Saturday, April 13, 2013

L is for Legends


The Old Hag

Have you ever had a nightmare where you were aware you were dreaming, but were unable to wake yourself up, unable to move even unable to breath?  You may have met the "The Old Hag", a phenomenon documented around the world that scientists call Sleep Paralysis.

The experience varies from person to person.  Some people see a woman't face in the distance but can't pick out her features.  The dreamer usually senses something is very wrong and becomes anxious, as the figure draws nearer they realize it is an ugly old crone.  When she finally reaches the dreamer she slowly crawls up over the person's body and straddles their chest; slowly crushing it, stopping their breath.  The dreamer is hyper aware of what is going on; the fact that they are sleeping, that this is not really happening, but yet they sense the evil, and can feel her leathery touch as breathing becomes a struggle.

In David J. Hufford's book The Terror that Comes in the Night he writes that you can call the Hag by reciting the Lord's Prayer backwards.


Photo credit here

17 comments:

  1. I'm really grateful I've not experienced that!
    Usually the moment I realize I'm dreaming, I wake up. My wife says I ruin perfectly good dreams that way.

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  2. I've experienced sleep paralysis but not 'the old hag' thank goodness. I might have a heart attack lol.

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    1. I hope I never experience sleep paralysis let along the hag

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  3. This is so creepy Bay Girl, such an awesome story that I'd never heard related to sleep paralysis.

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  4. I've heard about this one years ago but, thankfully, have never experienced it firsthand.

    Very creepy, indeed.

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  5. My ex husband used to experience it but he called it 'the blanket people' b/c it felt like someone was sliding his blanket down, or sitting on the bed and pinning him in.

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  6. Have never heard of this.......I hope I will be able to sleep tonight.....

    Yvonne.

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  7. I have dreamt many times that i know i am dreaming but then i change the dream to how i want it-I took a dream course once and we were to document our dreams. i was told to stop as I was not getting enough sleep-i am a weird sort no?? :)

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