A Really Strange Experience

I was reminded today of something that happened to me around nine years ago that I’ve never been able to explain or have anyone give me a rational explanation to it. 

I wrote about it in my book, here’s the relevant extract...

“About a year after the stroke I had a really strange experience. I awoke early in the morning and I had an overwhelming sensation in my head that seemed to be all pervading. It was of...(this sounds really strange) an area of north west France centred vaguely around Nantes! Obviously, the area is easy enough to describe but the scary feeling I had...not scary exactly, but the strangeness and unique nature of what I was experiencing scared me. What was happening? I couldn't really think anything else, more a strong sense rather than a thought, a thought you could normally shut off. This was like a strong bubble that filled my mind and any other thoughts that I had were diluted to maybe twenty percent of their normal strength. It was a strong sense of an area that I had no connection with more than anything else – but an unmistakeable one. The only thing I can compare it with is the way some songs or music can give a sense of a geographical place, but that doesn't dilute your other thoughts, and this was a much stronger 'sense'.”

I had one more similar event a few months later, of a different place and of far less ‘strength’. It was the strength of this one that made it rather ‘frightening’.

Comments most welcome.

A strong connection with a place or region might suggest having spent some time in that area - usually in the present lifetime of course, but it could conceivably have been a place where something charged heavy with emotion took place in the past.

At the risk of sounding a bit like a broken record (and my apologies for this), maybe a past-life connection?

Since yesterday and today I have been watching two different film versions of the life of Joan of Arc, my thoughts turn in the direction of the Hundred Years War.

A quick google search for "hundred years war Nantes" did turn up some results. But these are my interests and most likely have nothing whatsoever to do with you. This was one link I checked, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Champtoceaux

Of course it may be something far less dramatic that this, even so-called ordinary lives can have a powerful emotional content.

A strong connection with a place or region might suggest having spent some time in that area - usually in the present lifetime of course, but it could conceivably have been a place where something charged heavy with emotion took place in the past.

At the risk of sounding a bit like a broken record (and my apologies for this), maybe a past-life connection?

Since yesterday and today I have been watching two different film versions of the life of Joan of Arc, my thoughts turn in the direction of the Hundred Years War.

A quick google search for "hundred years war Nantes" did turn up some results. But these are my interests and most likely have nothing whatsoever to do with you. This was one link I checked, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Champtoceaux

Of course it may be something far less dramatic that this, even so-called ordinary lives can have a powerful emotional content.

Thank you Typoz. It’s something I have considered, but last time I mentioned it on a forum past lives were not on the menu! 

I haven’t spent any time in that region of France, only flying overhead frequently to and from the holiday destination further South in the past. I’ve no real interest in it either. That’s probably why I thought it was weird to have such a strong feeling, and I think it was a feeling rather than a thought. Impossible to describe how it felt. It lasted around a couple of hours too, it was by no means fleeting. 

Strange that I had forgotten about it.

Strange that I had forgotten about it.

There's actually a somewhat documented phenomenon of people having paranormal events "slip" their minds.

IIRC even some SPR researchers would surprise themselves when they went back to their notes regarding a particular medium.

There's actually a somewhat documented phenomenon of people having paranormal events "slip" their minds.

IIRC even some SPR researchers would surprise themselves when they went back to their notes regarding a particular medium.

Was it a ‘paranormal event’? 

At the time I never thought of it as such, in my mind I thought of it as another unusual neurological event among a number of such things after my stroke.

I was reminded today of something that happened to me around nine years ago that I’ve never been able to explain or have anyone give me a rational explanation to it. 

I wrote about it in my book, here’s the relevant extract...

“About a year after the stroke I had a really strange experience. I awoke early in the morning and I had an overwhelming sensation in my head that seemed to be all pervading. It was of...(this sounds really strange) an area of north west France centred vaguely around Nantes! Obviously, the area is easy enough to describe but the scary feeling I had...not scary exactly, but the strangeness and unique nature of what I was experiencing scared me. What was happening? I couldn't really think anything else, more a strong sense rather than a thought, a thought you could normally shut off. This was like a strong bubble that filled my mind and any other thoughts that I had were diluted to maybe twenty percent of their normal strength. It was a strong sense of an area that I had no connection with more than anything else – but an unmistakeable one. The only thing I can compare it with is the way some songs or music can give a sense of a geographical place, but that doesn't dilute your other thoughts, and this was a much stronger 'sense'.”

