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The Entity Attack Phenomena

There are various types of encounters with paranormal entities. Experiences ranging from 'a cold feeling' through such things as odd sounds, objects being moved, seeing strange lights or mists and hearing voices, progressing right up to seeing a full blown apparition. However, none of these encounters involve actual physical harm. Normally the only real danger comes from the surprise at experiencing one of these strange phenomena. Someone who's not expecting to encounter such things may, for example, 'jump out of their skin' and perhaps bang their head in the process!

However, there is one type of encounter, which by its very nature involves physical interaction.

Known as an Entity Attack, this phenomenon involves the 'victim' encountering a presence, or presences, when they are at their most vulnerable, at home, in bed. The term ‘Entity Attack’ has been applied to various experiences. But the true entity attack involves a quite specific series of events.

The following are example of these specific events, as describe by people who've actually experienced them.

I have, for reasons, which will become obvious, only referred to people by their first names (some as pseudonyms) I can however assure you that these are genuine examples from people who’ve contacted me directly.

“A couple of years ago I was living in xxx and towards the end of my stay there I was 'visited' by something - I don't know what. Whenever it came, the air went very thick and oppressive. My temperature would rise significantly where it felt I was being touched and I would be drenched in sweat by the end of the visitation and so scared that I would not move all night. Covers would be pulled down from my body, I was spun around on my bed and I couldn't move my body or speak and felt a suffocating feeling” – ‘Claire’

“In my case, this figure stood at the end of my bed, staring at me as I was motionless.” – Ray

“I know something was wrong when I realized that my room was somehow darker than normal. At first, I couldn’t see anything; I just had a feeling that I wasn’t alone. Then I suddenly felt a pressure on my legs that then moved up my body. It was terrifying!” - David

“This experience only happens at night. It has happened 3X in my life. First, I awake moments before it hits. I become not only paralysed, but I feel an extreme pressure on my chest. I feel, as though I am in a wind tunnel, an all I can hear is wind in my ears. This experience scares me more so than the previous.”  - Ms.X

“The first time I was in my bed asleep and at that time I had my mirror facing the bed. I went to move and couldn't. I opened my eyes looked in the mirror. And I saw a dark figure human like but with yellow eyes. I didn't sleep for days”. - Mel

You'll note from the above that there are certain aspects of the experience, which are virtually identical.

1) The inability to move.

2) The initial feeling a presence even though they cannot see anything.

3) The feeling of actual physical contact with 'something'.

Unfortunately, for some, the experience becomes even more personal. Entity Attacks have involved actual physical assaults, and not merely the inability to move. Some victims have even described a rape like experience, where they are violated, by something unknown. Although I must stress that this is very rare. It does unfortunately occur.

Another aspect of an Entity Attacks, which is not so uncommon, is the actual witnessing of 'something' in the room. And again, the description of the entity seen is remarkably similar.

Those who have actually seen a presence in their room have described either one if two apparitions. The entity is described as being either a tall thin man who moves very quickly, or an old, short woman who seems to float. The tall man is normally only a silhouette, but when any feature is described, it is normally the eyes, which are described as being large and dark. The actions of these two entities are described similarly. They both seem to start off either in a corner of the room, or by the door, and approach the victim rapidly. Both entities then seem to climb on to the victim, holding them down. What happens next does vary.

Descriptions of what happens next range from, simply being held, to being pushed down and even, as I mentioned before, an assault of a sexual nature.

As American victim XXX explains

“It felt as if I was being held down by the ankles, with something else pushing down on my chest. Then something, or someone brushed passed my genitals! The experience was terrifying "

But is this a ‘modern experience? Or does it have parallels with other, older experiences?

There is one particular ‘Demon’ within Christian mythology that is alleged to act in a very similar way.  Descriptions of the actions of Incubus (male) or Succubus  (female) are reminiscent of Entity Attacks.

In medieval European folklore, the incubus is a male demon (or evil spirit) who visits women in their sleep to lie with them in ghostly sexual intercourse. The woman who falls victim to an incubus will not awaken, although may experience it in a dream. Should she get pregnant the child will grow inside her as any normal child, except that it will possess supernatural capabilities. Usually the child grows into a person of evil intent or a powerful wizard. Legend has it that the magician Merlin was the result of the union of an incubus and a nun. A succubus is the female variety, and she concentrates herself on men. According to one legend, the incubus and the succubus were fallen angels.

There are a large number of paintings that are said to depict an incubus or succubus with its victim. And many of these depict the creature sitting on the victim’s chest, rather reminiscent of some of the earlier descriptions of Entity Attacks.  But descriptions of this ‘creature’ are not limited to Christian mythology.

