Learning to intentionally induce the hypnagogic state may be your key to creative insights and novel problem-solving.
Want to join the ranks of some of our most inventive and creative thinkers in history such as Thomas Edison, Salvadori Dali, Einstein, Isaac Newton and Beethoven (to name but a few) by intentional inducing a state of awareness known for its creativity, symbolism and novel insights? Your ambitions might not be nearly as large, but what about creative solutions to simple everyday problems that are stealing your time and peace? Stuck in your creative process or wanting to start a new project but don’t know where to start or how to get unstuck? The hypnagogia state may be the solution to getting out of your own way and allowing your own brilliance to come through. So, what is the hypnagogia state? Hypnagogia is sensorial perceptions that happens ‘automatically’ – meaning, without conscious control, while we are falling asleep, or while awakening from sleep. Hypnagogia may happen while a person is meditating, or anytime when conscious focused attention is relaxed. “Hypnagogic” refers to this state just prior to sleep, while “Hynopomic” refers to this state right after we awaken from sleep. (Bonham, 2017) To understand this state of consciousness we must first have a basic understand of how the brain is divided between the conscious and unconscious mind. While we all have a working understanding of our conscious thoughts, actions, and feelings the unconscious seems to be dark closet where many lost or never to be found things may be hidden. The unconscious mind can be broken in the sub-conscious and the super-conscious mind. While the subconscious holds all our deeply ingrained patterns of behavior, records all our thoughts and actions, creates and maintains the body and is said to hold our past life history. While “the super conscious mind encompasses a level of awareness that sees beyond material reality and taps into the energy and consciousness behind that reality. Some refer to this as the ‘ether’ – the essence of the universe – a flow of electromagnetic waves that permeate all matter and space.”(Gillian, 2020) It is during these hypnagogia states that we may have access to the super conscious mind, speaking to us through symbols and visions not available during our waking state. The super conscious mind has access to things beyond our everyday way of perceiving our problems, healing and even reality itself.
The term ‘hypnagogia’ was first introduced by Andreas Mavromatis in a scientific paper in 1987 and yet the phenomena of tapping into the messages from such transitional states of consciousness had been revered for hundreds of years. For instance, Thomas Edison derived a system to capitalize on this state of consciousness, even though it had yet to be defined. Edison would fall asleep with ball bearings in his hand and would strategically place aluminum pie plates below his hands. As Edison began to dose off, he would drop the bearings making a huge clatter waking Edison, wherein he would feverishly jot down his visions and thoughts before returning to his normal waking state. (McKay, 2021) Therein lies one of the keys of this state, marked by a dreamlike feeling and a quickly eradicated visions or solution, proponents of this method have learned that having a journal or voice recording device close in hand is paramount to ensure solutions aren’t forgotten.
In present day, we’ve come a long way in our knowledge of these states and with new technologies have more sophisticated ways we can help our consciousness tap into these eureka moments. Using light therapy known as brainwave entrainment, we can subtly and reliable move brainwave patterns into the bridge of waking and sleeping where the hypnogogic state resides. This is known as the alpha (8-10hz)- theta (4-8hz) threshold and using a frequency following response (this is where external repeating stimulation synchronises with your brains own internal rhythm and then influences that rhythm), such light therapies can help hold us at this axis point for a more suspendered amount of time. This pause allows for greater insight and “tapping in” to this superconscious state. Sensations created by these hypnagogic light sessions are quite pleasant and often result not only in these visions or insights but accompanied by a sense of deep relaxation blended with heightened awareness.
At The Starlight House we blend this type of light therapy with sound and vibrations conducive to lulling your body into this hypnagenic state where you may hover for longer periods without dosing off. The results can vary from a relaxed state with compelling visuals that are a barrage of color and pattern to clear auditory or sensory messages, untangling some of our most challenging riddles. These sessions seem to be particularly helpful when we’ve wrestled with an issue long enough to have a good foundational understanding and yet to see an answer. Sometimes the best solution for WHATEVER ails us is simply getting out of our own way to allow the wisdom of the cosmos to pour through us.
Recommended Session: The Little Spark
Works Cited:
Bonham, S. M., PhD. (2017). Self-Experiments with Consciousness and Hypnagogia A scientist’s personal exploration of consciousness at the threshold of sleep. . . And beyond – . Utexas. https://www.academia.edu/31628902/Self_Experiments_with_Consciousness_and_Hypnagogia_A_scientists_personal_exploration_of_consciousness_at_the_threshold_of_sleep_And_beyond_Preview_
Gillian. (2020, February 13). What is the Superconscious Mind? | Gillian Dalgliesh Therapies | Edinburgh. Gillian Dalgliesh Therapies. https://www.gilliandalgliesh.com/what-is-the-superconscious-mind/
McKay, B. a. K. (2021, June 1). Nap like Salvador Dali: Get creative insights on the boundary between sleep and wakefulness. The Art of Manliness. https://www.artofmanliness.com/health-fitness/health/hypnagogic-nap/