he had great expectations, and a vivid picture of himself as a GM. At the time, in '95, he had just been bounced out of the Rangers' organization by a new regime, and felt lucky to land a scouting job with the Twins. But he knew where he was going, and he got there.

Yes, I voted for Field of Dreams in the best sports movie poll.

[Lavabe]

Interesting thread, Earl Jam, thanks for starting it.
Elvis

Sorry, but I disagree. I am racking my brain trying to come up with a single instance of this stuff in my life, and it just isn't happening. I'm just not getting any TWILIGHT ZONE moments...
... aside from maybe getting a parking ticket.

I side with billybreen on this... and I'll also suggest going with the Amazing Randi's site.

On the other hand, killerleft's new avatar might cause me a few bizarre dreams!;) Is that Mad Magazine's Alfred E. Williams?;)

Cheers,
Lavabe

[cspan37421]

Do you guys believe in UFOs and Bigfoot too?

[Bostondevil]

First of all, in the "my how times have changed" category: Is everybody aware that Dr. Rhine and Duke were the center of paranormal studies for decades, famous worldwide? They had plenty of hard evidence. Wonder what their old building on Campus Drive is used for now.



My father did the statistical analysis for Dr. Rhine's studies in the early years.

[EarlJam]

Do you guys believe in UFOs and Bigfoot too?

Bigfoot lives with me so yes, I believe in him. Though I must tell you, he HATES the name "Bigfoot." He much more prefers his given name, "Steve Jones."

[hc5duke]

Bigfoot lives with me so yes, I believe in him. Though I must tell you, he HATES the name "Bigfoot." He much more prefers his given name, "Steve Jones."

would he mind the more PC-term podiatically gifted?

[billybreen]

would he mind the more PC-term podiatically gifted?

Your wife's a bigfoot.

[hc5duke]

Your wife's a bigfoot.

Your mom!

[cspan37421]

your mom goes to college.

[feldspar]

I predicted the exact winning play and score of the 1995 (or was it 1996?) ACC Tournament final when Randolph Childress hit the game winner against UNC. Called it earlier that day at church to my UNC friend.

[dkbaseball]

Do you guys believe in UFOs and Bigfoot too?

I believe I've read every post in this thread and I can't recall one that expressed a declaration of belief, let alone demonstrated anything close to credulousness. These accounts yield data gathered empirically, making use of sensory perception, by people who present no apparent reason to question their truthfulness or rationality. Readers can make of them what they will.

The only reason I can imagine for attempting a broad dismissal of the credibility of this testimony is that it might be inconsistent with a dogmatic and closely-held view of the world. Not exactly what one associates with "free-thinkers." Anyone who, like Carl Sagan, purports to "grasp the universe as it really is," especially in light of all the quantum wierdness discovered in the 20th century, invites my skepticism. The accounts in this thread don't even begin to describe how strange things are.

[Lavabe]

I believe I've read every post in this thread and I can't recall one that expressed a declaration of belief, let alone demonstrated anything close to credulousness.

I recall TillyGalore's 12/6 11:48 entry titled "I believe" and EarlJam's:

"I think kids have special gifts of intuition that get lost over time as we become older. I believe they, more than any other group of humans, have the ability to see paranormal things. "

Seeing paranormal? Is that an oxymoron?;)

Cheers,
Lavabe

[TillyGalore]

I believe I've read every post in this thread and I can't recall one that expressed a declaration of belief, let alone demonstrated anything close to credulousness. These accounts yield data gathered empirically, making use of sensory perception, by people who present no apparent reason to question their truthfulness or rationality. Readers can make of them what they will.

The only reason I can imagine for attempting a broad dismissal of the credibility of this testimony is that it might be inconsistent with a dogmatic and closely-held view of the world. Not exactly what one associates with "free-thinkers." Anyone who, like Carl Sagan, purports to "grasp the universe as it really is," especially in light of all the quantum wierdness discovered in the 20th century, invites my skepticism. The accounts in this thread don't even begin to describe how strange things are.


I recall TillyGalore's 12/6 11:48 entry titled "I believe" and EarlJam's:

"I think kids have special gifts of intuition that get lost over time as we become older. I believe they, more than any other group of humans, have the ability to see paranormal things. "

Seeing paranormal? Is that an oxymoron?;)

Cheers,
Lavabe


Not to throw is into the realm of the PPB, but, I do believe with God ALL things are possible. Therefore I believe it is possible for other beings to exist in other worlds, though admittedly am not in any hurry to meet them. We don't fully understand what happens in the spirit world, thus spirits could be hanging around watching what we're doing. I think those spirits may sometimes be referred to as guardian angels.

