It's the last day of the year and I managed to find some time to myself in the middle of all the holiday parties buzzing around. It's a good opportunity to review what happened this year on DreamStudies, and what's coming next. But first, some … [Read more...] about 2010: Year in Review
The Mystery of Hypnagogia
Hypnagogia is the imagery, sounds and strange bodily feelings that are felt at “sleep onset.” This is a simplification though, as researchers have noted hypnagogic imagery in the lab at periods of quiet wakefulness as well as stage 1 sleep. Others … [Read more...] about The Mystery of Hypnagogia
Product Review: Zeo Personal Sleep Coach
One of my core values for this site is integrating the old ways with the new. Dreaming and imagination studies are the most ancient of human cognitive achievements, and I love exploring how these abilities can be studied—and even enhanced—with modern … [Read more...] about Product Review: Zeo Personal Sleep Coach
Turkey Time: the Role of Tryptophan in Sleep and Dreams
My US readers are preparing for Thanksgiving, the traditional harvest meal to celebrate family and friends. And most of us that sit at the Thanksgiving table will probably want a serious nap after eating. While the tryptophan in turkey is often … [Read more...] about Turkey Time: the Role of Tryptophan in Sleep and Dreams
Night Terrors: Sometimes They Come Back
Here’s how I remember it: I dreamed that a rat got under the covers of my bed and I jumped up to get away from it. As I jumped away I heard my wife scream and then the sound of the scream became louder and louder until it shattered time and space. My … [Read more...] about Night Terrors: Sometimes They Come Back
The Ghosts, Goblins and Vampires of Sleep Paralysis
Halloween is almost here, and that means it’s time to indulge in some corn sugar gluttony to protect ourselves from the thin veil between the living and dead. That’s my strategy anyways. This time of year, traditionally known as Last Harvest in … [Read more...] about The Ghosts, Goblins and Vampires of Sleep Paralysis
The Rise of Lucid Dreaming
Recent polls conducted by dream researchers indicate that more people are having lucid dreams than ever before. The increase may be "between 10 and 40 per cent since the 1980s," reports Mark Blagrove, a psychologist and dream researcher at the … [Read more...] about The Rise of Lucid Dreaming
Sleep Paralysis as a Gateway into Out-of-Body Experiences
A lot of my focus on sleep paralysis and its related night visions has been on how to transform fear into curiosity. Then a reader recently commented, "I can't believe no one's talking about the out-of-body experiences!" So let's open the dialogue, … [Read more...] about Sleep Paralysis as a Gateway into Out-of-Body Experiences
The Wolves and the Gift
For years, I was tormented by dreams of being chased by wolves and packs of angry dogs. Usually I would wake up from fright, but sometimes not before one of them sunk their teeth into me or scratched at my hands and face. In waking life, I’m a dog … [Read more...] about The Wolves and the Gift
Co-creating the Dream: the Five Star Method of Dream Analysis
This is a guest post by psychotherapist G. Scott Sparrow. Image by h.koppdelaney I have spoken and written about how cocreative dream theory transforms the way we think of dreams, but I have devoted just as much time to developing a dreamwork … [Read more...] about Co-creating the Dream: the Five Star Method of Dream Analysis