Shadow People, Astral Spiders, and Hypnagogia

~A note from the Author ~

The pages below are a series of articles based on vast research concerning two very extraordinary, but unexplained phenomenal events. While nothing is set in stone concerning these things, and there is still a

treasure trove of information to be had, I hope anyone who reads this can embrace it with an open mind and enlighten themselves concerning something that is all too real for countless people. Personally, I found the research and their experiences to be so amazing, I based my novel The Web & the Willow and the entire

Enter the Web series on it. That's how inspired I was when walking away from this. And I still have a ton of data yet to be written. So for those who like all things Paranormal, keep watch, because there will be more

articles and updated pieces in the future.

Thanks & Enjoy!

C.H. Scarlett

Subjects Covered & Page Numbers:

What Are Shadow People & Astral Spiders? -- 3

When do these Sightings Happen? -- 4

Shadow or Astral Spiders -- 7

Hypnagogia -- 10

Terms & Theories -- 11

Ancient Lore -- 13

Shadow & Astral Spiders -- 13 Shadow People -- 19

Daimons & Daemons -- 21

An Interview -- 23

Final Questions & Thoughts -- 29

The Web & the Willow --31

C.H. Scarlett Contact Information -- 32

Resources & Further Reading -- 32

What are Shadow People & Astral Spiders?

We all know what spirits or ghosts are, so I suppose we can place them in that category except, there is no proof that these beings are either dead, repetitive echoes, a haunting or even formless.

They appear void at times, if not strangely solid. They are still dark and solid as a shadow, but have an even more black color outlining their features.

One of the most common sightings has been the figure of a man with or without a hat, and or someone in a cloak. Sometimes they are seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Some have seen them take the shapes of what would appear to be small children, or even animalsfrom realistic ones to the mystical variety. Whatever they are wearing or are shape shifting as, though, they lack color.

Imagine– you are staring into an actual person who is nothing more than solid smoke or even slightly transparent at times. The strange thing is, you can catch detailed outlines concerning their face or clothes.

It‖s hard to think that anything, which appears to be solid or merely bleak, can have any sort of outline about it. But people have reported that they can make out their features clearly, as well as the smaller details of their clothes, characteristics, and so on. Some reports claim they have glowing eyes, mostly red. Some reports claim that they act unaware, as if you are not there, passing from one room to the next, while others claim these beings have had their attention directly on them . . . watching.

Many reports claim that the energy or feeling in the room changed to something fearsome. Other reports claim that the person witnessing this act was attacked, unable to scream, or even paralyzed.

Nearly everyone has a theory or a guess concerning what they are: Demons, Other Dimensional Beings, Past Life Connections, Angels--Watchers, etc. But no one has made up their minds . . . as no one has collected enough data.

Now before we fix our own brains on a notion of fear—let‖s reserve that until later, because I have some collected theories of my own.

When do these sightings happen?

Some people experience these beings when they are wide-awake. But others experience them during a whole nother unexplained phenomenon.

The moment is called Twilight (No, Stephanie Meyers has nothing to do with this), but a more technical word is Hypnagogia. Basically, it is known as a sleeping paralysis which has the attention of many doctors and scientists who are studying it. The easiest way to describe it is . . . .

You go to bed, close your eyes, go to sleep. Only you do not sleep deeply nor are you fully awake. You are stuck somewhere in between. Either you are in the middle of the dreaming world and the waking one--in a place where your subconscious finally has control, but aware enough that you know exactly what is going on and will remember every detail, or you may be pulling your dream world into your waking one . . . or, again, vice versa.

Now do not confuse this with sleepwalking. That is not what that is. People who experience this are completely aware of everything that is going on around them. They can sit up in bed, walk through their house, pet a dog or see their wife or husband sleeping beside them. They can talk and interact, even though their minds are not fully awake.

So what is so different during this time that they seem to think they‖re asleep? Good question, if you are on the outside looking in. Those who experience Hypnagogia, though, seem to know that they are not asleep . . . not fully, that is.

Even though they can interact with their normal environments, not everything is the same. It is as though they are lingering between two worlds: our world and whatever exists behind the veil of our reality and another one. Their subconscious mind is in equal balance with their conscious mind or, in many cases as some believe, the subconscious mind has complete control.

Meaning, they are open to whatever may come, eyes open beyond the veil, but their conscious minds do not have the draw backs–jerking them out of this moment or to prevent them from seeing, experiencing, and interacting with whatever may be and with whatever is not normally seen.

This is when some people experience the Shadow Beings, Spiders, or other types of other worldly phenomena. It is NOT the only time, but this is a common one, as well as wide spreading.

Now it should be known that Science have their own explanations of this, but NOTHING is for certain simply because they‖re pretty much clueless as to what Hypnagogia is and what these people are really discovering during this phase. The experts are blaming it on sleeping positions, among other things, saying that if someone sleeps on their back– that this is what causes it.

