Precognition: Understanding and Developing Your Intuitive Connection to the Future

Precognition – the sense of knowing something before it happens – may sound mystical, but many people report uncanny experiences: a dream that “comes true,” a sudden gut feeling about an upcoming call, or a hunch that someone is about to arrive. Modern physics even suggests that our everyday sense of time’s flow is an illusion [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. According to Einstein’s relativity, time doesn’t tick forward the same for everyone; space and time form a four-dimensional “block” in which past, present and future coexist [popularmechanics.com] [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. In this view, everything that will ever happen already exists—blurring the line between now and then. But most of us experience time as linear, which makes the idea of perceiving the future hard to swallow. This article explores what precognition means, how science approaches it, and even how you might gently cultivate your own intuitive “future sense.”

What Is Precognition?

Precognition (from “pre-” meaning before, and “cognition” meaning knowing) is typically defined as information about a future event that could not have been inferred by normal means. In other words, it is like knowing what will happen before it logically should be knowable. Classic parapsychologists (like J.B. Rhine in the mid-20th century) began studying this phenomenon by testing people’s ability to guess future events under controlled conditions [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. Today, researchers use the term broadly: it can refer to a sudden conscious prediction, a dream with future content, or even a physiological reaction (like a racing heart) that seems tied to a future stimulus.

6 Types of Precognition according to Julia Mossbridge

Throughout history, people of many cultures have reported dreams or visions foretelling events. For example, Carl Jung and other early psychologists noted that dreams often contain precognitive symbols – fragments of things that later unfold in waking life. More recently, the field of parapsychology has collected many anecdotal and experimental accounts of precognition. A defining feature is that no ordinary sensory or logical cue could have revealed the future outcome. If someone dreams that a friend will get in a car crash the next day, and it happens without any clear warning signs, that is considered a precognitive dream.

Philosophically, precognition raises big questions about time and determinism. If the future can be known in advance, is it fixed and unchangeable? Or does precognition simply “see” one possible future? Relativity theory supports the idea of a block universe, where the future “already exists” in spacetime [popularmechanics.com]. In this view, precognition might be like having a snapshot of what our own timeline holds. But other thinkers emphasize quantum indeterminacy and free will: perhaps our choices can still alter what we glimpse. In practice, many intuitives find that even if they foresee something, acting on it (or not) may change the outcome. This tension – fixed vs. open future – is still unresolved in both science and personal experience (see “Is the Future Fixed or Changeable?” below).

Scientific Theories of Precognition

Scientists and theorists have proposed several ways to explain precognition, ranging from radical physics ideas to psychological models. Here are the major theories:

