These go to eleven

[pjthompson]

In April 2008, around the anniversary of the death of my Aunt Maxine, I started seeing 11:11 every day when I looked up at the clock. Not every time I looked at the clock because 11:11 only comes twice a day for those of us on a 12-hour clock, but often I’d feel compelled to look at the clock at this precise time. It went on for over two weeks and became rather unsettling.

What was the Universe trying to tell me? Something significant, or just that random chance sometimes gets stuck, throwing “heads” 85 times in a row?

Then I remembered my Aunt Maxine’s birthday was November 11 and wondered if it was her saying, “Hey, I’m still around. Don’t worry so much.” This was a comforting thought and the creepiness factor went away, although the 11:11’s didn’t. I kept seeing them for weeks after.

So I did what any semi-rational human being would do in such circumstances. I googled it.

Golly. There are a universe of beliefs around the coincidence of seeing 11:11. Yeah, I still (mostly) call it a coincidence, even though my personal anecdote seems to convey meaning, because post hoc theorizing and confirmation bias and because of all the fuzzy and convoluted theorizing I read online.

For instance, there’s this guy:

Watch on YouTube

Um. I did scurry to my tarot to see what card was 11. It’s Justice. I thought, “If it’s the Hanged Man I’m going to mess myself.” Because for me that relates to 9/11 and I just didn’t know if I could stand that. The Hanged Man was 12.

Mr. Fuller is right about it being more important for me to find my own answers, but I looked online for more data points.

Uri Geller has a lot to say on 11:11 but I can’t tell you all of it. I fell asleep about halfway through his article. In all fairness to Mr. Geller, this strange phenomenon happened to me on more than one article on 11:11, which doesn’t always coincide with clear and concise theorizing.

Of course, no consideration of 11:11 would be complete without this:

Watch on YouTube

However, some of the folklore surrounding 11:11 is charming, like the idea that if you look up to see it your wish will come true. Or when you see it repeatedly it means that you are beginning to “awaken” spiritually, and 11:11 is the indicator that you’re on the right path. Some believe it’s a sign that your angels are listening and you should ask for their guidance.

Other beliefs are darker, like the theory that 11:11 is a portend of great earth changes or history on the brink of something momentous…Actually, I don’t want to think on that one too hard, given recent seismic events in politics. I much prefer the belief that when you see 11:11, you should stop and consider the significance and importance of the moment in which you live. Of the moment, in the moment.

But Maxie, if that was you, I love ya, babe.

Mirrored from Better Than Dead.

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

How wonderful--thank you very much for this! When I was in high school, a friend of mine and I used to go out and dance beneath the stars in the summer. One hot night, we came back into her house, and the clock said 11:11, and that the temp was 77 degrees F. "Eleven eleven at seventy-seven" we said. Ever since then, I think that every time I see the clock at 11:11.

when you see 11:11, you should stop and consider the significance and importance of the moment in which you live.

I can get behind that.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Yep. I thought that was one of the more profound and charming beliefs around those numbers.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Just about to go for a run, looked at my watch--guess what time it was :-)

Had to tell you.

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Ha! You'll probably see it a lot for awhile. I've been seeing it every other day or so since I posted that. Funky Ol' Universe.

[rowanda380.livejournal.com]

it is nice that you have a thing that reminds you of your aunt. I always thought 11:11 was good luck. *hugs*

[pjthompson.livejournal.com]

Thanks, darlin'.