Eyes

[KokomoSky]

I have been practicing meditation and AP for some days now and was wondering if it matters whether or not my eyes should be open or closed. My closest experience to it was with my eyes open, staring at the ceiling until I began to see it change colours ever so slightly. Does it mean anything?

[Squirrelly]

Welcome to the forums!
I'm not really sure if AP can be done with the eyes closed. When you were staring at the ceiling, you were probably in an altered state of consciousness (not sure if that is the right word). If you are seeing colors, then I can think of two possibilities: auras, or the colors you see when you close your eyes. If you stare at a one-color object for awhile, you can see the colors you normally see when you close your eyes.

[Ben K]

whatever works best for YOU

there is no "right" and "wrong" with this stuff

[Job]

The only experiences that I've achieved are with the eyes closed, although I've never attempted it with them open. A good reason for it not to work is that an amount of awareness is lost to the outer senses with the eyes closed, allowing attention to transfer to the astral body as the physical one falls asleep. With the eyes open, the attention will still be directed to the physical world; and, if not impossible, astral projection might be more difficult. Although, I know someone who claims to have achieved a conscious separation with them open.

[Sephyr]

Having your eyes opens let you unfocus your linear, constricted mind easier. It works better when doing certain types of meditation. Affirmation-type hypnosis works really well with eyes open, because when your mind is unfocused the neural circuits of your brain loosen up and are more open to being redirected and reprogrammed.

[-E-]

but what about for OBE?

also, i got a problem, when im getting nice and relaxed it feels like my eyes attempt to force themselves to open, does anyone else experiance this too?

[Sephyr]

In that case, just go into a room of complete darkness if you can (to replicate the effect of having your eyes shut in a dark room.)

I've never OBEd without it being dark. The darkness helps me lose the sensation of being in my own body.

[an3mptyb0tt13]

-E-

I have the same experiences all the time. I just try to keep them shut and then when i feel them opening, I just close them a little more. also, use what Sephyr said.

[Job]

The darkness might help with loosing an amount of attention to the physical world (just like when the eyes are closed). Sometimes the astral eyes are open and can be mistaken for the physical ones. That's usually the case whenever the eye lids are seen through. To get past the eye-opening problem it might be necessary to learn to ignore it.

Some people have a somewhat similar problem with relaxing muscles. When trying to relax their might be a resistance in the muscles to loosen up. Is the eye problem a result of relaxation attempts? If so it might be necessary to direct the attention to something else, like perhaps simply saying a mantra. The muscles should relax naturally and sleep should take place without the need to try to overcome the resistance.


http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=193568#193568

[Aries327]

I heard that the easiest way to AP is to do it with your eyes open, in pitch black.

I'd assume doing it with open eyes in light would be terribly distracting.

[Hagethuriel]

I have been practicing meditation and AP for some days now and was wondering if it matters whether or not my eyes should be open or closed. My closest experience to it was with my eyes open, staring at the ceiling until I began to see it change colours ever so slightly. Does it mean anything?

I close the physical eyes and look through the third eye to meditate or AP.I look at a focus point  through the third eye and draw myself towards it to project the etheric body after my legs begin to feel the vibes .