Candle staring worth trying to practice more?

[Gummage]

I heard lots about this simple method of staring at a candle and the world around it fading away. Have many here tried this at all to help with AP? your experiences please.

Also I am thinking would it be harder to project when using a technique with your eyes open like this one?

[CFTraveler]

I've tried it, but it really didn't make a difference one way or another.

[Szaxx]

Its a peaceful thing. Mind calming and somewhat relaxing. In the modern world it would help those stressed to unwind and get into a mindstate prior to meditation.
It cant be done simultaneously with trying to exit. You need to leave the physical world behind.

[Gummage]

ith trying to exit. You need to leave the physical world behind.

So you would just get to the right trance then try a technique to exit?

[Ident]

These past months, I don't feel comfortable without a candle or two burning on either side of me. I don't yet use them for meditation but I draw a comfort from their presence.

[Stookie_]

The idea of staring at a candle is to be able to concentrate on the after image it creates in your mind. It's not guaranteed, but holding onto an afterimage takes a good bit of single-minded concentration and can alter your state of consciousness. If I'm not mistaken, most candle meditations tell you to close your eyes at some point and concentrate on the afterimage. But just staring in a candle without recognizing the 2nd process probably won't do much. My guess anyways.

[Lionheart]

 Here is one of the first YouTube videos I ever watched on Astral Travel. I did his technique and came to vibrations in minutes. Enjoy. 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkWNB9inwI0

[Sheena]

Yes, "candle staring" is to improve concentration. Concentration, after relaxation, is the most important thing to apply correctly for astral projection.

Most people do not concentrate while going to sleep which is why most people do not have conscious astral projections.
You need to be able to be concentrating upon ONE thing at the precise moment your body goes into sleep mode.
As most people think of a million things (do not concentrate on anything) as they fall asleep and just unconsciously go into dreams...

Go beyond focusing on the "after image" and train yourself to visualize clearly, the candle still burning in your mind's eye. Stare at a candle for about 10 minutes, then lay down and actually ignore the after image, but just visualize the candle flame as vividly as possible.

This trains your concentration. Do this daily! 

[rain_88]

Yogis also use this technique - among others - to stimulate their third eye  .

[Dreamshards]

I remember doing this a couple of times a long time ago. I never really connected that it would aid in shifting the subconscious over. I do remember after meditating into the flame of the candle for about 15 minutes or so, it really helped my mind clear and the rest of room kind of faded away. The flame started turning a whitish color. Maybe it is something I will have to try again.

[Szaxx]

Hi,
Its not really a trance, its a state of mind where the body goes to sleep and you keep your mind awake by watching various images in a passive way. Its easy to say but the explanation is better understood once you have achieved it.
In the morning when its light outside look at one thing and dont move you eyes from it for 3 seconds. Lie down and totally cover your eyes so no light at all gets in. In this total darkness you will see an afterimage first in a negative format then you keep looking without moving your eyes and the real image starts to appear. It is very detailed and what you looked at is what you see very clearly. I cant look around the image but some are supposed to be able to.

[Ident]

Not everyone can visualise well. It's another aspect of what makes us all different.