Podcasts > Morbid > Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

By Morbid Network | Wondery

In this episode of Morbid, Alaina Urquhart and listeners explore vivid accounts of lucid dreaming and astral projection, delving into the eerie and intriguing world of alternate realities and dream towns. From hostile environments to quaint villages, the accounts detail immersive experiences that blur the line between the conscious and subconscious realms.

The discussion extends beyond lucid dreams, touching on unnerving encounters with supernatural entities and disembodied spirits. Listeners' accounts of witnessing apparitions and ominous figures further probe the boundary between dreams and unexplained phenomena, leaving both hosts and listeners pondering the nature of these uncanny occurrences.

Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

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Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

1-Page Summary

Lucid dreaming and dream towns

Alaina Urquhart and listeners explore the captivating experiences of visiting alternate realities and towns through lucid dreaming.

Dream Town Experiences

A listener, Nick, describes being surrounded by hostile faceless individuals in a dream. Another vividly recounts exploring a quaint town with a clock tower and townspeople. Though immersed, they sense a dark shift and are forcibly ejected, left wondering about the fate of the dream town.

Astral Projection and Connecting Through Dreams

Ash Kelley recounts her and a friend repeatedly visiting the same dream village by aligning their consciousness inwardly. Katie Blue Nebel's account of her brother witnessing her astral projection hints at unplanned out-of-body experiences.

Ash Kelley's friend confirmed their mutual dream encounters, seeing and interacting with the letter writer in the alternate village. They ponder whether the inhabitants are astral projectors or native entities.

Sighting Beings and Spirits in Dreams

A letter writer describes their girlfriend witnessing a "soggy dead woman" hovering over their sleeping body. In another dream, the spirit of the house's previous resident appeared, ominously warning "be careful."

The writer recounts recognizing this old man from prior nightmares involving faceless figures and torture after their boyfriend showed his photo, leaving them unsettled by supernatural encounters conveyed through dreams.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Lucid dreaming is when a person becomes aware that they are dreaming while still in the dream state. This awareness allows the dreamer to have some control over the dream narrative and environment. It can lead to vivid and immersive dream experiences where the dreamer can actively participate and even manipulate the dream scenario. Lucid dreaming has been studied for its potential benefits in areas like self-discovery, problem-solving, and overcoming fears.
  • Dream towns in the context of lucid dreaming often represent unique, immersive dreamscapes that individuals visit during their lucid dreams. These dream towns can vary widely in appearance and atmosphere, from idyllic settings to eerie or unsettling environments. Exploring dream towns can provide insights into one's subconscious mind, emotions, and thoughts, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and symbolism for dreamers to interpret. The significance of dream towns lies in their potential to serve as portals to deeper self-awareness, creativity, and spiritual exploration within the realm of lucid dreaming.
  • Astral projection is the belief that one's consciousness can leave their physical body and travel to other realms or dimensions. It is often associated with out-of-body experiences where individuals feel they are floating outside their bodies. Some believe that astral projection can occur during dreams, allowing people to explore different planes of existence or interact with entities beyond the physical world. The connection between astral projection and dreams is a topic of interest in exploring the boundaries of consciousness and the nature of reality.
  • In dreams, interaction between consciousness can occur when individuals align their mental states to meet in a shared dream space. This alignment allows for shared experiences and communication within the dream world. It can involve intentional practices like astral projection or occur spontaneously, leading to shared dream environments and encounters. This phenomenon raises questions about the nature of consciousness, shared realities in dreams, and the potential for interconnected dream experiences.
  • In dreams, individuals may encounter beings or spirits that appear as supernatural entities. These entities can take various forms, such as deceased individuals, spirits, or otherworldly beings. Encounters with these entities can evoke a range of emotions and experiences, from unsettling or ominous encounters to interactions that offer guidance or messages. Such experiences are subjective and can vary greatly in their impact and interpretation for the dreamer.

Counterarguments

  • Lucid dreaming experiences are subjective and cannot be verified objectively, so the experiences described could be influenced by the dreamers' expectations, beliefs, or imagination rather than being visits to alternate realities.
  • The hostile faceless individuals in Nick's dream could be interpreted as a manifestation of his subconscious fears or anxieties rather than an encounter with hostile entities.
  • The quaint town with a clock tower might symbolize a desire for a simpler or more idyllic life, and the dark shift could represent an underlying fear of losing such a place or situation.
  • The concept of being forcibly ejected from a dream town could be a common dream motif related to feelings of rejection or lack of control in one's waking life.
  • Astral projection is a controversial and unproven phenomenon; the experiences of Ash Kelley and her friend could be coincidental or the result of suggestion and confirmation bias.
  • The mutual dream encounters could be a result of shared experiences or discussions influencing each other's dreams rather than actual shared consciousness.
  • The idea that dream town inhabitants could be astral projectors or native entities is speculative and lacks empirical evidence.
  • The sighting of a "soggy dead woman" and the spirit of the house's previous resident could be interpreted as symbolic representations of unresolved emotions or psychological issues rather than actual encounters with spirits.
  • Recognizing an old man from prior nightmares after seeing his photo could be a case of false memory or the mind making connections after the fact, rather than a supernatural encounter.