Block-Universe (Eternalism): In relativity, spacetime is like a four-dimensional block where past, present and future all coexist [popularmechanics.com]. There is no universal “now”; events just are at different coordinates. From this perspective (also called eternalism), the future is as real as the past. Precognition would simply be accessing the information already contained in that block. As one physics writer explains, “the past, present, and future are all equally real, coexisting within the Einsteinian space”[popularmechanics.com]. In a strict block-world model, events unfold in a fixed way: “If the plane crash happens (in the block world), then it will happen (in our experience) once we get to that point in spacetime”. Under this model, true randomness or change would require something beyond the block itself.
Retrocausality: This idea holds that effects can precede causes – basically, the future can influence the past. In quantum physics, time-reversal is sometimes allowed: some experiments (like delayed-choice experiments) suggest that what we decide to measure now can affect how particles “behaved” before. Popular accounts explain this by treating time like a single stable dimension rather than a strict one-way arrow [popularmechanics.com]. In such models, a decision or emotional state today could “ripple backward” and subtly shape earlier events [popularmechanics.com]. For example, one speculative hypothesis is retrocausal consciousness, where your feelings or thoughts today might nudge your own brain in the past (e.g. making a “past you” braver or calmer) [popularmechanics.com]. However, mainstream science remains highly skeptical: as one neuroscientist noted, accepting precognitive influence would mean “pretty much everything else we know about physics is wrong” [history.co.uk]. Most physicists agree that while microscopic laws may be time-symmetric, there is no evidence that consciousness routinely bends causality backward [popularmechanics.com][history.co.uk].
Future Feedback and Time-Loops: Anthropologist Eric Wargo (Time Loops, 2019) and others have proposed models involving feedback from the future. In one picture, your brain literally contains information about its own future state – when you later learn some fact, a trace of that future knowledge is resonating in you now. Jon Taylor (2014) developed a block-universe theory with “implicate order”: similar neuronal patterns at different times resonate like synchronized radio waves. When future you learns something, that neural pattern “resonates” with present you’s brain, causing precognition. Wargo imagines closed causal loops: your prediction error, anxiety, or symbolism on experiencing an event could itself influence the “past” pattern in a loop. Essentially, in these models precognition is real information transfer – not from ghosts or spirits, but via subtle physics (e.g. David Bohm’s implicate order) that connect minds across time.
Presentiment and Emotional Anticipation: A large body of lab experiments suggests that our bodies and brains often react a fraction of a second before an emotional or surprising event. For example, in Daryl Bem’s experiments, people showed increased physiological arousal a few seconds before a disturbing image appeared on screen[mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. Jessica Utts and colleagues (2012) meta-analyzed many such “presentiment” studies and found a tiny but consistent effect. A recent meta-analysis of 26 laboratory studies reported a small but statistically significant shift in skin conductance or heart rate just before random stimuli [frontiersin.org] [frontiersin.org]. In practice, this means our emotions sometimes “know” that something significant is coming moments before it happens. The prevailing idea is that highly charged images or events evoke stronger precognitive signals: Bem himself noted that erotic or frightening targets produced anticipatory responses, whereas neutral ones did not [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. Whether this is classical conditioning on an unknown cue or a genuine psi effect is debated, but multiple labs have replicated small anticipatory signals when the future stimulus is unpredictable [frontiersin.org][mitchhorowitz.substack.com].
Nonlocal Consciousness / Quantum Brain Models: Some researchers extend quantum ideas to consciousness. One hypothesis (drawing on Bohm’s work) is that consciousness has a nonlocal order spanning space and time. In Taylor’s theory, as noted above, matching patterns across time can resonate. Other ideas (like those of physicist Stuart Hameroff) propose that brain microstructures (microtubules) might operate quantum mechanically. Eric Wargo (interview) suggests that such microtubules could “get information about their own futures” and effectively pre-configure our neural connections based on upcoming experiences [ideaspace.ystrickler.com]. In his view, precognition is like memory running backward: “It looks an awful lot like memory, just memory going in the wrong direction”[ideaspace.ystrickler.com]. In short, these models say the brain might tap into quantum processes that span time; what we call intuition could be our nonlocal mind making sense of patterns that already ‘exist’ in the future.

Each of these theories is far from proven. Block-universe and retrocausal models come mostly from physics and philosophy, whereas presentiment comes from experimental psychology and neuroscience. Nonlocal quantum theories are still highly speculative. Together, they provide a framework for thinking about precognition, but none is a slam-dunk explanation. Still, they show that both physics and psychology have ways (however controversial) to make sense of “knowledge of the future.”

Case Studies: Precognitive Experiences

While controlled experiments give only small effects, many compelling real-life stories of precognition have been recorded – often around disasters or crises. These anecdotes, though not scientific proof on their own, illustrate how precognition can surface in daily life:

