An Occultist's Guide To Brainwave States 

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As a psychology student and witch who is writing a research paper on alteration of consciousness, this video was perfectly timed.

The first time i meditated with my mom i hit a theta brainwave state and almost astral projected with her to the aurora borealis, she said she could feel me there with her but i was struggling to actually leave my body so she grabbed my hands to help me but i lost focus. Still one of my fav stories to tell.

My favorite way to practice going from Beta to Alpha is singing. I've been a vocalist all of my life, in Beta it's hard not to be overly critical about how it feels moving the sound through my throat/mouth, or how it sounds, how well & full the note or annunciation is... when I enter into a flow state, into Alpha, I can always tell because I end up closing my eyes & "moving" or in a weird sense "mirroring" the sound with my hands. It is a surrender & a deep flow & it is in that state that my voice & overall vocal abilities truly start to shine. This remains an excellent way to practice both singing in general & altering brainwave states at will. The breathing exercises also serve this same double purpose! This was a fantastic video, as always, Ivy! :)

I remember once when I was working in a tech project and a startup contacted us about their headband capable of read brain waves. Muse is their name and they have grown. Their headband is capable of telling you the state you are and help you meditate or focus since it trains your brain to consciously reach different states of consciousness.

Brainspotting therapy has been the fastest route by far for me to enter into an altered brain state, ive had some of my most profound healing spiritual experiences in those sessions ❤

I really like your idea of practicing in the morning. I get discouraged if I fall asleep. Another problem I have is I'm continually questioning whether my body is relaxed enough. Can't wait for your meditation video!

When I managed to get into a deep Alpha state, I just knew. It's unmistakable, you very much feel altered or "high" as opposed to sober. You are so zoned out that even moving seems to take forever. When I come out of it, I feel so tranced out and relaxed that I wouldn't drive for maybe even an hour. You should be able to feel the effects of that state for a while afterwards, even if you're pounding coffee. I used to think that it's something subtle but it really isn't. You'll KNOW you feel different and if you have to ask you're probably not there yet. Took me about a month to be able to do this. The one time it clicked is when I used binaural beats as a crutch and it got me there. Use headphones, turn it up loud and do two rounds of this. Focus on breath, observe and push out active thought and after 2 rounds (1 hour) of this you should feel it. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-27cv2zHRkIE.html

Can I say how much I love the introduction and music to your videos now? Thank you for this topic! Mastering meditation is something I struggle with. I have a “monkey mind” .

The timing of this video is so perfect. My therapist last week had me start meditating daily for 10 minutes. I used a OM at 432hz 10 min meditation video on YT for the first time last night and dropped so quickly into a lower Alpha state where I could barely function. I had to go to bed afterwards and sleep! It was so powerful. Thanks for this information as I am also currently reading "Psychic Witch" by Matt (I forgot the author's name and book is not near me at the moment) and on his section about meditation. Such wonderful timing!

PSA for my fellow ADHD folk: it’s not impossible to meditate!! it’s vital to learn the type of adhd you have & how to work w/ it. try to unfocus your eyes yourself, if you can, you likely can disassociate basically at will. this skill is SO useful in meditation! we’re often known for our inability to focus, which seems bad for meditating, but in a way that’s all meditating is! i also like to keep my eyes open, unfocused and/or looking at something like incense :)

Meditation Question: So so excited for this series from you, your academic approach makes the occult much easier to grasp! As a neurodivergent spiritualist, I am curious if you will have any tips for meditation when struggling with basic sensory inputs. I am on the ASD spectrum and have a hard time "tuning things out" so to say. Advice? Thank you again for all your work as an occult and science communicator!

Weird how a gorilla just walked by a couple of times in this video...

I have been reading about brains waves since psychic witch and I just wish there was a way I could "know-know" that I'm in one or the other, as always I overthink and get lost 😢 but thank you for this Ivy, you make me want to try and exercise again!

