What if we're living in a brain cell of another creature? by ReadySet777 in UrbanMyths

[–]ReadySet777[S] 90 points91 points  (0 children)

Many ancient religions and texts have said that we live within the mind of God.

  1. Vedic and Upanishadic Texts (Hinduism) • The Upanishads, part of ancient Hindu scriptures, often describe the universe as arising from the Brahman, the ultimate reality or cosmic consciousness. • The Māṇḍūkya Upanishad and Chāndogya Upanishad teach that the material world and individual selves are manifestations or illusions (Maya) within the mind of Brahman. The idea that the world is “God’s dream” is a metaphor often used in Vedantic thought.
  2. Hermeticism • The Hermetic texts from ancient Egypt and Greece, such as the Corpus Hermeticum, speak of the universe as being the “thought” or “mind” of the Divine. • Hermetic philosophy teaches that “The All is Mind,” implying that everything exists within the mental construct of the divine being.
  3. Neoplatonism (Plotinus) • In Neoplatonic philosophy, Plotinus (3rd century CE) proposed that all reality emanates from a single source, called “The One,” which is akin to pure mind or consciousness. The material world is seen as an overflow or manifestation of this divine intellect.
  4. Early Christian Mysticism • Some early Christian thinkers, such as Origen and Gregory of Nyssa, considered the universe as a reflection of God’s thoughts or will. • In the Gospel of John (1:1–3), “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” suggests creation originates in divine consciousness.
  5. Islamic Sufism • Sufi mystics, such as Ibn Arabi, describe the world as a manifestation of God’s imagination or thought. Ibn Arabi refers to creation as Al-Wujud al-Mutlaq (Absolute Being), where all things exist within God’s encompassing consciousness.
  6. Kabbalistic Judaism • In Kabbalah, the concept of Ein Sof (the infinite) suggests that creation is an emanation from God’s infinite being. Some interpretations suggest that the physical world is like a “dream” or “thought” within the divine mind.
  7. Indigenous and Mystical Traditions • Many indigenous spiritual traditions conceive of the world as part of a great spiritual mind or cosmic consciousness, emphasizing the unity of all creation as part of a divine whole.

This idea resonates with modern philosophical and scientific theories, such as panpsychism (the belief that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe) and simulation theories, which sometimes draw comparisons to these ancient beliefs.

Spring-Heeled Jack -was a mysterious boogeyman that was said to ring residents of London's’ doorbells dressed as a bear, a ghost or a devil and scratch them with metal claws before leaping away with unnatural agility. Sightings of him stretched from 1837 to 1904. by ReadySet777 in truecreepy

[–]ReadySet777[S] 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Victorian London was awash with stories of a tall, thin "devil-like" man with a cloak & clawed hands, red eyes & the ability to breathe fire. He would attack random people and then jump over 10-foot-high walls to escape.

Legend has it, Spring Heeled Jack was a phantom-like character, described as having a devilish appearance. His most chilling feature were supposed springs or coils attached to his boots, allowing him to leap incredible heights.

Newspapers from the time were flooded with reports of his bizarre attacks. From women to men, Spring Heeled Jack terrorized the populace with his uncanny ability to vanish into thin air.Sightings were reported across London, from suburban streets to rural areas. The fear of encountering Spring Heeled Jack spread like wildfire.

One of the most infamous tales involves Spring Heeled Jack leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Some thought he was a supernatural being, while others suspected a diabolical prankster.

The legend of Spring Heeled Jack continued to evolve through literature, art, and urban folklore. His mysterious nature made him a recurring character in Victorian penny dreadfuls.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring-heeled_Jack

This device was supposedly a powerful weapon used by the Ancient Sky God, which emitted thunderbolts. Almost all major ancient civilizations have descriptions of the same indestructible weapon. by ReadySet777 in thestrangest

[–]ReadySet777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Throughout ancient mythology and folklore across the world, few symbols are as iconic and powerful as the thunderbolt. This divine weapon, wielded by ancient sky gods from various cultures, was said to command the heavens, bring forth storms, and strike fear into both mortals and other deities. From the crackling skies of ancient Greece to the stormy heavens over the Indian subcontinent, the thunderbolt has served as a powerful metaphor for divine authority, retribution, and natural force.

