Seeing the world differently.

[Annie Roonie]

This article on synaesthesia interests me for many reasons, a few concern some divinatory, shamanistic, and magical practices.

I wonder if people are drawn to those three things because they might utilize some synaestetic abilities. And that doing so might be pleasurable on some level even given the difficulties that might be involved.

I also wonder how many who do these things know if they have synaesthesia of some sort or if they don't at all. And how many might have gained it knowingly or unnknowingly by maybe traveling to the uncon frequently. I remember someone on the mystery sig talked about people whose heads are open and was reminded of it reading the article.

The article interests me on a personal level because I have something of this and know I used to have something more too, and I blocked it consciously until I didn't have it anymore. That one is very memorable because it was a public humiliation in fourth grade. Equations were on a chalkboard and we had to go up and solve them in front of everyone four at a time. I'd always just write the answer and not show my work. This was required and I did not understand it, I just knew the answer because I saw it. I was accused of cheating, then of being a smart ass, and then of being insubordinate. So I learned the way they wanted me to put the numbers down. I sucked at that and continued to suck at it through college. Honestly, I didn't even like seeing the answers before being humiliated. I never really thought much of math prior to the fourth grade. Seemed like busy work. I preferred worms, fishing, imaginary friends and considerable amounts of dirt. It was easy even preferable to block.

What do you think about this kind of thing? Do you think misattribution of cause could lead some to think they were/are being given divine information? What if Melody of channeled gem book fame shroomed her way to synaesthesia concerning energies and rocks? What if right brained uncon functions are capable of being affected by synaethesia? Could being a spirit worker, a healer or a diviner one day be a job classification with a general public legitimacy beyond "for entertainment purposes only" in the fine print? (Assuming there would be a way to prove abilities.) How cool would that be? Or how awful?

I know it is a silly game of what ifs, but if you have the time and want to ponder it or share any thoughts, I'd read 'em and appreciate 'em.

[Maia]

This article on synaesthesia interests me for many reasons, a few concern some divinatory, shamanistic, and magical practices.

I wonder if people are drawn to those three things because they might utilize some synaestetic abilities. And that doing so might be pleasurable on some level even given the difficulties that might be involved.

I also wonder how many who do these things know if they have synaesthesia of some sort or if they don't at all. And how many might have gained it knowingly or unnknowingly by maybe traveling to the uncon frequently. I remember someone on the mystery sig talked about people whose heads are open and was reminded of it reading the article.

The article interests me on a personal level because I have something of this and know I used to have something more too, and I blocked it consciously until I didn't have it anymore. That one is very memorable because it was a public humiliation in fourth grade. Equations were on a chalkboard and we had to go up and solve them in front of everyone four at a time. I'd always just write the answer and not show my work. This was required and I did not understand it, I just knew the answer because I saw it. I was accused of cheating, then of being a smart ass, and then of being insubordinate. So I learned the way they wanted me to put the numbers down. I sucked at that and continued to suck at it through college. Honestly, I didn't even like seeing the answers before being humiliated. I never really thought much of math prior to the fourth grade. Seemed like busy work. I preferred worms, fishing, imaginary friends and considerable amounts of dirt. It was easy even preferable to block.

What do you think about this kind of thing? Do you think misattribution of cause could lead some to think they were/are being given divine information? What if Melody of channeled gem book fame shroomed her way to synaesthesia concerning energies and rocks? What if right brained uncon functions are capable of being affected by synaethesia? Could being a spirit worker, a healer or a diviner one day be a job classification with a general public legitimacy beyond "for entertainment purposes only" in the fine print? (Assuming there would be a way to prove abilities.) How cool would that be? Or how awful?

I know it is a silly game of what ifs, but if you have the time and want to ponder it or share any thoughts, I'd read 'em and appreciate 'em.

 
This is something I get quite a lot. All four of my senses (I don't have vision) will set off the others. When I hear certain things, especially music, I can feel it as a physical sensation (it depends on the music whether it's good or bad). Smell is another one which can be triggered by, and trigger, the other senses, sometimes with overwhelming force. When I was little I used to complain about weird smells and people touching me who weren't there, whispering voices, this sort of thing.

[Annie Roonie]

This is something I get quite a lot. All four of my senses (I don't have vision) will set off the others. When I hear certain things, especially music, I can feel it as a physical sensation (it depends on the music whether it's good or bad). Smell is another one which can be triggered by, and trigger, the other senses, sometimes with overwhelming force. When I was little I used to complain about weird smells and people touching me who weren't there, whispering voices, this sort of thing.

 

Thanks for responding! This is interesting. It is frequently said other senses find a way to compensate for one that is missing or diminished or different from the typical, but I after some interaction with people of different abilities I kind of feel like "compensate for" might be a little patronizing because as you have described some things here, it is not as much a compensating thing as it is entirely different perceptions.  I think different perceptions of shared realities can be fascinating.

