Posts by Nancy Wilson2

Honestly, you’re overmystifying this to an absurd degree, and frankly, it’s a bit much. Whether you call it the unconscious or prefer the term power of your subconscious—if you really want to lean into that terminology—we are simply talking about cognitive processes within the brain that we aren't actively aware of. This represents the vast majority of our mental landscape; the conscious part of the mind we actually experience is merely the tip of the iceberg, while the overwhelming bulk remains submerged beneath the surface. There isn't anything mystical about it—good grief, think about how many complex neurological functions are firing in your brain at this very second without you even noticing.

And regarding these "levels"... the term subconscious is actually technically incorrect, precisely because of that distinction. It implies a hierarchy—that there are distinct layers stacked above or below consciousness. In reality, there are no such tiers. It isn't a ladder; it’s all one single, unified mind. It’s just that the spotlight of our attention and awareness is focused on one tiny sliver of the wall—one minuscule fragment of who we actually are.

True, but we aren't talking about the same God that Christians pray to. In fact, from a Christian perspective, this kind of New Age stuff is practically synonymous with Satanism. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Old Testament Yahweh—the one who merges with Jesus's God, the Father. So, the answer to your question remains what it is: if you're looking at this through a Christian lens, believing in something like this is a one-way ticket to eternal damnation. 😁

Justin Anderson3 said:The author treats God and the subconscious as two sides of the same coin—basically, God is that supreme intelligence we turn to when we need a hand, some guidance, or just a sign...
It’s the same story, really. Our subconscious is all-knowing; it carves out our reality. We tap into it by leaning on positive thoughts and beliefs to pull better experiences toward us.
In this "scientific prayer" concept, the author talks to God or the subconscious—whichever one feels right in the moment—whenever they need direction, a fix for a problem, or to nail down a specific goal.
It makes me wonder... what’s the actual distinction here? Is God one thing and the subconscious another, maybe dancing together in some kind of interaction, or is God actually just the subconscious itself😲?
And from a Christian perspective, is it considered wrong to pray to the subconscious instead of to God? 😕

Yes. Since the subconscious is essentially an extension of your conscious mind—and you are that mind—you would effectively be praying to YOURSELF.

In traditional Christianity, God isn't something residing within you, and He certainly isn't just your own spirit.
Though, if we look at it through the lens of Jesus, that becomes a much more complex discussion entirely.

The subconscious is essentially a collection of processes—various thoughts, memories, and similar mental patterns—that occur within those deeper layers of the mind. These layers remain inaccessible to our waking awareness, yet they exert a distinct influence over our conscious thoughts and actions. That being said, all of this constitutes the conscious mind (the spirit or soul) itself; whether we are consciously aware of a specific element or not is a mere technicality. Now, regarding the relationship between the "soul" and God, it really depends on your perspective. Is the soul simply God manifested within a living being, or is it something else entirely? If you hold the former view, then the answer is a resounding "yes"; if you subscribe to the latter, then the answer is "no." Generally speaking, though, it’s a matter of definition. You first need to establish exactly what you mean when using those terms.

They haven't actually proven anything with those results. The idea that spirit is deeply intertwined with matter—well, even a child knows that, and naturally, one influences the other. If they truly intend to prove something, I fear they’ll be forced to account for the full picture, which includes all those messy variables people seem so eager to ignore.

And then there are these experiments involving astronauts... what, are you suggesting that because they were subjected to high speeds and experienced light, it somehow validates the phenomenon? Well, guess what: that light and that experience weren't even remotely similar to what people report during an NDE. It’s like flying on a plane, landing, walking into a lab, having someone poke around in your brain until they induce hallucinations of floating in some void, and then having them claim your entire experience was just a hallucination caused by drinking too much coffee after you woke up. Or take the instances where they managed to make someone relive their entire life in an instant—that isn't EVEN REMOTELY akin to those holographic, three-dimensional experiences where one perceives everything happening and feels what others feel from every perspective simultaneously. No, I'm afraid things aren't nearly as simple as certain people would prefer them to be. I still need to see someone replicate EVERYTHING perfectly simply by stimulating specific parts of the brain. For now, we are still stuck at the level of my airplane analogy.

And urbanwalker72, don't bother responding to this. I really am not in the mood for a debate right now.