9/11 Survivors and Premonitions: In the days before the World Trade Center attack on 9/11, dozens of people reported vivid forebodings. For example, Michael Hingson, who worked on the 78th floor of the North Tower, recalls that his guide dog became extremely restless the night before the attack. Acting on this uneasy feeling, Hingson arrived at work an hour earlier than normal – a change he believes saved his life on 9/11[history.co.uk]. Wall Street executive Barrett Naylor, a skeptic-turned-believer, felt inexplicably compelled to go home on February 26, 1993, just before the first WTC bombing; eight years later he experienced the same sudden urge on the morning of September 11 and likewise avoided the attacks [history.co.uk]. In those days, many others reported anxious dreams: one woman dreamt of an airplane crashing into a skyscraper only days before 9/11[history.co.uk]. A scientific inquiry by the University of Edinburgh’s Koestler Parapsychology Unit found that reports of disturbing dreams and “gut feelings” spiked nationally before 9/11 (and similarly before other disasters like the 2004 tsunami)[history.co.uk]. These collective findings suggest that something like a “global intuition” may tune people to major events.
The Aberfan Coal-Mine Disaster: In 1966, a coal waste pile in Aberfan, Wales collapsed onto a school, killing 116 children. In the hours before the slide, several people had uncanny premonitions. One afternoon, 52-year-old Lorna Middleton woke up with an overwhelming sense that the walls were caving in. She even urged her lodger to have tea with her, a break she normally skipped. Just an hour later, the coal waste tumblered down the hillside onto Pantglas Junior School [newyorker.com]. Her nightmare seemed to save lives by prompting action (she was not present at the school that day). Similarly, an 8-year-old boy, Paul Davies, drew a haunting picture of people digging under a hill with the words “The End” on the eve of the disaster [newyorker.com]. These dramatic stories were gathered by psychiatrist John Barker, who documented many such “prophetic visions” after Aberfan. Barker’s collected cases show multiple independent people reporting dreams or premonitions about the same calamity – suggesting a shared precognitive signal that night.
“Sixth Sense” Near-Misses: There are many accounts of narrow escapes tied to precognition. Wartime stories tell of soldiers who suddenly* took a different route or fell ill before a battle, later learning their unit was ambushed. Similarly, there are anecdotes of drivers canceling vacation plans because of a nagging feeling, only to find a fatal accident happened on that road that very day. In one study (Mossbridge 2023), e.g., spontaneous stories included “soldiers who evade danger by taking a seemingly circuitous detour”. Though such stories are often personal and hard to verify, they underscore how precognition can have survival relevance: the knowledge (or hunch) gained may steer people out of harm’s way.
Laboratory Corroboration: In controlled studies, scientists have also found precognitive-like results. In Daryl Bem’s famous “Feeling the Future” experiments, over 1,000 participants guessed features of randomly chosen images. When the images were erotic or negative (highly arousing), people guessed the future position at 53.1% correct – above the 50% chance level [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. This small but statistically significant effect, replicated in many labs, suggests that some part of our cognition can “reach forward” a few seconds. Likewise, Jessica Utts (2012) notes significant anticipatory physiological responses in dozens of experiments. These lab results mirror the anecdotes: both point to a faint but measurable predictive signal.

In summary, case studies range from single-person stories (a dream that matched an event) to group data (many people reporting something before a disaster). Some are heartwarming survival tales, others are eerie warnings followed by tragedy. None of these alone proves precognition scientifically, but together they inspire inquiry. They also share a common theme: strong emotion or stakes seem to bring on precognitive impressions. As one review noted, anxiety, urgency or interest (“stakes”) often accompany psychic phenomena [mitchhorowitz.substack.com]. This suggests an emotional resonance – a biological relevance – to precognition that science is only beginning to explore.

Developing Precognitive Skills

If you’re intrigued by your intuitive hunches or dream recollections, there are practical, low-risk ways to “exercise” this ability. These exercises won’t guarantee psychic powers, but they can heighten awareness and give feedback on whether your intuitions are genuine. Here are some friendly steps to try at home:

