THE SLEEP THRESHOLD
by ELLA CAMBRIDGE
Have you ever closed your eyes and seen shapes or colours? We have all heard of lucid dreaming, but not many have heard of hypnagogia.
Hypnagogia refers to the transitional state of consciousness that occurs between wakefulness and sleep. This state manifests as both visual and auditory hallucinations, which permit more fluid idea associations and enhanced creativity. It is for this reason that the hypnagogic state has been harnessed by academics and artists for inspiration
I first experienced hypnagogia during a transitional period of my life. Having just gone to university, my world had become completely distorted and unpredictable. The multitude of changes one experiences when first moving out can be overwhelming, especially when the number of mundane tasks increases drastically. At the time, I managed to maintain a semblance of physical functioning, but my mind was completely restless. This restlessness began to eat its way through my waking hours, infiltrating my sleep. As the hours passed, I begged for sleep. Begging who? - I do not know. I feared most the unsustainability of sleepless nights; would I go insane? As I became increasingly disillusioned with my lack of sleep, I started to pass the insufferable hours by focusing on the darkness that encompassed my closed eyes.
Suddenly, the darkness gave way to distinct shapes and colours. Night after night, I developed my ability, and the abstract shapes and colours became more concrete.
The Matisse-esque imagery began to take on a more Francis Bacon-esque quality, featuring mouths, eyes, and people. I feared insanity had got to me, so I began researching any possible explanation for the fragmented images I saw. That is how I discovered the phenomenon of hypnagogia. I became increasingly fascinated by its potential as I read articles citing prominent figures who had harnessed hypnagogia to awaken their creativity, such as Einstein, Salvador Dalí and Franz Kafka. Einstein was able to envisage solutions to mathematical equations through visual hallucinations. Whereas Dalí’s hallucinations were more creatively charged, contributing to the whimsical and often disturbing nature of his art. In the literary sphere, Kafka often induced hypnagogia to propel his absurdist writing. If you have ever read Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis, you will be aware of Gregor Samsa’s surrealist metamorphosis from man to “monstrous vermin,” which reeks of hypnagogic hallucinations.
Therefore, these prominent historical figures are known for their subversive works, but what goes largely unknown is their use of hypnagogia.
Since curing my insomnia, I experience this state a lot less. I suppose I no longer have the hours to spare before sleep, but I now know how to tap into the hypnagogic state and utilise it for creative good.
So next time you can’t sleep, try focusing on the darkness of your eyes. Make out any shapes or colours you can. Concentrate. Maybe you can unlock the hypnagogic state… Perhaps you’ll discover the value of your sleep threshold.