We easily forget that we are the controllers of our reality – and that “our reality” is not made up of outside influences, but that it actually consists of our thoughts, beliefs and mindset.
Therefore, by learning about the deeper states of consciousness, you can open your subconscious mind and create your reality at will, and with precision. To do this, the first step is understanding your different brain frequencies. Did you know that we all have five (Beta, Alpha, Theta, Delta and Gamma), and each frequency is measured in cycles per second (Hz) and has its own set of
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characteristics representing a specific level of brain activity and a unique state of consciousness? Smart, eh?
1. Beta (14-40Hz) – The Waking Consciousness And Reasoning
Wave
Beta brain waves are associated with normal waking consciousness and a heightened state of alertness, logic and critical reasoning. While Beta brain waves are important for effective functioning throughout the day, they also can translate into stress, anxiety and restlessness. The voice of Beta can be described as being that nagging little inner critic that gets louder the higher you go into range. Therefore, with a majority of adults operate at Beta; it’s little surprise that stress is today’s most common health problem.
Beta – these brainwave patterns represent normal conscious thinking, the
monkey mind that ruminates, plans, details, analyses and judges. It’s the part that criticises and condemns. It’s active when we’re highly focused on the external world around us, which in itself can be a type of trance state. An example would be people who cling to ideas and external form, even when real world evidence is glaringly obviously telling them something is wrong, think the image of a near death starving anorexic who clings to the idea of being too fat
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regardless of how many people plea for them to eat more food. Beta brainwave patterns alone are also associated with high levels of anxiety and stress keeping people emotionally attached to these harmful ways of thinking.
2. Alpha (7.5-14Hz) – The Deep Relaxation Wave
Alpha brain waves are present in deep relaxation and usually when the eyes are closed, when you’re slipping into a lovely daydream or during light meditation. It is an optimal time to program the mind for success and it also heightens your imagination, visualization, memory, learning and concentration. It is the gateway to your subconscious mind and lies at the base of your conscious awareness. The voice of Alpha is your intuition, which becomes clearer and more profound the closer you get to 7.5Hz.
Alpha – if beta brainwaves are when we’re highly focused, alpha brainwaves
begin to show up as we relax our attention, when we pay attention to what’s going on in the periphery of our vision while still maintaining an alert gaze. As we enter the periphery of our experience, we begin to turn our attention inward, paying attention to those subtle sensations of the physical body and how we feel in relation to our environment. The stronger the alpha waves the more blissful, relaxed and peaceful we feel internally. Like the Zen monk who clears his mind and sits for hours blissfully observing the subtle sensations of his inner form. One of the key aspects of this type of trance is that it soothes the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) in a way that deepens relaxation beyond what happens during normal sleep. If people fall asleep still feeling threatened or stressed from their days work, the sympathetic nervous system stays active and alert (paying attention to possible threats in the environment). In the past it kept us from being eaten by predators in our sleep, but in modern times it just prevents people from recharging their batteries and getting a soothing night’s sleep. People tend to wake up feeling as stressed and anxious as before they went to bed. Developing alpha brainwaves in meditation is like sending a message to the sympathetic nervous system, telling it all is well, and allowing it feel free, unwind and relax. Martial artists who remain calm in even the most stressful situations produce lots of alpha waves, the ability to maintain conscious contact with the sensations and intelligence of the physical body.
3. Theta (4-7.5Hz) – The Light Meditation And Sleeping Wave
Theta brain waves are present during deep meditation and light sleep, including the all-important REM dream state. It is the realm of your subconsciousness and only experienced momentarily as you drift off to sleep from Alpha and wake from deep sleep (from Delta). It is said that a sense of deep spiritual connection
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and unity with the universe can be experienced at Theta. Your mind’s most deep-seated programs are at Theta and it is where you experience vivid visualizations, great inspiration, profound creativity and exceptional insight. Unlike your other brain waves, the elusive voice of Theta is a silent voice. It is at the Alpha-Theta border, from 7Hz to 8Hz, where the optimal range for visualization, mind programming and using the creative power of your mind begins. It’s the mental state which you consciously create your reality. At this frequency, you are conscious of your surroundings however your body is in deep relaxation.
Theta – theta brainwaves are the inner movie maker, when people report intense
visions and flashes of light they’re accompanied with spikes in theta brainwave activity, they’re the visual dreams as we arouse ourselves out of R.E.M sleep. People often become entranced in their own fantasies, they’ll daydream about future plans or review past experiences, they get so wrapped up in their own ideal lifestyles or past hurts that they neglect what’s happening in the present moment, often ignoring the day to day habits and actions that would lead them to a healthier way of living. Trance at this level can be highly magical going on vivid adventures with spirit guides while having your bum planted firmly on the chair, in practical terms it’s the ability to plan visually different strategies and possible outcomes.
4. Delta (0.5-4Hz) – The Deep Sleep Wave
The Delta frequency is the slowest of the frequencies and is experienced in deep, dreamless sleep and in very deep, transcendental meditation where awareness is fully detached. Delta is the realm of your unconscious mind, and the gateway to the universal mind and the collective unconscious, where information received is otherwise unavailable at the conscious level. Among many things, deep sleep is important for the healing process – as it’s linked with deep healing and regeneration. Hence, not having enough deep sleep is detrimental to your health in more ways than one.
Delta – Characterised by the absence of consciousness, a highly relaxed trance
state that signals for the body to begin repairing and rejuvenating as our mind enjoys sleep. Advanced meditators who gain access to this brainwave state while conscious are able to have a very direct influence over their physiology, including the control of heart rate or even controlling blood flow, some people can consciously choose how many drops of blood they allow from their finger if pricked by a needle.
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The more recently found Gamma Brainwave is different to the other brainwaves in that it exists in a very low amplitude and is always present, it acts as a carrier wave enabling the other brainwaves to flow from one part of the brain to another. If gamma waves are shut off it can produce schizophrenia type trance states where the brain is unable to connect relevant information from one part of the brain to the next. Schizophrenics are unable to connect dots appropriately enough to develop a coherent meaning of their environment, to distinguish the internal senses to the external stimuli.
5. Gamma (above 40Hz) – The Insight Wave
This range is the most recently discovered and is the fastest frequency at above 40Hz. While little is known about this state of mind, initial research shows Gamma waves are associated with bursts of insight and high-level information processing.