Dream Journaling: Keep a notebook and pen by your bed and make it a habit to write down your dreams first thing each morning. Note all details – images, feelings, symbols – without trying to interpret them [noetic.org]. Over time, you build a personal record. As you review older dreams, you may notice correspondences to later events. For example, if you dreamed of a broken umbrella and later saw a real broken umbrella, jot it down. Celebrating these “hits” reinforces your confidence that your dreaming mind is picking up subtle cues about the future [noetic.org]. Consistency is key: a good rule of thumb is to record several dreams a week before analyzing them for patterns [noetic.org].
Symbolic Play and Mindfulness: Precognition often speaks in symbols or feelings, not direct prose. Practices that cultivate creativity and open attention can help. Activities like drawing free-form symbols, telling stories to yourself, or playing with cards/images (as in some psychic training decks) encourage your subconscious to express intuition. Meditation and mindfulness exercises (focusing on breath or body sensations) also help you notice subtle impressions. For instance, pick a simple object or color you want to "find" (say, green or a clock). Go about your day and gently look for that object – you might be surprised how often it appears (this is called “dream-to-life” practice [noetic.org]). The idea is to train your brain that any image or idea could be meaningful.
Intuitive Journaling: During the day, notice any strong hunches or “inner voices” – like sensing who’s calling before the phone rings, or feeling uneasy about a situation. When you have such a feeling, write it down immediately: note the context, what you expected, and what actually happened later. For example, if you strongly feel a loved one will call, record it and then see if they do within the hour. Over time, you can tally your hits and misses. This record-keeping helps distinguish chance from real ability. Keep the tone positive: as one guide suggests, affirm that you are intuitive, e.g. repeating “I am a precognitive being” daily [noetic.org]. Belief and confidence matter; research and experience both show that expecting success can help you notice genuine signals and not dismiss them [noetic.org].
Remote-Viewing Style Practice: Remote viewing was a structured psychic protocol used by researchers (e.g. Puthoff & Targ) to “see” hidden targets. You can try a simple version: have a friend pick a random location or image (draw it or choose it from a set) without telling you. Set a timer (say 5 minutes) and relax your mind. Write or sketch whatever impressions come to you: shapes, feelings, words – anything. Then compare notes: did any detail match the actual target? Repeat this frequently. Over many trials, you’ll get feedback on what working methods feel most effective. (Dr. Mossbridge, for instance, practices a daily “controlled precognition” by writing predictions and checking later.) The key is double-blind conditions: ideally neither you nor the facilitator knows the target ahead of time, to keep it fair.
Presentiment and Body Awareness: Precognition is sometimes accompanied by physical sensations. Try a simple exercise: in a quiet moment, hold your forearm with your other hand and focus on how it feels, then wait a few seconds and imagine someone suddenly startling you (or recall a vivid memory). Notice if your pulse, breathing, or skin sensations change even a moment before the actual event or memory. Some people report brief tingling, heart-racing, or goosebumps before something significant (even before they consciously know what’s coming). To track this systematically, you could use an app or device to record heart rate or skin conductance during random “think of a picture” sessions (like lab presentiment studies). You might find your body subtly “anticipates” an emotional cue a few seconds early [frontiersin.org]. In daily life, notice gut feelings: for instance, if you get a quick flush of worry just before your phone rings with news, that’s presentiment in action. Writing down these bodily warnings alongside the dream/journal log helps you learn your personal signals.
Distinguishing Signal from Noise: It’s crucial to stay grounded. Human minds are excellent at finding patterns – sometimes too good. A skeptic’s critique reminds us that after a shocking event, people often link unrelated memories to make sense of it [history.co.uk]. To guard against this, be as objective as possible. Whenever you record a prediction or intuition, also record all the times it didn’t occur. For example, if you correctly sensed a friend’s call once, note every time that feeling happened but no call came. Over many data points, you can see if you’re truly above chance. Using random trials (like flipping a coin or picking cards) as a control can help you judge your accuracy. Finally, remember that a few “hits” can happen by luck – persistence and honesty are key. Even experimental parapsychologists note that effect sizes in these tasks are very small [frontiersin.org]. The goal of these exercises is not proof, but to calibrate your mind: learn to feel the difference between a real flash of insight and wishful thinking.

Is the Future Fixed or Changeable?

A big question looms over precognition: if one can sense the future, does that future have to happen? Or can foreknowledge itself change the outcome? Science and intuition offer contrasting views.

