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RE: Tripping Without Drugs: My Experience With Lucid Dreaming and Sleep Paralysis
It is super unpleasant. I don't discount anything, of course, but I just don't see any way to test the claim so I have nothing to weigh the validity of. That being said, the feeling is vary real and the descriptions people give along with my own experiences are always very similar which gives me more pause than most untestable claims.
I agree completely. There really is no way to weigh the validity, but I do maintain a level of interest on the topic, and despite the pure terror that was associated, I find myself wondering what is to be gained from such an experience. This comes with some questions such as: "Why has this happened to me on various occasions"?, and "Will it happen to me again"?
Do I dare say I even have a fleeting thought of welcoming it again just to figure out its meaning?
Very interesting topic.
Thanks for the good read and conversation @artisticscreech
I think most altered states have something to give. I can't put my finger on it but lucid dreaming and the struggle to maintain control teach a kind of mental discipline. The state of terror from sleep paralysis reviles something about the self. One learns where the mind goes when they are in what seems like real and serious danger. From that he or she is better prepared when faced with real danger. Maybe that is stretching the concept "lessons" a little too far but I don't think it should be discounted.
As I hint at in the post though, the things people get from both these phenomena are not really worth the trouble when one can gain a lot more in a way that is much more pleasant with psychedelics.
I would distinguish the two types of experiences whith the following: Psychedelics break down the barrier between the conscious and unconscious but sleep paralysis and lucid dreaming allow the conscious mind to venture into the unconscious world but there it is subject of the whims of the unconscious mind and that can take a person to some dark places.
And thank you too.
This is actually one "theory" on "why" we dream: to "teach" us various ways to deal and essentially practice for "real life" dangerous scenarios. Because our body (when working "properly") actually paralyzes itself during dreaming, in order not to actually "jump off the building to get away from the zombies," but instead to safely allow us to instead "dream-jump" away from them--and hopefully survive not only your dream, but also when the real zombies come. ;))