hmm, djaio...that's exactly how i've always undergone MILD...but i suppose i never closely considered the differences. i also find the letting go part very helpful. i often doze off 2 or 3 times during this 'letting go' phase. Eventually i fall completely asleep and proceed to go into a 'coming to' phase similar to the 'letting go' phase...except while coming to i often wake up several times, before i finally wake up in the early AM. This is the middle of the night, at which point i decided whether to stay up or go back to sleep immediately - either way, i start it all over.

it's a very enjoyable experience! And i think the disorienting nature of it allows me to better-retain some conscious thought.