Am I at focus 12?

[Chrysocolla]

Iv been reading a lot about focus 10 and 12 on the forum, and seem to have some of what you should feel in 12, but not all.
Let me explain how what Iv been calling focus 12 feels like.
My body feels very little, and When I first started going into this state I would feel numbness, coldness, and slight vibrations only in my feet area, but this faded with my ability to start controlling my heart rate and heavy breathing in this state. Im sure I could get it back. Also my whole body just feels... different, as well as my consciousness. I feel like Im in a dark room which Iv never actually explored, but I probably should someday. I feel like this room is 3D. also when I focus on it, I feel like im getting farther and farther away from everything. I should also note, I do not see anything. I havent really been looking though, but all Iv noticed is darkness. Maybe if I look Ill see things, But if your supposed to just automatically see things, I havent.
Also in this state, I sometimes feel like I move a lot... Like I feel like Ill be far from the ''floor'' One minute, The close to it the next without feeling the actual movement involved. Its a hard feeling to explain as this is more of a feeling then something I can put into words. But if the closest I can come to putting it into words is the floor thing. On an unrelated note I used to feel this way while In a dream all the time as a kid when sick. After I would wake up an need to throw up. The dream didnt cause me to throw up, I felt it was usually more of a warning, But I may be wrong.
Anyway, Have I reached focus 12?
Thanks! 

[Lionheart]

I feel like this room is 3D.  

This statement alone makes me think you are. When the darkness behind your eyes shifts from just blackness to a 3d blackness you are in a state of Focus 12. From here, just try to notice any lights, any patterns, shadows, clouds etc. But do this as a casual observation, like a curiosity. You will see that these shadows/images start to take actual form. From here you could begin your intent, what you wish to see, where you wish to go, during this session. Here is an entire thread based on the transition from Focus 10 to Focus 12. http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_astral_consciousness/more_information_on_focus_10_and_focus_12-t32504.0.html;msg269520#msg269520
Good Luck and Safe Travels!  

[Szaxx]

Hi,
This place is my jumping ground. Think of where you wish to go  close your eyes and jump knowing you'll be there when you opem them. Its a great experience.
Safe travels.

[Contenteo]

Yes as Lion says, it sounds like you are.

I have talk to individuals who have gotten confused with 3D Blackness in between F10 and F12 though, words are imperfect.

If it feels "immensely vast" and loses this immense vastness if you purposely move your eyes then you are in F12.

Remember, in F10 you begin to disconnect from your sensation of "touch" and in F12 you begin to disconnect from your visualize cortex. This is why it gets "vast" By the end of F12, usually your sense of sound is gone as well.

Cheers,
Contenteo

[snlee06]

I had a similar question as well. Lately I've been able to consistently get to a point which i believe to be focus 12 (My understanding of focus 12 vs. 21 is that in 12 you enter a "vast expanse of blackness" while in 21 you begin to see a 3d blackness). Whenever i get to "focus 12" I get several sensations consistently. The first includes a feeling of "living" inside of my head where most of my consciousness is concentrated in this huge space within my head while my body feels very distant and far away. When in this state, I can focus on my body and have it slowly return to its rightful place, however, if I tend to focus just on my breathing and let my mind drift I get the sensation of a vast 2d blackness surrounding me. It is almost as if my consciousness is focused solely in the center of my head and that my head is detached from the rest of my body. During this time, I can still hear the hemisync tones although they do fade in and out depending on how much I drift off or focus on my breathing. I also have next to no physical sensation unless I specifically focus on those parts of my body that I wish to feel. Sometimes I may feel rushes of tingling around my legs/stomach/head etc. Also, I find that my arms or legs randomly spasm at times.. especially when I'm visualizing myself playing basketball or something and preparing to "catch" the ball... only to find that my real arm is trying to catch the ball - it really sucks when this happens because it completely snaps my focus haha. Anyways, the problem of having my limbs spasm has slowly been going away. So I'm wondering if what I'm experience is focus 12? or is it just a deep focus 10? How do you guys suggest I progress from here? I was thinking of just continuing to focus on my breath and letting things come to me.

[Lionheart]

 Since I enjoy juggling and playing hacky-sac to get deeper in the Phase I know what you are going through. You are in Focus at the time, you just have to get deeper involved in your game and completely lose your focus on the physical. Then and only then will your Astral visions commence.  Don't focus on your breath at this point, that is a physical thing and would be counterproductive.
Good Luck and Safe Travels! 

