Almost astral travel?

[v3nge]

So I made me first attempt to astral travel last night. To no avail however, at first. I decided to just go to sleep, but then as I was drifting to sleep I noticed that my body started to feel like it was going to sleep but my mind was very much awake. My body felt like somewhere between numb and tingling. It felt like a very fragile state so I was carefully not to bring myself out of it by examining the feeling in my body. I had happen to read something about the body going numb before astral travel so I decided to make another attempt in this state. I focused on going outside of my body and then I felt like I was moving forward into my field of vision. It was very effortfull however and felt forced. Then I saw a flash of white light in the corner of my vision. I should motion that my eyes where closed during the whole experience. I then became very freaked out and opened my eyes and it was over. Was this almost my first astral travel? I have had some experience with lucid dreaming but this was my very first astral traveling attempt.

[Astral316]

You'll see flashes, colors, images, etc. as you enter and progress into the trance state... just gotta relax and observe the sensory input as it comes.

[v3nge]

So after doing some reading on phasing, I decided to try the visualization technique. I tried a few times without success in mid day, then I tried some before bed and, like last time, got much better results. Though I wouldn't say it was easy by any means. I kept having a recurring issue that I have had a lot when I lucid dream as well. In lucid dreaming it presents its self usually when I realize that I am dreaming and then I start to slide back into my body, if you will. Its like I'm half way in the dream and half way in my body. So last night with the visualization I had the same experience I got to the point where I felt like I was actually in the visualization a few times, but they where very brief as I immediately found it hard not to focus back into my body. Any tips?

[Lionheart]

 It sounds like you are projecting. Practice will make this easier. At first it is hard to stay in the Astral. You see things starting to occur and get excited or question it and then bam, you are back in the physical. Just relax and enjoy the movie. You are the director, so enjoy your masterpiece! 

[v3nge]

Thanks, one more question. It feels a little to much like lucid dreaming, though I have only been able to stay in for mere seconds so far, it feels more like I'm drifting in and out of sleep more than just shifting into non-physical, is that normal?

[XkeltonX]

Just relax and enjoy the movie. You are the director, so enjoy your masterpiece! 

This line helped so much. I have had similar experiences, and have been wondering the same things. I have apparently just never been able to find the words to express it correctly. I think it is awesome that you can learn from other people's questions. Thank you all.

[v3nge]

I was confused about, when people describe seeing images, if they ment they see them on the back of there eyelids or if the see them in their minds eye, but now I realize that the "black" that is the back of your eyelids and the "black" that is in your minds eye (3d blackness?) are very separate. The back of your eyelids are a part of the physical that you phase out of, while the black in your minds eyes is what you are trying to phase into and make more vivid. However obvious this may sound, it was one of the things that has been holding me back. If this sounds wrong however, let me know, but this is my most recent insight.