Sixth Sense

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by coasty

Good Morning Doug so sorry to hear you are feeling all shook up.

Thangyew.
Thangyew very muccchhhh....

[The Black Rabbit]

Originally Posted by coasty

Seriousley I agree with all you say about people using their senses effectively and this can seem to be a sixth sense. What I am aware of though are ocassions when it is almost impossible to have received any physical stimuli and yet have a moment of insight into some form of animal behaviour,,,,

Please give us some more examples Andy, other than a fish biting.
Otherwise I'd probably still go down the rather dull route of this part of my post above...

"I can kid myself that I'm in tune with the birds, but I feel the truth is that I am putting myself in the position to have that happen to me, by my interest, the way I use my two main senses, and a whole lot of experience.
On top of that, I am FAR more likely to remember the times that I suddenly looked up and saw an Osprey (as I did on passage in the south of England this year), or a deer thats watching me, or a fish thats ready to bite (and I somehow know it) than the many times none of the above happened. I think thats completely understandable and natural."

Doug

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by The Black Rabbit

Morning Andy.
Very interesting thread.

On top of that, I am FAR more likely to remember the times that I suddenly looked up and saw an Osprey (as I did on passage in the south of England this year), or a deer thats watching me, or a fish thats ready to bite (and I somehow know it) than the many times none of the above happened. I think thats completely understandable and natural.



Anyway.
I've just read my post.
Sorry. It seems a bit disjointed.
I've got the flu at the moment, so I'll have another (better) think about the subject over a mug of lemsip...

Good thread Andy.

I don't think it was disjointed I thought it was a good post - I love your points about listening rather than hearing etc I think you're spot on and I think once you get into this habit its often impossible to turn off and becomes standard.

I also think you're right about the remembering when things happen and when they don't....
I do know there have been occasions when I have felt spooked or like I was being watched and turned around and there was nothing....

and the being stared at in the pub thing I think a lot of the time you (or rather your subconcious brain) catch them looking in your peripheral vision perhaps.....

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by mh68

Totally agree with all that Coasty, I just posted the above example to show that sometimes theres a sensible explanation.I mentioned in another thread a while ago about some of us possibly holding on to our basic animal instincts more than others, and suggested that its possible that in some cases, the success of some people in outdoor hobbies (fishing/wildlife photography/hunting etc) could be attributed to an understanding (or indeed sixth sense) that enables them to successfully react to the circumstances around them more than those who have maybe lost these senses to a degree?

Mark H

I feel we are on the right track here. All of us with outdoor hobbies/activities as mentioned above tend to hone our senses more to observe, listen and even smell to help us to find what we are looking for. The longer we spend in the field the more we are attuned to the environment around us. maybe in tuning all our senses, together they all add up to a so called "sixth sense"

Paul

[mh68]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

I feel we are on the right track here. All of us with outdoor hobbies/activities as mentioned above tend to hone our senses more to observe, listen and even smell to help us to find what we are looking for. The longer we spend in the field the more we are attuned to the environment around us. maybe in tuning all our senses, together they all add up to a so called "sixth sense"

Paul

You`ve worded it a lot better than I could Paul, that was what I was getting at (or trying to)

Mark H

[Rob T]

Totally in agreement with TBR (nice work Andy) MH and all . . but Im a bloke and we never ask for directions, right. I can be taken to a place Iv never been before and can allways go straight back again with out a map or any notes, either walking in woods or driving in a car. this ability lasts for about a couple of years before it fades.

If im asked for directions to anywhere, even say, my house i have great difficulty in explaining the route I cant think of road names or note landmarks or M way junction No.s as I never read them, dont look at them.

I could return to pretty much any place ive been to for the last couple of years without consciously trying to remember the route including places in Liverpool, Bodmin, Maidstone and the like.

This surely has to be another sort of six sense. Im not on my own though, am I ?