This is a helpful video, thanks. I’m just now reading Psychic Witch so I’m just getting into this topic. ****Side note-your skin is always beautiful and luminous and I think we need a facial routine video and/or makeup tutorial!!! I don’t know if you’ve ever done one before-but if not, you should :)

I am convinced you should write a book. I have read and listened to so many books, watched so many videos. You are one of the few people that teach some of the most important things you need to know in this journey. No matter your journey is. For you are up there with Matt A, Physic Witch. 💚

For this upper Alpha brainwaves i want to mention there is a difference between flow state and dissociation. If youre constantly didsociation in life because thats what you do to cope it is NOT the same as flow. - Trauma Therapist here. Ivy i LOVE your videos thank you so much for all your work into these videos!

I love that you admit how hard it was for you to get to the point you need to be in.

Thank you Ivy- I have been struggling with this and have a hard time with meditation. This was really informative- you explain it well. I am looking forward to the meditation episode as I have such a monkey brain. Even reading a book my mind tends to wander and I have to read what I was reading over again. Thank you for your help! And I have signed up for the free trial with AURA and eager to see how it will help me.

This video is so good. You explained everything so simplistically. Not too much woo woo. I feel like a lot of metaphysical books make these states seem impossible to get to when a lot of the times we already do it, we just need tools to get there on purpose as well as the confidence to know we can do it

I loved the last video when you spoke about brain wave states so thanks for diving more deeply into it. I am still fighting with hitting theta and not falling completely asleep! But sometimes it does work. I also wondered if you think ADHD hyper focus is the same as being in Gamma ?

Thank you Ivy! For me personally, I am a very anxious person and I also love to sabotagge myself. So I either keep waiting or forcing something to happen or I suddenly find myself becoming relaxed and my mind becomes conscious again like "Oops, we were almost there, let's come back"

I took that test with teachers at school and the first thing i saw was the ape in the center of the ball court and no one else in my group even saw it I wondered why. Thanks for this!

Honestly, your videos are practically like a mini university itself - I would kill to go to a school for magick where you are one of the profs. You have such a way with words and explain things really concisely so it is easy to grasp. And every time I find myself question something in the occult, you end up posting a video about it. Filled up a few pages of notes from this video :D

When speaking of the Alpha wave state, this was something I slipped into SO easily when I was pregnant. Thining it was simply a symptom of being with child, now I'm not so sure. Perhaps it was a way of connecting further with the baby without realizing it. Interesting!

VERY HELPFUL HINT: I held black moonstone in my left hand (Yin Hand), and then simply let my mind drift away from everything but my body’s sensations. I hit theta for a few minutes, and then conked out shortly after due to inexperience. Great video by the way, Ivy.

Oh my goodness. This resonated with me so much. Especially the early parts where you’re talking about filtering out experiences that are in the paranormal realm. As a paranormal investigator, I’ve always been a very analytical, skeptical and rational minded person. I’ve had some very unexplained eerie things that have happened literally to me and in front of me but my brain made me dismiss it. I’m much more open now and have experienced many spiritual things without dismissing it right away lol. It’s a hard habit to break, I guess. This video is incredibly helpful and informative. As someone who has the worst time meditating, this helps. I do try to listen to certain waves and frequencies and at least get calm for a few minutes. As a dear friend of mine said, meditating is like getting ready to run a marathon. You have to train and train until you’ve got it. You can’t expect to run a marathon if you’ve never run before. So, I try with a few minutes and my goal is to increase a few minutes more and more until it’s effortless. But thank you for this video. I’m looking forward to the meditation one. 🖤

Hell yeah❤ great topic

My favorite ways to get into alpha/flow that involve movement are dancing and playing the guitar & piano or singing 😊 I'm looking forward to your meditation video Ivy! This was really informative ❤

Guuuurl I had been waiting for this video!! ❤️ you're always such an inspiration

This is really helpful, thank you

Most wonderful video❤

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been wanting to learn about this topic for so long!! ❤

Thank you for making this! Explaining the sensations is a huge help.

Thank you for explaining each state and the feeling of them. Very helpful.

Open the Video and ❤ thank you for this so much. Great as always.

This was a very clear and useful explanation! Thanks!

