Noticing Exercise

[Selski]

Hello everyone.  

Something a little different happened to me recently while doing the noticing exercise.  Although it's not a phasing experience and I didn't have the earth-shattering revelations that I'm waiting for    I do believe I made some sort of progress.

For those of you that don't know what the noticing exercise is, here's the link explaining it.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17413

I've been doing the exercise on and off for many months.  I've always found it a playful sort of exercise, and it hasn't really ever got me anywhere, so to speak.  I enjoy the swirly colours and plumes of smoke, but my successes tend to come about through sounds.

This time I decided to try something.  I slowed the whole process down and really concentrated on what I was actually doing.

Anyway, I'd had my full night's sleep and then I forced myself back to sleep for an hour hoping to have a lucid dream (no such luck), but then I lay there feeling really utterly lazy and couldn't be bothered getting up.

I thought I'd do the noticing exercise.  I started getting the swirly colours and watched them for a bit.  I acknowledged that I'd shut down my physical eyes and was "looking" with my mind.  Then I decided to look "deeper", beyond the swirls.  

The way this happened was actually by accident.  I was looking at the different areas of my mind, going round in a vertical clockwise circle, VERY slowly.  Then I thought to myself, why not go round horizontally (as if from your nose to the back of your head and back to your nose).  As our minds are 3D, I thought this would be interesting.

The effect was that I lost all the swirly colours and plumes, I was looking behind them.  They may have still been there for all I knew, but I no longer could see/sense them.  I was aware that just like we shut down our physical vision when we do the noticing exercise, I had practically shut down my mental vision and what I perceived with was another sense, it wasn't sight.  

(It's always hard to try and describe stuff like this, isn't it?)

It's as if there were layers in my mind and the surface layer is the usual blackness we perceive when we simply close our eyes.  Maybe one or two layers below is where the colours/shapes are.  I'd gone beyond those layers and was perhaps one or two layers deeper.  It certainly felt deeper, however, I WAS STILL VERY MUCH PHYSICAL AND WIDE AWAKE.  There was no "dreaminess" to this at all.  

What happened was that not only was I getting the odd sound here and there, I was getting LOTS of random images, still flashes (cause I still tried to look at them), however, as Frank often said, once you get used to the images, you can then learn to control NOT snatching a look at them.  Of course, this only works when you see so many images that they become boring enough not to look.   Normally, when I practice the noticing exercise, I might get one or two images in 30 minutes, which isn't enough.  

The images were immaterial (but they were full 3D colour images) – the point was I kept getting them and because I was "deep" into my mind, I wasn't brought back to C1 mentally when I snatched a look.  The image simply disappeared, I thought, "drat" and carried on mentally beaming my torch inside my mind.

I didn't manage to phase anywhere, mainly because I started to think about all the things I wanted to do that day, and that brought me out of my mental deepness.  However, it's the first time I've been that deep (consciously anyway) and it's certainly worth exploring.

There is something rather delicious when you realise you are beyond the swirls.  You just know it's where you are supposed to be.  The swirls are superfluous and child's' play.  Purely there for utter beginners, who need to get used to looking in the mind.  That's what I think now.  

Bear in mind this isn't a success story, but a progress story.  Unfortunately since this incident, I've been away for a week or so, and what with one thing and another (physical life really gets in the way at times!), I've not had chance to explore this further.

I'm wondering what the trigger was, if there indeed was one.  Whether it was my level of relaxation, my utter laziness or simply that I allowed myself to experience this.  I think it's probably best not to dwell on what it actually was, and just expect to have the same thing happen next time...  

Onwards and inwards  

Sarah

[paint1]

When I meditate, I do the noticing exercise. After about 15 minutes (it varies) my breathing & heart rate really slow down. At this point I mentally look beyond the swirling fog, I start  to see a steady jumbled stream of objects moving from right to left  past me. They are in shadow & I can't quite make them out, but if I pick one at random & concentrate on it; its as though a spotlight comes on and illuminates it. So far all the objects have been from my childhood around 2months to 2 years old. I always remember the item & its always a very pleasant surprise; something I hadn't thought about for many many years. I've been wondering if somehow we're actually tapping into our subconscious memeries,sort of like our origional first glimpse of something because the object always looks brand new.

[mactombs]

I've been doing the exercise on and off for many months. I've always found it a playful sort of exercise, and it hasn't really ever got me anywhere, so to speak. I enjoy the swirly colours and plumes of smoke, but my successes tend to come about through sounds.

How do you even manage that? I swear, every time I make progress, I start building a wall to keep me from progressing with it. Do you just lay, clear your mind, don't wander, and start seeing things?

That's a really cool experience, though. Soon you will be a master phaser, have a phasing degree (Ph.D.)  

