Spiders

[turk]

Something I've been thinking about for a while,after looking through many of the posts I've noticed many people seem to notice the same thing when hypnogogic or entering many trance states or altered states.Spiders, why spiders? or if not spiders Insects it puzzles me.It seems drugs can produce the same thing i remember many years ago when i was a teenager i tried extacy and while hallucinating i saw many times black spiders running across the walls and ceiling.My Friends who have also tried this type of drug and some other types have also seen these things,I'm not advocating drugs just that its relevent.I've seen spiders many times when entering trance and would like to know of any theories or experiences.     Just to add,the other night i was halve asleep and noticed a huge wasp crawling up my duvet to wards me i tried to whack it & woke fully realizing nothing was there,how trippy..x

[kiwibonga]

Yup, I experience a lot of these hallucinations when I open my eyes during the onset of sleep... Objects move, little marks in the walls turn into crawling insects, dream images overlap on reality.

This also happens with sounds. A little sound can trigger a chain reaction of thoughts which can end up becoming huge compared to the original stimulus.

[Zante]

I've only experienced this once and it happened on my first ever encounter with sleep paralysis. It was giant black spider which clung to the section where the wall meets the ceiling. All I could do was stare at it in bewilderment until eventually if dissipated into a black mist.

'twas funky : p

[bounda]

i happen to have arachniphobia, and this has never happened to me. i betcha anything that just because i read this post, tonight or tomorrow morning, itll happen

[Nay]

Bounda, you need to take a break and a chill pill.  The drama seems to be taking over...sorry this isn't long and sweet but I haven't time to coddle, I have a child home sick today, so I have to be quick about it. 

[CFTraveler]

Something I've been thinking about for a while,after looking through many of the posts I've noticed many people seem to notice the same thing when hypnogogic or entering many trance states or altered states.Spiders, why spiders? or if not spiders Insects it puzzles me.It seems drugs can produce the same thing i remember many years ago when i was a teenager i tried extacy and while hallucinating i saw many times black spiders running across the walls and ceiling.My Friends who have also tried this type of drug and some other types have also seen these things,I'm not advocating drugs just that its relevent.I've seen spiders many times when entering trance and would like to know of any theories or experiences.     Just to add,the other night i was halve asleep and noticed a huge wasp crawling up my duvet to wards me i tried to whack it & woke fully realizing nothing was there,how trippy..x

My unofficial theory is that when you're in an altered state your brain is producing visuals to match your body sensations, and the nerves in our sides are extra sensitive, an evolutionary process that protects us from bugs when we're laying down sleeping.  I feel that when you're in an altered state all your senses become sensitized (while you're still conscious, that is) so that 'crawling sensation' from your nerves cause the brain to 'fill in the blanks', bugs being the logical choice of thing to cause those sensations.
Do an experiment and lay down horizontally, take a feather and run it through your belly and your sides (your arms too.)  You'll see that the strong feeling is on the sides of the body.  Yet touching with your finger is a whole different feeling.
As to why spiders?  Most people are afraid of them.  I'm not, so I've never seen astral spiders.
Just a theory.

[bounda]

Bounda, you need to take a break and a chill pill.  The drama seems to be taking over...sorry this isn't long and sweet but I haven't time to coddle, I have a child home sick today, so I have to be quick about it. 

i have no school

[Skippy]

I'm a little scared of spiders (if they're really big), although I did like the tarantula in Home Alone - you know, the one Kevin uses to get one of the burglars (Marv) to let go of him. Marv is hanging on to his leg as Kevin is trying to run up the stairs, Kevin sees the spider walking across the stair, grabs it, and puts it on Marv's face. Marv gives a huge scream. 

I love Home Alone. And Home Alone 2 for that matter. I can't have Christmas without them.

[Nay]

And then Marv gets wacked in the chest with a crowbar.. is that the scene?  OUCH!   

[Skippy]

And then Marv gets wacked in the chest with a crowbar.. is that the scene?  OUCH!   

That's right, but it's actually Harry who gets whacked in the chest - the spider lands on him after Marv leaps, screaming, to his feet, and falls on Harry's chest. Marv brings down his crowbar on it, and misses. Then Harry clutches his chest in pain, yells at Marv, hits him a few times with the crowbar, and they run up the stairs after Kevin.

When I was 7, I wanted to marry Maculay Culkin. I'd love to do that kind of stuff to burglars!

[Nay]

Ah.. yes, great scene.  I'm feeling my age now though!  Culkin was always a child to me.. and there are laws about that kinda thing. 

OK.. I'm sorry, don't want to hijack the thread. 

[Skippy]

OK.. I'm sorry, don't want to hijack the thread. 

It's really my fault that we've gone a bit off-topic.

Sorry, guys. Back to spiders. I certainly hope I never see them whenever I get into a trance. I want nice, warm, safe, cuddly images.

[bounda]

And then Marv gets wacked in the chest with a crowbar.. is that the scene?  OUCH!   

OMG!!!!! i read this this morning, and not even an hour ago i walk downstairs to get food and my parents are watching tv, and i sit down, they switch channels and its Home Alone 2 RIGHT AT THAT PARt!!!! i was like wow.... and i remembered this and im like... uhmmm lol

[Nay]

LOL!  Wonder what that could mean...?..hmmm...  bounda...put down the crowbar..