The Realm Reviewer

Another one from my old collection. It’s been a while since I last read this book, but I remember finding it fascinating, so I thought it deserved a spot on my blog. Naturally, I’m rereading it. The concept of this book revolves around a wheel—the Wheel of Consciousness. This wheel moves, in general, according to our biological clock, following a 24-hour cycle. Sometimes, it turns faster; at other times, it moves more slowly. The book is divided into two parts: Night and Day . From there, it splits further into segments of the “pie” (or wheel). First up: Night, starting with its opening chapter: Hypnagogia There aren’t many books dedicated to hypnagogia. I did review one recently ( Liminal Dreaming ) that dives deeply into the subject. It’s only in recent years that writers have started focusing entire books on this topic, which is great for those who want a comprehensive look. But for anyone not ready to commit to a full book, this chapter provides an excellent summary. Image by Jeff...

I'm in the bathroom of an apartment building. The bathroom has a large window that looks down on a lush courtyard and other buildings. There's no privacy at all; anyone in the courtyard or on other floors can see straight into it. I spot a woman in the courtyard looking up, so I point toward the hallway, hoping she'll stop staring at me! Good grief, the lack of privacy! Since I often find bathrooms without privacy in my dreams, I decide to do a reality check. Seven fingers. Then six. Just to be sure, I pinch my nose: Hey, I'm dreaming! The scenery shifts, and suddenly I'm in a different building downstairs, with the night outside. I try to go through the window but fail a few times. The window is like some kind of film I can’t pass through. Clack! The film breaks, and I'm outside. I try to recall the Tier 3 tasks from the Icarus Project. Task 1, 2, 3... Cool, I remember them all! "Let's try the first one..." I decide. "Quack, quack, quack!...