How's it going?

The pod has been quiet for a while, and I'm curious about how the Holosync'ing is going for everyone?

Personally I have been experiencing less resistance for the past couple of months, and I link this to my increasing ability to access and feel the emotions that come up instead of unconsciously trying to push them down again. Therapy has really been helping me during the past few months. Purification 2 is very powerful though, and I find myself meditating two out of every three days or something like that. Every now and then I substitiute Immersion for Gamma Compassion, and it really does seem like a different kind of entraining - a different kind of energy if you will - so I intend to continue using it.

Everyone else?


Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Man, level 1, disk two is kicking my back side. All kinds of changes are happening in my life. It is very overwhelming. I've been on this disk since Thansgiving of last year. I'm thinking I'm almost done with this disk, but I've been thinking that for about three months now. :)

I wrote and confirmed with centerpointe to see if something may be wrong for me to be on a middle disk this long and they told me everyone is different and people have different experiences at different times and just to be patient.

Thanks Pelle for your words. You give us inspiration to keep it up. You have made me aware of gestalt therapy and I may be doing something like that in the future.

Re: How's it going?

Hi:

I pretty much breezed through the Awakening Levels on schedule, not a lot of overwhelm (other than what I ordinarily had in life) and I think I managed most of the resistance stuff OK.  So I started on Purification 1 on my birthday in June.  Shortly after that my Mom passed away, so I decided to take it easy on pushing myself too hard - using quite a few of the LSC Paraliminals, Super Longevity and Making Changes Easy off and on as a substitute for the regular CD's.

What I have noticed is that I'm noticing things now as they're coming up in consciousness during the sessions.  Before it was a fleeting thought, which I just cleared off and that was it!  But now, these thoughts come up and there seems to be something back there pointing things out - very insistant that I “get” the message.  My whole demeanour seems to have also been evolving into a much more compassionate one - beyond what I thought was already compassion in my life.  It has had effects also outwardly - because I seem to be drawing the notice of people who recognize that in me, and who have been inviting me to participate in ways I hadn't thought possible before.  I know all of this sounds a bit self-promoting perhaps - it's not meant that way, though, but to explain how this new energy coming up from within me seems to be following the LOA quite well.  It's all very good! (BTW, I don't use the Gamma Compassion CD, as my one and only experience with it was disasterous).

So, I'm just about finished with the first CD of Purification 1 - going to give it a few more days, maybe even a few more weeks.  I have used it off and on at night as well, sometimes hitting the repeat button just before I pass out - and waking up a couple of hours later from a sudden energy rush.  That is the one thing I've really noticed - I had nice tingling, sometimes a bit more than tingling “rushes” in the AL's, but with Purification 1, those have become much more intense, earlier on in the CD, as well.  So most days I really look forward to doing my hour - and on days where I know it would push me too much, I'll just listen to part of the Dive, and pull myself out before it gets too deep.  Seems to be working just fine for me.

Cheers!

Gem

Re: How's it going?

I've finally found the best way to incorporate Holosync into my routine is to listen right when I wake up. I'm at the end of my third full month of listening to Awakening Prologue. I started at the end of April, and skipped a lot at the beginning due to system overload.

No resistance lately, just breezing along. I am just beginning to get the idea that things aren't “sticking” to me like they used to. Negative states are sliding off more easily, somehow. I'm still not sure if it's Holosync, or if my life circumstances are just kinder to me at the moment (money is flowing, and I moved into an apartment I like much better). The real test will be this winter, when I've always had such a hard time with my mood due to the cold and lack of light. I realize Pelle from Sweden is listening…how do people survive there in the winter?? A short winter day for me is light at 7:30, dark at 5…how is it up there?

Cheers to all,
Regina

Re: How's it going?

Hi Everybody,

I’m currently on PL4/1 and doing pretty good.  I can say that this disk seems to be pushing a bit harder then PL3/4.  I usually lay down to listen, stay awake for about 15-20, sleep for 15-20, awake again for 15-20.  The difference between PL3/4 and PL4/1 is I usually wake up in a fog for some period of time and I can feel it in the top of my head.  This is not unusual for the HS CD’s but the fogginess is longer in duration and more intense.  Still enjoyable I might add.

I do feel lucky that I don’t experience much overwhelm as others have reported.  I’m not sure why but I can say that usually I exercise (good cadio workout) 5 days a week which clears my mind.  Of course I only have 2 brains cells that are still functional, and 1 or the other is always on vacation, so it’s easy to clear out:)

The other aspect is that I’m usually reading a personal development book (or something like that) that keeps me focused on whatever topic/chapter I’m reading.  One way or another, a topic here relates to a topic from another book which relates to topic to another book … which in turn reminds me why I started HS in the first place.  Each book has it’s gems that are worth incorporating in my daily life.