Thanks for sharing this! I am a very cerebral person and also neurodivergent (AUDhd) which makes it rather challenging for me to ever slip fully out of beta even into an alpha mode. Sometimes when I dance or sing I reach that alpha flow state, but it can be a struggle. My rational mind constantly questions everything, especially messages from deities I work with and my late mother unless they send me a reaffirming sign after the fact that helps me silence my highly skeptical hyper-rational mind. Meditation has always been a struggle and I have tried and given up so many times over the years. I am eager to watch your follow up video to learn more and to try again to achieve some sort of meditative mastery. :)

Thank you so much for this video im trying to learn more about lucid dreams and this video for sure will help me

Ty loved this one🔮🗝️🌜

I’m SO glad you made this video because I was just wondering about the kind of dreamwork I do. There is a point before I go into deep sleep that I recall vivid imagery and dreams, and there’s is also a point before I wake up that I become a little more aware that I am sleeping and I recall dreams in VERY VIVID detail. I was briefly very good at meditation where I would sit and relax, but then I shifted into doing 15 minute sleep sessions where I would go into some sort of sleep state and wake up at the 15 minute mark. This video has prompted to do further research on these brain states so I can use it to meditate! Thank you!!

Very helpful to mention how each feels! Thank u!

I would LOVEEE another video about lucid dreaming!

Thanks! I've been wishing someone would describe the states more in depth for a long time.

Another awesome video! This is going to sound so weird. I love rocking chairs and I can reach alpha pretty easily whilst rocking. I think it's just the steady motion I put myself in.

This video was exactly what I needed to better explain altered states. Knowing the waves names helps immensely. I hit alpha frequently when I'm folding the towels at work. Lol. I didn't realize I was using theta waves when doing witch flight. I always just called it disassociate because I didn't have the word for it. Great info to have. Thanks for sharing!

This was super interesting! I briefly experimented with lucid dreaming in the past but didn' have any real purpose for doing it but now I kind of want to try again and see if I can catch myself being in a different state! Looking forward to your meditation video!

Thank you so much for all your videos, they are such great help and you explain very well. Im so happy to have found you.

This is awesome! Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve been wanting to chic out Aura so now I think I’ll actually do it.

Thank you. 🍷👑

What a synchronicity that you posted this rn. Heart mind institute is doing a second free virtual conference on expanded states of consciousness, I think it’ll be out in February/march. They already have one that was amazing that you can still access for free if you haven’t seen it yet… I’m developing curriculum for a course that goes along with it. One of my modules will cover brainwave states a bit. so this was really cool that you included it in your video about expanded states of consciousness. it’s nice to see my instincts more widely than just me. You do such a good job with making things accessible and clear and I always love your content. I always wish we could hang out. That would be a super fun conversation for sure. Keep doing what you do you’re rocking it!

Great installment, can you provide a few suggestions for references to Palmistry from a previous video topic. Have a great day, keep up the excellent work.

Thank you for existing.

I have a severe dissociative disorder, the description of the Alpha State sounds exactly the same as dissociation. Down to the same examples given to people to explain what dissociation is like.

Thank you for this very informative video! I can’t wait to watch the rest of the series! I tend to fall asleep after 20 minute meditation. Ugh. Thanks again❤❤

Oh yes it definitely is a long-game kind of practice to get into theta. Slipping into sleep so easily has been such a challenge since becoming a mum 😂😱... I definitely think these things seem so much easier in childhood - at least for me I feel that way. My little ones are so imaginative as well - I want to preserve and cultivate that sense of magic, play and wonder within them ❤

Thank you for today's video! I have a few questions in regards to meditation! ♥ Is it better to meditate in silence? Although I love guided meditations, it feels a bit limiting in the sense you are led by the voice of the person through the meditation. However. When meditating in silence, for me it feels difficult to know what to do, aside from quieting my mind and focusing on my breath. When I do guided meditations, I can visualize and see things, but if I do it in silence. I never see or recieve any type of messages from guides. There is only just that, silence. Which feels nice yeah, but also makes me wonder what is required to start getting downloads etc. If you have a strong conscious mind awareness that filters out the paranormal or if you have blockages to your psychic abilities. Are there any specific steps to take to resolve this, or is meditation the only thing? What if you meditate daily (are able to reach alpha state) and still cannot get past this treshold? Are you out of options then? :/ I personally am so worried if I will ever be able to get to a place where I can recieve guidance from my spirit guides.