Now it should be noted that I did say above that this phenomena is becoming widely spread. That doesn‖t mean it did not exist before. I think because of the internet and the loss of fear in speaking about these things has made it possible for others to realize that they are not alone. It should also be mentioned that Shadow beings have been reported since Ancient times, but we will get more into that later.

A direct quote from Wikipedia concerning Hypnagogia . . .

Early references to hypnagogia are to be found in the writings of Aristotle, Iamblichus, Cardano, Simon Forman and Swedenborg.[11] Romanticism brought a renewed interest in the subjective experience of the edges of sleep.[12] In more recent centuries, many authors have referred to the state; Edgar Allan Poe, for example, wrote of the ―fancies‖ he experienced “only when I am on the brink of sleep, with the consciousness that I am so.

So you see, it is not new by any means, only our awareness of it is or our ability to reach out to others and voice the experience. Since we still seem to be in the Dark Ages concerning anything other than what is socially accepted, what happens to us when no one is looking often remains suppressed. Being taught not to believe in such things or that it is against some sort of religion– has really blindsided us, I think.

Let it also be known that during Hypnagogia or what I call ―Twilight‖, Shadow people, or beings are not the only thing experienced.

Many people claim that they have got up from their beds, walked out the door to new or past worlds. Some have experienced or revisited past lives or countries.

One woman reported standing by her bedroom window, waving to people who were passing by outside of her home. They stood there waving at her while she waved back at them. She knew who they were when she was in Twilight. But, alas, at some point she snapped out of it, finding herself standing there waving– only the people she remembered in every detail were no longer present.

Other people report having long conversations with deceased relatives who are possibly standing by their bed or sitting in the same room with them. Some people claim that they are visited by those who are not dead. They have absolutely no idea what they are, but they do know death did not bring them to their bedrooms.

Now the down side–some people say that they are attacked. That this black mass or presence paralyzes them so that they cannot move or even scream.

Others claim that they are not attacked, but wake up finding these beings standing over them, simply watching, which may be how they came to be called, ―The Watchers‖.

One woman I know claims to have woken up, been fully awake, while a young man in a hooded sweatshirt swept through her room and went out the window. Now she did not think that he jumped, but simply leaped through his doorway to where ever he came from. This woman has had this happen quite a few times--same boy, same details (except the exit) – only she was not experiencing Twilight during any of those times. In fact, she told me she had never experienced Twilight. She sees them wide-eyed and fully awake. She has no health conditions, that she admitted too, and is very much the skeptic when it comes to anything paranormal. So you see, Twilight is not the only time you can experience this.

Many reports say that they (the people experiencing this) were standing in their kitchen (or somewhere), felt the energy or the room temperatures change, caught something in the corner of their eye, turned around quickly and the Shadow Being was still standing there, watching them.

Shadow or Astral Spiders

If you are going to Google this . . . you will find information under "Shadow" or "Astral" Spiders.

People claim to be sleeping or rather experiencing Twilight, while watching these HUGE spiders of abnormal size crawl around their beds, glide down over their heads from webs and so on. By big—sizes ranging from fat puppy size to smaller.

At times, they see smaller ones but it is usually the bigger arachnids that cause them the greatest shock and fright. The experience is usually scary enough to snap them out of the Twilight completely, where the spiders are then gone . . . vanishing . . . sometimes.

Colors range from dark brown, black shadowy, or a mix of both.

There haven't been too many people offering any enlightenment concerning this. In fact, I was shocked that on these forums I researched, quite a few people rattled away concerning their belief in the Shadow People in other threads, but then would literally make fun of the people who were seeking answers concerning the spiders.

Unfortunately, I cannot give anyone any hard-crusted evidence here, but I can explain some common points or occurrences being repeated.

1. You do not have to be in Twilight to see them. Some people will see them there; wake up completely, only to find the spiders still in their reality—slowly fading away.

2. No reports of anyone being bitten---that I have found. 3. No reports of anyone being attacked. 4. Some believe they are other dimensional, and others add spiritual to the list--but not all. 5. Others don‖t have a clue as to what the hell they are, although freaky, they don‖t seem

to be harming anyone or anything.

When it comes to the Spiders, it seems to be people's arachnophobia and utter shock that rocks their boat more so than their actually being there does. Once they gradually get over that, though, their experiences seem to change . . . and not necessarily towards the worst. Some have reported a peaceful feeling, or a feeling of protection. Others have related them to certain

religions . . . such as the American Indian Spider Woman, or the wheel of life. All subjects we will get to. But before we get to the lore or symbollic meanings . . . let's look into Hypnagogia just a little bit more. Shall we?

