5/27/24, 6:49 AM The Silva Method: A Guide to Using the Alpha State | Shortform Books

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The Silva Method: A Guide to Using the Alpha State

Posted by Katie Doll | Oct 18, 2023

What’s the power of the Alpha state of mind? How does the
Silva Method help you take advantage of the Alpha state?
The Silva Method’s Alpha state mental techniques begin the
same way: accessing what the Alpha level actually is. In The
Silva Mind Control Method, José Silva discusses what this
state of mind is and how to access it through self-hypnosis.
Find out how powerful the Alpha state is and how to access
it.

What Is the Alpha State?

According to the Silva Method, “Alpha state” refers to a
particular brainwave state, one of several scientifically
recognized states in which a person’s brainwaves can be
measured within a certain range of frequencies.

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According to Silva, scientists recognize four brainwave states:

Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta. Beta is the most alert state—
the state in which you spend most of your waking hours. In
Beta, your brainwaves are vibrating at a high frequency as
you engage with the world around you. The Alpha state is
one step below Beta. In Alpha, your brainwave frequency is
lower; you’re less focused on the outside world and
beginning to focus internally (such as when you’re first
beginning to fall asleep). In the Theta state, you’re even more
relaxed and internally focused, and by the time you reach
the Delta state, you’re typically fully asleep.
(Shortform note: Modern science has identified an additional
category of brain waves: Gamma waves, which vibrate at a
higher frequency than Beta waves. Your brain enters the
Gamma state when you’re concentrating intensely, such as
on learning new material. People whose brains more
frequently enter the Gamma state tend to have higher IQs
and more ability to concentrate than people who enter the
Gamma state less frequently. Some researchers argue that
training people to access Gamma more frequently could help
treat neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, epilepsy,
and depression.)
Silva argues that the Alpha state is a powerful and
underutilized tool that anyone can learn to use. Your brain is
capable of different skills in Alpha than it is in Beta, so the
first step to accomplishing the skills Silva teaches is to learn
to reliably and intentionally access the Alpha brain state.
(Shortform note: Some modern studies corroborate Silva’s
claim that the Alpha state is a uniquely powerful tool.
Scientists have successfully used Alpha wave neurofeedback
training (in which participants learn to enter Alpha and
remain there) to treat chronic low back pain, in conjunction
with other therapies. Engineers are also developing
technologies that allow people with paralysis to operate
wheelchairs using Alpha wave activity through EEG signals.)

How to Access Alpha State

According to Silva, the Alpha level has a shallow sublevel and
a deep sublevel. Since you’re naturally in a shallow Alpha
state when you first wake up in the morning, Silva
recommends practicing accessing Alpha first thing in the
morning since it will be easier to access the deeper Alpha
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5/27/24, 6:49 AM The Silva Method: A Guide to Using the Alpha State | Shortform Books

levels when you’re already in the shallow Alpha levels (as

opposed to the fully awake Beta state).
To begin, when you first wake up, with your eyes still closed,
look up slightly above your head. Then, slowly count down
from 100 to one. This will take you into a deeper Alpha state.
Silva recommends repeating this exercise every morning for
10 days. Then, count down from 50 (instead of 100) each
morning for 10 days. Gradually reduce the starting count for
10 days at a time until you’re only counting down from five to
one. (Shortform note: At this point, you’re merely training
yourself to enter Alpha on command; later in the guide, we’ll
describe how to further use the Alpha state to achieve your
goals.)
When you finish counting, you’ll have entered the Alpha
state. Then, when you’re ready to come out of Alpha, do so
gently by counting upward from one to five (the inverse of
the process you used to enter Alpha). As you count upward,
tell yourself that when you finish counting, you’ll feel healthy
and energized.
Once you’ve mastered going into Alpha first thing in the
morning, you can begin to practice entering Alpha when
you’re already fully awake. You can do this exercise at any
time of day. Find a comfortable place to sit, with your spine
straight. Mentally scan each part of your body, beginning at
your feet and ending at your scalp. As you scan, consciously
relax each body part. Then, as you did before, close your
eyes and point them slightly upward, then count down slowly
from 50. After 10 days of practicing this, begin counting
down from 10, then from five. Eventually, you’ll be able to
use the same technique—counting down from five—to enter
Alpha, regardless of whether you start first thing in the
morning or during a hectic moment in your day.

Visualizing in the Alpha State

Accessing the Alpha state is only the first step: Next, you’ll
need to practice visualizing, which forms the basis of all the
other Silva Mind Control techniques.
To begin, go into the Alpha state and imagine a mental
screen filling most of your field of vision. On that screen,
picture a simple object, like a familiar cup. Focus on picturing

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5/27/24, 6:49 AM The Silva Method: A Guide to Using the Alpha State | Shortform Books

the cup in as much detail as you can. The more you practice
filling in the details and focusing on the mental image you’ve
created, the better you’ll be able to practice more advanced
techniques later on.
(Shortform note: Many meditation practices use visualization
to promote certain mental states, as Silva recommends.
However, visualization may not be accessible for everyone.
Scientists estimate that tens of millions of people aren’t able
to picture anything in their mind’s eye—a condition called
aphantasia. If you’re unable to visualize in your mind, you
might try manifesting through external visualization, such as
by creating a vision board.)

Manifesting in the Alpha State

Once you’ve honed your visualization skills by visualizing
simple objects in increasing detail, you can begin to use
visualization to create real, positive developments in your
life. Silva acknowledges that this technique isn’t foolproof,
but it does work sometimes, and the more you practice, the
more effective it becomes.
To manifest the result you desire (in other words, to create it
through visualization), you must meet three conditions. First,
you must want the result to happen. Second, you must
believe that the result is possible—Silva warns that you
cannot manifest something you genuinely believe to be
impossible. Third, you must genuinely believe that the result
will happen (this differs from merely wanting it to happen).
Silva adds a caveat—manifesting in the Alpha state is not an
omnipotent power. Specifically, you’ll never be able to
manifest something that directly harms someone else. In
Silva’s experience, the nature of the Alpha state simply will
not allow you to do harm—if you try, that harm is likely to
befall you instead.

 Katie Doll  October 18, 2023

 Psychology, Spiritual

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Katie Doll
Somehow, Katie was able to pull off her
childhood dream of creating a career
around books after graduating with a
degree in English and a concentration in
Creative Writing. Her preferred genre of
books has changed drastically over the
years, from fantasy/dystopian young-
adult to moving novels and non-fiction
books on the human experience. Katie
especially enjoys reading and writing
about all things television, good and
bad.

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5/27/24, 6:49 AM The Silva Method: A Guide to Using the Alpha State | Shortform Books

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