How come some people see/sense spirits, and others do not?

[JMononoetoe]

Hello there, people.

This is something that I've been pondering about for quite a while. I've been wondering why some people sense spirits, and others do not. I've especially been wondering about it because my girlfriend often senses spirits, and I don't.

So, I thought that being able to sense spirits at least had something to do with being highly sensitive. I consider myself to be at least a little sensitive, as I easily pick up moods and sometimes feel like something had happened. Yet, I do not sense spirits at all. And here I thought I had developed my awareness quite well..

I've been trying to meditate in her room to open myself up and sense the spirits she said she felt there, but alas. She did say something about my presence keeping the spirits away, but I don't know. I don't feel like I'm doing anything.

Perhaps sensing spirits has more to do with your own vibration? Like... You have to "tune in" on the spirits? Maybe I'm "stuck" on a different vibration?

I have no idea actually. How does it work? Can I learn to sense spirits?

[Desert]

Jmon

I'm sure a few opinions will be coming your way relative to your question. Here is mine.

If someone says they are sensing "spirits", then that may very well be the case. Even from a statistical regard there have been so many claims of this that it's difficult to dismiss it wholesale. But there will also be claims that refer to spirits but the possibility is that they are referring to something else.

To make it brief and not go into a thesis of paranormal nays and yays, what some people refer to as spirits may actually be mind elements, psychological aspects that are projected and embodied as "spirits", i.e., a transference of sorts. So, when your girlfriend says that your presence is keeping the spirits away it could mean that it's keeping some of these transferences of hers away. I'm sure you can see the implications in this whether with your girlfriend or anyone else.

Now, I'm not saying that this is actually the case with your girlfriend, she may be very sensitive to things unknown. But with any coin the reverse side must be looked at also. As to your preference in the flip, I leave that to you.

Best Wishes

[OAAN]

Good question J-toe!
Unfortunately I can't provide you with a good answer but would also like to hear some.
The reason I'm even writing anything is because I am experiencing a very similar situation. A new friend of mine also claims she sees various things. I don't know if that is the case but I would also like to know why some seemingly are more attuned to these things.

[rei]

Originally Posted by JMononoetoe

Hello there, people.

This is something that I've been pondering about for quite a while. I've been wondering why some people sense spirits, and others do not. I've especially been wondering about it because my girlfriend often senses spirits, and I don't.

So, I thought that being able to sense spirits at least had something to do with being highly sensitive. I consider myself to be at least a little sensitive, as I easily pick up moods and sometimes feel like something had happened. Yet, I do not sense spirits at all. And here I thought I had developed my awareness quite well..

I've been trying to meditate in her room to open myself up and sense the spirits she said she felt there, but alas. She did say something about my presence keeping the spirits away, but I don't know. I don't feel like I'm doing anything.

Perhaps sensing spirits has more to do with your own vibration? Like... You have to "tune in" on the spirits? Maybe I'm "stuck" on a different vibration?

I have no idea actually. How does it work? Can I learn to sense spirits?

I think it is possible to learn how to sense spirits. I don't usually see them myself but I do sense them and it's gotten to a point where various discarnate beings (not the same as ghosts, rather these are ones who have not incarnated at all, or if they did it has been many linear years since that time) pop over to say hello if I just mention their name. In my experience they each have a unique energy signature. I sense them through the intuition/empathy/clairsentient stuff that you seem to refer to having yourself.

So, sometimes when we open up to sensing a spirit, it does actually show up but we don't necessarily see it as such. It could be a shift in our feeling state, or a new smell, or something like that - and it could be fairly subtle compared to material experience.

Do you know if she is talking about earth-bound spirits or some other type?

She may have a vibration that is more naturally tuned, or perhaps she has a purpose related to escorting or working with spirits which would make it easier to sense (and the spirits could see that vibe in her and it's possible if they don't see it in you they get shy). I don't know, just an idea. But even if that is the case, I think it is possible to learn how to sense them.

[dhethic]

How come some people like itallian food, while others dislike it?

