FireFly's Log

[FireFly9]

I decided to start a log here, so initially am copying and pasting from a former post I did on another forum since it explains my method.  All comments welcome.

I do a version of the body asleep/mind awake technique (an adaption of the Munroe technique - greatly simplified).  My success is still in the infantile stages, but it is a process that works for me, at least for now.

Since we all go to the body freeze state (paralysis) when we are asleep each night and then move on from there in consciousness to the astral plane during dream time, the trick of this technique is to fool the body into thinking you are asleep in order to experience it lucidly.... (as I see it, and have read elsewhere).  If I stay perfectly still for a long time, long enough to get to the body numb stage, (along with sleep-like breathing and getting to the theta state).....AND if I'm tired enough, I have been able to float out.  So far this is not under my control, ie I don't roll out etc. What I'm assuming is happening is that the consciousness is actually on its way to the dream zone as in normal sleep. (Dream zone is a term used by author Kurt Leland who has mapped the inner planes extensively through years of lucid experience.)

Arriving on the astral plane in a lucid state (using this method) is my goal, but so far I haven't gotten past the float (transit) stage.  I would agree that any fear prevents the process, but I also think that it's important not to let the body know you are awake by directing the experience in any way (for this particular method) - but I'm still playing with this.  I'll report on how I do.

Other than using this process I have gotten out of the body on several occasions (more or less spontaneously) to fly around what 'looks' like the physical plane, in my astral body.  This success has been limited by my inexperience but I am quite happy to have these practice sessions. So far during OBEs I haven't been able to have interactions with other beings, am off my myself, and NOT very lucid.  I certainly don't scoff at anything I can accomplish however, as each time I get out I get to practice trying to stay calm, and remembering to get lucid.  {I also work to become lucid 'during' dreams - which is how Leland does it, and this is WAY cool when it happens, but very rare for me so far.}

Back in February of this year I had my first OBE using this method.  I remained perfectly still and maintained the body numb stage for at least 2 hours (this is not sleep paralysis by the way) and I eventually started to leave through my feet.  I don't go into the vibrational state, but this may be because of the stage of learning I am at.  I have felt the beginnings of, or a soft form of, the vibrational state and have also heard the rushing wind-like sound, but not very loudly if at all.   Anyway, I floated out like a log on my back.  Once out, instead of travelling feet first to wherever it was I was headed, I was rotated 180 degrees and began to move foward head first (still on my back).  I had no control over this rotation and was surprised when it happened. I moved along in a sort of tunnel. When the speed increased I could feel the wind going past me. As usual with my OBEs I became very excited and in this case really wanting this experience to get past the motion stage and into the astral plane and to have a lucid experience there (no matter what form it might take - for now), but I cut it short by trying to direct it.  In this case both excitement and wanting to travel faster sent me immediately back to my body.  Drats....as I see it the body caught on that I wasn't asleep before I got past this transitional state and into dream zone.

I'm past having any fear of this, and also beyond wanting to just experience the etheric body (the light body that can't get further away from the physical than 10 feet or so).  It's the astral body that I want to be in and to eventually become proficient in utilizing the astral body 'senses' (read Kurt Leland) to gain full access to the astral plane.  'Full' access (as opposed to limited access) takes training and spiritual mastery of the astral body - which is essentially mastery of the emotions.  Following that comes master of the thoughts.

The various bodies and planes are discussed extensively by Leland, and also by Seth to some extent, and by Annie Besant (who coined the body level terms) in early Theosophical writings.  Each plane requires a body equivalent.... that is, you use your astral body to travel the astral plane, the mental body to travel the mental plane, the causal body for the causal plane etc. and each body has its own unique set of sensing tools (activated chakras perhaps) that allow you to 'experience' and interact on that plane.

The etheric body is the lowest body and is essentially a double of the physical (as is well explained by William Buhlman).  The etheric has its value on the physical plane, and although you can move your consciousness fully into the etheric body you can't go anywhere in it.   The astral body allows travel and you also use this body during most dreams.  During an OBE that's the one you need to master first if you want experience beyond the Real Time Zone (RTZ) and into the 'astral proper' as Frank calls it.

Cool stuff me thinks.  

