A Miami woman who sold a grilled cheese sandwich on eBay for $28,000 USD probably had pareidolia. She believed she saw the face of the Virgin Mary grilled into the bread. To her it was a miracle and somewhere out there in eBay land a buyer agreed.
Pareidolia (pronounced per-ˌī-ˈdoh-lee-a) is the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. There are plenty of famous examples of this phenomenon – from the Shroud of Turin to the Face of Mars. The Rorschach ink blot test used by psychologists and psychiatrists is an example of directed pareidolia. In the test, a doctor holds up a random ink blot and asks the patient what the image looks like to them. The test itself implies that it can be quite normal to see the specific in the ambiguous.
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Related: Check out our post about Ilulissat, Greenland – Birthplace of Icebergs.
Table of Contents
Do You have Pareidolia? Take the Iceberg Pareidolia Test
Anyone who has seen a man in the moon or a familiar image in a cloud formation has experienced pareidolia. On a voyage of the northwest passage between Greenland and Arctic Canada, I developed a severe case while photographing the many icebergs we passed along the way. If you have this condition, you might be able to see them too.
Cool Pareidolia Collectible: Want a pareidolia T-shirt? It isn’t iceberg pereidolia – it’s music pareidolia and it’s less than $7. Check it out!
Faces
Animals
Buildings
Random Structures
What to do if you have Pareidolia
Don’t panic. The good news is, pareidolia is not a disease, it is a psychological phenomenon. I like to think it occurs in people who are especially intelligent. If you have some images of pareidolia, please share them in the comments. We’d love to see them.
Where can I see Icebergs?
There are several places in the world where you can see icebergs. I saw hundreds on an Arctic Safari sailing with Adventure Canada.
Check out our post about Ilulissat, Greenland -Birthplace of Icebergs
91 Comments
Joanna
I see faces all the time, my question does this go with letters and words on rocks trees or is that something different I have always been able to see words or letters in trees, rocks, anything really I look at I see a lot of numbers and arrows
wanderwoman
Thanks for the comment, Joanna. Seeing recognizable objects (faces, numbers, letters, arrows etc.) in otherwise random or unrelated objects or patterns is pareidolia. At one time pareidolia was considered a symptom of psychosis, but it is now seen as a normal human tendency. It’s interesting that some people have a greater tendency towards it than others. We kept seeing familiar objects in the icebergs when we were in the Arctic. -Debbie
Delmus
The frist iceberg photo. Is two chimpanzee ape’s..A male is looking STRAIGHT with his head upright and next to his face is a female chimpanzee ape with her head tilted to the left with a small smile on her face the next photo is a small child penguin tucked under a small cave with his back to the wall and wings spread out and one eye looking out of the cave with a small beak..
helene ramos
The one where you see numbers is called apophenia.
wanderwoman
Apophenia is the tendency to perceive a connection or a meaningful pattern between unrelated things. You might see patterns that aren’t really there. And you’re right in that it could be patterns in numbers.
Monica L Hass
I see faces or figures, some are human some are animals. I see them on a bathroom floor pattern or on a wall just painted. Sometimes on a ceiling…i always thought of being artistic and wish I could draw them.
Sheila J
I see faces on thing all the time. Last August, I started to see a face on the wall at Church.
Yesterday(9/5/21), I saw 2 different faces on the wall st Church and the faces was constantly changing. Kind of freaked me out a little because I have never seen faces on objects change before.
Johanna T.
since i was young i’ve always seen faces on random things. i’m 44 years old now and nothing’s changed. i was going through instagram the other day and found the hashtag #iseefaces. i searched online and that’s what i have. pareidolia. i only see faces. like all the time. in shadows, trees, scratches on walls and doors, floors. everywhere at random times and no one i know sees it unless i actually point it out to them. thanks for your article.
wanderwoman
Thanks so much for the comment, Johanna. Seeing faces is the most common form of pareidolia. When we were in the Arctic, I kept seeing faces and other familiar shapes in the icebergs. It’s nice to know that pareidolia is normal. Some people seem to be more prone to seeing faces or other familiar shapes in random data than other people do. I guess we both fit into that category. Thanks for reading the article and giving feedback. All the Best, Greg.
