I can see that we need to discuss a bit deeper why each of these occurs. The simple reason, because it's part of a learning process. But I see many people are getting too hung up in them. So, we will split these into categories of
BEFORE,
DURING and
AFTER.
BEFORE This seems to be the extreme test and challenge of being able to overcome EXIT SYMPTOMS and SIGNPOSTS. This is where many new people find their first hurdle. This could also be known as your first taste of a fear test.
How far will you go to experience a "non ordinary state of consciousness" totally consciously aware? This is the first question everyone new to this practice should ask themselves. Tom Campbell says you need to have the mindset that "if I don't come back from this, so be it". That sounds pretty extreme. But if your subconscious finds a block, it will continue to use it constantly until you overcome it. How do you overcome it. You talk to your higher self and explain your reasons for wanting to learn this Art in the first place. "Well that sounds stupid. What a silly answer!" I read this all the time here on this Forum when a more experienced member here is trying to help someone consciously project for the first time. Case in point/Example: Every time I get to the point of exiting and then my eyes open. I had this problem before as well. How did I fix it? I broke down the problem further and found that I could wear a "Blindfold", thus finally proving to myself whether or not it was physical or etheric eyes that were opening. I didn't get frustrated, I just handled it and moved on.
I did find that once a "block" was successful, that that block would be used repeatedly until I overcame it. Another example of this, the exploding head syndrome. This one was always occurring with me just before a exit and stopped me dead in my tracks. I would be relaxed, I did my Mantras or counting then vibrations kicked in. But all of a sudden a rush of energy built in my head and I felt like it was literally going to explode. How did I overcome this extreme situation. I learned to passively observe it and move on. We use those two words often here. But it's true, "
passively observing a exit symptom or Astral signpost is the best way possible to overcome it.
Here is a link to a "Sticky" that explains what a Astral signpost is and possible exit symptoms a person "may" experience. Don't expect them, just passively observe them with "air of curiosity" when and if they do occur.
http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/exit_symptomssignposts-t46206.0.html I hope by making this thread we can help people that create threads here saying "I can't get past the vibrations, or my eyes are always opening, or .................................. You can fill in those blanks.
Lastly just remember this, (I think it was Xanth here that says this), "If you are experiencing something in this practice, chances are that others have experienced it as well". This Forum has some great Stickies (threads in
BOLD BLUE LETTERS) that have been created by experienced members here to help you. Use them! They are incredibly helpful. We also have a fantastic search engine found at the top right hand of the page here.
DURING This category goes into tests, quests and challenges that may or may not occur during a shift. Simple meaning, what challenges may lie ahead in a actual shift. Examples, during a shift from Sleep Paralysis. You awaken in SP, your first thought, what's holding me down. Oh look it's the Demon from that movie I saw last week or it's my worst nightmare. What has occurred here is you have entered a "dimension" or realm whereas thought = action immediately. So "what's holding me down" has now triggered the memory of that last horror flick. How to handle it. Realize what is occurring and why. Understanding a situation helps you overcome it.
Other tests, quests and challenges will come in your actual adventures in these realms. They are also used to help you learn how to "navigate" these areas. I have found there are no simple yes or no answers. Your teacher, whether you think of this as "higher self" or "other" will teach you through experience. Examples of this. During one of me first APS, my deceased brother in law appeared spontaneously on stage at some kind of giant Amphitheater. He then reached down and picked up a bow and arrow that I guess was lying on the stage and shot a arrow in my direction. This taught me "depth perception". He then taught me how important that I learned to just "observe" everything for now. I was very anxious and had many questions. That seemed to be a problem early on, but as everything else there, I had to overcome that. Once I learned how to just sit back and observe, I became like a open book, just sucking in knowledge. The more open I was, the more I was taught and still am being taught today.
Through this I was taught Retrievals, how to "Re script" a Dream and all kinds of unique things. But all of this came through numerous and sometimes very challenging and tedious tests, quests and challenges.
AFTER Now lastly to "AFTER". Hmm, what kind of tests, quests and challenges could lie after a shift or when you become more experienced with accessing non local states of consciousness in general. Well in my opinion this is where the two realms collide.
What are you going to do with this new found knowledge? How has this changed you? ...and lastly the most important question, "How are you using this info to better yourself today in this realm?".
