Brain drain

[elaby]

We are getting things done for the wedding like crazy productive-type people. And it's like - I'm so excited I want to bounce but I'm also so tired I want to flop. Hormones and girly-pain are not making matters any better, but still, there is also BWEE.

And King Richard's! We're going to go... next weekend? Yes? I think?

Also I may be working at a soup kitchen one day in the near future instead of going to my normal job. Yay for corporate charity week! I will also be paying $7 to charity for the pleasure of wearing jeans next week, and some undisclosed amount in order to buy ice cream from our department head.

Also, I have a question for those of you on my almighty f'list who have psychic/metaphysical/ESP/etc leanings - How do you distinguish between when you have a "feeling" you should act on and when you have paranoia? I have lots of paranoia (not like the government conspiracy kind, but more like the irrational worry kind) so I feel I ought to figure this out. In the same vein, when you see something in your mind's eye, how do you distinguish between an impression you might be getting from the room/area and your imagination?

For example, once when I was having dinner at this hunting lodge way up in the woods, I went upstairs to the bathroom where the lodge rooms are and there was a dark window at the end of the hallway. I thought it felt very creepy up there, and I could "see" (in my mind's eye) flames reflected in the dark window. How do you tell when something like this is actually energy or memories you're picking up and when it's just your very vivid imagination?

I'm reading Christopher Penczak's The Inner Temple of Witchcraft and I like it lots. I like Penczak's style and approach lots, too. Must remember to bookcross these for hak42!

Comments

[materia-indigo.livejournal.com]

How to distinguish between psychic and psycho? Hmm ... I'm not sure there's an easy formula. I guess the thing to do is to pay attention to your feelings and impressions, and watch for patterns. Ask your higher powers for guidance, and maybe seek the advice of people you know and trust, too. I occasionally get creepy feelings in buildings. Ask about the history of that lodge. You may learn there was indeed a fire there. If you're getting visions or impressions that are distressing you, ask that you either get some clarification to make the impressions helpful, or that they leave you alone.

You are entering a significant time for change-of-life (your wedding), so you may be particularly sensitized right now. Try to keep your stress as low as you can.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you :) That's all really good advice. I think taking it slow and looking for patterns is a good idea.

[templarwolf.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how to do it either. in my experience, the feelings are very similar.

I do it all the time at the library, but I'm fairly certain that it's just my imagination there. My grandparents' place? I'm not so sure of, but it is a good 200 years old...

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I feel like they're similar too. I should just try to see which ones pan out and which ones don't, I guess.

I feel the same way about the library - I get freaky feelings there often, if the lights are off, but I don't particularly give them much credence.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you, this is incredibly helpful! I totally am much more pessimistic and likely to worry when I have PMS (though for some reason lately I haven't been paying attention and it sneaks up on me). Asking myself about likelihood is a good idea. You rock, thank you :)

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

I'd Say The Way To Differentiate Between Actual Psychic Warnings And Worry Is Whether Or Not You Feel It In Your Deepest Gut Rather Than Just In Your Head And Heart. Take A Moment, Breathe Deeply, Concentrate On The Feeling Or Issue And See Where You're Actually Feeling It. Always Trust The Gut. *Hugs*

[white-death.livejournal.com]

This is pretty much what I was going to say. General paranoia and 'I just watched a horror movie, so I'm a little skittish' feelings come from a different place than psychic impressions. For me, the first are from/in my head/brain and the second I can feel in my solar plexus and see with my third eye.

Knowing yourself is the most helpful thing. If you distrust or lack confidence in yourself and your abilities, you'll never really know which is which. Experience helps a lot. Eventually you'll figure out the different feel.

As far as imagination versus third eye, I'd say maybe the most helpful question to ask yourself is 'why would I make this up?' A little self-exploration goes a long way.

None of that seems terribly helpful. :\ But it is a tricky area.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

No, that is helpful. I'm glad to hear that it takes practice. With a lot of this stuff, I got the impression before I actually started researching it that some people can just do it naturally and other people have no talent at all, and you're one or the other. But from what I understand now, it takes development.

[white-death.livejournal.com]

With a lot of this stuff, I got the impression before I actually started researching it that some people can just do it naturally and other people have no talent at all, and you're one or the other.

Hahah, that's not true at all! It's usually elitist fam-trads who try to claim that sort of thing. I actually have a friend who's a very gifted witch where casting spells and divination are concerned, but she will tell you point blank she is 'deaf' as a post where sensing ghosts and other etheric beings/signaures are present. She's worked hard to get to where she can sort of sense these things sometimes now, so it is possible.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

That's great to know :) Thank you! I came to the same conclusion about the elitist types when I was reading about this stuff.

[white-death.livejournal.com]

Because you're SMART!
Man, I love when a fam-trad starts up like that. It's clear some people watched too much Charmed.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's great advice. My problem is that my head tends to get way ahead of everything else.

[queen-lily-rose.livejournal.com]

You're Welcome! Hope It Helps!