What is sleep paralysis? How does it occur? How to Prevent it?
What is Sleep Paralysis ? How Does It Occur?
What is Sleep Paralysis?
It can be described as a disturbing and fearful dream, or as a state of mind where one feels troubled and overwhelmed. It is often experienced as a situation that is difficult to escape. So how does this condition occur, and especially, how can we deal with this state called sleep paralysis that may happen during astral travel practices?
First, let’s focus on the physiological reasons behind the occurrence of sleep paralysis.
- When, during sleep, a situation occurs that causes discomfort to the body,
- When there is a need to go to the bathroom,
- When part of our body is left uncovered and we get cold,
In such situations, due to the heaviness of sleep, we postpone meeting our physical needs. At this point, because of the signals coming from the physical body while the person is in a deep sleep state, they may experience a condition called catalepsy (the first stage of hypnosis – a state of becoming stiff as a board).
During sleep, the connection between the soul and the body—which we call the energy body—exists in a different dimension as consciousness shuts down. If excessive stimuli cause the consciousness to open earlier than normal—that is, if the consciousness opens too early or if the energy body is pulled back to its original state too soon—such a condition may occur because the two bodies cannot fully adapt to each other.
The Sleep Paralysis Phenomenon and Its Factors
Among the factors that cause the experience known as sleep paralysis, we can include not only physiological reasons but also daily problems, worries, and unresolved issues stored in the subconscious, which create restlessness. Such situations disturb the quality of sleep and may lead to sleep paralysis.
When sleep paralysis occurs, one should remain calm, not react in any way, and simply observe and wait. We all know that it disappears after a while.
Apart from these, the type of experience that concerns us the most is the one related to jinn. Since there is no academic-level research on parapsychology in our country, discussions about sleep paralysis usually focus only on physiological and medical causes. However, because I have personally experienced it and studied it in detail, I can write about this subject with ease.
Whether it is astral travel practices or other studies related to parapsychology, as a person approaches beyond the three-dimensional material world, beings from that realm can more easily affect the person.
This can be explained with a simple example:
You may see the light of a distant fire, but you are not affected by its heat. As you get closer, not only the intensity of the light but also the intensity of the heat starts to affect you. This effect is directly proportional to your distance. You can think of this as a mutual situation.
Effects of Spiritual Practices in Sleep Paralysis Events
Whether we intend it or not, from the moment we start these practices—our attempts to move beyond the third dimension—we may be exposed to such effects. If we describe these practices as a 100-step staircase, researching and taking initial actions for astral travel means stepping onto the first step. As we continue with exercises and make progress, we climb the steps and approach the outer realm at the 100th step. Not only do we get closer to that realm; that realm also becomes closer to us.
For this reason, a person may be exposed to certain influences. An individual’s spiritual make-up or general lifestyle is an important factor determining how these influences will manifest. If a person has a spiritual shield—for example, a religious lifestyle—or if their aura is strong, they may not be exposed to negative effects; if they lack such a shield, they may become more susceptible to them.
How Does Sleep Paralysis Form?
Is there an effect of jinn in the formation of sleep paralysis? Direct material influence of jinn on the physical world is normally not possible, because by their nature, it is not feasible for a being outside the third dimension to have a material effect on the third dimension. Extraordinary conditions would be required for this—which is outside the scope of our topic (this is similar to our inability to influence matter while we are in the fifth dimension).
The easiest and simplest way for jinn to affect us is to induce fear in us—in short, to use the fear mechanism. Since they can influence our dreams through telepathic effects, it is possible for them to show us confusing and frightening dreams. As mentioned above, this is related to a person’s spiritual structure and the strength of their spiritual shield.
In daily life, they can influence us with whispers (waswasa), and during sleep they can manipulate our inner world through dreams. For them to produce a cataleptic effect (on the body’s neural motor mechanism), we must lose our self-control and cool-headedness—which requires excitement and panic. First, they form an effect through perception (telepathy)—for example, “Someone is watching you; there’s someone in the room,” etc.
