This is so strange, I have to report it. Regarding a food "haunting" of sorts.

[PinkTiger]

Whenever I go to France (I go every year on business) I come back with this innate ability to cook things I've never cooked before. The strange thing is, I'm not always even cooking the things I ate while there. But I come back with this "chef" inside me, telling me how to cook. I'm planning my next trip, and making reservations and arranging site visits for the students I take there on study abroad, and this afternoon I cooked a sublime beef soup. I just realized that it was as though this chef was telling me what to buy at the store, how to fix everything, what pot to put it in, etc.
The results are amazing.
I've been picking this up from other places, too. Like when I go to this Thai restaurant, I come back knowing how to cook it. Then it fades away. The French thing fades away, too, but today I had an insurgence.
Can anyone relate? Is this possible?

[Why Syzygy]

1. Wow.

No, sorry, I can't relate. Wish I could. Have you ever written down the recipes given to you?
That is just awesome.

[PinkTiger]

3. Its not something I can just write down.

It's more of a process. Like, "cut it like this, no like this," and use this size of a pot because it needs to breathe, etc.
I get yelled at for putting in too much garlic.
They are just there, cheering me on.
It is fascinating. What is really interesting are the ingredients I'm told to buy, even if I hve to buy then on the Internet.

[Why Syzygy]

4. What do you think of this

gift? I wish I was there with you in the kitchen. I would write it.

What do you cook when you aren't inspired?

Living and eating solo, as I do, is somewhat boring.
I love to cook for other people. I fed a dh and strapping boy for years and have not gotten over that.

Only recently have I started to ponder this feeding phenom.

Perhaps you recieve so much fuel from your travels that it replicates in the kitchen?

All I know for sure, is you are making me hungry.

[PinkTiger]

6. I know it is bizzare.

I am a creative cook by my own nature, but something really awesome (and I hate that word, but it works here) happens when the "chef" is with me. A similar thing happened a few years ago when I started making my own soap from scratch. I found that my efforts were enhanced by someone who hung around with me during the process. But is isn't just cooking that makes this happen.
I'm beginning to sound like some deranged paranoiac, but I have recently realized that the amazing amount of work I get done in a day or week is reallly attributable to my "guides," who like the "chef," are there working with me and telling me what to do next.
It's like I'm really five people -- kind of like a split personality but without the fractious nature of that split.
What is bad is when I accidentally pick up a negative spirit who hangs with me and gets me into trouble. When my uncle died in 2001, this happened. He didn't want to go, and he hung around me like an albatross around my neck. He was a notorious gambler and bad guy, and, well, suffice it to say it took awhile to shake him. I could write a book about that experience!

It sounds crazy; reading this over, I realize that many people would consider me to be admittedly insane and ready for serious mental therapy, LOL.

Usually, however, this "spirit grabbing" of mine is very positive. When I visit a strange place, they come and walk me through it, telling me of the history and peeling back layers of time. I had one negative experience with this -- in 1969 I moved to San Francisco and lived near the Golden Gate Bridge. I was haunted by the suicides, including one of my uncles (on the other side of the family from the gambler, LOL). He committed suicide by jumping off the bridge in 1953 -- he hired a cab, had the cab stop on the bridge, and walked to the edge and jumped, so fast that the cab driver didn't realize he was doing it. He was found a month later and was identified by the contents of his wallet, still on him.)

[Why Syzygy]

10. You are not crazy at all..

of course! I think it is very neat. I've had similiar experiences with some not visible in this dimension. I'm going to see if I can get one of them to be my guide chef :D In fact, this could work for all kinds of things! Is there any way you encourage it?

[PinkTiger]

11. If there is, I don't know it.

I didn't do this at all the first two trips, but on the third I began to loosen up a bit and allow the culture to flow in. Also, I became good friends with some people there and that was very beneficial.
Probably because I love to cook and I'm open to new things, it helps.

[Grateful for Hope]

12. I don't find this bizarre at all

I am very impressed, however. I think you must have an innate trusting nature that allows you to tune into what is being offered to you.

Thanks so much for sharing this!

[PinkTiger]

15. Thanks - I am trusting, often too much so.

Don't be impressed. It is one of my few gifts.

[Grateful for Hope]

17. Nope, you didn't convince me

I remain impressed!!!

[Sweet Freedom]

5. That's incredible!

You should set up a tape recorder and talk out loud while you're cooking so you have a record.