Hypnagogia

In the period of waking up or falling asleep, sufferers of Hypnagogia feel awake in the mind but paralyzed in the body.

The above statement is not completely true. Not all people experience paralysis. For those who do, they do not experience it all the time, and some people only experience it in the beginning, if at all.

Let me also point out that if you are going to research this, it is spelt Hypnagogia not

hypnogogia. Hypnogogia is a common misspelling of the word.

Terms & Theories

Shadow people (also known as shadow men, shadow folk, or shadow beings) are supernatural shadow-like creatures of both modern folklore and traditional Native American beliefs.

According to folklore, they appear as dark forms in the peripheries of people‖s vision and disintegrate, or move between walls, when noticed.[1][2]—Wikipedia

Possible explanations:

Other World & or Other Dimensional: Some people theorize that these beings come from another level of existence, another world or another dimension. Some believe that this dimension or dimensions, sometimes overlap with ours, letting us catch a glimpse of them from time to time.

Watchers: Some believe that these beings are what they call, “Watchers‖. Now theories vary here and you will find people who actually relate them to the Watchers of the Fallen Angels while others have a very different theory. Some relate them to the Watchers of the biblical sense which did not fail the Christian God, or they have a whole other legend following. Some even relate them to the Pagan Gods of the Ancient World.

Evil: With the above being said, I have to mention that one of the most common beliefs out there is that these beings are evil, a devil or demons, and some people go as far as to say, it is Lucifer himself. I can‖t agree with that, sorry. I do not want to judge other people on their experiences, though, but once people get passed the fear, we might gain some better answers. There are too many positive and interesting testaments out there concerning this phenomenon. Fear kills us from discovering the truth…from fear comes ignorance and from ignorance, blindness.

Ghosts or Spirits: It is one of the most common theories out there hovering right next to the evil demon one. People seem to believe that the Shadow is just another type of Ghost or Spirit. I think it is too simple of an answer BUT, if that‖s all they have, then I respect that. Like us, they are just trying to figure this whole thing out, right? And it is way better than the Evil thing.

Astral projectors: Some people seem to think that these beings are someone astral projecting either from another dimension or from our own. Like people, they can be good or bad. The belief is somewhat metaphysical but has been done since Ancient times. Astralling is when the spirit leaves the body and travels to another place. It returns, of course, but because we are traveling by way of our spirits, we have no boundaries as to where and how far we go.

Karma: Someone said that people begin to experience these beings once they start clearing out their Karma. That‖s all they said, but later, I found many others who felt the same thing. Now even though this is at the bottom of the list for reasons, I thought it worth mentioning because it is a spreading reason. However, it should be known that karma itself, has a debatable meaning. Some relate it to something like sin, saying, "That's ok. Let her screw him over like that. Karma will get her." or "Karma is a bitch." While there are more positive definitions of karma, more enlightened ones, having nothing to do with punishment and sin. So if you are open to this theory, make sure to explore the different beliefs concerning Karma.

Succubus or Incubi: This is also at the bottom of the list, and also fits under the whole Evil/Fear explanation. Apparently, these people are having sex in their dreams and it is leaving them absolutely exhausted or drained. So when they wake up in the morning, they have come to this theory and conclusion. These theories also lead to Psychic Vampires, Psychic Attack, and more.

Ancient Lore

Shadow Spiders

Is it spiritual? Is it symbolic? Those are two very distinctive questions many people end up asking. This is why I thought it very important to include the Shadow Spiders, also called Astral Spiders, and the lore surrounding them.

To take a look at the lore or beliefs that Ancient Cultures might have had, we have to focus more on the Spiders themselves--what they are good at and what comes of it. They are known to make webs, to be spinners and the act of spinning itself, are what is linked to the fates.

There is a Greek story about Athene (a Goddess) who became very jealous over a maiden named Arachne. Out of that jealousy, Athene turned Arachne into a spider.

Who was Arachne? She was actually said to be a mortal who had a mind-blowing skill of weaving. Later stories make her out to be boastful, which came to be her downfall. Although, earlier ones say nothing concerning this, only that certain Goddesses such as Athene and Minerva became very jealous of a mortal having such skills.

Legend says Arachne was put through challenges and contests, each she won without trouble. Her victory, though, became her end (or was it?) as Athene turned her into a spider. In later writings, Arachne‖s skills were reduced to something less than Athene. Apparently as a mortal, her skill reflected better than the Goddess in charge. It was only after that, the priests of Athene rewrote her stories and she became something of a villain or a lesson as not to not outshine those of power or become too proud or sure of your talents.

After Arachne was turned into a spider, she was shown beside Athene and viewed as nothing more than a tool . . . but a tool that always sat at the hub of the wheel of fate.

