Tony Crisp Interpretation:
Dreams themselves are an altered state of consciousness. The term “ASC” refers to a significant change in what is considered normal waking awareness. Therefore a dream is an excellent example of an ASC. For instance, in dreams or in a state where the sense of oneself is diminished, people can sometimes do or experience things they cannot in “normal” waking life. Problems can be solved in an intuitive way, perception is heightened, some people look ahead to future events, or experience a view of things far distant from their physical body. There is also the possibility of healing processes released in the body. Memories of early childhood or even life in the womb are more readily accessible in the dream state than in waking life. Of course, it has to be said that although such things are possible, the run-of-the-mill altered state in dreams or fantasies has little or nothing of these splendid possibilities. Therefore part of the study of ASCs is to discover how we can, as humans, learn to use our potential more adequately. Nevertheless, the full surround virtual reality of a dream is definitely an ASC. See ESP in dreams; the definitions of dreaming under Freud, Sigmund; out-of-body experience.