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Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

Lucid dreaming and dream towns

Alaina Urquhart and listeners delve into the compelling subject of dream towns, where one experiences seemingly alternate realities through lucid dreaming.

Experiences visiting towns or worlds while dreaming

Alaina Urquhart displays a keen interest in the captivating accounts of dream towns, suggesting these experiences fit seamlessly with the themes of the podcast, chronicling visitation of worlds and towns within dreams.

Description of alternate dream town vividly seen while relaxing and focusing inwardly

A listener, Nick, details an unsettling lucid dream involving a room of faceless individuals. Upon attempting to communicate by asking for the time and date, the atmosphere abruptly shifts to hostility, propelling Nick into a void.

In a separate instance, another describes an immersive journey into what is perceived as a different reality, timeline, or dimension. Their account involves a quaint town highlighted by an ancient clock tower.

Walking around a quaint village on a cobblestone path outside a stone wall; seeing a clocktower, green-gold orbs floating around a large tree, and people moving about a town square

After engaging with a green-gold orb in a tranquil meadow, this person's surroundings crystallize: breezes felt, grass heard, and a cobblestone path appearing underfoot. Adorned in well-worn boots and an emerald dress, the speaker wanders towards a tucked-away village, flanked by a stone wall. They detail the presence of an old wooden clock tower and observe townspeople milling around the square.

Being forcefully ejected from the alternate dream town after sensing a dark shift in the en ...

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Lucid dreaming and dream towns

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • A lucid dream is when a person becomes aware that they are dreaming while still in the dream. This awareness can sometimes allow the dreamer to have some control over the dream's events. Lucid dreaming is a distinct type of dream that can be trained as a cognitive skill. It is different from regular dreams and can be studied in psychology for its potential therapeutic applications.
  • In the context of lucid dreaming, alternate realities in dream towns represent vivid and immersive experiences where individuals perceive and interact with environments that differ from their waking reality. These dream towns can feature unique landscapes, structures, and inhabitants, creating a sense of exploring a distinct world within the dreamer's mind. Lucid dreamers may encounter scenarios where they navigate through these alternate realities, sometimes experiencing shifts in the environment or interactions with entities that challenge their perceptions of reality. The exploration of dream towns in lucid dreaming often involves a deep dive into the subconscious mind, where the boundaries between what is real and imagined blur, allowing for profound and sometimes unsettling experiences.
  • Being forcefully ejected from a dream town in the context of lucid dreaming typically means abruptly and involuntarily leaving the dream setting. This can happen due to various factors like a shift in the dream environment, encountering a threatening presence, or feeling overwhelmed by the dream experience. The ejection often results in the dreame ...

Counterarguments

  • Lucid dreaming is a subjective experience, and the concept of dream towns may not be universally accepted as a representation of alternate realities but rather as complex constructs of the subconscious mind.
  • The experiences described could be influenced by prior beliefs or expectations about lucid dreaming, which may shape the content of the dreams rather than the dreams revealing inherent truths or alternate dimensions.
  • The hostility experienced by Nick in his dream could be interpreted as a common dream theme related to anxiety or fear, rather than an indication of an alternate reality with its own rules and entities.
  • The vividness and detail of the quaint town and its elements, such as the clock tower and green-gold orbs, could be a result of the dreamer's imagination and memory rather than an encounter with a fundamentally different reality or timeline.
  • The sensation of being forcefully ejected from the dream town might reflect the dreamer's own psychological state or a disruption in the sleep cycle, rather than an external force wit ...

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Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

Astral projection and connecting with others through dreams

Ash Kelley recounts a compelling experience with her friend that blurs the lines between reality and the dream world, an encounter that has sparked discussion about the possibilities of astral projection and shared consciousness.

