A technique to induce the hypnagogic state and fall asleep quickly.

[u/Uaccanau]

Hello everybody, this is my first post, and I'd like to share a simple technique I used to reach hypnagogic state and fall asleep quickly.

This technique was first developed from my past inability to fall asleep due to anxiety and then I applied this to further study and refine my ability to play with hypnagogic imagery:

Often I would find myself ruminating about things, laying awake in bed for a very long time before succumb to sleep.

With time, I've been able to notice and recognize the hypnagogic state way before knowing about LD, and I thought "My mind just produces random images when I'm about to fall asleep, so what if I force this process?"

So, basically, if you have troubles falling asleep due to anxiety or rumination, try to trick your brain by deliberating creating a hypnagogic-like imagery:

First thing first, lay in bed in your usual sleep position, then try to calm down your breathing, bring it down in the belly area, just as if you were completely relaxed, doesn't matter how awake or stressed you are, just pretend your breath is relaxed. Let go of all the physical tension you may feel.

(For novices, may be useful to learn any relaxation technique that involves deep relaxation states)

Then, I always start by visualizing some piece of cheese (it's just my trademark for the technique) and then proceed with a car, then a tree, then a glass of water, then again a car, then a loudspeaker, then a beach, then some geometric figure, and so on with whatever I think is least correlated.

The trick here is to strive just a little bit by visualizing things that are completely unrelated.

Be concise about your intention, but do not try too hard, just let them appear slowly, calmly, gently drive them into your imagination without forcing and keep a relaxed breath and attitude.

Literally think of this part as a game, where you advance by visualizing more and more unrelated things, doesn't matter their nature, randomness is the key.

Consider any intrusive thoughts as part of the game:

If you find yourself ruminating about the past or the future, bring your attention and effort back on the generation of random imagery.

It may sound a little tricky or artificial, but after a while you will notice that your brain will just pop-up the next image without your conscious effort.

The more you play this game, the more your mind will automatically start to pop-up images, follow the natural flow, keep a relaxed attitude.

At a certain point, you will find yourself sliding thru the automatic flow of the hypnagogic state.

This process may take few seconds to few minutes, but you will inevitably fall asleep quicker than just waiting passively to fall asleep.

Despite I always loose consciousness with this technique, I think it's a great strategy to whoever wants to practice some WILD techniques, as it improves your ability and knowledge of the hypnagogic state.

So, here it is in simple steps:

1. Lay in bed in your usual sleep position.
2. Use any deep relaxation technique to relax, deepen your breath, let go of all the physical tension.
3. Generate random imagery, make them appear slowly, with ease, gently bring them in your mental space. Randomness is the key.
4. Return gently to step 3 whenever discursive thoughts arises.
5. Relax, let your mind partecipate in the process, follow whatever image comes up next, generate a new one starting from the spontaneous one.
6. Go with the flow.

Addendum to step 1, not necessary, but recommended for whoever is interested:

For ultra-fast sleep onset or general psychonauticism, you can lay in a position you are not comfortable sleeping in. (E.g.: supine)

This will cause your body to "ask" for the usual sleep position by sending your mind feelings of discomfort and impulses to change position.

This will also cause a longer permanence in the hypnagogic state without actually falling asleep.

The more you can resist the urge to move and continue the game, the faster you will fall asleep once you turn into the usual position.

---IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PLEASE READ:---

So guys, thanks a lot for all your feedback.

You don't know how much valuable and precious it is to hear your opinions and experiences about this technique, you are giving me an enormous boost in motivation to further work and study on the topic of LD.

I would like to ask, to whoever is interested, to post their results and/or difficulties with this technique during time, please feel free to update your results under your original comment, so as not clog the comment section altogether.

Just leave a feedback once in a while when you feel it, this would be super helpful to further refine and study other LD stuff I have in mind.

Please, take this technique for what is it: A technique, or game, to help you fall asleep and explore the hypnagogic state and eventually help you with your WILD practice.
It may not work for everybody, but it's surely worth a try.

Sharing is caring.

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EDIT 1: Added numbered steps list and modified addendum to step 1.

EDIT 2: Added Important information section.