It was still believed; especially by medieval writers, that Minerva was the source to Arachne‖s gift. It was Minerva who gave spiders the ability to spin webs that could foresee the future and of the fates. That‖s what Arachne became known for, spinning the web of fate. And from those webs, which each of us had, the future could be foreseen.

Later on, Arachne would not only be seen as a spider, but one of the three fates themselves, who were women . . . spinners.

The important thing to remember here is the Wheel of Fate and if it is of any relation to the Astral Spiders people are seeing.

Now in Hindu beliefs, Maya was the spinner of webs. Her webs would be of magic and fate, of course, but also earthly appearances. Nearly every culture had its own version of the Spinner, and the Spider.

The spider was the same if not another version of the Wheel of Fate, known in other cultures and in art. A Goddess was shown with the wheel and a spider would be sitting somewhere in the picture along with her.

We know some spiders devour their mates and this was also known in the Ancient World, but not as a horrible, horror story ordeal. This, to them, represented the destructive side of the Goddess, since the Goddess represented the creator and destroyer of everything. But don't catch the shiver up your spine just yet. The destruction of something wasn't necessarily a doomsday. The Goddess would destroy . . . only to recreate again . . . to renew the life of and make something better or stronger. It fell along the lines of rebirth and so on.

According to the Aztecs, spiders were the souls of women and they said that these women would come down from their ―heaven‖ by silk threads (the web) to devour all of the men of earth. They were kind of like the Valkyries (Norse) who would lift the warriors who died during battle up into their arms and fly them away to Odin and the famous Halls of Valhalla.

Spiders enriched many cultures . . . so while speaking of the Norse, Odin‖s horse was not what we would think of a horse, but instead, a gigantic gray Spider. It represented his fate, or fate itself.

Man represented the fly caught in the web, (fate, and destiny). The spider represented the Goddess.

―May the Goddess eat the fly and give unto him new life.‖

So in truth, it became just a part of death and then a journey into the new.

Greek lore…three women of the fates (Taken from Wikipedia)

Clotho (pronounced in English IPA: /ˈkloʊθoʊ]/, Greek Κλωθώ IPA: [klɔːˈtʰɔː] – “spinner”) spun the thread of life from her distaff onto her spindle. Her Roman equivalent was Nona, (the ―Ninth‖), who was originally a goddess called upon in the ninth month of pregnancy.

Lachesis (/ˈlækəsɪs/, Greek Λάχεςισ [ˈlɑkʰesis] – “allotter” or drawer of lots) measured the thread of life allotted to each person with her measuring rod. Her Roman equivalent was Decima (the ―Tenth‖).

Atropos (/ˈætrəpɒs/, Greek Ἄτροποσ [ˈɑtropos] – “inexorable” or “inevitable”, literally “unturning”,[4] sometimes called Aisa) was the cutter of the thread of life. She chose the manner and timing of each person‖s death. When she cut the thread with “her abhorrèd shears”, someone on Earth died. Her Roman equivalent was Morta (―Death‖). –Wikipedia

Remember, one of those names in Greek lore concerning the three fates was Arachne. So one of the names above is indeed linked to her.

So, in summary but without end, spiders seem to be linked with the Goddess, some Gods, the wheel of Fate, spinning, weaving, each individual human, the world, creations, and creation, rebirth.

Now, here is a picture of the Wheel of Fate:

A simpler version would be something like this…

Now let's look at a web…

Notice the main lines, which always seem to be straight. Then you have the curved lines, connecting to the straight ones. Is it possible that the web is indeed connected with the Wheel

of Fate? If you go by mythology, it is.

Dream Catchers are getting more Celtic in design with their curved features but, an actual dream catcher was not so curved. It looked like an actual web. The purpose of the web was to catch negativity so that no harm would come to the sleeper. It would trap bad dreams and let

the good ones flow through.

See the hole in the center? That‖s where the good dreams would flow through.

Future and past symbolism

Take a look at a show that has been airing on the History Channel. Aired during Armageddon week, and even though I don‖t buy into the whole ―end of the world scenario‖, --I don‖t even believe that‖s what prophecies are trying to convince us of--there is one very interesting show that I watched concerning Nostradamus and his Lost Books. There were drawings he did and in quite a few, there was the wheel of fate.

See picture below:

Image 21

Above the man, is indeed the wheel of fate. Now they do show it on the show, so if you can catch it, go right ahead. The people or experts trying to decipher the code focused on the book, claiming it could be the book of life and the fact that it was empty, whereas in the other

pictures it was not, and then the wheel of fate above, means it could be the end. However, I see this differently. I see it as being a new era, an age where life begins again. If we were to go by mythology and what our ancient ancestors believed, then this is certainly plausible. The pages in image 21 are blank but only because we are starting something new and unknown.

You can also check out the Grandmother Spider lore that the American Indians believe in. This is the most common lore that is out there, though, so I didn‖t really discuss it here. Here is one version of the story and a Wikipedia link, though.

