More specifically, a hag or "the Old Hag" was a nightmare spirit in British and also Anglophone North American folklore which is essentially identical to the Anglo-Saxon mæra – a being with roots in ancient Germanic superstition, and closely related to the Scandinavian mara. According to folklore, the Old Hag sat on a sleeper's chest and sent nightmares to him or her. When the subject awoke, he or she would be unable to breathe or even move for a short period of time. Currently this state is called sleep paralysis, but in the old belief the subject had been hagridden. [2] It is still frequently discussed ...

See also:

Hag, Hag - Hag in folkore, Hag - In neurobiology, Hag - In popular culture, Hag - External link

Read more here: » Hag: Encyclopedia II - Hag - Hag in folkore

The following general observations can be made based on a collection[3] of 66 case studies of firsthand accounts of "spontaneous" OBEs (those not part of a planned program to induce the experience). Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis. OBEs are often initiated through lucid dreaming, where one is aware they are dreaming, though other types of initiation are discussed later. The majority of subjects (55+ of the 66 cases), who claim to have had an OBE, reported being asleep, ...

See also:

Out-of-body experience, Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection, Out-of-body experience - Astral projection, Out-of-body experience - Virtual reality projection, Out-of-body experience - Remote viewing, Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis, Out-of-body experience - Other types of spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Non-spontaneous or induced OBEs, Out-of-body experience - External verification of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations, Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Read more here: » Out-of-body experience: Encyclopedia II - Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs

Not every OBE has exactly the same aspects, but although there are several different types of OBEs with different causes and meanings, there are some common elements: These people claim they are not "faking" their experiences. They were not, in general, "trying" to have the experience through auto-suggestion, hypnotic trance, etc. Many seemed frightened and/or confused by the experience; some even to the point of doubting their sanity. A belief that they were physically "out of body" is a ...

See also:

Out-of-body experience, Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection, Out-of-body experience - Astral projection, Out-of-body experience - Virtual reality projection, Out-of-body experience - Remote viewing, Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis, Out-of-body experience - Other types of spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Non-spontaneous or induced OBEs, Out-of-body experience - External verification of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations, Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Read more here: » Out-of-body experience: Encyclopedia II - Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs

Opinions regarding the objective reality of OBEs are mixed. An appreciable number of people believe the phenomenon is exactly what it feels like, and that the soul is leaving the body and exploring. Many OBE accounts are positive that the usual explanation, that the experience was a dream, is insufficient and often cite the experience as having a spiritual effect. See examples: "If it was [a dream], why am I still so affected by it?" "I just don't understand this – how can this happen?" ...

See also:

Out-of-body experience, Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection, Out-of-body experience - Astral projection, Out-of-body experience - Virtual reality projection, Out-of-body experience - Remote viewing, Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis, Out-of-body experience - Other types of spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Non-spontaneous or induced OBEs, Out-of-body experience - External verification of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations, Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Read more here: » Out-of-body experience: Encyclopedia II - Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations

While the subjective experience may be very compelling, most skeptics discount the idea that the phenomenon is somehow linked to an actual physical relocation of consciousness. They note that, in the absence of the typical conviction that the experience is real, these experiences would simply be considered dreams; and that lacking hard evidence to the contrary, the simplest explanation would be that the experiencer's sense of heigh ...

See also:

Out-of-body experience, Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection, Out-of-body experience - Astral projection, Out-of-body experience - Virtual reality projection, Out-of-body experience - Remote viewing, Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis, Out-of-body experience - Other types of spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Non-spontaneous or induced OBEs, Out-of-body experience - External verification of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations, Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Read more here: » Out-of-body experience: Encyclopedia II - Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Out-of-body experience - Astral projection. Astral projection is an interpretation of forced out-of-body experiences achieved consciously, via lucid dreaming or deep meditation. Proponents of astral projection maintain that their consciousness or soul has transferred into an astral body (or "double"), which moves free of the physical body in a parallel world known as the "astral plane," which is said to exist via the "collective conscious". Unlike the typical OBE, astral projection does not typically posit that one's conscious ...

