Without the use of a neurofeeback machine, are there ways of inducing
Alpha waves in one's own brain, perhaps through visualizations,
meditation, or certain types of activity?
 Thanks...

Hello pcventures. There are a number of ways of inducing the alpha
state without machines. One of the them is through calming music. In
studies, calm and slow classical music has been shown to be effective.
But I would recommend some CD's the researchers probably never heard
of:

Chanting the Chakras - Layne Redmond
Trance Union - Layne Redmond
(these are available at http://layneredmond.com/lredmond_orders.html)
These are *great* CD's. Also:
Cosmic Trigger (out of print but it is available at half.com
http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=1715377&meta_id=2)

Chanting Mantras is an excellent way of inducing alpha waves. It can
be something simple as 'Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram (repeat endlessly)'
If you would like some assistance with learning some mantras a great
CD for this is Full Moon Sadhana by Wah.

Other methods  of inducing alpha waves include visualizing colors in
sequence.
Sit up straight and still, calm your mind and visualize Red - Blue -
Green - Orange - Yellow - White then back to red. It really doesn't
matter the sequence. A particularly way to do this is a magickal
technique called "The Middle Pillar Ritual". You can find instruction
at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~lyam/RITUALS.htm and many other places
around the net.

Some other methods:

Meditation - Lots of material on this on the Internet. Here is an
introduction to meditation:
http://www.spiritual-learning.com/meditate-intro.html

You can also use guided meditation on tape like this:
http://www.meditationsoflife.com/products_relaxation_guided_meditations.shtml

Deep breathing can be very effective as well. Trying lying on the
floor. Put your hand on your belly and breath in deeply so that your
belly rises first, then your chest then let the breath go with an
'aaaaaah' sound. Repeat this over and over for say 20 minutes or so
and you will be impressed with the results. Combine with soft music
for a great effect.

Finally have you heard of the Brainwave Generator? It works pretty
good and it's cheap. All you need is the software and a pair of
headphones:
http://www.bwgen.com/

I wish you well on your journey into the Alpha regions. As you may
have guess I journey there regularly myself. If you need any more help
please use the 'clarify answer' button before rating this answer.
Thanks, -shiva777

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Request for Answer Clarification by pcventures-ga on 31 May 2003 19:45 PDT

Please provide some additional resources on this topic.
I wasn't too crazy about some of those links.
Thanks...

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Clarification of Answer by shiva777-ga on 01 Jun 2003 17:21 PDT

Hi Pcventures. I'll be happy to supply with some more links. It would
be helpful for me to know which ones you didn't like and why so I
won't come up with more that you don't like. I have personally used
all of these methods with success and that's why I posted them. But
yes I can give you some more links to sites of interest. Let me know
which of these methods you are most interested in. Also remember that
I'm only getting $4.50 for this answer so I'm willing to go the extra
mile to help you, but further clarifications will be necessarily
shorter. Thanks -shiva777  

ps. accidentally posted this as a comment as well.

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Request for Answer Clarification by pcventures-ga on 03 Jun 2003 09:59 PDT

The stuff you linked me to sounded a bit new-agey and involved.  Some
really simple/quick techniques are more in line with what I'm looking
for.
 Thanks...

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Clarification of Answer by shiva777-ga on 04 Jun 2003 18:45 PDT

Hello again. I will try to supply with some more links to guides on
inducing alpha waves. It does seem though that most of the techniques
could be considered 'new agey', but many of them have scientific
backing to prove they work. For example, both meditation and
visualization techniques mentioned in your origial question and in my
response could be considered 'new agey'. At the same time there has
been lots of scientific research on both of these subjects linking
them with the alpha state. Essentially, when your mind relaxes and
lets go you will achieve the alpha state. These methods, call them new
age of scientific are basically different ways of achieving this state
of relaxation and 'no mind'.

If you're looking for the easiest way to induce an alpha state I would
try out the Brainwave generator mentioned in my original answer (or a
similar software program). I have and it definitely works. Make sure
though that you use headphones. It will not work if you play the
sounds through a speaker system.  A good overview of the 'binaural
beat' techique used in this and other similar programs can be found
here:
http://uazu.net/sbagen/ (along with a free binaural beat generator)

My second choice for an easy way is any kind of repetitive music. The
CD's I recommended by Layne Redmond are excellent in this respect. I
also found this CD which is specifically designed to induce an alpha
state:
http://www.universal-tao.com/CD/z_CD_peacefulness.html


Here are some other items of interest:

Article on Brain Machines:
http://www.deepideas.com/brain_machines.html

Interesting Interview
http://www.edgenews.com/issues/2003/02/harris.html


Interesting article including a section on alpha waves and right brain
activiity
http://www.awarenessworkshops.com/articles.htm

Article on how the similarities between the brain and computers and
inducing alpha and other brain states.
http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~andrewc/mind_state_manage.html

Ecstatic Dancing (also known as trance dancing) - Another method to
induce an alpha state.
http://www.ecstaticspirit.com/Bistro/dancefaq.html

I hope that these links help you out. The bottomline is that there are
many ways
and you can find a way that suits you best personally. Most anything
that can get you to deeply relax will work. You may wish to look into
techniques of self hypnosis as well. Good luck in your quest! 
-shiva777

Hi Pcventures. I'll be happy to supply with some more links. It would
be helpful for me to know which ones you didn't like and why so I
won't come up with more that you don't like. I have personally used
all of these methods with success and that's why I posted them. But
yes I can give you some more links to sites of interest. Let me know
which of these methods you are most interested in. Also remember that
I'm only getting $4.50 for this answer so I'm willing to go the extra
mile to help you, but further clarifications will be necessarily
shorter. Thanks -shiva777

shiva777, sorry to barge in, but you don't put your research method
here ;)
BTW, here's a link that might help you pcventures:

http://www.mindpower.co.zw/about/about.mindpower.cfm

also it might help to try these following queries in google.com or
alltheweb.com (hey, it's not a sin)

alpha brain wave
alpha wave

Rent or buy a movie called Koyaanisqatsi. It's on MGM DVD. You should
reach Alpha practcally every time..