Michele
I have noticed my ability to see faces on inanimate objects and even pictures is heightened as I get older. It’s not always pleasant. For example, I bought a tall decor that resembles a flower made of glass with a bird on one of the glass stems. At night, the top of it looks like a weird man smiling at me so I’ve covered it with hats. I have a picture on the wall that changes shapes, depending on when I awake throughout the night. I’ve gotten used to it but sometimes it’s creepy.
Angelina
I love this comment because, me too! Clouds, walls, curtains, it didn’t matter. But only face.
Angela L Brown
It started with the popcorn ceiling in my room when I was very young. As an adult it started with plain blank printer paper. Then concrete and stucco. And most recently, I have been seeing works of art in used wet sand paper, the accidental paint spill and a very large dustpan (so many imaginary scenes)! I thought there something mentally wrong with me! I am glad I am not alone!
Isa
Did it occur to you that some might be faces from departedôes who wish to communicate? (Without being too crazy..lol)
Mandy Ditto
Nice article. I live in Brazil and I’ve been reading that seeing faces is common, but I see animals all the time. Friendly ones. 😀 I usually see dogs, cats, horses, pigs and even monkies on the patterns of the tiles in the kitchen. Thanks for all the insights. The article is very interesting.
wanderwoman
Thanks so much, Mandy. Interesting that you see animals. Good thing they’re friendly. Sometimes I see buildings. I saw one iceberg I thought looked like a sports complex near where I live. I like sports though. Another one looked like an Egyptian sphinx to me. Pareidolia is an interesting topic. Thanks again for the feedback. Greg
Katherine
I have seen faces since I was 5yrs old. Alot of faces. Trees are wonderful ways to see faces. My experiences are always faces. Try the wood floor test. Pick one board and start looking for faces. I started carrying a small sketch book in my purse so I could draw them. I have a friend who used to get in trouble all the time as a teenager because he was tracing the things he saw on his wall with a sharpie. Have fun with it. I’m 61yrs old and I believe it’s related to our creativity. Enjoy it.
Alefiyah
I can see faces in mostly everything I see….not only face I can see their movement and can also sometime hear them
…I am 14 year old teenager..and sometimes I get afraid…I don’t know what to do…am I mad?
wanderwoman
Thanks for reaching out. Seeing faces or other meaningful images in random objects is a normal human tendency. Seeing movement or hearing voices might be something else. Please talk to someone. A parent, a teacher, your doctor or another adult you trust can help you determine if this is something to be concerned about and help you get treatment if you need it.
Charlotte
I have a question also, what dose it mean when you see faces, but also see animals or monsters? Like once my mum was driving and I saw a black cat lying on the sidewalk and I told my mum about it and she looked over and said there was no black cat.
wanderwoman
Hi Charlotte, It can be normal to see faces and other shapes in random objects. For example, when you look at clouds, you might see a face, a cow, a monster or maybe even a house. That is pareidolia and it’s normal. If you often see animals, monsters or people that others cannot see and that are not hidden in random objects, that could be something else. Whenever you’re concerned, it’s a good idea to talk to an adult you trust. A parent, a teacher, your doctor or another adult you trust can help you determine if this is something to be concerned about. It’s good that you asked your mum about the black cat. You should talk to her or someone else you trust – especially if it happens again.
Ricci Moran
I see faces in lots of things, the sky but mostly rocks
I find myself hoarding every rock I find until it is a problem. My husband doesn’t see what i see. But I can clear as day
Brandy M Davis
I can’t look at our security cameras bc of this. Omg especially at night it’s so much worse that it’s almost scary. I see them instantly even when I try not to. I really swear there’s someone/something there but my husband thinks I’m crazy. I feel like it sometimes tho. I have prob 500 or more pics, screen shots & videos on my phone. I’m not crazy lol I’m really smart & level headed but this is so prominent that I’m almost sure my husband is crazy or in denial that he doesn’t see anything. I mean ITS RIGHT THERE!!! I don’t see how other people can NOT see
Ken
The one Iceberg with1 face facing to the right I see 8 other faces…..
2Just behind the eye is a face looks like its yelling.
3The very top looks like a hood with a long nose to the left.
4Dead center bottom looks like a woman with long hair.
5to the left looks like a face leaning back facing left and 6a smaller face at the lips.
7To the right of the woman looks like a half face.