As humans we are naturally afraid of what we don't understand or can't rationalize. But then we only use a small part of our actual brain power.

That all noted, I admit that if I ever did encounter a ghost or an ET, I would quite literally say "I don't believe what I'm seeing!"

[captmojo]

I've no doubt what happened to me which I shared. Those who choose to question it's validity are welcome.

[Native]

I don't see dead people, but I am a peripheral visionary. I see the future, but only around the edges.

My grandfather has macular degeneration; maybe you two should get together for a little chit-chat sometime?

[dukepsy1963]

Anyone had any paranormal experiences during the NCAA games? Just curious.
I've had one or two I think. But I can't be sure!

[hc5duke]

seems you missed out on this thead (http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5125) :)

[dukemomLA]

There is much to be discovered about the human brain and spirit -- and the capacity for insight, retention and knowledge and Light. For anyone here to NOT believe in paranormal experiences is humorous to me. (And that is from someone who has not experienced such herself).

My husband David Haskell died of a brain tumor in autumn of 2000. Our daughter Alex, a Duke student (class of '01) travelled back-and-forth, coast-to-coast, depending on my reporting of her dad's condition. (She didn't want to return to school, but I insisted. I knew that was what Dad would want....and we didn't know if he would die quickly or linger on for months).

After David died, I went through his home office to make sure there weren't any other "important papers" that I didn't already have in my IMPORTANT file.

When daughter Alex returned in October (....after many trips from Duke to home), we went into David's office again.

In the top drawer of his desk was a Thanksgiving card to "His Darling Daughter" -- signed with XXOOXX, and with 3 paragraphs of his love, pride, and anticipation of all she would accomplish in her life.

This card was NOT there when I had previously gone through his office.

Although I haven't had any ESP experiences myself (damn), I have many friends who have, experienced miracles of healing beyond all odds.

Perhaps a new thread could be started by those of you who think it bunk.

[pamtar]

Wow, cant believe I missed this thread.

About 3 years ago, while my wife ate breakfast, I was throwing a tennis ball down the hallway for our little cocker spaniel Hazel. Thinking of how much I loved the dog and how proud I was that she had been a supprise birthday present a few months earlier I asked my wife, "what is the best present I've ever gotten you?" I continued, "is it jewelry, flowers, what?" Knowing she would say the dog I quickly got Hazel to preform a ball trick. "Definitely Hazel," my wife said. I told her that she better cherish her because she won't last forever like the material gifts I had bought her.

Right then a feeling of impending doom rushed through my body. To counteract it I told myself "nah, Hazel is a good dog - she'll live for many years." I then watched the dog fall on her side, let out two yelps and stop breathing.

I preformed CPR on the way to the vet but it was too late. This was the most distraught I have ever been. I have had close family members die but I have never felt as wacked out as I did the days after Hazels death. Precognition and death don't mix. It was really a life changing experience.

[dukepsy1963]

Oh Pamtar......I am so sorry this happened to you. I have no explanation but can only say that I have felt the pain you experienced with Hazel. Our furry friends and children are so vulnerable and irreplaceable. They make life the wonderful thing it is. My heart hurts when bad things happen or are done to them.

I only hope that you now have a new friend to replace "Hazel" somehow.

[dukepsy1963]

There is much to be discovered about the human brain and spirit -- and the capacity for insight, retention and knowledge and Light. For anyone here to NOT believe in paranormal experiences is humorous to me. (And that is from someone who has not experienced such herself).

My husband David Haskell died of a brain tumor in autumn of 2000. Our daughter Alex, a Duke student (class of '01) travelled back-and-forth, coast-to-coast, depending on my reporting of her dad's condition. (She didn't want to return to school, but I insisted. I knew that was what Dad would want....and we didn't know if he would die quickly or linger on for months).

After David died, I went through his home office to make sure there weren't any other "important papers" that I didn't already have in my IMPORTANT file.

When daughter Alex returned in October (....after many trips from Duke to home), we went into David's office again.

In the top drawer of his desk was a Thanksgiving card to "His Darling Daughter" -- signed with XXOOXX, and with 3 paragraphs of his love, pride, and anticipation of all she would accomplish in her life.

This card was NOT there when I had previously gone through his office.

Although I haven't had any ESP experiences myself (damn), I have many friends who have, experienced miracles of healing beyond all odds.

Perhaps a new thread could be started by those of you who think it bunk.

A father's love can transcend understanding.

[77devil]

Kind of piggybacking the "Something from Nothing" thread here, but this is a different topic.

