What am I doing wrong?

[Blacklight]

Hello!

I've found out about APing and such around.. 2 years ago I guess, and then I had the first and the only vibrations ever.
Ever since I've been trying different methods, e.g imagining that I'm walking on sand, relaxing, then closing eyes.. further relaxing, etc., etc. but to no avail.
Now the point is.. how did I manage to reach vibrations with such a simple method which was basically closing the eyes and breathing in, and out - nothing else, but that.
So.. what am I doing wrong?

[Szaxx]

Over thinking by the sound of it. You only need to remain aware of yourself and no more. Things may appear as well as sounds occurring, these can be very abstract. You need to notice them and not use any analysis on what presents itself. Using your thoughts to calculate or estimate is sending you back towards the physical world.
Relax and see how far you can go. The images that appear will eventually form into recognisable shapes, ignore these until a full scene develops complete with synchronized sound. This is basically phasing. You disconnect from the physical world completely and the rest is left to naturally occur.
Vibrations are a signpost if you get them, some of us here have not had them occur much. In 50+ years of practicing the art of projecting I can count less than 5 occurances of them.

[Blacklight]

Everytime I close my eyes though, and let go of 'everything' they reopen themselves after a while.. not to mention them twitching
Am I supposed to try to keep them closed or let them open themselves?

[EscapeVelocity]

I have read of a few people reporting the involuntary opening of their eyes during relaxation. I have never experienced it myself and really cannot offer a solution except to say that for many, if not most of us, as we are attempting to relax and move deeper into a "trance" kind of state, we are not getting anywhere close if little things like itches, muscle tension, eye openings, stray thoughts and such are still affecting us. In these cases we are still focused too much on the Physical side of the equation.

You need to let go further and allow yourself to move deeper...even to the point that you fall asleep many times. It is only near the "release point" of sleep that you will gain enough experience to know just how deep you need to go.

Finding this small window of relaxed awareness can be very difficult to find in an afternoon or evening attempt; that's why many people experience their initial successes after a few hours of sleep or an early morning attempt.

Look at it this way: even if you fall asleep several times, you gain the experience of searching that necessary depth of relaxation and you give yourself the opportunity to have a lucid dream experience which is every bit as valid a method for initiating a Non-Physical experience. It is all good and adds to your knowledge base.

Hope that gives something to consider.

[Blacklight]

Could the eye-opening thing be related in any way to breathing inconsistently? I just noticed that every time I see these green colors in my closed eyes (hypnogogia, right?) and I 'focus' on breathing and start doing it inconsistently my left eye begins to open.

Also - the fact that my eyes shake/twitch a lot when I 'look' up/down with them while they're closed.. is normal, right?

[Szaxx]

The eyes thing can be solved with a sleep mask. I've used one in the past for the same reason.
Also have a read of the link, it may help.
http://www.unlimitedboundaries.ca/forums/post5037.html?hilit=Phasing%20lesson#p5037

[Blacklight]

First of all - thanks for that link; really helpful and I'll do well to remember it.

Another question; after a few(teen) minutes of trying I suddenly started to hear that sort of sound that plays in binaural beat-videos. Is this a sign of something?

[Lumaza]

Another question; after a few(teen) minutes of trying I suddenly started to hear that sort of sound that plays in binaural beat-videos. Is this a sign of something?

Check out this new thread here. It may hold some of your answers. http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/exit_symptomssignposts-t46206.0.html;msg359534#new

To answer your question "What am I doing wrong?". Personally, I think you are trying to hard. You need to create the right atmosphere per say, then just passively observe what occurs. Anything you see, feel or hear is considered progress. But then you will get to the next step, which is just "being" in the moment.

[ThaomasOfGrey]

I still have the same difficulty with automatic eye opening. I have given up on sleeping masks, they either do not have sufficient coverage or are so bulky as to become a new source of distraction.

