Last week I wrote
about those strange blips in time . . . the places where we may or may not have stumbled through an alternate universe. If you read through the comments on that post, you’ll find fascinating examples of this phenomenon written by Amanda Hughes and Caitlín Matthews, both of whom also write here on Substack.
Mandy wrote about a specific spot on her walks that mysteriously disappeared a day after it appeared. Caitlín referenced a picture of herself dated 2050, showing her in a tearoom on the Island of Orkney. Did they, or a version of themselves, cross paths - even for a moment - into another time/space? The verdict isn’t clear.
In the meantime, I have two I want to tell you about, but even more I’d love to read your own experiences. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Two of Mine Are
centered around Col. George Custer. If you’re not an American, you may not have heard of Col. Custer. He’s the one who died with most of his command on the Little Bighorn River in Montana. I’m not sure why, but two of my blips are at places well-known to him and to history.
The first was at the Washita River in present-day Oklahoma. In 1868, Custer and his 7th Cavalry attacked the Cheyenne village of Black Kettle. I’ll spare you the details, other than to say it was a bloody massacre of a peaceful village. Today you can visit this National Historic Site, entering the stunning visitor’s center that the Cheyenne, themselves, had a significant role in the planning. In fact, the building incorporated important elements of Cheyenne society into its design.
Further down the road from the center was a kiosk overlooking the battle site and the river. Walking down the trail towards the river, I was certain if I took one wrong step I’d be back in 1868, in the middle of the battle. As my sister and I continued on the trail, I kept turning around and looking back, just to make sure the kiosk was still in view. I was so certain that the kiosk would disappear that it made it hard not to feel a little creeped out.
The second site was a campsite of the 7th Cavalry on their 1876 march from their North Dakota post to the Little Bighorn. This is probably the most remote place that my sister and I ever visited. Following directions from a Custer friend, the road went from a major highway to a county road, then a state road, and then on a rutted dirt road that crossed a streambed. There, I had the oddest feeling that if I walked over the cattle guard to the site, I’d be in 1876. The place felt so dangerous that my sister and I took our pictures, then got out of there . . . pronto.
Is Mine a Past Life
while Mandy’s was a blip in time and Caitlín’s a blip into the future? Or were all three of us (four, including my sister) weaving in and out of alternate universes? How I wish I knew how this all works.
Space.com writes “There are now some scientific theories that support the idea of parallel universes beyond our own. However, the multiverse theory remains one of the most controversial theories in science. . . Science fiction loves the idea of a parallel universe, and the thought that we might be living just one of an infinite number of possible lives. Multiverses aren't reserved for "Star Trek," "Spiderman" and "Doctor Who," though. Real scientific theory explores, and in some cases supports, the case for universes outside, parallel to, or distant from but mirroring our own.”
I would ask, then, can the I, who is ‘me’, exist in more than one place at a time? Are past, present, and future lives all unfolding simultaneously?
Again, my mind spins.
Nancy
P.S. Would love to hear about your blips in time/space. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Nancy, I have had several experiences, in Rajasthan in India, Istanbul in Turkey,and one in Ireland but an unusual repeat event in the Strand in London. I had an interest in ballroom dancing at one time, was wearing a Viennese ball gown as I was late, got out of a taxi to cross the road to the studio when a coach and horses came down the street amongst all the buses and taxis etc; stopped in front of me, and by that time the rest of the street seemed blurred of traffic. A gentleman, solid, tipped his tall hat and smiled at me. I felt I knew him in that moment and smiled back. He went up steps into a grand building that looked like a bank. I crossed the road and went into the dance studio, thinking it was a Dunhill coach or some advertising gimmick. Only later I realised the tall building was not there and no steps, only Chelsea Girl and Top Shop and various stores. I had a shock then and goosebumps. Later I forgot about the incident but about six months later heading to the dance studio again, I saw the coach and horses go past in the same area but it did not stop this time. The one thing I did notice was the silence and a feeling of temporary weightlessness in my body at both sightings. It was definitely a blip in time, although time seemed to merge so I was unaware of it being past or present until after I came out of the dance studio.
Love your experiences and idea of blips in time! I dream travel in multiverses and parallel lives--living different versions of me that I believe exist all that the same time. I've lived other lives and as an empath, get to know what they're experiencing by living their lives in my dreams. I'm very intrigued and look forward to hearing more!