I see a couple more but too hard to describe how…
I see 9 faces total
wanderwoman
Hi Ken, I can see most of those faces that you pointed out. I hadn’t noticed them until you pointed them out though. Isn’t pareidolia an interesting phenomenon? Thanks for the comment! -Greg
Marlene Kepple
I’m so glad to find out I’m not the only one. Alot of times I draw what I see. It’s very therapeutic. I see all kinds of things in objects. Mostly rocks though. When I point out to people what I see, it takes them a few minutes looking but then they can see it too. I’m 55 and it has gotten more prominent as I’ve gotten older. It was pretty strong when I was really young too. Thanks for this article. It’s been really helpful
wanderwoman
Thanks for your comment, Marlene. You’re welcome. I’m glad the article was helpful. You’re definitely not the only one. 🙂 -Debbie
Joanna Aslamatzis
I once saw this face in the sky made out of clouds Wich looked like it was smiling, earlier that day I saw another face smilin* at me in the clouds. When I was going for a shower I saw a face smiling at me on the stairs, I don’t know if I have it
wanderwoman
Hi Joanna, Thanks for the comment. By the sounds of it – you probably have it. On the positive note, pareidolia is completely normal. Some people might be inclined to see faces and other shapes more than others, but it’s normal regardless. It is fascinating though. Thanks for reading our article and sharing your thoughts. -Debbie
Brenda
I’ve always seen faces on the front of cars. Some are happy and some are angry and some are just goofy. I also see faces in tiles, tree trunks and lots of places. Once in a while I can animals.. I wondered if everyone can see them but not everyone can…
wanderwoman
Thanks for the comment, Brenda. You make a good point. Some people are more inclined to pareidolia than others. Seeing faces is most common. Seeing faces in vehicles reminds me of the Disney movie “Cars.” It is a fascinating phenomenon for sure. -Debbie
Hayden
I see faces, but I also see patterns like patterns that are shapes and other kinds as well, like patterns in events or timelines.
wanderwoman
Thanks so much for commenting, Hayden. It’s interesting that you see patterns. It’s possible that you’re better at seeing patterns than most people. It’s also possible that the patterns and shapes are an example of apophenia. Pareidolia is a type of apophenia. It’s the act of perceiving patterns in random data. In either case, it’s a normal human tendency for our brains to want to look for patterns. Thanks for reading our post and for sharing your insights. -Debbie
Cindy
Oh I dont have pictures ,. But for awhile everytime I looked at something I saw something. It was getting old. It kinda bothered me. It’s not as bad now but it’s happens. I use to see a lot of faces n trees or the tree trunks. It was crazy. I’d see houses thinking mayb there use to b one there. Then I thought mayb I’m a little physic and that’s why I see them.
So do u think tho when ppl see these things I could b physic? It’s is fascinating tho.
Fuzi
This is awesome! I have never heard of Pareidolia before, but ever since I was little in see faces in all kinds of things , carpeting, folds of curtains, granite…😁. I never knew this was a “thing”! Glad to know it, thank you!😁
wanderwoman
You’re welcome! Glad you liked the article and that it was informative. Thanks for the feedback. -Greg
Darren Lister
Thank God I’m not the only, doesn’t matter what I look at photos, curtains,trees anything ill see something human faces monsters witches letter’s numbers things i don’t know what they are until i look it up even cartoon characters some are sized proper but the monsters gargoyles types will be one BiG one with a whole bunch of little ones inside and alot of the time there’s two faces moulding into one but the one that really trips me out in a good way is a little girl her face is so clear and always smiling
wanderwoman
Hey Darren. Glad you found the pareidolia post helpful and interesting. Most people have never heard the word “pareidolia,” but when you explain what it is, they realize they have experienced it. It is a fascinating phenomenon. Thanks for your input. -Greg
Angelika
I guess it all started when i was young. I love to lay on the grass and watching the cloud. I saw a lot of different things on the cloud. But on the wall, paint, dust, cracks or everything else but clouds, i see only faces. Some that a bit scary to my liking, as if i can see its eyes looking at me. Glad i looked and found this article. Thanks
Rhona
I see faces in everything also, I didn’t know what it was called till I read your article, I see faces and animals in clouds, I call tree faces wood nymphs, tiles in the bathroom are very common, trees are another good one, they are everywhere.
Cyndi
Last night I saw a cloud formation to my eastern side, quite a bit away, and it was all lit up from the sunset. In a micro-second, I saw a face, so I grabbed my camera and zoomed in! Shared it on Facebook with the tag: #pareidoliafan. Wish I could share it with you today.
wanderwoman
Thanks for the comment. Faces are the most common manifestation of pareidolia. We’ll check the hashtags on Facebook and try to find your cloud picture.