Non local states of consciousness will challenge your belief systems in all different ways. I myself have seen this first hand on a incredible level. My common law wife was diagnosed with two independent forms of Cancer back in December 2105. It's now April 2016. One was Endometrial Stage 4 B, the other Colon Stage 3. The Doctors basically said Chemo could be used to prolong her life another 6 months, (they had given her 8-12 months of life as it was), but the Chemo would not rid her of it.
My belief system on what is and why we are here in this realm, what I was "taught", was tested to the max. I knew what was happening and why, but it doesn't mean I had to like it or that it had no effect on me. I told her that she was the Author of this book and that she and she alone could write the "finale" to this story. I told her she needed to go deep inside herself and do some serious soul searching. This Cancer took years to get to this level or stage. But signs of why it happened were showing itself for years as well. Her anger at life in general had turned inwards and it had manifested into the "disease" itself.
During that entire time all the way up to the middle of March I did not have one LD, AP, OBE or anything of that nature. It wasn't for not trying. I was blocked. I was blocked from helping her on a higher level. This was her decision and only she along could choose how this all ended. During that time, I turned to some very good friends I have here on the Astral Pulse. Szaxx, EscapeVelocity and Skeptic helped her and I immensely and I am ever so grateful for their support.
The only way to monitor her Cancer was by "markers'. In this case her Stage 4 was a marker known as Antigen 125. Before surgery her marker was 337, which is quite high. They cut out all they could, but still the diagnosis of 8-12 months left of life remained.
While healing from her surgeries, she found some books on Spiritual Healing that we had purchased about 8 years ago, but she had never had the time to read. So she began to read and learned how to "allow" healing energies into her. This is where Skeptic was quite helpful. We had many Doctor appointments as well dung this time and all of them concluded with the same thing, Chemo was a must. But she would have none of that. She would not entertain the thought of Chemo.
Now the Miracle. In late March, I was on the road picking up some supply for our company and she called me after the results of her new blood/marker test. She was elated. Her Cancer markers went down to 13. Below 30 is the safe/all clear zone. I guess according to the medical community, she had a "spontaneous remission". We call it a "Miracle". She chose to live and I was very grateful she chose that way. I was prepared for either.
She did quit smoking. She had smoked for over 30 years. We also changed our diet, limiting sugars, eating more green, etc. But the main change was in her attitude towards life in general. She became a Grandmother for the second time, with a new beautiful healthy Granddaughter. So, she had enough reasons to stay around this realm again.
Lessons you learn in "non local states of consciousness" come through tests, quests and challenges. But don't forget, those test, quests and challenges are found in this realm as well and just like the "other realm" ones, we must learn how to jump the hurdles and overcome those ones as well.
From this practice you will become more "aware" of everything around you. It's kind of like "seeing" for the first time. You will see we are much more than you first thought we were. You will also find many "gifts" along the way. I feel that the reason we become "blocked", even the most experienced APers, is because we stop using what is being shown to us, what we are taught and we begin to revert back to our old ways. Also, it's because "life happens" and the deeper we get into the physical, the further we move away from the other. A sense of balance is very important here.
I wrote this under another name I once used here on the Astral Pulse Forum and I still hold it true today:
" Learning these things has it's positives. But it has it's negatives as well. The more I learn and "know", the farther I grow away from the woman I love. I don't feel like I am growing away, but I can see it in her reactions and attitude towards me now. It tends to desensitize you to things that in life that we should be sensitive to. Just knowing that you are more then your physical body changes your outlook/mindset on life quite a bit. This is why there are many people that start down this road, but can't continue. The physical life fights back and ground them."
To this a good friend of mine and former member/Moderator here replied:
"This! This right here would be my only "warning" to people. It's a hard concept to explain how you grow to be more loving and compassionate yet you are also less affected by tragedy and sensitive issues. I know longer care about concepts like justice or revenge. I would have no problem with the Hitler's of the world dying and then immediately going to their own heavens without a second of punishment. Why? Because my experiences have taught me to be accepting and nonjudgmental. I've learned lessons in the NP that ten lifetimes of reading religious books couldn't teach me."
So, yes, it is important to understand and be aware of the benefits, but also the implications of this practice before you delve down this road.
Thank You!
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