[Jez]

I'd like to put this thread to the test! Can you sixth sence what I am thinking right now it's an wildlife related object-answers a post please!

[mh68]

Originally Posted by Rob T

Totally in agreement with TBR (nice work Andy) MH and all . . but Im a bloke and we never ask for directions, right. I can be taken to a place Iv never been before and can allways go straight back again with out a map or any notes, either walking in woods or driving in a car. this ability lasts for about a couple of years before it fades.

If im asked for directions to anywhere, even say, my house i have great difficulty in explaining the route I cant think of road names or note landmarks or M way junction No.s as I never read them, dont look at them.

I could return to pretty much any place ive been to for the last couple of years without consciously trying to remember the route including places in Liverpool, Bodmin, Maidstone and the like.

This surely has to be another sort of six sense. Im not on my own though, am I ?

Yep I can definitely relate to that Rob.

Mark H

[Hobjob]

Magnetoception
There is good evidence that humans, male to a greater extent than females, have a degree of directional sense from the earth's magnetic field. Its a very weak sense though.

There've been studies with helmets in darkend woods on cloudy days, with helmets emmitting magnetic fields that would block the earth's fields etc..

Many birds have this developed to high degree

As mentioned above we also have: (and prob some I've forgotten)

Proprioception kinesthetic sense, body awareness
Are your fingers straight or bent?

Nocioception Pain sensation

Touch swensation Related, but not the same as pain (different size nerve
fibres)

Thermoception Sensation of heat / cold

Equilibrioception Balance and acceleration

Many fishes can detect elelctric current, and marine mammals and bats have echolocation.

Personally I think it is unlikely that science will detect a thought transference sense, but with new scientific discoveries, who knows !!!

[jdurbo]

Originally Posted by Jez

I'd like to put this thread to the test! Can you sixth sence what I am thinking right now it's an wildlife related object-answers a post please!

Thats not wildlife!!!!!

jen xxx

[Jez]

Originally Posted by jdurbo

Thats not wildlife!!!!!

jen xxx

Wrong answer!

[Tazni]

It is certainly a topic that can be argued either way.

The thing is that we have subconcious abilities, such as being able to hear something which we do not, smelling something we cannot... Etc. What I mean is... You will hear something subconciously, but not notice, however you still notice, which will change your state of mind, as an unexpected change will occur.

You will notice to the side of you a head turned towards you, and although you may not be able to see the eyes staring at you you assume that they are looking at you...


It's strange and I'm terrible at explaining things like this... but... In short it's instinct that takes over. Because no matter how many people say animals are lower than us, and we are superior etc. We are still animals...

[paulchandler6]

Originally Posted by Jez

I'd like to put this thread to the test! Can you sixth sence what I am thinking right now it's an wildlife related object-answers a post please!

Sorry jez, couldnt connect at that time. Was at work.

Paul

[coasty]

Its interesting to read peoples views on this. I did say on the first post of the thread that I dont beleive that there is anything startling in what I beleive, Doug has asked what examples I can give? , Well other than many moments of insight when fly fishing moments of intuition as to location and movement of fish, and waking from a deep sleep when carp fishing at night and just knowing that within minutes the alarm would go and been correct. and I dont hold with the theory this happens a lot but you only remember the successful times.
I think that there is an element of becoming very senstive to the visual hearing and scent stimuli, To the extent of this almost combining and becoming a super sense, I also wonder if we are not sensitive to electro magnetic and barometric changes that we can not sense on a conscious level,,,I think that there are many facets to our body that we are not aware of. perhaps we have had such skills in the past but they only now exist in our subconcious levels,

I for one whilst been a very pragmatic person with my feet rooted in fact still cannot dismiss the possibilities,,,

[PMG]

Originally Posted by coasty

I for one whilst been a very pragmatic person with my feet rooted in fact still cannot dismiss the possibilities,,,

I'm with you on that There seems to be an awful lot we can't explain away and I think we have to accept we might never have satisfactory answers - some things just are

Pauline

[Jez]

Originally Posted by paulchandler6

Sorry jez, couldnt connect at that time. Was at work.

