Phenomena (Do doo be-do-do)

Every now and then my life seems to wander back into the mildly weird lane. Not the “Scully, you’d better see this” kind of weird. Just strangeness. High strangeness at times. Eyebrow raised, but not calling a priest.

Over the past couple of years, that kind of weird has started happening again. For starters, I’ve seen a few more UFOs. No close encounters of the third kind. Not even close encounters of the second. Odd‑shaped craft without wings, jets or rotors. A few lights in the sky doing things that lights in the sky aren’t supposed to do. Sudden stops. Hovering far too long. The sort of thing that makes you go, Hmmm.

Then there are the dreams.

Every so often I’ll have a dream about something completely mundane, and a few days later it happens in real life. Nothing world‑changing. Just little moments,  but so strangely specific they simply cannot be coincidental. Odd enough to make me wish they came with lottery numbers.

Objects have been joining in the fun, too. A book shifted when no one was near it. It moved in a way that felt pointed, like it was trying to get my attention, or like something was sending a message. I flicked through it and found a friend’s old business card tucked inside. I spent a while trying to find meaning in that. Nothing. Then I explored the title of the book, hunting for clues. I suppose can just about build a case, if I really try.

And then there are the synchronicities. Convergences. A name that pops up in four completely unrelated situations. An image I’m thinking about suddenly appearing in real life. Not dramatic enough to build a conspiracy theory around, yet, but persistent enough that I’ve started paying attention. One or two is coincidence. Three is interesting. Five or more feels like the universe is telling me to wake up and pay attention. None of this forms a pattern I can point to. Nothing adds up. And I'm not try to force a solution. I’m definitely not in the garage with photographs, files, and red string, but I am sitting here and listening.

Sometimes the world just gets a little frayed around the edges. A bit more alive. A bit more playful. It starts to unravel, and we catch glimpses of its other layers. As I said, this has happened before. It reminds me of other times in my life when odd things clustered together; Japan, certain periods in Melbourne, a few moments in Lincoln. Someone seems to crank up the strange from time to time, and I can’t help but notice it.

I’m not worried. I’m not looking for explanations. I’m certainly not looking for Cancer Man. I’m just paying attention and listening, because sometimes that’s all you can do. Wait. Watch. See what occurs next. Something is happening. Something is building. Something odd. Something curious. And, I hope, something wonderful. 

Honestly? I’m kind of enjoying it.

C'mon, Pass the Tinfoil!

I was once accused of being a conspiracy theorist on the basis of a UFO sighting.

OK, so 'accused' is a pretty strong word, but it's how I felt at the time. Someone, who is a conspiracy theorist, heard that I had seen a UFO and had a ghostly experience, and said something along the lines of, "I didn't know you were part of the tinfoil hat brigade.  You're one of us."

At that time I had seen a UFO (since then I have seen several more), and had 5 or 6 ghostly encounters. I'd also had a bunch of other occurances I simply couldn't explain. But I never considered myself a tinfoil hat wearer. I mean, I know the earth is spheroid, I know we went to the moon, and I know Paul McCartney didn't die in an accident in 1966 only to be replaced by William Campbell.

So it was strange to be considered a conspiracy theorist.

I was recently called cynical in regards to a comment I made about a situation. Yup, I stand by that comment, and having worked in government departments for many years, and seeing a couple of managers with little integrity, I do believe that some things are manufactured.

Project Blue Beam? Not a chance. But I do believe governments know more about UFOs than they are letting on. In fact, there are conspiracies to manufacture events, there are conspiracies to keep information from us, and there are people in power who lie about things so they and their friends can profit from us.

I'm reminded of the old adage, "Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not after you."

I'm off to listen to some Wings albums. Surely William Campbell couldn't have maintained that same high standard through the seventies.  Could he?

Things That Went Bump In The Night.

I spent the weekend at Aradale as part of the AHWA Creative Retreat. It was fantastic to finally meet up with people I'd met online as well as new people. And, to top it all off, we got to spend quality time together exploring these amazing old buildings.

Aradale, a deserted asylum from the 1860s, has a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Australia. As with most 19th Century institutions, there are many stories of pain, a history of suffering and abuse. But we need to always remember that there is also a history of love and caring as well. We were fortunate enough to bump into a woman in town who'd spent twelve years working there as a psychiatric nurse, and I thank her for the stories she shared with us.

Along for the weekend we had members of the Australian Paranormal Society who undertook investigations. They were a couple of great guys who took pains to ensure their investigation was as scientific and thorough as possible. All natural causes are considered first. Always.

Despite that, it seems they managed to get some great readings, as well as some anecdotal encounters from the weekend. I also suspect they have a lot of audio and video to work through.

I didn't see a ghost, but I did have three minor experiences that I cannot logically explain - one physical, two audible. And I have to admit that the atmosphere, the history, the reputation and my own anticipation and expectations made me look for things to happen. And yet, if I remove every single possibility, there is still one incident that cannot be explained in any way.

And I know of great stories that happened to those around me.

Even if none of it ever really is supernatural, it was a fantastic experience and opportunity to meet up with other writers in the realm in which we write.

Thanks to my fellow attendees for sharing the experience, Nathanial and Adam at Aradale Ghost Tours for leading us through the weekend, Bill and Lionel from Australian Paranormal Society for their efforts, and mostly to GNBraun (and family) for the organisation and leadership.

See you next year, I hope.