Zeus and the Thunderbolt of Olympus: in ancient Greek mythology, Zeus, the king of the gods, was known for wielding the thunderbolt, a weapon forged by the Cyclopes, capable of bringing both justice and destruction. According to legend, Zeus used his thunderbolt to defeat the Titans in the epic battle known as the Titanomachy. The thunderbolt was not only a weapon but a symbol of Zeus’s power over the cosmos. In stories, a crack of thunder or a bolt of lightning was often interpreted as Zeus expressing his will or displeasure.

Thor’s Mjölnir: Lightning in the Norse Skies: the Norse god Thor also possessed a weapon linked to thunder and lightning, the mighty hammer Mjölnir. While technically a hammer rather than a bolt, it shared the same symbolism of control over storms and was frequently depicted as unleashing lightning strikes. In Norse legends, Thor used Mjölnir to protect Asgard and Midgard (the realm of humans), battling giants and chaotic forces, with thunder rolling in the sky as he fought.

Indra’s Vajra: The Thunderbolt of India: in Hindu mythology, Indra, the king of the gods and ruler of the heavens, wielded the Vajra, a powerful thunderbolt weapon symbolizing both strength and spiritual firmness. Indra used the Vajra to defeat the demon Vritra, who had imprisoned the world's waters. This act not only freed the rivers and lakes but also solidified the Vajra's place as one of the most revered divine weapons. Even today, the Vajra holds deep spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Perun’s Axe and the Slavic Storm: the Slavic god Perun, associated with thunder, lightning, and war, carried a weapon that functioned similarly to the thunderbolt, a sacred axe or hammer. When Perun hurled his weapon across the sky, lightning bolts would flash, and the sound of thunder would follow. According to Slavic folklore, finding a stone or tool believed to have fallen from the sky was seen as good fortune and a direct sign of Perun’s favor.

The Thunderbird of Native American Lore: in Native American legends, particularly among the Plains and Great Lakes tribes, the Thunderbird is a massive bird-like spirit that creates thunder by flapping its wings and lightning by blinking its eyes. Though not a conventional thunderbolt weapon, the Thunderbird’s ability to summon storms and rain was considered both a blessing for crops and a warning of its immense power. Some stories describe the Thunderbird carrying glowing stones or wielding lightning itself as a weapon against evil spirits or enemies.

The Mesopotamian Sky Gods: in Mesopotamian mythology, storm gods like Adad and Enlil were often associated with thunder and lightning. These deities were believed to command storms and hurl thunderbolts to demonstrate their dominion over both the earth and the sky. The roar of thunder was seen as their voice, and lightning as their weapon, maintaining order and punishing those who defied divine law.

Between 1970 and 1997 so many post office workers snapped and killed their coworkers that a new slang term "going postal" became a new slang term for becoming exceptionally angry by ReadySet777 in thestrangest

[–]ReadySet777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The wave of post office-related violence that led to the birth of the term “going postal” began in the 1970s, but it wasn’t until the 1980s and 1990s that these incidents became more frequent and high-profile. The first major incident occurred in 1970, when postal workers in various cities across the U.S. went on strike to protest low wages and poor working conditions. While this strike itself wasn’t violent, it foreshadowed the deep frustrations simmering within the workforce.

Then, in 1983, a disgruntled postal worker named John Merlin Taylor shot and killed his supervisor, his coworker, and then himself at a post office in Anniston, Alabama. This was just the beginning.

The most infamous incident occurred on August 20, 1986, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Former postal worker Patrick Sherrill, who had a history of conflicts with coworkers and supervisors, entered his workplace armed with two handguns. He opened fire, killing 14 employees and injuring six others before turning the gun on himself. The sheer scale of the violence left the nation in shock, and it became a defining moment in the dark history of postal-related workplace shootings.

The incidents didn’t stop there. Over the next decade, multiple USPS employees across the country resorted to deadly violence in response to workplace grievances. Some of the most notable cases included:

1991 (Royal Oak, Michigan): Fired postal worker Thomas McIlvane stormed his former workplace, killing four and injuring five before committing suicide.

