Abstract
This article takes a semiotic and structuralist approach to understanding the characteristic nightmare package of imagery, or image-constellation, which appears also in charms, curses and lullabies to do with disturbed sleep. Elements of the nightmare package – its mythos – are related to a spectrum of charms and related belief-narratives. Charms against the nightmare are investigated, as are sleep charms as representative of the nightmare narrative of threat coming close to fruition. Detail is provided on spiritual beings believed to attack the sleeper, as well as on charms as methods to ward off such attacks. Psychological explanations are considered, such as the nightmare antagonist being a disguised avatar of the self.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 78-116 |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Journal | Incantatio: An International Journal on Charms, Charmers and Charming |
| Volume | 6 |
| Publication status | Published - 16 May 2019 |
| Event | Charms, Charmers and Charming, International Conference - , Hungary Duration: 15 May 2015 → 17 May 2015 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- body
- dreams
- dream imagery
- lullabies
- mara
- metaphor
- nightmare
- sleep
- spells