Thank you! I will try Aura.

I love this video! I'm a practical logical person so learning the actual 'what happens in the brain', logical explanation to things is helpful. I also have ADHD so understanding my brain will help me tweak meditation habits to still achieve the difference brain wave states. Thanks!

The timing of this video couldn’t have been more perfect! I was just using a new meditation app this morning, and you get to pick the background music. I picked “Brain Waves” and then it asked me to pick between Gamma, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. I was like ummm… thank you for the explanation! 🙏🏾

i just started to use them a few days ago and felt that i need some guidence into this topic.

Thank you for taking on this topic 🤩 it’s divine timing for me! I had an epiphany last week when meditating on things I’ve been experiencing (psychic ability wise) but I wasn’t sure how I was doing it?? It wasn’t intentional but I want to learn how to do it intentionally so I can utilize it. I realized it happens when I’m falling asleep or slowly coming out of sleep in the morning.. my aha moment was when I realized it must be a brainwave I’m in!! Again thank you.. looking forward to second video already.

I'm current doing some experiments with a muse headset (EEG), devices like this are relatively cheap now. Fascinating stuff

Fellow massage therapist, can relate!

WAIT a minute. How, after all this time watching you, did I not know you were a massage therapist? I'm a massage therapist and Reiki master. That's sooooo awesome!!!!!!

Long before I actually began studying mysticism, I had a few strange experiences that I just couldn't explain. One time I was driving down a very familiar road late at night, and was suddenly horrified to realize that I was MUCH farther along than I thought I was. It was like, "Holy crap! How did I get HERE already??" I had absolutely no memory of driving the previous 10 miles or whatever, but I had obviously done it correctly because I was still on the road, still in my lane, nobody was honking at me, and so on. It wasn't until years later that I realized human consciousness was a lot more complicated than I had previously imagined.😅

I started listening to the gateway project I have got to be more Intentional about consistency

MEDITATION QUESTIONS: -Which state might be best for setting intentions/manifesting? -Does theta work even if you don’t remember the process and how to remember more. I would imagine writing dreams down/whatever bits you remember until your brain starts to categorize that as important… - Can you sort meditations into categories? For example: GUIDED MEDITATIONS: longer ones for ritual or before sleep, (2h) very short grounding mediations (10min), medium length meditations with music for visualization/divination (30min), ON YOUR OWN.. -Mediating on your own vs guided (Your personal experience and differences?) -Occult meditation vs day to day life meditation: we know they both have benefits but day to day feels more passive. What do you think? -What’s the link between meditation and Visualization/creating a mind palace?

Tips for people who have trouble with visualization!

It’s certainly possible others are getting theta right away. Personally I was already doing this before I even knew what it was or what it was called. As a chronically ill person who spends a lot of time adjusting my consciousness, it seems simple. It’s kind of how I survive the more difficult times.

MY QUESTION (for the meditation video): - What advice would would you give to someone with aphantasia? I personally try to focus more on how my body feels rather than trying to imagine things in my head, but any other suggestions would be appreciated 😌

Love, love, love your videos Ivy!! I do have a meditation question..recently, I’ve started doing candle gazing meditation, and after a few minutes, I can feel my field of vision really narrow to the flame itself, and the rest of the field of vision gets really fuzzy. I’m definitely not going cross eyed, and the first couple of times this happened, I freaked out a bit, and I fell out of this state. Now I feel like I can control it a bit more, and I’m wondering if this could be entering theta state? Would love to know your thoughts on this…☺️

Great video, as always. Question about alpha state: how do you perform complex spells or ritual without slipping from alpha back into beta? Is it a case of practicing the mechanics of a ritual before hand or is it a separate skill you'd recommend practicing? Or does it just get easier to stay in alpha the more rituals you do? Thanks!