Story Link 1

Wikipedia

Ancient Lore Shadow People

Egyptians called the shadow khaibut. The Egyptians believed that the khaibut was one of seven souls that each and every person had.

The Roman word for shadow was umbra, also meaning ―the shade‖ or the ghost of an individual who went to a place called the Land of Shades.

The land of Shades was believed to be the underground or part of an Underworld. After the person died, their shadow went there.

In Greece, people were known to dedicate their shadows or give them over to a God, such as Zeus. This was considered to be a marvelous sacrifice but at the same time or later on, fearsome. For instance, it was believed that if a person went to the temple or sanctuary of Zeus Lycaeus, they would lose their shadows. For those who do not know, Lycaeus was believed to be the origin of Werewolves and from this particular story, maybe some of the lore concerning werewolves became born. In medieval times, werewolves and vampires were phenomena that said that anyone cursed this way, lacked a shadow or reflection. They lacked soul. So, apparently one legend became linked with that of another.

Also in medieval times, cornering a witch and proving her to be one, the shadow played a big part. If someone sold their soul to the devil then they had no shadow—hence shadow being linked with the soul again.

In Europe, people believed that shadow beings desired blood and without it, couldn‖t be reborn. Superstitions and fear spread like the black plague concerning a person‖s shadow. People refused to let their shadows fall on graves, a rumbling river or near a cliff. A paranoid madness began.

In biblical times, curses were spoken on a person‖s shadow. For example in Numbers 14:9 –

“Their shadow is departed from them.”

Saying something like that meant undeniable doom and was the lowest of low. I gather that in today‖s times, it would be worse than throwing shoes.

Now kicking aside the superstitious fear concerning the shadow, according to Pagans and those before them, in ancient times…a person who did not have a shadow was NOT a demon, a vampire, a werewolf, or someone who had given their soul over to any devil.

They were believed to have gone into some sort of eternal bliss. Seriously, it became a positive thing.

Plutarch said, “At the end of the world, the blessed ones would be happy forever. In a state neither needing food nor casting a shadow.”

Daimons & Daemons

I'm not going to go too far into this subject, but will basically give you the ends and outs of it. I will, at the end of all these articles, give you links to check out for further reading if you are interested.

Daimon

The Daimon was something widely focused on in Greece, especially during Socrates time. Over all, it was believed that every person had one watching over them. They were often viewed as the messengers of the Gods, neither good nor evil, but often aiding one throughout life. Daimons were something like Christianity's guardian angels. Their voice, at times, seemed like nothing more than a whisper to the person but one that would come out of the blue and very clear in one's mind.

Quote: Part of Socrates' spirituality is his experience of a divine presence within himself. This daimon, as he called it, would warn him if he was undertaking something inappropriate, and remain silent if he pursued the good.

Furthermore, Socrates implies that daimons are the children of divine and human parents, (i.e. demigods). Thus, they are midway between the mortal and divine. One interesting aside to all this is that subsequent Christian society came to view all such spirits as evil ("demon" is derived from the Greek word, "daimon"). In classical Greece, however, daimons could be beneficial as is the case with the one Socrates has been gifted with since a child. An oracle can also refer to a person, place, or thing. SOURCE

Daemon

This later came to mean Demon to Christianity in later times, however, in Greece, it wasn't always a negative thing. Although meanings seem to change--

One, each person has a Daemon--the shadow of oneself , the inner spirit of oneself, and at times, this shadow (in the form of spirit) as some people's beliefs go, can leave the body. (This would go back to astral projection.) Also, other theories suggest that the Shadow of oneself is the darker side of ourselves, in which a balance needs to be kept.

Two--Lesser entities created by Zeus himself:

Quote:

In Hesiod's Theogony, Phaëton becomes a daimon, de-materialized,[3] but the ills of mankind released by Pandora are keres not daimones. Hesiod relates how the men of the Golden Age were transmuted into daimones by the will of Zeus, to serve as ineffable guardians of mortals, whom they might serve by their benevolence.[4] In similar ways, the daimon of a venerated hero or a founder figure, located in one place by the construction of a shrine rather than left unburied to wander, would confer good fortune and protection on those who stopped to offer respect. Daemones were not considered evil. The term also referred to the souls of men of the golden age acting as guardian deities. Source--Wikipedia

An Interview

~Carry’s Experience~

Whether you are a believer, someone who is experienced, or a nonbeliever, I thought

it to be a great add to these articles to include the experiences of my friend Carry. Why? Because Carry has been dealing with this phenomenon for years, and where she is now, her understanding or emotions, seems very intriguing to me.