[SatvikBeri]

Originally Posted by dhethic

How come some people like itallian food, while others dislike it?

OT: Best. Avatar. Ever.

[JMononoetoe]

@dhethic
Because they have not yet learned to appreciate the taste of Italian food.

@rei
I think she is talking about earth-bound spirits. I haven't asked her about it much though. Next time I'll meet her again I'll see if we can talk about it again. Most of the spirits she has talked about with me aren't very friendly though.

I have a natural inclination of wanting to understand everything, and it might sound weird, but I would like to learn to understand the seemingly malicious nature of these spirits.

@OAAN
Sure thing! Hop on board, me lad~

@Desert
Very interesting. I didn't know about that psychological transference. Interesting, I'll remember that.

[supernatural]

Your Journey of Self Discovery Begins Now
Well I know anyone can see ,sense or talk to spirits if their "Third Eye" is open and active ,this is how Mediums and Psychics can communicate with spirits, using meditation you need to visualize an Indigo/blue or maybe a bright light circle in the middle of your forehead (between your eyebrows) focus on this and see the image in your mind and concentrate on your forehead ,don't talk in your mind don't chant, relax your body, and with practise your third eye will open and you will know it, and you are correct when you mention vibrations every living thing has a unique vibration ,negative spirits have low vibrations, Angels and peaceful spirits have high vibrations, so if you do see a negative spirit don't give-in to fear, because they want you to be afraid, ALSO more importantly ask your true spirit guide/s to come forward, they are with you all the time but you cannot sense or hear them and they can give you the best guidance and advice and protect you from negative spirits in your home, you can also use crystals to keep the entities away.
Also does your girlfriend talk to her spirit guide ?
Also you can use Isochronic tones to help open your third eye, you can find many videos on youtube or download them free from this site :

http://iso-tones.com/tones.html

[Hern]

There are alot of abilities that we were born with. Most of us were brainwashed into thinking it was not real and so it is gone. This can be brought back with proper training and effort.

[wstein]

How come some people can see color and others can not? Sometimes it's as simple as they lack the proper sensory apparatus.

Other general reasons (not necessarily relevant to this situation):
-those who have lots of shielding, especially energetic protection, block out the energy of spirits which is usually not very strong.
-too much background noise. Even those with the 'talent' often seek a quiet space to make contact easier
-lack of training. Part of communicating with spirits (as opposed to sensing them) can be learned
-too much mind chatter to realize that some of the voices are outside your head
-being protected by guides, guardians, wards
-some spirits prefer to interact with their family members which they might not consider you to be. Remember their information about the state of the world is often out of date. Even if you are a legitimate family member but did not meet the person when alive, you may still be considered a stranger.
-some ghosts are fixated on certain places or people. Your girlfriend may just be 'lucky' enough to be targeted.
-energy stealing entities look for easy targets and try to avoid those that might run them off.

[Jaiysun4]

Maybe it's because some people believe they can see/sense spirits, and others do not. Maybe some take as "spirits" what other people take as mundane or more scientific events. Maybe some people are less rational than others.

Excuse my more mainstream approach.

[rei]

Originally Posted by Jaiysun4

Maybe it's because some people believe they can see/sense spirits, and others do not. Maybe some take as "spirits" what other people take as mundane or more scientific events. Maybe some people are less rational than others.

Excuse my more mainstream approach.

And maybe some engage in the pre/trans fallacy

EDIT: Found a link that seems much better.

Note that I can't possibly know whether the person described in the OP is in the prerational state or the transrational state. OP you might also consider yourself blessed that you don't have to deal with the various side effects of experiencing earth-bound spirits.

[Jaiysun4]

Originally Posted by rei

And maybe some engage in the pre/trans fallacy

EDIT: Found a link that seems much better.

Note that I can't possibly know whether the person described in the OP is in the prerational state or the transrational state. OP you might also consider yourself blessed that you don't have to deal with the various side effects of experiencing earth-bound spirits.

Thanks for that. An interesting idea, the "pre/trans fallacy." I should probably read about it, before i comment as to whether i have fallen prey to such an error.