[snlee06]

Ty for the reply lionheart! I was wondering if you could be more specific in terms of what you mean when you say "you are in focus at the time"? Are you saying that I'm in focus 12? Also, could you expand a bit on what it means to "get deeper involved in your game"? I feel that I should just go along with the flow once I get to the expanded 2d blackness state and that the 3d blackness will eventually come on its own. By 'going along with the flow' I mean that I will let my consciousness go wherever it pleases.. usually placing me in some random situations that feels like a really hazy dream where I can "see" but can't really see whatever I'm experiencing (I know that sounds a bit confusing ahha).

[Chrysocolla]

I had a similar question as well. Lately I've been able to consistently get to a point which i believe to be focus 12 (My understanding of focus 12 vs. 21 is that in 12 you enter a "vast expanse of blackness" while in 21 you begin to see a 3d blackness). Whenever i get to "focus 12" I get several sensations consistently. The first includes a feeling of "living" inside of my head where most of my consciousness is concentrated in this huge space within my head while my body feels very distant and far away. When in this state, I can focus on my body and have it slowly return to its rightful place, however, if I tend to focus just on my breathing and let my mind drift I get the sensation of a vast 2d blackness surrounding me. It is almost as if my consciousness is focused solely in the center of my head and that my head is detached from the rest of my body. During this time, I can still hear the hemisync tones although they do fade in and out depending on how much I drift off or focus on my breathing. I also have next to no physical sensation unless I specifically focus on those parts of my body that I wish to feel. Sometimes I may feel rushes of tingling around my legs/stomach/head etc. Also, I find that my arms or legs randomly spasm at times.. especially when I'm visualizing myself playing basketball or something and preparing to "catch" the ball... only to find that my real arm is trying to catch the ball - it really sucks when this happens because it completely snaps my focus haha. Anyways, the problem of having my limbs spasm has slowly been going away. So I'm wondering if what I'm experience is focus 12? or is it just a deep focus 10? How do you guys suggest I progress from here? I was thinking of just continuing to focus on my breath and letting things come to me.

Yea, I feel almost the same thing. I also get spasms even when Im not visualizing things. Every since recently when Iv gotten into focus 12, its started. Its weird, even when Im just trying to go to sleep Ill get spasms.

[Lionheart]

especially when I'm visualizing myself playing basketball or something and preparing to "catch" the ball... only to find that my real arm is trying to catch the ball -

That quote explains the "deeper in the game" thing. You are playing a game, basketball or preparing to catch something, from here you deepen this visual. What else is happening, are there cheerleaders? What's the weather like? Are you on a playground or is this a professional court or ballfield?
You are in focus at the time, means your mind is occupied in an event outside of your physical realm. From here you need to "deepen" the experience.
Going with the flow is exactly what I mean, be there, be there in the now. NO past questions, no future prophecies, just enjoy being in the moment. No worries, no stress, just playing your game.
Ignore the spasms and just go back to your focus. I have a problem with my breathing, due to Chronic Bronchitis. Once in awhile when I am attempting to Phase my physical body will take a huge deep breath or for some reason sneeze. I let it happen and go back to what I was previously doing. It happens, don't let it bother you. The same with excess saliva, swallowing problems, nervous twitches. The body does what the body does, you just have to let it go and go back to focusing again.

[Contenteo]

My understanding of focus 12 vs. 21 is that in 12 you enter a "vast expanse of blackness" while in 21 you begin to see a 3d blackness

In focus 21 you are floating around in the astral my friend. There is no blackness.

It is the beginning of a new plateau.

Cheers,
Contenteo

[Major Tom]

Hi all,

I'm reluctant to put in terms of Monroe's focus levels, but it can probably be said that there is a certain initial blackness that becomes apparent in a deep focus 10.

It mostly consists of the same blackness you encounter when you close your eyes, but due to the associated sensory reduction associated with the state, it feels a little bit more expansive than would otherwise be the case.

I have difficulty with the notion of focus 12 for various reasons. But it could be said we are probably dealing with body being in the process of losing all contact with the physical, and all the strange phenomena that coincide with it.

It appears to be mostly a transitionary state with various effects typical of the OBE onset. In terms of focus levels, however, it is far from clear, and there are no clear definitions.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that these focus levels have been used differently in the past.

