Mediums and Psychics

[Deranged]

Do we???

Yes, BB; if you smelled them twice and had that "visited feeling" even YOU would believe in an afterlife. Or an after something.
Really.
Im truly sorry you missed it.
It doesn't have anything to do with religion, does it?
Or a God, does it?
Or the crucifixion.
It's simply the paranormal. Few have had this happen, I'm humbled and puzzled by it and the other ones but I'm just Deranged. What more could you expect from one Deranged?

 

[Kel]

hmm..I expected to be ignored. Which is one reason I never discuss it with anyone in person .

Bah, I think most of us round here are a friendly lot... we just want to ask more questions, it sounds like an interesting story.

Over twenty years ago my ex husband and I were visiting his mother, a great person, spending the weekend. We slept in the guestroom, windows shut, no flowers anywhere.
The first morning )I can't recall if we were still in bed or had gotten up) my ex goes, "Deranged, a smell woke me up last night; it smelled like OLD LADIES' BODY POWDER. IF it happens again tonight, do you want me to wake you up?" Thank god I said yes. I almost said no because I hate to be awakened. Besides, I was sure nothing would come of it.
Second night he goes, "DERANGED!! WAKE UP!! DO YOU SMELL THAT??
and I said, "yes! what is that?? " and he goes, "GO AWAY , GRANNY. ' and it dissipated. Being young, we fell back to sleep quickly.
Next morning, at breakfast, he told his mother what had happened. All she said to us was, "yes, Mother used to sleep in that bed." (meaning her mother). It smelled like body powder==the old fashioned kind with the "puff" on top ?

How long was she dead before you had this experience? Do you think it's possible at all that there might have been some powder scent left on the bed?

I know the scent you speak of - my mother used to have the same kind of powder in a silver box.

Then I had 2 more....entirely different experiences...the last one around 1995 when mom and my best friend died. I cannot tell you how wonderful, beautiful, lovely, and loving it felt. It gives you a feeling that you possess something unique , maybe something inherited?

I had a close friend die in a motorcycle accident. Shortly after I found out he was gone, I had a dream in which he came and spoke to me and told me everything would be all right. At the time, I was calmed, and I did believe that he actually came and spoke to me in my dream.

I don't believe that anymore - I think it was a combination of my exhaustion, grief, and constantly thinking about him over a few days that it translated into my sleep.

And , sorry skeptics, you believe in SOME SORT of an afterlife forever after.

I don't.

 

[Burning Beard]

Yes, BB; if you smelled them twice and had that "visited feeling" even

You said you smelt it ONCE after somebody else suggested there was a smell.

I've had that "visited" feeling during sleep paralysis.

YOU would believe in an afterlife. Or an after something. Really.

No, I wouldn't. An olfactory hallucination doesn't mean it's spirit activity.

It's simply the paranormal.

It's simply something you can't explain. Lack of explanation doesn't mean it's really your Gran coming through.

 

[Deranged]

Bah, I think most of us round here are a friendly lot... we just want to ask more questions, it sounds like an interesting story.

thank you.



How long was she dead before you had this experience? Do you think it's possible at all that there might have been some powder scent left on the bed?

about 5 years. The scent which I would describe as being "medium strong" was not on the bed when we got into it or we would have smelled it at that time. This "scent thing" I've had twice floats in the air. It wafts thru the room then gradually leaves. It isn't something you've put your nose on.

I know the scent you speak of - my mother used to have the same kind of powder in a silver box.

Later on, they sold it in cardboard boxes, round ones, mint green comes to mind. maybe not.



I had a close friend die in a motorcycle accident. Shortly after I found out he was gone, I had a dream in which he came and spoke to me and told me everything would be all right. At the time, I was calmed, and I did believe that he actually came and spoke to me in my dream.

I don't believe that anymore - I think it was a combination of my exhaustion, grief, and constantly thinking about him over a few days that it translated into my sleep.

Only you can decide, of course, whether it was really him. Either explanation seems plausible to me.



I don't.

No reason for you to believe it. Makes more sense to not believe it. But in my case I'm forced to believe only because of my experiences. D.

 

[Deranged]

You said you smelt it ONCE after somebody else suggested there was a smell.


