The Teacher Who Could Be in Two Places at Once

Doppelgänger literally translates to "double walker." They are not other people that simply look like you; they are exactly the same—a carbon copy. Seeing your doppelgänger is considered an evil omen. As the lore goes, if you see your doppelgänger, you might die shortly afterward. Not only is this a trending topic on TikTok, but there have also been several strange cases throughout history of people seeing doppelgängers. One of the most famous cases is the peculiar case of Émilie Sagée.

Émilie Sagée

Here we are in 1845. You are a simple schoolgirl attending an exclusive girls' school in Latvia. Your new teacher, Ms. Émilie Sagée, is writing your lesson on the chalkboard. You like her a lot; she's from France, around 32 years old, and much kinder than some of the other teachers. She's popular with the students. You've overheard some of the other teachers gossiping, though. Ms. Sagée has taught at 19 different schools over the last 16 years. Suspicious? Could there be a reason?
You sit with 13 other students in your class while Ms. Sagée writes on the board with her back to the room. All of a sudden, another woman appears right beside her, mirroring her image and movements exactly. It seems to have no unique awareness of its surroundings or of what is going on. You and the other students describe it as if it copied Ms. Sagée the same way a mirror image would, only not reversed. This instance is bewildering enough for those who witness it, but nobody believes you… not at first, anyway.
The second time it happens, Ms. Sagée is sitting in the school hall eating lunch. It is relatively empty at the time, but the few people there are alarmed to see the ghostly apparition blink into existence behind her. Once again, it starts copying her movements as she eats. While Émilie is sitting down, the doppelgänger stands. No food can be seen in its hands. Émilie herself is entirely unaware of the doppelgänger's presence.
But she often said that she felt tired and drained whenever it materialized. As time went on, the appearances became more frequent. Unfortunately for Émilie, it was a habit that confused people and terrified the students. Several parents complained, and Ms. Sagée was asked to leave. Now you understand why she could only stay in one place for a short time.
On another occasion, Émilie asks a colleague to watch her class while she helps some of her other students with gardening. At some point during the lesson, Émilie walks back into the classroom, and the standing teacher leaves. The students at their desks think nothing of this until they look out the window and see the real Émilie still working in the garden. The doppelgänger simply sits in its seat, silent and watching.

Doppelgängers in History

As fantastical as this case may sound, this phenomenon is not unique and has, in fact, affected some of the most famous people in history.

Abraham Lincoln

The President was said to have seen his doppelgänger shortly after being elected to his first term. He lay down on a couch one evening to rest and just happened to glance over towards a mirror. He saw not one but two faces staring back at him. He was certain that both faces were his; the second one looked gaunt and deathly pale. Upon telling his wife, she became deeply troubled. She interpreted the vision as a premonition, stating that her husband would be elected president twice but would die during his second term. Sure enough, Lincoln was assassinated shortly after being elected for the second time.

Catherine the Great

The Russian Empress, was awoken one night in 1796 by worried servants who reported that they had just seen her entering the throne room. This intrigued her, as she had not left her quarters. She decided to see this for herself, and upon entering the room, Catherine saw her doppelgänger sitting calmly on the throne. She immediately ordered her sentries to shoot at the ghostly apparition, but their muskets had no effect. The doppelgänger eventually faded from sight, and the Empress died shortly afterward.

Theories

There are many more cases involving doppelgängers, but no one knows what a doppelgänger truly is. We can add it to the list of unexplained phenomena, but here are some theories:

Illness

A study on a number of test subjects found that when certain areas of the brain were stimulated, the participants felt an outward presence of themselves standing in the same room. It is theorized that natural stimulation of some regions of the brain through injury, illness, or chemical imbalance could cause someone to hallucinate and see their doppelganger. These illnesses or injuries could then go on to cause their death, which would explain the lore around doppelgängers.

Astral Projections

Mysterious entities embodying one's thoughts and wishes, which are so powerful that they manifest in the real world. This correlates with the experiences surrounding Emily Sargay, whose doppelganger always acted out exactly what she was thinking at the time.

Bilocation

An alleged psychic or miraculous ability wherein an individual or object is simultaneously located (or appears to be located) in two distinct places. Reports of bilocational phenomena have been made in various historical and religious contexts, ranging from ancient Greek legends and Christian traditions to modern occultism.

Glitch in the Matrix

We might be seeing a glimpse of another reality altogether. Accounts vary regarding the level of interactivity with these beings. Some people report that they have been able to converse with their doppelganger, while others say they seem to display no awareness of other people or their surroundings.

Higher Self

It could be your higher self trying to guide you.

Demonology

Maybe the freakiest theory of all. In demonology, there are said to be certain parasitic spirits that can impersonate anyone, including their hosts. For this reason, others have suggested that some doppelgängers, especially those who display a level of intelligence and can interact with the world around them, might, in fact, be demons.