On Twitter there appear to be a large number of people who do not know the difference between Lucid Dreaming and Sleep Paralysis – so much so, that when they experience the latter they think it is the former, and consequently do not want ever to attempt to lucid dream again. Now I want you to understand the following:
LUCID DREAMING AND SLEEP PARALYSIS COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT!
Lucid Dreaming is when you are asleep, dreaming, and aware that you are dreaming whilst doing so.
Sleep paralysis is a natural phenomenon which prevents your physical body responding automatically to the thoughts in your mind when you sleep. Everyone experiences this when they go to sleep and it is perfectly natural – unless you happen to have a sleep disorder like somnambulism (sleep walking). What seems to confuse people on social media is that sometimes it is possible to wake up mentally, and yet find that they are still experiencing Sleep Paralysis, which is what unnerves them. Occultists have claimed in the past that it was due to the astral body not being completely aligned with the physical body. However, it is not the same as Lucid Dreaming, because you are neither Asleep at that point, nor indeed Dreaming.
Incidentally, there is a very simple and easy way to overcome Sleep paralysis, and that is to just relax completely and wait for it to wear off of its own accord. I realised this as a small child, so the idea that Sleep Paralysis was anything of which to be frightened has never occurred to me.
Sol Ascendans - The Website of Alex Sumner 