Fantasy Worlds within Altered States of Consciousness

This is the first of 3 chapters examining key themes which emerged in my research. In this chapter I look at the boundaries between so-called reality, imagination and fantasy. Theoretical discussions include the work of the psychologist Max Velmans and William James. I examine fieldwork findings where participants blurred the boundaries very regularly, particularly in daydream, hypnagogic states and areas between thoughts. Anomalous experience is considered as a challenge to materialist views of reality, including non-local consciousness. Sacred and spiritual areas of existence are explored in the next chapter, but here mentioned in relation to questions of fantasy and reality. I suggest a need to explore and accept porous boundaries between fantasy and reality, and non-Western concepts of multiple realities including the spirit world.