Magic, ghosts, curses, astral projection, possession, demons/angels, occult powers. Is it real?

Could they be real? Possibly. Is it likely? No, it certainly doesn't seem likely.

But some people really do believe in this stuff. They'll have imaginary "experiences" with angels or spirits and think it is just as real as ground we walk on. But like someone else said, different believers will come to hold different ideas about spirits which they regard as "knowledge", not mere belief, yet it conflicts with what other believers regard as knowledge. So, obviously, it's not knowledge. It's belief, and most likely based on subjective imagined experiences.

The only way to "know" is to investigate systematically, rationally, objectively, measurably, and with great care and reasoning. This is the only way to develop any kind of reliable foundation of knowledge. This is just another way to say you're being scientific. Our knowledge may change, but our method doesn't. It's not reasonable to manufacture unnatural undetectable agents as explanations for events for which natural causes can be proffered. Why? Because such agents can't be investigated in any objective, measurable way, and better (simpler, more likely, measurable, testable) explanations are available So why appeal to spirits and angels as explanations under the guise of using reason? Or why call it knowledge?

The spirit of science is investigation and revealing the mysteries of the universe that are hidden. Certainly there is far more unknown about our universe than is known, and that's a thought that inspires every scientist. Scientists live for the unknown! And scientists know that they can't explain everything. Perhaps these paranormal things you mentioned are part of the unknown. I can't prove they aren't. But another part of using reason is to recognize that fantastic sounding ideas that stretch our ability to believe really need some great evidence behind them to warrant acceptance. For example, think of Quantum Mechanics. It's a very very strange theory that is really utterly bizarre compared to our everyday perception of reality. Yet, QM theory has been amazingly successful and supported by tremendous amounts of evidence. But contrast this with the paranormal -- are there tremendous amounts of evidence (evidence that can be duplicated, examined and tested) for these paranormal beliefs you mentioned? No, not at all. Not only are they not reproducible, they can't even be shown to be real even once in a scientific setting (that is, in a setting where objective knowledge may be obtained as opposed to subjective belief).

So again, the method of science does not and cannot disprove these things you mentioned, but the burden of evidence is on those who insist they do exist. There are many phenomena we have discovered using science, and many that we don't yet have full explanations for. But demons, angels, curses, etc., are not among them.

Sorry for the length.

While growing up (maybe 5 years old), my twin brother, baby sister (maybe like 1yo at the time) and my mom were all living in this fairly large house (2 story spacious place, although not luxurious).

I remember several creepy things happening, such as windows slamming shut, odd noises over the baby intercom, doors rattling, and overall creepiness. I NEVER EVER left my room when the lights were out. I remember my room being near the stairs, and it was incredibly creepy!

One specific thing I remember was this: my brother and I shared a bunk bed. I was on top, and he had bottom. One night I fell off or something. I don't remember hurting, but I remember waking up on the floor facing under the bed. Under the bed I remember a set of glowing red eyes. I don't recall them appearing as though they were human eyes, but what one would image being a beast, such as a wolf, or even a pig. I remember it had an evil look to it.

After seeing the eyes, I immediately jumped onto my brothers bed, woke him up, etc, etc, and we probably shared the bed that night (don't remember much afterwards, lol).

I remember my mom telling me how there were always noises of someone walking around, and that the dog got possessed so we had to get rid of it.

Back then, my mom did a lot of the tarot cards and meditation stuff.

I was young, so maybe some of it was my imagination. I've always been smart, so I don't think it was my imagination.

My mom has always had a tendency to over-react or exaggerate.

Take from it what you will though.

There is no objective evidence for paranormal or divine phenomena, but this doesn't in itself prove they don't exist. Controlled experiments have been conducted, and unexplained phenomena have been monitored and analyzed in real time, and all of the results have been explainable using conventional science. Although we haven't found anything yet that would indicate the existence of some vast source of cosmic energy that would manifest itself in ghosts, ESP, miracles, etc., we certainly don't know everything there is to know, and objective research in this area would certainly add to our knowledge.

"Superhuman" feats are another matter entirely. Not only are the events themselves well documented, their cause is also well known. The biochemical response to a life-or-death situation is found in many animals and has obvious survival benefits. Neurochemistry and thought processes are also changed, and this may account for peoples' descriptions of being "possessed" or "detached" at the time.

personally i think that paranormal phenomena is possible. but when you talk about pk or tk what ever you want to call it you really go down to the basics, physics the main study of movement and probability is the mere essence of it all not mathematics or magic! and here is a full opinion that im giving you which i dire to such a very delicate subject among believers and non believers.when you think about it what makes all the stars move in the galaxy?what makes the gases in jupiter move? how do all the planets move in an oval pattern in the place we call the solar system?Gravity you say well them why can non sentient beings not control the forces of gravity and not us? in all sense gravity is just a word. by the way the only way for humans to prove hypothesis about the forces of gravity are in earths orbit whether or not you are in a station or on the moon! have all the researchers been to the supernova parking lot and witnessed first hand what happens to them and the energy's around them i think not! so truly i think that this subject should be held for only the most abstract thinkers or else it will all be absorbed into the not likely category that scientists all around the world seem to covet so much. and by the way sorry for the messy layout of typed thoughts and my way of thinking its like twelve o clock here and im on a roll with this^_^ happy pondering!!!!!!! mmm... what should i do next?