I find the eye opening to be related to thinking about vision. As soon as I consider any imagery, my physical eyes start slowly drifting downwards and this unlocks the eye lids.

I am actually not so sure that eyes closed is the natural position for sleeping. My right eye in particular seems to open a tiny amount by default, it isn't much, but it is enough to let light through.

It is a really frustrating thing because it will constantly give you false positive symptoms. There have been multiple occasions where I believed I was successfully phasing only to find that my eye had opened a little and I was seeing some kind of blurry image.

The only thing that has remotely worked for me to mitigate this is to not think about vision at all, especially do not focus on anything you see behind your eyes as this can lead to the physical eyes becoming activated.

[Lumaza]

I still have the same difficulty with automatic eye opening. I have given up on sleeping masks, they either do not have sufficient coverage or are so bulky as to become a new source of distraction.

I find the eye opening to be related to thinking about vision. As soon as I consider any imagery, my physical eyes start slowly drifting downwards and this unlocks the eye lids.

I am actually not so sure that eyes closed is the natural position for sleeping. My right eye in particular seems to open a tiny amount by default, it isn't much, but it is enough to let light through.

It is a really frustrating thing because it will constantly give you false positive symptoms. There have been multiple occasions where I believed I was successfully phasing only to find that my eye had opened a little and I was seeing some kind of blurry image.

The only thing that has remotely worked for me to mitigate this is to not think about vision at all, especially do not focus on anything you see behind your eyes as this can lead to the physical eyes becoming activated.

I used to use the "Mindfold". But after a year it fell apart. It was kind of uncomfortable too. But I swear by this one. http://www.dreamessentials.com/product-66/escape-luxury-travel-sleep-mask-w-carry-pouch-earplugs

I have used it for about a year now. I use it every single night because of a condition I have. I use it on my frequent hotel/motel stays and it is very comfortable. It doesn't put any pressure at all on your eyes. You can use it to sleep or AP. It totally blocks out all light. Plus, it's cheap! You could also make one yourself.

I had the problem of my eyes opening quite early in my AP practice. I beat it by using a blindfold and "knowing" that anything I see is in another reality. I used to wake up at nighttime and see my room. But then once I got my bearings, I realized I had my Sleep Mask still on and that what I was seeing was another realm's version of my room. I have also had many of my tunnel vision scenarios while wearing it.

I find though that in the end it's only frustrating if you "allow" it to be. It's just another hurdle to overcome. But you can do it.

But yes, you can just use another sense. Try to concentrate on something tactile, like your toes or any other body part. You don't need to see them. Just get the feeling of them and keep your focus there. You could also just focus within yourself or turn your focus outside as in the Vehram method. Once again, you don't need to view it, just feel it.

[ThaomasOfGrey]

That mask does look like a superior design. The trouble with the mindfold is that the front is too rigid, making it only appropriate for laying your back. I have been fooled by seeing through the blindfold once before too. I will keep my eyes out for one like this.

@Blacklight - Recently I have been having the most success from just doing "nothing". Sometimes using particular methods gets you too engaged on the outcome to relax sufficiently.

[Lumaza]

That mask does look like a superior design. The trouble with the mindfold is that the front is too rigid, making it only appropriate for laying your back.

The Mindfold was great for anytime meditation/AP sessions. But, I found it was not good at all during sleep. That's how I broke mine. That was the only reason I found it uncomfortable. While lying on my side it dug into my face. Like you said, it was too rigid for sleeping. But the "Escape Mask" is very soft.

Recently I have been having the most success from just doing "nothing". Sometimes using particular methods gets you too engaged on the outcome to relax sufficiently.

Ah, the good ole do nothing technique. You do nothing and await for something to occur. But, I find it really is hard to do nothing. Even with the do nothing technique you are basically still doing something and that is trying do nothing, lol!   

Personally I like to keep my mind preoccupied before the "show" begins!

