Thread: Just a reminder about Perception

Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I was just reading this interesting article about the possibility of birds being able to actually see the earth's magnetic field.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/06/birdcompass

I thought it was a good reminder that we only live in the world we perceive with our limited senses. It is incredible that we are able to see radiation in the visible spectrum and turn it into a recognizable model of the world. We don't see light, we see objects. Birds that see magnetism (or dogs that see smells) likely translate the information in a similar way. If humans are somehow picking up other frequencies of energy (lord knows what!?), it seems logical to assume they would see it as phantoms, auras and dreams. Or maybe even hear it as voices or feel it as humming vibrations. Anomalies in our normal senses.

It is also interesting to note the hypothesis in this article works on a chemical and maybe even subatomic level. They don't need a new sensory organ. What if we could turn these interacting chemicals into a drug for humans? Would we dismiss it as a hallucinogenic drug?

I'm not trying to prove anything, or saying I believe this. I just think is is important to respect the complexity of our world, and never assume anything is impossible.

Nice post RB.
Agree with you on it all, and find the whole idea fascinating.

Reminds me of the old "picking up radio signals with your fillings"
I have no idea if that's an old wives tale, or is based on truth (anyone know?)

Wouldn't it be fascinating to experience the world as a bird, spider or snake for a day!?

And yes, as far i'm concerned, it is exactly the way of thinking you've described, that is most in-tune with scientific thinking, whilst not dismissing unexplained events. It's a very fascinating subject to speculate on.

My personal experiences with DMT, certainly made me question the foundations of reality. Exactly what was it doing to the mind?
was it generating an internal experience based only on my psychology and biology, or allowing access to other data streams from the outside world by "retuning" my mind?

I'll unfortunatly probably never know, but it is a great mystery to ponder.

Great topic for discussion

The mushroom gods look down upon us... Or up at us if you have it.

very interesting thought. reminds me of the topic of colorblindness and how there are apparently more colors we can't see... same thing. If you are suggesting that, then it makes you wonder doesn't it? things might actually be possible!