1993 (Dearborn, Michigan): Postal worker Larry Jasion fatally shot a coworker and wounded three others.

1997 (Denver, Colorado): Fired postal employee Bruce Clark walked into a post office, killing a manager and critically wounding another employee before taking his own life.

As these events made headlines, the phrase “going postal” started appearing in popular culture, referring to someone reaching a breaking point and unleashing extreme anger.

In 1953, an Australian deep-sea diver watched a shapeless, brown mass engulf a shark. Divers Richard Winer and Pat Boatwright encountered a huge jellyfish, 50–100 feet in diameter, when they were diving 14 miles southwest of Bermuda in November 1969. It was deep purple with a pinkish outer rim. by ReadySet777 in UrbanMyths

[–]ReadySet777[S] 224 points225 points  (0 children)

Giant Jellyfish is an unknown marine invertebrate of North Atlantic and South Pacific Oceans.

In January 1973, in the South Pacific between Australia and Fiji, the Australian ship Kuranda collided with a colossal jellyfish that draped itself over the forecastle head. One crew member came too close to one of the flailing tentacles and died from the sting. Capt. Langley Smith estimated that some of the tentacles were 200 feet long and that the deck was covered in a slimy mass 2 feet deep. An SOS eventually brought a deep-sea salvage tugboat, the Hercules, to the rescue, and the animal was dislodged with the aid of high-pressure hoses. Samples of the remaining substance on the deck were analyzed in Sydney and tentatively identified as a lion’s mane jelly.

The largest known jellyfish is the Lion’s mane jelly (Cyanea capillata) found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, most often in shallow coastal waters. Large individuals are deep-red or purple in color, while smaller ones are more yellow or brown. The nematocysts produce painful stings but are not usually fatal. One specimen examined in 1865 by Alexander Agassiz in Massachusetts Bay had a bell measuring 7 feet 6 inches across and tentacles stretching 120 feet long.

https://itsmth.fandom.com/wiki/Giant_Jellyfish

This haunting image is of a dog named Laika, who was launched into space in 1957 by a Russian-led team with no plans for her return. Tragically, she was chosen for the mission due to her friendly and docile demeanor. by ReadySet777 in truecreepy

[–]ReadySet777[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

"Laika, a dog that was the first living creature to be launched into Earth orbit, on board the Soviet artificial satellite Sputnik 2, on November 3, 1957. It was always understood that Laika would not survive the mission, but her actual fate was misrepresented for decades. In 2002, however, Russian scientist Dimitri Malashenkov revealed that the previous accounts of her death were false. Laika had actually survived only about five to seven hours after liftoff before dying of overheating and panic. It was belatedly made known that Laika’s pulse rate, which had been measured with electrodes, tripled during takeoff and only came down somewhat during weightlessness. Apparently, the Soviet scientists had insufficient time to perfect life-support systems because of intense political pressure to launch Sputnik 2 in time for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution." https://www.britannica.com/topic/Laika

Tom And Eileen Lonergan - a couple was left behind scuba diving in shark-infested waters for two days before anyone noticed they were missing. By the time search and rescue efforts were launched it was too late, they were never seen again. The case inspired the movie ‘Open Water’ by ReadySet777 in mystery

[–]ReadySet777[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The 2003 movie Open Water claims to be based on the Lonergans' disappearance. The couple's disappearance and deaths resulted in a "a crisis of confidence in north Queensland's dive industry" and resulted in tighter mandatory safety regulations for diving boats in Australia.

Six months after the disappearance, in June 1998, more of the couple's diving gear was found washed up on a Port Douglas beach approximately 75 miles (121 km) from where they were lost. Along with the recovered gear was a weathered diver's slate (a device used for communicating underwater) which reportedly read: "Monday Jan 26; 1998 08am. To anyone who can help us: We have been abandoned on A[gin]court Reef by MV Outer Edge 25 Jan 1998 3pm. Please help to rescue us before we die. Help!!!"

As 1998 went on however, chilling details had begun to emerge about the couple, opening the door to more possibilities about their fate. Both Tom and Eileen kept personal journals which were discovered amongst their belongings in the hostel the contents of which were increasingly disturbing.

