What got you into the paranormal?

I have been interested in the parnormal since I can remember, on one occasion when I was child about 4 or 5 I saw what appeared to be a silvery diamond shape in the sky accompanied by the sound of chimes IT could have been anythinng, my memory of that event is slightly fuzzy which is why I have never considered it an acutal sighting, just what got me intersested as a child. From there on out if it had to do with ufos ghosts or majic, I was down! I guess I have always just been drawn to this type of stuff, and I have noticed that we are in the majority when it comes to a real interest in the stuff. I had been intersested for years without any real evidence, until last sunday. I think that for some reason only a small majority really get excited about this stuff say compared to sports. I think its because we are special kidding(kinda)

Scooby- Doo is what got me intersted in the paranormal. Seriously, they had aliens, werewolves, vampires, ghosts, witches, etc. I was fascinated by all that as a child. Soon I was scouring the library at my elementary school for books about those topics. I also remember seeing a documentary about the bermuda triangle when I was in about 4th grade (1984), and that got me interested in that. Fast forward to the present and I'm still just as fascinated by all this as I was as a child.

My story Is quite a dull one really, I was always scared of things like ghosts and things when I was little, I can't really remember where this huge fear came from though, perhaps something happened to me. Whoa while writing this and racking my brain thinking i've just remembered something that happened to me when I was about 5-7 years old.

We were in a brand new house which we had built ourselves, it was quite large and it was a while after we moved in. My family were in the living room and i was upstairs on the landing when something started talking in my ear, I can't remember what it was saying or what it sounded like I just remember being so scared I tried to scream but couldn't, I even jumped down about 9 of my stairs and hurt myslef quite badly.

Well I don't think that that was the sole cause for my fear of ghosts and things but perhaps it did something. But as i've got older my minds become more open and i've started to witness more things and believe more things.

Wow I can't believe i'd forgotten about my experience as a kid for so long about 15 or 16 years ago now. how odd. Thanks for a great thread by the way some really interesting stuff in here and it makes me remember terrifying experiences lol.

All my life I've just been aware that there is more that we are aware of. It's strange, I used to always feel as if something/someone was with me when I was a child. Watching me.. Not the same as that feeling when you feel someone is in the room with you.. its hard to describe..

I remember having this very emotional and vivid 'dream' as a child. I would have been about 5 or 6 and I was standing in the yard of my primary school. Everything seemed normal, faces were familiar, everything was where it should be.. But I happened to glance up in the sky and floating in the sky were these three dark, black, shadows which were watching me. It scared the hell out of me, because it was as if they had been there all along and I had just noticed them. Just starting down towards me, against the pale blue cloudless sky.

They weren't doing anything, but I could feel they were not good natured.

That left me with one of the weirdest feelings you could imagine for days after.. it was as if I had noticed something that I wouldn't normally have noticed.. eery.

Not long after that I started reading books on ESP and things like Spirit Guides, ghosts and entities. Have been ever since.

Even to this day I still feel something is there.. and lol, I've had a pretty crap life to boot, so who knows...

I guess it was that 'dream/vision' whatever I had that made me realize that the feelings of being watched over, that inspired my interest in the paranormal.

Originally posted by websurfer

... Paranormal to me is using the subconcious mind consciously.

that's a pretty good characterization.

but even before i was old enough to grasp that meaning,
i engaged with the 'imagination' and the 'imaginary friends',

say at about 5-7 yrs., when the daylight would still be dusky at 9PM ~BedTime~
i would test myself, by trying to be immobile (years later i learned of sleep paralysis)
and do the shallowest breathing possible
while still staring fixidly at that dusky band in my bedroom where the walls intersect the ceiling....

if i was quiet enough, still enough...i would soon 'see' a parade of
characters , animals, trains, jugglers, acrobats, soldiers, ballplayers...etc
in a type of circus parade as they steadly paraded/marched/acrobated around that endless rectangular perimeters' path...

another thing i was continually aware of, is that the smarter straight A students,
well, actually about 98% of all the other kids weren't aware of the invisible world all around them,
or put another way---they didn't have an 'artists' vision of things.




in closing;

book-smarts, even common sense...i felt back in elementary school were only 2 other parts of being a complete person ,
and the world around me praised, rewarded, those 'Bill Clinton' types...
so, in life, i've only managed to be a Silver or Bronze medalist in anything and everything attempted.
[one might say that a person whose aware of and incorporates the paranormal aspect of life & reality into their person & character...
is keeping all 3 balls in the air at once...to some that might be a disadvantage.]

