I often have dreams in which I feel like I'm awake or waking up but I can't open my eyes or move or say anything. The only time it seems to happen is when I'm coming out of a scary dream. Someone told me it could be a spirit trying to see how weak I am or something. Could that be true? Does this have to do with a spirit at all?
Antoinette
Astrea:
I don't think that this is some kind of test. While there could be some spirit energy trying to communicate with you as you're waking up from a bad dream, it's more likely that it's one of your guides waking you than it is something evil trying to invade your harmony. Nightmares and night terrors often bring on the feeling you describe. It sounds like you're suffering from sleep paralysis, which can be very frightening.
Sleep paralysis usually occurs when we are about to fall asleep or are waking up. Most often this is caused by our brains momentarily disconnecting from our bodies, which happens most readily when we are coming in or out of REM sleep.
We may hear loud noises, smell odd smells, and even feel like we are floating out of our bodies. Sometimes it feels like there is an intruder in the room with us, which is probably why the person who suggested the testing spirit came up with that idea. In our minds that intruder can seem terrifying, but usually it is no more of a threat to us than a terrible nightmare.
Some medications can also cause this weird feeling. Anti-depressants and sleep aids - even over the counter ones - are often the culprits. When I have to take migraine medication before I go to sleep, I've noticed that I tend to have the worst dreams. For me, those are better than the headaches, but for some people, they're much worse!
If you're taking medicine on a regular basis, your best bet is to track when these strange events happen. This can also be a signal that there is a hormonal imbalance in your system, or it could be that all of this is a result of indigestion.
There are so many variables that cause this to happen that you need to keep a journal of when and under what circumstances it occurs. If you keep records for three months, a pattern should start to emerge, and with that information, you should be able to find either a spiritual or medical professional who can help you.
Try not to think too much about it or it will take over your sleep time. Don't dwell on the bad dreams; just keep track of what's going on with you at night.
Also, keep in mind that things like this happen to all of us when we're overtired, overworked and under-appreciated by the people around us. If this becomes the norm for you, you may want to seek help from a medical doctor, because as amazing as this may sound, we now have medicines that can help us cope with things like nightmares and night terrors.
*****
Susyn:
What you describe is a known as sleep paralysis. While scientists have discovered that this paralysis occurs when one awakens too soon while still in the REM phase of sleep, other experts attribute this experience to a visit from evil spirits or certain stages of astral projection.
Research has shown that sleep paralysis usually occurs just before falling asleep or upon waking in the midst of a dream, which supports your comment that this only seems to happen when you wake from a scary dream. When we're in a dream state, our brains paralyze our bodies to prevent possible injuries, so when we suddenly awaken from a dream, our bodies can still be in this stage of paralysis.
Some people have noted that this can occur during an out of body experience as part of the process where our spirits return to or leave our physical bodies. Because you mention this paralysis as usually happening after a scary dream, this is probably not the case, since you don't recall having visited or traveled to another place or dimension.
The theory that a spirit may be overtaking you or testing your strength is also a possibility. When you have these experiences, you may feel unsettled or fearful long after the paralysis has passed. This negative feeling suggests a visit from an unfriendly entity, which should be cleared as soon as possible.
When this experience happens to me, I immediately cleanse myself and my surroundings with sage. To do this, light sage incense or use a sage smudge stick to clear this negative energy and any spirits connected to it away. You will also want to light a white candle and leave it burning for a few hours to fill the room with love and light.
A clove bath is helpful for washing away lingering energy from sleep paralysis. The bath also seals our auras and surrounds us with extra spiritual protection.
Pour a quarter cup of whole cloves and four cups of water in a saucepan. Bring the water to a boil and simmer for one hour. Add water as needed to maintain the 4-cup level. Strain the water to remove the cloves and add the liquid to a warm bath. Soak in it for 20 minutes, immersing your entire body three times during the process.
To prevent further occurrences of sleep paralysis, you can place a piece of turquoise or lapis lazuli under your pillow. You may also want to keep a small bowl of salt with a quartz crystal centered in the middle of it near your bed to prevent sleep paralysis in the future.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!
I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.