Light & Sound Machines:
Frequently Asked Questions

What is a light and sound machine intended to do?
Inside the special glasses are a series of  light emitting diodes (LEDs). These blink at very specific frequencies and can be easily sensed through closed eyelids. During the course of a session, these sequences of rhythmic light and sound patterns will change causing the mind to gradually become quiet and allowing you to feel deeply relaxed.

When you need to access different states of functioning, you can select a pre-set session that combines scientifically designed sequences of pulses light and sound frequencies. For instance, if you want to slow down and relax deeply or sleep, you would choose a program from the list provided with the L/S device, sit or lie back with the LED glasses and headphones on, and let the flickering lights and sounds capture your brainwaves and gently lead them into letting go.

If you felt fuzzy and unable to focus, you might choose an energizing program that uses faster, Beta frequencies that can sharpen your thinking and stimulate your energy.

What benefits are gained by the use of Light and Sound Machines?
Getting into the flow by letting go briefly (but often).
Most people need to learn to relax deeply and let go of the stresses and concerns of their life, even for a brief period like 15 - 30 minutes once or more per day for a while. Often sleep will not provide this kind of release and rest. Light/Sound devices can induce the Theta state in which the mind can shut down and allow the body to rest profoundly. A week or so of daily sessions can create some amazing differences in our ability to handle stress and respond in more creative, less reactive ways. When coupled with tapes/CDs that have properly scripted change messages, mind machine users have found that they think more clearly and positively, feel happier and calm, and have more energy and fewer health problems. You will start to have more times in which you perform optimally, like a well-conditioned athlete in the "zone."

How does one go about using these machines?
Whenever you can take at least 15 minutes or more, find a quiet place, sit or lie down, and select a session that matches your goal, ie relaxation, learning, energizing, etc. Start the session. Now the most important thing to do... NOTHING! That's right, don't do anything. Don't try to relax or even pay attention. Just let whatever may happen, happen. Let go and let the lights and sounds carry you away. You may drift off and feel like you went to sleep. That's fine. This is not a test. You can't do it wrong unless you try to force it.

Resist the "Type A" desire/compulsion to do something! That's exactly how you got so stressed out to begin with. The L/S session can give you the opportunity to "stop the world" for a little while and get off the treadmill of effort and worry.

If you let this "time out" happen, you may be amazed to find out that you will become more productive, efficient, and cheerful. That means that the time you spent doing nothing has been some of the most valuable time you can spend!

How can I use it for learning?
3 techniques for different situations:
L/S systems can accelerate learning in several ways: before studying, during, and after. Before studying, if you feel spacey and unable to concentrate, try an energizing, Beta session. During studying, try an alpha rhythm with just the headphones alone if you have to read. If you want to learn taped material, use a deep relaxation session and let the words sink in to your subconscious. When you study the written material later, you will find that you understand it at a deeper level and can recall it easily. After a study session, try a deep relaxation program and let yourself drift off. This has been found to "set" the material for better recall.

If you have test anxiety, try a deep relaxation session before the test and visualize a successful outcome as you start to relax.

How can I use L/S to become successful? 
The secret to effective creative visualization:
Your subconscious mind can do amazing things when you give it a chance. Here's how to do it: first, find those sessions and frequencies which create a state of deep relaxation. Once you have spent some time in this state, you will have more energy and less demands on your body/mind. Next, when you start to get relaxed during a session, visualize yourself doing or having what you desire. Make this visualization as real as you can, full of colors, feelings, sounds, smells, etc. Then just let go and trust your subconscious mind to make it happen for you. You may be amazed to find that reality will become more and more like you pictured it with little effort on your part! Give it a try!

You can also make your own tapes to reprogram your subconscious. Use an endless  loop cassette such as one used in an answering machine (Radio Shack carries them). Now record a few minutes of positive, present tense affirmations. If you put them into 3 persons ("I, John, feel relaxed when I take tests. You, John, feel relaxed when you take tests. John feels relaxed when he takes tests."), you should get the best results. Again, the secret is to play these tapes while in a state of deep relaxation while your conscious mind is on vacation. It really works and costs a lot less than visits to a hypnotist!

How often should I use it?
Use your mind machine as much as you like. Many people use it first thing in the morning to get sharp and focused. They might use it again during the afternoon as a power nap instead of drinking coffee. Others will find that it calms them down better than alcohol or drugs and use it when anxious and confused.

Try L/S when you want to enter into a creative state and come up with a new ideas or solution to a problem that has eluded you. It may come during the session or later as an AHA moment.