Repeatedly dreaming of and exploring the same alternate dream town with a friend by connecting inwardly at the same time

Katie Blue Nebel shares a story that aligns with Ash Kelley's peculiar experiences, hinting at the unplanned nature of astral projection. During an astral projection, Katie's brother discovered her standing silently in front of his bedroom door, illuminated in the dark. Despite his shouts, she did not respond and was concurrently found sleeping soundly in her bed, suggesting that Katie was astrally projected in front of her brother.

Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart, intrigued by such events, urge their audience to share more stories about visits to little dream towns, hinting at a deeper connection with astral projection and the ability to visit particular settings in a state of altered consciousness.

Friend seeing and interacting with the letter writer inside the alternate dream village, with written confirmation in the waking state of these mutual encounters

A mysterious narrative is shared where the letter writer and a friend arrange to meet in an alternative world they discovered. They achieved repeated visits to this alternate village, exploring together and confirming their shared experiences over online chats. The letter writer’s friend once typed, "I saw you," confirming their mutual encounter in the dream space. Further detail is provided when the friend accurately describes both the letter writer's appearance and their dream environment.

The letter writer reveals that during their dream explorations, the friend approached them, and they confirmed each other's presence through real-time online chat. They ...

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Astral projection and connecting with others through dreams

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Astral projection is the belief that one's consciousness can leave the physical body and travel to other realms or dimensions. It is often associated with out-of-body experiences and the exploration of non-physical planes of existence. Proponents of astral projection suggest that it can lead to spiritual growth, self-discovery, and even the ability to interact with others in the astral realm. The concept raises questions about the nature of reality, the interconnectedness of consciousness, and the existence of parallel worlds beyond our physical perception.
  • Shared consciousness in dreams, also known as mutual dreaming or dream telepathy, is a phenomenon where two or more individuals experience the same dream or elements of a dream simultaneously. This concept suggests a connection beyond physical boundaries, allowing people to interact or share experiences in the dream world. It raises questions about the nature of reality, the limits of individual consciousness, and the potential for interconnectedness through the subconscious mind. The idea of shared consciousness in dreams challenges traditional notions of personal experience and suggests a deeper level of connection between individuals beyond waking life.
  • Astral projection is the belief that one's consciousness can leave the physical body and travel to other realms or dimensions. The unplanned nature of astral projection means that sometimes individuals may find themselves out of their body without consciously intending to do so. This spontaneous occurrence can lead to experiences where a person appears in a different location or interacts with others in a non-physical state. Astral projection is often reported as a natural phenomenon that can happen during sleep, meditation, or altered states of consciousness.
  • Visits to dream towns involve individuals experiencing shared dream environments where they interact with each other while in a state of altered consciousness. These dream towns can be explored together, with participants reporting vivid details and interactions that feel as real as waking life. The concept suggests a deeper connection beyond physical reality, where individuals can meet and engage in activities within a shared dream space. The experiences in these dream towns raise questions about the nature of consciousness, perception, and the boundaries between dreams and reality.
  • Confirming shared dream experiences over online chats involves individuals recounting their dreams to each other in real-time through digital communication platforms like messaging apps or online chat rooms. This process allows dreamers to validate that they both experienced the same events or locations in their dreams, providing a form of external verification for their shared dream encounters. This practice can help strengthen the belief in shared consciousness or astral projection experiences by offering a way to compare and confirm details of dreams that occurred simultaneously or in a connected manner. It adds a layer of tangible connection and collaboration to what is typically considered a personal and subjective experience.
  • The perceived reality of alternate dream villages and their inhabitants questions whether these dream settings and beings are actual external entities or constructs of the dreamer's mind, blurring the line between subjective experience and objective existence. This concept explores the nature of consciousness, reality perception, and the potential existence of parallel dimensions or shared dream spaces. It raises philosophical inquiries about the nature of real ...

Counterarguments

  • Astral projection lacks empirical evidence and is not supported by mainstream science; experiences are often attributed to dreams, imagination, or other psychological phenomena.
  • The experiences of standing silently in a room while also being asleep could be explained by sleep paralysis or hypnagogic hallucinations, rather than astral projection.
  • Shared dreams or mutual encounters in dreams have not been scientifically verified and could be coincidences or the result of suggestion and confirmation bias.
  • Online chat confirmations of shared dream experiences could be influenced by prior knowledge of each other's dream narratives or unintentional leading questions.
  • The perception of dream environments and inhabitants could be entirely subjective, with no evidence to suggest they exist outside of ...

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Episode 558: Listener Tales 85

Sighting beings and spirits while dreaming

Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart explore eerie experiences as mentioned in a letter where an individual encountered spirits and presences in their dreams, suggesting an awareness that transcends the normal sleep cycle.

