my mother and sister are convinced that my grandfather (very dead) comes to see them... they know he is there by a particular smell...whiskey in fact.... im completely serious... thats what they believe
my question is this why would otherwise intelligent people.... when they get this smell automatically think dead relative instead of more likely or logical solutions???
2007-03-15 11:50:29 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
smell is perhaps the strongest sense when it comes to memory...especially recalling early memories. Did your grandfather like to drink or have a drinking problem? Perhaps, on a very visceral level, your mother and sister associate the smell of alcohol with your grandfather. As such, every time they get a whiff...even a slight one...they are reminded of him and all the old emotions get stirred up.
2007-03-15 11:55:17 · answer #1 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you look for the obvious explanations .. but they cant always be found
then you have to think , hhmm ok there is something more to this
i know that spirit come with smell and i have experimented with this
and even scientifically scent is one of the best ways to prove spirit
because the molecules that are carried cannot appear and disappear the way they do when it is linked to the paranormal
perhaps they are being serious... and perhaps they have reason to be
2007-03-15 18:56:49 · answer #2 · answered by Peace 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Do not underestimate the power of smells to evoke memories.
2007-03-15 18:54:49 · answer #3 · answered by novangelis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think personally that your mum and sister, espically mum, would love the idea that your grandfather visits her and i think by believing that he does visit helps her get through certain stuff.
I think she has her own personal reasons for it and i dont think anyone would really be able to find out.
2007-03-15 19:28:30 · answer #4 · answered by stacey f 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well just work with them. they may need to get some professional help to let the person go. do not get into a seance with them but help as best as possible.
2007-03-15 18:54:23 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
your title sounds like a Romero movie.
2007-03-15 18:54:32 · answer #6 · answered by Skeptic123 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
emotional attachments, and a measure of apophenia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia
to be more precise, I think pareidolia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pareidolia
2007-03-15 18:55:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
wishful thinking
2007-03-15 18:53:07 · answer #8 · answered by snailysnal 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