your senses” from the netherworld, you remember who you are, the
problems in your life, the person sleeping next to you, the house you
own, where you live ... and presto! By association, you’re back in
Beta as the same you.
Some people fall very quickly through these levels like a steel ball
dropping from the top of a building. Their bodies are so fatigued that
the natural progression down the ladder to the subconscious states
happens too rapidly.
Others cannot shift gears to naturally progress down the ladder into
sleep; they are hyperfocused on the cues in their lives that reinforce
their addictive mental and emotional states. They become insomniacs,
and may take drugs to chemically alter the brain and sedate the body.
Either way, sleep problems may indicate that the brain and the mind
are out of sync.The Best Times to Meditate: Morning and Evening,
When the Door to the Subconscious Opens
As a result of normal daily changes in brain chemistry (alternately, the
brain produces serotonin, primarily a daytime neurotransmitter that makes
you alert; and melatonin, the nighttime neurotransmitter that begins to relax
you for sleep), there are two times when the door to the subconscious mind
opens—when you go to bed at night and when you wake up in the morning.
So it is a good idea to meditate in the morning or evening, because it will be
easier to slip into a state of Alpha or Theta.
I like to wake up early to begin the process, because while I’m still a bit
dreamy, I’m still in Alpha. I personally like to create from a clean slate.
Others prefer the late evening. They know that the body (which was in
control during the day) is now too tired to “be” the mind. They can create
without any effort by drawing out the Alpha phase, and even entering into
Theta, while they are still awake.
Meditation during the middle of the day might be difficult, especially if
you work in a busy office, manage a houseful of kids who demand your