See also:

Out-of-body experience, Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection, Out-of-body experience - Astral projection, Out-of-body experience - Virtual reality projection, Out-of-body experience - Remote viewing, Out-of-body experience - Spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Initiated during/after sleep Sleep Paralysis, Out-of-body experience - Other types of spontaneous OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Non-spontaneous or induced OBEs, Out-of-body experience - External verification of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Other observations of OBEs, Out-of-body experience - Possible explanations, Out-of-body experience - Skepticism

Read more here: » Out-of-body experience: Encyclopedia II - Out-of-body experience - Other types of projection

The expression Old Hag Attack refers to a hypnagogic state in which paralysis is present and, quite often, it is accompanied by terrifying hallucinations. When excessively recurrent, some consider them to be a disorder while many populations treat them as part of their culture as discussed in the sections dealing with the folkloric and mythologic interpretations. For neurobiological correlates of these attacks see, am ...

See also:

Hag, Hag - Hag in folkore, Hag - In neurobiology, Hag - In popular culture, Hag - External link

Read more here: » Hag: Encyclopedia II - Hag - In neurobiology

Like many mythologic elves, regardless of morality (though much closer to the dire variaties in particular), dark elves are often said to be responsible for many of the maladies befalling humanity. In particular, bad dreams are said to be within the domain of the dökkálfar, as indicated by the German word for nightmare, "Albtraum" (Elf Dream). It is said that the dark elves will sit upon the dreamer's chest and/or whisper the bad dreams into the sleeper's ears. In Scandinavia, the creature r ...

See also:

Svartálfar, Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves, Svartálfar - Later Influences, Svartálfar - The Dualism of Light and Dark

Read more here: » Svartálfar: Encyclopedia II - Svartálfar - Later Influences

According to Kevin Crossley-Holland: "No valid distinction though can be drawn between the dwarfs and the dark elves; they appear to have been interchangeable." It should be noted that confusion between unrelated, mythologic entities often arises with the passing of time, as can be found in the stories of the trolls (ogre-like beings that are also confused with dwarves). Svartálfar have acquired their name because they were seen as the light-avoiding counterparts to the common elf, living in Álfheim. Snorri Sturluson, author of among other things the Younger Edda, at times refer ...

See also:

Svartálfar, Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves, Svartálfar - Later Influences, Svartálfar - The Dualism of Light and Dark

Read more here: » Svartálfar: Encyclopedia II - Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves

The word álf (pl. álfar) derives from the same Indo-European root word from which the Latin albus (white) derives. The original meaning of the word is significant to the character of the álfar of Norse mythology, who retained their light-derived, divine status. Often related or compared to the Vanir (fertility gods) in nature, the elves can be found in association with divinities throughout the Eddas. The álfar are divided, as are faerie beings in many mythologies, between "Light" and "Darkness," which are often related to ...

See also:

Svartálfar, Svartálfar - Dwarves as Black Elves, Svartálfar - Later Influences, Svartálfar - The Dualism of Light and Dark

Read more here: » Svartálfar: Encyclopedia II - Svartálfar - The Dualism of Light and Dark

Projectors claim that during an astral voyage, communication with other projectors or spirits is possible. Sometimes the projector reported being attached to his/her physical body by a silver cord analogous to the umbilical cord. Pets have been said to react in a frightened manner when encountering a projector, and some people claim to have seen an astrally projecting person's spirit as a colored ...

See also:

Astral projection, Astral projection - Schools of Thought, Astral projection - Mystical Model, Astral projection - Phasing Model, Astral projection - Other kinds of projection, Astral projection - Real time projection, Astral projection - Virtual reality projection, Astral projection - Remote viewing, Astral projection - Research, Astral projection - Astral projection and the Bible, Astral projection - Major proponents

Read more here: » Astral projection: Encyclopedia II - Astral projection - Research

There generally exist two schools of thought on the nature of astral projection; these can broadly be defined as the mystical model and the phasing model. Astral projection - Mystical Model. The mystical model contains a large variety of belief systems and astral maps, but they are tied together by their belief that astral projection takes place outside of the actual physical body. A more subtle energy body is believed to carry the consciousness outside of the physical body, and as one progresses deeper in ...