In the scientific picture (block universe/eternalism), time is a laid-out landscape. According to this view, every event is fixed in spacetime [popularmechanics.com]. Physicist Matthew Leifer summarizes: “the past, present, and future are all equally real… Events don’t unfold in our familiar linear sequence; instead, they simply ‘are,’ fixed in their positions” [popularmechanics.com]. From that standpoint, precognition might just be “reading the script” of the universe. Critics point out that accepting true precognition (information traveling backward) would overturn our understanding of physics. As one cognitive scientist puts it, “if premonitions are real… then pretty much everything else we know about physics is wrong” [history.co.uk]. Laboratory neuroscientists also note that brain activity typically precedes conscious awareness, making a true backward influence seem impossible with known biology [popularmechanics.com].

On the other hand, many psychics and intuitives believe the future is not rigidly fixed. They argue that precognition reveals possible futures or probabilities, not certainties. An important practical insight from dream-workers is that you can change what you dream of. One recent guide puts it plainly: “your dreams showcase potential futures… If you don’t like the future you glimpse, you have free will, and you can change that potential future by the choices you make in the present” [noetic.org]. In other words, a future “vision” might be more like a warning or suggestion than an immutable destiny. Indeed, many spontaneous precognitive experiences involve dire outcomes that were averted by changing course. In the Aberfan example, Middleton’s nightmare did precede tragedy, but it also motivated her (and others) to be on alert, potentially saving lives [newyorker.com].

In contemporary theory, some models allow both ideas: a set of possible futures exists in the block, but only one becomes reality, and our actions can steer which one that is. Others invoke quantum probability: much like how a particle’s behavior isn’t fixed until measured, perhaps future events aren’t determined until choices collapse them. Experimental psi theories (like Decision-Augmentation Theory) even suggest that free-will decisions can incorporate precognitive information, nudging outcomes. For now, science has no consensus. Most physicists lean toward a deterministic block world [popularmechanics.com], but many conscious reports emphasize personal agency. It’s wise to remember both sides: keep an open mind, but also remember you aren’t destined to repeat a bad dream if you choose differently.

A Practical, Open-Minded Approach

Precognition is an intriguing phenomenon sitting at the fringe of science. Many mainstream scientists dismiss it due to a lack of accepted mechanisms [popularmechanics.com] [history.co.uk]. Psychologist Richard Wiseman cautions that our brains often impose patterns on random events, especially under stress [history.co.uk]. And yes, believers must be careful not to fool themselves. However, parapsychology experiments (from Rhine to Bem to Mossbridge) have consistently shown small but notable statistical effects. As the IONS blogger Theresa Cheung notes, believing in your own precognitive potential is itself important [noetic.org] – simply because expectation influences perception. In practical terms, we encourage a healthy balance:

Be skeptical of any one “prediction,” but observant of patterns.
Record and measure results as a scientist would (logging successes and failures).
Value intuition as one form of information, but never ignore common sense and evidence-based reasoning.
Remember that exploration is its own reward. Even if we can’t prove precognition yet, many people find that developing their intuitive side makes life richer and more meaningful. As one reviewer of Time Loops writes, confronting these mysteries reminds us “precognition is life-directed” – often surfacing during important transitions or crises and heightening our sense of being alive.

Ultimately, whether or not we can fully validate precognition scientifically, it remains a fascinating topic. Stories of dreams, forebodings, and uncanny anticipations invite us to question our assumptions about time and mind. If you feel drawn to explore your own “sixth sense,” do so with both curiosity and caution. Keep a journal, be mindful, practice simple remote-viewing drills, and above all trust yourself to learn. The future may be mysterious, but as this gentle exploration shows, even a hint of knowing ahead can guide us to live more attentively in the now.

Sources: This article draws on a range of recent scientific and historical sources. For scientific background we used physics and neuroscience articles [popularmechanics.com, frontiersin.org], as well as parapsychology reviews and experiments (Bem, Mossbridge, Radin) [mitchhorowitz.substack.com, frontiersin.org]. We also reference books and interviews by Eric Wargo (Time Loops) [ideaspace.ystrickler.com] and other researchers, along with journalistic reports of actual cases [newyorker.com, history.co.uk]. (All quoted material is cited.)

- Chris, assisted by ChatGPT 5.2 Deep Research

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