NON-CHEMICAL ALTERED STATES by Jeff Hunter Almost all methods used to create altered states using non-chemical means rely on changing the most powerful frequency at which the brain operates and synchronizing both hemispheres of the brain so that they both oscillate in phase. The brain operates at many different frequencies simultaneously. The EEG that you see hooked up to people's heads on TV "hospital shows" measures the most powerful frequency at the spot where the electrode is attached to the skull. The different spots of the skull will show up as different squiggly lines on the EEG's readout, each line representing the dominant frequency of that particular spot at a particular moment in time. The oldest method used to alter the brain's dominant frequency is probably meditation, where, after many years of practice, a successful meditator can enter an altered state of consciousness at will. In the 1960's scientists found that by using biofeedback techniques people could dramatically improve their ability to change their brain's dominant frequency. People hooked up to biofeedback machines could hear or see the dominant frequency, which was simply turned into an amplified tone or a flashing light. Then, by doing "something" inside their skulls, they could turn the frequency down from the normal 20 Hz or so of waking consciousness (beta waves) to 10 Hz alpha waves. Alpha waves are associated with enhanced creativity, mental alertness, and original thinking. Some people could even bring their frequency down to 5 Hz or so, the delta waves associated with visions, deep reverie, and hallucina- tions. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, we no longer have to put up with the slow, old-fashioned method of biofeedback. In this day and age of instant gratification we now bring you: Instant Total Consciousness (batteries not included) No, I'm not kidding. There really are ways to almost instantly alter your consciousness without a guru or drugs. The simplest method is to don a pair of headphones where one earpiece plays a tone of 400 Hz and the other plays a tone of about 404 Hz. This sets up a beat frequency of 4 Hz inside your skull. Your brain "tunes in" to this frequency and starts resonating at 4 Hz. Don't try to just pump in 4 Hz to both ears because your ears can't hear much below 20 Hz, so the effect would be wasted. You can also wear a pair of goggles which have flashing lights mounted on them. Make the lights flash at 4-7 Hz and you've got an instant tripper machine. An extremely low current oscillating at 4-7 Hz with electrodes placed directly on the skin will also work. One guy in the business sells these small, cloth-wrapped metal plates that you wet down and stick in your socks. Then you carry a little box the size of a Walkman around which has wires attached to the metal plates. The box puts out a 5-200 microampere current oscillating at around 7 Hz. A very port- able tripping device. For those of you into sensory depravation, try the Lilly Tank. Just like in the movie _Altered_States_, this tank will change the frequency at which your brain operates. Also try Ganzfeld Goggles. A pair of old diving goggles covered with blue toilet paper will do. Just lay back on a bed with these goggles on and stare into a light bulb. The toilet paper turns the light from the bulb into a uniform glowing blue field. Since your eyes have nothing to focus on, your brain keeps itself busy by hallucinating. (This effect may take from 5-20 minutes to occur.) All of these ideas are actual products which you can buy. Since the waveform and amplitude of the sound or electricity is fairly important for good results, commercial mind machines are better than most "homebrew" jobs. If you'd like more detailed information on these devices read _Mega_Brain_ by Michael Hutchison, published by Ballentine Books, available in the Science/Psychology section of your local bookstore. That's where I got all of this info from. For purchasing information on the machines I've mentioned write to Megabrain, P.O. Box 1059, Cooper Station, New York, NY, 10276. \\\/// |-@@-| Jeff Hunter | > | & the Temple of the Screaming Electron ( \/ ) Walnut Creek, California \__/ (415)935-5845 ||