If a Satanist—someone who isn't even aware they fall under that label because they genuinely believe they are a Christian—goes around preaching about "real" spiritual matters, isn't that essentially pure Satanism, given that it doesn't stem from God?

This forum is truly fascinating. Honestly, I have to hand it to you. 🙏

Look, friend, just leave people alone to live their lives as they see fit, and go back to praying to your Yahweh in the heavens—the same deity who, according to the Bible, killed more people than the biblical Satan ever did. Go ahead, keep listening to those preachers, even though Jesus suggested avoiding them, and keep attending church, despite the fact that at least 80% of what happens inside those walls is explicitly forbidden by Jesus himself.

John Johnson16 said:I feel quite strongly that anything which isn't from God, or aligned with Him, is something I am perfectly entitled to despise.

And don't forget the one thing people like you always seem to overlook: Love your enemies.

Olivia Davis81 said:It might all be fine, except for the fact that there seem to be so many cases where people end up becoming mentally unstable...

I have to wonder where you even read that—it seems some people harbor this misguided notion that a few meditation sessions will magically dissolve their entire existence of problems, which simply isn't how reality works. Everyone is looking for an instant fix these days, so naturally, they end up making a mess of things. Or, quite frequently, they aren't practicing correctly to begin with. Look, there is a massive spectrum of personalities, issues, and life circumstances here—it’s rarely a one-size-fits-all scenario. If someone is struggling with clinical depression, for instance, it might be far more prudent to address that primary issue before attempting to dive into deep meditation. Then again, given how varied people are, the reverse approach might suit some while being entirely useless for others. Regardless, my own observation suggests there are far more instances where it proves beneficial than those where it fails.

I would argue that there aren't any truly pressing issues here. It is perfectly normal—even expected—for certain suppressed elements, whether they be raw emotions or past traumas, to occasionally bubble up during meditation. Some people might find themselves caught off guard or even slightly overwhelmed by it all, which can certainly cause some distress. However, perhaps that is actually a beneficial part of the process; if one becomes aware of an underlying issue, they finally have the opportunity to address it. Ultimately, it depends on the individual, but my assessment is that the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

Furthermore, I fail to see why Christianity would prohibit such a practice. There isn't anything inherently at odds with the faith—in fact, from what I understand, meditation can be viewed as just another form of prayer.

"Meditation is simply the practice of focusing your attention on a particular object — generally something simple, like a word or phrase, a candle flame or geometrical figure, or the coming and going of your breath. In everyday life, your mind is constantly processing a barrage of sensations, visual impressions, emotions, and thoughts. When you meditate, you narrow your focus, limit the stimuli bombarding your nervous system — and calm your mind in the process. The reason meditation works so effectively is that it connects you with a spiritual dimension, which different commentators give different names, but many people simply call it 'being.'"

electrictiger25 said:I honestly don’t even know where to begin. On paper, my life looks absolutely flawless—I’m young, I’ve got my head on straight, I’m nearly wrapping up my degree, I look decent enough, I’ve been in a stable relationship for several years now, and I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy... Yet, for the last year or two, this creeping sense of emptiness and anxiety has started to settle in. I suspect it’s tied to the fact that I’m rapidly approaching that stage of life where society expects you to land a career, settle down, start a family, and just slide effortlessly into some "happily ever after" script. It is particularly grating when my parents start their usual litany of expectations: "Well, in two or three years, you'll probably have a baby, so you should start preparing... We need to start saving up for your wedding... You really need to find a job in your field," and so on and so forth. My best friend is following the exact same trajectory; she’s finishing up college and we spend our coffee dates discussing wedding guest lists, the struggle of the job hunt, and how she’ll likely have kids within the next couple of years...

🙂

It makes me wonder, what exactly are we? Are we just some kind of pre-programmed biological machines? Does anyone actually bother to ask if *I* want any of this? Why am I supposed to have a child just because it’s considered "normal" or because "that's what everyone does"? Why am I expected to marry and "settle down"? Whenever I pose these questions to my family, they look at me as if I’ve completely lost my mind—most of the time they just ignore me entirely and steamroll ahead with their lectures about how things "must" be done. Even when I was a little girl, I never played with baby dolls, I never spent my time daydreaming about a white wedding, and I never harbored any desire for children (and I certainly don't have any now). So why on earth should I suddenly undergo this transformation just to satisfy an external expectation? This is my life, and mine alone. Don't get me wrong, my parents don't have much sway over my actual decisions—I'll ultimately do whatever I want regardless of whether they disown me or not—but these constant expectations are profoundly disorienting...

