Yeah. I can't even tell where the truth ends and lies begin. After that notion, I just gave up watching reality television. Lol.
Yeah. I can't even tell where the truth ends and lies begin. After that notion, I just gave up watching reality television. Lol.
Some are real and some are not just like with anything in life. Some get paid a lot of money for giving someone a reading but that does not always mean they are fakes. Sometimes that is how they make their living is giving reading for those whom want to speak to their departed ones. Nothing wrong with that as long as you are a honest person giving the reading. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowCrayola
Thought some of you find the following article interesting. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4271018.stmThe survey mentioned in the article: http://www.freeresponse.org/muobe2005/Quote:
One in 10 people has had an out-of-body experience, yet scientists know very little about the phenomenon. Researchers say a new study could bring us closer to the ultimate question of what happens when we die.
Out-of-body experiences involve a sensation of floating and seeing the physical body from the outside. They are often a symptom of the near-death experience, where people, whilst apparently dead, experience visions, tunnels of light and a feeling of peace, before being resuscitated.
These experiences are reported across many cultures and "experiencers" often cite them as life-changing events. Preliminary studies have shown that certain populations are more susceptible. Among students, for example, the incidence of out-of-body experiences (OBE) rises to 25%.
A team of scientists at the University of Manchester aims to study profile those who have and haven't had OBEs. Using an online questionnaire on body perceptions and experience, they aim to isolate differences between these groups. The survey will also gather details on the different kinds of OBEs people have, to categorise these experiences more precisely.
"There are several theories as to why people have OBEs," says David Wilde, the researcher running the project. "A common link between them is the idea that in certain circumstances the brain somehow loses touch with sensory information coming in from the body. This triggers a series of psychological mechanisms which can lead to someone having an OBE."
"It's a little bit like if you sleep on your arm and lose sensation in it. Only with an OBE, the sensation loss is in the whole body and the brain's response seems to be to create a feeling of separation from the self."
"In this study we aim to take the theory a stage further, by looking at the way people see and experience their bodies, and how - through perfectly ordinary psychological processes - these images and experiences may create the impression of seeing their bodies from the outside."
It isn't rare for people to have more than one OBE, and they may also occur as part of the wider near-death experience (NDE) some report experiencing in life-threatening circumstances.
Mr Wilde is at pains to stress that he doesn't judge whether OBEs are real.
"If someone has had an experience, then we take that as real. We can't disprove or prove anything."
A different research approach comes from Dr Sam Parnia, who studies OBEs as part of his interest in near-death experiences. He is looking at reports of OBEs from cardiac arrest patients. He is conducting a national study, looking at physical factors that might cause this experience.
Reports of OBEs and NDEs are often simply anecdotal, but the hospital environment allows Sam Parnia to monitor and compare oxygen, carbon dioxide and salt levels in the patients who did and did not have either experience.
His study also involves a novel method of testing if the "self" actually does leave the body during an OBE. Sam has suspended boards below the ceiling and these have images on the upper side. The idea is that if people do look down from above, they may recall the extra information. As yet, no patients have reported seeing these images.
Whether these phenomena are visions of a dying brain or paranormal activity, Dr Parnia says science needs to offer an explanation of what happens when we die.
"I think that NDEs hold the key to finally solving this mystery. In studying them further we will be able to discover the true nature of the relationship between the mind and the brain and answer the wider questions regarding the existence of an afterlife."
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To Scheherazade's very informed article on the "out of body" experience, I will only add this. There are those who feel that they can do this at will, they need no "near death" experience to cause it. My advice from personal experiments as a wild teenager is leave things alone that you do not understand. It is far safer and much less likely to give you a good scare! I think that sometimes the unexplained is better off remaining unexplained. I have had several "ghostly" encounters, some which I can explain, some which I cannot, and some which I'm not certain I want to know. My son goes with a young lady whose house is haunted. He came home the other evening with his face scratched after making a snide remark about the ghost. My son is an ultra-skeptic, but he'll swear to this. Can I explain it? I'm not even going to try. :eek: :eek: :confused:
Thank you ancestor and Pendragon. Very interesting. Did you know that King David did something similar in that he would ask his soul what was wrong when he suffered deep depression and then he would share his feelings with God. After God comforted him and spoke to his heart David would bring out what he had learned and put it into a poem. Beautiful.