Rob Barron
If you see a natural rock which resembles a face, animal etc. then this has a name of its own: a mimetolith. It is still described as pareidolic and it’s funny how often two people see a mimetolith and describe it as two different things!
wanderwoman
Hi Rob, Thanks so much for sharing that info about mimetoliths. That’s fascinating. We didn’t know there was a special name for that kind of pareidolia. Great addition to the discussion. -Debbie
Qhamani Tekana
I’d be looking at totally anything and I’d think of a random image and somehow whatever i was looking at changes it’s form to make that image i was thinking of like wood floors I’d see faces there mainly cartoon ones very ugly and pretty ones but after a while they fade and i have to focus to see them again or i don’t even bother and i just see the faces
Jeremy
I’ve always seen these types of things, but don’t they use these kind of pictures on tests as a precursor to dementia with Lewy bodies? I think 25% of dementia patients have this.
wanderwoman
Thanks for your comment, Jeremy. I hadn’t heard about the use of pareidolia tests in the diagnosis of dementia with Lewey bodies until I read your comment. I found one study from Chinese researchers in 2016, but I couldn’t find any others. Most of the other documentation I found seems to indicate it is a normal human tendency. It will be interesting to see if other researchers come to the same conclusion as that one Chinese study. Thanks again for sharing that information. -Greg
Allan
i see other things than what you showed , for example the last picture of a piano , i see a dolphin swimming under the ice. i have seen images since i was six years old , and i am 61 now. I was looking to see if there was a name for this condition and stumbled upon your site , now opened my eyes to find out this is
wanderwoman
Glad we were able to help. Pareidolia is a fascinating phenomenon that can be quite normal. Thanks for visiting our site.
kelly morris
I don’t think this is related, but here it goes. In a dimly lit room, if I stare at a static object, say a hanging towel, I can see complex patterns form, sometimes in rapid succession. I can also see animals, sometimes I can even hold the image as it moves (a green alligator once) and I see complex equasions “quantum” equasions (always in red) as they move and fluctuate. As these images arrive, I can call them out, draw them with my finger, but as soon as I lose focus, they dissappear. I can also recall faces if I really concentrate. Its not scary, its kind of fun. I’m not a psyche patient, mentally very stable, except for this little quirk. I am also excellent at pattern recognition at all times. How can I manifest complex equasions I’ve never seen before? Or see peaceful tarantulas climbing up a towel? I keep practicing. Because I love this gift.
Barbara
Hi,
I have seen faces on surfaces since I was young. All the time. I see things faces mostly in things that are not shaped like a face, (that seems too obvious to me to be a disorder), or things that look like a face if you think about it (like an electric socket or cloud or iceberg). I see faces on a blank painted wall, rugs, plain weave fabrics, things that have even slight texture to them. It was mentioned that some people see faces when other do not, until the “face” is pointed out to those others who then say “oh yeah”. No one but me can see these faces. They think I am crazy. Sometimes I see dozens of faces on a plain painted wall that has even a slight texture to it. To me, this seems more extreme than what has been mentioned?
wanderwoman
Hi Barbara,
That does sound like more extreme pareidolia than what was mentioned in our article. If it is bothering you or there are other symptoms, you could talk to a doctor about it. Hope that helps.
Davos
I have always loved looking at clouds,always seeing patterns,faces ,animals,etc.You name it I see it and enjoy it from being almost at equal or clouds a bit higher in the distance when flying on a plane .It doesn’t surprise me as I am quite artistically gifted .What is beauty it’s everywhere and many things can be one’s reality .I no I’m not insane because insane people usually don’t realize there crazy ,So it is! Keep seeking and you shall find.
David Zatowski
My mom and dad think i’m crazy and my brother and sister think i’m being silly, but i see faces and animals in almost every item. The craziest of all tho is that I see dragons in clouds, dirt, and water. I am 13 years old and I feel like I am the only person in my family that has this “ability” because no one ever mentions or talks about it when I do. Am I actually crazy?!
