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Understanding Hypnogogia...

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Adrian

Greetings Ian!

Thank you very much indeed for your excellent contribution - and welcome to our forums!

First of all  - I really like your analogy of those "Magic Eye" pictures! From a focussing perspective I think your analogy is very appropriate indeed. Many people, as you say, might reach the 2D imagery stage, but have not yet taught their perception to perceive 3D imagery therein - a step closer to the Astral.

I also like your idea of introducing audio sentience as throwing the rocks at the door - excellent idea!

Just a couple fo brief comments. I think it is correct to say that one has to achieve a certain level of trance, e.g. to the theta state, in order to gain the powers of imagination inherent with that state, and to be able to apply them to the creative imagery such as you describe.

That leads us to the second problem though of staying awake. As you say, the mind has been programmed to accept certain triggers to bring about the sleep state - the hypnagogic imagery being a main one. A key to achieving Astral consciousness is to keep the mind wide awake, while allowing the body to fall completely to sleep - a state of deep trance. The question is though - how do we suggest that we isolate the mind awke state from the body asleep triggers, and allow the body to go to sleep completely independantly of the mind?  This is definitely a very key issue I believe.

Regarding the focus, the rope technique would bring about what I would describe as an OBE, as opposed to phasing. Phasing is a raising of consciousness to a higher/inner level. There are differences, because in the Astral consciousness phasing method we are seeking a smooth, controlled, reliable, stable transition of our full, complete consciousness to the Astral, resulting in a stable, quality  experience with full memory retention. OBE of the vibrational sort appears to me to generate an etheric double, a clone, of the mind, which behaves independantly of the physical mind, and hence the issues of memory download, reliability, stability and so on.

As we know, we are multi-dimensional  beings, and we have a presence technically concurrently already in place in all spheres, and all of which we are capable of reaching. The physical is our usual "base level" of consciousness, and in Astral phasing we strive to make the Astra-Mental body the base level of consciousness, and for the time of the journey, the Astra-Mental light body becomes the main vehicle for the Astral. The OBE seems to me to be maintaining the physical mind at the base level of physical consciousness, and sending a copy to the Astral or etheric aka real-time zone. This is where all of the complications of OBE originate in my opinion. We need to send all of our consciousness to the Astral, not just a clone of it.

What I would particularly like to pursue here for all following this topic, the achieving the absolutely fundamental pre-requisite state of trance, without which progress is difficult or impossible. Specifically, achieving deep, deep, theta level trance, and more specifically keeping the mind awake and not allowing it to accept the hypnagogic trigger of following the body to sleep.

Thanks again.

With best regards,

Adrian.


https://ourultimatereality.com/
Vincit Omnia Veritas

IanWilson

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>Thank you very much indeed for your excellent contribution - and welcome to our forums!http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

It's a pleasure to be here.  You'll have to thank TheJza for inviting me over.  He told me that a bunch of really cool people present this board.  

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>First of all - I really like your analogy of those "Magic Eye" pictures! From a focussing perspective I think your analogy is very appropriate indeed. Many people, as you say, might reach the 2D imagery stage, but have not yet taught their perception to perceive 3D imagery therein - a step closer to the Astral.http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

Looking at those magic eyes, it was the first time seeing them that I thought they kind of looked like hypnogogia, or fractal patterns.  Then to my suprise, a 3D picture emerged and that thought has always stuck with me relating to how we shift into astral.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>I also like your idea of introducing audio sentience as throwing the rocks at the door - excellent idea!http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

It has worked nicely for me on many an occasion.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>Just a couple fo brief comments. I think it is correct to say that one has to achieve a certain level of trance, e.g. to the theta state, in order to gain the powers of imagination inherent with that state, and to be able to apply them to the creative imagery such as you describe.http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>That leads us to the second problem though of staying awake. As you say, the mind has been programmed to accept certain triggers to bring about the sleep state - the hypnagogic imagery being a main one. A key to achieving Astral consciousness is to keep the mind wide awake, while allowing the body to fall completely to sleep - a state of deep trance. The question is though - how do we suggest that we isolate the mind awke state from the body asleep triggers, and allow the body to go to sleep completely independantly of the mind? This is definitely a very key issue I believe.http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

I agree, the biggest challenges lie before us when our body starts to release melatonin and other nerochemicals into the mind.  The effects on us can at times, be quite psychidellic (refering of course to hypnogogic states)  However, I do believe we can increase our speed from wakefullness to the astral through an accellerated shift.