Seeing a soggy dead woman hovering over the letter writer's sleeping body

The letter writer describes a chilling experience to Ash and Alaina, where their girlfriend, purported to possess witch-like qualities, saw a soggy dead woman hovering horizontally over the letter writer while they were trying to fall asleep. This encounter was the writer's first paranormal experience and it invoked fear and disgust in them.

The speaker recalls not being able to visually detect the 'wet ghost visitor' themselves—though they spent time pondering their own mortality—but acknowledges the girlfriend's scream as validation of the occurrence. Interestingly, instead of fear, this encounter has seemingly made them less fearful of death.

Spirit of the house's previous resident appearing in a lucid dream and warning the letter writer to "be careful"

In a separate dream, Nick reports a lucid dream in which he floated above his own sleeping body and repeatedly saw himself waking and staring into a full-length mirror that shattered each time. After several of these cycles, instead of focusing on the mirror, he turned to look into the pitch-blackness of the room and saw the figure of an older man who whispered "be careful" before disappearing.

Moreover, the letter writer had recounted to their boyfriend a dream featuring faceless people and repeated torture including the old man delivering a cautious message. The boyfriend then showed a photo of the previous owner of the house, ...

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Sighting beings and spirits while dreaming

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The encounter with the soggy dead woman in the dream was the letter writer's first paranormal experience, causing fear and disgust. The writer's girlfriend, believed to have witch-like qualities, witnessed the apparition hovering over the sleeping writer. Although the writer did not see the ghost themselves, the girlfriend's reaction validated the eerie encounter. This experience, rather than instilling fear of death, seemed to have a transformative effect on the writer's perception of mortality.
  • The girlfriend's scream served as validation of the paranormal encounter because it confirmed that someone else witnessed the presence of the "wet ghost visitor," reinforcing the reality of the experience for the letter writer. The emotional reaction of fear and disgust from the girlfriend's scream added credibility to the event, emphasizing the intensity and impact of the supernatural sighting on both individuals.
  • The encounter with the soggy dead woman hovering over the letter writer's body triggered fear and disgust initially. However, the experience led the writer to contemplate mortality, ultimately resulting in a shift towards being less fearful of death. This transformation in perspective stemmed from the unsettling encounter with the supernatural entity, prompting a deeper reflection on the nature of life and mortality.
  • In the lucid dream, the letter writer saw an older man warning them to "be careful" after witnessing unsettling events involving a mirror shattering repeatedly. The dream also featured faceless people and repeated torture, with the old man delivering a cautionary message. When the letter writer's boyfriend showed a photo of the previous house owner, the writer recognized him as the man from their dreams, adding a layer of eerie connection and significance to the warning. The warning to "be careful" from the old man in the dream was perceived as a message to heed, prompting the writer to contemplate its specific implications and the potential significance of the encounter.
  • The significance of the previous owner of the house appearing in the dream suggests a connection between the dreamer and the history of the property. This connection can imply a message or warning related to the dreamer's current circumstances or future events. Seeing the previous owner in a dream can symbolize unresolved issues or a need to pay attention to specific aspects of life. It may also indicate a spiritual or psychic link between the dreamer and the energies associated with the house's past.
  • The specific implications pondered by the letter writer regarding the warning from the spirit of the house's previous resident could include considerations about potential dangers or risks in their current environment, reflections on their own actions or decisions that might require caution, and a heightened awareness of the spiritual or supernatural influences in their life. The warning could also lead to a deeper exploration of the connection between dreams and reality, prompting the letter writer to delve into the significance of the message and its potential impact on their future experiences.
  • The experiences described involve enco ...

Counterarguments

  • The girlfriend's sighting of a soggy dead woman could be a hallucination or a product of her imagination, especially if she was half-asleep or influenced by the dark and quiet environment.
  • The letter writer's fear and disgust might be a natural reaction to a startling story, rather than evidence of a paranormal encounter.
  • Hearing the girlfriend's scream does not necessarily validate the paranormal nature of the experience; it could simply be a reaction to a nightmare or other stressor.
  • Becoming less fearful of death due to a supposed paranormal encounter could be a psychological coping mechanism rather than a true decrease in fear.
  • Lucid dreams are known to be vivid and can include realistic figures, so the appearance of the house's previous resident could be a manifestation of the subconscious rather than a spirit.
  • Recognizing the previous owner from a photo after the dream could be a coincidence or a result of suggestion, rather than a supernatural recognition.
  • The old man's warning in the dream could be interpreted in many ways and might not have a specific or meaningful implication for the letter writer's life.
  • Dreams of faceless peop ...

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