Human Doubles and Dopplegangers

A few years ago I had an interesting experience concerning a case of "double" vision. I didn't understand what was happening at the time, but after doing some research I came upon some amazing cases concerning bilocation and doppelgangers that reassured me that I hadn't lost my grip on reality.

I was working in a small shop in Kittery, Maine at the time. My boss had a daughter who was nine months pregnant and was due at any moment. She was a nervous wreak and every time the phone rang she would go in to a panic attack. I was working out in the front of the store and she was in the back office when the phone call came. I heard the phone ring and a few minutes later my boss walked quickly out of the back room and proceeded to walk out the front door without saying a word .

I assumed that the phone call had been her daughter, but I found it quite strange that she would just leave without saying anything. The strangest part was that it was mid-February and she had just walked out the door without her coat or her purse. I started to follow her to see if everything was alright, when the door to the back office opened and my boss emerged once again-- this time with her coat and purse. She said that her daughter had just called and that she was on her way hospital. All I could do was stare at her in complete astonishment and nod as she rushed out the door. In her hurry to get to her daughter's side, my boss had apparently sent her human double ahead of her "real" self.

The human double, sometimes known as a doppleganger (double walker) in German, a vardoger in Swedish, and a fetch in Irish folklore, is usually an apparition of an actual, living person. It is usually an exact replica of the person, including physical characteristics and clothing. Generally the double appears to be a solid human being from a distance, but tends to act strangely or mechanically. I know that was certainly the case with the situation involving my boss.

There are several theories that attempt to explain the nature of the human double. The most common one is astral projection-- the concept that the soul or spirit is capable of leaving the body and traveling through time and space. This is thought to be involuntary in most instances, with the exception of those who have developed the ability to control the process through will. Remote viewing would be an example of consciously witnessed astral projection.

In the case of the doppleganger and fetch, the experience of witnessing one's own human double is thought to a harbinger of death. Poet Percy Bysshe Shelley reportedly saw his double shortly before drowning. And, Lady Diana Rich, daughter of the Earl of Holland, was said to have seen her double while walking in a garden a month before she died of smallpox.

The story of Emilie Sagee is perhaps one of the most famous cases of the human double in action. The story was recorded by American writer Robert Dale Owen in the early 1900's.

This instance of the human double was witnessed by over 40 people including the girl who told the story to Robert Owens. The girl's name was Julie von Guldenstubbe. She was a student at an exclusive school for daughters of the nobility. Julie's story concerned her French teacher, Mademoiselle Emilie Sagee. Both students and administrators loved Emilie because of her gentle nature and intelligence.

However, a few weeks after her arrival Emilie became the focus of some pretty interesting rumors. According to Julie and 12 of her classmates, Mlle Sagee was giving a lesson while standing with her back to the class. Suddenly, a second Emilie materialized at Mlle. Sagee's side. The two were exactly alike with perfectly synchronized movements. The only apparent difference is that Mlle Sagee had a piece of chalk in her hand, while her double did not-- even though it perfectly mimed the action of writing on the board. The story spread throughout the school, with all thirteen of the girls who were present agreeing upon what they had witnessed.

During the following weeks Mlle Sagee's double was seen on a number of occasions. It appeared at dinner, standing behind Emilie and imitating her movements in perfect harmony as she ate. But, again, the double's hands were empty. And this time, the servants also witnessed the phenomena.

Even though in most instances Emilie's double would mirror her actions, sometimes it would behave independently. For instance, the real Emilie would rise from her chair but the double would stay seated.

The "double trouble" that finally got Emilie fired (she had lost 18 jobs in 16 years) was witnessed by 42 students. The students were studiously working in their sewing class, with another teacher present in the classroom. The supervising teacher stood up and left the room, and shortly after Emilie entered and sat in the empty chair. The students were not concerned until one of them looked out the window and saw the "other" Emilie outside working in the garden. Two of the braver students approached the double and reached out and touched it. They said that even though it looked exactly like Emilie in all aspects. But, they were able to run their hands through the entity, which felt like cobwebs. Emilie later admitted that while she was in the garden she was wishing that she was inside supervising the sewing class. Even though Emilie herself claimed to have never seen her double, school officials noted that every time the double appeared to them, the real Emilie appeared to become lethargic and listless.

Eventually, the more timid of the students told their parents about Emilie and the school directors noted that the attendance figures were dropping off. Even thought Emilie was well-liked, the school felt compelled to let her go when the roll call had dwindled from 42 to 12.