You're "creating" objects on the Astral much more often than even you know. 
Any thought ever had by a human being started as a thought form on the astral.

You can create whatever you want while you're on the Astral simply by thinking of it.  It's the thought-world afterall.  This is why you have to be *VERY* careful not to have any stray thoughts.
One 'technique' for improving your physical life is to create a thought form in the Astral of what you want to happen to you on the Physical, then set it free to gather it's own energy and become reality.  While this relates to ideas... I don't think you can actually create physical items and bring them into the physical that way.

So, can you "send" an astral object (we call these "thought forms") to the Physical?
I don't think thought forms are transferable in such a manner.

Some people here can report speaking/seeing Aliens and their advanced ships and stuff like that. 

I'm sorry, but personally I cannot endorse the use of drugs for this kind of journey.
You're going to experience stuff you can not verify that came from yourself and not from the drugs... but that's only the tip of the iceberg.

Your everyday waking life is generally spent in the Beta state.
You hit the alpha state generally when you're intensely focused on something... like watching tv, reading a book, playing a video game... or even meditating.
You *can* OBE from the Alpha, but I believe it's very difficult as the amount of focus required to keep you from thinking about your physical body must be immense.

Let's jump to Delta for a second first...
This is the state generally associated with REM sleep, not Trance.  You're generally out like a light here. 
Now, backing it up to the Theta state...
This is exactly where you want to be.  You should be able to hold this consciously and this is where you'll hang out in while in the Trance state (mind awake/body asleep).

If you weren't completely in the Trance (or as you said, a Light Trance), then you were probably hanging out on the very edge between Alpha and Theta.
But technically, you shouldn't worry too much about the *exact* frequency or state you hit... and go off "FEELING" instead. 
That will guide you much better.

Ummm... dude?   You need to see a DOCTOR... ASAP.
Those are symptoms of a heart attack/angina.

Unless you can fall asleep with your eyes open like a Fish...
I'd highly doubt it. 

Lol that sounded exactly like me! It's just in life, if I really want something I will work that much harder to achieve what I want. But with AP it's different. And it's fustrating at times...

'Patience is a grump'... that's my quote 

I like that quote. 

There's an old proverb/story/anecdote that your question reminds me of...

A student came to his martial arts master and asked him, "Master, how long must I train to become as good as you?"
The master replied, "20 years..."
The student then asked, "Well, what if I trained twice as hard everyday... how long then?"
The master replied, "30 years..."
The student, frusterated with the answer asked, "What if I trained *REALLY* hard, every night and every day?  How long then?!"
The master replied, "40 years..."
The student, very confused with his masters answers asked, "Master, why is it when the harder and the more I train, the longer the time gets?"
The master replies, "When both your eyes are focused on the goal, you have no eyes with which to see the path."

Ohh so shall I just keep trying to go into a deeper and deeper trance state? Will I ultimately just get thrown out of my body when the time comes or something like that?

Well, I don't think you'll get 'thrown out' of your body... but you'll definitely *know* when you've shifted to the trance state and from there *shifted* to your etheric body.

For reaching a deeper trance state do I continue trying to think about nothing? Is that what you do?

What CFT said.
She's very knowledgeable and very eloquent with her words. 

Hmm how do you actually know when you're in the trance state? I just automatically assumed that if I get the vibrations I'm in the trance state. All I know is that my body feels heavier...does that qualify?

How do you know when you're asleep?  
When you're in a deep enough ("enough" being your body is asleep), you'll know.

A "heavier" feeling tells me that you're just brushing the edge of a light trance.  Which is fine for meditating, but unless your physical body is fully asleep, you won't be able to project.

I normally practice trying to project for about 20 minutes in total, anymore than that I lose concentration. Is that enough time to enter a trance state?

Good practitioners should be able to do it in 20 minutes, I'd say fairly easily.  For myself, it can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.  LOL
If I was you, I'd probably work on that 'losing concentration' thing though.  Don't give yourself a set time limit as that's a major limiting and self-destructive thing... you should technically be able to meditate for however long you need to.

Are you in the Trance state when you get your vibe and when you're attempting your 'exit technique'?
You can't separate unless you're in the Trance State (mind awake/body asleep).
That could be your issue.

I try to worry less about humanities spiritual direction and more about my own personal spiritual direction.
It's not that I don't care about "us", it's just that I only have so much energy.  I'm a firm believer that you need to fix within, before you can fix without.   

Whoa guys. 
Nobody really needs to tell others what or how to live.
You can not approve with their actions silently.
You two have made it known your opposing opinions.  It can only get ugly from here. 

["Am I doing this correctly?"]

The process I went through is this...

You'll be meditating and you'll get this stray thought... it can be something like:
"Am I doing this correctly?"
Then you'll notice that you're thinking and dwelling on that...

So what you do is catch yourself, accept the thought and let it go by... until it's like this:

"Am I doing this co...."
next time it'll be
"Am I doin..."
then
"Am..."
until you get to
"..."

You can end just about any thought in this manner before it becomes an annoyance. 

i think part of my limitation is not being able to know for sure this is real. it feels so real. Is this another dimension that we exist on 24/7 we just tap into it during hours of meditation? or is this a mind game im playing with myself. how do i visit a person that is dead? can i?

That's something you'll need to figure out on your own really.
Do your own research, find your own conclusions and use your experiences as a filter. 

i dont think ive met my "guide" yet. how can i meet him/her/it

When out... ask. 
Also... when out, try looking behind you.  People report meeting the strangest people there. 

What do you usually do once you get to the vibrational phase?

You don't. 

Your test is now available for all in the universe to see.  hehe

Well, the first step is to relax. 
Yes, it is easier said than done.  hehe

You've gotta relax physically and mentally... but don't *try* at it.  Cause trying causes the opposite to happen generally.

The "shifting your awareness" shouldn't require any work as it'll happen automatically once your body goes from awake to asleep.

After the shift, you'll be in, what we call, the Trance state.  From there, pick your exit technique and go nuts. 

Kinda sounds like you're 'expecting' too much and are not 'allowing' things to happen naturally.
Don't expect... just allow. 

Also... try wearing a mask, that way you won't get that annoying 'light' peeking in. 

May I ask "HOW" you know it's your physical heart?
Because what you're reporting sounds exactly like your heart chakra energizing up.
It'll feel *EXACTLY* as if your heart is popping out of your chest... but rest assured, it won't. 

So, unless you've got someone laying their hands on you while you're practicing... then it's your chakra.
If you do have an outside witness, then I apologize and you can ignore this post. 

My only beef with using 'drugs' as a method to achieve altered states of consciousness is that YOU DIDN'T DO IT YOURSELF.

The most important part of this journey that we're on... IS THE JOURNEY.
While you're using drugs and skipping right to the goal, you're going to miss so many important lessons that you can only learn when walking the path.

They don't say "The journey is more important than the destination" for nothing. 

I think the only thing that age would be of consequence is in regards to how long you've been 'taught' by 'society' that these things don't exist and that they're not 'normal'.
Other than that... if you can shakes those societal beliefs, then you should be good. 

Just relax. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  Holy crap!!
Don't scare us like that... >_>

Anyways, welcome to the forums!
Yup, there's lots of awesome tips and help floating around here.
Feel free to take and use whatever you find! 

Me thinks this thread should have been locked after page 2.