Here’s a clean differential framework that separates hypnagogia, dissociative imagery, and intuition across state of consciousness, control, phenomenology, and clinical/psi relevance.
1. Hypnagogic Imagery
(Sleep–wake threshold phenomena)
State
- Transitional: waking → sleep (theta-dominant)
- Reduced executive control
- Time distortion common
Phenomenology
- Vivid images, faces, scenes, symbols
- Often cinematic or fragmentary
- Can include voices, geometric patterns, flashes
- Emotionally neutral or mildly uncanny
Agency
- Passive reception
- Images arise without intention
- Attempts to control often collapse the imagery
Temporal Quality
- Ephemeral, unstable
- Shifts rapidly unless sleep deepens
Meaning Structure
- Associative, symbolic, non-linear
- Not reliably accurate or actionable without later interpretation
Clinical / Psi Notes
- Normal, universal phenomenon
- Can serve as a raw signal source in creative or psi contexts
- High noise-to-signal ratio
Key Marker
“It’s happening to me as I’m drifting.”
2. Dissociative Imagery
(Protective or fragment-based internal imagery)
State
- Altered waking consciousness
- Often linked to trauma, attachment injury, or defensive withdrawal
- Can occur fully awake
Phenomenology
- Repetitive scenes, archetypal figures, inner landscapes
- Strong affect (fear, longing, shame, threat)
- May feel immersive or “other than me”
Agency
- Semi-autonomous
- Imagery may feel intrusive or compelling
- Often resistant to voluntary modification
Temporal Quality
- Persistent, looping, sticky
- Trigger-linked
Meaning Structure
- Self-referential
- Encodes memory, affect, survival strategy
- Often symbolic of unmet needs or threats
Clinical / Psi Notes
- Commonly misidentified as intuition or psychic input
- Accuracy is internally coherent, not externally predictive
- Responds to grounding, IFS, titration
Key Marker
“This image feels emotionally charged and won’t let go.”
3. Intuition
(Non-imagistic knowing / perception)
State
- Fully awake, regulated nervous system
- Clear executive function
- Often arises in calm or focused states
Phenomenology
- Minimal imagery or none
- Felt sense, certainty, “just knowing”
- Somatic markers (gut, chest, orientation shifts)
Agency
- Neither forced nor intrusive
- Appears spontaneously, then recedes
- Does not demand attention
Temporal Quality
- Brief, clean, stable
- Leaves a residue of clarity
Meaning Structure
- Non-symbolic
- Direct, contextual, often actionable
- Low emotional charge
Clinical / Psi Notes
- Easily obscured by imagery
- Strengthens with nervous system regulation
- Compatible with both psychological and psi frameworks
Key Marker
“There’s no picture — just clarity.”
Side-by-Side Snapshot
Feature Hypnagogia Dissociative Imagery Intuition Consciousness Sleep threshold Altered waking Fully awake Imagery Vivid, unstable Repetitive, charged Minimal or none Emotional Load Low–moderate High Low Control Passive Semi-autonomous Neutral Reference Point Associative Self/trauma-linked Contextual/external Reliability Low Internally coherent High
Common Confusions (Very Important)
- Hypnagogia ≠ intuition
Hypnagogia produces content; intuition produces knowing. - Dissociative imagery ≠ psi perception
Trauma imagery can feel “other” but is still self-referential. - More imagery ≠ more accuracy
In both CRV and clinical intuition, less imagery often means cleaner signal.
Practical Discernment Questions
Ask in the moment:
Am I drifting or fully awake?
→ drifting = hypnagogia
Is this emotionally charged or looping?
→ charged = dissociative imagery
Is there an image, or just certainty?
→ certainty = intuition
Does it demand attention, or quietly inform?
→ demands = imagery
→ informs = intuition
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 