Welcome to Mysteries over Martinis! This blog is a mix of unexplained phenomena and personal encounters served up with a mystery-themed cocktail. It’s a recipe for intrigue!

 

Synchronic Tonic

Ingredients:

2 oz vodka

4 oz tonic water

Lime wedge & slice

Ice

Fill a highball glass with ice. Pour in vodka and tonic water. Squeeze lime wedge into the glass and garnish with the lime slice. Enjoy!

 

Eureka Springs on the Synchronicity

 

WARNING: The following post contains strong language and graphic content.

“There is no such thing as chance; and what seems to us merest accident springs from the deepest source of destiny.” -Friedrich Schiller

The world in which we live in is based on a scientific law of cause and effect. Therefore, if an occurrence cannot be measured or substantiated, the tendency is to dismiss it. When a sequence of astonishing events occur, no matter how strange or frequent, ­­­­­we tend to chalk it up to mere coincidence. Scientists believe that the manifestations of such accounts are the result of chance. We live in a universe of infinite possibilities so from time to time events that seem to correlate may actually have no relation whatsoever.

However, many believe that there is a transcendental force at play when it comes to coincidence. Where one person sees an unlikely happenstance, another sees a pattern immerge. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung coined the term synchronicity, which is the belief in “meaningful coincidences.” He believed that life was not a series of random events at all, but that we are all a part of a complex framework which exists beyond our reality. Synchronicity is the bleed through of this ethereal world into our physical realm.

Skeptics would refer to the belief in a metaphysical explanation as ignorance but I like to call it exploration. After all, I believe there is science that is yet to be discovered. I have experienced coincidences that run so deep, I couldn’t help but wonder if something more mysterious and deliberate was unfolding behind the scenes. The following is my own experience with what I consider to be a profound set of signs and synchronicities.

In April of 2009, I was having lunch with my coworker when she began to tell me about a fascinating experience she had with an area Reiki Master named Gia. Ironically, I had recently learned about Reiki while listening to a paranormal podcast two days prior. Reiki is a technique used to reduce stress, relax the body and promote healing. It is administered by a trained Reiki master laying their hands on and/or above the client. The idea is that the trained practitioner can channel energy into the patient in order to activate the natural healing process and restore overall well-being. She further explained that after the Reiki was administered, she was given a reading based on what Gia had picked up intuitively.

Upon hearing my co-worker describe the exhilaration it brought her, I decided it was something I had to experience for myself. That night, I mentioned it to my husband, Jake. With my birthday quickly approaching, Jake took the initiative to secretly e-mail my coworker and ask for Gia’s information. It was pretty easy for him to figure out my co-worker’s e-mail address since our company followed a simple format. He contacted Gia and scheduled the appointment for the day after my birthday.

I was slightly skeptical but kept an open mind. The world of metaphysics and paranormal phenomena intrigues me so I like to jump at any opportunity I have to experience it for myself.

The day of my appointment soon arrived and I found myself driving up the country road leading towards Gia’s home. Her front yard was adorned with large free-standing angel statues. As I slowly approached them, it felt as if they were drawing me in. The area was serene and inviting. Her home was tucked away in a sparsely wooded field, set back from the road. It had the structure of a historic English cottage, but the finish of a stone church.

I parked in front of the house and exited my vehicle. Gia and her large white Husky greeted me at the front door. I gently pet the gentle giant’s coarse white mane as I made my way toward the stunning blond standing in the doorway. We exchanged pleasantries before heading upstairs to her reiki room.

The majestic sound of a harp played gently in the background as I made my way into the peaceful room. She instructed me to lay on the massage table and offered a blanket for added comfort. She then said to relax and “take a journey.”

She began by saying a prayer aloud. I closed my eyes as she approached the head of the table. I was curious about the process so I quickly peeked to catch a glimpse of what she was doing. I saw her standing to my left dangling a pendulum over my body. I later discovered that this was to check my chakras. I quickly closed my eyes again and began to relax.

My curls softly shifted as her hands barely touched my head. Intense warmth radiated from her palms. I could feel my muscles begin to unwind. Suddenly, I had the sensation of lightly rocking back and forth. This startled me a bit but soon dissipated. I would occasionally hear her scribble something on a piece of paper as she completed an area of my body.

