This is a list of the most frequently used dreaming related vocabulary compiled for the aid of the people browsing the Dream Views Forum.
AP
Astral projection
The act of separating the astral body (spirit or consciousness) from the physical body and its journey into the universe. Astral Projection is the intentional act of having the spirit leave the body, whereas an out-of-body experience happens involuntarily (such as while dreaming, or in a near-death experience).
DC
Dream Character.
A dream character is commonly used to describe the people in your dreams.
What a dream character represents can be rather opaque. Many believe it is just a manifestation of your subconscious, playing out a role in your dream and nothing else.
Others believe that a dream character is a manifestation of yourself. Not necessarily having to be a person either. But all being some form of ones self.
Another case is the character as being of someone or thing that has it's own separate identity. Whether it be in form of a past life a dream sharing partner or an alien - meaning one of which we were not acquainted with.
All in all, you yourself will have to decide what you feel a (DC) is to YOU. The possibilities are not confined to an acronym list.
DJ
Dream Journal
A dream journal can be any medium where you write down dreams you remember - whether it be a computer, an old exercise book or little post it notes. They are usually used to improve your dream recall.
DS
Dream Sharing.
An ongoing Forum study|Shared Lucids
Dream Sharing can be thought of from many angles. It is the act of sharing a dream or a dream experience with another individual or DC.
Since some studies may have suggested such an event they have all been rather inconclusive to this point. There are also many variables to how people feel that they can achieve this experience. Whether it is premeditated or by chance and when and where it happens.
A DILD is where you are having a normal dream, induced simply by sleeping, and then come to the realization that you are in a dream, and thus becoming Lucid.
EEG electroencephalographic machine - records & measures brain waves of the neocortex
EWLD
Exploring The World of Lucid Dreaming
EWLD is a book about Lucid Dreaming wrote by Stephen LaBerge, a psycho physiologist and leader in lucid dream research. EWLD is commonly used in place of its real name.
FA
False awakening.
A false awakening is just that. An experience where you may believe that you are awake but you realize that you are in another form of consciousness. Most widely excepted is waking from a dream. You wake up IN your dream and an occurrence in the dream tells you that you are in fact still in a dream state -hence, False awakening.
Some feel this state can be reached trough other realms of consciousness as well, for example: an Out OF Body Experiences, Astral projection and or meditation. Some may have had other altered states of consciousness as well. But for all intent purposes it is generally what it says it is. An awakening that is not real.
This is closely related to Sleep Paralysis. When a person wakes up with Sleep Paralysis, it is sometimes accompanied by Hypnopompic Hallucinations. An example hallucination would be sensing an "presence" in the room. It is not an uncommon thing, with 30 to 40 percent of all people experiencing it in their lives.
HI & HS
Hypnagogic imagery and hypnagogic sounds.
These are images or sounds that come as impulses during the onset of a hallucinogenic state. Usually before or after sleep. Sometimes through meditation. These images & sounds are random and can sometimes lead to HIT. The Hypnagogic Imagery Technique. *Look below.
A MILD is a Lucid Dream induced with the aid of your memory.
OBE
Out of body experience
An OBE is the subjective perception that one is no longer in their body. A separation usually considered an involuntarily act. Opinions on what it is caused by and where you are and the states of consciousness about it, are greatly subjective.
Oneironauts
Explorers of the dream world.
The word oneironaut was coined by Stephen LaBerge, and first used in his book, Exploring the world of Lucid Dreaming.
PHS
Post hypnotic suggestion
This is when a suggestion is given whilst in the hypnotic state that can be used when not in hypnosis. You cannot make somebody do something they don't want to with PHS (e.g: kill somebody).
A reality check is a test used to see if you are dreaming or in "reality", as we know it. An example test would be to pinch your nose and see if you can still breathe through it.
REM
Rapid eye movement
REM is phase during sleep where (usually) the most vivid dreams occur. During this stage, the eyes move rapidly (hence the name "Rapid Eye Movement").
SD
Sleep deprivation
A general lack of the necessary amount of sleep. A person can be deprived of sleep by their own body and mind, as a consequence of some sleep disorders, or deliberately.
Some examples you may find discussed regarding sleep deprivation
a. REM rebound - (When you are sleep deprived you lose out on two types of sleep, REM and NREM (non-REM). Typically when you have a chance to fall asleep after sleep deprivation you have a tendency to get more REM sleep than you would normally get. This is your body's way of trying to catch up on its REM sleep.)
Sleep paralysis consists of a period of inability to perform voluntary movements either at sleep onset (called hypnagogic or predominately form) or upon awakening (called hypnopompic or postdromal form).
Sleep paralysis may also be referred to as isolated sleep paralysis, familial sleep paralysis, hypnagogic or hypnopompic paralysis, periodontal or postdormital paralysis
What are the symptoms?
More information @ http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~acheyne/S_P.html (Nesgirll119)
* A complaint of inability to move the trunk or limbs at sleep onset or upon awakening
* Presence of brief episodes of partial or complete skeletal muscle paralysis
* Episodes can be associated with hypnagogic hallucinations or dream-like meditation (act or use of the brain)
Many people believe dreams hold messages; and they attempt to interpret dreams to find out what the message might be (a dream about an dove you are trying to catch, for instance, could mean you want peace but can't get it).
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