It does matter what you tell yourself. I remember being in despair about something that was going on and on and I felt like I was dying inside. One of my sons took me aside(he was always so wise since a baby) and told me to reconsider using the words I was using.He said if I kept speaking that to my soul I would succumb to it and then I remembered the scripture that said " the power of life and death is in your words"
I didn't feel any better but I began to speak different words to my soul such as " I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me" , things such as that.
It still took time but the situation greatly improved and I was able to see it from a different perspective and not let it devestate me.
Logos thank you for that information. I feel distressed at the misinformation floating about in the atmosphere causing undue stress and antagonism and well prejudice.
Ancestor I just have to say that I love your name. Kind of makes me feel like you are family somehow.
"Do you know why" Peter asked "swallows build nests in the eaves of houses?" It is to listen to the stories." Peter Pan
No worries; it does not seem a question 'out of the blue,' but very much related to this thread. No, I do not believe in such psychics on television or telephone. Now and then, I have felt tempted to call them on the telephone, and ask them my name, date of birth, etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowCrayola
When something seems so unknown and unproven, such as the existence of ghosts, I think, it makes situations much easier to imagine. In the 1800's and early 1900's, and long before then, no one knew what the moon consisted of, but astronomers thought it looked a lot like cheese, so they assumed the moon consisted of a blue cheese. Because ghosts might exist does not always imply several people can have communication (maybe some, if they exist), much less for a paycheck.
Interesting article, Scher, thanks. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I had a post-operative patient, whose surgery I witnessed, while 'X' had general anesthesia. After the procedure, 'X' woke in a perfectly healthy manner, while we transferred 'X' to the general medical-surgical area, after of which I was 'X's nurse.
After 'X' had fully recovered from the anesthesia, 'X' told me of a very similar experience, reporting feeling above the operating table, watching us, and even explaining some of the conversations we had among the surgeons, anesthesiologist, and nurses. I thought this very interesting, and remained very skeptical, but, of course, did not tell 'X' that. Anesthesia can do some strange things; sometimes patients wake slightly, remain numb, but still have the dizzy, confusing effect of the drug. I thought that interesting, anyway, and did not want to intrude on 'X's beliefs.
oh my, much enthusiasm in this thread. i can't add more because i haven't spent that much time researching about paranormal stuff, but magic and ghost stories always fascinate me. whether they're true or not does not concern me. do tell more! :D
Such an interesting topic and this is why much enthusiasm has been spent in this thread (hi underground ;) ). Many of you have given your interesting ideas that I see some existing in me also :cool: !
Well anyway I less believe in Ghosts than believe in Souls. I have never ever in my life seen a ghost (except in movies :)), yet about the soul, I mean what we can feel by our hearts, yea, I think it exists somehow somewhere in our hearts. For example, as we deeply think of our loved departed ones or as we are in a deep memory of them, it's like their souls are beside us at the time or always...well it's not easy to describe for me...but that's what I have sensed as I recall my loved departed ones who have been so so dear to my soul.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rachel
You are welcome and I feel we are all family here since doing genealogy I have found many connections to other people I never knew. Glad though that we both helped answer your question. ;)
Anytime and everytime, Rachel. And now you know why I write poetry and songs! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by rachel
I only believe in religious ghosts. Lol. :D
Quote:
Originally Posted by YellowCrayola
What do you mean by religious ghosts? :confused:
Like, hmm, let's see... Religious ghosts as in ghostly apparitions pertaining to Christian figures. An example was that incident where the Virgin Mary appeared atop the roof a church in Zeitun, Egypt. I believed that one.
Thanks, I was not sure if that was what you meant so thank you for clarifying yourself. :) May I ask why only those kinds of spirits that you believe in? Hope that is not too personal of a question and if so forgive me.
Nah, no problem. Well, I was told by my parents that there are no such things as ghosts. I was told that if I do see any of them, they're in dire need of prayer so they can go to heaven, since they're stuck in purgatory (Catholic view). So that's why I only believe in those kinds of spirits, mainly because of my religion. I hope I explained enough. :)