[Stookie]

I think that this is more of a clairvoyance. My theory (which means nothing) is that doing these exercises more and more slowly builds up strength in the brow chakra. As it gets stronger over time, clear astral images come more often and for longer periods of time. I rarely "project", but "see" images often. This seems much more useful to me than a traditional OBE.

I normally do energy raising exercises, then a short relax visualization, resonant tuning (which normally brings about the swirly colors), then wait while watching...

The swirls are superfluous and child's' play. Purely there for utter beginners, who need to get used to looking in the mind.

The swirls are where mind and brain are linked together. It's a wonderful relaxed state where great contemplation can come about if it's your intention to stay there. I think that all states of consciousness are equally important and have their purpose for everyone, not just the beginner.

[Selski]

I think that all states of consciousness are equally important and have their purpose for everyone, not just the beginner.

You're right Stookie.  I think I just got a little overexcited at my progress and dismissed everything that had gone on before - quite typical of me    

It's a wonderful relaxed state where great contemplation can come about if it's your intention to stay there.

I do the noticing exercise mostly to enjoy the swirly colours.  But I find that I don't get much great contemplation.  What normally happens with me is:

(In  my mind)

"Mmmm, I'm nice and relaxed now."

2 minutes pass while I lie there letting myself relax even more and just be.

"Ooooh look, a swirly green blob, that's pretty.  Shhhh, you're not supposed to be commenting,  just observing."

2 minutes watching the swirly green blob change shape/colour.

"Where's it going now!" as it drifts out of my vision.

"Ooooh, look at that billow of smoke suddenly appear up there.  That's nice, it's growing and oooh, now look what's it's doing."

"Shhhhh"

2 minutes while the smoke disappears and I'm left with 2D blackness.

"WHAT'S THAT, WHAT'S THAT!!!!!!" as I realise I'm looking at the inside of my car, in full technicolour 3D.

Blam, the inside of my car disappears.

"Drat."

5 minutes in 2D blackness, getting all relaxed again.

"I fancy a cup of tea."

"Shhhh."

And so on.  

Any tips to get me out of this loop?  

Sarah

[Covelo]

I think that all states of consciousness are equally important and have their purpose for everyone, not just the beginner.

You're right Stookie.  I think I just got a little overexcited at my progress and dismissed everything that had gone on before - quite typical of me    

It's a wonderful relaxed state where great contemplation can come about if it's your intention to stay there.

I do the noticing exercise mostly to enjoy the swirly colours.  But I find that I don't get much great contemplation.  What normally happens with me is:

(In  my mind)

"Mmmm, I'm nice and relaxed now."

2 minutes pass while I lie there letting myself relax even more and just be.

"Ooooh look, a swirly green blob, that's pretty.  Shhhh, you're not supposed to be commenting,  just observing."

2 minutes watching the swirly green blob change shape/colour.

"Where's it going now!" as it drifts out of my vision.

"Ooooh, look at that billow of smoke suddenly appear up there.  That's nice, it's growing and oooh, now look what's it's doing."

"Shhhhh"

2 minutes while the smoke disappears and I'm left with 2D blackness.

"WHAT'S THAT, WHAT'S THAT!!!!!!" as I realise I'm looking at the inside of my car, in full technicolour 3D.

Blam, the inside of my car disappears.

"Drat."

5 minutes in 2D blackness, getting all relaxed again.

"I fancy a cup of tea."

"Shhhh."

And so on.  

Any tips to get me out of this loop?  

Sarah

I have done quite a bit of meditating and have gone through a very similar process of the images continually "interfering".  I found that the way through these is to just keep refocusing your attention back on the present moment, (and breathing, in my case).  This facilitated a breakthrough for me into another dimension of pure energy.

[Stookie]

Selski -

LOL. That's the perfect way to describe the thoughts that come up in the moment.

On days I decide to sit and enjoy the swirly colors, I'll try to focus on one thought alone. As long as that's what I'm thinking about, nothing else comes in. For example, I rent half a duplex that is going up for sale and am thinking of purchasing it, but have some doubts. So last night as I hit the swirly colors, I thought about it from all sides; can I afford it, find a renter, what could go wrong, what could work, etc... Doing it in the swirly-color state (focus 10 for me) not only gives me the peace and quiet for that type of contemplation, but also seems to dispel fears or uneasy feelings associated with it. I come out of it feeling good, and it no longer presses on my mind while I'm doing something else. (I think I'm going to buy it...)

Another good example is thinking about the nature of thinking. Like holding onto this thought: "Thinking is an island in the river of the Soul". (A personal favorite of mine, created by Rudolph Steiner. I'm a philosophical person so it works for me).

It may seem contradictory to think when so much of meditation is to dispel thoughts, but I believe it stregthens concentration & focus by only allowing the thought you choose to think about.