wanderwoman
Hi David, There are different degrees of pareidolia. If you’re concerned about the fact that you see faces of dragons and animals in almost every item when others do not, you may want to talk to your doctor. Pareidolia can be completely normal, but your doctor can help you determine if there’s anything else to be concerned about. There are medical conditions that might cause people to see faces and animals in almost every item. Either way, talking to your doctor might be helpful. Thanks for your interest. -Greg
Amy
I am 33 years old and at 22 I experienced a loss that caused PTSD. Since then I have seen faces. I see them in tile, on the floor, in the ceiling, walls… everywhere. Sometimes they smile but mostly just scary faces. I have always thought it was linked to my ptsd. It always seems to be more apparent when I am having a “ptsd moment” or when I am stressed. I have talked to a therapist about it but she never mentioned that this can also just be normal. For the first time, tonight, after 10 years, I feel relieved. Thank you for this.
wanderwoman
You’re welcome, Amy. I’m glad this article was helpful to you. All the best in your recovery.
penny spurgeon
Mine started when I was little. The first time I got locked in the box. Which is a different story. Always thought it was linked to the PTSD. It’s getting worse tho now. Over 45 years. The last few years tho I see letters like on a wall or a table…not just alphabet letters, but letters to me. Letters that say not nice things. I have literally wasted days staring at a wall trying to figure out what it says. One of the comments stayed that they wish they could draw what they see, me too. Cause if someone else could see what I’m talking about maybe they would stop telling me how crazy I am.
wanderwoman
Hi Penny, Thanks for your comment. Pareidolia can be completely normal, but it can also be a sign of something more serious – especially if you’re seeing messages that say unkind things and if you have a past history of trauma. It might be a good idea to consult a medical professional to see if this is something to be concerned about. I hope this is helpful, Debbie
Eboni hood
I wanna share a photo with you to see if you can see a face, me and my son was doing a paint ball arts and crafts, well we just throwing the paint balls on the poster board and we went in the house to let it dry and came back out to see it and I couldn’t believe my eyes. So I would love to see if you could see anything.
wanderwoman
Please go ahead and send the picture. We’d love to see it.
Vid
Hello,
I am Vid and I’m 26 and I see patterns of repetitive numbers everywhere which I try to make sense of. Sometimes angel numbers work but sometimes I just think I’m crazy. Could u please help me out here.
wanderwoman
Hi Vid, Thanks for reading our post. We’re not medical experts and therefore we aren’t qualified to answer your question about seeing repetitive numbers. Seeing specific patterns in random things can be normal, but there are times when it’s not. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if your worried about it. – Debbie and Greg
Cass
What is also interesting is the way that, to a pareidoliac, certain coastlines can outline recognisable human figures. For instance, the Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea together outline a figure I call “Beijing Granny” – a hunchbacked old lady with a big warty nose and topknot, facing to the right. And the Gulf of Bothnia together with the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland outline a lanky guitar-player, facing to the right, with the little Gulf of Riga outlining the head of his dog which is peering out from behind his legs. The 14th century Italian monk and cartographer Opicinus de Canistris saw the Mediterranean Sea as two devils whose bodies meet at the middle – the pointy-headed devil on the left is seen face-on and has Corsica and Sardinia for eyes; the flat-headed devil on the right is in left profile with Cyprus as his left eye, and the Aegean Sea as his very bushy beard. Opicinus also saw Spain and North Africa as two heads whispering conspiratorially to each other.
The artist William Blake described his pareidolia in a poem: “For double the vision my eyes do see, And a double vision is always with me. With my inward eye ’tis an old man gray; with my outward, a thistle across my way.”
wanderwoman
Thanks for adding to the conversation. Your insights about coastlines reminded me of mountain ranges that are said to look like people. Sheep Mountain near Jackson, Wyoming is also known as Sleeping Indian, for example. People say it looks like an Indian lying on his back. That’s not the only one either. I love the quote by William Blake as well. Thanks again! -Debbie
Leo Freeman
Most pareidolia relies on the object actually looking a bit like the face or whatever it appears to be. There has to be some feature in the object that corresponds to an eye, a mouth, etc. But if you stare at a TV screen displaying only random static, you start to see groups of dots spinning around like pinwheels, and eventually you can even see images emerging from the noise. Is this phenomenon also classed as pareidolia?
wanderwoman
Interesting question, Leo. The dictionary defines pareidolia as “the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern.” Seeing something specific in a cloud, an iceberg or random static on a TV all fits under pareidolia. It certainly is a fascinating phenomenon. Thanks for adding to the discussion. -Debbie and Greg
Jennifer
Im so happy I found a name for this! Lol I just experienced an entire hour of clouds morphing from 1 picture into another & thought I was loosing it lol. I have many pictures but im not sure how to post them here but I would love to share them if possible.
