Could be as simple as finding a cross shape on a pebble or as vivid as talking to god through a burning bush. What happened?
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What religious experiences have you had?
- Thread starter The Sum of Awe
- Start date
Aw man. Where to begin?
The most life changing was yelling at Krishna and getting cured of a long term affliction.
The weirdest experiences were/are all the paranormal stuff connected with the attic.
One of the coolest things was having a deity physically take an offering.
Some of my first were being young and toying with simple spells.
Dreams, prayers, weird signs, coincidences...
Life is a religious experience for me, for better and for worse.
My religious experiences tend to be inner experiences: sudden realizations about existence, enjoying bliss, and unexpectedly ‘seeing’ the universe and other beings as something greater than I normally perceive. There are sometimes reactions to religious objects, images, and texts. Recently, when I opened a package and saw my first rudraksha bracelet, I felt its power and experienced ecstasy and weakness in the knees.
I could write a book. Which I won't, but there's certainly enough for it. Pagan paths often have at their heart direct relations with the gods and something of a charmed life. No intermediaries telling you what to think, or just reading stuff in books... but doing things and experiencing things.
But your story about finding the cross shaped pebble reminds me of what set me on the path to the charmed life. The story is so ridiculous sometimes I don't believe it myself, except I was very good at keeping a religious journal back when I was a new Pagan and I wrote about it back then so I can't just go "oh, this was two decades ago now, my memory is surely faulty."
Shortly before I discovered contemporary Paganism existed, I was going on the journey of a lifetime to a country I had wanted to visit for a very long time. On the journey there, something odd was snagged under the seat of the chair I had been assigned to on the plane. It was a small, sterling silver necklace on a silver chain. I reached down to try and dislodge it but it was stuck fast. I tugged at it a few more times, but it would still not come free. I puzzled over the necklace and its simple beauty. At the time I had no idea what the small silver symbol was or really what it meant.
It was a pentacle.
The odds of this happening at all are so vanishingly low I don't know how you look at this as anything other than a sign of portend in retrospect. There it was, foreshadowing the trajectory of my life that would begin just a few weeks after. It wasn't quite time for me to tug free that symbol and discover what it was and what it meant. But the challenge had been placed before my feet on a plane journey to a spiritual place. It wasn't remembering this symbol that set me on the path, mind - it was something else. That it had been there though? Charmed life.
But your story about finding the cross shaped pebble reminds me of what set me on the path to the charmed life. The story is so ridiculous sometimes I don't believe it myself, except I was very good at keeping a religious journal back when I was a new Pagan and I wrote about it back then so I can't just go "oh, this was two decades ago now, my memory is surely faulty."
Shortly before I discovered contemporary Paganism existed, I was going on the journey of a lifetime to a country I had wanted to visit for a very long time. On the journey there, something odd was snagged under the seat of the chair I had been assigned to on the plane. It was a small, sterling silver necklace on a silver chain. I reached down to try and dislodge it but it was stuck fast. I tugged at it a few more times, but it would still not come free. I puzzled over the necklace and its simple beauty. At the time I had no idea what the small silver symbol was or really what it meant.
It was a pentacle.
The odds of this happening at all are so vanishingly low I don't know how you look at this as anything other than a sign of portend in retrospect. There it was, foreshadowing the trajectory of my life that would begin just a few weeks after. It wasn't quite time for me to tug free that symbol and discover what it was and what it meant. But the challenge had been placed before my feet on a plane journey to a spiritual place. It wasn't remembering this symbol that set me on the path, mind - it was something else. That it had been there though? Charmed life.
rocala
Well-Known Member
Quite a few over the years. Once I was staying in Scotland on a residential course. One day was set aside for an outing. We went to a stately home to see its famous grounds. Their main feature was that a previous owner had traveled the world collecting trees, many of which were still growing there. The group split up and we wandered around enjoying the place.