As far back as the ancient Sumerians, an ‘Entity’ like creature were being described

“Ardat lili or Lilitu, an evil Sumerian spirit, is one of the earliest Hag-demons. She was capable of flying, which she preferred to do at night, at which time she frequently attacked men in their sleep.”

Descriptions of Entity Attacks can even be found in literature

“This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs, 
that presses them, and learns them first to bear, 
making them women of good carriage:”

Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet, I, 4

The reference to the ‘Hag’ is of particular importance, as it turns up time and again within Mythology, and not merely within Sumerian mythology.In Greek it was ephialtes, in Latin incubus, in German mar/mare, in Old English maire, Old Norse mara, Old Irish mar/mor, and all mean "one who leaps on, oppresses or crushes."

The Old Hag attack is most closely associated with extreme pressure on the chest while sleeping on your back. People may also feel like they are being choked or even bitten. In his research, Al Cheyne of the University of Waterloo in the US has discovered that between 25 and 30 per cent of the population reports that they have experienced at least a mild form of sleep paralysis at least once. And by far the most common visual experience connected to these experiences is the sight of an old hag. Cheyne also believes sleep paralysis to be a hallucination created by physical things occurring in the body as a result of a dysfunction or malfunction of the normal .E.M. state of sleep. This malfunction may be brought on by life stressors or sleep deprivation. But this does not explain why so many people are sharing the same, or similar visual apparitions, the, aforementioned, Hag.

However, there is another visual element to these experiences. There is another, although much less common ‘entity’ sometimes described. Sometimes referred to as ‘the shadow man’, this figure seems to hide in the shadows and move very quickly. ‘He’ is described as being tall and ‘willowy’ in appearance. But, it is at this point that another equally bizarre, but nevertheless different experience comes to mind. There is another 'nocturnal visitation' whose description has clear parallels to an  'Entity Attack'

Ghosts and Aliens

The phenomenon of ‘alien abduction’ is probably even more widely reported that E.A. but there are undoubted similarities between the two experiences. Both are known to occur late at night. Both involve an unexpected visitor in one's own home. The 'alien's' are described as being either tall and thin, with large dark eyes. Or, less commonly, as short squat and ugly. Indeed, in possibly the most famous case, as experienced by writer Whitley Streaber, both types of alien are described. (Streiber's own son describes the latter alien as a "little blue doctor")

But the similarities do not end with appearance. The inability to move is a feature common to both, as is the 'physical' aspect of the experience. (Rectal probing/sexual assault)

Although the alien abduction scenario involves the victim being removed from their own home, whilst the Entity Attack. Takes place in the victim’s bed; they both involve a physical violation, as exemplified earlier.

So, could it be that these two forms of visitation are in fact the same thing?

And, if this is the case, which is the 'genuine' experience? Are 'abductees' misidentifying Entities' as aliens? Or, do Entities arrive from outer space? (Assuming that's where the abducting aliens originate from!)

Or, are both experiences the product of over active imaginations?

It is certainly true to say that; psychological research that has been carried out does suggest that the human mind is source of the entity attack phenomena.  As Dr. Al Cheyne clearly believes.

Research has pointed to two possible explanations for the entity attack experience. And each suggested cause sites one of the two main aspects of an Entity Attack.

The first of these attempts to account for the victim's inability to move. The medical phenomena known as Sleep Paralysis is when, during sleep, Consciousness returns to the sleeper so that they are aware of their surroundings, but their body (Motor neuron function) remains asleep. The resultant effect is that, although the sufferer is awake they are unable to move. Exactly as is described by pretty much all of the 'victims' of Entity Attacks. But this is, of course, only one aspect of an Entity Attack, and does nothing to explain the feelings of not being alone. However, modern psychology does offer an explanation for this too.

Known as Hypnogogic Dreaming, this is a very intense from of dream that occurs not in deep sleep, which is when we normally dream, but in that state where we are not quite awake, but also not quite asleep.

But, If Sleep Paralysis and Hypnogogic Dreaming are the two causes of entity attacks, why is it that most people report seeing the same thing? Why do people not see things like Unicorns, or fairies, or even a film star? Indeed anything else which would be far more pleasant to view.  Why is it always the same unpleasant imagery?

Andy Mercer 2 December 2010

Andy has 20 years in Paranormal investigation experience, founder member of “The Institute of Paranormal Research” and is resident Parapsychologist for Mysteria Paranormal Events  

http://www.mysteriaparanormalevents.co.uk/Host-&-Mediums.html 

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