Why is this getting harder...

[Eyyoshi]

Seriously during the very first times attempting, a year ago, I could hit sensations, swaying, trance. But progressively it's getting harder and harder each month. Nowadays I can't reach anything. Last night I was relaxed stretched a bit, layed down for like 30 minutes didn't get anything. Personalreality told me not to hope for sensations, well I just use them as signposts. It used to be fun attempting this I would get semi-close to projecting, at least it gave me hope.

I try every morning now, sometimes at night for the hell of it. I try to be passive, I don't do the ROPE technique (or any tech) I simply just lie and observe the blackness. Like I all ways have. Whenever I hit vibrations/buzzing I notice them but continue to relax, everything feels different. Then a minute or so later everything goes back to normal and it just feels like I'm laying down.

[manwesulimo2004]

This sounds exactly like my progress. I've actually stopped trying by now due to lack of motivation.

[shineling]

I don't know if this helps but...

I never read anything about AP until it started happening to me naturally.

The way it started with me was that I would take naps during the day. It would happen when I would leave the TV on or the radio and a light on. I was just doze off and since there was some noise in the room I would hit that sweet spot.

So... I would doze off and then something would catch me attention like the TV. And then I would become aware suddenly in that zone.

Then I just rolled over like a log unto the floor and I would be out of my body.

This is the technique I've been using since forever. Sometimes sleeping backwards in your bed from your normal nighttime position helps me too. I use my blanket but only to my waist.

Also being tired and excercising helps too. You exercise and then take a nap during the day.


But I think I know what you mean... the more you want it the more it eludes you.  Then one day you stop trying and it happens.  Maybe that's what you need to do... take a brake. 

[CFTraveler]

Seriously during the very first times attempting, a year ago, I could hit sensations, swaying, trance. But progressively it's getting harder and harder each month. Nowadays I can't reach anything. Last night I was relaxed stretched a bit, layed down for like 30 minutes didn't get anything. Personalreality told me not to hope for sensations, well I just use them as signposts. It used to be fun attempting this I would get semi-close to projecting, at least it gave me hope.

I try every morning now, sometimes at night for the hell of it. I try to be passive, I don't do the ROPE technique (or any tech) I simply just lie and observe the blackness. Like I all ways have. Whenever I hit vibrations/buzzing I notice them but continue to relax, everything feels different. Then a minute or so later everything goes back to normal and it just feels like I'm laying down.

Every morning sounds like too much, IMO.  Try just observing all week, and then try something once a week, and see what happens.  Or just take a break for at least two weeks and then start trying again, but don't stop meditating, or whatever practice you do.

[Pauli2]

Could it be that in the beginning your energy body was very immature, so even a little exercise gave a noticeable effect?

Now when ur energy body has adopted you might perhaps start doing real energy work in advance to your attempts. Some do R Bruce's NEW gathering technique.

Try changing techniques. See the Book review forum for ideas.

[Xanth]

Eyyoshi,
My opinion is that you're now expecting things to happen and trying too hard to make them happen.
Let go of your expectations and just let whatever might happen to happen. 

[catmeow]

Lay off for a week or two and try the interrupted sleep technique. It's the best technique, should be documented on this board somewhere.

OK what's the "interrupted sleep" aka "wake-back-to-bed" technique? Well we used to have a member called saltcube who probably provided the clearest and best techniques for AP that I ever saw. He described the interrupted sleep technique very well. He has now erased his posts from this board and is now selling a video of his techniques on the internet. I haven't seen the video but it's probably very good.

This seems to be an excerpt from the video, though it doesn't say much about "wake-back-to-bed":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfygCo5efoE

You can easily google "wake-back-to-bed" or "OBE every morning" or "saltcube" etc etc and find details of these techniques.  But perhaps you should just pay for the video. To be fair, he used to give quality advice on this board for years for free.

[willowthewisp]

I am in the same situation Eyyoshi, and i think it's as Xanth said, as all the interesting results i got were when i first started, and the more i knew the less i progressed, cause i started expecting specific things to happen. One of the bad habbits i got was putting the vibrations as a goal, which kept me from reaching that state. And the 2 times i got to the vibrations i didn't know what to do next.
Plus, the fact that i read so much on AP seems to limit me, so i decided that i know enough for now...

