Wow, I haven't posted her since February 10. My blog seems
to be dying almost in spite of myself. Well maybe that's because not a lot of
interest has happened to me. However, I did have a dream experience last night
that might be worth sharing.
Many who visit here know that I have very vivid dreams and
have written a lot of stories from those. However, I also occasionally
experience sleep paralysis. For those who don't know, sleep paralysis involves
waking up from sleep but remaining paralyzed from the neck down. The paralysis
is temporary but can be disturbing. Sometimes, sleep paralysis is accompanied
by vivid dream-like experiences that indicate a state that mixes waking and
dreaming. I've had both types, the paralysis only, and the mixed state. Last night's
experience was rather interesting, and scary.
I woke up, or thought I did, with a leg pushed up against my
back. I knew Lana was in the other room and tried to call out but couldn't. I
reached behind me to touch the leg and realized it was too small to be Lana's.
It was a child sized leg. And it seemed to be growing out of me at the base of
my spine.
I got a chill over my whole body and squeezed the leg hard.
As soon as I did so, a child's arm popped out of my shoulder. But it was like a
ghost arm. I could see through it. I realized at this point that it was sleep
paralysis. Normally when I realize that I try to relax, which is the best way
to make it dissipate. However, I was still freaked out enough to struggle. I
tried to sit up and managed to do so, then woke up completely to find myself
still lying on my side. I went and told Lana about the experience, then fell
back to sleep pretty easily.
About all I can imagine from this experience is that it was
my "inner child" trying to get out. Maybe he just didn't want to go
to work today.
I like your interpretation - or you could be haunted, LOL
ReplyDeleteNice to see you post. We are interested in you and Lana you know
A wild dream! I hope that kid gets out. You may have more stories to tell.
ReplyDeleteWild dream. Last night I also was dreaming vividly and normally if I don't write my dreams down, I'll forget them in an hour or two, but not this one. Good to see you back posting!
ReplyDeleteCloudia, thankee. I need to get back to a more regular schedule
ReplyDeleteOscar, he's tired of responsibilities!
Sage, I like it when I remember to do it
That is really freaky. I've heard people tell account of a specter in the room with them when that happens, but never of limbs growing out of them.
ReplyDeleteActually, that could be a piece of story.
About all I can imagine from this experience is that it was my "inner child" trying to get out.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great story seed. :D
Angie
You should call into work and say that your inner child is sick and you can't come in.
ReplyDeleteAlex, it certainly freaked me out pretty well.
ReplyDeleteAngie, even now, it gestates within!
Jenny, what a tremendous idea!
I use to have this type of paralysis all the time when I was in the Army. Horrifying not to be able to move or speak.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the start of Kafka story.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, Charles, why some people have vivid dreams and/or sleep paralysis. The latter I can imagine, the former I don’t really know what it means. In trying to imagine sleep paralysis in terms of my own experience, the nearest I could come (and it probably wasn’t anywhere near close) was to remember when I had a spinal for surgery, and couldn’t accept that my legs were a part of my body. When I touched them, they just felt like hot and gross slabs of meat, and even when I finally realized that these alien pieces of meat were indeed me, I still couldn’t accept it at an emotional level, probably because when I touched them, they couldn’t feel my touch.
Charles, if this were to happen to me, I hope my dog senses it and licks my face and wakes me up.
ReplyDeleteDavid, not easy to forget even after its over.
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush, I'm told that a lot of folks who experience paralysis feel as if parts of their body don't belong to them. My sleep paralysis typically happens rarely and when it does only lasts a few moments. It's also usually accompanied by such weird stuff that I have no time to think about the paralysis itself. There is certainly a lot of natural variability in human sleep cycles and experiences.
Prashant, maybe I could get Lana to lick my face. I think I'd prefer that. :)
That sound frightening all right, and your interpretation makes a lot of sense...
ReplyDeleteShadow, I've had one worse than that. I'll have to share sometime.
ReplyDeleteInner child, indeed. I sometimes have these after an exhausting day, taking a nap with intent to get up rather quickly and blithely. Weird sense of an interzonal ghostly existence.
ReplyDelete