PREDESTINATION

Precognition is defined as the foreknowledge of an event, especially foreknowledge of a paranormal kind.  Here are two stories that suggest it is possible to subconsciously see the future without actually realizing it at the time. 

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1838) is the only novel written by American author Edgar Allan Poe.  To say this book was strange beyond strange is a huge understatement, but then what else can we expect from the macabre Mr. Poe?

Young Arthur Gordon Pym stows away aboard a whaling ship called the Grampus.  At one point, to evade detection, Pym masquerades as the ghost of a sailor who has died on the trip.  Very creative.   

Various adventures and misadventures befall Pym including mutiny and a subsequent shipwreck.  When the four survivors of the wreck enter a lifeboat, the tale turns gruesome.  Starving to death, three sailors decide to eat a young, rather unfortunate cabin boy named Richard Parker.

In 1884, the yacht Mignonette sank with four men cast adrift.  After weeks without food, they decided to sacrifice one of them as food for the other three.  The loser was a young cabin boy named Richard Parker. 

Edgar Allan Poe wrote his story 46 years before the real life event took place.  A very peculiar coincidence indeed.

In 1898, Morgan Robertson wrote a book named Futility.  The subtitle was Wreck of the Titan.  The book's author, a maritime expert, disavowed any psychic abilities or spiritual inspiration for writing the novel.  Robertson claimed he was merely well-educated on shipbuilding trends and well as the hazards of crossing the Atlantic.  Nevertheless, starting with the near-identical names of the Fictional ship and the Real ship, the similarities in this book to the actual wreck of the Titanic are uncanny. 

In the fictional version as well as the actual event, both ships struck an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic. 

Both the fictional collision and the actual collision took place at midnight in mid-April.

Robertson's Titan disaster took place 400 miles from Newfoundland. The Titanic disaster took place 400 miles from Newfoundland.

In the book, since the Titan was considered unsinkable, it carried far too few lifeboats, "as few as the law allowed."  Ditto for the Titanic. 

In the book, more than half the Titan's 2500 passengers drowned.  In real life, more than half the Titanic's 2200 passengers and crew died. 

So was this book a big hit?  Absolutely not.  Although Morgan Robertson was a well-known writer of short stories, he became deeply frustrated when no one would publish his latest book.  The rejection letters all said the same thing. 

"We're sorry, Mr. Robertson, but no one will ever believe this story."

Here is my point.  Science is not foolproof.  It has been proven wrong before.  Here is a well-known example.  In 1796 Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids seemed to have a natural immunity to the dread disease known as Smallpox.  Jenner proposed a vaccine based on his observation.  Forget it!!  Despite raising a valid question based on an Observation, Jenner was thwarted by Doubters.  The medical and scientific communities were so skeptical of Jenner's results, all they did was argue rather than be bothered to test his theories.  Due to the controversy, it took over a decade for his ideas to be accepted.  Meanwhile people continued to die by the legions.  Imagine how many lives would have been saved if the bigots had just listened.  History is lined with stories like this.  Columbus suspected the Earth was round.  Copernicus suspected the Sun was the center of our solar system.  Both men faced withering criticism. 

In this book I have presented observations which strongly contradict most people's view of Reality.  The 'People are Strange' Observation suggests the existence of ESP.  The 'Gypsy Prophecy' Observation suggests the existence of Predestination.  Does this mean 'Predestination' is true?  Does this mean 'Telepathy' is real?  I certainly think so, but I am sure there are plenty of people who will disagree. 

Ultimately it does not boil down to what I think, but rather what YOU THINK.  There was an important trait shared by Jenner, Columbus, and Copernicus:  Curiosity.  What about you?  Do you consider yourself 'Curious'?  Probably so.  My guess is you would not have gotten to the end of this book otherwise.  In my opinion, 'Curiosity' is an invaluable gift.  The advance of Civilization is dependent on people who see things differently and have the courage to act on their instinct. 

FLASHBACK: APRIL 1971, JUNIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE

THE CAMP COUNSELOR STORY

"I was a Junior in college.  One day in April I was sitting in the library wondering what I should do with my upcoming summer.  Out of nowhere, a fantasy popped into my head about getting a job as a camp counselor.  I had never been near a summer camp in my life, so this was an entertaining fantasy.  I sat there daydreaming about swimming, volleyball, long hikes in the mountains, marshmallows, ghost stories around campfires.  But then my practical side kicked in.  Where was I going to get a prestige job like this on short notice?  I would not even know where to begin looking and summer was just around the corner.  I dismissed the idea as silly and forgot about it."