One thing that immediately pops to mind however is perhaps rational was the wrong word. Perhaps empirical would be better.

Because i think on immediate opinion (might change) that the transrational state is something different to a spiritual awareness of being, as opposed to the ego. We can all say that the one certain fact is that we are awareness, or that "I am." But that doesn't mean somebody in this state would believe in objects or things being "in a specific location or place" when they cannot be detected by equipment.

i am speaking off the top of my head without research, but in the context of mystical or spiritual realisation, i don't think it has much to do with anything other than a connection to being or God, and a realisation you are not your ego. Or there is more than thought. But this has nothing to do with the existence of spirits or ghosts or other dimensions that you "experience" as being "separate to you."

Everything that is separate to your being, i.e. these spirits, i think should all be tested using empirical, scientific methods.

[JMononoetoe]

@wsteim:

Hmm, you make interesting points there. My girlfriend once told me that I was energetically really strong (maybe this is due to my reiki initiation). Maybe that scares the (negative) spirits off?

That last thing you mentioned was interesting as well. When you're in a negative state (or having low/weak energy), you must be an easier target, right? Some time ago I tried doing a distant healing because my girlfriend was feeling bad. I never tried it before, but I really wanted to help. Some moments later she felt really warm energy, almost like an oven. And that's also when the spirit took distance, she said. Interesting.

@rei:

@_@ Whoo. I tried Googling that term a couple of times. I think I get the basic concept, but it's quite confusing! Do you have more links of this pre/trans rationality concept? I'd like to read more about it, it seems quite interesting.

What do you mean with someone engaging in pre/trans fallacy? Is that like... Because both pre and trans are different than what is perceived to be normal, they seem alike? Also, I get the idea that prerationality is more ego-centred and transrationality it like being enlightened. Is this idea correct?

Yeah. Perhaps it is a blessing to not have to deal with negative spirits. It just bothers me that because of that blessing, I might never see and learn to understand the other side of the coin, so to speak

@Jaiysun4:

I indeed think empirical was the word that more resembled your intention But that's alright. I understood what you meant I didn't know about the pre/trans thing either! It's very interesting though.

[rei]

Originally Posted by Jaiysun4

Thanks for that. An interesting idea, the "pre/trans fallacy." I should probably read about it, before i comment as to whether i have fallen prey to such an error.

One thing that immediately pops to mind however is perhaps rational was the wrong word. Perhaps empirical would be better.

Because i think on immediate opinion (might change) that the transrational state is something different to a spiritual awareness of being, as opposed to the ego. We can all say that the one certain fact is that we are awareness, or that "I am." But that doesn't mean somebody in this state would believe in objects or things being "in a specific location or place" when they cannot be detected by equipment.

i am speaking off the top of my head without research, but in the context of mystical or spiritual realisation, i don't think it has much to do with anything other than a connection to being or God, and a realisation you are not your ego. Or there is more than thought. But this has nothing to do with the existence of spirits or ghosts or other dimensions that you "experience" as being "separate to you."

Everything that is separate to your being, i.e. these spirits, i think should all be tested using empirical, scientific methods.

This post, Jaiysun, is not really in line with what Wilber means by transrational, at least as I understand the literature on the topic. It is possible to experience spirits as part of the transrational state. Yes, it can mean exploring pure beingness but the transrational can also take different forms. Much of it is subjective, but this model does not consider subjective experience invalid.

It's drawn from psychology and mystical tradition, not empirical science. Rather, it's drawn from the part of psychology that realizes how ridiculous it is to make psychology empirical. (Though some of the methods, like mindfulness techniques, are gaining ground in terms of evidence-based practices.)

Originally Posted by JMononoetoe

@rei:

@_@ Whoo. I tried Googling that term a couple of times. I think I get the basic concept, but it's quite confusing! Do you have more links of this pre/trans rationality concept? I'd like to read more about it, it seems quite interesting.

