Posts by Elizabeth Castillo87

casualtiger2 said:If the Theosophists cherry-picked bits from traditional systems—mixed them up, then reassembled them—then Castaneda (and a lot of today's trendy spiritual writers) likely pulled heavily from Theosophy (specifically those "spherical, egg-shaped auras"). Just look at the illustrations in the book by C. Leadbeater—
"Man, Visible and Invisible" (Aura, images).

Like I said, I haven't studied it much. It's all Greek to me. Does that mean the etheric body is anything other than the physical level?

Take a look at the diagram. The physical plane is split into seven sub-levels—solid matter, liquid, gas, and four etheric sub-layers.
After that comes the emotional layer, or the astral plane (which is also broken down into seven sub-levels...).
As for chakras, they're described as transformers—basically conduits that funnel energy from higher levels (astral, mental, etc.) down into the etheric, or physical, body.
Here’s a good visual of the chakras and their corresponding nadis (those energy flows between them).

You’ve got a point there. Thanks for the heads-up.
But honestly, what’s wild about Don Juan is how he talks about that egg being this grayish color... which is pretty much exactly what I’ve been seeing myself.

Take a look at this diagram. The physical plane is split into seven sub-layers—solid matter, liquid, gas, and then those four ET sub-layers.
After that, you hit the emotional level, or the astral plane (which also breaks down into seven sub-layers...).
When it comes to chakras, they're basically described as transformers, pulling energy from those higher levels (astral, mental, etc.) and funneling it down into the ET, or physical body.
Here’s a decent visual breakdown of the chakras and their corresponding nadis (those energy channels connecting them).

Interesting. I didn't study the diagram too closely because my German isn't exactly up to par, sorry! But I still see chakras when I look at people and then close my eyes—they always look like these spinning little vortices that turn purple, or if they stop spinning, they turn black. With little kids, they show up as blue.
Anyway, we drifted away from the ET body. So, is that essentially just the energetic shell surrounding our physical self? Is that what people call an aura?

casualtiger2 said:Generally speaking, I’m skeptical of just about everything.
Like I’ve mentioned before—and I'll say it again—Theosophical ideas are interesting enough, but that doesn't mean I buy them as absolute truth (even if they feel intuitively logical sometimes).
Some of what's written there does align with things I've actually dealt with.

Specifically, there have been several times where something—call it matter, call it energy, whatever—has detached from my body and drifted toward someone else. When that substance hits them, I get a reaction—physical or verbal—from people sensing they were touched. Even if they had their backs turned to me or were looking away (it’s happened in public places with total strangers, too).
A few times, I've actually seen this energy as a hazy mist moving from me toward the person—and the second it makes contact, they react.

By the way, Theosophists consider the etheric level/body to be an integral part of the physical plane.
And Samkhya—which Yoga draws from partially—splits the world into Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha is consciousness/spirit, while Prakriti is matter (and by "matter," they'd include everything beyond the first level—basically everything besides physically defined matter and will, love, thoughts, and emotions).

I’ve had some pretty similar experiences myself. Honestly, though, what I went through feels way more aligned with how Don Juan describes seeing auras as these glowing spheres or egg-like shapes—you know, that whole Castaneda vibe. It doesn't really click with the stuff you hear in Eastern spirituality, though I'll admit I haven't spent nearly as much time digging into that side of things.

By the way, you've got those theosophists claiming that the etheric level—or the etheric body, if you want to get technical—is actually just a fundamental part of the physical plane. Is that even possible? It’s like they think the two are totally inseparable.
So, look, Samkhya—which is basically the backbone of most yoga stuff we talk about—splits the entire universe into two big camps: Purusha and Prakriti. Think of Purusha as pure consciousness or the spirit, the "observer" sitting in the back of the room. Then you’ve got Prakriti, which is everything else. And when I say "everything else," I don't just mean physical matter like bricks and mortar. We're talking about the whole messy spectrum: your willpower, your capacity to love, your thoughts, those wild emotions that hit you out of nowhere... all of it. It's basically the "stuff" of existence versus the thing that's actually watching it happen. Makes sense, right? Or does it just make things more complicated?