When she first started out, her story reflected that of many (those who are telling them now on the internet) and those who are first awakening or discovering this whole mystery. She has felt the fear that many new comers are experiencing now. She may not have any new answers that can be laid in stone but where she started and where she has ended up, or is now, is a must tell. So I am going to tell it. I decided to send Carry questions like an interview because she felt that would be easier. If Carry typed an lol (laughing out loud) then I included it. My questions are in bold and underlined. Carry's answers are not.

Carry, when did all of this start? When did you first encounter Shadow People or beings and what were your feelings concerning them at first?

I don’t know how old I was exactly, I mean, I think I was 19 or early 20’s? I’d like to say I was 13, but I still don’t know what happened that day when we saw what we did. If it weren't for my friends who were playing basketball with me, I’d probably say I was dreaming. Another story! lol Yeah, 19 or early 20’s. Let’s just go with that.

And your feelings?

Scared. I thought they were ghosts or even demons. (lol)

Are you religious then?

If you are asking if I am a Christian and go to church, no, but I do have my own personal beliefs, ya know?

So why demons?

Well (lol), its not as though I knew what was going on. I mean at first you think you're crazy and you need meds, but then when it keeps happening, you know that’s not it. For me it was scary at first, and for a long time after, but now I kind of understand why maybe that was.

Ok, so what was so frightening about it? What exactly happened and when was the breaking point, that you knew you weren’t crazy?

My niece was 4 or 5 years old and they were visiting. I still lived at home or my parents at the time. I didn’t see my niece a lot but my brother and his wife were religious. I mean they went to church and everything, so I didn’t exactly tell them about what had been happening to me. We aren’t really close ya know? Anyway, I was sitting in the living room kind of watching TV when my niece came up to me and tugged on my shirt. I turned around and she whispered in my ear. “Aunt Carry, there’s a man in your bedroom.”

Oh God, I think that would have given me chills, lol.

lol it did, I won’t lie but it also made me curious lol. I asked her what he looked like and she said he was wearing a long coat and his eyes glowed red and that his hair was long, black and that he kind of looked like a invisible shadow but she could see the shape of his lines, face etc. She said he was in the doorway now, (or at that moment) watching us and that was pretty much all she said before her mother grabbed her, laughed her off and blamed it on the imagination of a child.

So what happened then?

Well nothing more was said about it. But my niece did more for me then than she will ever know. She confirmed what I was seeing myself only I had tossed it off as dreaming it up.

Ok so what happened after the niece confirmed the man?

Nothing worth bragging about. I seen him from time to time and something told me he was always there but the times that I seen him kind of scattered out until I wasn’t seeing him at all anymore.

How did you see him?

I would see him standing over my bed, watching me when I slept. I would wake up and then he would be there. Or I would dream, I guess it was dreams, that he was taking me places, showing me things that happened in previous lives I guess? I know that I have never really had ghosts or spirits especially when he was around. I know people always say that their dead grandmothers or whatever would come and see them, visit but i

never felt a connection like that to anyone in my family. Once they were dead, there was no reason to visit me. He was the only paranormal activity that I experienced or any link I felt to the other side if that makes sense.

So did you ever find out who he was or his name or anything?

Nope. I kind of gave him my own name which I won't say here. That’s between him and me ya know? I never understood what he was or what his exact connection was with me but later on in years I passed it off as not being able to comprehend it.

What do you mean, comprehend it?

Well it's kind of like the sky or grass. How do we know its blue or green? Because we grew up being told it was. That is a part of our reality ya know? So maybe my mind couldn’t comprehend what he was or where he was from because it's not a part of our reality lol. Maybe I couldn’t handle or understand it. Thinking back now, I can totally understand that. I mean until my niece confirmed it, I thought I was nuts or needed a padded room. I do know that I never thought he was dead though. Nothing ever gave me that impression and even now, I don’t think he is. Especially later on, when I started researching and investigating the paranormal, having had some other weird experiences, well he just isn’t dead.

Ok, so you said before you stopped seeing him so much. Obviously, because I know you, you started experiencing something. So can you tell me about that?

lol if I gotta but I do have to say that even though I didn’t see him as much, he was there if that makes any sense. Anyway, some years later I got an apartment. I got home from work, went to bed and woke up. I saw a young man standing over me, his head titled down in a hooded sweatshirt. he was just standing there, not really staring at me personally but where I was laying.

What did you do?

Went back to sleep lol. I mean I was fully awake and fully aware but I just passed it off as a spirit or something. I seen him a couple times after that, in the same way but I never felt anything bad from him.

So was the man around at this time?

Not in the way that I was seeing him. I just started seeing other things like the hooded sweat shirt guy. I didn’t know that other people seen him to. I mean I found that out in the past year or so because of the internet lol. In fact I totally forgot about the sweat shirt man until I went searching about Shadow people.

And what made you search out them?