Have a great one everybody,

Nomaders

Re: How's it going?

Great to hear from everyone!
This simple sharing strengthens my own practice greatly.


Regina:
The real test will be this winter, when I've always had such a hard time with my mood due to the cold and lack of light. I realize Pelle from Sweden is listening…how do people survive there in the winter?? A short winter day for me is light at 7:30, dark at 5…how is it up there?

I'll tell you what, I use to live in Boden in the north of Sweden, and then the days in the middle of winter start at 9 am and end at 3 pm. No kidding. What makes it manageable is that up there there's snow during the winter so even when it's dark it's not completely dark, and when the sun shines the light can be just amazing, like a fairy-tale.

I now live in Malmö in the south of Sweden and here we hardly get snow in the winter, and the days never become quite as short.

Last winter I was told that they opened a light café in Stockholm where you can go and have breakfast in the morning while being in a “light therapy” environment at the same time. Maybe you can find something like that Regina? Our need for light is not a pathology it's how we're constructed so nothing wrong with getting some artificial support when the climate is kind of hostile. It's also a great idea to take a walk every day at noon, to get as much natural light as possible.


Warmly,
Pelle

Re: How's it going?

You guys talking about lack of sunlight and light therapy reminded me of a good discovery of mind: full sprectrum lighting. I used to work from midnight to 8am and would sleep during the day. I changed all my bulbs inside to full spectrum and it made a big difference for me.

Re: How's it going?

Thanks, Pelle and Shadowboxer, for the suggestions. I will give them a try.

Re: How's it going?

Hi Pelle,
I'm still working on AP.  I looked at the calendar to verify my start date…May 20.  Man, I thought it had been much longer than that!  I am finding the CD very easy to deal with at this point.  For sure, the Dive takes me right down.  By the time the bells change and the rain slows down, I can feel that deep meditative feeling very clearly.  I still sometimes feel like the Immersion track is going on forever - a feeling I never seem to have during normal meditation sessions which are generally longer than the 1 hour CD.  Anyway, I'm no longer in any rush to get to the next H/S level…I have just incorporated this practice into my life and will continue with it until something tells me to move to the next CD.
-Michael

Re: How's it going?

HI,

Have just started AP level four.  I expected more, due to the fact that they have a change in instructions, so I therefore thought that the impact would be greater, but after about two weeks, I have not felt any impact of it at all.  Levels one and two were much more difficult for me than this one appears to be.

Polly

Re: How's it going?

Michael and Polly,

Good to hear that things are cruising along for you!

Polly, AL 4 was a tough one for me and it felt significantly stronger than the previous levels. I'm curious about how it will turn out for you.


Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Polly said:   “I expected more, due to the fact that they have a change in instructions, so I therefore thought that the impact would be greater, but after about two weeks, I have not felt any impact of it at all. ”

Hi Polly:

Just curious, since you are not getting any impact at all, did you also change your ear-phones as per Centerpointes recommendations?  If you didn't, and the phones you are using are not rated low enough on the scale to properly translate the binaurals, could be one reason you're not getting anything.

Also, I seem to recall that AL4 first couple of CD's didn't push me until I had listened for several weeks - so if the 'phones are OK, then perhaps it's just taking it's time getting to where it starts making more changes, and you begin feeling something.

Just a couple of points to consider.

Cheers!

Gem

Re: How's it going?

Hi, 

I did see somewhere that the ear-phones are to be changed to those capable of reaching 5 Hz.  The ones I could get, after much searching, have a range from 6 - 23 500Hz.  Do you think it is a problem?  I thought 1 Hz would not be too much of a hassle until later?

Your input is valued,

Thanks,

Polly

Re: How's it going?

From what I know those headphones will do perfectly fine for AL4, and indeed for the whole program.

Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Hi Polly:

My suggestion is to contact Centerpointe and get clarification - but my understanding was that when one reached the Awakening Level 4 CD's, one needed the high-end equipment.  Others have argued the point, but I tend to go with what I've experienced, and figure the “experts” selling the CD's probably know more than the pseudo-experts who have just played around with some programs trying to reverse engineer the program, and thinking they've figured it out.

FWIW, I did have pretty good studio phones to begin with, but I bought the phones recommended by CRI anyways, and there was a big difference just even in the listening to the first three AL levels when I tested them back-to-back.  If you're only getting sporadic binaurals though, because there is a general ramping up and down during the CD of the hz level, then you're losing part of the effect.

I love the phones I have now - and the sound is just fantastic.  I stopped using my pocket CD player after AL1, though, because once I tried it on a decent portable stereo (JVC), with the option to have it play “flat” - no stereo enhancements, well, there was no turning back - it made that much difference for me.  I have a very trained ear, though, so that could be part of my obsessiveness with it sounding “right”. :-)

Cheers!