[CFTraveler]

Selski -

LOL. That's the perfect way to describe the thoughts that come up in the moment.

On days I decide to sit and enjoy the swirly colors, I'll try to focus on one thought alone. As long as that's what I'm thinking about, nothing else comes in. For example, I rent half a duplex that is going up for sale and am thinking of purchasing it, but have some doubts. So last night as I hit the swirly colors, I thought about it from all sides; can I afford it, find a renter, what could go wrong, what could work, etc... Doing it in the swirly-color state (focus 10 for me) not only gives me the peace and quiet for that type of contemplation, but also seems to dispel fears or uneasy feelings associated with it. I come out of it feeling good, and it no longer presses on my mind while I'm doing something else. (I think I'm going to buy it...)

Another good example is thinking about the nature of thinking. Like holding onto this thought: "Thinking is an island in the river of the Soul". (A personal favorite of mine, created by Rudolph Steiner. I'm a philosophical person so it works for me).

It may seem contradictory to think when so much of meditation is to dispel thoughts, but I believe it stregthens concentration & focus by only allowing the thought you choose to think about.

You're a genius, Stookie- Clearing my mind is something that I'm unable to do for more than a second.

[Selski]

Thanks chaps or chapesses

I guess focus is the key.  I can get lazy and allow myself to drift (I'm a bit of a mental drifter, truth be known, which is probably why I fall asleep so often).

Perhaps the mental rundown is TOO much focus (for me personally) and the noticing exercise is not quite enough.  

Hmmm, maybe I'll make up my very own Selski Special exercise  

Like mactombs, I can't get on with the breathing - I get bored after about 4 breaths.  And if I start counting, I drift away and fall asleep...  

I think Stookie might have it.  Focussing on some issue/interest that is current in my life and if I start to wander, gently bring my mind back to the issue in hand.

I do like those swirls and clouds though!!  

Sarah

[Tracy]

"WHAT'S THAT, WHAT'S THAT!!!!!!" as I realise I'm looking at the inside of my car, in full technicolour 3D.

Blam, the inside of my car disappears.

"Drat."

I can't count how many times I've been through the same things that you are experiencing.  Sometimes I'd find myself all of a sudden flying close to the road surface instead of inside a car.  After a while I decided to experiement  with different ideas that I could use this state to go to planned areas I wanted to go to. I found that  right before I find myself flashing to a place like the inside of my car, I'd think of a trigger sign of where ever I wanted to go to.  Say I wanted to go to Stone Henge.  I'd think of a pillar or a circle of pillars and try to visiually see in my mind a pillar whatever I was thinking of.  And then after a minute or two I'd find myself at this place or flying to reach stonehenge.  Most of the time this technique worked but sometimes it didn't.  

 If I wanted to go to a building, I"d think of a sign that's associated with that building.  It's lot of fun to practice this.  

Good Luck!

Tracy

[NickJW]

I have been having experiences lately where I will see objects and scenery while meditating very vividly. I can't explain it its like Im not seeing it but I deffinitly am seeing it (third eye vision?). I was wondering if it was possible to turn this into clairvoyance or remote viewing, as this is a very easy state for me to reach (easier than sleep paralysis)/

[CFTraveler]

I have noticed (now that I'm projecting regularly) that when I start to get a lot of imagery relatively fast when I meditate I end up projecting in the next few days.

[Selski]

I found that  right before I find myself flashing to a place like the inside of my car, I'd think of a trigger sign of where ever I wanted to go to.

Hi Tracy

Thanks for your input - it's greatly appreciated.  

A question for you - how on earth do you know 'right before' an image is going to appear?  You see, I have absolutely no idea.  I'm lying there, minding my own business, probably about to drift into the land of nod and then suddenly bells and whistles are blowing and I'm mentally jumping up and down pointing at a picture I can see.  I have no awareness that it's going to happen until it does.

And even if I did place Intent to visit Stonehenge, for instance, as soon as I saw the picture of Stonehenge in my mind, bells and whistles would be blowing and I'd be mentally jumping up and down pointing at the stones yelling "yeeeehaaahhh, I did it, I did it!!" and that would be the end of that.

I know I'm getting better at this, but it's so frustrating that I keep blowing it just when I'm getting somewhere...  

Any tips would be graciously received.  

Sarah

[Ben K]

I found that  right before I find myself flashing to a place like the inside of my car, I'd think of a trigger sign of where ever I wanted to go to.

Hi Tracy

Thanks for your input - it's greatly appreciated.  

A question for you - how on earth do you know 'right before' an image is going to appear?  You see, I have absolutely no idea.  I'm lying there, minding my own business, probably about to drift into the land of nod and then suddenly bells and whistles are blowing and I'm mentally jumping up and down pointing at a picture I can see.  I have no awareness that it's going to happen until it does.

