Are Signs Real — or Are We Just Really Good at Pattern Recognition?

In this episode, we unpack one of the most requested topics: signs. We break down the neuroscience behind pattern recognition, how your brain filters what matters, and how your nervous system state changes what you notice. This is a conversation about brain function and what signs really are. And how to work with signs in a way that is grounded, empowering, and rooted in self-trust rather than outsourcing your meaning.

In this episode:
The question of meaning — are signs real or assigned
Selective attention and how the brain filters reality
Predictive coding theory and pattern recognition
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) and attention
The salience network and what makes something feel important
Dopamine as a relevance signal
Nervous system state and perception (threat vs connection)
Why humans have always looked for signs (omens, astrology, nature)
Signs as a tool for understanding, not control
Pattern recognition vs intuition
Dimes and “dimes from heaven”
Stories of signs in grief, fertility, and everyday life
How to ask for and work with signs
A 3-question filter to interpret signs

Summit takeaway: You can’t outsource your meaning — only you get to decide what something means to you

If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need it.
Continue the conversation on Instagram: @alannacrawford_

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Welcome to the Summit of Deck, where science meets goal and you don't have to pick one or the other. Hi, I'm your host, Elena Crocker, osteopathic manual practitioner and breaking active teacher. On the pod, we're talking about body wisdom, energy, intuition, and becoming an expert on your own feeling. Whether you're looking to find yourself again, create a new version, or see, just here for the results, you're in the right place. I'm here to demystify spiritual curiosities while adding a layer of humanness to the healthcare experience. No gatekeeping, no pedestals. This podcast is for the woman who is ready to take her power back. Let's do it!

SPEAKER_02 0:42

Hello everybody! Happy Wednesday! So today is episode 13. Lucky episode 13. But depending where you are in the world, that either means something really good or lucky, like how I think, or something really bad. In North America, it's unlucky, right? Friday the 13th, we become really careful on this day. It's very like superstitious, almost like witchcraft energy. But in Italy, 13 is lucky. 17 is actually unlucky. I'm Italian. I grew up with the notion that 13 was a lucky number. I would actually like get pissed when certain soccer leagues wouldn't have 13, like they'd leave it out because they thought it was like not a good number to have, and I couldn't wear it. So I'd wear number three. But the question is, which one is true? Is 13 lucky or unlucky? Or are we the ones assigning the meaning? And that's what we're talking about today. Signs. What they are, why we see them, and how to actually work with them without losing our grip on reality. I'm gonna talk about the science first. Obviously, y'all know, you know, you know, you know, we are going full blown woo by the end of this podcast. But we do need to bring the science in first, right? So broken down very simply, the brain is a prediction and filtering machine. Your brain is constantly receiving million bits of information per second, but you can only consciously process a tiny fraction of that. So the brain essentially has to filter what gets in and what doesn't. And this is based on selective attention. This is for your survival. Your brain is constantly scanning your environment, asking one question. What matters? And the second something feels important, emotional, or familiar, it gets highlighted in your brain. And then the other thing is predictive processing, and that's a theory called predictive coding theory. I'm just gonna outline this theory right now because skeptics of science will claim predictive coding theory. In a nutshell, predictive coding theory is a brain function theory that says in order to preserve brain functioning energy, our brain acts in prediction based on past experiences, prior knowledge, and sensory data to form the best guess of what is happening in front of our eyes. So higher brain structures, they kind of act like a military chain of command to the lower structures, and they'll say, don't perceive the input. Lower structures are constantly assessing current sensory input, trying to filter it. So those top-down brain structures say stop constantly sensing and sending your inputs to us. We are actually gonna override you to save the energy based on past experience and our knowledge and predict what we see, feel, no sense. Only when the perception is a mismatch does the lower center say, Nope, upper guys, you got it wrong. Here's the actual input. And if that happens enough times, the higher centers reload essentially and create new predictions based on that input, and the process remains. So, like a real life example of this would be walking in a dark room. Let's say you turned off the lights in your bedroom and you have to walk like from where you turned off the lights over to your bed. So you know the setup of your room, even in the dark. Predictive coding theory has you reaching to guide yourself based on the stuff that is already there that you know because that's the setup of your room. However, you just changed out your side table. And now the new side table comes out further than the one did before. So you stub your toe. You will probably do that a few more times in this exact same situation until your higher centers reload that change in your bedroom. And I know you're all probably laughing because you can think of an experience where this has occurred somewhere in your house. Changing cars is a huge one, like how high or low you have to bend to get in, especially if you like drive your partner's car or like a rental car, you like will smoke your head off the top of the car getting in. And it's because you your brain is perceiving the height of your car that you get in and out of every day, not this new car. You would have to drive this new car for a while to not bang your head a couple times. So if we take this theory into account, sign skeptics would say you are programmed to see a sign because you are expecting it, which is not untrue. There is much more to it, but there is truth to that statement. So I'm gonna park that here and circle back when we come full circle with this. But we're building.