Look, like I said, I haven't really dug deep into this yet. It’s all Greek to me at this point. Does this mean the etheric body is basically anything *except* the physical plane? Or am I just totally lost?

So, tell me, casualtiger2, do you actually buy into this whole thing about an ethereal body and those other five non-physical layers?

Learning is actually pretty damn fun when you’re actually into the subject matter.
But honestly? You really have to sit yourself down and ask: is this even the right path for you?
If you’re already pulling your hair out and struggling this hard—and you haven't even truly gotten started yet—I don't know, man... it might not be too late to just pivot to something else entirely.🙂

Love is everything, man. It’s the whole damn deal, woven into every single thing we do. It’s just that the word itself feels a little worn out lately, isn't it? I think we’ve all been brainwashed by too many cheesy Hollywood rom-coms trying to sell us a version of it that doesn't actually exist in the real world.

I mean, I kind of find myself nodding along with Nancy Wilson2 on this one—there’s no such thing as "old souls" versus "young souls." It’s really just about where you sit on the consciousness scale. If we’re all fundamentally one big entity in the end, then we’ve gotta be the same age, right? I know, I know... but isn't time itself just a relative concept anyway? Once you move past this rigid 3D perception we're stuck in, the whole idea of aging probably becomes totally irrelevant.

I honestly think we need to watch out so we don't get totally played by this endless chase for some impossible, cinematic ideal—you know, the kind that doesn't actually exist? If we aren't careful, we'll end up overlooking the person standing right in front of us who is actually perfect for us at this exact moment.
Look, I’m a believer in soulmates, really, I am. But maybe in this crazy world, those soulmate connections show up as best friends instead of romantic partners? Who's to say?

Charles Reed2 said:I’m completely against that whole idea—honestly, my dreams are the only place where things actually work out. It’s nothing like the mess I deal with in real life. In my sleep, everything just flows, but it's always some bizarre, disconnected world wrapped up in this thick, mystical atmosphere. It's such a massive contrast to my actual daily grind, which is just incredibly dull and monotonous. In reality, nothing ever goes right for me—it’s like there’s some invisible force constantly pulling the strings, just refusing to let me do what I actually want to do. Sometimes it feels like I’m nothing more than a puppet on a string, just being jerked around by whoever is calling the shots behind the scenes. It’s a damn shame I rarely get to dream, because that’s the only time I feel like I’m actually in control.

Look, I don’t buy that whole "dreams come from the subconscious" line for a second—there’s way more going on than just some psychological leftover. If you haven't actually sat down and read Carlos Castaneda’s *Dreaming*, then you're missing the entire picture. His teacher, Don Juan, makes it pretty clear: some of this stuff is tied directly to the spirit—we're talking actual messages—while other parts might just be pure fantasy or even entirely different realms of existence. Some of these worlds mirror our own, sure, but others? They are completely beyond anything our current reality can even wrap its head around. And let’s be real—you aren't just going to stumble into these other dimensions by accident. To actually perceive them and consciously navigate through different layers of the universe, you need real, foundational knowledge. You need someone to actually guide you through that landscape, and honestly, it takes years of relentless, disciplined practice to get anywhere.

The thing is, once you achieve lucidity in a dream, you suddenly have access to tools that just don't exist in the waking world. We aren't shackled by matter anymore.

I don't buy the whole "dreams come from the subconscious" thing for a second. There's way more to it than that. If you haven't read Carlos Castaneda, do yourself a favor and pick it up. His mentor, Don Juan, argues that certain things are tied to the spirit—they're messages, essentially—while other stuff might just be pure fantasy or even actual alternate dimensions. Some of those worlds are almost like ours, while others are completely beyond anything our human brains can wrap itself around. Of course, if you actually want to be able to perceive these things and consciously travel to other parts of the universe, you need specific knowledge. You need someone to guide you through that realm and years upon years of relentless practice.

