Lore Episode 272: Tick Talk – A Detailed Summary

Release Date: January 27, 2025

Host: Aaron Mahnke

Introduction to Time and Its Perception

In the opening segment, Aaron Mahnke delves into the profound concept of time, exploring how seemingly minor actions can cascade into significant historical events—a phenomenon popularly known as the butterfly effect. He illustrates this with the example of Gavrilo Princip, whose momentary decision not to eat a sandwich enabled him to assassinate Archduke Franz Ferdinand, igniting World War I. Mahnke emphasizes, “History is one great big Rube Goldberg machine, each moment a link in an endless chain of cause and effect” (02:15).

Cultural Conceptions of Time

Mahnke transitions into a fascinating discussion on how different cultures perceive time, heavily influenced by language. He explains:

• English Speakers: Visualize time as a horizontal line moving from left to right, mirroring the direction of reading. This dual perception includes left to right for sequencing and back to front for past and future, respectively. For instance, in Swedish, the future is referred to as "framtid" (front time) (05:40).

• Hebrew Speakers: Tend to arrange time from right to left, aligning with their reading direction.

• Mandarin Speakers: Often see time vertically, with the past up and the future down, reflecting the top-to-bottom orientation of their written language.

Mahnke further explores more unique perceptions, such as the Kuktayre of Aboriginal Australia, who align time with cardinal directions based on their orientation. He cites Lyra Boroditsky's research from How Language Shapes Thought, stating, “When they were seated facing south, the cards went left to right. When they faced north, the cards went right to left” (10:22).

The Chronovisor and Time Travel

Aaron Mahnke introduces the intriguing legend of the Chronovisor, a purported Vatican device claimed to allow users to view past and future events. Developed by Father Pellegrino Ernetti with collaborators like Enrico Fermi and Wernher von Braun, the Chronovisor allegedly used “antennae, metal and cathode rays” to capture echoes from the past (18:45).

Notable claims include:

• Viewing Cicero addressing the Roman Senate.
• Witnessing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• Observing the crucifixion of Christ—evidence of which is a photograph resembling a Jesus statue published in 1972.

Despite Ernetti’s later admission in 1994 that the Chronovisor was a hoax, some accounts suggest he still maintained its existence, leading to theories about its concealment by the Vatican (22:30).

Time Slips: Unexplained Phenomena

Mahnke explores time slips, spontaneous and unintentional shifts through different time periods without technological assistance. He narrates two compelling case studies:

1. Miss E.F. Smith’s Encounter (1950, Scotland):

   • While walking home in icy rain, Smith observes ancient Pictish warriors sorting through corpses on the outskirts of Letham.
   • Quote: “Smith and investigators concluded she must have witnessed the Battle of Nechtensmere” (25:10).
   • Later research in 2006 contested the battle’s location, casting doubt on the time travel explanation.

2. Royal Navy Cadets’ Experience (1957, Suffolk, England):

   • Three 15-year-old cadets arrive in a deserted town of Kerzee, noticing architectural and temporal inconsistencies indicative of the mid-15th century.
   • Quote: “The place felt quite evil and hostile to us” (30:50).
   • Discrepancies such as an incomplete church tower and historically timed butcher shops support the time slip hypothesis.

Stone Tape Theory and Environmental Imprints

Transitioning to the Stone Tape Theory, Mahnke explains that intense or traumatic events can imprint on their surroundings, effectively "recording" these moments in the environment. This theory is often used to explain hauntings, where past violent occurrences are believed to manifest as ghostly apparitions.

• Quote: “The past literally written in stone” (34:15).
• Conditions like electromagnetic energies or the presence of individuals with psychic abilities may trigger these environmental recordings, leading to phenomena like time slips.

The Devil’s Hour and La Mala Ora

In the latter part of the episode, Mahnke examines the lore surrounding 3 AM, often referred to as the Devil’s Hour or the witching hour. He connects this reputation to biblical narratives, particularly the timing of Jesus’s crucifixion, and subsequent legends that attribute sinister activities to this hour.

Key points include:

• Sleep Paralysis Connection: At 3 AM, individuals are often in deep REM sleep. Awakening abruptly can result in sleep paralysis, fostering beliefs of supernatural encounters (38:00).

• La Mala Ora in New Mexico:

  • Legend: An elderly demonic woman appears at crossroads, foretelling death.
  • Story: A woman encounters La Mala Ora at 3 AM, only to learn her husband was killed at that exact hour.
  • Quote: “If you catch a glimpse of this lady, it means one of your loved ones will soon die” (40:20).

• Cultural Representations:

  • Films like The Conjuring and The Exorcism of Emily Rose exploit the eerie aura of 3 AM to heighten horror elements.
  • Author Ray Bradbury’s depiction in Something Wicked This Way Comes encapsulates the malevolent essence associated with this hour:

    “But three now? Christ, 3am... full wide eyed staring is living death.” (42:50)

Conclusion and Reflections

Aaron Mahnke wraps up the episode by reflecting on the enigmatic nature of time. He muses on how certain moments feel "cursed" or laden with dark energy, linking historical tragedies and personal premonitions to broader folklore and theories like the Stone Tape.

• Quote: “Some moments in time simply feel more cursed than others” (45:30).

Mahnke leaves listeners pondering the intricate and often unsettling relationship between time, memory, and the supernatural, encouraging a deeper contemplation of how we perceive and experience the inexorable flow of time.

Notable Quotes:

1. Butterfly Effect Description:

   “History is one great big Rube Goldberg machine, each moment a link in an endless chain of cause and effect.” – Aaron Mahnke (02:15)

2. Chronovisor Visualization:

   “Using antennae, metal and cathode rays, the chronovisor was designed to pick up echoes from the past the way that a TV can pick up channels and display them on a screen.” – Aaron Mahnke (20:05)

3. Time Slips Observations:

   “Smith and investigators concluded she must have witnessed the Battle of Nechtensmere.” – Aaron Mahnke (25:10)

   “The place felt quite evil and hostile to us.” – Royal Navy Cadet (30:50)

4. Stone Tape Theory Insight:

   “The past literally written in stone.” – Aaron Mahnke (34:15)

5. Devil’s Hour Essence:

   “But three now? Christ, 3am... full wide eyed staring is living death.” – Ray Bradbury (42:50)

Additional Notes

• Narrative Style: Aaron Mahnke employs a storytelling approach, interweaving historical anecdotes with cultural folklore and theoretical frameworks to explore the multifaceted nature of time.

• Research and Production: The episode was meticulously researched by Cassandra de Alba, crafted by writer Jenna Rose Nethercott, and enhanced with evocative music by Chad Lawson, ensuring an immersive listening experience.

• Supporting Media: For those eager to delve deeper, Lore is also available as a book series and a television show on Amazon Prime, expanding its exploration of dark historical tales across various media platforms.

Conclusion

"Lore 272: Tick Talk" offers a captivating exploration of time's elusive nature, blending folklore, historical incidents, and speculative theories to uncover the mysterious ways time interacts with human perception and experience. Whether through the legendary Chronovisor, unexplained time slips, or the sinister lore of the Devil's Hour, Aaron Mahnke invites listeners to question the very fabric of time and its impact on our understanding of history and the supernatural.