Once the healing was complete, Gia asked that I take a moment and then move to a chair which was situated at a table with two glasses of water. I felt dazed but very calm. I did have the foresight to bring a digital voice recorder. I recorded the following conversation.

 

“Okay Kiddo…” she began to say as she looked down at her legal pad of various notes, “Wow, this is a lifetime of greatness for you and you have many gifts to bring humanity. This is a lifetime when you will do what you are really here to do. I feel like you are artistic or creative…I love this…it’s like you’re a bringer of knowledge and you are an awakener. Okay, so you are going to help awaken people. It is all unfolding. I am curious what you do with your work?”

“It’s NOT creative!” I laughed.

“Well, what do you do?” She smiled

I explained that I worked in the billing department for a logistics company.

“It’s a stepping stone. What you’re going to start to notice is that the universe is going to recalibrate and aligning your life as it should be. It will fully support you in being at the right place at the right time, so it’s exciting times ahead.” She said with a beaming smile. I had no clue just how poignant those words would be.

The next topic Gia touched on shocked me. “I don’t know if you like to write or anything, I feel like you’re going to reach people. You’re a very good speaker, when you talk people listen. Do you feel good about speaking to people?” She asked intently.

I was a bit speechless. “I do.” I responded. “It’s VERY strange that you’re telling me this because just last Thursday I told my husband that the previous day it had struck me that I knew what I really want to do with my life. I told him I want to write books!”

“Oh my God…that is rapture and that’s where you need to be.”

I couldn’t help but feel like my recent epiphany was being validated. How would this complete stranger know about something I had just recently discovered and told only two people about?

I explained to her that I had listened to a guest on a podcast who said that others often give us clues as to what our talents are without us realizing it. I began to tell her that many friends and co-workers have told me I’m a great ‘storyteller’. Before I could finish my sentence, she chimed in with “You’re a great storyteller.”

I was starting to wonder if this could get any weirder. It did, but it wasn’t brought to my attention until a month later. During our conversation she mentioned a scene which included a lake surrounded by lots of trees. She saw eagles flying overhead and a family of turtles swimming together. She wasn’t sure what it meant but wanted to let me know about it. This meant nothing to me at the time.

One of the last things she asked was if we were planning a vacation. In fact, we were. She asked if I knew where we were going. I told her we had not decided. She said that we would figure it out but it was very important that we take the trip.

Soon after my session with Gia, I began to see the number 187 frequently. I worked with carrier paperwork so I saw it most often in load numbers and invoice numbers. I also noticed it in phone numbers, license plates, and even receipt totals. It was bombarding me everywhere I went. I was so unnerved by it that I shared it with Jake. I didn’t know what to make of it, so I just accepted it and tried not to read into it.

Over the course of the next couple weeks, Jake and I discussed where we’d like to go on vacation. Since we share the same passion for ghosts and strange phenomena, a location with reported hauntings was desirable. We watched an episode of Ghost Hunters where they investigated the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, AR. The team seemed to get some decent evidence and the history of the hotel was pretty interesting. They also interviewed a town psychic who ran the Crescent Hotel ghost tour. We thought the tour would provide some spooky entertainment to whet our appetite. Although I am fascinated with ghostly activity, it terrifies me. I am more than willing to visit supposedly haunted locations but I am reluctant to sleep amongst ghosts.

We were mostly looking for a destination where we could relax. Jake had recently joined the National Guard and would soon be leaving for boot camp. I did some research and Eureka Springs seemed like a tranquil place to visit. It is nestled in the Ozark Mountains and surrounded by three lakes. I scoured the internet and found a beautiful cabin suite on Beaver Lake. It was geared towards couples and offered a romantic getaway. I called to make the reservation.

I thought it would be fun to book a reading with the psychic featured on the episode of Ghost Hunters. He seemed like an intriguing person and I mostly just wanted an opportunity to meet him. I contacted him and he told me his only available time was our last scheduled day in town. He said if we scheduled a reading, he would give us 2 free tickets to the ghost tour that evening. I am all about free fun so I called the resort back to see if we could extend our stay one more day. We would later discover this to be a fateful decision.