I actually started reading Castaneda after I went through some experiences that neither psychoanalysis nor cognitive neuroscience could explain away.
I don't know, though... maybe I just lacked that mentor to walk me through the experience.

So, are you actually buying into that whole theory that dreams are strictly just leftovers from the subconscious, like some psychological junk mail with no other possible origin? I mean, seriously, what about lucid dreaming? Doesn't that flip the whole script on its head?

bluemason3 said:Sexual arousal isn't Kundalini, even if there’s a connection there. You can certainly manipulate sexuality to trigger it, but in any normal day-to-day scenario—including sex—Kundalini usually stays dormant. I wouldn't recommend messing around with this at all, especially if you think you can just wing it. Honestly, the negative outcomes tend to outweigh the positives. Of course, that assumes we're looking at this through the lens of Kundalini theory rather than seeing it as a psychological issue caused by suppressing sexuality or other similar mechanisms. Awakening Kundalini through specific physical exercises often sits right between extreme asceticism and suppression on one hand, and ecstatic, over-emotional spirituality on the other. In any case, you risk a massive "shaking" of the nervous system, creating intense Vata imbalances. It can get dangerous fast if you don't know what you're doing, lack a solid foundation, or don't have the right guidance, environment, and support systems in place.

While any spiritual practice carries a risk of triggering this process—and it can happen spontaneously or due to chaotic life events without any warning—I don't see any reason to force it. Not unless you have a broad, clear perspective on what you're actually doing and access to decent guidance.

But seriously, where the hell are you supposed to find that kind of leadership?
When things just happen spontaneously, they can become a massive burden if you don't have someone showing you the ropes. The problem is, the market is flooded with "experts" promising everything under the sun, but somehow, nothing ever seems to come for free.😁

Honestly, I’m having the exact opposite experience. In my dreams, everything is totally dialed in—things go down exactly how I want them to without breaking a sweat—but once I wake up to reality? Man, life requires way too much actual effort. Have you ever messed around with lucid dreaming? It’s actually pretty wild; there’s a whole bunch of stuff you can pick up, and eventually, your subconscious stops hijacking the dream because you finally step up and take the wheel.

I’ve been spiraling down this rabbit hole lately, just wondering about the actual distinction between what people call self-actualization and what they label as enlightenment. You know, some authors out there—and honestly, even some of the folks hanging out in these threads—seem to lump them together like they’re two sides of the same coin. But I don't know... is it really? Am I crazy, or does it feel like we’re talking about two completely different beasts altogether?

electrictinker26 said:I see where you're coming from. What I don't quite grasp is whether you view yourself as being "serious" when someone tells you, "you did this," or even when I say, "I will do this." I mean, while you are in this state of being a functional ego—much like I am, an individual with my own distinct personality, emotions, and actions. Is it possible for you to move from the ego into pure consciousness by choice? Can you actually distinguish between the ego and pure consciousness while still operating within that ego state?

Lately, when I sit down to meditate, I’m not even chasing the big stuff anymore. I’m just aiming for some basic inner peace. Honestly, merging with cosmic consciousness is something that’ll happen eventually—it’s inevitable, right? It’s not like you can dodge it forever. But man, let me tell you, the moment you drift away from that pure consciousness? It is indescribably painful. It’s like a physical ache. If we made the conscious choice to stick around in this world by clinging to our egos, then we basically signed the contract to separate ourselves from that pure state. We chose the ego, so we get the separation. Simple as that, isn't it?

nimblewolf11 said:If we're talking about the same thing (or something close to it, anyway), then yes—exactly. A little while back, I found myself struggling with a similar kind of "problem" after losing my connection to that "consciousness." It’s not even dependent on your individual ego or sense of self because it exists entirely outside those personal boundaries. It's like all those internal and external frameworks, experiences, objects, or values you used to care about or tie yourself to... they just vanish.

