Description
This is the only complete work dealing with Hypnagogia, and it is the most thorough study to date.
Reference to the strange and wonderful experiences of hypnagogia dates back to the time of Aristotle, yet Andreas Mavromatis work is the first book on this unique state of consciousness. It provides a detailed account of the nature of hypnagogia and explores its importance to other states such as creativity, meditation, psi, schizophrenia, hallucinogenic drug-induced states and sleep-dreams. Dr Mavromatis offers clear scientific evidence and explanations of how hypnagogia is often the mental state where creative thoughts are formed and solutions to problems are obtained, as well as how various psychic phenomena are initiated and established in this state.
Evidence he provides suggests that this naturally occurring state is distinct from wakefulness and sleep and may be carrying extremely important evolutionary implications.
The book is teeming with examples and illustrations, and demonstrates how, functioning in hypnagogia, we may gain knowledge of aspects of our mental nature which constitute fundamental underpinnings to all human thought. Hypnagogia is, also, shown to play a significant part in mental and physical health, as well as serving as an encouragement to the reader to initiate his/her own personal investigation.
Reviewers refer to this book as “intellectually exciting and emotionally satisfying”, that it “has revived the long-dormant tradition of true psychic science begun a century ago by Myers and Gurney”, that “one cannot imagine anybody interested in the human mind who will not find things of interest here”, that “it is fundamental and groundbreaking toward a unified understanding of the mind”, “this really is an excellent book“, “I recommend this book very highly“, “I recommend this book without any reservations at all”.
Gina Connor, Psychologist –
Extremely exciting and engaging… Dr Mavromatis offers clear scientific evidence and explanations of how hypnagogia is often the mental state where creative thoughts are formed and solutions to problems are obtained, as well as how various psychic phenomena are initiated in this state;… teeming with examples and illustrations… easy to read and understand.
Guy Lyon Playfair, Light –
Among those who have reported making use of this state are Swedenborg, Poe, Edison, Brahms, Puccini, Wagner, Goethe, Dickens, Einstein, Salvador Dali and the chemist Kekulé who ‘discovered’ the closed-chain structure of the benzene molecule.
If such a state can lead to such predictions, or to the writing of a poem or a symphony, then surely it is worthy of close study? This is precisely what it gets here… Of particular interest are the author’s practical experience described in Appendix 3 and his discussions with a number of known sensitives and anonymous members of development circles. By including such material in a book that will surely become the standard textbook on the subject,
Mavromatis has revived the long-dormant tradition of true psychic science begun a century ago by Myers and Gurney.
Jeff Warren, Head Trip –
By far the most exhaustive account of hypnagogic research… Mavromatis’ notion of the loosening of ego boundaries is not only right on the money, it’s also reinforced by modern neuroscience’s understanding of the brain. Mavromatis found that during hypnagogic sessions, he and his subjects could pass around mental images like telepathic hot potatoes.
Sirley Marques Bonham, PhD (Consciousness and Hypnagogia) –
I consider Mavromatis’ work to be fundamental and groundbreaking toward a unified understanding of the mind.
Colin Wilson, Yorkshire Post –
Mavromatis’ rich and complex book seems to prove that, at the very least, these states hold the key to human creativity, and that they may even hold the key to man’s future evolution.
David Sladen, Bulletin of British Psychological Society –
The sweep of Mavromatis’ ideas can be seen from first to last. Whatever the highway or byway he takes, he holds our attention… Mavromatis has succeeded admirably in bringing the subject to life.
Colin Wilson –
This could easily become a cult book; it certainly deserves to be.
Professor Peter McKellar, Journal of Mental Imagery –
An extremely important book… Intellectually exciting and emotionally satisfying… Lavishly illustrated… Will certainly become the standard text… A book of outstanding quality.
Bulletin of British Psychological Society –
Here is a book to feast on…a definitive contribution to an almost unknown field.
Changes –
I cannot imagine anyone interested in the human mind who will not find things of interest here… I recommend this book very highly. It is bound to be the standard text on the subject for many years to come.
Dr John Rowan, Self & Society –
An extremely thorough examination of the unique consciousness between wakefulness and sleep… Anyone interested in altered states of consciousness simply has to read this book… This really is an excellent book.
Guy Lyon Playfair, Light –
It is not often that one can recommend a book without any reservations at all. There is more to be found in it, at considerably lower cost, than at several seminars and weekend courses I have attended.
Gary Lachman, ForteanTimes –
Mavromatis links hypnagogia to dreams, schizophrenia, creativity, meditation, mystical experience, and, most strikingly, paranormal experience… (he) relates hypnagogia to what is described in Tantric Yoga as the ‘Fourth State’, the junction of waking, sleeping and dreaming… his study of hypnagogia is the most thorough to date, and it is difficult to see how it will be surpassed as the standard work.
Alyson Bond, The British Journal of Psychiatry –
‘Hypnagogia’ makes fascinating reading… It also serves as an encouragement to the reader to initiate his own personal investigation.