Gem

Re: How's it going?

Good to hear your input Gem, you're obviously more attuned to the sounds than me.

Regardless of what frequency is needed for each level, it's probably a very good investment to buy high quality headphones since you're using them for an hour a day. And if you're paying for high quality ones you might as well choose phones that can handle 5-6 Hz and upwards.

Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Things are mighty quiet, so I thought I'd bump this thread.  ;-)

I'm about 5 weeks into AP, and have been listening diligently.  It's hard to talk about my experiences, as they have varied.  Most recently I've been extremely sleepy in virtually every sitting, whether I do it in the morning or evening.  Despite sitting bolt-upright in a traditional meditation posture, I've been nodding away for most of the hour.  This morning was an exception, where I stayed relaxed but totally alert the whole time (I also put on a Q-Link yesterday, maybe that's why.. lol).

Still very intrigued about this technology.  So far nothing too dramatic going on, though.  Some sittings are very pleasant, I've occasionally felt a bit blissed out after, but generally not much to report.  No noticeable overwhelm or fantabulous benefits.  Recently the sittings have mostly been sleepy and a little boring, my mind wandering around despite a physical sense of relaxation.

Anyone else care to share?

Re: How's it going?

Oh and one more thing, my tinnitus also seems to be getting a bit worse.  It could be coincidence, but I've seen this reported by other Holosync users. I've had tinnitus for years, but it's at a level now which is very much tolerable -  I'll need to keep a close eye on this.

Re: How's it going?

Wow, if Holosync is directly the result of the ringing in your ears getting louder or more frequent, definately call Centerpointe's product support.

As far as my holosyncing, I have been lax recently, and I took a long break from doing the program. I felt myself getting very emotional without it, so I started listening again, and it curbs the strength of my negative emotions. The next day I will be less worried, and the next day, even less anxious, and that allows change to happen in me.

Re: How's it going?

Tinnitus can get temporarily worse by Holosync. IMO (educated guess) this has nothing to do with our ears, but instead the fact that Holosync induces brain overload, and the brain therefore temporarily becomes worse at handling and filtering away tinnitus.

Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Yep I'm not too worried about it.  I wrote to Centerpointe and they sent a pretty good answer.  It was clearly a standard answer with one line about tinnitus pasted in, but it was good. 

Re: How's it going?

Could you paste their standard answer in this thread?

Pelle

Re: How's it going?

Sure, here it is:

__________________________________

Hello,

Thank you for your email.

It's important to keep in mind that most people who begin the program go through a kind of “acclimation phase” for the first four to eight weeks, roughly – sometimes a bit longer, depending on the person. During this time, lots of things may happen, or very little may happen in terms of effect. Listeners may find that they easily drop into a deep state, or they may feel that they're not “getting deep” at all. They may be very “awake” during their listening sessions, or they may fall asleep. Basically, anything and everything (or nothing at all) may be noticed initially.

Generally, we're not too concerned about what is or isn't happening during this phase because it's all just a reflection of your nervous system doing whatever it needs to do to adapt to the stimulus. Some people's systems react with lots of fireworks, some do not. None of this is reflective of the kinds of changes to come.

Holosync is designed to saturate the nervous system with stimulus. This doesn't happen immediately (for most people), but over a few days or weeks. Once the nervous system reaches the “saturation point” (in our literature we sometimes call it the “bifurcation point”), it has to make changes in it's functioning in order to cope. This is where the growth itself comes from and where it begins. The process is gradual; the momentum coming from your consistent usage of the soundtracks.

The idea is to push the system to the point where it can no longer function while retaining old patterns, and must create new patterns of thinking and functioning in order to handle the stimulus you keep feeding it every time you listen to your soundtracks. Every time you listen to your program soundtracks, you're adding stimulus to the system, gradually pushing it to that saturation point.

It is at this point we can feel a variety of sensations, either as we listen or later as the momentum is generated.  We can resist / release physically as well as emotionally.  Sometimes in the form of achy necks and backs or cold- and flu-like symptoms – and also in the form of having old injuries flare up, and in various levels of intensity.  People have often reported similar instances as yours. 

Audiologists have explained that some people will occasionally experience a slight ear-ringing when exposed to “white” or “pink” noise. Such sounds as household appliances (air conditioners, furnaces, etc.), ocean waves, or the rainfall - as we use on our program soundtracks - are examples of white and pink noise. This effect is not dangerous and will dissipate with time.

While uncomfortable, it's temporary; exercise can be of great help for both emotional and physical releasing.
 
Based on what you've said it sounds like you're doing fine.  Please keep up the good work, and do keep us posted on your progress.

Re: How's it going?