"So you did nothing to pursue your interesting idea." 

"Correct.  However, two weeks later something really weird happened.  Once a week I did afternoon volunteer work at a day care center run by the local Quaker Meeting.  In particular I liked this kid named Eric.  He was 4 years old, all boy, full of energy.  One day we were playing our favorite game of 'Monster'.  I would lumber around growling at Eric.  I never caught him, of course.  I want to scare him a little, but not too much.  I came close enough to make him squeal with delight.  So here I am chasing this little kid when I look up and see Eric's mother Nancy grinning at me.  Beside her was a lady I had never seen before.  When Eric and I went over to greet his mother, Nancy introduced me to her sister Mary Colvig.  Feeling embarrassed at behaving like a fool in front of this attractive stranger, I apologized for being so silly.

Mary just laughed.  "No apology necessary.  You were quite convincing as a monster.  If I was four, I would run too.  In fact, I might run even now."

We both smiled.  I was relieved to see Mary had enjoyed the silliness.  Ordinarily I was very shy in those days, but I got bold and asked Mary where she was from.  The moment Mary said 'Colorado', I don't know what came over me, but I was almost certain I KNEW what was coming next. 

Almost as if I were reading from a script, I said, "Gosh, Mary, I love Colorado.  What do you do for a living?"

"My husband and I have just finished building a new summer camp in Durango, Colorado.  We start our first year this coming June." 

Emboldened by my fantasy from two weeks earlier, I said, "Oh, how interesting.  Do you by chance still have any openings? 

Mary nodded.  "Actually, yes, we have one opening left.  I want you to speak to my husband Craig.  Why don't you come by Nancy's house tonight?"

As coincidences go, this one was pretty amazing.  It would be one thing if I thought about summer camps on a regular basis.  However I had never previously thought about a summer camp or a counselor job in my life.  To me, it was like some part of me anticipated this unlikely event.  I believe my idle dream was a clear case of precognition."

JJOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Serious

2021:  RICK AND MARLA'S 20th anniversary

It is my theory that many of our views about Reality were handed to us when we were too young to think critically.  Once an idea takes root, it is very tough to change.  Imagine all those people who once thought the earth was flat.  Given how insulting it is to be told that our religious or political beliefs are wrong, I have learned not to tell a person what to think.  The point of these stories is not to preach, but rather to remind the Reader to question certain preconceived ideas.  At the start of this book, I said I would share events in my life that led me to conclude Fate and God exist.  I offer Marla's 'Gypsy Prophecy' as a prime example.  The time has come to rest my case. 

"If you take this journey, you will meet the man with whom you will spend the rest of your life.  Not only that, you already know him."  -- Gypsy Prophecy

By all rhyme and reason, Marla should have recalled the Gypsy's Prediction during our 2001 cruise trip.  But she didn't.  As a result, Marla and I spent an entire year living together completely unaware of the Gypsy's extraordinary prediction.  During this time, we decided we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.  So when Marla finally did remember the Gypsy had said she would meet the man with whom she would spend the rest of her life, we both grinned.  Well, duh, tell us something we don't already know!  

Nevertheless, it was pretty remarkable to discover our romance appeared to have been foretold.  It was also weird to discover we were meant to be together one year after we had already figured it out on our own.  Everyone knows the U.S. Post Office is unreliable, but what about the Celestial Post Office?  Did someone misplace a Divine Message?

Marla's favorite saying is 'Time will Tell'.  How many years did we have to be married before we had the right to declare the Gypsy's prediction had come true?  Since Marla and I felt 'married' from the moment we met on the 2001 cruise, this date held more significance than our official marriage in 2004. 

Therefore, when August 2021 rolled around, we treated this moment as our 20th anniversary.  The Gypsy had said, "You will meet the man with whom you will spent the rest of your life."  Given how strong our marriage was at the 20 year mark, we felt pretty sure we had the proof we needed.

