There is a realm unknown to most; not exactly unknown, people have been there but did not know. This realm is known as “the realm of dream eaters” we’ve all visited from time to time and we call our visits “nightmares”. When the dream eaters feed, our dreams turn to nightmares. The “eaters”, as I’ll refer to them, turn our dreams into our worst fears because they feed upon fear. I am documenting my experiences with the eaters to hopefully help others who are being tormented by these things. It all started three years ago; I woke from a nightmare covered in sweat and screaming “please, someone help!” I had been buried alive in a wooden casket, as you may have guessed I am claustrophobic. A few nights later I woke swiping at my arms; I had thrown the blankets on the floor, I was breathing heavily and scanning the bed for spiders. These patterns continued on and off with the same theme; I was having nightmares containing my phobias. I had written these nightmares off as just that “nightmares”. I visited a sleep therapist; a psychiatrist; I had CT scans and I was told nothing was wrong. I was at my wits end and decided to try something radical; I visited a new age practitioner. Her name was Joanie, although she liked to be called Moonbeam. She suggested a vision quest; a walk in my thoughts while remaining awake, what happened next changed me completely. Upon beginning my vision quests I struggled to do anything more than daydream for a few minuets. As we progressed I was able to see images more clearly; I was able to sustain the vision quest for longer periods, I was able to achieve a wake/sleep state. At first my visions were happy, I suppose the vision state wasn’t something the eaters were accustomed to feeding upon. After a few vision quests, things began to change. I started noticing shadowy figures hovering just outside my mind’s eye. The more vision quests I took, the more adept the eaters became at invading. As the eaters became more at home in my vision quests, they also began to move from the fringes of my visions and into the landscape. One vision in particular was especially terrifying; I visited a small village with thatched roofs and a little trading center. I went into the trading center to browse the wares; I was curious what the villagers were selling. I saw baked goods; a blacksmith making all manner of things, I stopped at a shop selling woven linens. A blanket had caught my eye, the shop keeper turned to greet me, that’s when I met the eaters face to face. The eater turned to me; my body froze; my mind raced; I wanted to look away, I wanted to run, but I was stuck in place. The sky turned dark, I was surrounded by people crushing in on me; on all sides they pressed in against me; my breathing became labored; I struggled to move an inch. I looked up and the eater was far away from me; I was falling to the ground, the crowd was about to trample me, then I woke to moonbeam chanting something and wafting sage over me. Moonbeam looked startled; beads of sweat running down her face. She asked what I saw, I described the vision quest and her face turned from startled to concerned. Moonbeam talked about a group of Celts from Northern Ireland who told of a similar entity; and that’s when I first heard the name “dream eaters”. According to moonbeam the eaters attach themselves to those with active minds. I have always been imaginative; I have always been creative, I have also struggled with phobias and irrational fears. All of these things together created a smorgasbord for the eaters. I felt there was nothing I could do; I thought I would be haunted by eaters the rest of my life. Moonbeam explained that the eaters like to feed unseen; that’s why they exchange dreams for nightmares, they let the nightmares distract you while they feed. The mistake the eaters made was invading my vision quest; because I remained awake while dreaming, I was conscious of the eaters presence. Moonbeam theorized that the eaters didn’t know the difference between a dream and a vision quest, this would be my way to rid myself of this dream parasite. Moonbeam prepared for my next quest; sage; crystals; chants; and a number of other items of which I had no idea what they were. I settled in and began my quest; I arrived at the village once more, I made my way to the trade square. Movement began to stir in the shadows; I continued to walk toward the square, the shadows seemed to be closing in around me. I refused to give in to fear; darkness enveloped me and all I could see was the square; the village had disappeared; the sky turned black; the ground was crawling; I kept my eyes on the square, not wanting to know what stirred beneath my feet. I moved into the square; a crowd formed; the darkness moved closer; I felt things crawling up my legs. I struggled to stay sane; I felt as if I was walking in quicksand, the crowd now pressing in around me. I mercifully reached the trader selling linens; I swallowed hard; waiting for the eater to turn and face me; the figure turned; I fought to keep my fears at bay, I couldn’t let my fears tear me away from the eater. The crowd was so thick I couldn’t breath; darkness had closed in and only the eater was visible; hairy legs now crept onto my face. I screamed “show me your face! I don’t fear you!” The eater lowered its hood and I saw my face; I was the creator of my fears; I was the eater.