Jerusalem Syndrome

[Lord Jubjub]

There is a Florence Syndrome, too, from people who become overwhelmed with the history of the place.

Basically, the tourist (who is otherwise sane though probably a bit of a fundamentalist) is so drawn into the history of the city that he/she becomes a Biblical figure (Elijah, Mary, John or the Messiah).

I once had a brief touch with the illusion of time-altered reality in Europe. This had to do with Tolkien rather than the Bible--along the lines of momentarily (at most a minute) thinking I was in the 13th century (more or less). I'll give a more complete description if necessary. . .

Has anyone here seriously thought that reality had undergone a major shift due to their surroundings (to the point that rational thought had to deliberatley intrude)? I include even those short flashes that last only a matter of a few seconds.

[ToSeek]

I've gone up spiral staircases in old buildings where after a while I get the impression that I'm just staying put, and the building is spinning and dropping around me.

[sarongsong]

A similar illusion experienced in of those new-fangled car washes; the car remains stationary while the giant roller-brushes and water-sprayers move about the car---feels just like the car is unaccountably moving forward, to the point I jammed on the brakes!

[The Supreme Canuck]

C.f. Gravity Hills (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill).

[captain swoop]

When the train next to you starts pulling out and you think its yours thats moving

[Maksutov]

In the middle of the night, when your bed starts pitching and rolling and you're convinced you're going to slide off it into the abyss.

BTW, I got one of those time-shift feelings when my wife and I first visited the House of the Seven Gables in Salem, Massachusetts. It occurred while going up a hidden staircase that was there in case of Indian attack. A real attention grabber.

[Maha Vailo]

Never had that happen to me, but I'd like to know how I can prevent myself from becoming so overwhelmed with a place's history that I went crazy while I was traveling, and what I should do if I feel it happening.

Other than not going there, of course.

- Maha Vailo

[Peter Wilson]

I once had a brief touch with the illusion of time-altered reality in Europe. This had to do with Tolkien rather than the Bible--along the lines of momentarily (at most a minute) thinking I was in the 13th century (more or less). I'll give a more complete description if necessary. . .

Has anyone here seriously thought that reality had undergone a major shift due to their surroundings (to the point that rational thought had to deliberatley intrude)? I include even those short flashes that last only a matter of a few seconds.

Reminds me of school-yard days when we would deliberately create a "major shift" by hyperventilating, then taking a deep breath, holding it, and having a friend suddenly squeeze the chest from behind. This creates a momentary "oxygen overload" in the brain, suspending consciousness for a few seconds. This activity is either harmless, or explains a lot in my life.

At any rate, what I remember was that "coming to" was nothing like waking in the morning. Instead, there was a second or two of complete disorientation, and I mean complete. No idea where in the solar system or galaxy I was, and no idea what geologic era I was in. Then just as quickly it would come back: On earth, 20th century America, in Californian school yard.

You don't realize your mental landscape comes with a "time-stamp" until that time stamp is removed...or altered.

[Doodler]

Reminds me of school-yard days when we would deliberately create a "major shift" by hyperventilating, then taking a deep breath, holding it, and having a friend suddenly squeeze the chest from behind. This creates a momentary "oxygen overload" in the brain, suspending consciousness for a few seconds. This activity is either harmless, or explains a lot in my life..

Yeah, that's one of those "lets think about this before considering it" kind of things. I forget the exact name for it, but it really came to light about a year or so ago when several kids in rapid succession managed to stop their breathing with no one trained enough to restart it. The results were quite terminal.

[Lord Jubjub]

Well, my experience was in a back street (only pedestrian traffic) in Brussels looking for a hotel mentioned in the guidebook. We found it near the dead end well after sunset. We were maybe a quarter mile and around the bend from the nearest social gathering and the streetlights were just bright enough to read the numbers.

When we went in--I could swear there was a gnome behind the counter! He couldn't have been more than 4'10" and wore a suit with a vest. He could have stepped out of a fantasy painting. The interior was VERY dimly lit and all dark wood. I had a momentary vision of being at the Prancing Pony (there's your Tolkien reference). They didn't have enough room for all of us to sleep that night, so we went back out.

The street was cobblestone and I doubt if any of the facades had changed substantially in at least a hundred years. Between the interior of the hotel and the street outside, I had to stop and tell myself that I hadn't gone through a time warp. The moment was brief but unforgettable--it happened 15 years ago.

[mugaliens]

The other day I walked into a monestary, and after 50 years or 15 minutes (I can't remember which), I walked out.

But the beer was good.

[Chip]

...Has anyone here seriously thought that reality had undergone a major shift due to their surroundings (to the point that rational thought had to deliberately intrude)?

I don’t know about time shifts, but years ago at the Wupatki Indian Ruins (http://sedonadreammaker.com/nationalparks/wupatki.html) in Northern Arizona, standing in a long-abandoned room, and looking out a window, past the ancient stadiums in the valley below, the silence was so intense that I clearly thought I heard faint muffled voices. (Like the nocturnal voices in the old movie version of The Haunting.)

Once while touring the battle filed at Gettysburg, again on a sunny quiet day, I had a cold chill and had a feeling of being in the presence of silent screaming and uneasiness.

But I'm not superstitious… (knocks desk.)

[Maksutov]

I don’t know about time shifts, but years ago at the Wupatki Indian Ruins (http://sedonadreammaker.com/nationalparks/wupatki.html) in Northern Arizona, standing in a long-abandoned room, and looking out a window, past the ancient stadiums in the valley below, the silence was so intense that I clearly thought I heard faint muffled voices. (Like the nocturnal voices in the old movie version of The Haunting.)

Once while touring the battle filed at Gettysburg, again on a sunny quiet day, I had a cold chill and had a feeling of being in the presence of silent screaming and uneasiness.

But I'm not superstitious… (knocks desk.)So, what material is your desk made out of?

And do you have two stone lions guarding your driveway?

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/645/stonelionzg9.th.jpg (http://img207.imageshack.us/my.php?image=stonelionzg9.jpg)

[Chip]

So, what material is your desk made out of?
And do you have two stone lions guarding your driveway?

Ikea desk - (Wood fiber covered with a veneer. Designed by someone in Sweden.)

Stone lions are impressive in a British Empire sort of way, but are not quite in my culture so not necessary. (Though there are two houses about a mile from me that have great pairs of stone lions guarding their driveway and porch!)

(You know I'm joking about knocking right?)

[publiusr]

More disturbing are those times I feel shunted into another universe. Everything looks right--but all moved five inches to the left.