Observations placeholder
David Thompson playing chequers with himself
Identifier
001238
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
The background to this experience is provided in the description for David Thompson. Thompson was posted to a very remote place in Canada called Cumberland. The only diversion was a checkerboard, and Thompson played often. If he could not coax one of the others to sit for a game, he would play both sides himself, and this led to a strange experience, one that he would never forget.
Note that he was not alone, there was no indication that it was sensory deprivation, or nutritional deprivation or loneliness that caused this, it was the act of playing himself at chequers that did it.
He was constantly having to switch his mind from being one side then the other and it simply befuddled him, confused his reasoning process enough to let the composer in. There was also nothing else to distract him, no other people, and the place he was staying was isolated. It also sounds like he was doing this for hours on end because this was all there was to do – so he became ‘mesmerised’- he put himself into a trance state.
A description of the experience
"I was sitting at a small table with the chequer board before me," he later wrote. "When the devil sat down opposite to me.
"His features and colour were those of a Spaniard, he had two short black horns on his forehead which pointed forwards; his head and body down to his waist (I saw no more) was covered with glossy black curling hair, his countenance mild and grave; we began playing, played several games and he lost every game, kept his temper but looked more grave; at length he got up or rather disappeared.
"My eyes were open. It was broad daylight, I looked around, all was silence and solitude, was it a dream or reality? I could not decide. Young and thoughtless as I was, it made a deep impression on my mind. I made no vow but took a resolution from that very hour never to play a game of chance, or skill or anything that had the appearance of them and I kept it."
The source of the experience
Thompson, DavidConcepts, symbols and science items
Symbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Commonsteps
References
Epic Wanderer – David Thompson and the mapping of the Canadian West – D’Arcy Jenish