I have difficulty entering the hypnagogic border world between waking and dreaming. So much so, in fact, that I would not have a conception of what a hypnagogic state or image is at all save for learning about it on dreaming websites like this one. As far as my natural sleep progression is concerned, one moment my mind is wandering like a lost hyperactive little child doing its own thing, and the next I am conked out full-on asleep. I'm not bold enough to suggest I don't go through hypnagogery at all, but if and when I do it is something brief, unimpressive and unremembered.

I have satisfying dreams (often enough at least) and remember them well enough. I'm great at being awake and at being asleep, but I seem to suck almightily at floating in between the two states where hypnagogic imagery occurs. I also might have the record on this board for Longest Time Spent Without a Lucid Dream, so in my neverending detective work to end my mammoth dry spell, the link between my subpar hypnagogic experience and my nonexistant lucid life seems suspect.

For those of you more familiar with the mechanics and intricacies of entering and experience the hypnagogic state... how do you do it? I've tried lots of things: just falling asleep doesn't put me near it, quieting my mind and trying to stay half-aware as my body falls asleep doesn't do it, and even hoisting a body part up to fall down when I come too close to sleep doesn't help me find hypnagogic imagery, even though I can float in that state right before my muscles relax (see: FAILD) I just don't get imagery with it. I've also tried various styles of VILDing, but active visualization usually just keeps me wide awake as long as I do it, and it never leads to anything in the long term. I can visualize being in a situation for an hour, and stop, and be just as I was before I did it.