Well after I moved from the apartment, I moved to a house. In that house, some crazy things started happening. I started experiencing what you and me call the Twilight. I was trapped somewhere between awake and sleep. The stuff that was happening to me then kind of freaked me out. No, actually they did freak me out. I would sleep with the lights on lol. It was a Shadow but it never took the form of a man but of shadow shapes like once a dragon I think it was. Its shadow would kind of swallow up a whole side of the room or just black out everything over me. And it would literally hold me down, paralyze me so that I couldn’t even scream. I didn’t know what it was but I knew it wasn’t my imagination. The temperatures in the room would change and there would be cold or intense spots. I had a little dog once who would literally bark and bite at the real intense spots. Sorry for that dog but I used to experiment lol, throwing him towards the spot he was barking and biting at. the dog would jump back, get real ferocious and then hide under my bed, growling and so on. Its funny though because even though I was scared to death, it never struck me or really attacked me or anything. Maybe I snapped out of it before it could? It was kind of my own fear of it that was hurting me or at least that is what I think now.

You think it was something to do with the house?

I didn’t know what to think. I do know that I moved about three times after that and it continued. Off and on and I never knew when.

Does it still happen?

Nope. I got determined that I was gonna see it through when it happened again. I would not wake up and I would not get scared. I started to really break it down. I mean what was I afraid of? Was it the energy? That made sense to me. I mean we get kind of comfortable thinking we are home alone so we go do stuff that we normally do. Suddenly we catch something out of the corner of our eye or we feel a presence. Because we are not used to it or don’t understand it, it rattles our minds. I accepted it, in a sense, and it no longer scared me. So it stopped happening. Something new started happening but not the fear and what I thought were attacks.

Which was?

Well lol…I started seeing the shadow people straight out. I didn’t have to be sleeping or well, in Twilight. They would show up and if the energy was to intense, then HE would show up and it would be gone.

Oh, so the man your niece saw came back?

Well like I said, I always felt him there but yeah, as far as seeing him again, he came back, once in a blue moon that is.

Alright, so what else changed?

Well about this time, I got a computer and discovered the wonderful world of the internet. It didn’t help as far as figuring out what these shadows were but it did help me in the same sense that my niece did…that there were others who were experiencing this stuff. There were a lot of people stuck on the demon notions but seriously, I don’t think they are demons. And I think its their own fear attacking them, not the shadows but that is based on my own experience and what I overcame. So I guess I have no right to say that about them…its just my opinion lol.

This was when you found out about Twilight though, right? Or the technical name for it which is Hypnagogia?

Yeah because you emailed me the information lol. But that was in the past year or so I guess. It’s a comfort knowing that others are experiencing this but it's a bummer to know that a lot of people think the devil is playing tricks with them or tossing it off as sleep disorder.

So why do you think this is happening more and more and what do you have to tell them people who are experiencing it?

Well I think that it's a mix to be honest of happening more and more and then having a way to let millions know that it has been happening. I mean the internet is pretty awesome. But for the ones who are just starting to experience it, I think it's because our minds are starting to open. Maybe the Veil between worlds is thinning. Maybe something has changed that these beings are now noticeable. I don’t really know to tell the truth. I mean if the ozone layer can thin then why can’t a veil lol.

As far as people just starting to experience it, separate your own fear from the shadows energy and how that makes you feel. I swear I believe, I was holding myself back with mine and sometimes I still have to get a grip. the thing is, if people are suddenly seeing them then there is a reason. So try to comprehend that and what you are seeing the best you can.

Ok as far as getting a grip, I think you mean the spiders. That seems to be something wide spread and people are really struggling for answers there. There aren’t many who are giving them a break where that is concerned.

Oh yeah, like I was chatting in a chat room one night when this guy was yelling about reptilians and planet X but then when I brought up spiders, he treated me like I was off

my rocker lol. Whatever. The spiders are a new thing and I had a real hard time dealing with those.

Oh yeah, lol, that arachnophobia thing.

lol well you know me. I never liked em. But, they helped me get over that I think. I started researching some cultures that believed in a spider woman or goddess like the American Indians so I thought maybe there was something connected with the spiders and that. I hope you do an article of all the stuff you helped me find.

Yes, I planned on it. So tell me more about the spiders.

Well I always experience them during Twilight and I don’t see the shadow figures anymore or haven’t since the spiders. They started in the last house I rented and would scare me so bad that I would snap out of the Twilight into a full awake zone lol. Like the shadows, I got fed up with it and decided that I would just deal with them. The last time I saw them, they had spun these thick webs around my hand. My boyfriend said that he actually woke up and watched me waving my hand through the air, studying something on my hand until I snapped out of it, got up, got a drink of water and went back to sleep. I remember what I was doing. In Twilight, it's not like your dreaming and can’t remember. I just know I came to terms with it. When I was waving my hand, it was like the web was blowing in a breeze and the trails of it would fade and evaporate. I even remember the smaller spiders, which are quite bulky and fat, crawling around my hand and legs. I didn’t freak out though. I just got bored and went into full awake mode. Nothing has happened since.