This is very interesting, this tinnitus thing has also been bothering me for a while, but I don't know whether it was caused by some very loud concerts which I went to some time ago. Later after those concerts I had very intense ringing in my ear which resulted that I could nt sleep at all that night. I hope I'll recovery from that incident. Do you know if it's healthy for the ears or the auditory sectors in the brain to be stimulated by these frequency form HS? Specially by the high frequency from the autofonix?

By the way im new here, really enjoying to able to talk around these matters here with you, because in iceland where I live, very few people know this and find this kind of technology a little bit…odd i might say.

But my journey into this program has been dramatic in some parts, mostly difficult one's. Probably because when I started the program I had an addiction for Cannabis and used it daily for a long time. So finally when I quit (which I thank mostly HS) I had this major panic attacks coming, and It seemed that HS sometimes increased it. Also im recovering from a very difficult LSD experience which I had right before I ended my usage of these chemicals. Really difficult existential crisis I've been having lately.

So for me HS is a life-saving product for me because I feel how it increase my mental and emotional threshold which I need badly because that threshold dropped dramatically after the lsd trip.

Thank you for being here guys, really inspirational to read these great posts here.

Re: How's it going?

I've had trouble with anxiety and I did find that when I first started using holosync it made it quite a bit worse.  It was particularly bad during the first few months of Awakening Level 1.   It seems to have settled into more regular levels, with the added benefit of helping me see more clearly what is happening during the anxiety.

Re: How's it going?

Sounds like it's been quite a ride.  I can relate to your story, when I was younger I also had a long-term cannabis dependency and abused all kinds of other drugs.  It took me years to get out of it, in fact the thing that finally allowed me to stop doing drugs completely was (traditional) meditation.  It sounds like Holosync is doing the same for you.  Hopefully your anxiety levels will drop soon, keep us posted.

When my tinnitus was so bad that I couldn't sleep at night, I used white noise - it's an idea I had read about when looking up tinnitus therapies.  Basically, I just slept with a radio on, set between stations.  The white noise masks the tinnitus, and because it's a sound that isn't coming from inside your own head, your mind doesn't consider it to be threatening and quickly
'tunes it out'.  And with it, the tinnitus. 

As far as Holosync worsening tinnitus, I'm just going to trust Centerpointe on this one and assume that it's only temporary.  It's actually not so bad any more at all, it just seemed to be worsening a lot for a few days.

edit:  @ Gummihh

Re: How's it going?

I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I started meditating as apart of the 11 th step in AA and several other 12 step programs. Buddhist practice and meditation  basically became my way of life after 5 years of 12 step and and lots of therapy. I have had tinintus for as long as I can remember so I don't know if it was all the years of loud music or something else. Holosync doesn't seem to have any effect on it for me. I am gratefuld to be alive and in this space with you guys.
With metta to you and all beings

Re: How's it going?

This is interesting to find out about this. I have noticed that Holosync listening can at times increase the ringing in my ears.

I had come to the conclusion that it was occuring because it was “stressing” my brain or pushing it to evolve.

I started noticing several years ago that whenever I was under an extraordinary amount o emotional and mental stress, the ringing in my ears would increase.

So, for me, when I notice that the ringing in my ears has increased, then that is a sign that I am being pushed quite a bit with the stimulus that Holosync provides. I am taking that as a good thing but it certainly helps me to guage when a good time to back of would be. And unless other overwhelm doesn't make my life unmanageable, I just push through it and keep listening.

Re: How's it going?

I'm lucky to be able to say that I haven't had any additions but recently, after 16 years of employment at the same place, I was told that my job role was being made redundant.

Years ago this would have been devastating but after meditating and studying in the personal development area for the last 6 or so years, my reaction is quite the opposite.

I know that happiness comes from within and when 1 door closes 5 others up.   I'm now looking forward to a change and rethinking what I want to do for the next phase of my life.

I know that the years of mediation w/ HS has allowed me to keep myself centered and actually enjoy the current situation.  Some of the people staying at work seem be devastated for me, LOL.

Have a great one and enjoy the moment,

  Nomaders

Re: How's it going?

Hi,

I started Awakening Prologue in October, and AL 1 last week. It's hard for me to separate what's happening because of Holosync and what's happening because of all the other things going on in my life, including a deepening and much more consistent Vipassana meditation practice. I have been having amazing dreams, stunning because they seem so real that sometimes when I wake up I can hardly believe they weren't “real.” One thing I have noticed is that I can't sleep through Gamma at all. It wakes me up. I'll try adding the Floating disc, the one you are supposed to sleep through on a repeating loop, and report back … Although I tend to do Holosync as the last thing before sleeping, I rarely fall asleep with it even if I'm lying down. I think that's okay, because I don't count on it as sleep time, and because I am needing less sleep lately.

I very much appreciate having a forum where we can compare notes with others on this journey. Thank you, all of you, for posting your impressions.

Red Z