wanderwoman
Thanks for the feedback, Jennifer. Seeing pictures in clouds is more common than seeing them in icebergs. Pareidolia is definitely a fascinating phenomenon. Unfortunately, our website doesn’t seem to allow for attachments in the comments. Otherwise we’d love to see your cloud pictures. Thanks for reading our blog post and for taking the time to comment. -Debbie and Greg
Richard Pinard
I see things in great detail! Not just faces, but sometimes a bust or an entire body! I have seen full scenes with extraordinary details. Yes, mostly faces, yet I will see 3 faces within a face. I am going to glance at the unfinished basement floor and tell you who it is. Susan Serandon believe it or not! My Psychiatrist asked if the condition causes fear or concern. I told him that I have no concern at all, and that it is quite entertaining at times.
wanderwoman
Thanks for your comment, Richard. Pareidolia is a fascinating phenomenon and it is interesting how the ability to see specific pictures in random shapes varies between individuals. It’s good that your pareidolia doesn’t cause you fear or concern and that your psychiatrist isn’t concerned about it.
Stephen Holmes
The term ‘pareidolia’ was only introduced into our vocabulary in the year 1866. Perhaps we ought to ask why that might be. Also there is no condition to account for the indiscriminate dismissal of every case in which an anomaly is noticed, and I refer more to the landscape than anything else.
wanderwoman
Thanks for adding to the discussion, Stephen. We are unsure of the actual year that the word ‘pareidolia’ was introduced into our vocabulary. The Merriam-Webster dictionary puts the first known usage of the word at 1962. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pareidolia#h1) Regardless of whether it was 1866 or 1962, it is a relatively recent addition.
Susan Lane
Hi, OMG are we related? I have a couple questions, does your family tell you they need to order more gravel for the driveway? Are you also dyslexic, unorganized & a perfectionist all rolled in one? I am. I lost my best friend /sister July2,20 I started collecting heart shaped rocks everywhere I dug two holes to plant a couple of trees yesterday, yesterday & found approximately 140 heart shaped rocks! I find faces in wood grains, materials & rocks & my spinal X-Rays! I talk backwards at times & have trouble tracking to read.
Susan Lane
In your Sphinx photo I say a few things. I see a nose & mustache behind the Spinx. I see a blue angel on the ground & combined with the other blue a Trojan horse. Added to the feet of the angel the mother Mary or woman & man standing. Above them A gladiator soldiers head. Minnie Pearl silhouette opposite end of Sphinx, then an eagles head & jumping rabbit. A balding George Washington & fluffy white bunny. A stealthy cougar, rat or Iguana & bank robber in a striped cap. Wizard standing by man & woman. Mermaids tail is angels arms. A skinny guy sideways. Indian woman with a feather in her hair out of Sphinx. Side of boy face above Eagle. A dove released from the angel.. top edge from mermaid to Sphinx a cartoon Dads head.
Robert barnett
I see faces and dead people the dead people I have seen my whole life the faces started 13years ago I am going crazy I barley drive and don’t know what to do
wanderwoman
Thanks for your comment, Robert. If you’re finding it hard to function, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional counselor. They may have some suggestions that can help you cope better. You mmight also talk to a family doctor. I hope these suggestions are helpful. All the best, Debbie
Jennifer G
This is insightful, at times I have pointed out what I saw and no one else could see it. I thought of taking a pen or marker with me so I could draw it out or circle it just so others could see what I see. I have a major depression, PTSD, severe anxiety and mixed bipolarism. I also hear re-occurring sounds that nobody else can hear. And now this – I see faces and animals in anything from clothing hanging on a hanger to floor tile to paintings, clouds, walls, buildings – you name it. There are many studies for this as it is becoming more prevalent. At times it can feel like you’ve gone a bit mad, I’ve stopped trying to point it out to other people because they just look at me funny like I am crazy, maybe I am to a degree but its real to me.
wanderwoman
Thanks for your comment, Jennifer. I’m glad you found the article helpful. Pareidolia is an interesting phenomenon. -Debbie
Michelle
I’m so glad I found this article as people have called me insane , I can see people, animals, words and numbers on everything everywhere.. I see numbers on peoples skin and hair and animals fur or feathers especially the numbers 5, 3 and 2. On the icebergs I can see gorillas and monkeys as well as faces . I’m so happy there’s other people like me
Matthew
I think these iceberg examples are a stretch for shape recognition.
