Actually, I am being really unreasonable. However I would like to ask those who have experienced Angel Feathers to....

[DioneTheDiabolist]

...answer a few questions that I have.

1). What does it feel like when you see that feather?

2). What are your thoughts when this happens?

And

3). What would you say are the long term (if any) effects that you would attribute to these encounters.

I understand that this belief has been the subject of some ridicule here. I have no intention of ridiculing anyone. This thread has been inspired by a previous AIBU thread, but is not a thread about a thread. I am not a journalist. I am not seeking results to use in an academic submission or publication. What I am seeking is knowledge and understanding in the hope that I can use it to help others.

IABU for the following reasons:
I only posted in AIBU for the traffic. If MN rule that I have breached guidelines, can it be moved and not deleted.

And I ask the skeptics not to put people off answering honestly. If you think it necessary, I can start another thread for all your thoughts to be discussed. Perhaps the scientifically minded of you could look at this as an information gathering excersise.

It will at very least impact on my day in a very positive way, often much longer -

I still have the feather that fell from mid air into my lap during the prayers at my DMs funeral - in the chapel - my DD, DB & DF got one too - this I keep in my purse & it me smile everytime I see it :)

Feathers aren't always white though - when my very flamboyant gay friend died, I got shocking pink feathers - I still get them from time to time when I think of him

Not too many flamingoes around here

I don't get what fun there is to be had laughing at people who love to see feathers and feel they are angelic.

There is a point to scrutinizing homeopathy because it cost money, large companies produce it, people charge a hefty fee for diagnosing with it and we need to know if it is effective so we can stop spending NHS money on it.

But feathers are free, there is no purpose to laughing at people who find comfort in times of bereavement in white feathers. Plus, feathers are magical (in the sense of ethereal and lovely)- white feathers often look amazing and very pure against the muck of our everyday lives.

Children also love collecting feathers, they float, they are interesting to examine, when one of mine was a toddler, we could hardly walk along a road as she would be collecting feathers.

I see feathers as one of nature's wonders, even a simple feather is very cleverly constructed, and just like a pile of autumn leaves which are the most amazing colours, just remind you that life is amazing every now and again. I don't find them angelic (as in actually from a real angel) but they are still symbolic to me, I love seeing them.

A councillor should be completely neutral on a subject like this unless it seems to be getting in the way of a person's progress. Probably not even comment. Or ask an open question. Certainly not collude.

No need for a councillor to be neutral- a political stand on whit feathers is perfectly acceptable. A counsellor, however...........

If people who believe in Angels and Fairies and all things woo, are happy and content and enjoy their life and not nasty or critical of others beliefs then nothing wrong with that. Who really knows what is around us. Its thought that what we call Angels and Fairies are Beings who dwell in different dimensions to us but can easily move between worlds. There are a lot more possibilities to life than we are all aware of but most people choose to live in the "matrix" and have their thoughts, feelings and beliefs controlled and chosen for them rather than explore these possibilities for themselves.

Ah, yes, the old "that's all right for the mundanes but those of us who operate on a higher plane see things differently" line.

No, not at all Curlew its just that its healthy for us to be open to other possibilities not just live within narrow perimeters. That's what keeps us fresh and young mentally. Don't just decide that something isn't so just because we don't believe it to be. There are many things I have learnt by delving a bit more into subjects that previously had been closed to me. Im not saying I believe in anything or everything I look at, just that I like to keep an open mind.

"Don't just decide that something isn't so just because we don't believe it to be."

Ah, that's fine. I don't do that.

I'd still like to know if believers think those feathers come off angels' wings or if angels have plucked the wings off birds.

ha ha.....whatever........have a good day.

What keeps us mentally fresh & young is exercising the analytical capabilities of our brains.

Can you say with a straight face that is what "white feathers come from angels" people are doing?

Laughing at ridiculous stuff. Why would people do such a thing, I wonder

I hadn't heard of this belief before the 'woo' thread the other week. The average bird has a few thousand feathers, and moults all of them every year - and when a predator kills a bird the feathers get scattered far and wide. Pigeons nest in church towers a lot, and as well as moulting their own feathers they bring feathers to their nests as lining material...

For those who believe in angel feathers, do you accept that at least some of the feathers we see floating about/lying around must have come from birds via the natural process of moulting/being eaten by a predator? If so, how would you distinguish an angel feather from a bird feather?

Can I pm you, don't want to be torn to shreds

Laughing at ridiculous stuff. Why would people do such a thing, I wonder hmm

It obviously makes some people feel superior otherwise why continually point out that God doesn't exist, or homeopathic pills are just water? It's not as if they thought this stuff up all by themselves.

I find people who continually repeat Ben Goldacre a bit ridiculous, his own belief in the scientific method somewhat zealous, if not religious, but I don't go out looking for opportunities to belittle those that believe every word he says and don't appear to apply the same critical thinking faculties to it.

And- laughing at the things people do to make themselves feel better in a very cruel universe just adds to the sum of nastiness IMO. There's plenty of things to get righteously steamed up about in this life, but I wouldn't think a recently bereaved lady smiling at a white feather and thinking of her lovely husband is one of them.

"There's plenty of things to get righteously steamed up about in this life, but I wouldn't think a recently bereaved lady smiling at a white feather and thinking of her lovely husband is one of them."

Nobody has done that. Many of us who do not believe in angel feathers have talked about the importance of symbols. Please do not accuse others unfairly.

But please can I ask why somebody might think a white feather is actually a message from beyond the grave and not just a feather? And how you tell the difference?

Mumsyblouse - excellent post.

Here here mummiesblouse :)

You have noticed that this thread is in AIBU, haven't you?

Oh, and you have noticed that mummiesblouse's post makes unsupportable accusations?

Not laughing at people, and not "to make themselves feel better".

Laughing at ridiculous stuff because, well, they are ridiculous.

Looking up the definition of the word "ridiculous" might help you understand.

Here here

Tempted, tempted, tempted...resists.

But please can I ask why somebody might think a white feather is actually a message from beyond the grave and not just a feather? And how you tell the difference

I will give that the benefit of the doubt as being a genuine question curlew

In my case I know because its also accompanied, or should i say preempted by a sensation something akin to mild static electricity usually in the back of my neck & spreading outwards & can cause visible goosebumps & hairs standing on end even on the hottest day - it's not an unpleasant sensation, a tingle - though it's something I've had at other times too & isn't always mild, or pleasant depending on what it preempts

Dons hard hat & leaves the thread...

Friday I know, I spotted it too, but CBA - autocorrect is a bitch & I need to work out how to sort this machine out - I can't however sort out my silent migraine induced carp eyesight, nor intermittent fibromyalgia, M.E. & EDS induced cognitive disability, so so long as its understandable, I'm past caring :)

I'm with the laughing at ridiculous stuff posters.

Or I was, until I Googled 'angel feather' out of curiosity, having never come across this particular piece of fluffiness. Then I got cross, because some opportunists are making big money from people's vulnerabilities and willingness to believe in nonsense. $300 dollars for an angel statue for your garden! Angel 'intuitive readings' over email, Skype or Tupperware style parties at $60 per half hour reading, at a minimum of six guests plus hostess, with travel expenses added! Packaged 'health/prosperity/love blessings' feathers! Angel Club Silver Memberships that sends you daily newsletters full of products and special offers!

Apparently you can be a Certified Angel Practitioner and make lots of lovely money from unhappy people.