I took a break a week ago, i'm only doing some exercices, one of my favorite is closing the eyes (wherever i am), and try to quiet my mind and relax; i do it as often as i can. I think a break could do u some good too. I was almost obsessed with AP and used to try every day, i saturated my mind with ideas, techniques and exercises, and still didn't get any result ... i don't think it was the right approach. Now i'm trying to take it easy and let it happen naturally. If i ever feel in the right state of mind, i'll attempt to have an OBE, till then, i'll just keep writing in my dream journal.

[catmeow]

"wake-back-to-bed" 

[grzazek]

I'm in the same boat as you! THe only time I practice now is 4 in the morning which has weilded a few successful OBEs

[manwesulimo2004]

[...] but don't stop meditating, or whatever practice you do.

I hear this a lot. What exactly is the connection between meditation and AP or more specifically OBE. I could imagine one's ability to concentrate and general control over thoughts and emotions improves from regular meditation but that sounds more helpful for the OBE experience once it is achieved than it does for achieving an OBE in the first place.

So... What gives?

[CFTraveler]

Meditation is a way to go into trance- the way to push your conscious awareness into staying aware no matter what.  To have a successful projection you have to stay aware- simple.  So the more you can push yourself to stay aware when what you want to do is sleep, the more you can push the 'frontier' of awareness into the depths, where there is more to experience.
When I say 'meditation' I am not advocating a specific type- whatever works.  But keep at it, it changes how your brain works, in a good way.

[OutOfThePrison]

I think only having a full Out Of Body Experience mustn't be the first target when we lay down and start a meditation. Relaxing must be the first target. When you rushing yourself with "I have to get out now" thoughts you can't enjoy the relaxation. I realized that when I enter to non-physical transforming process, it is simply healing me. And also Non-Physical awareness lets us to experience the "life" without the limitations of the physical world. It also helps us to get rid of our egos. I use these meditations as healing process to my depression. It really works when I enjoy the "time" without expecting any results.

[Stookie]

One more suggestion: if you've been doing the same exercises for a long time, find something more challenging that forces you to be more engaged, concentrated, focused, etc. It sounds like you've mastered what you're doing, but you need more now. Lying there and waiting ain't gonna do it.

[OutOfThePrison]

 

The process is hard for me too. Concentration is my main problem. This is a suggestion from an amateur(me) to Eyyoshi.


Breath from your mouth, and be aware your breathing and only concentrate to it. As long as you don't think anything and concentrate to your breath, your mind will clear itself and your body will relax automatically. Then imagine yourself on a location, my preference is an imaginary place such as mountain, lake exc..Regard yourself that you are in a dream and this dream is your creation.  

[WASD]

It seems to me like many are having this problem, including myself. I have not yet figured out the cause nor solution to this problem and I don't seem to be getting anywhere on finding out.

The best thing to do would probably be looking for topics by members that have had this problem and solved it.
Here is a topic from before the forum crash that you could start with:

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?sclient=psy&hl=en&site=webhp&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.astralpulse.com%2Fforums%2Fwelcome_to_out_of_body_experiences%2Fthis_whole_timeit_was_this_easy-t32218.0.html&aq=f&aqi=g4g-o1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&pbx=1

[Xanth]

I expanded a bit on my answer here:  http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2010/09/05/how-our-expectations-cloud-our-experiences/

Why is it best to remove all expectations from your projections?

Well… we “astral” project in a reality where a few things make up the experiences you have:  Your thoughts + your emotions + your expectations = YOUR ASTRAL EXPERIENCES.
This means that if you go into astral projection with the expectations that you will meet demons or any other number of bad things, then that is exactly what you’re doing to run into.
How do we fight this?  How do we shut off our expectations?  Well, this goes back to controlling your thoughts.  Control your thoughts and your emotions and expectations will be under control as well.

