Time Slips, the Multiverse, and You
Some believe that time travel is possible. But is it? And if so, how?
Key points
- The nature of time is one of the biggest mysteries in science. Scientists simply do not understand what time is.
- The universe has a “speed limit” called the speed of light, faster than which nothing in our universe can travel.
- The multiverse theory explains how it could be possible for people to have traveled faster than light speed during “time slips.”
Time in the multiverse.
Source: Angel Glen/Pixabay
The nature of time is one of the biggest mysteries in science. Scientists simply do not understand what time is, at least partially, because it does not behave the same way in all circumstances. For example, did you know that clocks installed on airplanes—or even further away, on satellites—record time at different rates than here on Earth?
We all know that time has a physical component that is measured by clocks. This physical component of time exists because things and people move around in space: the motion of the Earth propels time forward in 24-hour days and 365-day years. We physically experience time because we experience ourselves and things moving around. This is obviously true when you think about different time zones. It isn’t the same time in New York as it is in Sydney because the Earth is moving. In fact, we are all traveling in time at about one second per second. This physical component of time was explained by Einstein who, more than 100 years ago, revolutionized the idea of how time works. He theorized that time and space are inextricably linked together. He also found that the universe has a speed limit of sorts: the speed of light. So while time and space are linked, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light (186,000 miles per second).
But what about otherwise credible reports made by those who claim to have traveled faster than the speed of light? What about reports of actual time travel? The internet is filled with stories about people insisting they experienced jumps in time which are not merely one second per second, but decades or even hundreds of years. These time anomalies, or “time slips,” are paranormal episodes during which someone—or a group of people—somehow experience traveling through time without knowing how or why it occurred.
Read More – Time Slips, the Multiverse, and You
An author witnesses a scene from over 400 hundred years ago, two women travel in time to the Palace of Versailles and an off-duty policeman relives 1950’s Liverpool. Do people really believe time slips are as easy as entering a room? MJ Wayland explores this very unusual and rare paranormal occurrence, discussing the most famous cases of time slips.
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What is a Time Slip?
“Ghosts” are a multi-faceted phenomenon that deserves to be classified as a range of different events. Many sightings are readily explained as individuals who appear out of their normal location or time; often the experience also seems to change the surroundings of the witness, giving the impression of a “time-slip”. Is the timeslip a past life leap or a blip in the space time continuum? All of this sounds like something out of a science fiction movie.
What is open to question is whether these stories are glimpses into the past or does the witness actually travel back in time?
Time Slip Theory
Ghost hunter and author, Joan Forman collected many unusual time slips stories from around the UK. One early example happened to a Warder who was on duty in the Byward Tower, at the main entrance to the Tower of London. One night, he looked up to see five or six Beefeaters from the distant past, seated around a log fire, smoking pipes. Not only that, the whole room had altered in appearance. The room reverted back to its original state when the warder left the room and returned moments later. Forman gathered such an amount of evidence she was able to publish “Masks of Time” a book dedicated to this phenomenon.
Forman’s interest in Time Slips took her to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, where she was to have an experience and allow her to develop the theory of the ‘trigger factor’.
Joan entered the courtyard of Haddon Hall, pausing to admire the architecture. Without warning, she ‘saw’ a group of four children playing at the top of the stairs, a girl about nine years old caught the attention of Joan. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, a white Dutch hat, and a long green-grey silk dress with a white-collar. Joan watched within fascination the children playing in the yard “fully aware that she was not seeing with the physical eye, yet conscious of watching real action.
Joan decided to find the identity of the oldest child and entered the Hall looking at every family portrait. In the middle of the ancestral paintings, a picture of the girl she had seen was hung; it was Lady Grace Manners who died in the 1640’s.
The trigger factor occurs when one is interested in their surroundings but not concentrating on them; a slip can happen at a precise place and moment and the witness is thrust seemingly, into another time. Whatever you believe, the next witness saw this happen.
A Kent Time Slip
At Leeds Castle in Kent, Alice Pollock experienced what could be called a ‘classic’ story. Alice was experimenting in Henry VIII’s rooms by touching objects in an attempt to experience events from another time. After a period of receiving no impressions whatsoever, the large room suddenly changed. The room lost its modern, comfortable appearance to become old fashioned, cold and bare. The carpet had disappeared and there were now logs burning on the fire. A tall woman in a white dress was walking up and down the room; her face seemed in deep concentration. Not long after the room returned to its original state.
Read More – What is a Time Slip?
Exploring the Phenomenon of Time Slips
Time slips, also known as temporal displacement or time warps, is a phenomenon in which an individual experiences a sudden shift in time and space. This can manifest as a feeling of being transported to a different time period or location, or even as a brief glimpse into the past or future. The phenomenon has been reported throughout history and across cultures, and has been the subject of much debate and speculation.
