This week, I was talking to my dad when I got an overwhelming feeling that I had been in that exact situation before. Not only that, but I felt like I knew what would happen next without being able to describe it in words.  It is proven that at least 70% of the population experiences this at least once a year. That’s right, we all know what it is: déjà vu. There are TONS of different theories that have been expressed over the years to explain this crazy phenomenon. Question is, which do you believe?

Unfortunately, déjà vu is not the same as precognitive experiences (the ability to tell the future.)  Déjà vu, French for “already seen,” has been observed for many years with theories that vary from extraterrestrial influences to signals released in the brain.

The most realistic possibility behind déjà vu is that our brain separates events or experiences into individual fragments stored in our memory.  If we are placed in a situation with similar aspects to one we remember, we get a strong sense of familiarity that can confuse us into thinking we’ve been in that situation before.

Another theory, or rather belief, is that déjà vu has a strong connection with the “existence” of parallel universes.  Many physicists and doctors, including Dr. Michio Kaku and Professor Steve Weinberg, support the idea that our universe is not the only existing universe that holds life, and that these universes coexist without direct realization of this fact.  In regards to déjà vu, people believe it to allow us to “flip between different universes.”  Since there is believed to be an infinite number of universes, it is also possible that every decision you have to make has an infinite number of choices and possibilities in those universes. Who’s to say an experience we are living in isn’t happening exactly the same at the same time in a whole other universe?  Hold onto your hats – we’re not done yet!

It is hard sometimes to feel the difference between a dream and reality. What if déjà vu is the simple act of confusing reality with a situation we’ve seen in our dreams?  Similar to the first theory, if a situation closely resembles one we’ve made up in a dream, it is easy to confuse the two and believe you’ve been there before.  Certain situations can trigger these images from dreams in your mind, even if you don’t consciously remember that dream. This is what gives out the feeling that you’ve been there before without knowing for sure.

Lastly, my personal favorite theory: what if déjà vu is a memory of an experience we’ve had in another life? According to Sylvia Browne, “It was just in another body, in another time. And when the spirit memories buried in the subconscious are stirred so deeply by sights from a whole other incarnation that those memories emerge into the conscious mind.”  Similar to the parallel universe theory, we could’ve been in the exact same situation in another world. Our spirits carry on – it’s just a new body.  Maybe déjà vu is meant to connect us back to our past lives.  Next time you experience déjà vu, think, which theory do you believe?

“Experiencing Deja Vu Experience Past Life Memories.” Experiencing Deja Vu Experience Past Life Memories. DHerbs.com, 2014. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://dherbs.com/news/4604/4669/D-232-j-224-vu/d%2Cai.html>.

Obringer, Lee Ann. “How Déjà Vu Works.” HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 11 Apr. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/extrasensory-perceptions/deja-vu.htm>.

“The Mystery of “Deja Vu”.” High Existence Site Wide Activity RSS. Jordan Lejuwaan, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.highexistence.com/deja-vu/>.

“The Psychology Of Deja Vu.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081118122146.htm>.

“Can Parallel Universes Explain The Déjà Vu Phenomenon? – New Evidence Parallel Universes Could Exist – MessageToEagle.com.” Can Parallel Universes Explain The Déjà Vu Phenomenon? – New Evidence Parallel Universes Could Exist – MessageToEagle.com. MessagetoEagle.com, 23 June 2012. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.messagetoeagle.com/dejavuparalleluniverses.php>.