It was easy at first...

[Arithmetic]

I recently posted here for the first time announcing that I had had a couple of involuntary experiences and I would be actually begin attempting AP.

The two nights following my original post were great, I had amazing lucid dreams and on the second night I somehow achieved an incredible feeling of comfort and contentment. Then, the night before last I tried to do it again using my same method as before. I kept on having semi-lucid dreams but then kept snapping out of them and waking up. This happened all night and I didn't sleep very well at all!

Last night was decidedly uneventful. Though my dream recall seems to be improving I didn't have any lucid experiences. It just seems strange that it was so easy for me at first. I honestly thought I could do this at will almost and it would be no time until I was APing with the best of 'em.

Does everyone experience these ups and downs? Any tips on how to remain consistent? I think my routine is fairly solid as it worked the first two nights, but I wonder what has changed.

Arithmetic

[Xanth]

It's absolutely normal, and extremely common.
We all get it...

You just can't really worry and focus on it... the more you worry and focus on not being able to project, the less chance you will project. 

I mostly have spontaneous projections these days as I don't focus on projection much at all anymore.

[Astralsuzy]

If you are lucky to have involuntary experiences where you do not have to do anything then that is great.   I used to have experiences and ap just happened by itself.   Now I have to work at it for ap to happen.   I have to encourage it to happen and make an effort.   If you just wish it to happen without trying to make an effort, ap  usually does not happen.   When ap happens, it is easy.   When ap does not happen ap is hard.    I do not like using the word hard.   If you get it in your mind that ap is hard, ap usually is a lot harder to do.   

[Arithmetic]

Thanks for the responses guys. It's a relief that this is common. I kind of had this misconception that others find it easy once they learn how to do it. So it seems I really just have to be positive about it and keep trying! Easy to do once I'm in the right mindset about it all!

Arithmetic