So, I've come to a bit of a crossroads in my life, where it seems everything is converging; and it's giving me the strangest case of deja vu. Thing is, I've never been in this situation before (I don't think), and so far, nothing has happened yet. Things are still a ways off. The time that closest approximates it was about ten years ago, but I can't find any commonalities except for that too was a time of change, but it feels distinctly similar. But that's the only similarity, the feeling... It's really strange.

Believe in reincarnation much?

"for this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago"...

Or, according to the skeptic dictionary, deja vu is the result of a neurochemical reaction in which a feeling is associated with a memory.

Maybe this is part of the reason people believe in reincarnation. Plus it makes the idea of "karma" easier to believe, given the way crooks seem to flourish in human societies.

Also, when I clicked on this thread, I thought the "Crossroads" might have something to do with the Crossroads meme found in African religions, where actual, physical crossroads, are seen as gateways to the "spirit world", and thus auspicious places for "offerings" or other types of interactions with the "spirit realm". Erik Davis wrote an intriguing article on this subject entitled Trickster at the Crossroads. Good luck and hope you'll update on where this crossroads in your life leads.

My neuro-researcher relative's theory regarding deja vu is that there are moments throughout life when there can be micro gaps in consciousness. Deja vu is the injection of a memory that is "out of order". I don't necessarily buy it, but I thought I would let you know what some of the latest theory from the science community was. I also might not be remembering the concept exactly right, but I believe it was very much something to that extent.

Very interesting. Sounds like you're reaching a milestone.

Peace

Macre

I'm not buying that in the least bit

Thanks for all the replies, I was just kinda writing things down to "think out loud," if you will, but they're certainly appreciated.

No, I can't say that I've ever been much of a reincarnationist, though I do find the idea interesting. That article was interesting too.

The bit about deja vu being memories out of order might have some merit, but I'm probably not a good test case, as I have something of a non-linear memory. That is, my memory tends to be (or at least seems to me) organized not chronologically, but by subject. To provide a visual example, it forms less of a chain, and more of a three dimensional spider's web where memories that occurred years apart, may be grouped together in my consciousness because of a similar nature and may connected to any number of others. I believe this is why I have a difficult time remembering "back to when I was X years old" but if asked about something that occurred then, I can recall details as if I were there again. Every sight, sound, smell, feeling, it's like reliving it. I'm beginning to think I might be somewhat atypical.

Anyway, the crossroads. I've got some big decisions to make, mostly related to grad-school and that sort of thing. I suppose what it comes down to is, I can't have my cake and eat it too. Right now, my post-grad ambitions are being championed by the former dean of the college (I attend a major public institution) which gives me practical free reign (at least within the university system) over what I want to do. On the other hand, my wife thinks I should stay here, and enter a program that this campus offers. Problem is, there isn't much at this campus that interests me. As she puts it, moving isn't an option. So there's a fight brewing. Maybe the last one we'll ever have. That's how serious she is, and I can't say I'm any less so.

The whole thing has been making me do a lot of introspection, and it's raised a lot of questions about me, my life, and my decisions (past, present, and future). So far, I don't have many answers. It seems that it's a game of balance, gain here and lose there.

I actually believe Deja Vu is caused by seeing a moment in your life that you have seen in your dreams at night. Earlier in my life I could remember my day to day dreams really easily, and on several occasions I've run into an event so specific that it wasn't the feeling of Deja Vu. It was Deja Vu. Once I realized it I began to remember any vivd dreams I could that way if it happened again, I could know for sure. Sure enough it happened again, and again it had happened exactly as I dreamed it. The future is set and what's supposed to happen will happen. As much as I loved the thought of free will. We truly have none. Deja Vu is proof of that. That's why when it happens it feels like it's happened before.

Not really sure how reincarnation got involved in this topic. Has nothing to do with it. Your not experiencing a Deja Vu moment of a past life or a future life. Your experience pertains to this life.

Also I noticed if you have yet to meet the people that will be involved in the Deja Vu event(if there are others involved). Then it is impossible to see their face in the dream. Don't know why that is though.

I also realized it was happening to certain key points in my life. Mostly points involving big changes. Could be different for you though. Maybe in a way it's our mind attempting to get us to pay extra attention to that moment. You did say you were at a big crossroad in your life.

It's hard to explain Deja Vu. Because it actually feels like reliving the exact same passage of time. Which, by definition - is impossible.