Hi this is all so interesting your videos are great! Often if i have a nap early afternoon because i do shift work i wake up but it takes me a couple minutes probably to realize im not actually awake its weird i try to prove im awake by lifting my arm or rolling and it feels lie a have but i haven't and cant and then i think to myself your not awake yet go back to sleep. is that Theta? also when i was little i could control my dreams and remember to ask Peter pan questions id thought of during the day lol! now all i can do is make my self aware im in a nightmare and force myself awake by what feels like violently thrashing my neck to both sides. terrifyingly my son can astral travel he started at 13 he just does it.he gets forced to go places (sometimes he chooses but get pulled back) angels save him he kills people i cant even tell you all the stuff hes told me its wild hes even dragged his best friend in to a realm is that possible? he didn't know hed actually taken him on the trip but his mate knew they were in a car that my son looked at the day before that my son didnt tell him about. Anyway ive begged him to look at the how to lessons as hes gone to full power without learning to protect himself but hes 19 he says he can kill all the demons i don't now enough yet to know if thats true until i was about 12 i had the ability to change my dreams and would be able to resume them if i woke up. but this id hes got something its not just the astral travelling he has other abilities i don't know what to do. im sorry im posting this in the meditation comments too i need to know if what he can do is common he said hes been pulled to hell and riped up by and angel and the evil angels are beautiful men and the good ones are ugly and not really human looking. theres just so much more and faceless people black markets. but this isnt his only ability. im hoping to get competent in Ancestor magic to get advice. i told him hell have a spirit guide he reckons he hasnt met him

I am interested in hearing about your direct experience of results stemming from your practices.

Alpha & Theta 🦋 11:53 16:15 17:30 19:50 what meditation audios and videos would you recommend us using from RU-vid for achieving the alpha and theta state? Also do you recommend reiki for achieving these states?

I would say when I do things "automatically" I am still in a very "active" mind state, and just think about something unrelated and more interesting. Even in daydreaming I tend to be quite "active" and pondering... - It's like walking, right? Even if a little more complex. - For me usually just sitting and my thoughts run to something interesting, or I am tired etc... - I obviously experience state of "dissociation" like "whow, where did the time go?" - but I remember I spent the whole time thinking about "non-local" stuff, like abstract problem solving - either for fun, or for work. Or daydreaming, but again: - I wonder if that could be Alpha? - I imagine something like being unable to get out of bed could be more accurate? Conscious, but semi-dreams kind of blur in, feeling extremely "lazy / not willing to move" - lots of "daydreaming" etc...

I know you use oils. Do you have any smells or rituals you like to do prior to a meditation? Your videos share the perfect aspect of training your brain. Your house spirit comes to mind. How you use a certain bandana as a connection when you work with it.

Awesome video as always! :) I have one question regarding meditation: In the book "Psychic Witch" by Mat Auryn, one of the first excercises is about counting down from 100 to 0 without thinking about something else a single time. I found this to be a bit confusing, because in meditation you learn that you can't really control the randomness of thoughts. They just occur, also if you are proficient in meditation itself. How does this make sense? Do random thoughts disturb magickal workings that much e.g. while visualizing?

Ivy can you do a video on what makes an individual not believe in themselves when it comes to magic

Hi Ivy, any tips on remembering where your mind went when you were in Alpha state? I feel like I have moments all the time where I'm doing sonething monotonous and I begin daydreaming, but once I'm back in my conscious mind again sometimes I have trouble recalling what I was daydreaming about. Also for your meditation video would you be able to give some advice for neurodivergents on how to effectively meditate? Ive found my best meditations is through staring at a flame but I'd like to find other effective ways for my ADHD brain to relax enough (on purpose). Love your videos! You explain things so well and it really is so helpful!❤

