Spiritual Chills or Just Cold? Decoding Your Body’s "Truth Bumps"
We have all felt it.
You are sitting in a conversation, maybe listening to a friend tell a story, or perhaps you are alone reading a book. Suddenly, a wave of cold electricity washes over you. It usually starts at the base of your neck and ripples down your arms or spine. The hairs on your arms stand up.
If you are a skeptic—or a Project Manager, like I was for many years—you immediately look for the vent. Is the AC on? Is there a draft? You dismiss it as a biological hiccup.
But what if the room isn't cold?
In the world of analytical spirituality, we often talk about the "clairs"—clairvoyance (clear seeing), clairaudience (clear hearing). But the most common, and often the most ignored, is clairsentience (clear feeling).
Those chills aren't always a draft. Sometimes, they are a handshake.
The Science of the Shiver
Before we dive into the "woo," let’s look at the biology. We need to ground this in rational explanations for the unexplained.
That shivering sensation is technically called piloerection. It is a vestigial reflex from our evolutionary ancestors. When an animal is cold or threatened, its fur stands up to trap heat or make it look bigger to a predator.
We also experience "Psychogenic Shivers" or Frisson (French for "aesthetic chills"). This happens when we hear a piece of music that moves us or see a scene in a movie that creates awe. Dopamine floods the brain, and the body reacts.
So, yes. Sometimes it is just biology. Sometimes it is just a beautiful song.
But here is where the science of intuition gets interesting. The body often registers information before the conscious mind does. Studies in neuroscience of spiritual experiences show that the heart and the gut often respond to stimuli seconds before the brain processes it.
Your body is a receiver. And sometimes, it picks up a signal that your logic hasn't decoded yet.
The "Cold Flash" of Truth
In the first chapter of my upcoming book, Quiet All Along, I describe a moment from my infancy where I experienced a "cold flash of realization". Even as a baby, before I had language, my body knew something was wrong before my mind could explain it.
This is the core of investigating signs from the universe. It is not always a burning bush or a booming voice. Often, it is just a physical resonance.
I call them "Truth Bumps."
It happens when an external truth aligns perfectly with an internal knowing. It’s a moment of resonance. When someone speaks a truth that vibrates at the same frequency as your soul, your body responds with that electric shiver.
It is your intuition saying, "Pay attention. This is real."
Checklist: Is it Spiritual or Environmental?
So, how do you tell the difference? How do you distinguish between feeling a presence in the room and just needing a sweater?
As a skeptic, I needed a protocol. Here is the checklist I use to test the data:
The Context Check: Is there a draft? Are you underdressed? Did you just drink something cold? If the answer is yes, it’s likely physical.
The Emotional Trigger: Did the chills happen immediately after a specific thought, name, or phrase was spoken? Synchronicity and what it means often relies on timing. If you think of a deceased loved one and immediately get chills, mark that as data.
The "One-Sided" Theory: Many mediums and those studying signs from deceased loved ones report that spiritual chills often happen on only one side of the body, or feel like a specific touch, whereas environmental cold usually affects the whole body.
The Fear Factor: Is the sensation accompanied by dread, or by peace? Debunking fake psychics and fear-mongering is important. True spiritual confirmation usually feels like truth—crisp, clear, and electric—not like the creeping dread of a horror movie.
When Logic Fails, Trust the Body
For years, I ignored these signals. I treated my body like a vehicle for my brain, rather than a partner in my intelligence.
But as I moved deeper into spiritual investigations for beginners, I learned that the body is the most sensitive instrument we have. It is the antenna.
If you are navigating a dark night of the soul or just trying to make a difficult decision, stop looking for the "logical" answer for a moment. Ask yourself the question, and see how your skin reacts.
Does it go flat and dull? Or do you get that shimmer?
The Experiment
Next time you get "the chills" for no reason, don't brush it off. Pause.
What were you thinking about?
Who were you talking to?
What just happened in your environment?
Treat it like an investigation. You might find that your gut instinct is actually a sophisticated radar system, trying to tell you something your spreadsheet can't.
Deepen Your Intuition Have you ever experienced "Truth Bumps" that confirmed a hunch? I want to hear your stories of physical intuition.
In my memoir, Quiet All Along: A Skeptic’s Journey into the Unexplained, I explore how I learned to stop fighting my body's signals and start listening to them. It is a guide for anyone balancing logic vs faith in spirituality.
Sign up for the newsletter to get updates on the book launch and more "Skeptic’s Guides" to the unseen.