This for me also occurs by breaking up the sleeping pattern.  I do notice that certain stages are easier to cope with depending on if I have slept previously or not.  So the 4-6 hours of sleep, wake up, usually up for 30 minutes, then go back to bed and apply techniques does yeild the most results, and the quickest.

However, not everyone works well with this pattern.  It does make going astral for me, and others from what I am told, a lot easier.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>Regarding the focus, the rope technique would bring about what I would describe as an OBE, as opposed to phasing. Phasing is a raising of consciousness to a higher/inner level. There are differences, because in the Astral consciousness phasing method we are seeking a smooth, controlled, reliable, stable transition of our full, complete consciousness to the Astral, resulting in a stable, quality experience with full memory retention. OBE of the vibrational sort appears to me to generate an etheric double, a clone, of the mind, which behaves independantly of the physical mind, and hence the issues of memory download, reliability, stability and so on. http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

True, once we boil it down, all we are really doing is shifting our awareness.  It is completely controlled by us, and how we think. Its also possible that we add to our already large load of going astral, by making it more complex then simple.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>As we know, we are multi-dimensional beings, and we have a presence technically concurrently already in place in all spheres, and all of which we are capable of reaching. The physical is our usual "base level" of consciousness, and in Astral phasing we strive to make the Astra-Mental body the base level of consciousness, and for the time of the journey, the Astra-Mental light body becomes the main vehicle for the Astral. The OBE seems to me to be maintaining the physical mind at the base level of physical consciousness, and sending a copy to the Astral or etheric aka real-time zone. This is where all of the complications of OBE originate in my opinion. We need to send all of our consciousness to the Astral, not just a clone of it.http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

It does seem like we are a copy of ourselves in that state, but I do agree that we can achieve a complete conscious tranfer to astral.  I have experience some high level of consciousness when in that state, indicating we are more then just clones. But there are other cases too where the grade of consciousness is deteriorated, thus the experience is not as clear, controlled or lasting.


http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>What I would particularly like to pursue here for all following this topic, the achieving the absolutely fundamental pre-requisite state of trance, without which progress is difficult or impossible. Specifically, achieving deep, deep, theta level trance, and more specifically keeping the mind awake and not allowing it to accept the hypnagogic trigger of following the body to sleep.http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile_8ball.gif" border=0>

What methods are you currently applying to your experiences with astral?

Regards,

Ian


IanWilson

I want to contribute to Astral Consciousness, and I feel that I might be able to lend some insights into hypnogogia, and how this can effect us as we progress to our desired astral states.

Understanding Hypnogogia, a step towards Astral Consciousness

   For those of us familiar with the journey towards sleep, and the myriad of changes which occur within our minds, it is safe to say that there are certain common factors which spring up indicating a level of progression towards astral consciousness in our sleeping patterns.  I feel that these changes, and how we interact with them largely determine how we will be affected in the astral state.  If I could refine these stages into simplified categories, I would say that there are two primary factors, hypnogogic territories, and barriers, which we will have to over come.

Hypnogogic territories represent to me, a dynamic shift in perception during sleep where our physical mind inverts the physical senses from the outside world, to begin to perceive the inner one.  This inversion of senses comes with a broad range of hypnogogia.  The most dominant one is visual.  This comes in many forms, but most widely recognized are colored clouds, fractal patterns or images.
This doesn't stop the other senses from participating in a hypnogogic shift, faint audible sounds may emerge:  music, talking and even loud popping noises can occur during this shift.  Tactile sensations will also emerge; common ones are vibrational sensations within the body, a sense of touch when interacting with the hypnogogia.  For example, I was thrown a ball while in this state, I caught it, and it was solid and I could feel the texture.  Finally, smell and taste can emerge in this, generally at this time; you are more in a dream then in hypnogogic states.  The instances where I recall taste or small are rare, but have occurred.  