I have to say, it is a truly ugly experience. Nothing else can fill that sudden "void" left behind. Because of that, your motivation for doing everyday, mundane stuff hits rock bottom.

If this is indeed what it is (that certain eternal consciousness), I'm not quite sure how mysticism even fits into the equation. The reality of it seems so simple that calling it "mystical" feels almost misplaced. Who knows?

Quincy:

So, there you have it—even when someone wants a continuous flow of pure awareness, it isn't really up to them! Plus, there's so much logistical stuff that has to be aligned just to stay in the body while simultaneously enjoying their samadhi. Someone has to look after them, bring them food, do their laundry, pay the bills... they basically have to become a bit of a parasite! So, they end up drifting a little bit here and there... assuming, of course, they can successfully leap from this ordinary world into pure consciousness whenever they desire.🙂

That is absolutely true (especially regarding physical upkeep). At that point, the person isn't really a "person" anymore—they might just look like one on the outside. Anchored in the unchanging, they can clearly distinguish true reality from everything else, whatever that may be...
so they don't really care who looks after their physical body or not. When they're ready, they can simply sever the link with the body.

Ever get that sudden, desperate urge to just ditch everything? Like, pack up and vanish into the middle of nowhere because you know deep down you've got enough wild berries, fresh water, and sunshine to keep you breathing? You just want to soak in that cosmic consciousness and leave the chaos behind. Why does that sound so much better than reality?

Quincy:

If this "cosmic consciousness" thing is actually what it’s cracked up to be, then I honestly don't see why we even bother dragging mysticism into the conversation. Like, really? It feels like we're overcomplicating something that's fundamentally straightforward. Calling it "mystical" just makes it sound all heavy and esoteric, when in reality, the concept itself is so simple it barely deserves the label. Is it just me, or does adding all that mystical fluff just get in the way of the actual truth? I don't know. Maybe I'm just being cynical, but it feels unnecessary.

We basically slap the label "mystic" on anything that makes our puny little brains short-circuit. It’s our go-to catch-all for anything too weird, too deep, or just plain impossible for us to wrap our heads around, right?

Quincy:

Look, I’m telling you, this is the absolute truth when it comes to maintaining the body. That guy? He isn't even a "person" anymore. Not really. On the outside, sure, he looks like one of us, but deep down? He’s completely anchored. He can see through all the noise and clearly distinguish true reality from everything else that’s just... well, whatever this mess is. So, basically, he’s just sitting there playing mind games with himself, wondering if anyone’s actually going to step up and take responsibility for his physical existence. It's wild, right? He’s got this whole idea that he's in total control of the connection between his soul and his skin—like, if he feels like pulling the plug on that bond, he just can. He thinks he can just sever the link whenever he damn well pleases. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Exactly. Honestly, who gives a damn about the physical body when your needs are basically zero? Once you tap into that cosmic consciousness, health just kind of follows suit as a byproduct. But here’s the kicker—can you really just check out on everyone else? Can you just stop giving a damn about your surroundings or the people who might actually be counting on you? Is it even possible for a person to stay locked in that gorgeous state of heightened awareness while remaining completely untouched by the chaos of the real world?
Eternal really nailed it with this one. He’s out here acknowledging his ego like it’s just some normal part of being human, while simultaneously looking right through it—seeing it for exactly what it is: nothing more than a gorgeous little illusion. Isn't that just wild?

electrictinker26 said:As someone who considers themselves semi-enlightened, I imagine you work quite a bit with your "self." Do you identify with it directly, or do you observe it as something separate—like an Uber-self or some other version of "I"? Or perhaps you just find peace in pure consciousness. Is there ever a need to deny the self? Then again, it would be YOU doing the denying, or at least a part of you. For my part, I tend to view us as pure consciousness and love; that’s how I describe it because it’s when I feel most relaxed and secure with myself whenever the question of "who am I, really?" starts to get confusing.