I meant to say, I've had it happen twice over 25 years between each event.

I've had that "visited" feeling during sleep paralysis.


Never had sleep paralysis; I think it would scare me.



No, I wouldn't. An olfactory hallucination doesn't mean it's spirit activity.


cute.



It's simply something you can't explain. Lack of explanation doesn't mean it's really your Gran coming through.

No; lack of explanation doesn't mean that. True. Maybe his mom shot some powder into the air in the middle of the night as a joke. Or , maybe a hooker was rushing out of the room then, fearing I might have noticed her, my husband woke me up to....no; that doesn't work either.

 

[EHocking]

...my ex goes, "Deranged, a smell woke me up last night...

Intriguing. Especially in light of this study that found that, "The data indicate that human olfaction is not reliably capable of alerting a sleeper.".

Another poster's allusion to olfactory hallucination may indeed be closer to explaining your experience that the alternative you have chosen.

 

[Kel]

It seems there was a mix up with the quotes above, but my response of "I don't" applied to your statement:

And , sorry skeptics, you believe in SOME SORT of an afterlife forever after.

I wasn't making a comment that I didn't believe your story, just to be clear. I believe you could have both woken up and smelled something like your Gran's body powder at the same time... I just wanted to offer a possible other explanation (powder on the mattress).

 

[Deranged]

It seems there was a mix up with the quotes above, but my response of "I don't" applied to your statement:



I wasn't making a comment that I didn't believe your story, just to be clear. I believe you could have both woken up and smelled something like your Gran's body powder at the same time... I just wanted to offer a possible other explanation (powder on the mattress).

No; I realize that . First off , it was my husband's grandmother. The scent woke Him up on night #1 but it did Not wake Me up . Then on night #2 it STILL didn't wake Me up ; just him. So then he woke me up and said, "do you smell that?" and it was undeniably there, a sweet powdery odor.
My next experience following my mother's and best friend's deaths happened when I was in my office. It was fantastic. A strong, brief scent of rose petals. I was told later I should have spoken, should have said thank you but I didn't want to miss anything! This was in 1995.
Then in a couple years following was the STATIC ELECTRICITY on Mallory Square in Key West. That could have been a trick by a lady psychic. D.

 

[Deranged]

Intriguing. Especially in light of this study that found that, "The data indicate that human olfaction is not reliably capable of alerting a sleeper.".

Another poster's allusion to olfactory hallucination may indeed be closer to explaining your experience that the alternative you have chosen.

I'm certain it isn't reliably capable of alerting anyone ; it simply worked in this instance. As for the olfactory hallucination--remember that this involved two people. One (him) followed shortly by me and it lasted long enough for both of us to experience it. I'm sure he suspected it was Granny because he spoke to "it." That would not have occurred to me (that it was her or remnants of her).

 

[Burning Beard]

I've awoken to a strange smell whilst staying at my Grandma's place as an adult.

Why? Because it's not the house I'm used to sleeping in. I wake up, it doesn't smell like my regular bedroom, actually smells rather like my dead Grandad... funny that, considering it's his house and full of his stuff.

Of course the smell dissipates eventually as I "get used" to the smell.

If I had a more over-active imagination I would have probably drawn the same flimsy conclusion you have, Deranged.

 

[dlorde]

I don't believe that anymore - I think it was a combination of my exhaustion, grief, and constantly thinking about him over a few days that it translated into my sleep.

We do hold mental models of people we know, especially our friends & relatives, and the closer we are to them, the more detailed and (hopefully) accurate the model is. In a sense, a virtual 'shadow' or 'echo' of them lives on in our minds after they've gone. Much of this isn't consciously remembered, and there's probably enough for our subconscious to make a pretty convincing and realistic dream construction of that person and the way they speak and behave.

How you wish to interpret the appearance of that mental construct in your dreams is a matter of your culture, education, and view of the world. I can accept that some people might interpret it as a visit from the spirit of that person, and (as the vicar might say) perhaps, in a way, it is...

 

[Deranged]

I've awoken to a strange smell whilst staying at my Grandma's place as an adult.

Why? Because it's not the house I'm used to sleeping in. I wake up, it doesn't smell like my regular bedroom, actually smells rather like my dead Grandad... funny that, considering it's his house and full of his stuff.