What do you mean with someone engaging in pre/trans fallacy? Is that like... Because both pre and trans are different than what is perceived to be normal, they seem alike? Also, I get the idea that prerationality is more ego-centred and transrationality it like being enlightened. Is this idea correct?

Yeah. Perhaps it is a blessing to not have to deal with negative spirits. It just bothers me that because of that blessing, I might never see and learn to understand the other side of the coin, so to speak

I found another link The pre/trans fallacy Integral Buddha and yes there is much out there worth exploring on this topic.

Here is the first link I provided (which I replaced because I found that journal article): Core concepts: the pre/trans fallacy (Jaiysun, I think you'd find this one particularly useful, as it has a diagram related to your latest post, regarding types of spiritual experience and the conception of ego.)

Basically, the idea is there can be "non-rational" experiences, but the material reductionist worldview of common Western culture tends to lump all of them together. (For example, by saying anyone who hears voices is just experiencing auditory hallucinations.) So this worldview does not separate non-rational experience due to reaching a transpersonal state ("healthy") and a non-rational experience due to reaching a pre-personal state ("unhealthy" or "pathological" or "superstitious").

This particular fallacy typically involves one of these assumptions:
- The individual's non-rational experience is assumed to be from regressing back into a pre-rational state, or
- The individual's non-rational experience is assumed to be transrational when it's actually pre-rational.

In my own experience, the tendency has been to assume any non-rational experience is a sign of a lower level of functioning (assuming it is regressing into a pre-personal, pre-rational state), when that's not always the case. But I suppose I have also seen individuals assume the experience is transrational when it's more likely prerational.

This is from Ken Wilber's work in transpersonalism, levels of consciousness, and the like. Cool stuff, I recommend it for a broader understanding of human experience that tends to defy empirical explanation. His theories are all quite coherent and he's respected in the field.

[JMononoetoe]

@rei:
Very interesting. I wonder though! I can imagine a spiritual experience being transrational, but how can such an experience be prerational? What's the difference when we're speaking of such an experience?

[rei]

Originally Posted by JMononoetoe

@rei:
Very interesting. I wonder though! I can imagine a spiritual experience being transrational, but how can such an experience be prerational? What's the difference when we're speaking of such an experience?

Good question. I imagine Wilber would say it is prerational if you return to the state of being egoless like an infant. If you have developed ego and the state is egolessness (or another non-rational experience) because you have evolved through those personal stages, then it's transrational.

Hmm, here are his words on the matter, as he can explain it better than I can The Pre-Trans Fallacy

(from that link)

In the first, all higher and transrational states are reduced to lower and prerational states. Genuine mystical or contemplative experiences, for example, are seen as a regression or throwback to infantile states of narcissism, oceanic adualism, indissociation, and even primitive autism.

As he says elsewhere in that text, it often takes an educated eye to see the difference between pre and trans. On the outside they can look similar, but there's also a few potential ways you can tell (i.e. whether the person has a regular spiritual practice, whether they seem uplifted in a non-manic way by the experience, etc.).

[phantom]

To put it all out there I have seen spirits for as long as I can remember. Trust me I know how odd it sounds but it is the truth it is my dark seccret! I can honestly say it is more a burden then it is a gift. Also it can only get more horrific from that point. I am not realy shur as to why I can see them I just can. However as time progresses the question changes from the why to the how can i stop it!!

[AngelPsychic444]

Originally Posted by phantom

To put it all out there I have seen spirits for as long as I can remember. Trust me I know how odd it sounds but it is the truth it is my dark seccret! I can honestly say it is more a burden then it is a gift. Also it can only get more horrific from that point. I am not realy shur as to why I can see them I just can. However as time progresses the question changes from the why to the how can i stop it!!

It's time to do some research into angels. The angels can not only help you calm down your ability to "see" spirits but also give you a better understanding of what this "gift" is good for. You obviously have this for a reason, so it's time to find out the positive things about it, and not dwell in fear, this can be a fantastic gift, you just need some training.

I would look into the book "The miracles of Archangel Michael" by Doreen Virtue... starting to read about angels could be a life saver for you.