As an ex-believer in astral travel (insert blushing emoticon) and an occasional sleep paralysis experiencer, I disagree with the 'astral'
explanation. The same reasons why I disagree with 'astral' applies to demons also.
I've had sleep paralysis, on and off, since my early teens. Back then, I thought of ghosts, demons, evil presences and whatever else as I tried to
make sense of it. I'm a rational guy and they were the reference points I had at the time. Later on I read a lot of the literature about sleeping
disorders at University.
Whilst at Uni, I had a period where I couldn't sleep. I found out that a mental exercise can bring sleep quickly. Control your breathing until it's
deep and relaxed. With your eyes closed and on your back, imagine you have a deep 'nothingness' beneath you. Now imagine that you are falling
downwards into that void and that it represents unconsciousness and sleep. You can feel yourself getting sleepier and losing consciousness and then
you're out.
It took me weeks to realize, but this method caused incidents of sleep paralysis several times a week. It was fairly unpleasant and I stopped doing
it...incidents diminished. Cause and effect...
The literature on sleep paralysis and similar sleeping disorders recognizes that it is the lack of 'quality sleep' that leads to incidents. Too many
late nights, too much stress, broken sleep patterns can all cause it. The mind is in such need of sustained REM sleep that the limbic system loses
synchronization with the higher functions (or vice versa) of the brain and 'switches off' the body.
This brings me to explain my reasoning behind accepting sleeping disorder as a more accurate diagnosis than 'astral travel.' People claim astral
travel is possible for people with heightened awareness or higher 'vibrational frequencies.' Others suggest that the soul has reincarnated enough to
be aware of itself and leave the mortal shell. Whatever reason is given, it seems unanimous that 'spiritual awareness' is necessary for it to
occur.
I've experienced floating around, leaving my body, attacks by 'demons' etc. I've had a classic experience where an 'oobe' involved meeting a
Yogi/Guru that told me deep things about life. When I have regular, quality sleep none of these things happen. It seems counter-intuitive that at our
most exhausted we have 'astral' adventures. Is our spirituality dependent on fatigue? Why don't they occur when I'm sleeping deeply and regularly?
If there's supposed to be demons, then why are they rendered powerless by a good sleep pattern?
There's no reason to tie these experiences to spiritual, astral or demonic explanations. Reasonable and tested explanations cover all aspects of the
events.
Waterloo Sleep Paralysis and Waking Nightmare Project
Fear-Induced Hallucination: How Sleep Paralysis Triggers Hallucination
In almost a year, I've never had a reply from this section on the SP subject. Too many people would rather believe that are transcended, psychic or
spiritually aware than read rational alternative explanations (supported with evidence). Spirituality and empathy are not dictated by what occurs
when our eyes are closed at night