I admit I am very curious about which songs or music genres feel pleasant and which ones feel unpleasant. And what kinds of smells you would hope to avoid or enjoy encountering due to what they evoke in your senses. But if it is too much of prying to go into it, no worries! It's got to be tiring to talk about it some times.

[Maia]

Thanks for responding! This is interesting. It is frequently said other senses find a way to compensate for one that is missing or diminished or different from the typical, but I after some interaction with people of different abilities I kind of feel like "compensate for" might be a little patronizing because as you have described some things here, it is not as much a compensating thing as it is entirely different perceptions.  I think different perceptions of shared realities can be fascinating.

I admit I am very curious about which songs or music genres feel pleasant and which ones feel unpleasant. And what kinds of smells you would hope to avoid or enjoy encountering due to what they evoke in your senses. But if it is too much of prying to go into it, no worries! It's got to be tiring to talk about it some times.

 
My favourite music genres are folk and folk rock. My least favourite are heavy metal and the like. I really can't listen to that stuff, it's just painful, literally painful. If the purpose of good music is to lift your spirits in some way, the purpose of that type of music is to do the opposite. It gives me stabbing pains.

There's a funny smell I get when I'm depressed, which I hate. I can't really describe what it's like, it's not similar to any other smells I can think of. It's just very depressing. Other emotions have smells too, but the depression one is the worst.

[Sarkana-night]

My favourite music genres are folk and folk rock.

 
Do you know "Blackmores Night"? It a music group who sings/plays folk and folk rock music. Mostly they take old folk songs and mix them a bit up with rock, but they also just play them as they are.

[Waldhexe]

Do you know "Blackmores Night"?

I know them, lovely music!

[SunflowerP]

Do you know "Blackmores Night"? It a music group who sings/plays folk and folk rock music. Mostly they take old folk songs and mix them a bit up with rock, but they also just play them as they are.

 
I'mma guess that Maia will probably want to steer clear of the music Ritchie Blackmore was doing before Blackmore's Night, though.

Sunflower

[Rhyshadow]

I'mma guess that Maia will probably want to steer clear of the music Ritchie Blackmore was doing before Blackmore's Night, though.

Sunflower

 
Oh come on, Deep Purple and Rainbow are CLASSICS

I pretty much love everything (sans CW and Rap)

And yes, Blackmore's Night is great - got several of theirs on my MP3 now, along with Altan, Capercaillie and Gaelic Storm

[SunflowerP]

Oh come on, Deep Purple and Rainbow are CLASSICS

 
Oh, I'm fine with that; I'm an old prog-rocker/headbanger.  But I found it deeply amusing that, after Maia'd said, "My favourite music genres are folk and folk rock. My least favourite are heavy metal and the like," the first folk-rock rec that came up was that particular one.

Sunflower

[Annie Roonie]

There's a funny smell I get when I'm depressed, which I hate. I can't really describe what it's like, it's not similar to any other smells I can think of. It's just very depressing. Other emotions have smells too, but the depression one is the worst.

 
Here's to that funny smell staying away.

Sometimes people don't acknowledge their emotional states and act in ways that belie how they truly feel. I think of a few friends who deal with grief in ways many people do not understand. They get wild and carefree and sometimes reckless. I don't judge the way people grieve by the way (these friends acknowledge these things about themselves), it just struck me that if an emotion came with a smell, that no matter the behavior, the person might have to face certain emotions in a more expedited way no matter how another part of them wants to face things. Depending on the person this might not be helpful. It's moot for those who do not have this, but I admit to not being sure I have the mettle to be faced with another sense telling me something I would rather put off be it grief or something else.

[woodhick]

The article interests me on a personal level because I have something of this and know I used to have something more too, and I blocked it consciously until I didn't have it anymore. That one is very memorable because it was a public humiliation in fourth grade. Equations were on a chalkboard and we had to go up and solve them in front of everyone four at a time. I'd always just write the answer and not show my work. This was required and I did not understand it, I just knew the answer because I saw it. I was accused of cheating, then of being a smart ass, and then of being insubordinate. So I learned the way they wanted me to put the numbers down. I sucked at that and continued to suck at it through college. Honestly, I didn't even like seeing the answers before being humiliated. I never really thought much of math prior to the fourth grade. Seemed like busy work. I preferred worms, fishing, imaginary friends and considerable amounts of dirt. It was easy even preferable to block.

 
That used to happen to me too with math and I used to get in trouble by the teachers. I never saw the point of showing my work if I had the answer in front of me. I was accused of cheating, especially on tests. It was hard to explain what was going on, who believes a kid when they said that they can see the answer. As I grew up though it disappeared. I wish I still had the math thing thought, it would have helped me pass biostats in college and I wouldn't have been as stressed.

Now maps are a different story, I can look at the landscape and "see" it from above or look at a topographical map and "see" it as if I am standing there in the map. It is almost like I am floating. I have learned to control the seeing the landscape from above, and tune it out completely when I don't want to (like when I am driving).   I am not sure if this fits into synaethesia or not, but I haven't met anyone else that this happens too.

There are have been quite a few shows on PBS on synaethesia lately and I am intrigued.