Tel'aran'rhiod

tel-AYE-rahn-rhee-ODD

This article is about Tel'aran'rhiod in the Wheel of Time books. The Quest for Tel'aran'rhiod is about dreamworlds in real life cultures

General

Tel'aran'rhiod, or the World of Dreams is a world that is both of the world and apart from it, possibly lying between the weaves of the Great Pattern. Most people cannot enter it deliberately, though many touch it briefly, for just a few moments. there is a danger to those who do, as wounds taken there will still exist when the person wakes; a person who dies there dies in truth. Permanent features, such as the landscape and buildings, are mirrored exactly, but transient ones, such as papers, or the position of a table or chair,flit in and out of Tel'aran'rhiod (The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, Chapter 23). There is a feel of 'unseen eyes' (TFoH, Ch. 9). What was in the waking world was here, but the reverse was not always so. The Unseen World reflected the waking world, if in odd ways, and perhaps other worlds, too. There is a pattern woven of worlds, of the reality here and others, just as the weaving of people's lives. Tel'aran'rhiod touched them all, yet few could enter except for a few unknowingly brief, yet dangerous moments. What happened to the dreamer in Tel'aran'rhiod happened in the waking world, including death (TFoH, Ch. 14).

Dreamwalkers

Some people have the ability to enter Tel'aran'rhiod at will. These people, Dreamwalkers, are not necessarily able to channel, but their abilities to shape reality while in the dream can be as powerful as any channeling. Dreamwalking is closely related to Dreaming, the ability to have prophetic dreams. Dreamwalkers are also about to find other people's dreams, enter them, or to pull them out of the dream and into Tel'aran'rhiod (The World of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time, Chapter 23). When a dreamwalker is in Tel'aran'rhiod, a tiny bit of her remains to keep her body alive. When she enters a shallow sleep and is able to talk in the waking world, then she appears faint in the World of Dreams much like those who use the dream ter'angreal (TFoH, Ch. 49).

Dream Ter'angreal

The narrow plaque about 5 inches long was seemingly made of amber, yet harder than steel. It was carved in the figure of a sleeping woman (TFoH, Ch. 48). It and the small iron disc worked on both sides with a tight spiral will bounce the channeler from Tel'aran'rhiod if the required flow of spirit is tied (TFoH, Ch. 49).

Entering in the Flesh

It is also possible to enter Tel'aran'rhiod via a gateway, though the Aiel believe that entering in the flesh is dangerous. When there, a person's control is somewhat limited, but their ability to draw on the One Power is greater (TFoH, Ch. 55)

Miscellaneous

Birgitte could find anyone who knew they were in Tel'aran'rhiod (TFoH, Ch. 14).

Sleep in Tel'aran'rhiod is not as restful as sleep undisturbed (TFoH, Ch. 25).

Quotes

There is a world that lies within each of these others, inside all of them at the same time. Or perhaps surrounding them. Writers in the Age of Legends called it Tel’aran’rhiod, “the Unseen World.” Perhaps “the World of Dreams” is a better translation. Many people – ordinary folk who could not think of channeling - sometimes glimpse Tel’aran’rhiod in their dreams, and even catch glimmers of these other worlds through it. Think of some of the peculiar things you have seen in your dreams. But a Dreamer, child - a true Dreamer - can enter Tel’aran’rhiod (Verin to Egwene, The Dragon Reborn, Chapter 21)