[FireFly9]

May of this year:

I'm still working on getting out (which HAS happened, but certainly not in any consistent way due to my efforts. - yet). After lying still for a while I will experince a 'body numbing' and from there I frequently come so very close to floating out.  I have had several brief outs but lately these have quickly turned into a normal dream state.

Somehow I've gotten stuck and it seems to me that my body won't be tricked by my 'being still' anymore.  Like it caught on, or it upped the antie on testing me to see if I'm truly asleep and whether or not it can make me move.  I can get past the itchy phase and the sweating stage (two things the body uses on me to see if I'm really asleep), but lately I haven't been able to get past the 'urge to roll over' stage which comes after all the other tests, and after I've been at this for a good long time already.  I'll say ...after giving it my best ... "ok - you win".... and I roll over.  Sigh.

I do know that I have to be somewhat tired in order to get to the theta state.... otherwise I'm wasting my time.  I have theta music that I listen to with a background binary beat that helps, but again, I have to be tired, and the music can't be too long because I need silence for the actual projection to happen.  My favorite music comes from http://www.royaltyfreemeditationmusic.com/Royalty_... (you can click on the links to listen to the free samples).

This lying still technique does work though, and I first read about it on-line in an e-book by a Robert Peterson http://www.robertpeterson.org/obebook.html.  His travels (described in this book) were entirely astral with alot of frustrating struggle and limitation regarding being able to move into a free state, but I took note of his method of 'tricking' the body into thinking you are asleep.  It's Munroe's 'mind awake-body asleep' concept really if you can stay conscious.

During one of these brief outs I managed to rotate my body into a standing position, and instead of floating to dream zone (as I see it) turned it into a RTZ obe and went through the door to the outside.  I usually try to get outside because following Buhlman's advise I attempt to get well away from my body.  Usually I just flit about trying to think what I should TRY to do, so have resolved to start focusing on getting into a quiet state once out and see what happens.  Ideally I'd like to take any RTZ obe and move to the 'astral proper'.

[FireFly9]

October:  After responding to Rainbow_Light's log post the other day expressing my long dry spell I actually did have another great experience using my 'laying still' technique.  After some time in the body numb stage I again floated out through my feet.  This time I did not rotate to move head first but sailed along feet first through what felt like a long winding wind tunnel.  I remembered to stay emotionally neutral, and to not hurry the process this time.... which is what I have been wanting a chance to practice.  I just went along with it and it persisted for quite a while... (This is progress... yea!)  Then the best part is I became aware of passing a scene.  It became almost like a railway tunnel, and then a station.  I vaguely saw people mulling about on one side.  When I stopped I was then at that station... although not very lucidly, but I then attempted to interact with one of the people there.  I saw a young man in a brown jersey who was sitting on the ground with his back to me.  I asked his name.  In hindsight I think he couldn't hear me because I have not developed any kind of communication sense in the astral body yet.  But this was a major step forward.

During the summer months I started reading 'Frank's Post' which I find very inspiring, and I also read Xanth's document on Phasing.  So now I combine the phasing practice with my 'body asleep' process which in essence is 'phasing' since the goal is to move into the astral without losing consciousness.  I find I have to struggle to maintain a mental focus (my primary stumbling block), but I feel there comes a certain point when you get closer to the theta state where raising your focus to the blackness behind the eyes does indeed do the trick.  All the info I've read lately from the Frank's post, as well as Ginny's soul retrieval logs, etc have given me a lot of very useful information.  While doing the phasing practice and on a good day I usually don't need to wait long before I see very scenic landscapes or images.  The trick now is to move into one of them.

[EscapeVelocity]

Everything you are reading and the techniques you are describing sound good. It takes time and often comes in somewhat frustratingly small baby steps; that's okay, it just means you get the lesson that much stronger.

However you get to that stage where you are just "noticing", that is the key attitude; no emotion, no involvement, just noticing. You may get landscapes or peopled scenes...just keep noticing until you begin to feel a "pull" into the scene. Slightly resist that pull initially until it builds and finally you can make a complete transition into the presented scene. You may bounce back at first, if so, let the pressure build until you feel the release point.

One method to get you into these visualizations is to perform a Rundown. Visualize yourself doing a ryhthmic activity such as dancing, skiing, surfing, snowboarding, trampoline, biking, etc...the idea is ryhthmic movement which eventually takes on a life of its own until you literally get dumped into a scene.