Adam B first off calling the curious idiots is not going to win your answer over or give you any credibility, secondly there's a strong difference between the words occult and A cult, occult originates from the Greek term for "Hidden" and there is nothing evil or satanic about it while A cult is a group of loonies. I've spent 10 years studying occult material. as far as angels and demons are concerned, most true occult texts will clarify that these terms are nothing more than metaphors for specific modes of thought which you can learn more about in books such as the goetia and the rituals used to invoke them are geared towards focusing the mind to think in a specific way using symbols to influence the subconscious mind

Most occult writings are nothing more than exercises geared towards training ones self to be self reliant and the ones that claim to be magic spells that can accomplish something by mearly thinking about it are the scammers. i suggest anyone here interested in a serious occult study begin by reading the tree of life by a man named Israel Regardie, he was one of the major turn of the century occultists (no related to a cult whatsoever and he would probably have dismissed such as loonies as well) who took many esoteric teachings shrouded in symbolism and explored them on a psychological level so that they could be used in a practical manner. also Book 4 by aliester crowley is another Great Work on the topic and even he stresses how anyone dealing with this aspect of study needs to keep a very healthy amount of skepticism in regards to anything paranormal

the only thing that i find amusing are some not so recent discoveries in the field of quantum physics that show how particles can behave differently depending on if they are observed or not but thats a field i am no specialist in and don't have the credentials to elaborate further on

as for astral projection, i would simply call it a form of extremely lucid dreaming or even daydreaming as I've experienced both quite frequently but there's no objective way to prove such a thing can have any effect on mundane physical reality

but what i find to be the most troublesome of paradoxes in the philosophy of all these things is that of subjectivity and objectivity. the main problem being that no one can prove either to be a definitive existence outside of their own mind and this can be argued until we're blue in the face but it comes down to the fact that you are not in my mind as i am not in yours so who are either of us to judge what we believe to be as real or just fantasy.

i could go on for hours on these subjects but if anyone has any specific questions you can instant message me on aol instant messenger as AshNineFallen and I'll do my best to offer any insight that is within my power.

remember everything does start as an idea but it takes many forms of effort to materialize it in this world, ask Nikola Tesla,Thomas Edison,or even led zeppelin.

Ashlar

Its NOT REAL, Although stupid people in the past have believed in them. Therefore Myths and legends they are now!

Occults often kill there believers, with a promise of heaven or immortality, or other lies, sometimes they don't even know they will die.

I don't believe there are demons or angels either.

Nor is there Ghosts, you die you get burried, if you come back visit me and prove me wrong!

They are all produced by scammers trying to make a quick buck out of other peoples tragegies.

P.s. If you can get powers get Chris Angel's Levitation Spell.. LMAO

I want to do that, but i'm sure its all just smoke and mirrors.

Are those things real? Well, I guess it depends on how you choose to define "real". To some people, merely perceiving or being cognizant of something is enough to declare something as real while others have more a more stringent definition of the word. For example, I don't consider something real unless it can be repeated, demonstrated, evidenced and exists independent of my opinion of it.

I don't think any of it is real because:

- there is little or no evidence to support it being real.

An anecdote or a sloppily done experiment are not evidence.

- many of those things go against known natural laws.

For example there is no way energy can be created and directed to move something just by thinking about it.

- paranormal things always behave illogically and inconsistently and evaporate with the old "it doesn't work like that" excuse.

e.g. Psychics never know the lottery numbers, mediums only ever get "a name with a J sound and they're showing me a cake"

I have said it before many times and I will say it again. I have been a Witch for over 10 years. I have worked with Divine beings, including Angels and I will not say that I believe they are real, I know that they are real. I have had many personal experiences with working with Divine beings. I have also had unfortunate experiences with negative entities. I have witnessed two possessions and I know that's what I witnessed because there were other witnesses and things happened that can't be explained away by 'craziness'...people's eyes don't change color when they go crazy and they don't know what someone else is doing at that moment across town.

Anyways, I may not fully understand how it all works but I do fully know that it does work and things like this do exist.

I don't think I have powers beyond human capacity, I think all humans are capable of being psychic to some degree.