SPEAKER_00 5:27

We're building, we're building, we're building, building, building.

SPEAKER_02 5:30

Miss Rachel, anyone?

SPEAKER_00 5:31

No?

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Okay. So, in summary, the brain filters out what's irrelevant and highlights what feels important. The RIS is a network in your brainstem, so uh reticular formation that acts like a gatekeeper for attention. Its job is to regulate wakefulness and alertness, and it also decides what sensory information gets through to your conscious awareness. So, in simpler terms, it decides what you notice. So, what makes something important or relevant? The brain prioritizes things that are one, emotionally charged, two, are familiar, and three, they're related to a current goal or concern. And this is supported by the salience network. And it also works with dopamine to tag things that are important. So, what is the salience network? The salience network is the part of your brain that detects is this important enough for me to pay attention to it. And it's constantly scanning your body, so your internal sensations and your environment, your external world, asking what stands out right now, what matters right now. Its job is to detect importance, so salience, so emotional importance, physical importance, social importance. And then its second job is to prioritize attention. What do we focus on from this and what do we ignore? And then its third function is to switch brain states, so between default modes, so thinking and reflecting to executive network, so focused and doing. And the salience network tags things as important based on emotion, so grief, love, fear, longing, an emotional charge equals a higher priority, um, on familiar familiar familiarity. Wow, Alana. Things you've seen before, symbols you associate meaning with. So I've seen this before, therefore pay attention, right? Pattern creation. And current goals and concerns. So if you're trying to get pregnant, you're thinking about somebody, you're going through something, your brain is biased to notice anything related to that goal. And then where dopamine comes in is it's a relevant signal. So when something feels interesting, meaningful, or important, you get a hope hit of dopamine that helps reinforce, hey, remember this, notice this again. So when we put all of these systems together, predictive coding, it makes our brain is making guesses for us to conserve energy, our RAS, it filters incoming information, the salience network decides what matters, and dopamine reinforces it. So the result is you start noticing patterns that feel like signs. And guys, I'm not I'm not disputing that. That is full-blown brain science. So when something feels like a sign, what you're actually experiencing is your brain tagging that moment as meaningful. I also think it's important to talk about the state of your nervous system here as well. And I know you're all sighing, like, oh my god, Elena, can't we get through one episode not talking about our nervous system? Guys, we can't, okay? It's important. So we're gonna talk about it. Your nervous system plays a huge role in what gets flagged as important or meaningful. And depending on that answer, it changes what you're gonna notice in your environment. So if your nervous system is in a stress response, like fight, flight, or freeze, your brain is going to prioritize anything that looks like a threat. It's trying to assess things for uncertainty, things that feel unpredictable. You'll read into things more, you'll look for problems, you're gonna assume the worst because your system is trying to protect you. When you're in a calm, grounded state, you start to notice very different things. You notice connection, you notice nuance, you notice patterns, you notice subtle cues, because you're not focused on survival and you're more open to awareness. So signs aren't just about what's happening around you, they're about the state you're in when you notice them. Or you don't notice them because you aren't in a great state, you know? And again, I agree with this statement. I will bring it home in the end of why you can still get signs, even when your brain function, when your brain can override function and when you're in dysregulation. But we aren't there yet. Okay? We're still painting the picture. The important part here is your system decided it mattered. And I think this is where people get tripped up about signs. We spend so much time trying to figure out if something is real or not that we completely skip over what the sign actually did to us. You see a dime and you think about somebody you love, you hear a song, your whole body softens, you notice a number, and suddenly you feel like you're on the right track or in alignment or you can move forward with something. The shift in your state, that moment of connection, that calm or that clarity, that is the real thing. So let's zoom back out for a second. Signs are not new behavior. Humans have been looking at signs for as long as we've existed, right? Ancient omens, astrology, nature patterns. Long before we had science to explain these things, we looked into the sky, the weather, animals, seasons, like when the birds changed direction, or eclipses, or storms, or the stars. Ancient cultures used these patterns to try to understand what was happening around them and what might happen next, because they were trying to feel safe in an unpredictable world. Like, same, same guys. We just have way more devices and technology to help us out with that. Even systems like astrology weren't originally about prediction the way we think of it now. They were about observing patterns over time and trying to make meaning from them. And I actually feel that's how I've gone back to using astrology these days. Like, what the heck is the fun in prediction, you know? Like, why be here if we need everything perfectly predicted to us? Where is the fun in that? Okay, I feel like you guys are my people and you probably feel that way too. But when you put this all