After a while I came across a large tree, I think it was a yew or something similar. Its lowest branch was level with the top of my chest. I folded my arms on the branch and rested my chin on them. I was just enjoying the view and the sunshine and I was very much at peace. I became aware that the branch was swaying a little in the breeze and this rocking motion felt incredibly nice. I was in quite a blissful state really.
This did not last very long, a group of noisy children came past and spoiled the moment. I then realised that there was no breeze, the air was quite still. I tried pushing the branch using all of my strength. This big branch did not move, it was solid. I really felt quite shaken then and was trying to make sense of the experience. I moved away to a nearby bench and sat down. There was movement beside me as if somebody had approached quietly. All I was aware of was that what I saw was dark, as if they were wearing a long dark coat. I turned, but nobody was there.
Really shaken now I got up and started walking. Shortly, I saw the woman who had organized our visit. I told her about my experience. I was worried that she would think me mad but I just had to talk to somebody. When I had finished telling her she just gave me a smile and said "don't worry, that sort of thing happens all the time here."
After a while I came across a large tree, I think it was a yew or something similar. Its lowest branch was level with the top of my chest. I folded my arms on the branch and rested my chin on them. I was just enjoying the view and the sunshine and I was very much at peace. I became aware that the branch was swaying a little in the breeze and this rocking motion felt incredibly nice. I was in quite a blissful state really.
This did not last very long, a group of noisy children came past and spoiled the moment. I then realised that there was no breeze, the air was quite still. I tried pushing the branch using all of my strength. This big branch did not move, it was solid. I really felt quite shaken then and was trying to make sense of the experience. I moved away to a nearby bench and sat down. There was movement beside me as if somebody had approached quietly. All I was aware of was that what I saw was dark, as if they were wearing a long dark coat. I turned, but nobody was there.
Really shaken now I got up and started walking. Shortly, I saw the woman who had organized our visit. I told her about my experience. I was worried that she would think me mad but I just had to talk to somebody. When I had finished telling her she just gave me a smile and said "don't worry, that sort of thing happens all the time here."
Maninthemiddle
Active Member
I photograph tribes and holy men around the world, I have witnessed quite a few possessions but I only believe one was real.
It manifested by knowing things about me no one knew, a glass of water in the room exploded on its own, no one was touching it, inhuman strength, he actually bit my leg.
I teach Martial arts and have worked club doors my whole life, this was not drug induced strength.
He struck a tree several times exposing the bones or knuckles in his hand and died on the spot.
His autopsy revealed no intoxicants.
I will head to Thailand in October to photograph the Phuket vegetarian festival where people apparently deliberately get possessed and stick knives and swords through their face
It manifested by knowing things about me no one knew, a glass of water in the room exploded on its own, no one was touching it, inhuman strength, he actually bit my leg.
I teach Martial arts and have worked club doors my whole life, this was not drug induced strength.
He struck a tree several times exposing the bones or knuckles in his hand and died on the spot.
His autopsy revealed no intoxicants.
I will head to Thailand in October to photograph the Phuket vegetarian festival where people apparently deliberately get possessed and stick knives and swords through their face
chris baron
Member
i saw my kitty after she died. the early morning after she was taken by a coyote i heard a meowing at the front door, i looked and opened the door, and there she was. she looked me in the eyes and then she ran down the steps to the corner where she was taken across the street, paused looked back at me and then ran down the street out of sight in the direction the coyote took her—assurance of the hereafter.
Allahu Akbar
Allahu Akbar
For a few minutes I felt as though I had become a conduit for The Holy Spirit when having a go at "laying on hands" on someone
Very weird experience
wellwisher
Well-Known Member
My first time was when I was elementary school age; 6-7 years old. I was walking with my group of friends, looking for some mischief to get into. I heard what sounded like a chorus of sweet voices. I ask my friends if they like that type of music, and they all looked at each other like I was crazy. So I made fun of the situation; joking, and stopped saying anything about it, since nobody seemed to misunderstand. It was a nice audio hallucination that felt spiritual. I wanted to believe it was angels singing, but I knew I could no longer say so.