It sounds to me that you keep going through tests or maybe we can call them that for the sake of theory. The shadow things scarred you until you got a grip on it. Then the spiders, until you got a grip on it. So I wonder what’s next?

I don’t know lol but I am open to find out. I mean, I can never serve any of this up as proof to anyone else but as far as my own curiosity, I am so ready for the next level. Its all so strange to me but perfectly normal all at the same time. I know what it must sound like to other people who have never experienced any of this but to me, its like breathing. I don’t try to force it but when it happens, I hang on every bit of it. Instead of being afraid, I try to experience as much of it as I can. I hope more people start sharing their personal experiences because people like me are always clicking, searching, and reading them.

Final Questions and thoughts:

So if we take into consideration what the Ancients believed concerning ―Shadows, Shadow sightings and people‖--- is it safe to say that the Shadow experience you have had, is indeed a spirit or ghost or someone who has passed on to the other side?

Maybe, but then again I have to personally wonder…why are so many sightings the same? Why is the image that we see of the Shadow person always a common one? Is it that all dead people wear hats, or cloaks or are seen staring at the floor? Why are the shadows able to take full form or any form—animal, creature, man, while other dead people can only become orbs or when they take actual form, look like an actual person?

Where are the Shadow women?

Not one person I have interviewed, nor have I read any reports concerning a Shadow person looking like a woman. I have read and heard of small shadow figures being no bigger than a child is, but people do not connect them with actual children. It is only the size that they are compared to verses the others who can be up to seven feet or more in height.

If the Shadow beings are ―Watchers‖ then does this make them some sort of guardian? And why do some attack, or is it like Carry said, (a woman I interviewed) it was her own fear doing this to her.

If they are Watchers, then what are they watching? Surely, they know more than we do. Is there a reason some see them and others do not? The ones who see them, do they have a link or connection to these beings while others may have a connection to some other paranormal type thing? I know it has nothing to do with open mindedness. I have interviewed to many people that had no knowledge and or belief in them. It just started to happen and that‖s when they started looking for answers. Some incidents start happening when people are children while others happened as adults.

I think we will need to look more into the Underworld or Land of Shades, which again means there will be more parts to this subject. We also have to look into the lore of the Spider and try to help people figure out what that is that they are seeing. Like the shadow people, there are

very few stories out there but even less concerning the spiders. The only answers that these people are finding is that either they are crazy, dreaming or it is being confused with some spiritual symbolism or dream analysis. These people like my friend Carry know that this is not a dream. So pretty soon we will explore that one and I am sure we will touch base with some of our previous subjects as well.

If you are interested in these articles or this subject, then please check out my book called The Web & the Willow. This phenomenon inspired me so much, I just had to create a series around it. I hope to touch base on the very real experiences many are going through, plus delve deeper into where my research has led me and it's ancient lore. Believe me, there is so much more to be said . . .

Blurb:

Struggling with a sleep paralysis and a lifetime of unexplained paranormal events, Willow Graves just wants to find a place to settle down. Lake Serenity seems like the perfect place to begin unraveling the webs spinning from her head. For almost a year, she feels as if she made the right choice, that is, until the locals start turning up dead and a corrupted sheriff is hell-bent on blaming Sterling Walker, one of few people Willow has grown to trust.

Suddenly, the real reason as to why the mountain is so different from any other place makes itself known, and Willow‖s past, and that of the mountain, entangles her within a dangerous web greater than those that

haunt her mind. Can Willow survive, or is she even meant to? Just what brought her to the lake to begin with, and who is she really? That‖s what Willow Graves is about to find out even if it‖s the last thing she ever learns.

Read an entire Chapter excerpt HERE , purchase, and see a book trailer.

The Web & the Willow

ISBN 978-1-60592-144-0 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED The Web & the Willow Copyright 2010 C.H. Scarlett

C.H. SCARLETT: CLICK TO EMAIL ME Where else can I be found?

Bio Link

Some Resources & further reading:

The Nature of the Daimon: http://www.alchemylab.com/daimon.htm

Daemon: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daemon_%28classical_mythology%29

Weaving: http://www.mythinglinks.org/ct~weaving.html

Lore: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Valley/8116/story.html

Spider Artwork: http://www.wic.org/artwork/spiderw.htm

Arachne: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachne

Books:

The Women‖s Encyclopedia of Myths & Secrets, Barbara G. Walker

The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Witches Second Edition, Guiley

The Witch Book (Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca and Neopaganism, Buckland

Copyright © 2009 by C.H. SCARLETT. All rights reserved.