See also:

Astral projection, Astral projection - Schools of Thought, Astral projection - Mystical Model, Astral projection - Phasing Model, Astral projection - Other kinds of projection, Astral projection - Real time projection, Astral projection - Virtual reality projection, Astral projection - Remote viewing, Astral projection - Research, Astral projection - Astral projection and the Bible, Astral projection - Major proponents

Read more here: » Astral projection: Encyclopedia II - Astral projection - Schools of Thought

The Bible describes people as being "in the spirit" while receiving prophecy. Many biblical scholars attribute this to being in a dream-like state or trance. The terminology of astral projection is also found in Ecclesiastes 12:6-12:7: "Remember [your Creator] — before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it c ...

See also:

Astral projection, Astral projection - Schools of Thought, Astral projection - Mystical Model, Astral projection - Phasing Model, Astral projection - Other kinds of projection, Astral projection - Real time projection, Astral projection - Virtual reality projection, Astral projection - Remote viewing, Astral projection - Research, Astral projection - Astral projection and the Bible, Astral projection - Major proponents

Read more here: » Astral projection: Encyclopedia II - Astral projection - Astral projection and the Bible

Astral projection - Real time projection. In contrast to "astral" projection, the traditional understanding of out-of-body experiences involve the projector (or traveler) moving about in the "real" world as an invisible ghost in what is sometimes referred to as Real Time Projection (or RTP). Another popular term to refer to this kind of OOBE consists of "etheral projection" as opposed to "astral projection". People who claim to have experienced both say they can clearly observe the distinction between thes ...

See also:

Astral projection, Astral projection - Schools of Thought, Astral projection - Mystical Model, Astral projection - Phasing Model, Astral projection - Other kinds of projection, Astral projection - Real time projection, Astral projection - Virtual reality projection, Astral projection - Remote viewing, Astral projection - Research, Astral projection - Astral projection and the Bible, Astral projection - Major proponents

Read more here: » Astral projection: Encyclopedia II - Astral projection - Other kinds of projection

The DSM-IV-TR, a widely used manual for diagnosing mental disorders (see also:DSM cautionary statement), defines Major Depressive Disorder with Atypical Features as a subtype of depression characterized by: A. Mood reactivity (i.e., mood brightens in response to actual or potential positive events) B. At least two of the following: Significant weight gain or increase in appetite Hypersomnia (sleeping too much, as opposed to the insomnia present in melancholic depression). Leaden paralysis (i.e ...

See also:

Atypical depression, Atypical depression - Diagnostic criteria DSM-IV-TR, Atypical depression - Research

Read more here: » Atypical depression: Encyclopedia II - Atypical depression - Diagnostic criteria DSM-IV-TR

There is much evidence in existence to support the notion that we all possess the potential to incubate dreams - in other words, conjure up dreams to order. Whether they are romantic encounters, dreams that furnish solutions to problems, or even lucid dreams, with time and effort, they can be evoked. Ancient civilizations were well aware of the potential of dream incubation. The Egyptians, for example, built temples called Serapeums, named after Serapis, the god of dreams. It wasn't unusual for the expectant dreamer to undergo various procedures including cleansing, purging, offering up prayer and so forth, in order to experience the desired dream.

Read more here: » Dream incubation: To evoke a specific dream

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - The injured. The short- and long-term symptoms experienced by those affected included: bleeding from the nose and mouth coma convulsions difficulty breathing disturbed sleep and nightmares extreme sensitivity to light foaming at the mouth high fevers influenza-like symptoms loss of consciousness loss of memory nausea and vomiting paralysis post-tr ...

