Most know that there is in fact a ‘dream world,’ a world that can be specifically or generally defined. Many know of Tel’aran’rhiod itself, though very few may actually enter it, as far as we know. But there are many instances in which all people find themselves entering what seems to them to be another world in their dreams. They feel pain, pleasure, and all manner of sensations as real as in consciousness. They fall into a troubled sleep, and they begin to see and feel a strange tugging and pulling, perhaps they feel they begin to fall through their bed, and they consciously realize they are asleep. They want to wake up, as they are afraid that something is pulling them in, pulling them under, but they find themselves trapped. They are frantic, trying in vain to move their arms, which now feel completely numbed and glued to the bed at their sides. It takes an immense amount of strength to rip oneself out of this dream-falling state, and, once consciousness is one again achieved, all the former sensations leave their bodies tingling all over, the hair on the back of their neck upright, and their skin covered in goose bumps. The result of dream-falling is little different from that of a nightmare, and yet it does not have many of the characteristics we apply to a nightmare. It does not have the fantastic, mystical, and altogether strange feel or look. Nightmares often flow as stories do, even if they are, at best, disjointed. They often are accompanied by colorful images and some concept of sound. One may often feel a variety of sensations during a nightmarish dream, but they are often dull compared to what would be felt in consciousness. When dream-falling is compared to a nightmare, it is most often found that dream-falling lacks most if not all of the characteristics of a nightmare. Dream-falling normally does not flow in any way, nor do many images and sounds accompany it. And, rather than bland representations of true physical sensations, what one feels in dream-falling is sharply realistic. It is shocking to also find that in most cases of dream-falling, the dreamer is aware of the fact that they are in a shallow sleep; while in the case of nightmares, most often the dreamer is not aware enough to know that they are asleep and dreaming. Nightmares rarely occur when one is at all in tune with their conscious self, much less the world around them.

From research, study, and my own personal experiences, I have come to question what we know concerning the dream world of Tel’aran’rhiod. Perhaps Tel’aran’rhiod can be partially entered by all whose minds are ever tugged at by its presence. Perhaps it is only those who are avidly aware of their dreams; or those who are accustomed to entering a state of meditation, and so are fully one, mind and body. It is in my opinion, though, that it is not necessary for one to be able to touch the One Power, nor to be trained in the ways of Tel’aran’rhiod, to touch on its outer rim. A normal dream is clearly a creation of the mind itself, and is certainly not the mind entering another world, except in the figurative sense. Most dreams do not have any connection with any defined world; that is clear. What is not clear is how some dreams may come into contact with a world, be it Tel’aran’rhiod or some other land of dreams yet to be discovered (I will speak only of Tel’aran’rhiod, as the suggestion of other dream worlds can be found in another commentary). It has perhaps been overlooked that dreams may come into contact with Tel’aran’rhiod on a variety of different levels. We often categorize things into ‘levels,’ whether they are tangible or intangible. I will take the liberty of categorizing dreams into ‘levels.’

Level 1: The Daydream
It is important for me to mention daydreams, as they are closely related to all other dreams, and are at the beginning of the ‘evolution’ (figuratively speaking) of dreams. The daydream is when a conscious mind delves into its consciousness and comes upon the borders of its unconscious. Often it will break away slightly from its physical surroundings, and will be focused mostly on the inner rather than the outer self. It will still be aware of its body, to a certain extent, though things that do not come in direct contact with it will easily go unnoticed.

Level 2: The Dream of the Known
A normal, everyday dream normally consists of/stems from images, experiences, and sensations in the mind. These are all ‘known’ by the mind and by the body. A normal dream often follows a story, or is at least in some way a series of events. The normal laws of the physical world may be defied, but the laws of logic are not: only what is conceivable occurs, but not necessarily what is possible. This dream may be a nightmare, which incorporates specific images, experiences, or sensations that, at least when combined, incite fear in the dreamer. The dreamer is unable to differentiate between what they are experiencing in the dream and consciousness.

Level 3: Dream-Falling: The Borders of the Unknown
I have previously discussed dream-falling in detail, and will only clarify my logic for placing it as ‘level 3.’ Though dream-falling most often occurs when one is not in a deep sleep, but rather wades in the shallows, in which the mind can still touch the bottom – it is able to still be aware of its conscious state and the physical body it is within, while it enters the unconscious. It is this murky threshold between consciousness and unconsciousness in which the mind may almost slip through the cracks into Tel’aran’rhiod.

Level 4: Tel’aran’rhiod: The Dream of the Unknown
Those who may enter into the world of Tel’aran’rhiod enter into a world in which what the mind will often find inconceivable is in fact both conceivable and possible. While in a state of unconsciousness, the dreamer is able to come into contact with at least a shadow of the physical world they are a part of in their consciousness. And, unlike a normal dream, that which is experienced is not simply a rehashing of experiences and feelings that the dreamer already knows well, but is rather a brand new experience – a dream of the unknown.

In conjunction with my theory of dream-falling, there is one idea which is frightening for me to even consider. If indeed dream-falling is reaching into Tel’aran’rhiod, then some of the dangers of Tel’aran’rhiod might also be real. Perhaps the common falling sensation that we assume to be a normal dream is in fact a true fall, and a fall in which we will plummet into or onto whatever lies beneath us, perhaps to never emerge from our sleeping state. This may seem only of a fantastic nature, but it is a possibility I have deemed worthy to consider. It is true that, at least to my knowledge, one always snaps back into consciousness before anything may happen that may be harmful. But can it not be argued that some peaceful deaths found within the arms of sleep are caused by a mistake made in dream-falling? Most, when they are in a state where they are aware that they are dreaming, will naturally force themselves awake if they feel as if they are falling or being tugged at. Perhaps the weak find themselves unable to emerge from the dream into consciousness, and thus fall into an infinite darkness, unable to come up for air.

This all may seem absurd, and the responses I receive from most of those whom I have shared my theory with have reflected this; many have met it with vehement rejection. But I argue that those who respond so are close-minded in their ways. Acceptance or rejection of any theory should be done only after careful contemplation. It is perhaps natural for those who are able to enter Tel’aran’rhiod to be angered by any suggestion about the world that they have not discovered themselves, but I ask of anyone who reads this who is familiar with the dream world to further my exploration of this theory. Knowledge can only be a benefit to us all as we explore any world, even those worlds that have been deemed unreachable by most bodies and minds.

In the Light,
Serveri Malachain
Scholar of the White Tower