[HPforGrownups] Re: The Lethifold

[Odile Falaise]

No: HPFGUIDX 60230

Nicola wrote:

<<< I was wondering where JK got the idea of the
Lethifold from because it sounds like a sleeping
disorder I get. I wonder if she has it? Its called
sleep paralysis. Its when you are falling into REM
sleep or waking up from REM sleep so you are awake and
you suddenly become paralysed with a feeling of
somebody pushing down on your chest. Depending on the
severness of the disorder you can hallucinate (an evil
figure in a black cloak), be raped, strangled etc>>>

<snippage>

Odile (moi) chiming in:
Gosh!  Nicola, that sounds awful! 

There is a reference to this in "The Science of Harry
Potter" (I do not have it handy - checked out and
since returned to the library!)  

Evidently, some cultures (like that of my Croatian
friend) believe that it is a witch or hag sitting on
your chest, as though they were riding you: you are
therefore "hag ridden," or "hag rid."  Get it?

Odile... 
eight days.......!!!  whee!!