As Jake and I approached Eureka Springs, we were swallowed in to the nearly impenetrable timber of the Ozark Mountains. We followed a winding two lane highway which looked as if it had been carefully carved into the lush scenery. It was breathtaking but became a little disorienting. The road to get to the resort was easy to find but navigating it was another story. It was a narrow, unpaved road with many twists and turns through the dense forest. We came to a point where a tree inhabited the middle of the road so I had to slowly creep around it. Jake made the comment, “If we are ever going to see Bigfoot, this is the place.”

The resort was spectacular. The suite was pristine and very modern. A Jacuzzi was situated in front of a glass window overlooking the lake. Boats floated over the sparkling water while eagles soared high above the tree line. The desk clerk walked us down to the dock which included an indoor heated fishing room. Inside, he showed us the fishing equipment and rattled off a few rules. He scooped some pellets out of a bucket and said we could feel free to feed the bale of turtles who frequent the fishing hole. A family of turtles appeared almost as quickly as the food hit the water.

Jake and I enjoyed our time in Eureka Springs. Our visit coincided with the Arkansas State H.O.G Rally so there was a lot more activity than usual. We had to be extra careful cruising the dangerous curves with all the motorcycle congestion but other than that we were having a fabulous time.

Our second to last day, we went to our scheduled reading. Carroll, the psychic, was incredibly gracious and entertaining. I don’t recall anything mind-blowing but he focused a lot on spirits who were around Jake. He actually spent a significant time interacting with Jake, but later it was revealed that he thought Jake was, “GORGEOUS!” Regardless, we enjoyed our time spent with Carroll and had our tickets for that night’s tour. We went back to the resort in the meantime.

As the time of the tour approached, I told Jake we should leave early due to the heavy traffic. It’s not like me to be early but the combination of meandering roadways and droves of bikers made me a little nervous. We snaked our way toward the T intersection of the highway. At the moment I stopped the car to look both ways, something caught my eye. An airborne metallic object flew into the woods ahead of us. I wasn’t sure what I had just seen. I glanced at Jake and he had a horrified look on his face.

“Did you see that?!” I asked in disbelief.

Jake nodded in shock. At that moment a motorcycle passed in front of us. I then put two and two together.

“Was that a motorcycle?!” I asked in a panic.

“Yeah.” He said in an eerily calm tone.

“Oh my God! We have to go look for whoever was on that bike!” I knew we needed to go search the woods, but I was terrified by what gruesome sight we might stumble upon.

“I’ll go look, you call 911.” Jake said as he quickly exited the car. He ran across the desolate highway and disappeared into the trees. I was somewhat relieved that I might not have to bear witness to what was surely a grisly scene. I pulled my car over to the side of the road and searched my purse for my phone. It wasn’t there. I had left it charging in our room. I was standing on the side of the road without a phone or companion. I felt completely helpless. I spotted a pink and purple house in the woods. It seemed very out of place which made me uneasy. This is how horror movies start but I knew I had to do something.

As I made my way around my car to head toward the creepy house, a large black truck turned in to the country lane I was parked on. A woman rolled down her window and asked if I was okay. I explained the situation and she handed me her cell phone. I called 911 but we were so far removed from civilization that the call would drop after 1 ring. I kept pacing the small shoulder and redialing. Meanwhile, the passenger of the truck went into the woods to search for the missing biker. I finally got through to the Carroll County Sherriff’s department. I filled the operator in on what had transpired.

“Where are you located?” She asked.

I knew the road I was on but didn’t know the name of the main highway. I frantically searched for landmarks and signs to assist me. “I am standing on County Road 120, just down from the Baptist Church.”

“It’s Highway 187.” The driver added.

“The intersection of Highway 187 and County Road 120.” I relayed the information to the dispatcher.

“We’ll get an ambulance out there.” She assured me.

I thanked her and the call disconnected. I handed the phone back to the woman who was decked out in black leather. Within a matter of seconds, a man in a black t-shirt and jeans emerged from the woods. He exited a good distance from where Jake entered. He was stumbling and seemed disoriented. Jake followed a short distance behind him. As the man got closer to the road, Jake motioned to me to stay where I was. I could make out a small stream of blood flowing over his forehead and down his cheek. His clothes were torn and dirty. As he turned his head toward an approaching motorcycle, I could see his forehead had been impaled with a twig. It protruded from his head about 4 inches. The blood stream had become fiercer. The ghastly sight made my senses go numb. It was obvious this man needed immediate medical attention.