Paul

Just feel around and give me an answer!

[PMG]

I had a strange experience (not exactly 6th sense but odd) about 20 years back. I rode (motorcycle in those days) up Littledale (N. Lancs area) until I came to Winder Wood and a path leading in. I'd gone out riding and exploring - following my nose, so I got off the bike and followed the path in. I can't quite remember but I think they were mostly sycamores (I've never been back....)

When I began walking there was chaffinch and skylark singing and curlew calling on the moors. I hadn't got very far when I began to feel very uneasy: total silence fell, not a leaf stirred, it was like being inside a photograph - nothing moved, not a breath of air............ everything had stopped and I felt like I was being watched. I turned in a circle to see if anyone was close and all the tree trunks appeared to have lidless eyes (like kids draw) on them - one to each tree. I wanted to run, my fear was racking up, and normally when something doesn't feel right I can keep my cool and give the appearance of sauntering off. This time I didn't manage to be cool - I was running by the time I burst out into the open, I was terrified.

The sky outside was a heavy sulphur yellow as I slid up to the bike. I threw the helmet on without fastening it (unheard of - I always fastened) and prayed it started first kick .......... it had a habit of playing silly beggars at times and dear god I hoped this wasn't one of those. I turned in a skiddy raggardy circle and sped up the hill to the open moor top before stopping. I was shaking, my pulse was racing, I couldn't get my breath. As I sat the sky darkened and lightening started licking horizontally across the distant higher moorland.........

During the ride back I had to stop and put on waterproofs as the rain started. I rushed onto the caravan site (Riverside at Bentham) where I was staying for 5 months to find my two cats wide eyed and worried (neither liked thunder). I shut them in the van and chased back into the village to the chippie. Back on site we got settled down, the cats and I (they were under the bed!). That storm turned severe by 7pm, died away to just rain, then back to electric storm at 9pm-ish, fizzled to rain and then got to the finale at 1.30am with severe flooding (tents washed out) lightening bolts hitting the grass square in the middle of the vans and hail stones the size of golf balls! There was a lot of damage to vans, roof skimmings dented and rear lights smashed (ours included) car windscreens smashed and holes punched thro plastic guttering.

The television news next morning revealed a similar story in many parts of the country - and many freezers held large hail stones as proof - including ours!

Now I've never forgotten that afternoon and night (can you tell?!) And I still cannot make my mind up about how it started....... yes birds do stop singing when thunderstorms approach and the wind does drop and barometric pressure etc........ but what about eyes on trees?? And no I wasn't on any substances. I had and still have the feeling that something very bad happened to someone in Winder Wood....... I've been in worse circumstances and more tangible dangers since then and not been as frightened as I was that afternoon......... I was literally panic-stricken..........

Has anyone else had an experience like this?

Pauline

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by PMG

Has anyone else had an experience like this?

Pauline

Well yes and no...

I always get an element of this feeling when in woodland - I think this is instinctive as in centuries past this was a dangerous place to be not only because of what lurked there but also due to very restricted sight lines so I think its fairly logical that it makes some of us on edge a little.

I tend to stay out of the woods at dawn or dusk on my own because I know it will wind me up - it I can be almost 100 % certain that there's nothing scary in my woods (they're not mine but I grew up messing about in them and feel that they are more mine than the land owner sometimes!) but at dusk and dawn my instinct can take control and no end of sensible pragmatic thoughts can make the sensation of being scared go away so I leave!!!

The same as if I go out battingby myself with the detector - when the detector is set to a low frrequency - to pick up some of our larger bats) it picks up everything - your foot steps, a shrew in the hedge, crickets in the trees a deer nearby, a Badger running up the hedge and sometimes this gets the better of me too because i can't be certain about what I am hearing and I become more and more alert until again no sensible thoughts get through and I go home!!

