LexTalk

Last night felt like something out of a movie. One minute I was sleeping peacefully, and the next, I jolted awake for no obvious reason. I glanced at my phone — a little after 2 AM — and tried to brush it off. But something in me felt off. Almost like the air shifted, or the energy in the room got heavier. I couldn’t explain it, but I also couldn’t shake it.

About thirty minutes later, the house shook.

At first, it was that subtle wobble where you question whether your mind is playing tricks on you. But then came the unmistakable rumble — the kind that makes the walls tremble and your stomach drop. I felt my heart race as everything vibrated for several seconds. When it passed, I wasn’t sure whether I needed coffee… or sage.

Curious (and still a little freaked out), I opened my earthquake app. Sure enough, a quake had been recorded right around the time I woke up. And not just one — but multiple earthquakes throughout the night. By the time morning hit, the app showed around ten quakes since 2 AM, the most recent being a 3.7 magnitude just a few miles from my home.

Let me tell you: a 3.7 that close is not a “cute little wiggle.” It shakes your entire house. You feel it. Your body responds before your mind catches up.

California is known for earthquakes, but experiencing several in one night — especially waking before they hit — makes you wonder what exactly your body is picking up on. Is it science? Instinct? Something deeper?

Why Some People Wake Up Before Earthquakes

As strange as it sounds, there are real explanations for why some people (including me, apparently) sense a quake before it hits.

1. Your Body Detects P-Waves First

Earthquakes release two major waves:

• P-waves — fast, subtle, often not consciously felt
• S-waves — slower, stronger, what we recognize as “the earthquake”

Many people are sensitive enough to jolt awake during the P-wave phase, especially if they’re intuitive, empathic, or light sleepers.

2. Humans Can Sense Low-Frequency Vibrations

Earthquakes emit infrasound — vibrations too low for our ears, but not too low for our bodies.

This can cause:

• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Sudden awake moments
• A feeling that “something is off”

3. Intuition + Energetic Sensitivity

Animals sense quakes before they hit — and some humans do too.

If you’re spiritually or energetically tuned in, your subconscious may pick up on the earth’s energetic shift before your conscious mind does.

Your body becomes a seismic antenna.

 What To Do When the Ground Starts Shaking

Earthquakes can be startling, even small ones. Here’s what to do when it happens:

DROP. COVER. HOLD ON.

The safest, most effective method.

Drop to prevent falling

Cover your head and neck under a sturdy table or with your arms

Hold on until the shaking stops

If You’re in Bed

Stay there. Cover your head with a pillow and wait for the shaking to stop.

If You’re in a Car

Slow down and pull over safely — away from bridges, trees, and overpasses.

After the Quake

Expect aftershocks.

Check for hazards.

Put on shoes before walking.

Breathe (your nervous system needs a minute).

If you’re someone who feels quakes before they happen, it’s smart to keep a mini bedside kit: water, flashlight, charger, socks, and anything grounding that helps keep you calm.

When the Earth Whispers Back

Last night was a strange reminder that the ground beneath us is alive. We spend our days wrapped up in errands, routines, and endless to-do lists, and then the earth shifts — literally — and reminds us how connected we actually are to the world around us.

Whether it was science, intuition, or a mix of both, I’m learning to trust the signals my body sends. There’s something humbling and oddly magical about feeling the earth’s energy move before you even know what’s happening.

It’s unsettling, yes.

But it’s also a reminder that we’re part of something much bigger.