Projected ,but it turned into a dream

[toba122]

Sometimes when you go back to sleep after waking up, you get in the vibrational state and that's what happened to me. I stayed lying down long enough to be able to feel the vibrations and there was some really weird imagery of a blond lady singing opera music or something. Anyways, the imagery cleared out and I could see myself lying down. I tried to imagine myself floating out of bed, but that didn't work so I tried dragging myself out by grabbing on to my pillow and other things and... it worked! It seems as though walking around out of body was easier for me when I treated it like I was still in the physical.

I thought to open my door by grabbing the door handle rather than walking through it. Then I was out in the hallway balcony and I felt really floaty. Then I looked to the right and there was this really strange looking window in the house that's never been there before, yet strangely, I couldn't remember how the window was supposed to look. Then I looked down over the edge of the balcony and saw a bunch of dancers in red and black.

At this point, the projection started to feel less real if you know what I mean. Like a dream or something. Once it started to feel that way, I slipped into a dream.

Does anyone know how to keep an out of body experience from turning into a dream like that? I'm sorry if I didn't explain what happened too well.

[Astral316]

Training your focus through meditation is a good idea. It's also important to always know what's going on... "I'm projecting and need to be fully alert" is a thought that needs to be close to the forefront of your mind at all times, or else you'll forget and get lost in the experience. With that goes waking consciousness.

[Jilt]

Things that keep me lucid are:

. looking at my hands (old trick) and rubbing them together or pinching myself
. looking down to see what I'm wearing (amazing to see the variety)
. spinning in circles really does work (but I rarely do it)
. having a conversation with whomever is there and really focusing on them
. looking for a window and flying through it takes you to another locale (and seems to recharge my lucidity)
. singing or chanting while flying really amps up the whole experience (could be because I'm breathing more deeply)
. having an agenda helps: before phasing I come up with questions or locations since you lose some awareness/judgment after
. avoid getting caught up in sexual escapades because it's distracting (though fun occasionally)

[djed]

Hi Toba, as Jilt says, fly! dont hang around your body, get away and you will be in the Astral proper.
If you keep waking up then, as Astral316 says, meditate more.
Good luck, djed 

[Xanth]

I'll third the "meditate more" suggestion. 

There's nothing quite like learning your own mind, inside and out, in quiet solitude.