The Fear Factor and the Fear Mechanism in the Formation of Sleep Paralysis
Fear is one of the biggest factors in the occurrence of sleep paralysis. If a person is sufficiently strong, or has had similar experiences before, they can overcome what they are experiencing more easily. In later stages—if the person is engaged in astral travel practices or in trance—they may encounter disturbing images and sensations; if asleep, they may have frightening dreams.
At this point, if the person truly becomes afraid, the brain begins to release chemicals that activate the defense system to protect the person’s health (as when you see a dog running toward you; if you didn’t feel fear, you wouldn’t tend to flee. The dog senses these chemicals, which is why it continues toward you). That is the moment when the person loses control, and in an instant, fear and panic take over.
A stronger effect may then begin—whether telepathic or kinetic—on the nervous system, producing a cataleptic outcome, and the person becomes rigid. This situation also corresponds to the moment when the energy body and the material body attempt to come together out of sync and have not fully aligned.
At that moment, a person may feel someone sitting on them, someone squeezing their throat, or someone lying on them along their entire body.
Whether this occurs in the realm of perception or the material world, it is not a real material effect. We can compare this to feeling pain in a dream when we cut our hand with a knife; in reality, our hand is not cut, but we still feel the pain. What is experienced here is similar. There is no one physically sitting on us, but because we have become open to an effect similar to that experienced by people in deep hypnosis, we perceive it as real—just like in a dream.
What Should Be Done to Escape Sleep Paralysis?
So what should be done when sleep paralysis occurs? The first thing that comes to mind is to recite prayers. Naturally, that is not always easy at that moment, as those who have experienced it know. If you can recite, that’s great; but once you have regained enough calmness, cool-headedness, and control to complete the prayer, you will already be free of the situation. Escaping this state requires acquired experience.
One must remain calm, acknowledge that this condition is natural, and simply observe what is happening. Of course, this is not easy—who can remain calm, silent, and composed when they are immobile and out of control? But don’t worry; over time the human system can learn this.
Everyone is uneasy in a dark room because we don’t know what’s inside. When we know, we can overcome that fear. Some things can only be removed through experience.
In that moment, everyone tries to struggle: you try to stand up; if there is a blanket or cover on you, you try to throw it off; you try to shout for help; you try to move your hands and arms; you try to open your mouth and move your tongue—to gain control over at least some part of your body. But all of it is in vain, and worse, as you try to do these things in the realm of perception, you feel as if you are doing them. In reality, however, you can neither shout nor move any part of your body.
Passive Resistance in Sleep Paralysis Events
You can escape this cataleptic state only by remaining calm and giving yourself positive suggestions. Try to make connections with real life and daily matters. Recall what you did that day; simply try to think of other things and remember that this situation will pass after a short while. No one remains in this state permanently. After a while, if you cannot regain control, the brain will step in and take the necessary measures to save you from this state.
Either you will fall back asleep, or a sufficiently strong signal will come from the neurons to pull you out of the realm of perception and you will start to move parts of your body. After this stage, you will gradually come to yourself—either drenched in sweat in a state of fear and panic, or having regained your composure.
Reciting Prayers to Escape Sleep Paralysis
If you can recite them, and if the cause is an effect stemming from jinn, it may help. When prayers are recited and certain words are repeated, the resulting frequency can remove the pressure on you. However, being able to do this at that moment is difficult, because due to complete panic and loss of mental control, you might not manage it.
Prayer and Frequency Effect
Precautions should be taken in advance. We cannot say much regarding purely physiological causes, but to protect against cataleptic effects caused by jinn, one can recite Ayetel Kürsi—known for its strong frequency effect—before sleep or before beginning such practices. One may go to sleep or begin practice in a state of ablution.
If you have a sensitive spiritual make-up and are easily influenced, before going to bed or starting your practice, you can apply a method recommended by the Prophet (peace be upon him): recite Ayetel Kürsi seven times, each time gently blowing over yourself or the place where you will sleep or practice.