And even if I did place Intent to visit Stonehenge, for instance, as soon as I saw the picture of Stonehenge in my mind, bells and whistles would be blowing and I'd be mentally jumping up and down pointing at the stones yelling "yeeeehaaahhh, I did it, I did it!!" and that would be the end of that.

I may be able to provide some insight.

I had an experience this morning that sounds exactly like Tracy was describing. It was pretty cool. I drank a fair amount of booze last night, so this morning i woke up at 7:30 for some reason. an hour later, i knew that reason as i was puking my guts out. anyway i went back to bed and had a couple experiences that i vaguely remember. my memory when it comes to this stuff still sucks but its getting better.

Anyway the first time i realized i was in the 3d darkness so i started imagining a scenario. i dont quite remember what it was but i do remember some trees and a twilight-ish sky. very vague, hehe. i got a distinct feeling that "I" was creating this picture in the 3d darkness so i made it dissapear and my awareness dropped. the next time ibecame lucid i decided to play around with creation a little bit. there is a very distinct feeling of creation when i was doing this, the problem was i had absolutely no control. i pictured a scenario where i was in the middle of some road with a van coming straight at me in full 3d. so i sort of aborted the situation and my awareness once again dropped.

The third time i came awake i decided i wanted to tone down the experience a bit. i found myself staring at the astral screen effect, which was a little scary at first. i definitly felt boxed in, like i was at the back of a small movie theatre or something. i saw on the screen a picture of a girl running through a forest or something, i dont quite remember. but i do remember the screen was in black and white, which seemed strange.

Anyway, back to the intent thing. IMO its a skill that you have to develop. Ive also had thoughts like "wow im actually doing it!" but you just have to learn to go with the flow. Fear can be a huge barrier, and i also deal with it whenever i practice. In the end its all about realizing its all in your head and theres no harm that can be done, as intense as things can get  

Ben

[Selski]

Hi Ben

Thanks for your input.  Great experience(s) by the way - interesting about the black and white one - mine are always in colour.

Anyway, back to the intent thing. IMO its a skill that you have to develop. Ive also had thoughts like "wow im actually doing it!" but you just have to learn to go with the flow.

I think you're correct about it being a skill you have to develop.  I've had so many experiences where I haven't really had to put in any effort, so I guess that's made me lazy.  My biggest problem isn't fear, it's excitement    

Hopefully over time, I'll get used to seeing these images and will lose the feelings of excitement - and then I might be able to go on to the next stage.

Sarah

[Zonmezz]

Lately this is what I've been doing.

Once I get just past the swirly colours, I get black and white (bluish as it's through the blue fog) images which continuously move around and form pictures which sort of meld into each other.

So what I've been doing is starting to direct what I want to see. What I do is try to see general types of things.

What I mean is:

I'll think dog. Then I'll do the lines of a dog (sort of like what you do when drawing in art class) and then:

a DOG will appear. Or a flash of a dog, or even just a shadowy outline wagging it's tail. The point is I'm seeing this in the swirly images, NOT in my imagination.

I don't spend too much time on it. I just say. Ok great! That's a dog. Good job!

Then I'll think cat. Then I'll sort of start drawing a cat with my imagination, and a random cat (tiger, swirl of a cat, something which is obviously catlike) will appear.

Mountain, tree, plant, fish etc.

I don't get too frustrated if something doesn't appear (which is rarely), I just move on to the next idea.

Then I try to get a little more specific e.g. I want to see a border collie, or a salmon, or a badger (there aren't too many different types of badger that I know of), or skunk. Sometimes I'll get it but often I won't.

Then I go back to working on the general topics. My goal is to start to get more and more specific images of more specific types of things.

It's a useful exercise that I'm finding is working quite well. At least it's provided results I can play with, which is always fun. Just thought I'd add this bit.

[Selski]

Hi Zonmezz

I really like your ideas.  They're easy and simple to do.  Thanks for sharing.  I'm going to give them a go!  

Sarah

[Stookie]

I'm lying there, minding my own business, probably about to drift into the land of nod and then suddenly bells and whistles are blowing and I'm mentally jumping up and down pointing at a picture I can see. I have no awareness that it's going to happen until it does.

I can relate with this. Even when my vision ends up being what I was visualizing, it sneaks up on me when I'm in a passive state of awareness.

I remember reading a post by Frank where he said when you're visualizing something, it tends to be not so clear, and more in the back of your mind. But there is a point that is like flicking a light switch, when awareness clicks from your normal consciousness to the back of your mind, those images becoming forefront. That's the shock. My opinion is that by doing it over and over it will eventually become no big deal to experience the "flick of the switch".