Quote Originally Posted by Leo View Post
Patience.

The goal you are shooting for is no more difficult than simply falling asleep, or rather, you wish to hold up at the point right before actually falling asleep.

I can't imagine that you would lay there for 8 or 9 hours completely wide awake and alert.

It is more likely that you will fall asleep and miss the trance state altogether.

So try laying down, while holding a hammer upright... you don't have to hold it up in the air, but just balance the handle upward. If you drift off asleep, then the hammer will drop over and it will likely stir you enough so that you will notice that you are on the edge of sleep. If a hammer is too heavy or awkward, then just go to a lumber supply store and have a piece of wood custom cut to your specifications.
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Wow Leo, That is indeed a good idea. It would be a good thing to do since as you're closer and closer to falling asleep your muscles become more and more relaxed, eventually paralysed and it becomes increasingly more effort taking to hold that hammer in your hands.

I guess a hammer in my bed would wake me up covered in blood since I toss and turn alot in my sleep
Is it also so that as you go into SP that your skin's touch sensors ''shut down'' as well?
I guess trying to hold a Cold steel ball/bullet, that you put in the fridge some hours before, would serve the same purpose then?

If so you could concentrate on the Cold Iron Ball in your hand and how it feels.
If it's true that your sense of touch also fades and shuts down as you enter SP you should notice that the feeling of the Cold Iron Ball in your hands should slowly disappear.
Now that would be a good sign of being close to falling asleep: a good reminder of staying Concious during that time.

Also. Weaselstein. You seem having trouble to sink away deeply prior to sleep?
Maybe you sleep in a room where the Temperature is too Cold? Cold keeps one Alert and Focus: Too much will keep you from sleep.

Try pre-heating your Room and Bed prior to going to bed: Maybe a warm bed shall help you fall into pre-sleep trance easier.