That's how the music does in the hair salon not hearing it after a while

Also, as far as ghosts are concerned you should experience my house 😂. Frank, our resident ghost, is always sure to let people know he is there whether they want to know or not. I admitted to my mom that our ancestral home on a farm that four generations of family have lived on appears to be haunted and it’s disturbing our sleep. Her reply? “Oh that’s just Frank, the guy who had the house built. He died there. Sometimes he acts up and won’t let you sleep or something. When we were kids we would just telling him to leave us alone and quit bothering us and we’d force ourselves to go to sleep. He’s not dangerous, he’s just annoying. Tell him to buzz off and ignore his antics.” I was aghast that no one told me that the house I was buying from my grandparents was haunted. So anyway every once in awhile he lets us know he’s there. Going downstairs to see and care for my chinchilla? Frank throws the treat packet off the top of the enclosure from over an arm’s length away and it hits me in the chest-defying the laws of gravity that it should fall straight down if falling off the cage. Husband is sitting on the loo 🚽 and thinking he can go to the bathroom in peace? Nope, the handle on the sink turns on full force from the off position (a handle that you can visually see on from off). I’m in the tub? The shower curtain pushes back on its own from an arm’s length of being pulled open to block the light. That’s a safe cozy feeling as a woman-let me tell you 😂. I should probably leave but some stubborn as hell part of myself is like “this is MY house too now and you’re not making me leave it!” That plus some sunk cost fallacy at work that we’ve invested so much in it updating it plus everyone else made it through living here-so why should I be the one who wusses out and runs like a chicken??? Instead I dig my heels in and jut out my chin and stay planted firmly in place. Who am I to buck tradition? That’s what everyone else did 😂

What is the best position for meditation? Sitting or lying down?

I was in alpha going across Kentucky in the middle of the night alone. If you know you know Kentucky terrain it actually scared me when I got home

For the meditation video - any possible tips for the full time caregiver that wants to meditate but needs to also be aware of their patient/partners needs.

Would you be willing to share specific play lists or have instructor recommendations offered on Aura for altering states of consciousness? It’s a great app but easy to get lost in.

Hi Ivy. Any idea what type of state you'd be in during something like automatic writing?

I want one video on shapeshifting magick

I was wondering what brain wave state I could be in when lucid dreaming very detailed dreams 🤔 It feels like a super creative flow state

Anyone have any book recommendations for altered states consciousness?

What about if u visualize and ur brain is like wtf is happening? I can’t really visualize but it’s happened twice when trying to fall asleep. One was so scary I opened my eyes right away lol

I've seen people use trance veils for entering into well, trances. Could something similar be used to enter deeper brain states? And for that matter, is a trance a deeper brain state? I've been looking into various occult topics for about a year, but unfortunately I haven't spent the proper amount of time looking into meditation and similar topics.

❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

I struggle with meditation due to my tinnitus.

I have a question regarding the use of music/binaural beats when first learning to meditate and enter altered states. Is it helpful or would it be better to try and learn without these at first. I'm worried I would become dependent upon them to enter these altered states and then if I were to not have music/binaural beats, it would be difficult to meditate/enter an altered state of consciousness.

Ivy, I have a question: I think it's a human nature to do what we are told not to do or do something we know we shouldn't do. How can we stop ourselves from having destructive thoughts creeping into our mind when doing spellwork or in meditation when the thought can be engraved into the unconscious. I have been with this question for a long time. When I try to stop myself from some harmful thoughts, I get more conscious about it and tend to go in that direction.

question: if your are listening to a teacher for example and your mind drifts away, you have problems to keep your eyes open but you snap out and in of it every minute is that a kind of switching between brainwaves? sometimes I snap out of it thinking my mind was totally blank right now. was that theta?

Getting into Alpha with massaging clients always feels so nice and helps me give a better massage. I think the technique is called Fire Breathing, but when you do that technique, would it be deep Alpha or light Theta? I can't move my body, but sometimes I can still use my rarional mind, so it makes me question where those brainwaves stray.

I'm not someone who ever really meditates but I still have plenty successful rituals and spells. I do a lot of reflection and preamble to my rituals and spells, but meditating specifically is not part of my process. I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing. I mean I just work under the notion if it ain't broke don't fix it, yknow. Do you know people that don't really meditate or it isn't part of their magical practice?