Look, I’m not an enlightened person. I’ve said that a million times already. Sure, I’ve had those moments where I experienced pure consciousness—those times where the ego basically dissolves into nothingness—but eventually, I started putting it back together. Why? Because if everything is just one big illusion, then this specific illusion is actually pretty beautiful and holds its own weight. There are real people in here who might not get much out of us just merging into a single cosmic consciousness. That feeling of perfection is incredible; it's this state where you don't feel the urge to change a single thing or do anything at all because everything is just... perfect. Exactly as it is. But then, you either go full hermit in the desert, or you look around and see people you actually give a damn about—you see kids looking to you for actual, tangible things—and suddenly you're caught in a massive tug-of-war. So, you end up choosing your "self" all over again. You make the choice while simultaneously watching yourself make it. But once you've made that call? That constant, overwhelming sense of bliss and perfection fades. What's left is just living out the life you chose.

Daniel Castillo11 said:I suspect that for those wandering the spiritual path, the technicalities of whether the Self is eternal, enduring, or merely fleeting are actually secondary concerns. What truly matters is the practical dilemma: once I am confronted with this "Self," what am I supposed to do with it? Or more fundamentally, "who am I?" and "what am I?" We don't really need a collection of discursive theories or conceptual frameworks to address this; rather, we need the direct experience that arises from embodying the mystery—living fully within the present moment that the question itself points toward. These inquiries are essentially just triggers. Even practicing mindfulness, whether one uses a mantra or stays silent, doesn't inherently settle the heavy questions like "does the human soul exist?" or "is there life after death?" Personal experience alone isn't quite enough to provide a definitive answer to those cosmic mysteries, though it serves as an excellent catalyst for asking them and for expanding our awareness in every direction. Maintaining that sense of openness is the absolute prerequisite for achieving a truly holistic perception.

Even if we consider the possibility that the Self is simply a sophisticated illusion manufactured by the brain—a sort of hyper-symbol or a "memeplex," as Susan Blackmore describes it—we are still left staring at the profound mystery of that very Self as it manifests through our embodied experience in the here and now.

I've gathered a few articles on the subject that might interest you:

http://garynini.com/ist-trasicorr.htm
http://garynini.com/ist-koan.htm
http://www.focusing.org/gendlin/gol_all_focusing.asp
http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/Chapters/awaken.html

Personally, I feel like the whole debate about whether the SELF is permanent or just passing through is just as important for everyone else, not just the "spiritual seekers." Just as much as it is to figure out what to do with that "I" once you realize it's there.
Once someone has that personal breakthrough, they hit a level where those old questions don't even matter anymore. The real choice is whether they want to stay in that headspace or... well, like Sandra Morgan2 once pointed out, what's the actual payoff for the individual? In the end, we all have to make a call: do we ditch the ego entirely and go live like hermits in the desert, or do we just get smart about it, take the reins, and actually enjoy the ride?

You hit the nail on the head here:

Being open is the absolute baseline if you want to see the full picture.

Drew Gray4 said:Benjamin Taylor6, haha, look at that—I guess I just happened to land on the exact same points by pure coincidence. And no, I haven't actually read your threads or posts, truly. :-) Regardless, I believe helping people through financial support is vital; I do what I can whenever the opportunity arises, especially participating in charity drives for sick children, though that’s not really the focus here. It’s all quite minor to me because I only give from my surplus, much like the biblical story of the widow offering her two small coins. I don't view it as some grand achievement that warrants any kind of glorification.

What truly matters is that we, as a civilization, forge a better future through a spiritual path and advance our collective consciousness. What good is a billionaire living in a skyscraper if he’s so miserable that he’s looking for a window to jump out of? Similarly, through some side work I used to do, I had the chance to enter some incredibly impoverished homes, yet they were filled with such laughter and sense of community that I was left absolutely stunned... it was beautiful. There was nothing like that in my own household.

