Questions about Alpha state

[Bene]

I've now done the silva method as found on this article and can go into alpha state easily.

But I wanna make sure that I know all about it. Are there any dangers to going into this state? Anything I should know in regards to I-M or otherwise concerning this state (or the silva method)?

Danke!

[Wax Frog]

Originally Posted by Bene

[I] can go into alpha state easily.

Is there a way of determining this without actually being able to measure your brain waves? I suspect I am able to do this as well, but have little knowledge of the subject so I can't say one way or the other...

[Bene]

I know I am there when my thoughts s-l-o-w down. I can actually tell when I am out of alpha state because my body is slightly more tenser and my thinking seems to be normal. Thats when I do a 20 to 1 or a 5 to 1 countdown and I can feel myself go back into alpha.

Another way to tell is how you feel afterwards. I just got done with a 20 minute session and I feel very refreshed, alive and aware like I had a 2 hour nap.

[Wax Frog]

I'm wondering if this is what I have come to refer to as "mind quieting"... Neat sensation, though I let myself lapse out of practice the past month or so... Rather foolish, considering how beneficial it is.

[Acting Like Godot]

Basically you can reach alpha in quite a number of different ways. The countdown technique taught in the Silva Method is just one way. (I am a Silva graduate, by the way).

No, there are no dangers into getting into this state.

How to tell whether you are in alpha? (Or for that matter, theta). Don't obsess too much about it, the main thing is that you have to get familiar with the state of being deeply relaxed, yet very conscious and alert. For most people, they only get to that kind of relaxation level when they sleep, but in sleep you won't be able to do any conscious creation with the LOA.

As you grow familiar with the alpha state, you will experience different sorts of physical sensations and you will learn, over time, to tell from these sensations how deeply you've gone. You can also read about these sorts of physical indicators in books about meditation or hypnosis, except that these book may not use the phrase "alpha state".

I think that the physical sensations vary from individual to individual. These are the types I get:

1. seeing lots of pulsating colours (purples, greens, blues) even though my eyes are closed;

2. sensation of the body growing very heavy or very light

3. tingling sensations in the hands / arms

4. sudden, odd, little twitches in different parts of the body. I think this is actually due to little muscles spontaneously relaxing and unknotting themselves in alpha relaxation

5. sensations of "sinking" deeply into your own mind (a "going down" sort of feeling, that is kind of "layered", like sinking through different layers)

[Wax Frog]

4 and 5 I have experienced somewhat, but 1? Big time! I've been seeing the purple light (with a bit of faint gold mixed in) since I was a child, but it meant nothing to me until recently; in fact I'd long assumed, wrongly, that these were phosphenes.

It's been inferred to me that my seeing the purple so naturally and easily is a good thing... Last night it came quite strongly, almost like viewing a lighthouse beam from above. It surprised me as I'd not formally meditated in weeks.

[Acting Like Godot]

They may well be phosphenes. The question then is - what causes phosphenes?

There are different explanations and causes; one of them, for example, is that phosphenes can be caused by electromagnetic changes (eg as experienced by astronauts). It may well be that by meditation/Silva/visualisation etc, you are also causing EM changes to occur, thereby triggering phosphenes.

[Wax Frog]

Either way is fine with me, as long as I can I make some practical use of the phenomenon

[Bene]

Today when I was in Alpha, my body felt very heavy. At some point I had this itch on my face and I had to scratch it... I "tried" to lift my elbow but it wouldn't move with normal effort... haha. So I had to do it more consciously. That was a disturbance and I had to relax again. I had both the sinking feeling and the tingling too.

ALG, from what you know... do you know why the Alpha state is conducive to faster manifestations?

Thanks!

[4Mind4Life]

There are no dangers of going into the alpha brainwave state. There are many ways to access the alpha brainwave state. I have several articles written about the alpha brainwave over at my blog and am trying to cover brainwaves in-depth.

Simply closing your eyes and visualizing will put you into an alpha brainwave state. I have written a great article called Understanding The Alpha Brainwave that you may want to check out if interested! I have also done personal alpha brainwave experiments. Currently, I am more interested in controlling my brainwave state through meditation and cultivating a "high performance mind."

Feel free to ask me any more questions that you may have!

Best wishes,

4 Mind 4 Life

Originally Posted by Bene

I've now done the silva method as found on this article and can go into alpha state easily.

But I wanna make sure that I know all about it. Are there any dangers to going into this state? Anything I should know in regards to I-M or otherwise concerning this state (or the silva method)?

Danke!

[Bene]

Looks in depth.. I'll check it out.. thanks !