I have been involved in various dreaming practices for about 20 years now. A few years ago I ran a few dreaming groups, and was a part of several experiments exploring the possibilities that can arise from different dreaming practices. I thought I would share with you some of what I have learned over the years, and how investing some time into your dreams can actually be quite profitable. In this first part we will explore various kinds of phenomena that can occur during the sleep cycle.

Hypnagogia: This state occurs between the initial state of relaxing before sleep, and the actual sleep state it’s self. Just as you are drifting off to sleep, you may experience some very odd dreamy thoughts, or even experience a very real seeming short dream. Some people will startle out of this state, and be confused at first, thinking something really just happened to them. During this state a person can still appear to be awake, but technically be asleep. A person may notice muscle jerks, or odd noises, which can quickly bring them back into a waking state. People into lucid dreaming can utilize this state to go into a lucid dream.

Hypnopompic: Opposite to hypnagogia, this state occurs between the state of sleeping and awakening. Symptoms are pretty much the same. Hypnopompic states can lead to sleep paralysis.

Sleep paralysis: This phenomena occurs during hypnopompic states, and causes one to semi-awaken to a form of paralysis. The paralysis is related to natural REM sleep, whereby the body keeps us from acting out our dreams on a physical level. The majority of people who experience this phenomena, also experience the same kind of seeming hallucinations that accompany it. These people report seeing aliens, mythological creatures, demons, the departed, and other such beings. Often times the person feels attacked or strangled by their other worldly visitors. The experience is very real, and it is usually difficult for the person to write it off as *just a dream*. Some people utilize sleep paralysis as a gateway into an OBE or lucid dream.

Lucid dreaming: This state is sometimes stumbled upon accidentally in the attempt to deal with a nightmare. Most often though, it is attained through discipline and practice. In a normal dream we are in a subconscious state, and drifting about as if we were nothing more than a character in some larger plot. In a lucid dream however, the dreamer becomes consciously aware within his subconscious, that he is dreaming. He is then able to take conscious control, and manipulate his dream more according to his own will. Many lucid dreamers describe this state as being *more real than real*. Everything around them feels solid, and sensory experiences are far more intense than in waking life. This is part of the draw for some lucid dreamers. Levels of intensity vary according to practice and personal consciousness levels.

OBE: Out of body experiences are in some ways much like lucid dreams, and some will argue that they are the same thing. Most often during an OBE people will report being in their own natural environs, or visiting familiar places. They walk/fly about, interact with the environ, and go have a look see sometimes at what is normally hidden from them in waking. There have been reports of seeing people solidify in physical form out of nowhere, and some believe this is possibly due to those traveling via an OBE. The plane these people are traveling on is often referred to as *the astral plane*, and is considered to be overlapping this one. They also believe that they travel to other dimensions and realities, as some lucid dreamers also believe.

Almost everyone has experienced one or more of these phenomena, and being ignorant of what is happening, can cause distress or confusion. The most important thing to remember, is to relax, and not panic. Take control of the situation in whatever way makes sense at the time, but do not feel a victim to what is happening. If you let go to what is happening, and not dread it, you may find yourself on an incredible adventure! It’s better than watching a movie….because you are the main character!

[tags]dreams, dreaming, lucid dreaming, sleep paralysis, hypnagogia, hypnopompic, OBE’s, sleep, sleep problems, nightmares, shadowmyth, lockergnome[/tags]