On a side note: You may like a story a sales rep told me. She wanted to learn how to make her mother's lasagna, so her mom talked her through it over the phone. This rep was so proud of herself until the lasagna cooked for a while. It just smelled weird. So she called her mom back, they went over the recipe and found nothing wrong. Mom told daughter to call her back when it was done and let her know how it tasted.

It tasted disgusting.

Further investigation by the mother revealed that the daughter had used whole garlic instead of just cloves. x(

[lildreamer316]

2. That's so cool!

Some type of psychic thing, perhaps? Picking up on thoughtwaves? I dunno. Facinating!

[MorningGlow]

7. Interesting!

Are you an empath by nature? I am, and I tend to absorb traits from others' personalities if I spend a lot of time with them, and I'm killer at sucking up dialects--things like that. I only WISH I could absorb a cooking talent! I am not very good at cooking x( (baking yes, cooking no), so even a week or so of ability would make me happy (DH probably too)!

[PinkTiger]

13. I am exactly that, an empath.

It's very disconcerting at times, and when I was a child, I didn't know how to filter out the vibes.
The bad thing is, I know what people don't want me to know. I just know.
I also pick up on their thoughts, so if they are remembering something that happened between us in the past, I am also remembering that.
And I can use that to my advantage, should I wish to. I do use it, but not to harm them.
Only to smooth the way.
For example, an old boyfriend I had in high school and I have kept in touch. He is a very honest, straight-forward guy, not too complicated, married to a woman who reminded him of me. But she is not me. And I know this is a sore point. She is threatened by me, and he tries to make light of her jealousy, but I know it is there. He would never act on it, nor would I allow it, but .... it is there. I do my best to include her in conversation and in any correspondence; for example, her name goes on the envelope, and I am always quick to compliment her.
What is so funny about this is, we would be totally incompatible, or would have been when young. Today it would not matter. But I am not pliable and not easy going, and not at all content with the status quo. Life with me would have turned his hair gray, if not made it fall out altogether, where he pulled it from the roots in exasporation!
And yet he is pulled to me strongly. And I to him, although I love my spouse unconditionally. It is an old pull.
Another example: I know instantly when someone dislikes me or disapproves, even if they are trying to hide it. I also know when they are fond of me or approve. Students, especially, because they are too young to hide it. But even older students show it, because their guard is down.

[Grateful for Hope]

18. Do you tune into people like Bush

and, at times, feel for them? I ask, because I do this and I am ashamed to admit it. I tend to always find some positives in another person, and, unfortunately, it can extend to those who may not deserve it.

[PinkTiger]

19. LOL

I have no sympathy for him because I don't feel he has empathy.
If that makes sense.

[Grateful for Hope]

20. OK

It does make sense. So what you are saying that the object of empathy has to also have the ability to empathasize.

I suspect that what I feel is what I want these sociapaths to feel.

Thank you, PT.

[Grateful for Hope]

22. Yes it does n/t

[Why Syzygy]

21. Well plus

we don't have "French" fries. Freedom fries. That was the most ignoramous Congress entactment that I ever lived through. I hope the new French Chancellor holds ground as well.

[cassiepriam]

8. We are all connected. We are all one. We are all part of the whole.

You are just tapping into the food energy that is out there.
We can theoretically all do it. Tap into human consciousness.

[u4ic]

9. I've had similar experiences

just not with food.

I've explained mine as picking up the creative energies around me. French culture is very different than ours, I find - they are much more creative, and it's a part of their everyday lives. Here, we tend to compartmentalize things.

The energies just flow - the creativity, the intuition. Going back to a situation (home, country, job, etc) that impedes it...the energies seem to stagnate, or even be blocked.

Enjoy France! I would love to go back. Perhaps I can hide in your luggage? :D :hi:

[PinkTiger]

14. Hide in my luggage?

LOL
I want to alleviate your pain -- so here it is: this is a work trip. I do love it, yes; but it is far from being free exploration. More like harnessed tribulation!
I think at our home base we tend to be less free and less creative, and it is the American nature to be focused. I am very American, I now realize, in my method.
I don't think I will ever truly understand the French. Not ever. But I love them just the same.

[stellanoir]

16. You're guides are totally cookin' LOL

Maybe never question the fun stuff even if it's non sensical.

You've honed these skills in other lives that are triggered by geography is all. It's really cool.