For example, during the explorer days at TMI, focus 12 was where it all happened from, including immersion into what seemed to be out-of-body environments, but almost in a remote viewing or hypnagogic type of way, since not many could establish the out of body state like Monroe.

Later, a lot of focus levels were added, and it gets confusing.

So back to experience itself....

There are many intermediate stages, but the void occurs when all contact with the physical senses has been severed.

It's difficult to overestimate the depth of the state. It is where you have in fact established the out of body state. You are completely free from physical limitations.

You can call it focus 12, or 21, but that is just trying to put it in an objective framework which does not exist to begin with.

The void is also not a "layered" phenomenon that exists in between one particular state or the other, as you move "outwards".

The void is everywhere. It exist in between every possible environment you may encounter, whether that is the out of body environment, or what we generally refer to as physical reality.

And, a shameless plug for my upcoming book, if you really want to get to the bottom of it:

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_book_reviews/book_release-t36545.0.html

Fred

[snlee06]

Thanks for the replies. They're definitely giving me a better understanding of our consciousness. It's becoming clearer that coming up with objective descriptions/boundaries to describe the transition from the physical to the void is not the best idea because our consciousness is subjective in nature. Nevertheless, I guess having these descriptions such as the focus levels is nice to have because it helps me determine how I've progressed since beginning my meditation. So, it seems like I've finally reached a deep focus 10? I gotta tell you, this is some hard work.. took me about 6 months to get to this point! I'll continue to follow what Thomas Campbell suggests, where I focus on my breath throughout my meditation to clear my mind. Focusing on my breath eventually leads to the awareness of my breath fading away and my mind slightly drifting into various dream-like scenarios in which I am an aware but not a fully active participant. Sometimes I can choose to move around and other times I just kind of go with whatever happens. I feel like this will eventually progress to me finding my way to the void, I hope.

I particularly enjoyed reading your guide, Contenteo. I feel that I'm in a similar stage as your description of creating a scenario, snapping back to the physical, creating another scenario, snapping back, etc. The only difference is that I don't actively create my scenarios.. they just come along naturally. I just have to keep trucking through and eventually I should find myself somewhere? . Also, that book looks very interesting MajorTom. I'm always looking for more material about consciousness to read about during my freetime - especially when I'm eating, lounging, or taking a #2 hehehe. I look forward to checking out your book!

[Major Tom]

It's likely a "deep focus 10" if you are still aware of your breathing.

See: http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_permanent_astral_topics/focus_10_mind_awakebody_asleep-t24783.0.html

But do not take these focus levels too literally.

Even the term focus 10 can be understood as the out of body state itself where your mind is awake and your body is truly asleep.

It was in fact understood that way by many projectors not so long ago, and quite likely how the term started out. It does make things simpler to look at it that way.

But it sounds like you're on the right track with letting imagery arrive naturally, so that your body will be tempted to fall asleep completely.

It is "all" that is required to reach the out of body state.

Once contact with the physical senses has been completely cut-off, you may find yourself in the void (or not), but either way, you won't be aware of your breathing anymore, or any sort of sensory informed bodily sensation.

The only thing that can sometimes be still operational is auditory input, but it will be very muffled, or distorted.

For some reason, it's the last of the senses to disappear in the course of the transition.

Moving your "eyes", or almost anything you else you do, will have no effect on the state itself. You can do almost anything you like without snapping out of it.

The void is quite stable, unlike any of the transition stages that often precede it.

[travilanche]

Man, I'm jealous of your progress!  I've been trying to get from focus 10 to focus 12 for 2 1/2 to 3 months now and haven't been able to do it yet. 

[Szaxx]

Hi,
Travilanche, it happens all of a sudden and you know how to get back to it instinctively. Like riding a bike for the first time. I never heard of these focus levels until joining this forum. They help in explanations as a pointer or signposts quite well. I can get to where your at within minuits so easily and you are so close to exit. When your awareness of your body has gone you may try an exit routine. After 5 or so of these dreamlike snippets you can exit. Have a scenario of somewhere you know and imagine you are there, feel this place its sounds, its smells and anything else about it. You'll be there in your mind and you'll be there because your intent on getting there will be so strong. Once there you've done it, you're out.
Enjoy.