Please don't take this the wrong way; I’m not trying to offend anyone. There are people who find genuine bliss in marriage and parenthood, who truly love that lifestyle, and more power to them. But I crave something more substantial than that; I refuse to live my life according to a cookie-cutter template. Find a job, work a standard 9-to-5, pick up the kids from school, prep breakfast and dinner, have intimacy with a spouse in the evening... and repeat that loop for thirty years? Then eventually get some grandkids, retire, and spend my mornings picking out produce at the local supermarket... Is that it? Is that the entirety of a human existence? 😲

Tell me, am I losing my mind for wanting something more (even if I can't quite articulate what that "something" is)? I feel a profound sense of pity for myself when I realize that at only 23, I already feel this utterly miserable... if this is how it feels now, what does the future hold? I've become disillusioned with people, too; I only have one true friend left (though even with her, I don't feel I can truly open up), and I simply lack the energy to invest in building relationships with anyone else. I find I only truly connect with animals; at least they are honest and instinctual. Perhaps I should just pop a few antidepressants. Then I could just fake a smile, wear a mask, retreat into my own little shell, and pretend to be fulfilled and happy just like everyone else. 🤷

...

No, you aren't. In fact, it is perfectly normal—it really ought to be. Honestly, the more people who start questioning this status quo, the better. We would all be much better off if we could somehow break away from this automated, robotic way of living and inject a bit of genuine soul and depth back into our collective existence.

fadedlynx61 said:Hi there—please feel free to delete this if it’s against the rules, but I wanted to reach out. I'm 15 years old, and lately, I've been struggling with stuttering, a real lack of self-confidence, and some pretty rough sleep issues... plus, I tend to be way too withdrawn.
Since yesterday morning, I've had this bizarre sensation—almost like I'm in a coma or just completely disconnected from reality. It’s like nothing feels real, even though I know it is; it's such an unsettling feeling. When I first woke up, I actually thought I was in a coma! It's just a deeply uncomfortable state of being. If anyone here understands what might be going on, could you please let me know?

You are young—and on top of that, you're withdrawn, you stutter, and you struggle with confidence—which suggests this likely stems from certain underlying issues. All of this probably culminated in a form of depression, which led to what I suspect is dissociation. I was actually reading about this just yesterday, and what you described—specifically the parts I've highlighted—strongly resembles dissociation.

Numbness implies that your vital life energy has been blocked or frozen. Generally, unless we can get the energy and vitality flowing again, we continue to bask in the numb state.

Difficulty communicating or “connecting” to emotions (also known as ‘normative male alexithymia’)
Hard time expressing angry feelings
“Fuzzy” quality to things, experiences, people, food, etc.
Low Energy, or constant fatigue
Don’t feel like you’re ‘in’ your life
Poor sleep
Feel irritable with others
Don’t want to associate with others
Generally don’t enjoy the activities you once did
Not feeling like you’re ‘in’ your own body; not aware of body movements, etc.

http://phoenixmenscounseling.com/blo...help-yourself/

Yes, it looks like that to me. However, I am not in your shoes, and it would be difficult for me to know more based solely on such a brief description. Furthermore, I am no psychiatrist—I am only two years older than you.

Look, this is the Alternative subforum. I am not sure how many people here will be able to help you, so I suggest moving this thread over to the psychology subforum. Good luck.

fadedlynx61 said:I’ll be honest—I have absolutely no clue what you wrote there, mostly because my English isn't quite up to par yet! I ended up posting this in the Alternative sub because... well, I don't know, I just feel this pull toward magic? It's hard to say if it's a genuine calling or if I've just talked myself into believing it, but the feeling is definitely there. I even tried asking about it through Tarot and Astrology, but they wouldn't give me a reading since I'm still under 18.

Well, please, speak up if you don't understand. I wrote it in English, and the parts I've bolded translate roughly to this:

"Don’t feel like you’re ‘in’ your life" = You feel detached from your own existence—similar to how you mentioned earlier that it feels like you aren't even on Earth.
"Poor sleep" = Weak or non-existent sleep.
"Not feeling like you’re ‘in’ your own body; not aware of body movements, etc." = A sensation of being disconnected from your physical self; lacking awareness of bodily movements, and so on.

