Signs and Such

[Sobeq]

Got to thinking today. There are some folk who refuse to believe that anything that happens in the real world could ever be a sign from Diety (pick yours :)). But here we go. This is hypothetical:

If I notice that for 4 days straight as I walk down the street from my dorm to my first class, a crow is sitting on the telephone wire in the same spot every time, I might notice this very suddenly and strongly, and consider it a sign. Someone else might rationalize it. Perhaps he built a nest there. Perhaps there's a new source of food there. Etc, etc, etc. What I would then have to ask is: Why did he build his nest there? Why is that new food source there?. They could obviously answer those questions, but I could still ask why. Why not another tree? Why not another source of food? The questions go on and on until eventually, the sign-shooter-downer will hopefully back down, leaving me and my sign alone.

Real life example.

When I was first looking down a Pagan path, I was out very late at night with my stepsister on New Year's Eve/Day. I had been wondering and talking with Whomever would listen to me about whether or not I was on the right track. I took a picture of the moon, both before and after midnight, on a whim. The moon was a different colour after midnight than before. Now, there's lots of explanations for this. A glitch in the camera, a smudge on the lense, atmospheric differences, or all of the above. I chose to accept it as a sign, because firstly, why the heck did I try to take pictures of the moon, anyway? Secondly, if it were a glitch in the camera -- Why then? Same for the smudge. Thirdly, if it were atmospheric differences -- well, it was only about 10 or 15 minutes apart, which I know is enough to change where the moon is in the sky, but not THAT much. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I still have the other two points.

So you see, then -- signs are also in the eyes of the beholder. Two people may see the same thing, but only one may get it as a signal from a higher power.

These have been my musings on the art of finding signs in everyday life. What do you think?

[wintermagick]

That's exactly how I pretty much see things like this. My mind jumps to rationalize immediately, but then is always followed with, "Yeah, but..."

[sweetfairy]

interesting.... always good to watch in the process you might find out more :)
i like how you think....
think outside the glass box and you will see a whole new perspective

[Amelserru_halqu]

Ahh... the magus knows that there is no such thing as coincidences, only the illusion of appearences.

[Theres]

it seems to me that these so-called "signs" can be rationalized into existence just as easily as they can be rationalized away.

coincidences DO exist... in a balanced universe they have to.

[morningstar2651]

Everything happens for a reason, whether or not we can discern what that reason is.

For example, there is myrmomancy - divination by ant behavior. You can learn a lot just by studying ant behavior. For example, many colonies will become very active before a rainstorm. They know it's coming before we do, and they build a dike to keep the rain out of their colony.

[Moonlight's Daughter]

I beleive in signs. For example, true story.

I was in my car, driving home and wondering if I was going to be working with a different patron goddess this year. A deer crossed the road right in front of me at that moment-I had to stop my car.

My first thought was ok, I will be working with Artemis. A week later, to clarify I asked the same question, driving the same way home. Another deer walked in front of my car, the exact same spot.

I have been working with Artemis as my patron goddess ever since.

[Sobeq]

it seems to me that these so-called "signs" can be rationalized into existence just as easily as they can be rationalized away.

coincidences DO exist... in a balanced universe they have to.

Admittedly, yes, they can. That's when you consider how coincidental it would be. Besides, I see lots of things that could be signs that I just sort of brush off. I saw a dead bug in the same spot of every landing on three floors on my way up to my dorm one day. I didn't read it as a sign, but someone could've.

[Tranquility]

What matters is what is important to you. If you feel it in your heart, then investigate it. Look up what crows symbolize, and ask for wisdom in a meditation. Don't be satisfied when you have read one website or one source. Personally learn (Meditation), read about Crows and behavior, and simply logically think about what it could be (as it appears you've done.)

My advice is not to worry about whether or not it was a sign. Investigate it casually, and if something makes sense or clicks, then it obviously had some importance.