I have had experiences going back to the age of four, around 1968-69. My experiences of the paranormal has not affected my faith, but has served to strengthen it.

I have learned not to fear what I don't understand. I have learned to embrace it and learn from it, so I can recognise the experiences for what they are.

I still have experiences to this day, and accept them as part of my humanity.

Originally posted by newtron25

You know, for anyone who believes in even the possibility of the life outside of this one, it comes from repeated experience with something that simply falls outside of what you'd call logical. And either you or the people around you don't have answers that are clear as to what happened and the story or the remembering of what happened trails off into an abyss of uncertainty.

The above poster has done a better job of defining it than just about anything I've ever heard or read.

Brilliant thread, Mad Hatter !

And thank you to everyone who's posted here. I've really enjoyed reading about your experiences. So many of them have small, quirky details that others with similar experiences are able to instantly recognise as genuine.

The voices in the ear (mentioned in a couple of posts) must be so terrifying. It's something I've always dreaded, to be honest, in the same way I dread seeing someone else in the mirror.

Those with no personal experience of the paranormal often respond with: " But why would you even think of things like that (voices in ear and strangers in the mirror)?" They regard such fears as proof that the 'paranormal' is 'all in the mind' or product of the imagination.

Only those who've experienced paranormal activity are able to grasp that once the facade of 'reality' has been torn (via previous experience of the paranormal), all trust in 'safe reality' is shattered. Then, a new 'reality' is exposed, one in which anything might occur at any time.

Those who've experienced the paranormal are never the same again, even if they've had only one experience (although it usually leads to more). They've seen the other-side of what others term 'reality'. What we regard as 'reality' has, of course, many 'sides': it's just that some of us see more of these than others and often, more than we'd care to know about.

Personally, I now believe that the 'paranormal' is 'normal'. But if so, why are we so shocked and frightened by paranormal experience?

Is it because, as has often been suggested, we are 'set' or 'tuned' to a specific and narrow 'band width' for the duration of our life, one in which the 'paranormal' is not intended to intrude ... but which nevertheless does with some of us ?

Whatever the case, I suspect that paranormal experiences are what -- tens of thousands of years ago -- were responsible for religion; for a hope and belief that 'good' entities would intervene on behalf of the living and protect them from the creatures and experiences glimpsed during paranormal (including Out-of-Body, Astral, ghostly, demonic, angelic, heavenly and other) experiences.

What is termed the Paranormal has always been with us (with humankind). Indigenous people accept it as part of the natural world. In the West though, only certain aspects of the paranormal, e.g. Visions, Prophecy, are accepted and sanctioned by Big Religion.

All the rest, which are equally valid (e.g. ghosts, precognition, etc.) are subject to contrived-scepticism, are discredited, ridiculed, dismissed, 'scientifically debunked' and otherwise kicked to the kerb as being unworthy of consideration.

In fact, those who experience the paranormal are 'blamed' for their experiences: are accused of fabricating their experience and categorised as suffering from one of the many 'scientifically' discovered mental diseases and imbalances.

Science is immeasurably 'inventive' and industrious when it comes to finding ways to discredit and dismiss paranormal experiences.

Yet that same 'science' observes a 'no go' area around those 'paranormal' experiences claimed as 'genuine and divine' by Big Religion.

So Jock or Sarah down the street are taken to an institution and administered a chemical straight-jacket when they claim to have seen and/or spoken with a non-human entity.

But when a peasant child claims to have seen and spoken with a non-human entity which identifies itself as the Virgin Mary, THAT paranormal experience is proclaimed a genuine 'miracle' and 'sign from God' and the peasant child is revered, lifelong.

If 'science' were prepared to accord ALL paranormal experience the same initial respect and genuine research, we (humankind) would all benefit and may even evolve from our current condition of continuing ignorance and frustration.