Who should not use it?
If you have a seizure disorder or are under a doctor's care, you should definitely consult with your health care provider before trying L/S.

Which mind machine  is best?
We recommend starting with the Sirius at $119, determining if you like the basic effect of pulsed light and sound, and then deciding if you really want to get deeper into programming and customizing sessions (most people don't need all the additional features).

The new Proteus has all the advanced features almost anyone would need as well as an upgrade path that will allow users to download operating system changes for free as they become available. The first to appear, in the first quarter of 2001, will make it possible for the Proteus and the ThoughtStream GSR biofeedback system to interact.

Click here for Sirius/Proteus comparison chart.

If you know that you will want to experiment with frequencies and patterns by designing your own sessions, consider the Proteus. While most people will never use the advanced features of these devices, other features of these devices such as enhanced sound and BiColor glasses in the Proteus will make them useful for both novice and advanced users.

Aside from the ability to design new programs, the Orion and other low-priced models lack binaural signal sounds, the beats that occur when two signals that differ slightly in frequency are heard through headphones. These sounds, made of combinations of two or more pure tones, induce both sides of the brain to work together in synchrony and fall into the rhythm of the beats. While useful, we do not believe that they outweigh the combination of features found in the Orion.

What tapes or CDs work well with L/S?
You can use any audio material you wish, from relaxing music that you enjoy, to tapes you create with affirmations, to sophisticated combinations of binaural beats and hypnoperipheral messages.

We have found that any of the ABR and HPP products produce powerful effects both with and without L/S. Harmonic Brainwave Synergy may be the perfect background for facilitating theta voyages!

A Dialogue about using L/S to create real lasting change:

Metaprogramming  intrigues me. As a floater into John Lilly's work, I have a number of ideas that get fairly far out so must limit this to a few concrete ideas. If you can record your voice onto a cassette, you can play the tape back while you run a light/sound (LS) program that leads your brain waves into the theta zone of hypnagogic revery. In this state, your censor (along with the rest of your sphincters) relaxes and allows the affirmations (in 3 persons, ie "I, you, he enjoys regular exercise and healthy foods.") to land on the fertile soil of your unconscious where they will germinate and bloom into new thoughts, feelings, and behaviors over the next few days and weeks. When you suddenly notice these changes and wonder how they happened, you will have taken the first step along the amazing road of hypnosis.

We handle several lines of change tapes and CDs that you can use to great benefit also. I have used the HPP tapes with tremendous success and recommend them to everyone.

You can come up with lots of other ways to use this technology. The Sirius comes with excellent instructions and you can find more material in print and web publications. Your awakened creativity will reveal solutions for any challenge. Simply put the question before your consciousness, start a LS session, and let go of control and efforting, secure in the knowledge that, liberated from your tyrannical, narrow conscious mind, the larger part of your self, the body/mind, can restructure reality in an ecologically appropriate way that will bring your desired outcomes miraculously, as if by magic. Call it grace, call it higher power, call it a cab... it really doesn't matter, because it works.

This process takes various amounts of time (immediately, a day, a week, or a month) depending on a number of factors, but it will happen if one allows it to. New users often try too hard to help the LS instead of surrendering to it. Many people fear letting go because their environment/culture has taught them that that way madness, mischief, and sin lie. They also fear freedom (see E. Fromm), but that's another discussion.

So give it a week or two of at least a session a day (more if possible). Just nodding off for 30 minutes while using LS can work wonders for stress reduction, energy, and the immune system. Combine some good programming (see HPP tapes for the best money can buy) and you have a most potent form of change technology.

I cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of periods of complete, deep relaxation. Even without additional verbal input (subliminals, hypnotic suggestions, etc.), letting your body/mind "off the hook" for 20-30 minutes once or twice a day will work wonders by  freeing up energy and creativity, releasing endorphins, and helping restore balance, attentional flexibility, and degrees of freedom in thought, feeling, and behavior. When this process begins to take effect, you will have taken the crucial first step necessary for rejuvenation and the unlocking of your awesome natural powers.

Good luck to you. Let me know if you want to try a system (the Sirius makes most sense as a starter and as a resale system) and we'll hook you up. Keep me posted on your progress.

Can I get a great if I buy more than one?
Yes, you can buy them from us at a great dependent on quantity. You can also enter into a referral partnership with us. We can dropship orders for you also. Let's discuss actual percentages via email or phone (505.293.4648) if you're serious about sharing this technology with your contacts.

See the Brainwave Generator site to download a great shareware program that produces binaural signal sounds.

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