Waking Up Is Hard To Do

**Moonwatcher** · 09-16-2017 02:28 PM

After lucid dreams (and sometimes after nonlucids): What are those blobs of colour I see in my vision? They resemble crumpled wads of paper or origami. They appear just before the dream ends and persist several seconds into wakefulness, clearly visible as I lie in bed. If I close my eyes tightly they're still there. Once it was purple and white on a violet background (viewed through a rectangular window surrounded by blackness). It vaguely resembled a neuron or a cancer cell. That one was clearly dimensional and floated in 3D space. I could study its contours and still remember its general shape. This morning it looked like an orange-and-black walnut. I fancied I was seeing my optic nerve. That's my best guess.

Does anyone else see these things? What is it about the dream state (or hypnagogic state) that makes them appear? Is this related to the "sparkling void" I hear lucid dreamers talking about or is that something different?

**pontozero** · 09-16-2017 04:12 PM

My best bet is that they are probably remnants of the hypnagogic state and you being fully aware from exiting a LD makes them sharp and clear to see. It's really hard to define those transitional stages, are you 100% sure you are completely awake or not still in Sleep Paralysis? Sometimes it's really hard to tell, like thinking you have your eyes open but they are actually closed.

**Moonwatcher** · 09-16-2017 06:33 PM

I can see the "origami" with my eyes either open or shut. The visuals might signal the moment of waking, but there usually seems to be a slow transition between sleep and wakefulness. I have never consciously experienced sleep paralysis. (E.g., I have never to my knowledge been visited by Lilith the Night Hag.)

Originally Posted by pontozero

My best bet is that they are probably remnants of the hypnagogic state and you being fully aware from exiting a LD makes them sharp and clear to see. It's really hard to define those transitional stages, are you 100% sure you are completely awake or not still in Sleep Paralysis? Sometimes it's really hard to tell, like thinking you have your eyes open but they are actually closed.