These early exits are somewhat haphazard and accidental, until our inner selves begin to understand just what we are looking for.

Hope that gives some ideas.

EV

[FireFly9]

Thanks EV.  I appreciate the response, and I will do more of what you suggest to see if I can improve the hits.  When I went out through my feet last and sailed through the tunnel to what seemed like a railway station I forgot to mention that I did go about touching and feeling things to try to prolong the experience by bringing in my focus and attention better.  Next time I will engage the noticing as much as I can.  In this case I was already in the scene because I had reached the astral, but was doing that 'fish out of water' thing as Frank called it.

I really don't have much luck with the rundown process but focused attention IS a difficulty for me. Something I continue to work on.  

I have a question though about the 'pull'.  Often when I have been in my body numb state for a while and wavering on exiting, or sometimes even when I have been out and am attempting to get out again, I feel a strong pressure between the solar and heart chakras.  I have tried to utilize this pressure to get out but so far no luck.  Doesn't seem to matter if I just let it alone or if I try to exit there.  It does focus me back on the body, but it must be happening for some reason.  Any thoughts?

[EscapeVelocity]

I have felt the same tension between those chakras; I think it is simply an indication that they are active and the source for powering up your projection, as opposed to many early projectors experiencing root/sacral excitation; so I think this is a good thing. More than that I don't know because, like you, when I've noticed it and tried to make use of it, I haven't been able to.

Maybe one of the others with more knowledge in this area can chime in and educate us both!

The 'pull' I was describing doesn't relate to the chakras, at least for me. This pull is more of an overall gravity kind of pull that occurs when a visualized scene has become so solid that it starts pulling me into the scene. I've gone too early and mentally stepped into the scene only to get bounced back. If I then wait half a minute longer for the scene to strengthen, I can usually pop right in.

[FireFly9]

Had a major success on Oct 31st. -  First time truly interacting on another plane, reality or RTZ.

After coming awake from a dream in the early morning I got into position to do my AP practice.  It was about 7:30.  I thought about my previous dream for a bit, and then got to the body-numb state by lying quietly (again this is not paralysis, just numb - I don't find true paralysis is necessary....and can't get there anyhow). The body cooperated nicely for me this time and produced no itching, heat, etc.  Over a couple of hours I tried all manner of techniques from the alpha state with one thing leading easily to another.  Amongst other things I visualized and saw landscapes which I then tried to get down into them by being still.  I focused on noticing behind my eyes. I listened to a song playing in my head and that helped take me deeper.  I was aware that I was doing too much describing of things in my head (Frank's posts warns about letting yourself do that.)  I needed to get quiet.  All in all though I was in perfect form for an AP so maintained a rhythmic, sleep-like breathing, remaining perfectly still, and I persisted.

Over time I got to theta (you actually feel this shift when it happens) and found myself lucidly (sort of) in a scene in front of my computer in another room.  I wondered, ok, now what, how do I get from here to an OBE?  No sooner had this thought occurred to me when I felt a spontaneous movement.  As had happened once before earlier that week my office chair rolled back into the middle of the room - the motion of which took me to a deepened state.  I went into mild vibration which felt like a buzzing all over, under my skin.  This in itself was progress because I've never really been conscious of a full vibrational state before, or if so it's been ever so subtly.  This OBE was a short-lived tunnel movement, and then I was then back to alpha.  

I kept up the focus and visualized (from the alpha state) sailing over landscapes with the desire for summerland (higher astral) in mind.  The scenes were not sharp and vivid like I have experienced in the past but they were pleasant.  From flying above I saw lots of rocks, cliffs, water, one green meadow.  I focused in and made the decision to get closer to one of them and to see things in more detail hoping to move into the scene.

At some point I went again into a full feeling of OOB movement and vibrational buzzing.  Yes, I thought....this is it!!!

I began to sail through a mechanical like tunnel going forward (feet first) at a good speed but very not really fast.  I was not directing things in the least and remained perfectly neutral simply enjoying the sensation and wondering where I would end up. I then came to a junction area in this tunnel, and now stopped I found myself sitting on what can only be described as a metallic-like buoy.  It was some kind of contraption - function unknown.

