Is it possible to become "stuck" in the astral?

[needle]

I have read that its impossible to become stuck as long as your physical body is alive but during my first projection (I have posted about it on this forum before) I experienced some fear of not being able to leave. For the most part the experience was passive and didn't seem to last long, but I remember making a conscious decision to "leave" the place I was in. At first however I wasn't able to detach my perception from that viewpoint and I began to get scared. The second attempt to leave or "detach" from this place was successful and I had to go back through what seemed like a void and back into my physical body. If it's true that we cannot get stuck in the astral realm why did I experience the inability to leave at first? If anyone has any thoughts or input it would be greatly appreciated!

[Stillwater]

A very complicated question with no simple answer.

The trite answer that is almost always given to this question ( in order not to scare new people away) is that you can always get back.

Generally speaking, I would say you can return "pretty much" always, and even the thought of returning is enough to end the experience in most cases. In almost any normal circumstance, there isn't much to fear about not being able to return when you want.

Not always though... for whatever reason, some experiences will have quite a presence to them... I and others have had experiences that seemed they lasted weeks or months. In the midst of experiences like that... it might feel like you are trapped. Are you really trapped though? Hard to say, although in those situations I did sometimes have a strong desire to return. But the experience is your new life for a while, and you play with the cards you are dealt (usually there seems to be something learned in these situations, as it doesn't seem entirely random).

The short of it... is that it is a big, big, big world out there. Almost impossible to write rules that describe all of it. By engaging in this practice, you are thrusting out into the unknown, and to an extent you need to be ok with that. I think among the people who practice this, there may be at least some strain of brazen audacity... a desire to know and learn and experience, and a willingness to take risks at times in pursuit of it all.

[Maria]

almost always

Scary

[Stillwater]

Mostly it seems only if you let it be scary for you (and the fear can definitely be a barrier).

In fact, a huge component of this practice, and spiritual life in general, is learning to discard most of your fear, to live with poise and resolve. Is fear warning you of risks you ought not to take? Then listen. If not? It is probably useless.

Aside from lasting long, the extended experiences weren't frightening in themselves.

[Bluefirephoenix]

I believe that projection isn't a here and there type of thing. It's sometimes preceived that way. Your focus can be between physical and astral. If your read Tom Campbells my big toe the first part of it is a good example of a focus that isn't quite back to physical after the projection is done. Now he tolerated the state fairly well. But it can lead to issues if you react to a visual or audible from the astral. The way to avoid it is to make the distinction between your astral practice and you physical life. That way you have control over where you are and if you want to be between for some reason you can go there and return. After I went through initiation it took me a couple weeks to get back to where my focus wasn't drifting between.  The other explanation of this is that there is no difference between the astral and physical. The difference is illusional.  The philosophy isn't important.  The ability to control your focus should be a primary goal when working with this sort of thing.

[Stillwater]

I believe that projection isn't a here and there type of thing.

That is a good point. I am also of that viewpoint. Logically, that means if you find yourself "stuck" in a place, you are of course still in your body, but you are in the process of your stream of consciousness going through a different thread before it invariably returns to your body, or so I would expect.

[Kzaal]

You can't get stuck in the astral, as soon as you concentrate to go back to your body you're already there.
Now the length of the experience may vary tho, if you are in some kind of lesson and you want to complete it, then you may stay there longer.
But you'll still wake up in the morning, only your perception of time will have changed.
Your perception of everything will probably change too. You will see the world differently.
It's not really qualified as being stuck because after a projection, your mind/spirit/wisdom will be in continuous evolution.
But yeah, I don't think anyone can get stuck unless you try to take control of someone else's body.
Which wouldn't happen really accidentally. Some say that they succeeded. Now is it true or is it false, I don't know.
Unless you are extremely experienced you wouldn't be able to do it.
And if you're extremely experienced you wouldn't want to do it because taking control of someone wouldn't fit your principles.

[Stillwater]

It's not really qualified as being stuck because after a projection, your mind/spirit/wisdom will be in continuous evolution.

It is a question of language, and what being "stuck" means to you. To me, it means I wanted to leave, and wasn't able to. In fact I almost gave up on the idea of returning. But then I did return after all, just not quite when I wanted to- many weeks of perception later, actually. These experiences are uncommon, but not unheard of. Many here have had them (I think you can talk to Szaxx about a few wild ones he had too). Some people (like me) call that stuck, maybe to others stuck means something more profound, not sure.

Language, lol. It gets you every time. 

[Bluefirephoenix]

I agree the language here is a sticking point. I think there are two views with projection. One is the here and there which is a very concrete view. and the other is the more abstract continueum belief which is where I'm coming from. In the Continueom the body is irrelevent. Separation is totally illusional. So you can be projected and in your body at the same time.

That needed to be clarified I think.

