Sleep Paralysis—A Gateway to the Astral Plane
Sleep paralysis can be frightening, or it can be a portal to out-of-body experiences. That’s the suggestion made by British researcher Catherine Coubrough-Smith, who is confident that sleep paralysis is…
Three Types of Hallucinations During Sleep Paralysis
Indian researcher Amalesh Honnekeri conducted a review of scientific articles on the topic of sleep paralysis. This condition has a rich history in various cultures’ folklores, which have explained it…
Is Sleep Paralysis Influenced by Genetics?
Sleep paralysis is a complex phenomenon at the intersection of neurobiology, psychiatry, genetics, and cultural beliefs. American researcher Zarif Bin Akhtar examined 60 scientific papers on this topic and found…
Where Has the Science of Out-of-Body Travel Led?
Scientists from Spain and France, led by Jenny Moix Queraltó, compiled 87 scientific articles on out-of-body experiences published over 38 years. Their work is not merely a literature review but…
Sleep Paralysis—The Result of a Brain Malfunction?
Auditory and visual hallucinations during sleep paralysis often possess a mystical quality. They resemble the experience of using psychedelics and differ from the more plausible, everyday hallucinations associated with schizophrenia.…
How to Escape a Dream Trap
A maniac is on the loose in the city, killing children. Psychologist Abigail, who suffers from narcolepsy, is helping the police with the investigation, but reality is becoming increasingly intertwined…
Sleep Paralysis—Disease or Spiritual Experience?
Many people who experience sleep paralysis are hesitant to share their experiences out of fear of being labeled as crazy or otherwise stigmatized. In her dissertation, British philosopher Sheila Pryce…
Sleep Paralysis: A Problem for the Young and Anxious?
One in three people has woken up unable to move at least once in their life. Such experiences are especially terrifying when there’s a shadowy figure or demon standing in…
Lifestyle as a Remedy for Sleep Paralysis
Forty percent of people have experienced sleep paralysis at least once in their lives—a terrifying state where the mind awakens, but the body refuses to move. This figure was presented…
Finals, Exams, and Sleep Paralysis
Scientists often study sleep paralysis in students. It’s believed that their lives concentrate on all the provoking factors—stress, lack of sleep, alcohol, and an overall unhealthy schedule. Another survey was…
Out-of-Body Experiences: Quantum Leap or Brain Glitch?
Scientists have been studying out-of-body experiences since at least the mid-1980s. Spanish researchers led by Jenny Moix conducted a large-scale literature review in which they selected 87 scientific papers and…
The Phase State—Beautiful and Terrifying
French and Austrian researchers led by Claudia Picard-Deland reviewed scientific studies on the rapidly evolving field of phase states. Devices for home use—including tools that track brain activity during sleep—are…
Do Hormones Affect Sleep Paralysis?
The female hormonal cycle influences sleep paralysis and hypnagogic hallucinations. This conclusion was reached by Dutch researchers led by M. Vringer, who surveyed 180 women with narcolepsy or hypersomnia. They…
Hurry Up Tomorrow: The Enemy Is Sleep Paralysis
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye—better known as The Weeknd—is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor whose songs have repeatedly topped global charts. He is a four-time Grammy winner and has…
Meditation and Relaxation Against Sleep Paralysis
Polish researchers Wróbel-Knybel, Wołkowski, and Karakuła-Juchnowicz made another attempt to treat sleep paralysis—they tested a meditation-relaxation therapy on two patients. The course lasted eight weeks. The method’s creator—another well-known scientist…
Is Astral Projection Dangerous for Children?
Childhood “astral journeys” may not be as harmless as they seem—or so claims Marina Weiler, a researcher from the United States. Out-of-body experiences, especially at a young age, can be…
Interview with a Practitioner: Yair Lavi
Yair Lavi has been experiencing sleep paralysis for 30 years and is the author of Shadows of the Night: The Complete Guide to Sleep Paralysis – History, Coping and Research.…
A Scientific Overview of Sleep Paralysis
Scientific interest in sleep paralysis is growing. Indian researcher Ashwini Sanjay Khodke analyzed scientific databases from 2019–2023 and found 267 publications on the subject. The number of publications peaked in…
Are Freshmen Immune to Sleep Paralysis?
Researchers from Indonesia, led by Ella Violinza, found that sleep paralysis—a frightening state in which consciousness awakens while the body remains immobile—isn’t as common among students as previously thought. They…
Does Trauma Cause Sleep Paralysis?
Sleep paralysis is one of the phase states, and people can enter lucid dreams from it. However, it is often presented as a malfunction in the brain and a reflection…