[snlee06]

Thank you so much for bringing up that write-up, MajorTom. I read it several months ago and now realize I couldn't fully appreciate how much awesome and detailed info the article contains without the experiences I've had so far!  It near-perfectly describes everything that I'm going through. Its funny because at the time I first read the article several months ago, I was so sure that I had already experienced a deep focus 10, and yet you mention "people assume having been there while they were not"  .

I just tried meditating this morning and had an exciting event occur. I got to a point where I came upon a dream-vignette where I was visualizing a piece of paper and I was able to cut squares out of the paper using my own action/thought. Of course, the visuals all appeared very dream-like/fuzzy where only the general shapes/objects were there without any specific detail. Nevertheless, it was pretty amazing to see my thought directly translate to the scene I was visualizing.

I had a couple questions MajorTom, if you don't mind..
1) you mention in the article that there will become a point where we should be able to visualize vivid images with great detail. Are these images analogous to the dream-like visuals I'm accustomed to or would the images be like seeing a picture straight out of a magazine?

2) You mention that once you've experienced a deep focus 10 and get use to it, eventually you will find yourself on the threshold of focus 12. Would you be able to provide any more details on what this threshold may be like?

Now I really want that book to come out!! I am very interested to read it. I especially appreciate the thorough and yet concise way in which the information is presented.

[Major Tom]

I had a couple questions MajorTom, if you don't mind..
1) you mention in the article that there will become a point where we should be able to visualize vivid images with great detail. Are these images analogous to the dream-like visuals I'm accustomed to or would the images be like seeing a picture straight out of a magazine?

2) You mention that once you've experienced a deep focus 10 and get use to it, eventually you will find yourself on the threshold of focus 12. Would you be able to provide any more details on what this threshold may be like?

Now I really want that book to come out!! I am very interested to read it. I especially appreciate the thorough and yet concise way in which the information is presented.

Hi, the imagery can be both, either dream-like or very vivid.

It is mostly a matter of how lucid and alert you are that accounts for this difference, although there are other reasons as well.

You would want to be careful with the dream-like imagery, especially the more elaborate scenario`s, since they lead straight into oblivious sleep.

Triggering them on purpose is still a good idea though, and part of the method.

I wrote that article at the time with the intent of providing a more meditative avenue towards the out of body state, which is definately not the simplest approach.

The reality is that your body needs to fall asleep, which in terms of the focus levels is what the transition to focus 12, or all the way up to 21 even, is about. The body falling asleep (or losing complete sensory contact through other means) is the threshold.

The good news: you already know how to let your body fall asleep.

The bad news: keeping your mind awake in the meanwhile is not so easy.

But if either of those don`t happen, you won`t have an OBE. You may have interesting experiences before that, similar to  remote viewing, or what clairvoyants claim to do, but it`s not an OBE where you are completely `elsewhere`` without awareness of the physical body.

Some people have worked succesfully along these lines though, such as Bruce Moen and others. It`s a different way of connecting with the larger spectrum of consciousness.  

It can be very worthwhile, but I do not consider it an OBE.

I will put more information on this on my site eventually if interested, probably within a month or so, and a lot more in the book I plugged earlier.

[Contenteo]

Yeah, Major Tom, I never really got to tell you how clutch that F10 article is. I give it to everyone. I really appreciate you writing that way back in the day. It's pretty much projection gold. Props.

snapping back to the physical, creating another scenario, snapping back, etc. The only difference is that I don't actively create my scenarios.. they just come along naturally. I just have to keep trucking through and eventually I should find myself somewhere?

That's exactly the strategy. Keep imagining things until they get weird. Something in this visualizations will change and it will not be your doing. The key is to teach yourself just to go with. Let the visualization take on a life of its own. You will eventually get lost in one and forget that you were even trying to project in the first place. At that point it will just happen. If you find  yourself just kinda floating in there after an intense one(meaning you realize you aren't "breathing" anymore) just look for an exit. You will find it.

Cheers,
Contenteo

[Major Tom]

Thanks Contenteo.

I have seen your schematic recently, which I think is a pretty nice representation.

I hope to have improved on the F10 article since then, both in a theoretical as well as practical sense.

I think the Vigil Method in my book (which I will also put on the website) will help many more people project even more effectively.

I came to realize that a lot about helping others to induce the OBE was more about effective communication than just merely information.

Whether I will have succeeded in doing that, I'll let others decide.

But thanks for the comment on the focus 10 article. It makes me hopeful.