Regarding material wealth, I have witnessed some truly paradoxical situations. You see people with several million dollars sitting in their bank accounts, yet they are popping antidepressants and losing sleep because they are terrified of losing it all—worried about market crashes or the collapse of the European Union. They are paralyzed by indecision over where to invest or what to do; the anxiety literally eats them alive. Then you have the opposite extreme: people who have nothing to eat and no jobs, which leads them to the exact same level of suffering...

It reminds me of that old tale about the Emperor searching for happiness, only for a wise man to tell him he would find it once he put on a poor man's shirt... only for the punchline to be that the man is naked and has no shirt to give. 🙂

I see you've reached 10,000 posts and are incredibly active on this forum; it’s great to see that. Personally, I’ve never felt the urge to write excessively, but with this thread, I simply wanted to share my feelings and reflections—things I felt were too important to just keep to myself.

It’s really cool of you to open up and share something so beautiful with us. 🙂

Honestly, it’s about time we shook out all that toxic crap we’ve been carrying around. Since things like Yoga and meditation are basically designed for that exact purpose—finding some semblance of inner peace to flush out the poison—it feels pretty spot on to bring it up here.😍

Angela Cox4 said:So, I had this wild dream where two people showed up to visit me. It was right at the end of the day, just as the sun was starting to dip below the horizon. I had this intense feeling like I had some kind of duty I absolutely had to fulfill, but one of them kept messing with my head—trying to break my focus. I can’t tell if they were doing it on purpose or what, but right at the tail end of the dream, just as I snapped awake, there it was. In the pitch black of the hallway, I saw this... thing. This creature made of pure light, waving these weird little tentacles toward my eyes. Honestly, I freaked the hell out and just shoved it away. Even though it didn't look like it was trying to hurt me, I've heard too many stories from other people about why you shouldn't trust those kinds of entities—plus, the way it was hovering around my eyes and head felt way too invasive, so I reacted pretty aggressively.

What’s your take on all this?

Are the people we see in our dreams just projections of our own consciousness—just bits and pieces of our subconscious—or is there something much deeper going on here?

Yeah, based on documented cases, that thin line between dreaming and being awake is a massive trigger for spiritual experiences. Now, not everyone would label them "spiritual," and personally, I hate using terms like "paranormal" or "supernatural." Those words make it sound like these things aren't part of the natural order, and I don't believe anything exists that isn't natural. It's just unexplained.
From what I've gathered through my own experiences—mostly while dreaming—the golden rule is: don't let fear take the wheel.
But hey, now we're getting into the territory of lucid dreaming.🙂

urbanwalker72 said:The question feels somewhat too broad; I would need to examine specific instances of evidence and see how they align with their own logical premises before determining if I am even capable of providing an answer.

Calculations regarding multi-dimensional spaces are perfectly accurate within mathematics. Does that serve as proof of their existence? Or is mathematics not truly a science?

Mathematics exists as its own distinct realm, and a mathematical proof represents perhaps the highest level of evidentiary integrity the human mind has ever produced. It does not merely interface with physical reality, but weaves through the human psyche, philosophy, art, spirituality, and everything we perceive as being real.

Indeed, multi-dimensional spaces in a mathematical sense do exist; that has been established. However, I believe you are conflating this with physical multi-dimensional spaces, which remain unproven.

When a theorem is proven in mathematics, it does not inherently mandate its existence within our observable reality, even though such a correlation occurs frequently. When something is found to exist within the mathematical landscape, there is often a suggestion that we might encounter something similar in the physical world. This is quite natural, given that mathematics possesses a much richer tapestry of structures and quantities than our observable universe.