together, you have a nervous system that's constantly scanning for safety and meaning, and a brain that is wired to recognize patterns and highlight what feels important. So, of course, we will notice signs. So the question isn't really why we see signs, it's how we choose to understand them and perhaps use them. A sign isn't valuable because it's like proving something to you, it's valuable because what of it it activates in you. And now it's time to get full woo. Okay, so everyone has a guidance team. Your guides, we call them. They can be loved ones who have passed, they can be souls you live past lifetimes with, they can be angels, masters, teachers. Like, guys, I don't know. I always get asked in session who are my guides. I don't even know how to answer that question because depending on what's going on in your life, it can be a lot of different people and it's different people at the same time. And the important thing here is that it really doesn't matter who they are because at the end of the day, it's a frequency of energy, but I do get that it feels good to like attach some sort of humanness to it and people want to know. Okay, so energy has free will. You have free will. Your guidance team is always around you, trying to nudge you in the right direction. But unless you specifically ask, they are not just popping into your dream and saying, like, Kiara, you must do this, unless you're like freaking Joan of Arc or St. Francis or one of those super cool ascended masters. But alas, we are just mere mortals listening to this podcast and we have to ask for the specifics. However, if you are going through life and you're rumoring, ruminating, rumorating, I cannot speak today, you're ruminating about things, you will notice to start seeing patterns or signs. We'll say patterns, because maybe you haven't realized it's a sign yet. For example, every time you start thinking about taking a course or changing a job, you're seeing two-two-two on the clock. Or you're on a fertility journey, and moments when you get really down and out, you see like 11-11 or 1-1-1, or you see a bunch of rabbits or a specific type of bird. Or if you're in the car and you're thinking about money problems, and then you hear the song ring my bell, it comes on the radio. This is where our brain science comes in, y'all. It might take a bit to upload the new program of thought with the sign, but you will start noticing the sign association. Google it. Literally Google what is the sub spiritual significance of insert the thing here. Because it's your guides talking to you. You didn't ask, so they're being subtle with breadcrumbs trying to give you help along the way. And now let's talk about the skeptics and bring this brain function full circle, baby. Let's say this is all BS. Let's say I am full of shit and signs are not real. Well, you can't deny that you are recognizing a pattern. And just Google that pattern for funsies. Google the thing you're seeing or hearing. Let's use Ring My Bell, for example. That song is actually banned in casinos because it's created at a frequency of abundance. So say you Googled it and it says ring my bell is associated with creating abundance and it means wealth is coming. Don't even try to lie to me and tell me that that doesn't make you giddy or upbeat or excited or hopeful. Well, guess freaking what, my guy? You just started manifesting. Because, like my main man, Dr. Joe, teaches us, when we pair a thought with an emotion, we create our reality. So now, every time you recognize that pattern, you manifest it just a little bit more, baby. So even if you only want to get behind the brain science, you are still in a state of manifestation to whatever it is your sign is representing. Mic drop. But from a woo, ladies, still with me, let's go deeper. Okay, so you guys are noticing signs. Y'all know they are signs, but you don't know what to do with them. Google them, ladies. Then start asking for them. Again, I will state you have free will. So I always tell people when using signs, you have to pick a side. We can't just throw our arms up in the air and say, tell me what to do. We actually have to make the statement. So let's say you want a sign to know if you should take a job you got offered. Here's what I would say. Hey guys, I feel like taking this job is aligned for my highest and best. Give me out whatever your sign is within 24 hours if it's a yes. You will either get your sign, yay, or you won't get the sign, but they're saying timing isn't right or something better is coming. And you might be pissed because you thought this is the thing. But then the something better comes and you're like, oh my god, yes, this is the thing. But honestly, you're gonna be pissed until that happens and I won't sugarcoat it. Now, are you saying, Alana, I don't know what my sign is. How do I know what to ask for? Honestly, you can make the sign whatever you want it to be, they will deliver. But you can also make it something that has meaning meaning to you, especially if you have a loved one who's passed and they know the meaning of the sign, you can use whatever it is that thing is. Uh, but really, it can be anything. When I do Reiki people, and I say people typically, because it's not always, but it's typical, typically they'll get an animal because animals have a theme. And when we finish the reading and then we look up the animal in this book I use called Animal Speak, the theme of the animal is exactly what we talked about in the reading. So the guides are just confirming what's going on with you and saying, like, hey, yes, this was everything she talked about. We're on board with this, and use this sign as a communicator so I can help you deal with this specifically. So typically, when people come in again, their animal will change with what is going on with their life. So tip sometimes people will use the animal that I give them, but you can use anything decide to do. And also always give it a timeline. Sometimes it's like on the border of the timeline, or recently