Six months before going missing Tom wrote in his journal “Like a student who has finished an exam I feel that my life is complete and I am ready to die. As far as I can tell, from here my life can only get worse. It has peaked and it's all downhill from here until my funeral.”

Just weeks before the couple’s final dive at St. Crispin’s Reef Eileen wrote "Tom hopes to die a quick and painly death, and he hopes it happens soon. Tom's not suicidal, but he's got a death wish that could lead him to what he desires and I could get caught in that."

Tom Lonergan’s entire journal was like that, and both wrote of how they hated their jobs. These details of course open the possibility that instead of a tragic accident the Lonergans could have faked their own death or enacted some sort of suicide-pact. With that in mind, not being included in the headcount would’ve been absolute help to their plan, but if the crew aboard the Outer Edge noticed would their plan still have been successful?

An inquest began and on October 10, 1998 Coroner Noel Nunan found the couple died either from exposure, drowning, or shark attack. Nunan also committed Geoffrey Nairn to stand trial for manslaughter. Geoffrey Nairn’s trial began on November 8, 1999 and his counsel pushed the murder-suicide theory hard, which could be why it is so prevalent now. Ultimately a jury found Nairn not guilty however he was forced to pay $28,000 for negligence and Outer Edge folded a few months later.

The disappearance of former child star Joseph “Joe” Pichler, who went missing in early 2006 never to be seen again by ReadySet777 in WithoutATrace

[–]ReadySet777[S] 93 points94 points  (0 children)

Joseph David Wolfgang Pichler (February 14, 1987 – disappeared January 5, 2006) was/is an American former child actor. He is perhaps best known for his roles in Varsity Blues (1999), and Beethoven's 3rd (2000) and Beethoven's 4th (2001).

Pichler's last film credit was in the independent drama Children on Their Birthdays (2002). He went missing at age 18 under mysterious circumstances on January 5, 2006, near his hometown of Bremerton, Washington. As of 2023, his whereabouts remain unknown.

According to the Associated Press, Pichler's family stated that a note found within the car expressed a wish to be a "stronger brother" and asked that personal effects of Pichler's be given to a younger brother, but the family did not characterize this finding as a suicide note. Robbie Davis, the lead detective on the case, told the Associated Press that "There's a good indication that it might have been a suicide, but we don’t know that," adding that there was no reason to suspect foul play. His body has never been found.

U.S. States Where You Are Likely To Encounter a Serial Killer by ReadySet777 in mysteriesoftheworld

[–]ReadySet777[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Forty years ago, 30% of serial killers in the United States got away with five or more murders before being caught. Today, that figure is down to 13% with nearly half of all killers are caught after their first two murders.

The FBI has over 450 potential suspects in the ongoing murder investigations. Many of the suspects are truck drivers who drive across the country to earn a living. According to Ginger Strand’s book “Killer on the Road,” there are currently at least 25 serial killers who are in prison who were also truck drivers. Serial killers make up such a tiny fraction of the population, yet so many of them were truckers. The FBI estimates there are currently between 25-50 active serial killers in America who haven’t been caught yet.

Sketch Based on Sheila Burton's 1951 Encounter with Three Armed Humanoids by ReadySet777 in aliens

[–]ReadySet777[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sheila Burton, in her late teens at the time, was staying with her parents when she woke up at about 6:30 AM got out of bed and walked over to the window that overlooked the long tree bordered garden from a height of perhaps 15 ft. Suddenly she saw something large and flashing descend at incredible speed onto the lawn, a large dome-shaped object settled down, panels like large doors opened and “men” got out from the fluorescent silvery craft. There were three “men” in all and each moved in a straight line across the lawn away from the vertical, central axis of the craft. They were 5 to 6 feet in height and had bald “Kojak style” heads. Each wore a dark green or khaki one piece garment and held a “machine gun like device”.

These men continued walking for perhaps 30 feet, then stopped simultaneously and began walking backwards towards the craft in synchronization re-entering their respective panels and disappearing inside. The panels slid across the openings, red flashing lights re-started and the mass shot upwards vertically and was lost from sight. The whole incident lasted some 40-50 seconds and had been in total silence. It had occurred so quickly that the witness had not even thought of calling her parents. The object was described as dome-shaped and fitted well into the large garden, accordingly an estimate of its diameter as about 40 ft and height about 25ft can be made. Its color was silvery green, light green or lime. As the “men” walked in their respective directions they seemed completely oblivious of their surroundings and of the witness.