Its very frustrating because I know I'm being irrational but take myself out of the situation just to make the stupid fear sensations and endless mental debate about the actual risks go away!

I don't actually believe this fear sensation was any premonition or 6th sense related to any real risk - only to instinctive reactions that probably got my ancestors out of tricky situations. I too sometimes become very aware that there is no animal noise out in the wilds and this tend to make me more alert too - again that's probably natural and 'built in' I think...

[coasty]

=PMG;205665]I had a strange experience (not exactly 6th sense but odd) about 20 years back. I rode (motorcycle in those days) up Littledale (N. Lancs area) until I came to Winder Wood and a path leading in. I'd gone out riding and exploring - following my nose, so I got off the bike and followed the path in. I can't quite remember but I think they were mostly sycamores (I've never been back....)

I dont beleive that your experience really has anything in common with the kind of feeling or intuition that I am describing. I think what you have experienced is something that can easily overtake people when in an unfamilier situation or enviroment and particularly when you are alone. Personally I have never had an issue with graveyards at night etc, However I am sure that for you at the time it was a frightening experience.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

Well yes and no...

I don't actually believe this fear sensation was any premonition or 6th sense related to any real risk - only to instinctive reactions that probably got my ancestors out of tricky situations. I too sometimes become very aware that there is no animal noise out in the wilds and this tend to make me more alert too - again that's probably natural and 'built in' I think...

Originally Posted by coasty

I dont beleive that your experience really has anything in common with the kind of feeling or intuition that I am describing. I think what you have experienced is something that can easily overtake people when in an unfamilier situation or enviroment and particularly when you are alone. Personally I have never had an issue with graveyards at night etc, However I am sure that for you at the time it was a frightening experience.

Knowing me I was probably so busy telling the story that I didn't get across what I actually meant The thing that I thought was different in this experience was the overpowering feeling that something terrible had happened and might also happen to me if I stayed (ok been reading too much Stephen King again).

Like you Gill I go out on my own a lot - I won't stay home on the grounds that I might get attacked outside and I've stumbled literally into some genuinely dangerous situations - as in sorcery practices and being followed by a man, a flasher etc - the usual things really taken over 35 years of wandering about in the great outdoors but although scared I have never got so terrified that I couldn't get myself out of danger.

Yet this occassion I was terrified out of all proportion to the threat, if you see what I mean. I know we humans have fears about the primeval forests but the places I've been - tons of woods - even Badger watching alone and that sets your senses on red alert - yet none have ever come close to this experience. I was just curious as to whether other folk had an outstanding scary experience and an explanation for it

Pauline

[AndyC]

I think Black Rabbit’s theory is close to an explanation most of the time but I’m also sure there are times when we know for certain that something will happen and there are no signs anywhere.

I’ve had it a few times, always when fishing (that is hardly surprising, fishing is about the only thing I concentrate 110% on!). Once I was salmon fishing on the river Camel in Cornwall with a friend. Neither of us had even seen a fish and the other anglers we met were full of doom and gloom. By the middle of the afternoon I’d just about had enough and was ready to pack it in, but as I was watching my friend fish down a small pool (about 50 yards long) I suddenly knew that I would get a fish if I tried there after him. It wasn’t a case of thinking I might get one I knew I would, and I did.

I’m not very keen on spiders (bloody terrified, big girl!) and my ex wife was the same yet it was always me who spotted them first in the house. Sometimes the arrival of a monster on the living room carpet would be foreshadowed by a vague feeling of unease…

Andy

[paulchandler6]

Just an example. A couple of week ends ago I was out at Warburg NR, in the middle of the wood when I had a feeling something was watching me. I crouched and looked around expecting a Deer or something when I noticed a Hare about 10 metres from me crouched in the leaf litter looking in my direction. We looked at one another for about 5 seconds before it ran off.

Paul