I've seen this come up. I actually was just having a conversation um today about a friend about this specifically with timelines because she was saying a different medium she talks to says like it takes a lot of work for your guides to be able to produce a sign. So sometimes the signs are lagging. I would actually disagree with that statement. I think the sign lags based on timeline. So let's say you give them 24 hours, but the sign shows up in three days. My interpretation of that means extend your timeline. Like, yes, it's coming, or yes, do the thing, but the result you're looking for is going to be a bit longer than you have in mind. So that's why I like playing with timelines too. If it's outside the window, it's just like it's coming, but it's a little bit further off. Now, once you've connected with the sign or you start your pattern net recognition with the sign and they are showing up, but you didn't actually ask a question, I want you to pay attention to your last thought because your guides are saying it's a yes, or it's uh we are with you, you are not alone, or it's uh it's all gonna be okay, you're on the right track. Like that is your guides answering whatever questions you're mulling over in your head, or whatever hard emotions you're working on in the moment. If you're in a period of grief, or let's say you are thinking a lot about something you have like experienced a loss in your life, and you find a dime, that is your past loved one. Often dimes are referred to as dimes from heaven. They typically carry the energy of love, protection, and comfort. I could do an entire episode story of like stories on dimes, but we're just gonna bring a few so that this doesn't go on forever and ever. So our loved ones give us dimes at times when we need them most. And that can be sad or it can also be happy. I had a client who lost her husband. It like it was a pretty quick decline and it was really hard on her. She's a very science-minded woman, doesn't or didn't rather believe in anything beyond the physical world. But she would tell me that she was finding dimes all over the place. So much that if she was in her laundry room, she would do like a full sweep of the laundry room before she left it to make sure she didn't leave any dimes. She'd go back in and there'd be a dime. And it's because her husband needed her to know he was still there, and he also needed her to laugh a little bit. He had a huge sense of humor and he would do things in the house that would make her laugh and like honestly annoy her almost, like he was still there. But that presence really opened her up to go through the grieving process and understand that she can move on with life and it's okay, and he will always be there. And dimes then became like super comforting to her. Another example is my friend Steph. Obviously, it's not an episode if we don't talk about Steph. Listeners, if you are new, my friend Steph is who really got me into the woo-woo side of things early in my 20s. She lost her partner Harry in 2019. So after Perry Harry had passed, she was getting dimes like left, right, and center. They were infiltrating her. And once she connected that it was Harry, she actually uses the dime now as her communicator sign with him. So she will ask for the dime now. And she knows like when she's getting all these dimes, she needs to pay attention to like what she's thinking about. It's a yes, it's a confirmation. And my last story is actually what sparked the idea for this episode. Well, it's actually highly requested, but I've been putting it off. But I found my dime and I'm like, I'm committing. So I found a dime. I was in the park with Ray on Sunday. I've been finding dimes a lot lately and moments of sadness and frustration with my fertility journey, right? On the jungle jam, and I just like have this moment where I think I would give anything, anything for them to be like two of them on the jungle jam, and I'm here with them. I look down to literally a spot I've stepped over 10 times that day, and there's a dime right there. And I don't know if it's the spirit baby or her gatekeeper. And gatekeeper is a loved one who has passed away and they act as the guardian in the spirit realm. And I know hers is my granddad, my dad's dad, and he comes through a lot for me when I'm struggling anything related to fertility. Um, so it could be him, it could be her. I don't know that answer. But the important part is, and this is important to anyone with any sign. Firstly, what did I feel in my body when I noticed it? Because I just felt instant relief. And then second, what thought came up immediately for you? For me, it was she's coming. And then third, did that moment expand me or contract me? And it really expanded me because I was just like, yes, I am going to be a mother of more than one child. And it just gave me this jolt of life. So those are the things that matter, not what the sign is or how it got there or why. Those are the things that matter. Just like you can't outsource your healing, you can't outsource your meaning. Signs mean different things to different people, and I think the important part to take away here isn't what the sign is, but what did it mean to you? And you can stay living in the skeptic world, and that's okay. I still maintain you are manifesting, but like, why not live a little? Why not let in these beautiful synchronicities and messages and feelings? I fucking love, love when people come in, especially my osteo folk who are like, oh my god, guess what? Guess what I got? I'm like, pull up a chair, tell me everything. Let the glimmers in, guys. Like, let the love in. Let the hope in. Because what do we have if we don't have hope? All right. Enough out of me for today. I'm putting this back on you to go out there and get your signs and then freaking tell me about them. I can't wait. You can find me at Alana Crawford underscore on Instagram or wait until next week for more science and soul. I love you all. Have a wonderful day, and I will see you next Wednesday.