The view depends on your experience or your reading if you like one author over another if your not able to do this skill yet.

[needle]

It is a question of language, and what being "stuck" means to you. To me, it means I wanted to leave, and wasn't able to. In fact I almost gave up on the idea of returning. But then I did return after all, just not quite when I wanted to- many weeks of perception later, actually. These experiences are uncommon, but not unheard of. Many here have had them (I think you can talk to Szaxx about a few wild ones he had too). Some people (like me) call that stuck, maybe to others stuck means something more profound, not sure.

Language, lol. It gets you every time. 

My definition of stuck is similar to yours. Stuck to me means making a conscious decision to leave and not being able to. Possibly having to stay in that viewpoint for an unknown amount of time.

[Stillwater]

Separation is totally illusional. So you can be projected and in your body at the same time

Definitely worth saying twice. It really informs this whole issue.

[Kzaal]

You can also be stuck when you feel like you're no longer evolving.
It always depends on your perception.

[Karxx Gxx]

I and others have had experiences that seemed they lasted weeks or months

   
I dont remember of having a full-on astral projection yet, but will. Anyways, I have some goals/accomplishments that are on a incredibly high bar most would say.
       Anyways, when you did project what seemed like months, when you "came back", how much "time" passed? (quotations to save the "technicalities" and such, read replies like that too much for my liking) Cause man, call me crazy, but I would love to stay projected for months, years, and as long as i need to complete my tasks as long as very little time passes in our physical selves. Even if not so, I might have to take on that risk   

[Kzaal]

Time doesn't exist in the astral realm.
You may have an experience which seem to last weeks but when you wake up you'll still wake up the next morning.
If you have seen the movie Constantine with Keanu Reeves and you remember the scene where he puts the girl in the bath and try to drown her so she can see her sister down there then that's exactly like it.
When you go to the Astral right before going there you feel as if you're dying. You are actually but only for a split second.
Time seems to stop. Everything slows down, or your spirit assimilate all the information so fast that time seems to pause.
It all happens between those two heartbeats.
I remember the first time I projected, when everything slows down, you don't hear any noise except your heartbeat slowing down.
It doesn't matter what you are searching for in the astral realm. Whether you want to learn the mysteries of the universe or anything.
The Astral Realm has it's own way of showing you the things you need to know.
The less you expect from the astral realm the more it's gonna show you.

[Stillwater]

Anyways, when you did project what seemed like months, when you "came back", how much "time" passed? (quotations to save the "technicalities" and such, read replies like that too much for my liking) Cause man, call me crazy, but I would love to stay projected for months, years, and as long as i need to complete my tasks as long as very little time passes in our physical selves. Even if not so, I might have to take on that risk   wink

I described the experience last year when it happened. The long, huge experience I had came as one of a set of experiences that dealt with experiencing the death of other people I failed to prevent, and in experiencing long separation from those close to me. My perception of it all was that I had a months long experience in the course of a night. It started as a lucid dream that ended up having a huge amount of "staying power", and emotional content.


http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_astral_projection_experiences/months_long_experience_at_quotthe_schoolquot_postphysical_rest_area-t43572.0.html

Another kind of experience I have heard others describe (which I never had myself to my recollection) is what I as an outsider to that stuff call the "time loop". These projectors described experiences where they were placed in the special situation of another person or being's life, and they had to make the "right" decision- and being forced to repeat the scenario over and over until they did. Lionheart and Szaxx have both reported this type of experience multiple times, if you wanted to ask them about it.

[Karxx Gxx]

"time loop"

Thats pretty interesting. Ill read that post later, just woke up from a dream haha.
One last question, not sure if this is a whole nother thing, but if its always an instant or so, then what about RTZ AP? Like actually seeing life as it happens or something similar? Havnt done research on it much so excuse the newbieness.
And TY for the valuable info everyone has given!

[Kzaal]

Thats pretty interesting. Ill read that post later, just woke up from a dream haha.
One last question, not sure if this is a whole nother thing, but if its always an instant or so, then what about RTZ AP? Like actually seeing life as it happens or something similar? Havnt done research on it much so excuse the newbieness.
And TY for the valuable info everyone has given!

You mean like being stuck in real time zone as you are performing an astral projection?
Unless your body dies while AP'ing then you shouldn't be stuck.
You can watch everywhere as long as you are able to concentrate.
So to me as soon as you stop focusing and give up then you go straight back in your body.
After reading your question again I'm not sure if you meant to ask if it's instant to go back to your body.
Yes it is, in one of my AP, when I came back I already had my eyes wide open and still had some trouble figuring out if I was really back.
It's really like a snap. You snap back to your body instantly.
When you do a Nightmare and you're either tired or you get killed in that nightmare you wake up immediately.
Same goes for AP, but instead of dying you stop your concentration.