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I find the smoke and sent of incense mesmerizing at times.
rocala
Well-Known Member
This reminded me of an experience about twenty -thirty years ago. I had either a very brief dream 1 or 2 seconds or perhaps only retain that fraction.
I was standing close to something like a sports stadium the occupants of the seats were all young women wearing white single garment. They were some sort of choir and were singing. But it was not words, more like a sort of chirping sound. It was harmonious, quite beautiful in fact but utterly non-human. I woke up and my feelings were a mixture of strong nostalgia, I was actually missing them, plus slight fearfulness. There was an overwhelming feeling that this was not an ordinary dream but some sort of memory.
Even now after all this time, recalling it makes me feel very strange. I too have been tempted to think that they were angels
Many.
One of the first was at the age of five or six, we were camping at Arches National (at that time) Monument in Utah. Parents let me walk to the nearby outhouse to relieve myself...the camping space was like one or two from the outhouse...so very nearby. As I walked back I felt compelled to keep walking and was aware that my eyes were locked in front of me and I walked past our site and just kept going. I heard my sister calling my name, but I just kept going. She caught up and got me back to the campsite...
Shortly before my 12th birthday, I felt increasingly ill throughout the morning at school. I went home for lunch, and almost stayed home because I felt so sick, but decided I would go back and tough it out. I felt better and by the end of the school day I was back to normal. So, I went on crossing guard duty...and was subsequently one of 11 children hit by car. I had a separated collarbone and a broken leg, but no major internal injuries. It seemed like a premonition...
That's a start...
One of the first was at the age of five or six, we were camping at Arches National (at that time) Monument in Utah. Parents let me walk to the nearby outhouse to relieve myself...the camping space was like one or two from the outhouse...so very nearby. As I walked back I felt compelled to keep walking and was aware that my eyes were locked in front of me and I walked past our site and just kept going. I heard my sister calling my name, but I just kept going. She caught up and got me back to the campsite...
Shortly before my 12th birthday, I felt increasingly ill throughout the morning at school. I went home for lunch, and almost stayed home because I felt so sick, but decided I would go back and tough it out. I felt better and by the end of the school day I was back to normal. So, I went on crossing guard duty...and was subsequently one of 11 children hit by car. I had a separated collarbone and a broken leg, but no major internal injuries. It seemed like a premonition...
That's a start...
Wow. Those are amazing experiences. I would wonder if the Green Man was trying to communicate with me if I had that same experience in that kind of environment.
That must be a special place, spiritually speaking.
rocala
Well-Known Member
It is something that I have not discussed much. I do recall one person saying that they believed that it was due to the presence of nature spirits. Not quite the Green Man, but along those lines.
I've been experiencing a life long
lack of awareness of any gods.
lack of awareness of any gods.
There are two types of experiences that I consider closer to the description of "religious" or "spiritual" than anything else I have experienced:
• The lucidity, relaxation, and high level of focus that I sometimes experience in bursts during or after meditation combined with mindfulness techniques.
• The connection I feel to other people when spending time with someone I'm close to, such as family and close friends. Sometimes the peak expression of this is when both they and I are silent but still thoroughly enjoying the moment and each other's company or easily able to pick up on what the other is feeling without speaking a single word.
I consider neither of these types of experiences supernatural or paranormal in origin or nature, but when I think of the term "spiritual experiences," they tend to come to mind.
Same. I find this a deeply meaningful experience. Sometimes it'll happen when a person I share this with isn't in my company, as well.
That's wonderful. Divinity has a divine sense of humor.
After one dog passed, she appeared to me when I was sitting in the living room. We stared at each other for a few moments and then she was gone. (By appear I don't mean to my physical eyes).
Beyond my last post, I remembered one unforgettable incident. One night I dreamt that Meher Baba's sister, Mani, sped by me with great joy saying "I go to God". The next day I found out that she had been sick, something I did not know, and had passed at about the time when she appeared to me.