Alright i need help and guidance

[Mattitude]

So I've done a bunch of reading, and i know a good majority of these answers are embedded within these forums, and i have read through some answers , but I still just want to go through my experience with you all, and hopefully get some pointers/advice.

So I have been very interested with Astral Projectiong for quite some time now, and of course, due to my scientific background a bit skeptical (which i believe may be hurting me and my ability to project in the end).

I tried long ago , before university (i'm now 24 , out of university and on with my career) I'm not 100% sure what happened, but i think it may of been the vibrations, i kinda gave a "WTF?!" and opened my eyes ruining that very very close chance of projecting... I obviously wasn't ready at the time.

So now fast forward 5 years and I'm at it again, allow me to give you my procedure, my conclusions thus far, followed by a question or two:

1)I get comfortable in bed, lights dimmed to the point that it doesn't get through my eyelids. arms at my sides, palms down

2)I begin doing meditative breathing that i learned in soem martial arts training i have done over my years (Buk Fu Pi , its a kung fu style martial art, and the meditation is meant to help relieve pain, for instance it's done primarily in the 'monk gazing at moon' stance, where you crouch like yer sitting in an invisibile chair, put your arms up and gaze at the sky (preferablly the moon) through a window made with your hands, the stance causes some pretty intense burning in your thighs and glutes, as well as you shoulders, you know you've entered the meditative state when you cease to feel that burn), basically the breathing pattern is in through your nose, deep and slow, then instead of exhaling out your mouth, you visualize yourself re-dispersing the air throughout your body. Instead of exhaling pushing that air back down to the problem area, i use this to relax myself, i put it to my feet, legs, torso, arms finger tips, etc.

3) Now here's where I'm not so sure what to do.... I have read all these exit strategies people have, so i know that i should either use the rope, or roll out technique or whatever, but i'm just not sure if i'm doing it at the right time. this is where i'll usualy start trying to move my non-physical body. attempting to move it back and forth, almost attempting to loosen it i guess is the mentality i have, a warm up if you wil for the massive exercise about to take place.


Now what has happened thus far, is i think i may of experience a little bit of vibrations, a tingle here a tingle there, my right foot or leg would twitch, which i wasn't sure if it was right or not. I wasn't sure if the vibrations were like that or not, but i kept going. If I were to try and explain how it felt after this point i guess all i can say is that i was sort of just hanging out in my mind... by that i mean, i didn't really feel my body, the darknes of inside my eyelids, seemed to get darker, and it felt like my entire self was behind there, felt like i was entirely in my mind, to sound more physical, it honestly felt like i was inside my skull behind my eyelids, and it had gotten darker.

Now the weird thing was, it seemed like my body didn't want this to happen, has this ever happened to anyone? my eyelids seemed to want to fling open, and i had to remove a tad bit of concentration from projecting to ensure they stayed closed , it was one of the weirdest things i've ever felt, an honest battle between physical and mental suggestion.

So I did this for a bout half an hour and then decided it wasn't time, and of course my skepticism set in a little bit too as i finally opened my eyes.

Some questions i have are mainly:

1) IS WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT?!
        -  It seems like i'm doing things right... but then again i don't know i have never once astral projected.

2) How long did it take you from your first attempt to your actualy first projection?
       - I just want a time line, something to compare my attempts too, to help put some anxiousness and impatience at ease.



Thank you all!

I hope to here back from you soon....


-Matt

[Psan]

This should help :

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_obe_discussions/lucid_dream_tricks_videos_released-t29458.0.html;msg239403#msg239403

Straightforward techniques without too much newage clutter.

[Stookie]

Welcome to the Astral Pulse Matt!

Now what has happened thus far, is i think i may of experience a little bit of vibrations, a tingle here a tingle there, my right foot or leg would twitch, which i wasn't sure if it was right or not. I wasn't sure if the vibrations were like that or not, but i kept going. If I were to try and explain how it felt after this point i guess all i can say is that i was sort of just hanging out in my mind... by that i mean, i didn't really feel my body, the darknes of inside my eyelids, seemed to get darker, and it felt like my entire self was behind there, felt like i was entirely in my mind, to sound more physical, it honestly felt like i was inside my skull behind my eyelids, and it had gotten darker.

What you have there is a great description of entering trance (good observing). That's exactly the way I feel going into it - it feels as though I've shifted "behind my eyelids". That's where you're awareness is now focused. This is where it's good to let it go even deeper. You'll start to maybe see stuff here and there, or suddenly hear things like voices or radio. Make quick note and let it go. Being "passively aware" is the phrase I like to throw around here. You'll know when you're ready for an exit technique.

Good Luck!