This is very interesting! I've had hypnogogy my entire life. Being held frozen while entire dreams played out in front of my open eyes in my bedroom.
I have also always been aware when I am in a dream. I once found myself in a dream where I was in one of those mazes made out of shrubbery. I knew I was supposed to find the end. It was some kind of mission. So I thought, "This is a dream, right? The laws of Nature don't apply. I can do anything." Then I put my arms to my sides and looked straight up and flew up into the air and hovered over the maze. I could see the exit immediately.
I decided after waking, that the dream meant there are many alternative ways to solve a given problem.
That said, MOST dreams are SCARY. And once I realize I'm dreaming I usually becomes blindly terrified and obsessed with waking.
I recently found out about research done into accessing the hypnogogic state at will. I can't find the book right now, but basically groups of college students were put in a dark room with quiet, ambient music playing and asked to look into the crystal ball in the centre of the room (which had a soft light shining on it). After the exercise, most students reported it had been a very impressive display of
holography.
Almost all the students saw something in the ball - most saw a person dancing to the rhythm of the music being played. But some saw little "movies" of their past, of dreams, etc.
The researchers' hypothesis was that peering into a semiclear, murky depth triggers the hypnogogic state. Many cultures have traditions of peering into murky depths to have visions (magic mirrors, a raw egg broken into a glass of water, etc). The theory is that this has a basis in a true shift in conciousness. Much like a moving pendulum can bring a person into a state of hypnosis.
I've recently been toying with the idea that I am naturally prone to hypnogogy, so maybe this would work for me? Perhaps allow me to explore these scary dreams and follow them where they want to take me, but at MY convenience, when I feel comfortable. Perhaps if I do this during the day, the dreams won't force themselves onto me at night.
Just thought I'd share.
AT