I had a limnal childhood. From my first overnight party in second grade, I became hooked on the magic of sleep-deprivation. Eventually, I grew older and I could no longer sustain the practice without the deficits far outweighing the benefits in terms of lost time, fatigue, and the like. But there were moments: seeing people’s doubles, leaving my body…
And then there were those dreams that maybe weren’t dreams, but somehow HAD to be.
I’m being cryptic, but perhaps some folks out there know what I mean?
Absolutely - an altered state. It’s easier to do it when you are younger I think and don’t have “real world” obligations (so you can catch a nap whenever you need to). I don’t even know if we need as much sleep as we think or whether it’s something that we’ve collectively bought into.
I get the same feeling when I fast, so maybe it’s a question of “shocking” the body out of a comfort state that allows your mind to expand and wander - a way to introduce stress/challenge to your body so that you can change (to move from stasis).
I often burn the candle at both ends. So sometimes, i lose days and other times - i’ll nod off for a nap - only to awake and swear something is “different”. Sometimes i feel like i’m in a Phillip K. Dick story.
Usually when i’m that..tired and having things like that - i swear i can see the ‘edges’ blur. I usually get more “random illumination” happen when i’m tired and i do something like drive. (I know it sounds horrible, but i do have to get to/from work). I’ll be in the car and all of a sudden it’s like i get a brain dump from somewhere else.
I also have what i call astral-jumping. It’s not “willed” astral projection - but i’ll remember conversations with people i meet in the astral world, but it’s random in some ways (or ways i’m not aware of, it isn’t random).
Some other things happen too, but that’s some of the ones i want to share.
Yeah, man. Real world obligations do tend to get in the way!
But maybe it’s just about figuring how to seemlessly incorporate certain altered states (conscious ones) into the everyday so that it’s of benefit to what one must do in the every-day world. Maybe? Still working on figuring that one out…
Astral jumping. I’d love to hear more about that.
Be safe when you drive, Alchemical!
Im with you in a way the half world is certainly draining and my first round of loony pills and two days in hospital last week has begun to put things in perspective- what was real before seems not to be so hope this is welcome 2 the real world any pray it is not 3. Aside I just hope the odd nice hypnogogic dream will visit me here, its better than any half awake deprivation. Peace mate
I call it astral jumping, mostly because i don’t remember “leaving” and “going” there. I just remember that “instant” i’m with someone or conversing with someone, but i don’t remember all of it, or am aware of whole part of it. So to me, it’s like jumping around. One minute i fall asleep, the next i’m here talking to this person, then next minute i’m somewhere else (including waking up).
Sometimes, it’s why I have this different view on reality, and more or less treat “this” dream/reality all the same as the others. What’s “real”, and what’s “real enough”? Ya know?
:o)
~Alkemical
PS - I slept good last night, morning comes too fast sometimes. :o)