[Psycmoe]

synchronicity

[Sobeq]

What matters is what is important to you. If you feel it in your heart, then investigate it. Look up what crows symbolize, and ask for wisdom in a meditation. Don't be satisfied when you have read one website or one source. Personally learn (Meditation), read about Crows and behavior, and simply logically think about what it could be (as it appears you've done.)

My advice is not to worry about whether or not it was a sign. Investigate it casually, and if something makes sense or clicks, then it obviously had some importance.

Heh, I've never felt very close to crows -- it was only a hypothetical situation to elucidate the concept I wanted to express. Signs usually require very little research, actually. If a sign's a sign, it's going to hit you over the head with a "THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR" brick. Example -- I'm meditating on the existence and form of the Gods. I've been toying on and off with whether or not I've been communing (for lack of a better word) with Shu (Egyptian God) or someOne else or what. All of a sudden, in an entirely still bedroom with no open windows, drafts, or fans, a breeze blows on my face. Sign.

Just my two cents, though.

[Sobeq]

synchronicity

Only if you notice it :)

[lady_fey]

Interesting topic.
I think that part of it is we might have been fairly oblivious to something the day before but something just makes us pause for a second to become aware of something new. Could be a whole host of reasons, each person is different so each reason might be different.

I think that our brain is pretty crafty. When something good happens, it makes note of it and stores the information. All of the information. Every single detail. So that when something good happens again, and again... pretty soon it forms a pattern. It does the same thing with bad stuff.
Our subconscious finds patterns. I think that evolution hath done this. Why? My very un expert theory is that it helps keep us alive. We not only use this function for superstition but we also use this function to find patterns that can truly keep us safe.

I'm all for one believing in what they want to believe and if seeing signs in something that I would consider quite mundane and not very important, then great! That sign probably worked wonders for that person's sense of well being which I can't argue with.

just my .02

[Crysiira]

I am a painter. I am very closely connected to anything that has to do with art. I see art in absolutely everything. Technically, by definition, art has to be something intentionally altered by human hands. I don't see it that way. I see art in the play of shadows on the wall. I see art in the way the light hits certain trees. I see art in the lonely, beat-up metal trash can in the corner of the vacant lot. Silly, no? But I see it.
It's the same thing with signs. You don't need anyone else's validation to tell you that yes, this is definitely a sign. All you need is your own deep feelings. Everything, in my opinion, is based on feelings. Half the "art" I see could probably also be seen as signs, and I pick up on that. There is definitely some things that happen on purpose.
In other words, don't worry, you're not alone in this sign-seeing. :hahugh:

[Gitli]

Hehe, very interesting indeed. I had i guess a sign, i think.....

I was walking in the woods, as of late I have been doing that often, right near my college campus if an amazing beautiful park. Anyway, last night I was bored, so I went walking about, I didn't actually intend to go to the park that night, but I just kinda walked there. When I entered the the wooded area of the park, there was a cloudy mist up. I continued to walk, and about 100 feet away from where I do my usual meditation, either a wolf or coyote appeared. Regardless, It walked right in front of me, about 10 feet away, and sat, looking straight at me. All I could do was stand there, my eyes were focused on to the animal's, they were almost a golden color. After about probibly 5 minutes, the animal just lowered its head, rose, and ran away. I was by far the closest encounter I had with an actual wild animal, well save for like rabbits and such, and I couldnt help but think, "What just happened?".

I always liked the shamanistic path, however, I kinda strayed away from it, cause when I figured out that the wolf had reflected my traits and personality, I also figured out that everyone that first looks into the path, wants a cool animal like a wolf. I guess I convinced myself that the wolf wasnt' my true guiding spirit, but now I think I'm sooo closely related to them its not funny.

Hehe, also, im a man of real logic, and I realized that over the last couple of years, I have been ignoring signs from my animal spirit, convincing myself that there was a logical reason for all of this. It is kinda like a brick to the face once you realise it :hahugh:.

[omar]

Old saying: One crow for news, two crows for mirth, three crows a wedding & four crows a birth.