This has nothing to do with magic. In my view, it would be far more productive to move this thread over to the Psychology section; you'll find much more well-read individuals there with the actual experience required to assist you. Frankly, your symptoms sound like dissociation. Just copy the text you wrote here along with the link to this thread and post it there—that way people can see the context of the previous answers—and things should settle down.

Edit. I see now that you've edited your post. And yes, you did put it in the right spot—sort of. What you're describing is an internal issue, and those topics belong under Psychology. There, you'll get the help needed to truly grasp the root of the problem and receive some useful advice.

http://www.example-us-forum.com/showthread.php?t=629981 though you could also ask questions over here.

briskotter192 said:It is genuinely refreshing to see people actually questioning the purpose of their existence. I’ve spent quite a bit of time wrestling with those same questions myself, right up until I stumbled upon what I believe to be the definitive answer. We weren't conjured by some eternal entity, nor did we just pop into existence because of the Big Bang; rather, we were fashioned by the VERY FIRST CIVILIZATION that emerged at the very dawn of our spacetime. On this planet, the King of that civilization is known as Jesus Christ, and he is destined to return! That is my opening statement. Best regards to all.

As for me, I exist simply because I am—it's as simple as that. My physical presence is merely the result of my parents, who... well, you know how the whole process works.

These trolls—or whatever they choose to call themselves on these forums—are genuinely entertaining; honestly, whenever I catch one of their posts, it brightens my day. Thanks for that. 😁

Perhaps... or in the unlikely event that science actually manages to uncover the truth regarding what consciousness truly is—where it originates and where it ultimately returns.

bluebison25 said:I’m dealing with the exact same virus issue. I’m using Firefox.

Dead for a few hours? Look, I haven't been there myself, but I know people who were hovering right on the edge for two or three minutes. That’s just my take on it. I am 100% certain that death is nothing more than eternal rest, which is why you have to fight like hell to stay alive as long as possible. It’s a proven fact that keeping the mind sharp through constant learning—even when you're in your 80s, 90s, or 100s—boosts brain activity. It basically extends your "lifespan" and helps ward off Alzheimer's.🙂

Likewise.

Dead for a few hours? I haven't experienced that personally—though I certainly know people who have hovered on that threshold for a few minutes, right around that two-to-three-minute mark. If I say that, it is simply my own reflection on the matter. And I am one hundred percent certain of this: death is nothing more than eternal rest.

I’m inclined to believe there is absolutely something more going on here—something substantial, at the very least. As for who is actually holding the correct position? That remains to be seen. 🤣
I wouldn't exactly be complaining if we were talking about eternal rest—honestly, I think I’d come out on top regardless, and eternal rest is certainly an option. :P

bluebison25 said:Exactly. It proves they’re actually taking action on this.

Look, who can really say? I don’t claim to be an expert since I’ve never studied dream theory, nor do I know anyone who has. You can dive into it yourself if you're obsessed, but studying this should be based on hard science, not just some random people's theories or guesses. My take? Death is just like one of those nights you spend tossing and turning, only to wake up with zero memory of ever falling asleep—it's absolute nothingness. Pure void. We've all been there; everyone has woken up at least once feeling like they slept through a whole movie but can't recall a single frame. I'm pretty sure we dream every single time we sleep; we just rarely have the sense to remember it. Personally, I used to have vivid dreams all the time when I was a kid, but that's mostly faded now.

Exactly. Though, if you ask me, it feels like this entire Reddit is infected with some sort of virus.

Look, who can truly claim to know? I certainly don't—I've never formally studied dreams, nor do I know anyone who has. You can look into it yourself if you're curious, but any study of the subject ought to be grounded in actual scientific research rather than just people's opinions or assumptions. My take is that death is much like those nights you spend sleeping and simply never remember the dream—absolute nothingness, an absolute lack of consciousness. It happens to everyone; at least once, everyone wakes up without a single memory of what they were dreaming. (I think I read somewhere that we always dream while we sleep, we just rarely retain the memory.) For instance, I recall my childhood dreams far more vividly than anything lately.

