Before we can utilize hypnagogic imagery, we must have the capacity
to see images in the first place. It may come as a surprise to discover
that some people have no conscious imaging capacity whatsoever. A case
in point is that of Dr Hearne - he is unable to 'see' anything in his mind's
eye.
Day-dreaming is the best example of conscious
imagery, and many readers will be able to equate with it immediately. However,
there are those who never day-dream. When he was a young child, Dr Hearne's
teacher had occasion to mention daydreaming and assumed that he would understand
what she meant. He thought she was mad talking about images that one sees
while still awake! To him, daydreaming meant nothing more than the process
of thinking.
To some people, too, little or no imagery
occurs during the nodding off stage of sleep. They are likely to perceive
the process of falling asleep as being awake one minute, then asleep the
next. They are not liable to be aware of any transitional stage between
consciousness and sleep.
This is an important point to understand before
you make an effort to utilize the hypnagogic state. It is possible, though,
to assess the degree of your imaging capacity. For example, if you were
to hear or read a high imagery phrase like 'atomic explosion', can you
'see' it in your mind's eye?
Some readers are likely to wince as they see
an incredibly vivid animated image of an atomic detonation - real in every
detail (high imagery). Others will be able to imagine the explosion, but
not in as stark detail (good imagery). However, some will struggle to bring
the scene to their mind's eye, (slight imagery), while the remainder will
see nothing at all (no imagery).
For those who can see nothing, there is still
a way in which they can join the ranks of accomplished imagers and put
the hypnagogic state to good use. Whether they are aware of this transitional
stage of nodding off or not, at some point after retiring, most people
will become dozy. It is at this stage that the non imagers are in the hypnagogic
state.
This state of doziness provides a good opportunity
for self-hypnosis, or to reinforce positive thought patterns. This is the
best time to resolve to give up smoking, stop nail biting, or to lose those
extra pounds. How often do we hear about a long-term smoker who suddenly
announces that he has given up the habit? 'One day, I just woke up and
decided to stop,' seems to be a common theme - perhaps this decision has
not been arrived at by chance!
Many people report that they've occasionally had visions that lingered
for a time - usually a few seconds - after physical waking. This type of
persisting dream is termed hypnopompic imagery.
Usually, the opposite is true, and the moment
an individual opens his or her eyes, their dreams just melt away. For the
person who is interested in dream analysis, this can be annoying, as they
try desperately to cling on to tantalizing memories, which seem to hover
just out of reach.
Consequently, the person who is given to hypnopompic
imagery has an advantage. They will be able to capitalize on these lingering
visions by memorizing and consolidating the dream's content, so that it
can be easily recorded. Therefore, even this seemingly benign dream condition
can be put to a constructive use.