So that’s how expectations can influence our journeys, I’ll talk now about how expectations can effect your practices.  I’ve seen question after question on the forums I frequent where people say that they’ve had a single experience be it with a full projection or something lesser, like vibrations, but then they can’t ever get it to happen again.  I try to get these people to go into their practice sessions with no particular goals in mind.  Just be open to whatever happens… go with the flow, sort to speak.

I hope that helps a bit. 

[WASD]

That method sounds good Xanth. But as with every other method, it will not work for everyone. But I'm gonna try it

[Xanth]

That method sounds good Xanth. But as with every other method, it will not work for everyone. But I'm gonna try it

Well, it's not a method at all... it's a belief I hold that tells us how and why we have troubles doing projection from time to time based upon our earlier progress.

This particular thing isn't a 'personalized' situation.  If you can control your expectations or at least REALIZE it in regards to how you project... then you'll make it there much faster.

So yeah, no method here... it's just my belief of what works.

[WASD]

I consider having no expectation and "going with the flow" as a method. Method simply means "a way of doing something". I fully agree that expectations control what you experience.

[Xanth]

I consider having no expectation and "going with the flow" as a method. Method simply means "a way of doing something". I fully agree that expectations control what you experience.

Gotcha, I understand what you said then.

Personally, I consider it a "way of life" now... hence my confusion. 

[Eyyoshi]

4-2-4-2 Breathing technique I remember that now. 

Bluetone's way of attempting is the same as mine minus the twitching? I thought any movement negates the projection attempt. Which is why I believe the "keeping lungs empty" part is important. I noticed when I stopped breathing completely the trance got deeper. Where do you go on from trance? Google isn't giving me any results lol.

Bluetone said that he hit vibrations then found himself in a strange castle (projected). What is the transition like? Is it staring at the blackness in your eyes, to scenes/images coming up until you're in them? I all ways pictured it as a dream coming up during sleep.

[BlueTone]

Well, I'm sure the actual transition process will be different for everyone. I've experienced many different transitions. I have seen nothing but multiple shades of black, in just random formations, Slowly fade and clear up into a specific image, and i realize I'm no longer just seeing it, I'm looking AT it, Which makes me realize i must be facing/focusing towards it...

I've had vibrations and shakes, that i just hang on.....until they calm to a nice rumble, then i notice lose limbs.

And then I've had just random spurts of awareness and lucidity and its like, " Wait a minute.....Where am i!? <_<....>_>..... "

Its really just noticing at the right time, and trying to remain awake......If you cant remain awake......Try hard enough to where if you do slip out into sleep, You'll come back without interrupting trance or physical relaxation.

Hope this helps =P

~Ryan,
         Za Hourou Iki

[tenshi_R]

i ve been in the same boat.
started lucid dreaming in highschool, unknowingly i tried to control what happends in my dreams.

later on i found out about the lucid dreams and AP, started trying to ap for years with no sucess or at least not anything that was "real enough" to be considereda real AP.

once i did feel beeing shot out of my body for a quick second only to be fully awake the next, and even that was after an all night party with some coke involved( still in high school)

experimented with some drugs as well( mostly not to AP) just to experience.

kept trying for years and years with less and less sucess.
eventually gave up alltogether.

and dont even try anymore, although i wish i could. i just want to belive that its possible, but i kinda lost hope ...

[Xanth]

i ve been in the same boat.
started lucid dreaming in highschool, unknowingly i tried to control what happends in my dreams.

later on i found out about the lucid dreams and AP, started trying to ap for years with no sucess or at least not anything that was "real enough" to be considereda real AP.

once i did feel beeing shot out of my body for a quick second only to be fully awake the next, and even that was after an all night party with some coke involved( still in high school)

experimented with some drugs as well( mostly not to AP) just to experience.

kept trying for years and years with less and less sucess.
eventually gave up alltogether.

and dont even try anymore, although i wish i could. i just want to belive that its possible, but i kinda lost hope ...

Well, you've got a stopping block right there in your post... you're worried about what is you consider "real enough" to be a projection.
What do you consider to be "real enough"?