But then again, who can say for certain? Have you died—actually been dead for a few hours and returned—to verify the experience for yourself? I highly doubt it. What you've laid out is merely your own perspective, constructed from reading and reflection—which is perfectly fine, and I have built my own view as well—but my conclusion differs from yours. Opinions are not facts. The difference is that, unlike you, I have certain experiences that suggest there is significantly more to this than meets the eye.
Personally, I honestly can't remember the last time I woke up from a dream; it's just a void, wake up, go to sleep, void... and so on, in a loop.
Whatever lies beyond death, I hope we all get a decent rest from all of this.

I’m dealing with this too—that constant message popping up saying, "The Reddit is temporarily unavailable due to technical issues. We appreciate your patience." Honestly, the whole site is basically down.

After spending a few years digging into this, I’ve narrowed it down to just two possible explanations:
1. A case of night terrors being misdiagnosed as sleep paralysis—basically, reaching that tenth level of focus. (Is that even scientifically plausible?)
2. A fourth-dimensional reptilian popped in for a quick visit just to check in on me. 🤣

bluebison25 said:It’s haunting. Here is how my dream goes down: I am 100% aware that I’m dreaming, and I can feel these other people around me. Let’s just call them "aliens" 😁. I try to get up, but I can't move. I try to move my hands, my legs—everything—but I’m completely paralyzed. It feels like they are physically holding me down while I just stare at them. They look like nothing more than shadows. Eventually, I get so terrified that everything just snaps; the shadows vanish, and I bolt wide awake. It is genuinely chilling, though if you actually understand what's happening, it isn't a huge deal. You can technically do whatever you want in that state, like having sex with anyone you can imagine. Personally, though, I much prefer it when I don't remember my dreams at all 😁

Meh, you find *that* creepy?

I’ve had moments where I woke up abruptly, gripped by a level of panic and dread that is honestly impossible to put into words. I scrambled out of bed only to see my entire room disintegrating into dust while nothing but pure darkness swirled around me. I was spinning in circles, panicking, having no clue what the hell was happening—everything was shaking. Then, this incredibly tall, spindly entity appeared right in front of me; we just locked eyes. The last thing I remember is ending up paralyzed on the floor—that’s actually how my parents found me. The same thing happened to me several times in a row... now *that* is creepy as hell. And go ahead, explain it to me: these things supposedly happen when a person is paralyzed... but I wasn't paralyzed at that moment!? WTF!

I certainly understand what you're getting at 🙂 even if I haven't experienced a conscious projection myself—though I have had those "unconscious" versions, where you maintain awareness during a dream, essentially lucid dreaming.

What really trips me up regarding astral projection is the concept of the mind remaining awake while the body falls asleep—that whole sleep paralysis phenomenon. I've had some pretty unsettling encounters with it since I was young; it felt like living through a horror movie every single night. 🤣

bluebison25 said:Anything is possible. What’s actually realistic to expect is that a massive amount of data exists, but it's kept under lock and key. We only ever see the crumbs they decide to throw our way. How much can we truly know about the research we're actually interested in? In my opinion, barely anything. But honestly, it’s just easier for most people to blame their ignorance on religion or God rather than admit they simply refuse to learn how things actually work. So now they circle back to the topic, wondering why God isn't just handing them all the answers on a silver platter... LOL. Just think about it—how does knowledge even happen? People specialize in specific fields like science, manufacturing, or trade, among countless others.

This brings to mind a study conducted by a doctor investigating whether consciousness can function independently of the brain or the physical body. For instance, imagine you're lying in bed, and there's a shelf mounted high above you—so high that you could only reach it if you could somehow float up to it. On that shelf, certain numbers are written that only the doctor knows. A few subjects claimed they could project their consciousness outside their bodies to identify those exact numbers... and one woman actually tried it and succeeded 😲 though it is strange that no results from this research are published anywhere 🙂 what you wrote is entirely plausible—that certain truths are being intentionally withheld.

...Let them believe what they want. It gives them a sense of comfort; "ignorance is bliss." 😁

I am being entirely serious here. I am one hundred percent certain that such an instance occurred—the only explanation those doctors could have possibly offered was that her consciousness was functioning independently of her brain. 🤷 I am not joking.

There are countless other cases, some similar and others quite different, that all point toward the idea that consciousness is actually something far greater than just a mere byproduct of brain function.

Of course, science doesn't have all the answers yet; I, too, am hoping they finally uncover the truth about this matter—it is certainly high time.

🙂