OK...I thought I should perhaps make a desire known in order to get someplace else so I simply said I would like to horse back ride on this plane, thinking I could do it pro and really feel the joy of riding like I couldn't on the physical.  So I began to move again, this time on an upward slope through another tunnel still sitting on this contraption.  Perhaps I was on my way to horses?  

However, I ended up at the top of a stairway in a residential home.  [I get right away that I am for the first time ever in a fully conscious state on the astral proper (or as I considered later, aware in the RTZ someplace)].

The contraption deflated like it was made of plastic.  I got off.  I knew I was in the upstairs portion of a home.  I looked out the window at one end of the hallway and saw a winter scene at night.  I then began to walk along the hall looking into the rooms as I went along.  Someone may have been in one of the beds, but I couldn't say for sure.   I looked into another room and then another.  At the end of the hall I went into a room and saw someone there.  I ducked back not wanting to scare her in case she could see me, but I was too late for that.  She knew me right away although I didn't know her.  (A common thing according to Frank).   She seemed happy to see me like I was a familiar friend from that time zone and she gathered me into the room.  I said hello my name is Glen, what's yours.  She didn't understand why I was introducing myself.  I said no, you don't understand, I'm doing this from a different dimension (the only way I could think of to quickly describe it).  I told her this knowing she understood this kind of thing and there was no need to explain it.  She then said she was Marie.  I could see her face clearly.  I asked her where this place was and she gave me the street address.  I said no, what city is it?  She said Kingston, Ontario.

I sat in front of her holding her knees.  I said I was so excited since this is the 1st time I have really done it... arrived and interacted on a different plane, or place.  I wish now I had talked less or asked more questions or let her talk to me.  

Then the experience ended and I was back in C1, likely due to the excitement, but it didn't degrade to a dream state at least and I was able to remember it.  I was now 11 am.

[FireFly9]

Further to the above, and since I posted on Rainbow_Lights log that it seemed to be getting easier, I have now dropped back into a dry spell.  Trying too hard no doubt, but not completely.  I've been considering my last success and thinking now that it was due to how the prerequisites were all in place rather than any technique I did.  In short, that I went out 'passively' (thanks rainbow_light for that term) which is how it has always worked in the past.  Yes, I did do phasing and other types of techniques, but as posted above it all came quite easy that morning because I was in the right and perfect state from the get go quickly after beginning the practice.

Lately, since Oct 31, I've tried many times.  Either I've not been tired enough, left it too late after already having had sufficient sleep, or my mind was way too Beta, or I had some physical discomfort (ie had an achy arm for a few days) etc.  I think now, that on Oct 31st I floated out passively.... ie my method of staying still long enough that my body figured I was asleep, AND I was tired enough and in that zone..... which for me is described as being in alpha without much effort so that visualization and that feeling of lightness comes almost on their own.  I think also that all that the techniques, visualizations, phasing practice etc did was to keep my mind awake.  If so then it's all good and served the same end.

I would still to some degree say I am phasing since I go oob in a fully conscious state to a place other than the RTZ, BUT I do not yet step into a scene - perhaps however I'm getting close (on a good day).  Where I end up is so far not under my control.. which I'm perfectly fine with me since at this stage I am only gaining experience.  

The trick is now to figure out what it takes for me to be in that perfect zone - or to get there easier.  I am very caffeine sensitive, so even eating dark chocolate as I did an evening or two ago kept me awake most of the night.  I have to be careful how much B complex I take, and gave up taking a really good whole food supplement powder because it had green tea in it.  I value my obe successes over the supplement.  I'm a light sleeper so one bit of advise that is often given to others, which is to get up for a while and then go back to bed, is out of the question because I would never be able to get back into the mood for sleeping if I did.  I also cannot sleep during the day.... sleep simply won't come. I really do have to be tired enough, as Frank also confirms, if I'm going to get back to 'near sleep' which is theta.  (Brain waves explained - http://www.transparentcorp.com/products/np/brainwaves.php)

I'm going to attempt to set some kind of alarm, perhaps on my iPad, one where I don't need to move in order to turn it off.  I likely should be attempting things earlier than even 4 am (although the recent success was started as late as 7:30.... but as I said... that was a good day).  

