a strange visit
last night, for the first time, i experienced sleep paralysis. it was a very strange experience. i felt myself wake up from a dream and "saw" the door to my bedroom open. a dark presence came quickly toward my bed and was "standing" over me. all i could see in the dark was the end of a cigarette that the presence seemed to be holding. the whole time, i couldn't move or make any sound even though i was trying very hard. after a few seconds, i finally yelled out and my head moved to the right. it was very unsettling and the "presence" felt very much like some sort of spirit trying to get into me. i laid there for a few seconds and felt like i was either going to die, fall asleep, or wake up. luckily, i had to pee so i stirred myself awake. apparently, most people have an experience like this at least once or twice in their lifetimes. i had read about this happening to people in Japan, where it's called "kanashibari." as the wonderful wikipedia points out, the phenomenon occurs across cultures and has many names. most cultures attribute the experience to vistiing spirit. has anyone had an experience like this? i told my dad and he said he has had a very similar experience numerous times.