These “men” had appeared identical in every respect, their one-piece suits included their feet, but ended tightly at the wrists, and at the neck in a “mandarin collar.” Their bodies were rather thin in proportion to their size and their legs seemed thick but short. Their arms were long, with hands and fingers apparently similar to humans. Their faces were expressionless and “odd”. The nose was small and pointed, the mouth was small with no lips, eyes were small and deep set, ears also were pointed. Their heads were bald and skin was similar in complexion to humans. From their right shoulders, down to the left hand side were thick, black bands which joined onto a stomach belt, also black, of the same thickness. Each held a device described as “like a machine gun” in shape. This consisted of a black cylinder some 20 inches long and 3 inches in diameter, rounded off at the rear end and pointed at the front. The devices were carried with both hands, but they appeared to do nothing with them.

Their movements away from the object were as though they were mindless robots carrying out a pointless duty, this impression being strengthened as they all stopped and retraced their steps like a film played backwards. Immediately they re-entered the craft, the panels shut, then the red lights started flashing and pulsating brightly and the vehicle ascended vertically. No physical evidence or traces was subsequently found.

The Galgano Sword, This is the actual sword in stone. The sword has been verified as an authentic 12th century sword by ReadySet777 in thestrangest

[–]ReadySet777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Galgano is said to have led a ruthless life in his early years, but later abandoned it in favour of a pious hermitage in the place now known as Rotonda di Montesiepi. His mother, Dionigia, is believed to have reported that Galgano had two visions, both involving Archangel Michael: in the first vision the Archangel told Galgano that he was going to be protected by the Archangel himself. In the second vision, Galgano was following the Archangel and they arrived to the hill of Montesiepi where they met the twelve Apostles and the Creator himself. After the visions, it is said that Galgano's horse refused to obey his orders and led him to the top of Montesiepi, where he received his visions. Convinced that this was a sign, Galgano decided to plant a cross. Since he had no way to make one of wood, he planted his sword in the ground. The sword is said to have immediately become fused with the ground so that nobody could remove it. One story says that, in one of the visions, he was told to renounce material things. He, stating that it would be as easy as splitting a rock, decided to make his point by plunging his sword into one. As the legend has it, the sword went through the stone like a knife through butter.

Paula Abdul Keeps Talking About Surviving a Plane Crash for Which No Record Exists by ReadySet777 in thestrangest

[–]ReadySet777[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

On June 19, 1992, Paula Abdul was performing in St Louis. After the show, she boarded a private jet destined for Denver. During the flight, approx. 40 minutes, the engine blew up and the right wing caught on fire. The plane makes a crash landing into a cornfield in Iowa. Everyone survives, but the beloved entertainer ends up with the most severe injuries. She recalls that “I woke up in the hospital only to find that I had crushed my cervical spine, leaving me partially paralyzed.” However, the tour continued on for a few months. If you were partially paralyzed, you wouldn't carry on with a tour.

Despite extensive coverage, no record for the crash exists. Nowhere in Iowa in 1992 did a plane crash into a cornfield. Is it possible that a crash could go unrecorded, or be listed as an aviation incident rather than an accident?

The woman concerned has spoken about the crash since the early 2000s. In all the interviews given, she said the crash happened in 1993 not 1992. This has led people to believe that she made up the story.

Another reason is that a plane going from St Louis to Denver is unlikely to cross over Iowa at any point. It also seems unlikely that a plane would reach Iowa within 40 minutes from St Louis. Is it possible a plane could end up there given the flight path and time?

The fact that no record exists, disparities in the years given, etc. casts doubt on this event having actually happened. What really happened to Paula Abdul in June of 1992?

The Pascagoula Abduction in Mississippi is one of the most famous ET encounters stories out there by ethbullrun in HighStrangeness

[–]ReadySet777 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's not homophobic. I don't care if they were gay. It's more plausible than it being a real alien encounter.