You just don't get it. This room had no smell. Then suddenly, in the middle of the night, a strong scent CAME INTO THE ROOM THEN LEFT. Granny RARELY slept in that room; it was almost always vacant. Why? Because Granny had 4 daughters, 3 of them living in West Texas and she had a house there. A couple of times she came to North Texas to visit this daughter and slept in that bed. I never saw her in this daughter's home.

Of course the smell dissipates eventually as I "get used" to the smell.

If I had a more over-active imagination I would have probably drawn the same flimsy conclusion you have, Deranged.

My "imagination" wasn't in operating mode at 2 or 3 am. I never would have smelled ANYTHING if my husband had not woken me up. You know, BB, just because you can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist in the universe. Are you all-knowing?

 

[makaya325]

It is not my fault that the dead have contacted ME while I was simply going about the business of life.

No, you BELIEVE that the dead have contacted you.

 

[Deranged]

No, you BELIEVE that the dead have contacted you.

totally. Just as you believe you're at a computer === but are you?

 

[Blackwell]

totally. Just as you believe you're at a computer === but are you?

You do know that these two situations are not comparable, right?

 

[makaya325]

totally. Just as you believe you're at a computer === but are you?

But I am at my computer, or otherwise, I would not be posting. What evidence do you have for your Ghost claim? Nothing

 

[Deranged]

well, no, I have no proof. But IF, which would never happen, you spoke with my ex husband and I at the same time in separate rooms and both stories were identical, would that be proof?
Not really. But some would say, "ok; that proves it to me." Others ? "they planned this out; this could not have happened."
Makes it even More great if anyone thinks "this could not have happened!" LOL

 

[Brattus]

First of all, the guy with the beard at the top of the page isn't just a picture. Exactly what do you think people like James Randi and Robert S. Lancaster have been trying to do for many years now-educate themselves? If you think it is "time to educate those suckers", then join the effort.

Secondly, the people you refer to as "suckers" are often grieving, vulnerable people who don't know which way to turn. Does that make them gullible? Yes. Do they deserve to be dismissed as "suckers"? No. A little sensitivity, please.

Just a small percent of those waiting on a list for a year to pay the likes of Sylvia Browne $700 are "grieving and vulnerable".
Most are looking for a short cut through life and living.
Most wait that year to ask when they are going to meet Mr., Ms. right.
For that year of waiting for a 20 minute phone call they do nothing for themselves to meet Mr. Ms. right on their own.
They want it handed to them. It's all very pathetic.
Those people do not deserve any sympathy.
Those complete idiots are the reason Sylvia Browne and her like rake in millions no matter what RSL or Mr. Randi has to say about them.

 

[Riayn]

well, no, I have no proof. But IF, which would never happen, you spoke with my ex husband and I at the same time in separate rooms and both stories were identical, would that be proof?
Not really. But some would say, "ok; that proves it to me." Others ? "they planned this out; this could not have happened."
Makes it even More great if anyone thinks "this could not have happened!" LOL

Whilst both sleeping in a room that used to be used by a woman who used talcum powder and thus conceivably that talcum powder could be still in the mattress or in the floor boards, you both smelt talcum powder and were able to say to others that this occurred.
That isn't proof you were contacted by the dead. You are going to need stronger evidence than that.

 

[ExMinister]

well, no, I have no proof. But IF, which would never happen, you spoke with my ex husband and I at the same time in separate rooms and both stories were identical, would that be proof?
Not really. But some would say, "ok; that proves it to me." Others ? "they planned this out; this could not have happened."
Makes it even More great if anyone thinks "this could not have happened!" LOL

If you and your ex-husband both independently tell the same story, you still do not have proof that you have communicated with the dead. Why?

Because you haven't ruled out the other possibilities. You haven't ruled out the possibility that the smell of talcum powder could have been generated in some other way besides a paranormal one. Others have suggested that the smell might have been in the room somehow - in the pillows (regardless of how many times the cases had been changed), for example, or some other part of the room, even coming from a nightstand or the lining of a dresser drawer.

Until you can rule that out, there's no reason to think anything paranormal happened here.