A motorcyclist stopped near where Jake and the injured man were standing. The man tried to hop on the back of the bike. Jake pulled him off. This was the same biker who had passed soon after we witnessed the soaring motorcycle. These two men had been travelling together when the accident occurred. After Jake told him he wasn’t going anywhere, his buddy sped off.

To add even more strangeness to the chaos, a man in a green Ford Explorer pulled up and parked along the shoulder. He got out of his car and grabbed a shirt from the backseat. He approached Jake and the injured biker. I couldn’t hear what was being said but I saw Jake nod in agreement. The man wrapped the shirt around the head wound in the fashion of a turban. He put his arm around the man and escorted him over to his SUV. The two men got in the car and drove away.

“Who was that?” The lady in leather asked.

“Beats me.” I was very puzzled by the chaos that had ensued.

The ambulance had not arrived. In fact, I couldn’t hear any sirens at all. Jake and the passenger of the truck came towards us. He was visually shaken. His olive complexion had been drained from his skin and his hazel eyes were even bigger than usual.

“I hope that guy gets the help he needs. He was in bad shape.” Said one of the women as they got back into their truck. I thanked them for all their help.

“What the hell just happened?” I asked Jake as we got back into my car to wait for the ambulance.

“I don’t know. I don’t…” He trailed off. He was trying to collect his composure. “That guy pulled up, grabbed a t-shirt from inside his car, wrapped the dude’s head and said, “I’ll take him.” And that was it.” Jake seemed just as confused as the rest of us.

“That’s really weird. Did he say who he was?” I asked.

“Nope. But he seemed to know what he was doing.”

“What happened when you found the biker?” I was curious to hear Jake’s side of the story.

“It took me a while to find him. I heard a wheezing, snoring sound and that’s how I was able to find him. He looked like he was sleeping. I started yelling, “Hey Buddy, Can you hear me?” His eyes popped open and he started to stand up. I told him to just lay still. I told him his bike was fucked up, he was fucked up and that an ambulance was on the way. He said, “No cops.” I think he was wasted. I couldn’t believe he stood up. He had chunks of bark in his skin and a fucking stick sticking out of his head!”

“I saw the stick and the blood. It was really gross.”

“That wasn’t the worst part.” Jake took a deep breath. “When he turned to go back to the highway, I could see part of his skull was missing. I could see his brain!”

I placed my hands over my mouth in disgust and let out an “Ugh!” I couldn’t even find a word to express my horror.

“That’s why I didn’t want you to come across the highway. It was really disturbing.” Jake was very troubled by what he’d seen. I couldn’t blame him. He just sat quietly staring out the window.

“Did he say anything else to you?” I asked.

“Not really. He couldn’t talk very well.”

We waited about 10 minutes longer but the ambulance never arrived. I asked Jake if he still wanted to go to the ghost tour or just go back to the suite. He said he wanted to go to the ghost tour to have a distraction, so we made our way to the Crescent Hotel.

When we got back home the next day, I called the local hospital to see if I could find out the status on the injured biker. The spoke with a nurse and told her what had happened. She said she was not allowed to give out details. Then, she whispered, “But he’s gonna to be okay.”

It wasn’t until I recounted the story to my family that I realized the significance of the number 187. I paused as the weirdness sank in. Then, I remembered Gia’s vision of the lake, trees, eagles and turtles. Chills spread throughout my body. Later that night, I pulled out my digital voice recorder and listened to my session again. When she said, “It’s really important that you take this trip,” the puzzle pieces all fell into place.

To take it one step further, 5 years have passed and the universe has brought me to a place where I’m writing about strange phenomena. I share my stories and interests with others via this blog in hopes of bringing knowledge and awareness to everything weird.

Perhaps remarkable concurrences of events and/or circumstances like mine have happened to all of us but we disregard them because the term synchronicity was not a part of vocabulary. These oddities were filed in our memory under luck or coincidence. If you take time to reflect upon them, you may discover that the strange parallels were acting as a GPS to guide you to an unknown destination.

As always, I invite you to post your comments, questions, or personal encounters. Anything weird is always welcome!