'For the rest of our lives.'  Strong words indeed. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

Rick's Note:

I have written Gypsy Prophecy to explain why I believe our marriage was a Fated Event.  As I write this final chapter, Marla and I are as close today as when we met.  Based on the strength of our relationship, I would have to say spiritual concepts such as 'Soul Mate' and 'Godwink' are apt descriptions for our relationship.

Although it is scientifically impossible to prove the existence of 'Fate', there comes a point where Doubt is reduced to such a negligible amount that Faith takes over.  I have experienced a lifetime of weird events which lack obvious explanations.  From a List containing 120 'Suspected' Supernatural Events, I consider the Gypsy story to be one of the five most serious.  The difficulty of finding a 'Realistic Explanation' for the Gypsy's prediction is absurd to the point of futility.  At some point, a rational person should have the sense to ask if Fate is the most obvious conclusion.  That said, if you can think of a better explanation, feel free to disagree.  The whole point is to encourage people to think about a difficult subject.  If I have accomplished this for you, then I am happy.

Having met the Gypsy, Readers can see why I feel our relationship was Predestined.  That said, there was one very odd aspect.  Although Marla met the Gypsy in March, she did not recognize me as a romantic possibility until August.  Considering my futile efforts to get her attention during the six month wait, I contend the Force of Fate deliberately hid me in plain sight prior to the appointed time for our Fairy Tale to begin. 

Why would Fate go to the trouble of keeping us apart?  I think the answer lies with 'Timing'.  The Gypsy told Marla the following, "On the other path, I see you are considering a certain journey.  If you take this journey, your life will be changed forever.  On this journey, you will meet the man you will spend the rest of your life with."

If Fate had already circled the cruise trip as the appointed date, then keeping one of us blind to the other was the only way we could interact at the studio without jumping the gun.  This is a very strange claim, so I would not be surprised to find people who think otherwise.  Nor do I expect you to agree with my Cosmic Blindness theory.  I have written this book specifically to allow Readers to 'walk in my shoes' so to speak.  I leave it to you to reach your own conclusions. 

Hopefully you will have some unusual experiences of your own to draw upon.  I am fairly certain that 'weird things' happen to everyone.  The only difference between me and the next guy is that I have been obsessed with the concept of Fate my entire life.  If the guy next to me had experienced 120 'suspected' Supernatural Events, my guess is he would think about Fate as often as I do.  Will this book be a big hit?  Morgan Robertson, author of the weird Titan/Titanic story, comes to mind.

"We're sorry, Mr. Archer, but no one will ever believe this story."

No matter what the outcome, I have enjoyed telling my tale.  Now it's Marla's turn to speak.  

Marla's Notes:  

I believe in Karma and Fate.  But Rick is correct that I never discussed these concepts with him prior to my unexpected Gypsy revelation.  Thoughts as sensitive as these are easier kept to oneself.  It took this jarring incident to open up what has been many years of ongoing dialogue. 

I do not believe ALL things are Fated.  However I do think some things are Fated.  I also believe that an individual has Free Will.  I have never been vengeful for any past wrongs done to me. I have always been hopeful that there was a reason for the season and better times were in my future.  "Time Will Tell."

I have no explanation as to why I completely forgot about my Gypsy Prophecy for 18 months.  It makes absolutely no sense.  Why I forgot that the Ouija Board predicted my future husband would have the initials of RJA when I was 17 is also unanswerable.  These two predictions by themselves lead me to believe that there is something unworldly in our midst.

As for Chris, I have no explanation as to why I allowed that man to treat me like he did.  Chris cheated on me, he lied to me.  I turned into a doormat around him. My self-esteem was so reduced that I was no longer the same woman I had once been.  Why I remained with Chris so long is a riddle.  Perhaps this is where Fate comes into my story.  If it is true that Suffering is a necessary part of life. then perhaps Chris was an event I had to go through. 

God was waiting for the right time for Rick and me to be united.  I thoroughly believe that my Midnight meeting with Rick in the Disco was FATED.  I believe the timing when we accidentally met in the cruise ship Hallway was FATED.  The conversation that followed cleared the air in a way that allowed my true romance to begin.  Many years later, our relationship remains as strong today as ever.  My experience with the Gypsy's uncanny prediction has assured me there is more to this world than we are aware.  I believe Rick's theory of Cosmic Blindness may be Fate or Karma by another name.  What do you think?

Marla Archer
January 2025