But no. For thousands of years, the priest-class has controlled the situation. They have deliberately suppressed information and demonised those who experience the paranormal. All apart from those who claim to have had 'religious experience' that is. The rest of us are subjected to modern-day Witch hunts: are informed we suffer this or that 'scientifically' decreed mental ailment.

By functioning as servants (at times, 'masters') to Politics and State, Big Religion has struck a deal with its partners-in-crime. Big Religion controls the masses, not the police or military. There aren't enough police or military on the globe to control 6 billion people. They can't even 'control' the people of Iraq. They can't even control the population of a city, let alone hundreds of cities at the same time. No. We're controlled, most of us, by the religion to which we're subjected as children and which 'programmes' us into obedience. That's what keeps us from killing and robbing and screaming in the night. If we fail to uphold the basic 'rules' instilled in us as children by religion, we're informed we are 'evil' and 'controlled by the debil'.

As way of thanks to Big Religion for keeping us in line, the State -- utilizing 'science' as its primary tool --- silences, gags, discredits, medicates, institutionalises, discredits, marginalises and otherwise ridicules those in society who insist they experienced genuine 'paranormal' phenomena.

As consequence, paranormal investigation and research is effectively controlled, limited and discredited, generation after another.

It's a shame, a scandal. Because paranormal activity IS happening now, just as it always has.

There are 'things', 'entities' etc. HERE, with us. They always have been. We need to know who/what they are and what they want & do and stand for. Only when we know that, can we (humankind) make sense of our lives and world and all the rest. THEN we will be able to evolve.

I was born into it XP

To explain a little, I'm a medium and both of my parents are mediums (though mostly my father) and practices Santeria (Umbanda). And I study the occult, so ghosts and entities are not strange for me...

I still keep some drawings of the orixas/orishas I made when I used to see them during the spiritual workings when I was a kid ^^

[edit on 15-3-2007 by Raziel89]

The paranormal is something I've always had an interest in. When I was younger, I watched tons of TV, but not the crap; I'd be glued to the History Channel and Discovery for hours. I was into animals and dinosaurs, so the first paranormal thing I may have taken an interest in was Bigfoot or Nessie. As my interest grew, I began to read, and many of the books I read would talk about ghosts, UFOs, and other things (keep in mind, I was around 8 at the time, as well).

My parents never shunned it as some parents seem to do; in fact, my dad encouraged it. We'd watch these shows together.

Needless to say, my curiosity has never dropped, only grown. I think it has also given me an open-mind compared to that of some of my peers.

I don't believe I've ever had an experience, though. One night, I swore I felt someone tap my shoulder and no one was there, but I'm not sure if that had to do with the fact that I was home alone and it was around midnight, so I was low on sleep. I have some friends, however, that have gone on trips to some haunted places and "investigated". I should ask for some of their photos and post 'em.

The voices in the ear (mentioned in a couple of posts) must be so terrifying. It's something I've always dreaded, to be honest, in the same way I dread seeing someone else in the mirror.

It's actually not. Because at first you think it's somebody looking for you then when you realize what it is you get a little creeped out but forget about it a few seconds later.

First experience: see my post under the dark silhouettes thread www.abovetopsecret.com...

Then many, many experiences after that, most of which were dismissed as houses settling, imagination, seeing things, or just plain "making it up."

Eventually, however, too many things had happened to just be coincidence, including recording EVPs. So my sister and I decided to stop running from it and just turn around and face whoever and whatever had been trying so hard to communicate.

And we've been listening to them ever since.

Originally posted by Astrithr
LOL, seeing what looks like a Grey is a minor experience? You make it sound so trivial..I would need a change of pants after that! I'm glad my life hasn't been as exciting as yours..

Why thankyou , but I only thought I saw a grey, it was just a flash of what looked like one, it probably was just my imagination, as I was really into aliens in that stage of my life. I guess I should have said that in my post, hey?

Anyway, great stories people, there are a few quite interesting and well written ones here, keep 'em comin'!

Ah, well I've had plenty of Paranormal experiences, though I wasn't interested in them at first.

