QUOTE(netzgewebe @ Nov 10 2006, 07:13 PM)
i told them, and they told me i was getting crazy! (IMG:
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This seems like a good place to say a little something on the topic of opening people's minds up to the paranormal. I take a little bit of pride in the fact that I have convinced dozens of very conservatively minded individuals, including a big chunk of my southern babtist extended family. People just need to be shown the right questions to think about in order to open their minds up to these experiences and thoughts about them. So, here are a few things I like to bring up when it comes to talking to someone 'new' about paranormal experience.
First of all, everyone has experienced minor paranormal phenomenon, we normally just brush it aside as coincidence. We've all gotten the same song stuck in our heads at the same time as someone else, knew who was going to be on the phone when we picked it up, had dejavu, read someone's mind, etc., at least once. These sort of minor coincidences are the best way to start up the conversation towards opening up.
Secondly, we all know what connection to things and people mean. We have parents, or lovers, or siblings, or best friends - most people understand that there is something more than physical in these connections, it's just considered a regular part of life and taken for granted. That comparison, though, makes it easy to see how we can be connected to more energy than just our own.
The clincher, usually, is to simply suggest, "what if?" What if it was real, but all that held you back was the inability to consider it might be possible? it's really hard to life a 350lb weight. Just because you can't do it when you've never worked out a day in your life, doesn't mean it's outside the range of human capability - it just means that you have to work at it. All you have to do is train yourself to do it, but of course it will remain impossible if you never try. So what's the harm in suspending doubt, for just a few moments, to actually give it a try. At worst you'll experience nothing, at the best you'll realize a whole new dimension of life that will make everything far more interesting.
It's true, that its a matter of manipulating people around to seeing something new. But, once you've opened up a friend's mind, they'll immediately be able to sense that there is indeed -something- happening, even if they can't tell what it is just yet.
I got my mom to feel energy in the areas of her body that were acting up, and consciously sense my sister's presence through the force. I got my grandmother to admit that she directs energy towards her goals without realizing it, and she described the feeling of channeling energy.
I brought it up here because my friends originally thought I was losing my mind when I started talking to them about these sorts of things, and for a long time I didn't know how to get them to consider it. once I did, though, we all were able to work together at developing and realizing our abilities.
Give your friends another shot, there's nothing better than helping someone else tap into their potential - except maybe being able to practice with someone who's already a little skeptical.
peace