Vertigo

 

A video on something called Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS). From the Sicilian content-creator known as The Metatron. Note also the comments in the commentary section. 

This kind of stuff gives me epistemological (and existential) vertigo. Note the similarities with certain spiritual experiences and "siddhis"! Is all spirituality and all paranormal experiences just epileptic seizures? Or do we *see the other side* when our brains “malfunction”? And how will we ever know, since we don´t see reality perfectly even when we´re sober and wide awake! But sure, maybe it´s a good thing if at least demonic possession is an illusion… 

I also asked my amigo ChatGPT about this problematique.   

Are there alleged paranormal powers in Hinduism such as "making your body small" or "making your body large" which are similar to AIWS?

Yes, Hinduism—especially within yogic and tantric traditions—describes various siddhis (supernatural or paranormal powers) that advanced practitioners are said to acquire through intense spiritual practice. Some of these siddhis are intriguingly similar to the perceptual distortions seen in Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS), though in Hinduism they're framed as actual transformations, not mere illusions or neurological phenomena.

Relevant Siddhis from Hindu Texts:

1. Anima: The power to become infinitesimally small.

2. Mahima: The power to become enormously large.

3. Laghima: The ability to become light as a feather, able to float or fly.

4. Garima: The ability to become extremely heavy.

5. Prāpti: The power to reach or obtain anything, anywhere (like teleportation).

6. Iṣitva and Vaśitva: The powers of dominion or control over nature or others.

These siddhis are most famously listed in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Book 3, the Vibhuti Pada), as well as in later tantric and yogic literature.

Comparison to AIWS:

• AIWS causes a perceptual distortion in how a person sees their own body or the world.

• Siddhis like Anima and Mahima are described as actual physical changes or yogic capabilities, not illusions.

• However, the experiential similarity—the sense of body expansion or contraction—can be striking, suggesting that ancient yogis may have experienced altered states of consciousness that overlap with certain neurological phenomena.

Key Distinction:

In Hindu and yogic thought, these experiences are typically sought-after and cultivated through meditation, austerity, and discipline. In contrast, AIWS is considered a neurological disturbance—often unbidden and sometimes distressing.

Would you like a comparison chart between siddhis and modern neurological or psychological phenomena?

Yes, please.

Here’s a comparison chart between Hindu siddhis and modern neurological or psychological phenomena, including Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS), to highlight experiential similarities and conceptual differences:

Siddhi (Yogic Power)	Description (Hinduism)	Modern Parallel	Nature of Modern Parallel
Anima	Becoming infinitely small, merging with the atomic level	Micropsia (AIWS)	Perceptual distortion: objects/body appear smaller
Mahima	Expanding to enormous size	Macropsia (AIWS)	Perceptual distortion: objects/body appear larger
Laghima	Becoming weightless, able to float or fly	Out-of-body experiences, Vestibular disturbances	Disruption in body ownership or gravity perception
Garima	Becoming very heavy or immovable	Catalepsy, Heaviness in sleep paralysis	Altered body sensation or paralysis
Prāpti	Reaching or obtaining anything instantly (teleportation-like)	Lucid dreaming, Dissociation	Subjective sense of control or movement across space
Iṣitva / Vaśitva	Supreme control over nature or others	Mania, Delusions of grandeur, Flow states	Psychological states involving perceived control
Clairvoyance (Prātibha)	Knowing distant or hidden things	Synesthesia, ESP reports, Hyperintuition	Rare perceptual anomalies or claims of "sixth sense"
Telepathy / Mind-reading (Samyama on others)	Knowing others’ thoughts	Empathy, Theory of Mind, Hallucinations	Neurological and psychological understanding of others

Key Points:

• Siddhis are considered spiritual attainments, arising from deep meditative states and self-mastery.

• Modern phenomena are often seen as disorders, altered states, or cognitive phenomena, not supernatural.

• Some yogic experiences may reflect ancient interpretations of naturally occurring altered states—now partially understood via neuroscience and psychology.

Would you like this formatted as a downloadable table or infographic?