The Witching Hour: Weird Things That Happen Between 3-4am

1. The Witching Hour

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Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, and when you glance at your clock it's around 3am? Well, if you've seen any horror movies ever, you probably know that 3am to 4am is Witching Hour. It's said to be the time when spirits are most active.

2. How does it work?

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The legend goes that this is when demons, ghosts, and spirits are most active because the separation between the living and dead disappears at this time. Therefore, there are often a lot of supernatural events that occur during this time, because we the living can more easily feel their presence.

3. Christians call it The Devil's Hour

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This hour of the night got its name because it was assumed that 3-4am is when witches cast their spells, as it is the blackest of night. Some also believe this is the time when Christ died, and thus thinning the veil between the natural and spirit world. In other words, we're furthest from the holy and nearest the devil at this time.

4. You are at your most vulnerable

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Humans are at their most vulnerable between 3am and 4am, because as we mentioned, it's the darkest hour, and it's also when most people are in their deepest sleep of the night. Ghosts and vampires come out to play at this time, so if you're in a haunted house, be on high alert!

5. Most demonic attacks happen at this time

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The most demonic possessions are reported during this hour. This might be why the film industry loves to terrorize us with horror films based on this time frame. When you're watching a scary movie (like The Conjuring) and you see 3:07AM, you know that bad stuff is about to go down!

6. Besides just deepest levels of sleep, this happens

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Our bodies follow a Circadian rhythm, which basically means that your body is aware of the light of the day. When you travel a long distance and your body experiences a time change, this is why you have jet lag, because your Circadian Cycle is off. During Witching Hour, your body is in its deepest sleep AND it reaches its lowest temperature, which means all your biological functions are "sleeping."

7. You're more likely to die during Witching Hour

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Not to freak you out, but did you know that hospitals and nursing homes have observed that most deaths happen during 3 to 4 in the morning? Freaky! Even research done by Harvard Medical School has proven that your chance of death increases at this time. Sleep well, my friends...

8. Your psychic abilities are going crazy

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For some reason, perhaps the thinner veil we mentioned, people are more aware and sensitive to psychic stimuli during Witching Hour. This means that mediums especially find it easier to communicate with spirits. And it means that those of us without "the gift" can at least sense the spirits more.

9. You might be able to send a telepathic message

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People have conducted experiments that show projecting a telepathic message during 3 to 4am is likely to be more successful than trying to do so at another time. So whether you're trying to communicate with a lost loved one, or trying to tell a ghost to leave your house, doing it at this time is your best bet.

10. You're more at risk for sleep paralysis

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If you've ever experienced sleep paralysis, you know how terrifying it can be. People used to believe that witches or demons were causing this paralysis in people as they slept. If you do experience it, it's more likely to occur during this time. Just something to keep in mind!

11. People often have to go to the bathroom

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Another weird thing that happens is that most people wake up to use the bathroom at this time. It could be due to the Circadian rhythm we discussed earlier. This particularly seems to be the case for women, who only need around 6 or 7 hours of sleep. So if you're early to bed, you may find yourself waking up at this time more often.

12. You're probably a more spiritual person

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Legend has it that if you're awakened during Witching Hour, then you're likely more in tune with your spiritual self. This could be that your spirits are wanting to communicate with you during this time when it's easier for them. So if you wake up, try to tune into any messages coming your way.

13. A lot of people have been murdered during this time

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You're probably familiar with the film The Amityville Horror. That film was inspired by Ronald DeFeo Jr, who murdered his family at 3 o'clock in the morning. There have been other similar strange occurrences, and the film The Exorcism of Emily Rose happened at this time and is based on true events.

14. The devil himself could pay you a visit

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So the story goes that if you wake up at 3am on the dot, and you're feeling panicked, then it's highly likely that the devil has paid you a visit, either literally or in your dreams. The heightened state of agitation means that there might have been a visitation!

15. Is it just simply science?

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As we talked about, your Circadian Circle could be the cause of your 3am wake up. It's also true that around this time we would start to come out of our deep REM cycle, so it could just be that we are sleeping lighter and wake up more easily. Our bodies know when night is becoming day, so it might just be their way of preparing us for morning.