The profound and inexplicable bridge between mathematics and our physical reality remains one of the most significant mysteries the human intellect has ever grappled with. There are numerous hypotheses regarding this connection, such as:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathema...rse_hypothesis

This is a deeply complex subject that requires a certain degree of mathematical literacy—true understanding, really—and it winds extensively through the philosophy of mathematics.

If we wish to pursue this, we ought to move the discussion to the Philosophy or Pure Science boards, as we are drifting quite far off-topic here.

Fair point, we definitely drifted off-topic. I’ll give you this: math is the queen. But I’m not buying your idea that it sits above spirituality. Even the absolute math geniuses need inspiration to function. Honestly, I tend to lump scientific pioneers in with the pioneers of art. Both groups expand how we see the world, but art reaches a much wider audience and has such a huge impact on how we process cognition.

"Art speaks to that part of our being which is a gift, rather than an acquisition—and is therefore more enduring."
Joseph Conrad

Sandra Morgan2 said:I don't get this... 😕

Let me be clear: SOME fears are a blessing. Like when you feel that icy chill hit you because you see your kid leaning too far out a window and they might fall. That fear triggers an adrenaline surge from your adrenal glands, and suddenly you're moving like a panther, lunging toward that window to grab them in a split second.

Besides, why should we have to push through every single terrifying experience just to overcome it? Maybe, like I mentioned in my previous post, for certain "mystical" encounters, fear serves a legitimate purpose as a defense mechanism.

Take a woman I know—she had one isolated psychotic break where she completely lost it. She was talking nonsense, screaming, neglecting her hygiene, even trying to fight people close to her. She claimed she met Jesus and realized she was His wife.

Once things calmed down through therapy and medication, she actually became terrified of meditation (TM), which she used to do regularly before the episode. And honestly? She has reason to be afraid. For someone who is mentally fragile—someone with a genetic predisposition or a family history of psychosis and personality disorders—meditation can trigger depersonalization, derealization, or dissociative disorders, and therefore trigger a psychotic episode.

That’s why in Abrahamic traditions, where there are clearly defined archetypes of good and evil, you often see mystics—people whose records suggest they likely achieved enlightenment—who then go on to preach about hellish torments and divine judgment. The most obvious example is Saint Paul in the Christian tradition, who fundamentally steered Christianity.

Microsoft he wasn't self-aware...

It was likely, as neurologists suspect based on the symptom list, an aura from a full grand mal seizure in the temporal lobe.


Auditory hallucinations of divine voices, visions of divine figures, and physical collapse are all common elements of TLE (temporal lobe epilepsy), and they are especially common in documented cases of sudden religious conversion in people with temporal lobe epilepsy.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul described another experience, in which he was "caught up to paradise and heard sacred secrets which no human lips can repeat." He also claimed that he was "given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to rack me" to prevent him from becoming too prideful about his "wealth of visions." This story gives two important indications that Paul might have suffered from TLE: there is confirmation that he had recurring, if not frequent visions, and he had an awareness or perception of some illness in himself.

Fear is a hell of a thing, isn't it? It either forces you to scream your lungs out or just completely freezes you up right when you need to move, leaving your kid even more vulnerable than before. But honestly, between the raw instinct and that deep, unspoken love most people don't even want to talk about? Your reaction is basically set in stone. It’s like some kind of mathematical certainty. You can't fight it.
Here we go again—back in that weird, hazy territory where people claim they’ve had these massive spiritual breakthroughs. It’s one of those things you hear about constantly from moms who have been pushed right to the edge. You know the vibe: when your kid is in actual, life-or-death danger, something just... snaps. It’s like you suddenly step outside your own skin and start operating your body like some kind of high-precision machine. It doesn't even feel like *you* anymore; it feels like you're just a pilot in a suit. There are tons of stories out there documenting this exact phenomenon. The most legendary one? The story about a mother who somehow managed to lift an entire semi-truck just to get her trapped child out from underneath. I mean, come on. It completely flies in the face of every single law of physics we were taught in school, right? But when the adrenaline hits and the stakes are that high, who knows what's actually happening?
Even if you refuse to admit that stuff like this counts as a spiritual experience.