Barriers represent psychological walls which we have built over time when engaging in sleep.  Due to the abstract nature of hypnogogia, I believe many people have crated a drop out and sleep trigger when this phase occurs, so most do not even remember any hypnogogia as sleep has taken over once this triggers.  Fear, belief, and lack of understanding all contribute to these barriers.  Once we over come the fear, understand the dynamic shifts and set aside any restrictive belief systems, the journey opens up a lot more.

Fear reactions to hypnogogia include pushing it away, waking up, adding more layers to the fear barrier.  Overcoming these barriers comes with our curiosity, bravado and desire to achieve the desired states of consciousness during sleep.

How we begin to achieve these states come with our ability to understand what these shifts in consciousness and perception are, and how we can better utilize them for our desired goals.

Hypnogogia is aptly named, as these stages have a hypnotic and entrancing effect on the mind, inducing sleep.  When you begin to interact with the hypnogogia, for example it starts taking on more of a dream form, and you interact with the characters, there is a good chance that you are already asleep and going to slip into an unconscious dream.  If you start to build the hypnogogia into patterns that you control, you can use as a vehicle to exit into the dream.

Techniques like the rope technique are classic examples of using a focus to control these patterns and turn them into something beneficial.  And learning to focus is as important as learning to relax properly.

Remember those magic eye pictures, which have a hidden 3D image, locked within a 2D pattern?  Many people do not see this 3D image because they cannot get past the 2D patterns.  And to see this 3D world requires knowing how to focus and relax your eyes properly.  This is so true when dealing with hypnogogia.  We too start to see the 2D patterns, but may lack the focus to see the hidden 3D world within.  And like the magic eye, it is our ability to relax, and focus properly to see that emerging world is what makes the difference for those who do not.

When I start to encounter hypnogogia, I know right away, that I am close to being asleep.  In fact, I never focus on relaxation.  This is the one thing that I feel focusing on causes interruption for me.  Rather, I allow my body to follow its natural sleeping pattern as I have naturally fallen asleep thousands of times.  So why try to control something that occurs every time we go to sleep.  Rather, what I do is focus on the changes, the progression towards hypnogogia, and avoid directing my attention at my body while it starts to sleep.  Several passes through the hypnogogic states taught me that these shifts are key indicators of how relaxed I already was.

The second observation about hypnogogia was:  Hypnogogic patterns are patterns of thought; particularly, thoughts we create.  And knowing that we think in these patterns only led me to controlling them more efficiently once I realized I was the reason they were occurring.  Thought is not verbal, or linear.  We think in highly complex patterns that can emerge as 3D worlds we call dreams. Once you are comfortable with hypnogogia, become aware how your thoughts affect it.  Start shaping these patterns with ones of your own.  The rope technique is definitely a good focus.

Other techniques I have used involve creating a door, and throwing small rocks at it.  As the hypnogogia starts to take hold, the sound of the rocks hitting the door becomes less faint and more solid.  When they are loud bangs on the door, I reach for the handle, open up the door and walk into the astral, or dream state.  I like the door technique myself because the shift in the audible hypnogogic patterns is much closer to the right level or sleep and relaxation, then the visual.  Also, when I feel the rocks in my hand, I know that I am already there.  I don't even need to open the door.  I can just blast off somewhere.

If you experience hypnogogia, then you are one step closer to having a lucid dream, or an out-of-body experience.  Changing hypnogogia with your imagination, empowers you as left alone; it will drag you into a deep, blissful sleep where you may have no consciousness and recollection at all.

I'll work on another segment following hypnogogia, which can lead to Astral Consciousness.  Hopefully!  

Ian