16. It's considered similar to solstices or equinoxes

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During a solstice or equinox, midnight is said to evoke magic. In a similar way, Witching Hour allows for malevolent happenings. Witches, psychics and sorcerers say it allows for stronger powers, and because of the darkness it allows spirits to do what they want under the cover of night.

17. You become more powerful

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According to folklore, beyond just psychic abilities being enhanced, your power to ward off supernatural powers OR harness them to your advantage by following specific instructions. You would begin to tap into these powers at the stroke of midnight, sometimes by taking tonics or visiting a graveyard, so that when 3am hits you're fully ready to partake.

18. We've re-coined the phrase to mean other things

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Some parents use this term to describe the time when an infant tends to cry at the same point of the night. We've watered it down, perhaps to make it less spooky. It's also used to refer to the last hour of trading before stock options expire. It explains a high level of activity and rush in a minimal time window.

19. So what types of spirits might you encounter?

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In European folklore, there's an ugly, malicious woman called a hag who practices witchcraft. Hags are known for being attuned to the devil and the dead. They can shape-shift as beautiful women who then sleep with men to haunt them in their nightmares.

20. We don't mean the band

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An incubus is a type of demon, in male form, that sleeps with women and thus results in the birth of witches, demons and malevolent spirits. According to legend, the magician Merlin was apparently the son of an incubus. The word is derived from the Latin word for "nightmare." If you have a nightmare that leaves you with the feeling of heavy weight on your chest or stomach, then you were likely visited by this spirit.

21. Someone might be watching you

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Many people report waking up at 3am in a jolt, as if being shook violently awake. This is usually accompanied by an inability to go back to sleep and a very visceral feeling of being watched. This goes beyond feeling a little spooked by the dark, but something much more insidious at play in the night.

22. You might have insatiable thirst

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Some people have said that their 3am wake-up leaves them feeling so incredibly thirsty. With their hearts pounding and minds racing, people have said they will often just stand in their kitchen gulping water while they wait for their bodies to calm down. One person said they even once choked on the water, because their thirst was SO strong they couldn't stop to breathe.

23. Talk to the people you live with

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Of course, all of this is terrifying if you live alone. We're not sure if it's better or worse to go through it with others. One person said that their ENTIRE household would experience sleep paralysis at the exact same time every night during Witching Hour. That seems terrifying, because then it's definitely beyond a coincidence.

24. You might experience incredible sadness

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Have you ever been awakened at Witching Hour with an overwhelming feeling of sadness? This could be because your subconscious has been weighed down by something happening in your natural life. It could also be a spirit communicating with you. Examine how you're feeling and try to understand the root of it.

25. Do you know about Astral Projection?

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You've maybe heard this term a few times, but it's a phenomenon where you have an out of body experience. People have described it as a wakeful dream or similar to a near death experience. It's an ethereal dream that can be life-changing for people. Some have even reported things they've learned through astral projection that they could know have learned any other way!

26. Your own body might be trying to tell you something

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We've talked about spirits or ghosts potentially trying to communicate during Witching Hour. But it could also be your own body! Your body is at its most vulnerable at this time, so it could be that you've been too hard on yourself or overly stressed, so your body is trying to alert you to deeper issues.

27. Your guardian angels want to talk to you

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When you wake up at specifically 3:33am, it's a sign that your guardian angel wants to communicate with you. It might be a confirmation of everything you've been manifesting about to come to fruition. Your angel is telling you you're on the right track. So keep praying and manifesting for the things you want to see happen in your life!

28. What if you just want to sleep?

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Maybe it's been weeks or months of waking up at this time, and you've tried everything, opened yourself up, and now you just want to sleep. Let's round this out with a few things you can do to get your sleep back! The biggest thing experts say is room temperature. Did you know that 65 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal sleeping temp? So check that thermostat before you go to bed!

29. Keep a journal by your bed

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If you wake up during 3am to 4am from a vivid dream, keep a journal by your bed so you can quickly jot down everything you remember. This is useful for a few reasons. First, it helps you process everything so you can clear your mind and hopefully go back to sleep! It also allows you to re-examine what you wrote when you're thinking more clearly, but may not remember the dream as vividly.

30. Take time to meditate!

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Yes, even in the middle of the night. If you wake up, try to take a moment to meditate and focus. Experts say that you've been given a gift, and if you can align yourself and really listen, you may learn secrets about your own life and your destiny that would not be revealed to you any other way!