I don't think that being able to cast spells is supernatural. I have cast many a spell that has manifested wonderfully for me but I don't see myself as being above other people. Mind over matter is an amazing thing. Learning to manifest your desires is very empowering and I don't think that these things are supernatural...you are just tapping into who you really are on a soul level.

I think that the only time that a curse can actually work is when the other person is aligned with the caster in some way. That could be that the intended victim needs to learn to take back their power, take control of their life, or get over certain fears...or the person could have had a big dose of bad karma coming to them from something that they did wrong and they got it through a curse being put on them. At the same time, the person who the put the curse on them has lessons to learn about negativity, one's free will and the karma backlash that they will most certainly get by doing it.

Frankly, I don't care if skeptics 'get it' or not. They can go on and on about how it hasn't been scientifically proven, however, no group of reputable scientists have tried to approach the paranormal in a way that would get them the proof they are looking for.

I know it's possible to get results because I get them. I also don't try to fit the how and why into a scientific box though. As long as the result is correct, I don't mind not knowing or understanding the how.

One reason that it makes me upset that people lean on science not proving any of this yet as being proof that it doesn't exist is that science is always evolving, always learning and discovering new things. It is not fixed.

For example, for decades, we believed the the Andromeda was much, much larger than the Milky Way. We just recently discovered that the Milky Way is as big if not bigger than the Andromeda.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Space/wireStory?i...

I only mention that to say that science and what we have yet to discover, what is possible and impossible is not written in stone and is constantly changing in our world.

The only thing that I don't have first hand experience with (from your list) is casting a protection spell on myself and then having my endurance tested etc. I wont judge it to be untrue but I think it would have more to do with mind over matter, not a protection spell...but that is just an opinion based on my own experience.

As far as curses are concerned, I have only been on the receiving end and looking back I know that I had to experience it for my own good, to make me stronger, believe in myself more and to fear less. It is one of the greatest lessons of my life.

I think that everyone should be searching within themselves for their sometimes dormant capabilities and attempting to wake them up. I think that everyone should be looking beyond the surface of our reality to better understand and to find personal proof that the other side exists.

I think that many people are afraid of such thoughts for three reasons.

1. Having to take true responsibility of your own life and your actions.

2. Having to admit that maybe human kind is important, maybe there is a bigger picture and maybe we do fit into a bigger story than just our short life spans here on Earth.

3. Having to admit something is real that you cannot yet explain.

Number three is the exact opposite of the way that science operates. Science tends to say something doesn't exist, or their is no proof of it existing because they can't explain it. They will only admit something exists when they can explain why it does.

For some reason, the thought of that, even when they do see proof and/or results, bothers them. That's when they make excuses like "Oh, that was just a fluke." or "There is an explanation for this, we just don't know what it is yet but it is certainly not paranormal." or "It's only real if we can get it to happen ten more times in a row."

That to me, is approaching the paranormal and the occult in a very close minded way and that's why they haven't gotten very far.

*big sigh*

The most scientifically proven areas include dream telepathy http://www.lucidity.com/

telepathy Standish et al., 2004; Wackermann et al., 2003; Sabell, et al., 2001; Grinberg-Zylberbaum et al., 1993;

psychokinesis at the quantum level: "Psychoenergetic Science," Dr. William A. Tiller, http://www.tiller.org/

(Btw, these experiments are well-designed, double-masked, etc.)

Vipassana meditation practitioners ("Meditation for Beginners" is one primer) have been measured in scans to regularly enter high gamma wave states, which are otherwise rare and correlated with intuition, creativity, and excellent problem-solving skills. Tibetan Buddhist monks, in this state, telepathically receive information, often unique and verifiable, from Dakini beings, who open and close telepathic communication, rather than the monks' doing so.

"Autobiography of a Yogi," Yogananda, has chapters on divine science, and biographies of the scientist Tesla note his psi abilities.

http://www.noetic.org/

http://www.sheldrake.org/

http://www.tcm.phy.cam.ac.uk/~bdj10

http://www.quantumbrain.org/

http://www.divinecosmos.com/

http://www.johnofgod.com/

http://www.carolbowman.com/ and

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/ are some sites.

"The Masters and Their Retreats" and "The Path of the Higher Self," Mark Prophet,

"The Master of Lucid Dreams," Dr. Olga Kharitidi,

"Extraordinary Knowing," Dr. Elizabeth Mayer,

"Testimony of Light," Helen Greaves,

"In Heaven So on Earth," M. Scott Peck, M.D.,

"Life before Life," Jim Tucker, M.D.,

"PK Man," Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove,

"Hope for the World: Spiritual Galvanoplasty," O. M. Aivanhov,

"Secret History of Consciousness," Gary Lachman,

"A History of Last Night's Dream," Rodger Kamenetz,

and "The Reincarnation of Edgar Cayce?", Free and Wilcock, are all interesting.