As mentioned by one contributor coastlines, country boarder lines or states boarders forming faces.
I see portraits I’ve seen in museums around the world, faces of the famous and obscure in natural stone tiles, glacier till, river cobble.
I see pleasing and frightening pictures alike. Word games and puzzles are not random enough.
Nicole
My experiences are a little different when I look at different things I see many faces all connected in different ways and I can look at the image and see different faces in another form I feel as though they are someone like trapped spirits. Sometimes the images aren’t so calm and settle faces. Sometimes they seem like they are so that are in pain or just simply stuck. There is times that I experienced a lot more horrific faces and things among that nature. I feel like I go through. My life to where this ability is much stronger than other times. I recently had a period that it wasn’t very frequent or if it all. I just kind of experienced something small today that reminded me and made me want to look into it I’ve always had problems trying to figure out what it meant exactly. So as I look at this it’s not so much things that are made to seem to look like objects or faces mine might be a little more spiritual I guess if I can say that. If anyone knows a little more about that and type of things that I experienced in such a sense please feel free to respond thank you..
Maree
Not only have I got trypophobia but now I have Paredolia. I have seen many pictures of people, animals, monsters n many more in or on many things. The other day talking to someone I could see a black Simeese cat I tried to ignore cause it was a coat. Honestly I don’t want it.
Karen Phillips
For 60 years I’ve been seeing faces and animals in wood, tile, rocks, clouds and other things. I knew there had to be a name for it, but not until tonight on tv Jeopardy. I looked it up and found this website. Very interesting. Never considered it anything different or unusual, however I was always alone in this. We had marble installed in our shower a couple years back. I love taking showers because I’m always seeing new animals and faces. It’s a game to me now.
Sarah Bannon
I see a beautiful white Polar Bear on his back looking up into the sky ….. on the left side of the picture , I’ve been doing this for years im 51 now it makes me Happy for some reason it always makes me smile 😁
Brittini
Am I the only one that sees more than on Face in the pictures
Nannette
I have picture i took with a face I saw in a tree bark. It just blows my mind. Let me send it to you so the world can see as well.
wanderwoman
Hi Nannette, Thanks for your message. I wish there was a way to post your picture in our comments, but the way our website is set up prevents that. On the positive note, it prevents anyone from posting in appropriate images on the site. The downside is that it won’t allow people to post legitimate photos that relate to the content. Thanks for asking though. And thanks for reading our post about pareidolia. All the best, Debbie
Patricia Lovejoy
I have been seeing things like I m aged in the paneling or in the clouds. For 22 years now when I look at a picture of my grandfather & grandmother Hanging on my wall I not only see 2 people but 5 people from a distance . Didn’t really know why. Recently I have been seeing cats. Dogs, owls, horses, and birds in rocks. Didn’t really think anything of it until I was trying to show my husband a picture of a couldn’t and he didn’t see it. He did see the owl in a rock a year ago. But when he couldnt see what I saw I got a little worried. But on Saturday night I found half of bloodpressure pill in the floor. It made me think would my cat frisky of found one and at it? She got sick and passed so fast. I was stressing about could I have accidentally killed my cat. Then yesterday morning not only could I see pictures of cats in rocks, I saw them in everything. Clouds, bushes on the ground, just everywhere. The I looked it up and found out that there was actually a name for what I have been seeing for over 30 t.years. I was so relieved that it wasn’t a bad thing but a positive thing. I have been clairvoyant for many years but never really knew what it was until about 15 years ago. Yet again just another gift that I have. This new one will take some getting use to but for now at least I know what it is. Thanks for letting me share
Patricia Lovejoy
Barbara Morris
My brother sees faces even people when taking photos of the trees and landscapes. He gets upset with me when he shows me the picture that I don’t set them. Today I found this sight and started reading more and it makes since now. Gave me better insight as to how to understand what he’s seering. I was thinking for months now is he losing it or am I. Thank you
Lacey Whitten
I would like to take the test. I’ve been dealing with this for many years and it’s getting worse to me
wanderwoman
Hi Lacey,
Pareidolia can be completely normal. Many people see shapes in clouds or even icebergs as in our article. If it starts to become a real issue though, you may want to talk to a medical doctor and get their opinion. Thanks for visiting our website.
All the best,
Debbie, Managing Editor, Wander Woman Travel Magazine