NDY, funny you should mention astral projection...been there done that as well. Totally agree with you that it is scary. When I was younger I didn't even realize what was happening and I wandered out of my room and was standing at the top of the stairs looking down them and then realized my body was still in bed and dashed back to it. The re-entry is a b*!ch though!

My aunt helped me make sense of what was going on back then, including the time it happened after the top of the stairs moment when it felt as though something was actually trying to pull me out of my body and it was trying to use my grandmother as a way of getting to me.

Occasionally I still feel it almost happening...but back then my aunt had suggested to ward off the evil spirits and imps by keeping salt by my bedside (helps to put some along the entrances to the room too - windows and doors - something about them not being willing to cross it) and a dish of water under the foot of my bed (changing the water daily) which is also supposed to trap them should they attempt to hijack me. So she says anyway. It certainly hasn't hurt to do. I also have a bundle of sage that I have burned to help cleanse the house of them.

Similar stuff happens to my mom too though not as often as I've dealt with it.

I have had no experiences verifiable by science, but the "knack" runs in my mother's family. I don't find it particularly frightening, just like gravity it is something that affects me that I cannot see only feel. Many skeptics say we have no scientific proof of ghosts, and this is true. However, the weight of anecdotal evidence is impressive. And while I believe the majority of so-called encounters can be explained through science or common sense, not all of them can be. So I come down on the side of skeptical belief if that makes sense.

That said, I hope never to see a full body apparition. My other experiences were sufficiently freaky!!!

I should mention that I find a simple prayer and a sage smudge the most helpful basic tools in dispelling fear or anxiety related to the unseen. Anything we believe protects us makes us feel more secure, and that makes us stronger, so if you prefer one method over another, go for it.

Salt and water are believed to be purifying, like fire, which may be why the unseen respect boundaries made of them. I personally am a amateur geology nut so I like to use stones with certain connotations. My mother prefers herbs. Mom and I both like incense. My husband mostly pays no attention LOL.

Very interesting thread!

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

Morning,

Years ago I took a psychology class and was lucky to have an excellent teacher. His points about people seeing and feeling what they expect was illustrated one day by two simple experiments. He had a board with a maze made out of nails wired together that he plugged into the wall. (Before you ask... yes it had some sort of a step down transformer or rheostat to limit the current, I don’t remember which ). He asked for volunteers and allowed one to practice moving a steel wand though the maze, the others stood in the hall. After a few practice runs with the volunteer getting shocked when a nail was touched he blind folded her. He then reached down and unplugged the machine. The girl tried to navigate the maze and each time she touched a nail she jumped and said ow..then OW. He then showed her the plug on the floor and asked her what she felt. She assured us that she felt shocked. I watched as two more volunteers thought they were being shocked. He did make his point about feelings.
On another day the subject was what we see... Just then the door burst open, a woman runs in and starts yelling about his being married and having an affair with her teen age daughter. She reached in her purse, pulled a gun and shot him (with a blank). He fell to the floor and she ran out of the room. He got up... said this is an exam... and asked us to get out paper and pens. First question... approximate age of the woman? What was she wearing, a dress or slacks and a top? What colors? Was she blonde, brunette or red head, what kind of a bag did she carry, what type of shoes and their color?... I think out of 30 students he got two descriptions that were close. Again he proved a point, most of us saw what we wanted to see, not necessarily what was there. (An interesting side note is that in a court of law the eye witness is the most damning evidence that can be provided... but how accurate is it? Under stress we pay very little attention to details because we focus on the event). I have to say that again he proved a point. Lets just say that now I do see things a bit differently and think feelings do have a place. At the same time I give them less weight than some might.

NDY HELP... DS has gone crazy... please delete a few of these!

NDY HELP... DS has gone crazy... please delete a few of these!

NDY HELP... DS has gone crazy... please delete a few of these!

NDY HELP... DS has gone crazy... please delete a few of these!

NDY HELP... DS has gone crazy... please delete a few of these!

wag - the first point your teacher made was merely a "Pavlov's dog" experiment.

From wikipedia:

I. P. Pavlov provided the original and most famous example of classical conditioning. During his research on the physiology of digestion in dogs, Pavlov noticed that, rather than simply salivating in the presence of food, the dogs began to salivate in the presence of the lab technician who normally fed them. Pavlov called this anticipatory salivation psychic secretion. From this observation he predicted that, if a particular stimulus in the dog's surroundings was present when the dog was given food, then this stimulus would become associated with food and cause salivation on its own. In his initial experiment, Pavlov used a bell to call the dogs to their food and, after a few repetitions, the dogs started to salivate in response to the bell.[4] Pavlov called the bell the conditioned (or conditional) stimulus (CS) because its effect depended on its association with food. He called the food the unconditioned stimulus (US) because its effect did not depend on previous experience. Likewise, the response to the CS was the conditioned response (CR) and that to the US was the unconditioned response (UR).

As noted earlier, it is often thought that the conditioned response is a replica of the unconditioned response, but even Pavlov noted that saliva produced by the CS differs in composition from that produced by the US. In fact, the CR may be any new response to the previously neutral CS that can be clearly linked to experience with the conditional relationship of CS and US.[5] [6] It was also thought that repeated pairings are necessary for conditioning to emerge, however many CRs can be learned with a single trial as in fear conditioning and taste aversion learning.


As for the second point, it is true that when a sudden event occurs, our minds often cannot take in too much in the way of observation. We do tend to shut down in a sense, in order for us to deal with the impact of what it happening, like in the cases of witnessing a crime or other traumatic event. There have been studies to prove that as well.

I honestly don't think either apply to the supernatural stuff we're talking about here, but that's just me.