Theories on the Causes of Time Slips
There are a variety of theories that have been proposed to explain the phenomenon of time slips. These include scientific, paranormal, and psychological explanations.
Scientific explanations — Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. Some scientists propose that time slips may be the result of quantum mechanical processes:
- the collapse of wave functions — According to this theory, the collapse of a wave function can cause a sudden shift in the probability of an event occurring, leading to a sudden change in the observer’s perception of time and space.
- the existence of parallel universes — According to this theory, the universe we live in is just one of many possible universes, and time slips are caused by the observer crossing over into a parallel universe.
Scientific explanations — General Relativity
General Relativity is a theory of gravitation that was developed by Albert Einstein in the early 20th century. According to this theory, gravity is not a force between masses, but rather the curvature of spacetime caused by the presence of massive objects. Some scientists suggest that time slips may be a result of the warping of spacetime due to the presence of massive objects, such as black holes or neutron stars.
One theory is that time slips occur near black holes, where the intense gravity causes a significant warping of spacetime. This warping can cause a sudden shift in the observer’s perception of time and space, leading to the sensation of a time slip.
Another theory is that time slips occur near neutron stars, which are extremely dense objects that have a mass similar to the sun but are only about 20 km in diameter. The intense gravity and strong magnetic fields of neutron stars can cause a warping of spacetime that leads to the sensation of a time slip.
Paranormal explanations — Time portals
According to this theory, time slips may be the result of natural or man-made portals that allow for travel through time. Some paranormal researchers propose that certain locations, such as ancient standing stones or mysterious ancient ruins, may be natural time portals. Others suggest that man-made structures, such as certain buildings or underground tunnels, may be artificially created time portals.
The idea is that these portals act as a gateway between different eras, and when someone walks through one of these portals, they experience a sudden shift in time and space, leading to the sensation of a time slip.
Paranormal explanations — Spiritual explanations
According to this theory, time slips may be caused by spiritual entities or forces, such as ghosts or spirits. Some believe that spirits or ghosts of the past can interact with the present, causing a sudden shift in time and space, leading to the sensation of a time slip. Some people also suggest that certain spiritual practices, such as meditation or lucid dreaming, can open a gateway to other dimensions, leading to the experience of time slips.
Read More – Exploring the Phenomenon of Time Slips
Time Slips: Urban Legend, Ghost Story, or Utter Nonsense?
The Versailles Time Slip
Let’s journey back to 10 August 1901. Charlotte Moberly and Eleanor Jourdain visited the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. Moberly was president of Oxford’s St Hugh’s College, while Jourdain was her assistant.
According to the story, the palace didn’t impress either Moberly or Jourdain. I’ll be completely blunt; it didn’t impress me either. The palace of Herrenchiemsee, built by Ludwig II in Bavaria as a copy of Versailles, is far nicer. But I digress.
The women decided to head off to see the two Trianon Palaces in the gardens. The stretch of gardens between the main gardens and the smaller palaces is a bit of a jumble. I’d imagine the signage was less helpful in 1901, too.
The Grand Trianon, © Icy Sedgwick 2014
The Grand Trianon was closed for the day so the two women decided to visit the Petit Trianon instead. This gorgeous little building was Marie Antoinette’s private palace and in a lot of ways, it’s much nicer than the main building.
While searching for the Petit Trianon, they passed a small cottage and a farmhouse. It’s at this point that it all starts to get a bit weird. According to the book they wrote in 1911, the women saw a range of men in different period costumes in the gardens. A man in a sombrero showed them the way to the palace and Moberly spotted an elegant woman sketching the Petit Trianon. Jourdain didn’t see her but Moberly claims she later recognised the woman when she saw a particular portrait of Marie Antoinette (below).
Queen Marie Antoinette of France and two of her Children Walking in The Park of Trianon by Adolf Ulrik Wertmüller (1751-1811), [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons
The Aftermath
Over the years, many people have tried to discredit their story, particularly due to their claim of having seen Marie Antoinette. Moberly continued to have paranormal experiences throughout her life. Jourdain died in mysterious circumstances in 1924. Bear in mind these were professional, academic women; Jourdain was a vicar’s daughter.
Charlotte Anne Moberly, [Public Domain] via Wikimedia Commons
The Society for Psychical Research reviewed their book, An Adventure (1911). Eleanor Mildred Sidgwick thought they’d simply misinterpreted ordinary events. In The Ghosts of the Trianon (1988), Michael Coleman analysed different editions of the book. He noticed that later editions contained descriptions that grew more fantastical after they’d conducted research into the palace and the time period.
Philippe Jullian explained that the French poet Robert de Montesquiou held elaborate parties at Versailles. His guests often wore period costume. Jullian claimed that Moberly and Jourdain had encountered one such party. So they had met Marie Antoinette that day…just not the Marie Antoinette!
Read More – Time Slips: Urban Legend, Ghost Story, or Utter Nonsense?