I had one more similar event a few months later, of a different place and of far less ‘strength’. It was the strength of this one that made it rather ‘frightening’.

Comments most welcome.

About a year after the stroke... I'm guessing you were well rested and had a lot of free time for meditative introspection. I think this contributes to the vividness and emotional impact of dreams. Back in my college days and fundamentalist Christian days I used to have very vivid dreams, sometimes of places I'd never been and I attached some interpretations to them that were probably wrong. I did have a few that seemed precognitive, but most were just my well-rested introspective mind telling lively stories to itself.

These days I'm not well rested and over-stressed so most of my dreams go something like... "Ah!!! the cat's about to throw up on the bed! Shoo!" or "Ah! The baby is about to fall off the couch!" or "Ah! I forgot to do this thing at work!" Very lame.

Nantes by Beirut ...a good song!

About a year after the stroke... I'm guessing you were well rested and had a lot of free time for meditative introspection. I think this contributes to the vividness and emotional impact of dreams. Back in my college days and fundamentalist Christian days I used to have very vivid dreams, sometimes of places I'd never been and I attached some interpretations to them that were probably wrong. I did have a few that seemed precognitive, but most were just my well-rested introspective mind telling lively stories to itself.

These days I'm not well rested and over-stressed so most of my dreams go something like... "Ah!!! the cat's about to throw up on the bed! Shoo!" or "Ah! The baby is about to fall off the couch!" or "Ah! I forgot to do this thing at work!" Very lame.

Nantes by Beirut ...a good song!

Thanks Hurm.

I can’t remember anything before waking up, so the experience may have started while I was sleeping, but it definitely didn’t feel like a dream, or even the type of dream I might have,
(there was no story) and if it was there while I slept it didn’t evaporate quickly after I woke, but lasted a couple of hours before leaving me. It was all consuming. I think I felt frightened by the possibility of it being a pre-forecast of something neurological happening, but it wasn’t in itself frightening. As is often the case, my thinking made it worse!

I think the tune might grow on me btw.   (Edit : The just noticed the album is called The Flying Club Cup - another ‘coincidence’? -possibly. Also the cover picture is in black and white, appearing to feature a beach scene from a previous time.If it is, is it beyond the bounds of possibility that my consciousness previously occupied the body of the lady (or others) pictured? It’s just an interesting thought rather than a serious question. I have also found Beirut a name and place that hold some type of above average interest for me. I’m not making this up!  )

I think the tune might grow on me btw.   (Edit : The just noticed the album is called The Flying Club Cup - another ‘coincidence’? -possibly. Also the cover picture is in black and white, appearing to feature a beach scene from a previous time.If it is, is it beyond the bounds of possibility that my consciousness previously occupied the body of the lady (or others) pictured? It’s just an interesting thought rather than a serious question. I have also found Beirut a name and place that hold some type of above average interest for me. I’m not making this up!  )

I looked up ‘Beirut’, the band you featured. It appears to be basically one guy called Zachary Condon, the article I was reading says this about him…’ although as a young American obsessed by Europe…’ 

A further article headline brought a further synchronicity! 

https://www.loudandquiet.com/short/sweet...e-strokes/

Strokes -FFS!!!! 

Hurm, did you simply pick this song out because of the Title - Nantes? Or did you know some background ? 


Condon 

I looked up ‘Beirut’, the band you featured. It appears to be basically one guy called Zachary Condon, the article I was reading says this about him…’ although as a young American obsessed by Europe…’ 

A further article headline brought a further synchronicity! 

https://www.loudandquiet.com/short/sweet...e-strokes/

Strokes -FFS!!!! 

Hurm, did you simply pick this song out because of the Title - Nantes? Or did you know some background ? 


Condon 

I don’t know much back story on the band except they are from New Mexico. My wife and I like them and have seen them live. Also like The Strokes!

I’ve never heard of Nantes France except for in this song title so it was the first thing that came to mind. Also I kinda figured that with the rich symbolic content of music you might find something interesting or something synchromystical.  

Glad you enjoyed it! …or are at least trying to! lol