Quincy:

And besides that, why on earth should we feel obligated to run headfirst into every single terrifying experience just to try and conquer it? Like, seriously, what's the point? Maybe—and I might have touched on this briefly in my last post—but let's be real: for some of those "mystical" encounters, that fear isn't just some mental hurdle to jump over. It’s actually a legitimate survival instinct. Sometimes, fear is just your body telling you that something is genuinely wrong, and ignoring that isn't "spiritual growth," it's just plain reckless. Why push through it if the alarm bells are ringing for a reason?

Look, if an experience does nothing but trigger pure, unadulterated fear, why on earth would you go looking for it? Seriously, what’s the payoff? If it doesn't offer anything constructive, it's just dead weight. You gotta steer clear of that stuff—it's not going to do you any favors. Why invite the anxiety if there's zero upside?

Quincy:

So, I know this woman who went through this one massive, isolated psychotic break—and man, it was intense. She completely lost her grip on reality. We’re talking full-on nonsense, screaming at nothing, totally neglecting herself... she just stopped washing up entirely. It got pretty dark, too; she started picking fights with everyone close to her, just lashing out at her own people. And the kicker? In the middle of all that chaos, she genuinely believed she had a run-in with Jesus and walked away convinced she was actually His wife. Can you even imagine that kind of headspace?

Man, you really do know everybody, don't you? Your contact list must be absolutely massive.😍

urbanwalker72 said:Where exactly in bad science did you read that unverifiable claims can be made within the realm of science?

The entire book focuses on either pseudoscience or fundamental flaws in scientific methodology. Having read it twice myself, I haven't found a single instance where Goldacre identifies an unverifiable claim within established science. He certainly finds plenty of them within pseudoscience, however.

In my view, this stands as one of the essential texts for developing critical thinking skills.

In the sphere of human endeavor known as art, you can speak from the soul as much as you desire without any need for evidence, statistics, mathematics, verification, or laboratory testing; no one would think to check whether you are writing truth or mere fantasy in your book or poem...

😕 Art does not deal in claims. When a poet writes a verse or a painter produces a canvas, they are not presenting assertions regarding the truth of a thesis, but rather narratives—personal impressions. No one asks the Brothers Grimm to prove their fairy tales are real, because the author makes no such assertion. In art, stories are fictional by definition; they do not test a thesis for truth or falsehood.

A claim occurs when I ask you to lend me money based solely on a promise to repay it, without providing proof or collateral. A claim is made when I assert that the Virgin Mary appeared to me and demand your belief without evidence. A claim is made when I say aliens abducted me without proof. A claim is made when a prosecutor asserts I stole something without evidence.

Similarly, claims arise in philosophy and mathematics, yet in those fields, proofs are derived through logic.

So, let me get this straight—are you actually giving any credit to logic when it comes to idealistic philosophy, or is your brain strictly wired for nothing but materialism? Like, seriously, does anyone even bother with the "ideas first" crowd anymore, or have we all just collectively decided that if we can't touch it, weigh it, or shove it in a box, it basically doesn't exist? I mean, come on. Is there really any room for actual reasoning in those lofty, abstract theories, or is it all just smoke and mirrors to avoid facing the gritty, messy reality of the physical world? What do you think?
So, here’s a thought that’s been rattling around my brain all morning: just because the math behind multi-dimensional spaces works out perfectly on paper, does that actually mean those dimensions *exist*? Like, seriously. Is a flawless calculation some kind of cosmic receipt proving reality, or are we just playing a really high-stakes game of pretend? It makes you wonder... is mathematics even a science? Or is it just this incredibly elaborate, self-consistent language we built to keep ourselves from staring too long into the void? If the equations balance but there's nothing there to touch, what are we actually doing? Is it discovery, or just really intense pattern matching?