BORDERLAND PHENOMENA
Hypnagogic imagery occurs during the nodding off stage, and can vary considerably,
from startling warnings and vivid precognition, to static scenes. Sometimes
voices are heard, even entire conversations.
In sleep research generally, the hypnagogic
state is perhaps underestimated. Researchers tend to accept that it represents
the first stage of sleep, but are more interested in other sleep phenomena.
This underpins the point that, as far as knowledge about sleep and dreams
is concerned, we are merely scratching the surface.
Within the realm of hypnagogic imagery lies
a mysterious world that, if better understood, can offer considerable rewards.
WARNINGS
Warnings are commonly reported in times of stress or danger. For example,
shortly after the end of World War II, late at night, Brian L, an exhausted
British soldier on guard duty in Germany, was nodding off. He was startled
awake by the voice of his father, who screamed, 'Brian, watch out!' He
regained awareness just in time to avoid being attacked from behind by
a resentful German ex-soldier. At the time, Brian's father was fast asleep
back in England.
Perhaps less common, but just as important,
are cases which occur when the dreamer is not exposed to danger in such
an obvious way. During 1981, after the death of her husband Bill, Joan
N had been experiencing difficulty getting to sleep. This particular night,
she decided to try and relax with a cigarette and a hot cup of tea.
I must have nodded off. The next thing I knew was Bill shouting,
'Joan, wake up!' I opened my eyes to discover my cigarette hovering precariously
over the settee, and the hot tea was just about to spill. Clearly, if I
hadn't woken when I did, at the very least I might have been scalded, but
I could have just as easily set fire to myself. There is no doubt in my
mind whatsoever that it was my husband who had called out. Since then,
I have always known that he is still with me.
Soon after retiring for the night, Fleur C,
a young lady who was camping in northern India, snuggled up in her sleeping
bag. As she was dozing, she heard her name called loud enough to wake her.
When she opened her eyes, she discovered that something flammable had been
spilt on the floor, which had ignited around her. This warning enabled
her to make her escape.
Often, people can recall that, while falling
asleep, they heard their names being called. In fact, this is so common
that many readers will be familiar with the experience. However, when they
sit up and turn on the light, nobody is present and there is no apparent
danger. Some people might hear a loud bang, or even sense that they have
been struck on the head - bright flashes of light might also be seen.
Also typical in the early stages of sleep
is the myoclonic jerk, which often occurs when people imagine that they
are stumbling down steps, or tripping over their own feet; a sensation
of falling may feature, too.
HYPNAGOGIC PREMONITIONS
Precognitive visions seen during hypnagogic imagery are said to be particularly
reliable and rarely need interpreting because, usually, they closely resemble
future events fairly accurately.
Both authors are familiar with the extraordinary
precognitive abilities of Barbara Garwell, a sweet, gentle lady who is
a housewife from Hull, in England. Hearne has made a special study of Barbara's
premonitions for years and several of her 'future viewings' have emerged
in the hypnagogic state.
In one year-long study of Barbara, she posted
all her premonitions to Dr Hearne, so that he could witness and document
the visions before the events depicted occurred (see page -- - latency
period). However, on Monday, 10 May 1982, Barbara experienced a premonition
concerning the Pope, which made such a powerful impression on her that
she telephoned Dr Hearne personally, then sent a written account.
As I got into bed I closed my eyes and saw the outside of a castle.
From the castle came about eight choir or altar-boys. There were a lot
of people together and much confusion. In the centre of these people I
saw a figure in white. It was a person of state; e.g. the Pope.
Just three days later, at the Fatima shrine
in Portugal, an attempt was made on the Pope's life - a man attempted to
bayonet him.
Although Barbara had failed to see the assassination
attempt in her vision, she knew instinctively that something significant
was going to happen concerning the Pope. In reality, there was indeed much
confusion around the man in white!
Another of Barbara's hypnagogic visions occurred
at the end of March 1982:
I got into bed and shut my eyes. I got a clear picture, as if
on a cinema screen. It was an island with whitish buildings. It seemed
to move as if projected to me (the length of the island). It was not a
big island. There was a huge stretch of what seemed to be bluish water
in front of it. Then I saw lots and lots of boats. It seemed to me that
they were facing each other for attack. They were definitely boats, not
ships. Across the front of this screen was a whole length of foreign words
that I could not understand. It was so real; like watching a TV screen.
This was the clearest visual experience I have ever had.
Exactly three days later, on 2 April 1982,
the Falkland / Malvinas Islands were invaded by Argentine military forces.
During the televised coverage of the conflict, British broadcasters often
showed scenes with Spanish text on the screen - as Barbara had seen it.
PROBLEM SOLVING
The most common hypnagogic imagery is of a simple nature. Many people report
seeing an eye gazing at them, while others witness mellow apparitions of
familiar and unfamiliar faces. Some see people walking towards them, and
others observe nonsensical 'action' scenes. Sometimes voices are heard,
or entire conversations - occasionally in a foreign tongue.
It is during this transition between consciousness
and sleep that the first link - or David Melbourne has coined the phrase
'Hypnagogic Bridge' - to the curious workings of the subconscious is established.
It makes sense, therefore, if the dream enthusiast (oneironaut), can find
ways in which to utilize this curious state - perhaps to access warnings,
precognition, and insights into the dreamer's own life.
In this sense, David Melbourne - who has a
high degree of visual imagery - utilizes this condition for various purposes,
which include his pioneering technique for problem solving. Over the years,
if he wishes, David has trained himself to remain in the hypnagogic state
for hours, without succumbing to the next stage of sleep. He is adept
at conjuring up people, animating them, and observing the outcome of their
actions. Then one day, he had the idea of invoking figures, presenting
them with a problem similar to a situation in his life, then scrutinizing
how these invented characters dealt with the issues that arose.
One particular issue that had been troubling
David concerned a friend who he met occasionally at social gatherings.
Generally, David got on very well with this individual and they shared
much in common. However, there were occasions when this acquaintance, for
no apparent reason, seemed to go out of his way to avoid conversation,
which often led to David wondering if he had done or said something out
of place.
Entering hypnagogic imagery, David decided
to conjure up this individual along with a likeness of himself, animate
them, observe the scene as it developed, and see if he could find a clue
as to why this person seemed to blow hot and cold - usually, he was a reliable,
steady man.
Immediately, David observed that his invented
characters were standing on grass. Then, to his surprise, he witnessed
a snake slither up to this individual and, as it spat at David, using its
tail as a lever, it pushed the friend away from him.
David was alerted to the possibility of the
involvement of a third party who, it seemed, didn't feel comfortable with
him. This led to him paying detailed attention to the company in which
he found himself on occasions when his friend appeared to be indifferent.
Indeed, it transpired that a third party, who appeared to be covetous of
David's friend, seemed to annoyed when David was around.
Perhaps David's friend had sensed this and,
in order to placate the third party, was keeping David at arm's length.
Alerted to this possibility, David made an effort to involve the other
person more in conversation and get to know him a little better. Soon,
David discovered that the original friend seemed to feel more comfortable
in his presence when the third party was around.
This is just one way in which hypnagogic imagery
can be used to our advantage. It is easy to see how this technique could
involve all sorts of scenarios from financial difficulties to affairs of
the heart.
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