See also:

Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Background, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - The main perpetrators, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Hayashi Ikuo, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Hirose Ken'ichi, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Toyoda Tōru, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Yokoyama Masato, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Hayashi Yasuo, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - The attack, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Chiyoda line, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Marunouchi line Ogikubo-bound, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Marunouchi line Ikebukuro-bound, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Hibiya line departing Naka-meguro, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Hibiya line Naka-meguro-bound, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Aftermath, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - The injured, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Emergency services, Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - AUM/Aleph today

Read more here: » Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway: Encyclopedia II - Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway - Aftermath

Akasic Samadhi (adjective of akasa ether, space + samadhi profound meditation from sam-a-dha to hold or fix together (in abstract thought))

Used for the state of consciousness into which victims of accidental death enter: "a state of quiet slumber, a sleep full of rosy dreams, during which, they have no recollection of the accident, but move and live among their familiar friends and scenes, until their natural life-term is finished, when they find themselves born in the Deva-Chan . . ." (ML 109).

This condition of human consciousness differs from the devachanic state. As used above, akasic samadhi was applied to those individuals dying by accident who on earth had been of unusually pure character and life. It is a temporary condition, equivalent to an automatic reproduction in the victim's consciousness of the beautiful and holy thoughts that the person had had during incarnated life; in fact, a sort of preliminary to the devachanic state. Such dream state immediately succeeds the first condition of absolute unconsciousness which the shock of death brings to all human beings, good, bad, or indifferent. In the above cases there is no conscious kama-lokic experience whatsoever, because the shock of death has brought about the paralysis of all the lower parts of the human constitution.

Only adumbrations of the consciousness of the buddhi and atman, with the most spiritual portion of manas are then active (ML 131). In certain cases the condition of samadhi in the akasic portions of the human constitution may last until what would have been the natural life term on earth is completed; and then these individuals glide into the devachanic state.

(See also: Akasic Samadhi, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Normally, when an individual is awake, brain waves show a regular rhythm. When a person first falls asleep, the brain waves become slower and less regular. This sleep state is called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. After about an hour and a half of NREM sleep, the brain waves begin to show a more active pattern again, even though the person is in deep sleep. This sleep state, called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, is when dreaming occurs. In narcolepsy, the order and length of NREM and REM sleep periods are disturbed, with REM sl ...

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Narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Symptoms of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - What happens in narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Causes of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Prevalence of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Diagnosis, Narcolepsy - Treatment, Narcolepsy - Research, Narcolepsy - Coping with narcolepsy

Read more here: » Narcolepsy: Encyclopedia II - Narcolepsy - What happens in narcolepsy

Changes in life style, such as shift work change (SWC), can contribute to sleep disorders. Other problems that can affect sleep: Back problems Neck problems Sciatica Incontinence Various drugs - Many drugs can affect the ratio of the various stages of sleep, thus affecting the overall quality of sleep. Poor sleep can lead to accumulation of Sleep debt. A sleep diary can be used to help diagnose, and measure improvements in sleep disorders. According to Dr. William Dement, of the Stanford Sleep Center, anyone who snores ...

See also:

Sleep disorder, Sleep disorder - Common sleep disorders, Sleep disorder - Broad classifications of sleep disorders, Sleep disorder - Common causes of sleep disorders

Read more here: » Sleep disorder: Encyclopedia II - Sleep disorder - Common causes of sleep disorders

The main characteristic of narcolepsy is overwhelming excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), even after adequate nighttime sleep. A person with narcolepsy is likely to become drowsy or to fall asleep, often at inappropriate times and places. Daytime naps may occur with or without warning and may be irresistible. These naps can occur several times a day. Drowsiness may persist for prolonged periods of time. In addition, night- ...

See also:

Narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Symptoms of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - What happens in narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Causes of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Prevalence of narcolepsy, Narcolepsy - Diagnosis, Narcolepsy - Treatment, Narcolepsy - Research, Narcolepsy - Coping with narcolepsy

Read more here: » Narcolepsy: Encyclopedia II - Narcolepsy - Symptoms of narcolepsy