5 Things that Are Not Paranormal

What's more exciting than the idea of possessing paranormal abilities, or experiencing something so unusual it seems it must be supernatural in nature? Alas, there are a few common things that, although curious, in all likelihood, have a mundane explanation. Below are five common dynamics that are often taken as paranormal.

1. Dreams and experiences in the sleep state

My husband, Stephen Wagner, is a paranormal expert, and has been the guide to About.com's Paranormal site for a decade. It may actually be the largest depository on the web for ghosts and paranormal phenomena. Over the years, he has received thousands of stories from readers about their paranormal experiences.

By far, the most common type of stories he receives are associated with dreams, and the sleep state. Dreams by nature are full of weirdness, synchronicities, messages, strange encounters and circumstances, personal revelations, and meaning. Dreams can be both profoundly disturbing, and ridiculously blissful. But they're not paranormal, no matter how weird they are.

Aside from dreams, sleep in its various states can provide experiences that seem absolutely paranormal. Often reported are feelings of presences, strange shadows and sounds. Chances are, if these things are occurring within a sleep stage, including the stages directly before and after sleep, there's nothing paranormal at hand; they're likely an artifact of the mind, or misperceived events.

I know how convincing these phenomena can be. When I was about eight, I went through a period in which, upon waking, I would sometimes hear the sound of a girl or woman crying. The sound would actually stir me to wakefulness, but as I became more awake, the sound would fade. When I was fully awake, and wanted to focus on and make sense of it, the crying had disappeared completely.

This was disturbing, because the sound was real-someone was really crying. It wasn't my mother or sister-so who could it be? A spirit, perhaps? It might be an exotic idea, but the truth is, it was likely a sound my mind was manufacturing in a dream state. I have also been told I sometimes talk, laugh, and cry in my sleep sometimes, so there's a chance it could have been me!

So, if your anomalous experience begins with the phrase, "I was in bed..." chances are it's not actually paranormal.

2. Old Hag Syndrome

This is an event that is included in the dream and sleep state category, but it is such a pervasive phenomena with standard details that I felt it deserves its own mention. It goes like this: After sleeping, you wake up, seemingly completely, but are not able to move, despite all your efforts. You sense a presence, and may even feel movement on the bed, as if someone is climbing on.

It may at first be mistaken for a known cat, child, or other person. You feel an oppressive weight upon your chest, holding you down, perhaps that of the presence that climbed on the bed. It is difficult to breathe-this thing is killing you. You struggle, perhaps begin to lose consciousness even, and then...you wake up. The room is normal.

This is obviously some kind of demon, and an exorcism should be sought immediately, right?. Or-maybe it was some kind of alien abduction scenario. Maybe you are an abductee?

No on both counts. Although terrifying, this is a very common and ancient experience, having been recorded back to the 2^nd century. It is nicknamed "Old Hag Syndrome," (it was thought in early days to be an evil witch) but is clinically considered an event related to sleep paralysis, and not paranormal. If this is a recurrent issue, the help of a sleep disorder professional is the best route, rather than a demonologist.

3. Orbs

Orbs are globe-shaped artifacts seen in photographs (digital and film,) and video. The can look faint and flat, or be multicolored and three dimensional, with intriguing patterns inside. They are perhaps the most common anomaly pointed to as evidence of ghosts and the paranormal.

The truth is, orbs are in all likelihood nothing more than the camera flash or other present light capturing small particles in front of the lens such as dust, pollen, tiny fibers, moisture, or any number of things. Although it might seem a stretch if you know for a fact the air was clear, think back to how surprising it is sometimes when you suddenly open a curtain in a dark room, letting bright light in.

There's all kind of stuff floating in the air that we don't necessarily see, all the time, indoors and out. The camera lens, however, often does pick up these particles, and the result is orbs.

4. Rods

Although the popularity of the "rods" phenomena comes and goes since it first come to the forefront in the mid 1990s, it seems intriguing and enduring enough to bet it will continue to be around for a while. Quite simply, rods are said to be a type of UFO-unknown, segmented, seemingly biological flying objects captured on film and video.

They are also referred to as "skyfish," and "solar entities," furthering the notion that they are some kind of yet-to-be identified animal, or even spiritual/interdimensional creature. The footage really can be astounding and convincing. However, rods are very likely not paranormal in nature.

Many experiments have been done, including one recently on the show MonsterQuest, which prove the "rods" image is due to specific dynamics involved in the filming of movement of certain insects, such as regular moths.

5. Angel Encounters

There are countless books, websites and specials recounting the physical presence of guardian angels among us. Although some of them do seem quite synchronous and hugely meaningful, it's quite a stretch to conclude angelic intervention as the answer.

The narrative usually begins with some kind of dire, unfortunate circumstance-a medical, financial, or otherwise immediate threat. A stranger never seen before, suddenly turns up, and offers some kind of key pronouncement or tangible help, that will prove to bring solutions to the problem at hand. The stranger disappears, never to be seen again.

It seems framing such experiences in this way lends a notion of meaning-with the idea that there is someone looking out for us-does ascribing angelic intervention really have any grounds? The truth is, most people are altruistic, and many will go out of their way to significantly help a stranger. Most of the stories involving angel encounters likely are not paranormal.

However, the notion of the right person being there at the right time, saying or doing the right thing, to engender hugely beneficial results is a powerful notion in itself. I suggest that when we encounter mysterious or meaningful phenomena, instead of asking ourselves, "Is this paranormal?" we instead ask, "Is this synchronicity at work?" The answer is usually yes, and opens up far more thoughtful and empowering possibilities.

Sources:
History Channel, MonsterQuest, Unidentified Flying Creatures,http://www.history.com/video