Recent awareness: I have less-than-ideal habit energy in terms of brainwave function (along with most people), and there are documented ways to encourage specific brain waves (alpha, beta, theta, delta, gamma) as well as hemispheric alignment. I decided to explore entrainment technology as one method for accomplishing this goal. I have experienced altered states using chanting and drumming, so I know that using audio beats has significant potential for also facilitating relaxation and increasing brain function. Drumming and chanting are monaural: the same sound is presented to both ears. Though research is rare on the efficacy of monaural beats in causing brain wave entrainment, I came across the following, in an honors thesis from religious studies student at Stanford:

"Physiological changes associated with [monaural stimulation] facilitate healing and psychological and physiological well-being through physiological relaxation; facilitating self-regulation of physiological responses; reducing tension, anxiety, and phobic reactions; manipulating psychosomatic effects; accessing unconscious information in visual symbolism and analogical representations; inducing interhemispheric fusion and synchronization; and facilitating cognitive-emotional integration and social bonding and affiliation" (Winkelman, 2000).

Binaural (different sound presented to each ear) beats have been researched more extensively. Holosync, a well-known name in the field of entrainment, uses binaural beats. Some argue that Holosync uses technology based on decades old research and that more efficacious methods are now available. Given that argument and the rather high cost of purchasing Holosync CDs, I decided to enter this field of subjective inquiry via Transparent's Neuro-Programmer 2. I am still creating the tracks that I'll start with; I should have WAV files burned to CDs by mid-week.

The programs I'm considering starting with:
Alpha relaxation - for use at night before bed - 25 minutes
Theta (deep) relaxation - for weekend exploration, to see what manifests in terms of subtle states - 50 minutes
Attention Deficit Disorder (mild - doesn't meet DSM criteria) - during lunch at work - 30 minutes
Energy, motivation - after work to overcome post-work inertia - 10 minutes
Creative Focus - after 'energy, motivation' to open to my muse on days I set up time to create - 30 minutes

I am a psychonaut in the truest sense of the word. Diving into the depths of subconscious and unconscious realms to bring increased conscious awareness is a passion of mine. I will be conducting this experiment with curiosity and unattached optimism. I hope to report on the results.

P.S. This is a huge subject area on which I just gave the most cursory overview. One could read for days using relevant Google searches; I encourage that if interested.