I am interested in learning about any paranormal experiences any of you have had in your lifetime. Only serious responses please. I'm talking about experiences you had that to this day you can not explain. Ghosts, UFOs, channeling, life after death and so on.

This doesn't have to be YOUR experience but if it isn't yours, I'd want it to be the experience of someone you were or are very close to (e.g. "My mom saw the tunnel, light, and past relatives just before she passed away.")

I've always had a fascination with this stuff and I'm hardly ever dissapointed with the feedback I get from folks on this board.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

-EarlJam

Home for the summer from Duke in 1975, I returned home from work at around 11:30 pm from my job as a parking lot attendant and saw a large, very bright light hovering over a field behind my parent's house. I could not really tell how high it was but it appeared to be significantly lower than airplanes that occasionally passed over at below 10,000 feet on their descent to Philly International. There was no sound except for the normal night life in a fairly rural area. I stood and watched for minutes, I can't say for sure how long anymore, and the light did not move.

After whatever time elapsed, I went inside the house and woke up my sister.(also a Dukie adding further reliability.) We came down and the light was still there in what appeared to be the same place. We wached together, although neither of us remember anymore for exactly how long.

The light eventually moved away very fast in what appeared to be a straight and upward motion until it was not visible in a span of less than 10 seconds. Again there were no mechanical sounds.

This is a completely unembellished account.

[g_olaf]

Amen, brother.

As with everyone else, I experience deja vu from time to time. For me, it always feels like a memory from a dream, and I can usually pinpoint with some accuracy how long ago I had the dream. My pet theory is that during the time when we are asleep but not having lucid, narrative dreams, our brains are essentially game planning, generating hundreds of possible conversations or events. Once in a while, one of these dreams is realized, and we of course only remember these surreal moments.

I am not a scientist, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night (no, I stayed in a really nice hotel in downtown San Jose). This just seems like the most probable explanation of deja vu, at least given how I experience it.

OK, I didn't stay at Holiday Inn either, but I am a scientist. So, while your hypothesis is intriguing, I would put forward something else.

Probably what is happening with deja vu has nothing to do with sleep / dreaming. Instead, occasionally the timing between our experience and short-term memory gets messed up, so our memory of an event occurs before (or at the same time as) our experience of the event... leading us to think it happened before, even though it didn't.

[Devil in the Blue Dress]

I've started this reply several times and ditched it. My experiences with precognition are so much a part of my life, I don't know where to start to tell about them or explain them. I haven't tried to remember them because there are so many. They tend to come along unbidden. I go through periods of time when I have no such experiences followed by a very active interval filled with what feels like a very clear, heightened sense or awareness of the phenomenon.

Over the years I've had numerous pets, primarily dogs and cats. After going through a divorce which left me responsible for a house full of dogs and cats, I had three different experiences of knowing that three particular pets were about to die and how they would die. This sense of knowing comes in very quick images or flashes of images that I see in my mind.

Not all of my precognition is about death, thank goodness! An entertaining example occurred after I had worked in a middle school where my niece and nephew were students. By the time this story takes place, my niece was about to graduate from high school. She'd been in the band since sixth grade. This was to be the final concert before graduation. At the door a band booster was selling raffles tickets. I almost didn't buy one, but at the last moment before heading into the auditorium I bought a ticket. The prize would be to conduct the concert band for one number in the evening's performance.

Our family headed inside, sat down and waited for the concert to begin. During that wait I felt strongly that I had to prepare..... for those who read this and say it's all power of suggestion, you've never experienced this sort of clear compelling sense about something that is going to happen. I could see it. I could hear exactly what was going to happen: I knew my name would be drawn and that I would be the one conducting the band on stage. As we waited I read through the selections on the program and settled on a march as the one I'd have to conduct. Sure enough, that IS exactly what happened. I felt as if I were in a dream state! I made no attempt to follow the score on the music stand in front of me. I have no idea what the name of the march was, but I directed the band as if I knew the orchestral score, even the entrances for the various instruments. Though I learned to read music while studying piano as a child, I know little about reading an orchestral score!

Another type of paranormal experience I've came when I visited a couple of places for the first time. I had a strong sense of having lived there some time in the past..... this sense of having lived there is not the same as one experiences when visiting somewhere that's familiar because you've studied it a lot. My first visit to Paris and also to New Orleans had this quality. I've never had the same feeling visiting any other city for the first time. It's difficult to put into words what it felt like.... so familiar, like I was home.

Perhaps that's enough for now! I rarely share my experiences of precognition with other people because I can't explain them and am cautious because I don't know how my experiences would be received.