What came first for me, was Bigfoot. I was all over the Cryptozoology scene for the majority of my life, and still am a firm and proud believer of Bigfoot. After hearing what I've heard, I don't think you'd doubt it's existence either.

I think my first experience with ghosts was a while ago, when I was in 4th grade. I was walking back home with my Mom, because it was dark, and while my Mom was watching the ground on which she walked, I happened to glance up.

A bright, and perfectly visible orb slowly drifted in front of us, and then vanished into the darkness.

I would have said something to my Mom, but I was scared silent just by the sight of it.

She missed out on it, but I retold the entire story to my parents who, of course, didn't believe a word of it. After our argument was over, I glanced out one of our windows, and I swear the very same orb drifted by so it could taunt me.

Aside from that, I've had precognative events, and telekinesis galore'.

Pretty regular life, for me anyway. I spend time during the day learning math and stuff, and before I go to sleep each night I practice moving things without touching them. Pretty fun, actually.

Until next time,
Void

OMFG!!! The weirdest thing just happened! I was typing something in another thread, and my hands froze and "refused" to work! Then they shot up and bitch slapped me! I'm going to go to the doctors after work and get myself checked out in case it's an illness (sadly, lot's of ATS members are getting fatal illnesses lately). This is freakin' weird!

Edited spelling and took out some naughty words, holy Jesus, that was scary!

[edit on 13/03/07 by MAD Hatt3r]

I've never seen a ghost or a UFO. I've never experienced anything that fits into the usual paranormal discussions. I grew up in the protestant church. There is no doubt in my mind that there is a spiritual realm. Nearly every major culture throughout history has embraced some sort of theology. But I'm no longer satisfied with the teachings of mainstream religion. Modern Christianity would have us believe that to go to heaven you must simply say a prayer asking for forgiveness and go to church every Sunday. To make it worse, we have swindlers like Benny Hinn profiting from the suffering of others in the name of God. If God gave him such wonderful healing powers, why hasn't he emptied a hospital yet? But I digress. All that to say that modern religion seems shallow anymore. The pat answers are all too convenient. There's more to the spiritual realm than modern theologians can answer for. So if the church(presumably the greatest authority on all things spiritual) cannot explain it all, what can? Maybe those people working in supernatural fields can shed some light on the spiritual world.

MadHatt3r, Sorry to hear your hands stopped working.Maybe the slap was a wake up call of some kind.Oh BTW, Scooby doo was part of my interest in the paranormal too.

Originally posted by AccessDenied

MadHatt3r, Sorry to hear your hands stopped working.Maybe the slap was a wake up call of some kind.

Oh BTW, Scooby doo was part of my interest in the paranormal too.

Lol nice call. There seems to be a few people who discovered the paranormal through Scooby Doo, never underestimate the power of cartoons

OK I'm now over my gigantic twitch lol
I have more stories of mine coming up, I'm just compiling info from various family members.

i guess my first true drift into the paranormal world started with a book, at my middle school in 2nd grade i went to a scholastic bookathon and bought a book about ufos and other close encounters...and yes that was the actual title, anyway i started reading it, then found myself getting more books, looking at stuff on the internet...In fact i came across ATSonce when i was little but i thought it was a crappy political site because i thought conspiracy had something to do with politics back then so i didn't like to go to ATS...lol childish ignorance

well the ufos and such got me into all sorts of aspects of the paranormal, but i think there is something bigger here, when i was little i was always afraid of something, i mean like something was after me when i was little when i was asleep, and this was a great fear. My only protection was an adult, because i remember when my little sister and i would share a room, even though she was there i was still scared, and would always need an adult near by to make sure i was safe.

i think it was something paranormal, this stretches to my early childhood, probably close to the time i could manifest rational thought.

Originally posted by MAD Hatt3r
OMFG!!! The weirdest thing just happened! I was typing something in another thread, and my hands froze and "refused" to work! Then they shot up and bitch slapped me! I'm going to go to the doctors after work and get myself checked out in case it's an illness (sadly, lot's of ATS members are getting fatal illnesses lately). This is freakin' weird!

Edited spelling and took out some naughty words, holy Jesus, that was scary!

[edit on 13/03/07 by MAD Hatt3r]

idle hand...u possesed..lol jp