Satanic Visitations

Frightening Others With Your Sleep Paralysis

I wonder how most church attenders would respond if, one Sunday, their pastor began to describe to them a purportedly demonic experience he'd had. What if he told them that he awoke in the middle of the night one night not able to move. Not only can he not move, but he's levitating above the bed. He is unable to speak. Over him stands an old woman. The pastor assures the congregation that the devil would like to prevent him from accomplishing some super special work that God has for him to complete.

This story actually was told by Blair Adams to the members of Homestead Heritage, and it was told more than once. Imagine my surprise to discover that this experience is not all that uncommon, and, although cultural folklore considered it to be the work of demons, it is far from a demonic visitation.

What is sometimes called "old hag syndrome" is today more commonly referred to as sleep paralysis.

The victims awake to find that they cannot move, even though they can see, hear, feel and smell. There is sometimes the feeling of a great weight on the chest and the sense that there is a sinister or evil presence in the room. 

And like the above reader, they are often quite frightened about what is happening to them.

The name of the phenomenon comes from the superstitious belief that a witch - or an old hag - sits or "rides" the chest of the victims, rendering them immobile. Although that explanation isn't taken very seriously nowadays, the perplexing and often very frightening nature of the phenomenon leads many people to believe that there are supernatural forces at work - ghosts or demons. . .

The phenomenon occurs to both men and women of various ages and seems to happen to about 15 percent of the population at least once in a lifetime. It can occur while the victim is sleeping during the day or night, and it is a worldwide phenomenon that has been documented since ancient times. (Source)

But sleep paralysis is not the demonic visitation that Homestead Heritage members have been led to believe. It doesn't mean that the devil is trying to stop someone from doing God's work, or that there is sin in someone's life that has opened the door to Satan. Fears of this kind are just effective manipulation tools. Sleep paralysis has a much more benign explanation.

During sleep, your body alternates between REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep. One cycle of REM and NREM sleep lasts about 90 minutes. NREM sleep occurs first and takes up to 75% of your overall sleep time. During NREM sleep, your body relaxes and restores itself. At the end of NREM, your sleep shifts to REM. Your eyes move quickly and dreams occur, but the rest of your body remains very relaxed. Your muscles are "turned off" during REM sleep. If you become aware before the REM cycle has finished, you may notice that you cannot move or speak. (Source)

 It is often accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (such as an intruder in the room) to which one is unable to react due to paralysis, and physical experiences (such as strong current running through the upper body). (Source) 

 Even the Catholic church is more likely to suggest a medical examination before performing an exorcism for sleep paralysis. However, Homestead believes they have more revelation than the Catholic church. They also don't think much of the medical profession, so why would they accept their explanation. Their medieval beliefs in the "Old Hag" aren't likely to change any time soon.