My mother’s not going to like this.

I’ve blogged already about the audio recording I made which contains the state of deep sleep. The enthusiasm of purchasers suggests that states of being – like sleep – are easily conveyed through audio recordings.

As I continue to hear more and more feedback, I’m realizing that BOTH the state of deep sleep AND the state of conscious awareness are present on that recording. This makes sense to me since I was both asleep and awake when I made it.

While this might sound odd to you, this combo experience is what sleep is like for me now.

While you might prefer sleep the old-fashioned way, I find it very practical and delicious to be awake while I sleep. Unlike most people I can plan a menu or mentally compose a blog post during that time. And I know how exquisitely relaxed my body feels while it is sound asleep.

Apparently this isn’t just part of my wierdness. I recently discovered that this is an advanced yogic state highly sought-after by the yoga crowd.

Who knew?

Its called Yoga Nidra or ‘Conscious Deep Sleep’ and is described by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati as “one of the deepest of all meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental process to a state of supreme stillness and insight…. you leave the Waking state, go past the Dreaming state and go to Deep Sleep, yet remain awake.”

Kewl…

The ironic part of this for me is that I tried yoga lessons once.

For some reason I was deemed an unsuitable participant and encouraged to withdraw. I didn’t realize until today that I’ve apparently continued to practice yoga on my own.

Anyway, this new information is interesting and I’m trying to decide how to ‘market’ this recording now.

If you have any ideas, I’m all ears…

I’m becoming convinced that desired ’states of being’, or ‘ways of feeling’, can be effectively transferred through audio-recordings.

And I must say, I’m totally jazzed about the possibilities this opens up.

For example…

10 years ago, I discovered a way to easily and reliably let my body fall sound asleep even while my mind remains wide awake. After a lifetime of insomnia, (I recall a doctor prescribing me placebo sleeping pills when I was 8), it is now heaven to ’sleep’ and be completely rejuvenated any darn time I like.

The other week I decided to embed this delicious sleep-state onto an audiorecording and test it out with other insomniacs. I tested the recording, entitled ‘Drift to Sleep…Now’, (later renamed “Pure Sleep Now”) with 15 subscribers to my Newsletter who have trouble falling asleep because of a busy mind and stressful thoughts. And I’ve been dazzled by their feedback.

Based on its apparent effectiveness, I’m now working with my friend and fellow wizard, Amy Hillenbrand, to make it available online. (If you or someone you know suffers from insomnia, stay tuned for details of when it will be available!)

Post-script:  This audio is now available for purchase on its new website – wwwpuresleepnow.com.

Here’s the feedback:

“What a delightful experience! I have listened to your mp3 the past 3 nights and fell asleep really easily, feeling deeply relaxed. I’m going to share it with my husband who also has trouble sleeping.”

***

“I’ve listened to your sleep audio twice now. The first time I felt just so relaxed, like my body was sleeping and my mind fully awake. The second time I listened to it in bed and I had a fantastic dream, yummy, lovely.”

***

“My 21-year-old daughter always has a lot of thoughts going on in her head and often cannot sleep. She has listened to your audio three times and reports that she falls asleep even before the recording is over. She says that you are nailing it…”

***

“I remember hearing your voice for a bit at the beginning then passed out! Thank you.”

***

“I have listened to your recording twice now both times in the afternoon, and both times I fell into a deep relaxed sleep state. The first time I just drifted away and then woke up feeling relaxed. The second time, I was experiencing some tension. As I gradually drifted easily into a deep relaxed sleep state, I noticed the tension easing. Thank you!”

***

“Your sleep audio is unbelievable! When I woke up, I realized that the recording also, unexpectedly, gave me the biggest relief I’ve ever had from a long-standing back spasm that’s been killing me! Oh my god, its phenomenal! ”

***

“Your sleep tape really seems to do the trick! Thanks for this wonderful gift of sleep!”

***

“The audio conked me out. Thank you SO MUCH!”

***

“I decided to listen to your audio when I wasn’t tired, to see its effect. I found your voice to be just perfect. The way you guided me to my thoughts, then pointed out their connection to body feelings got my mind engrossed and soon I was beginning to feel ready for sleep. I began to find it difficult to tell where I ended and the rest of the world began. I remember thinking, “It’s like having a big fluffy duvet on the inside!” Feeling safe, connected, alive, and relaxed, I started to nod off, and only came back because the phone rang! And never once did you focus on ‘making me go to sleep.’ Bottom line, I felt rested, even without fully going into the sleep state. Thank you, I will be using it frequently.”

***

“Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with my mind spinning with thoughts. I had tried unsuccessfully for about an hour to stop them, so I turned on the “Pure Sleep Now” audio. My thoughts stopped almost immediately and I went into a very dead sleep. And, here is the cool thing, I woke up in a really happy mood filled with energy and joy.”

***

“This time, when I turned on the audiorecording, I could really, really sense that it was not the words you were saying but the energy behind them. I really think you are on to something….”