[EpicAstral]

Good log. The body play tests on itself to see if its asleep, it is annoying at times lol. But instead of focusing that your body needs to be asleep i would suggest that you should focus on getting the mind right and just let the body do his thing (falling asleep). But hey, you are at least getting out of your body so you are doing something right. And maybe you shouldn't try it too hard (like you said yourself) just let it go. But it is understandable to kind of force it, since you really want it bad.
I am moving to an: "I don't care, i am not even trying.'', will see if that brings results.

I feel your sleep problem, i also can't take a nap that easily. I must be REALLY tired. I want to take a power nap to feel fresh but i can't do that. I also schedule my sleep.

keep it up.

[FireFly9]

Thanks EpicAstral for the input.  I agree with what you are saying.  In reading "Frank's Post" as I am (and getting so much from it) I learned yesterday from a question he answered (in the last of his newsletters), that this person wasn't likely really in Focus 10 and I got to thinking that this is probably true for me sometimes.  I'm in body-asleep mode but not quite deep enough so last night and this morning I went back to a quick successive relaxation and got 'really' body-asleep... better than I have for a while. (I originally used the Munroe tape for this successive relaxation, but found afterwards that I could bring it on very quickly.)  I confirmed from this that once truly in Focus 10 it IS a bit easier to get the mind calmed down, do some noticing, AND make that 'shift that you can feel' which Frank also clearly states.  

Anyways, as you said you do have to head in the direction of sleep which I was finding very hard to accomplish because I truly want to also stay aware.  Finally I went into a light bubble of a sleep and was dreaming about my dad (who has past over) and my mom (who is still here on the physical).  They were both here at my place and we were talking.  My dad was having a hard time hearing what mom and I had been saying to each other (he wore hearing aids during his life) and he really wanted to know because he only caught a word or two and it interested him.  My mom started talking to him, but with her arm over her mouth and seemed to be speaking gibberish on purpose...so now I couldn't even make out what she was saying.  So I turned to my dad and asked him if he heard.  He said something to softly or muffled that I couldn't make out although I was able to hear the both of them earlier.  He seemed somehow pacified or resigned.  (Not making out what people are saying in my dreams has always been to me a sign that my 'perception sense' (Leland) is not developed enough to communicate on that plane, or that I am not fully aware enough.)  

Anyway, the good news is at that point I then began to OBE - feeling that strong drawing feeling as I proceeded to sail through my typical exit which is a tunnel.  Yea.... I was happy.  I sailed on my back enjoying the wind and the speed and also noticing very acutely the tunnel walls, ceiling etc. some of which was metallic, some seemed wooden, and some under construction (sort of).  This went on until I came to a light bulb glowing warmly and strongly from the ceiling in a junction area.  I paused and looked at it, seeing it perfectly, and thinking along the lines of 'go to the light'.  Or something.  I knew it was symbolic.  

I was not as controlled in this exit as I was last time because I kept saying over and over 'take me to the best experience for my highest good' ....'whatever experience I need for my highest good', etc.

This was not passive mode, which right now I think I need to stick with and although I sailed on beautifully from the light along another very clear tunnel, the experience ended and I felt that oh so disappointing feeling of drawing out and back to C1.  

Anyways, I'm happy to be getting positive results if I keep at it, but there very much is a surrender aspect that for me seems very important to maintain.  I was thinking later that the better phrase, if I was going to use that one, would have been 'an experience for THE highest good', because it may have been that I needed to go to my dad and it wasn't about me.  I have always felt he may have become stuck due to his fear.  I would like to do rescue work and believe I have worked with the newly dead between lives.  Anyhoo!... I was psyched when I got up.

As happened last time, I had the AP/exit late in the morning after trying unsuccessfully at 3:30 - 4:00 until dawn.  I did however get to the point of the gentle buzzing vibrational state at one point, but with no exit.

Phasing is not coming easily for me, but this method does work, so I will continue to combine it in what ever way will get results.

For me I don't expect the "I don't care, i am not even trying.'' mode will work.  My intent is what keeps me focused, and anything less just takes me to the dream state, which I agree with Xanth is also projection and is valuable.  BUT I want conscious exploration.... like you said... BAD.