[houkbsdov]

Okay I admit this might not have been a shadow person as I had just woken up and it could have been a lingering hypnagogic... something or other. But it was incredibly REAL.

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling very cold and struggled to get the tangled covers to cover my chilled legs. I rolled over to look at the clock. It read 5:36. I then saw something from the corner of my eye. I looked to see what it was and I swear to God there was a black mass in the perfect shape of a person standing next to my bed looming over me. It FREAKED ME OUT!!! My reaction was to start kicking at the entity repeatedly. I think it got the idea that its presence was frightening me so it slowly backed away towards the door then dissolved into nothing. I was able to see it for perhaps 5 or 6 seconds before it left.

Does ne1 know why they are Black? Does the fact that they are black tell us something about them? If they are good or evil? Are there positive entities that manifest in the form of a shadow person? Although I was horribly startled by this, I did not feel any ill intent or menace from this being. It seemed rather considerate of my feelings IMO by not wanting to stay and frighten me further. Who knows...

What do you think?

~Scott

[Dkavtbek]

Was there a dark object behind the figure?

I know one of my scariest experiences was when I was wide awake and meditating, and I opened my eyes to find a red spider running up my bedroom door and dissolving before my very eyes... It just looked so real, and I was so awake and perfectly conscious...

In the exact location where the spider appeared, there is actually a hole that was left by a nail. The hole + my trance-ish state created this spider out of thin air, most likely.

I had several similar experiences later on where spots on walls or objects turned into moving things for just a few seconds, only to startle me and disappear, sometimes moving far away from the location they appeared in.

My thought is that you experienced something similar...

As for it being black, it's not unusual for things to appear scarier than they are because they startled you. You woke up in your personal space only to find something there that was out of place -- that always triggers a somewhat violent reaction. In response to this unconscious fear, this black figure was created and you managed to control it and make it go away.

And of course, there's always an infinity of more mystical possibilities, like a deceased relative coming to see you, your projected double coming back from a nightly excursion, etc... If it is something truly mystical, anything's possible, really...

[DuePew]

And the cone shall set you free!

[inofindy]

I had several similar experiences later on where spots on walls or objects turned into moving things for just a few seconds, only to startle me and disappear, sometimes moving far away from the location they appeared in.

Oh, I've had that all my life. I always put it down to tiredness, actually, although when I'm particularly tired I'm certain I get into an altered state of consciousness.

[houkbsdov]

Was there a dark object behind the figure?

No actually there was light behind it. My door was open to light from the hallway and the black mass was blocking the open door as if it was physical. When it backed up and faded away I could see into the hallway again.

~Scott

[TessUnsonia]

My reaction was to start kicking at the entity repeatedly...

Does ne1 know why they are Black? Does the fact that they are black tell us something about them? If they are good or evil?...

Although I was horribly startled by this, I did not feel any ill intent or menace from this being. It seemed rather considerate of my feelings IMO by not wanting to stay and frighten me further. Who knows...

My thoughts... While you can normally trust your instincts for reacting to things, in such a case I don't know if they really indicate much about the situation. The shock value could easily have stimulated a fear reaction based on you rather than the entity.

Note the apparent 'consideration' is not necessarily a sign of pure intent; there could easily have been a negative intent that wouldn't work while you were reacting from fear or shock.

Black... couple of possibilities, apart from it being from the Dark.
Black could be because it absorbs light or energy.
You say there was light behind the figure so maybe it is to do with silhouette properties rather than a black entity.
Maybe it isn't from this reality & so doesn't reflect light or emit it.

My advice would be to go back & recall the situation & imagine it occurring again & this time, raise a shield as 1st impulse. If you do this over a number of times, if the entity comes back your 1st reaction will be to shield & you can then more safely investigate or ask questions.

[houkbsdov]

My advice would be to go back & recall the situation & imagine it occurring again & this time, raise a shield as 1st impulse. If you do this over a number of times, if the entity comes back your 1st reaction will be to shield & you can then more safely investigate or ask questions.

Thats not a bad ideia. I can see how that would help in a number of situations. Its worth a try.

~Scott

[TessUnsonia]

Pre-practice is a very good way to ensure one doesn't react according to emotional imperatives. For example it can help with social awkwardness, & driving skills. Athletes use it to improve their performance, by seeing themselves running the perfect race or throwing the perfect pass etc.

By pre-playing things in mind, we can interrupt the normal response & substitute reasoned responses so we react optimally. The brain even forms new connections based on the imagined path that are then useful in real-life events.

[Apparpsmose]

Kurt Leland says higher beings, facilitators, appear hooded and dark because their illumination is such that we cannot tolerate full exposure until we've reached a certain level. The darkness is us perceiving their shielding for our protection. It's possible you experienced something like this.

[AgindyMinnife]

Kurt Leland says higher beings, facilitators, appear hooded and dark because their illumination is such that we cannot tolerate full exposure until we've reached a certain level. The darkness is us perceiving their shielding for our protection. It's possible you experienced something like this.

I Beleive this is possible

[Vomekayafboke]

I've seen such a dark tall shadow in my living room and I was awake.It was in the beginning of my Kundalini awakening and I was not scared but it bumped into the closet door in the hallway and it hit the wall before it showed itself to me.The noise must have been for me to go see if everyone was sleeping and not to dismiss it as just my imagination.No one else could have made that noise because everyone was sleeping including the cat.

[bunkalapa]

I knew a special individual in my past who one day out of the blue asked me, "Do you know about the shadow people?" I said, "No, tell me!" He just grinned, looked at me like I was a lost cause and shook his head. I never got another thing out of him about it.

So, I know that someone very trustworthy has seen them and knows something I don't about them that I'll have to figure out myself. That's the best I have on this, other than that an ex-girlfriend of mine saw shadow people a lot. She was always startled by them. She was very intelligent and artistic too...I dunno...

[Apparpsmose]

Pneumaphor,

If you go on to practise as a psychologist, here's betting that in the course of your career you'll hear a lot of such stories.

Personally, I think there is more than a single type of shadow person and I've seen a few.

[yasalaioqe]

I saw one once when I was about 15
I woke up in my room and it was very dark but I got the feeling I was not alone. Standing at the foot of my bed was a silouette of a man (I'm assuming). It was darker than the dark of my bedroom, and just stood there. I don't know if it emanated feelings of terror or if it was juts me feeling terrified but I ran from the room and waited awhile before going back
That was just over 10 years ago and I have never had it happen again but I have heard of lots of other people seeing similar things

[DuePew]

Pneumaphor,

If you go on to practise as a psychologist, here's betting that in the course of your career you'll hear a lot of such stories.

Personally, I think there is more than a single type of shadow person and I've seen a few.

Me too. I have had one shadow person be my projecting mom, and a few months ago was seeing them for about three days. Then they were gone. So I for one wouldn't mind finding out who or what they are about.

[houkbsdov]

I saw one once when I was about 15
I woke up in my room and it was very dark but I got the feeling I was not alone. Standing at the foot of my bed was a silhouette of a man (I'm assuming). It was darker than the dark of my bedroom, and just stood there. I don't know if it emanated feelings of terror or if it was juts me feeling terrified but I ran from the room and waited awhile before going back
That was just over 10 years ago and I have never had it happen again but I have heard of lots of other people seeing similar things

Sounds a lot like what I experienced.

~Scott

[DuePew]

Well, if you see them while you're up and about, I'd call them shadow person, but if you only see them as you're waking up, then I'd say it's a Dweller on the Threshold phenomenon. Dweller effects have that charming 'visceral fear' that is oh so much fun.