[Astralsuzy]

Hello!
Ever since I've been trying different methods, e.g imagining that I'm walking on sand, relaxing, then closing eyes.. further relaxing, etc., etc. but to no avail.
Now the point is.. how did I manage to reach vibrations with such a simple method which was basically closing the eyes and breathing in, and out - nothing else, but that.
So.. what am I doing wrong?

You may be doing nothing wrong.   With ap it can be like that.   Sometimes we do not have to do much and we ap.   Other times it is more difficult and we have to make more of an effort.  From my experiences any method will work when your mind and body is ready to ap.   Last night I was lying down and nothing was happening.   I was lying down for quite a while and my back was starting to feel sore.   I tried to imagine that my back was feeling comfortable but it did not work.   I ignored my back feeling uncomfortable and I got on with it.   I tried to do an ap technique but I still did not succeed.   I tried another and another technique but I still did not succeed.   My mind and body was not ready to ap.   I was determined to ap.   It was either I kept trying or I give up and go to bed.   I thought I will not give up.   I will ap and I will succeed.   I heard a grunting noise and I thought I will get out of my body and I did.   Sometimes we have to persevere with it and know we will succeed. 

[Astralsuzy]

First of all - thanks for that link; really helpful and I'll do well to remember it.

Another question; after a few(teen) minutes of trying I suddenly started to hear that sort of sound that plays in binaural beat-videos. Is this a sign of something?

When you hear or see something that is when you can get out of your body.   

[Bluefirephoenix]

It could be that vibrations are not the primary way your body interprets that awareness. The vibrations are merely a partial focusing of awareness on another plane. Maybe there is something else that your body uses to tell your conscious mind that the shift is occuring. Go into that relaxed aware state and observe what is happening. My body interprets as kind of a numb feeling when I do that. The vibrations mean something entirely different. It's very individual there is no biological process here so there will not be much consistency. Only belief and expectation. But the belief of your mind isn't always what you want to believe. You've done this your whole life. It's not going to change the physical sensation cues to shifting easily. Go in and observe rather than critisize what you've done all your life. ... and beyond.

[Blacklight]

Hi!

Thank you all for your replies, they've most certainly helped them, but I must admit - I haven't tried to AP in a few good days.
Untill yesterday. So.. I closed my eyes, relaxed, at one point my eyes tried to open and I've let them be 'partially' opened and a few seconds later influenced  them to be closed. Later on I've definietly stopped caring for a good period of time - my brain started thinking about something that happened earlier on in the day and I didn't try to stop it. It started 'drawing', 'appearing' maybe in my eyes with the entire scene playing out. And, sadly - I started 'caring' and the image disappeared and I heard a really squeaky voice calling for me to 'follow'.
My heart and "body" gave up this weird feeling I used to feel back in the day when I was relaxing (that sort of feeling when I feel everything is 'bigger' than me, can't really put it in good words) aaaaaaaand.. my eyes opened.
So.. am I on the right track?

[ThaomasOfGrey]

Hi!

Thank you all for your replies, they've most certainly helped them, but I must admit - I haven't tried to AP in a few good days.
Untill yesterday. So.. I closed my eyes, relaxed, at one point my eyes tried to open and I've let them be 'partially' opened and a few seconds later influenced  them to be closed. Later on I've definietly stopped caring for a good period of time - my brain started thinking about something that happened earlier on in the day and I didn't try to stop it. It started 'drawing', 'appearing' maybe in my eyes with the entire scene playing out. And, sadly - I started 'caring' and the image disappeared and I heard a really squeaky voice calling for me to 'follow'.
My heart and "body" gave up this weird feeling I used to feel back in the day when I was relaxing (that sort of feeling when I feel everything is 'bigger' than me, can't really put it in good words) aaaaaaaand.. my eyes opened.
So.. am I on the right track?

Sounds like you had the mini-dream. Your experience matches my findings in that doing nothing and letting go will quickly lead to a mini-dream when a strong train of thought emerges. The key is to somehow embrace and enter the mini-dream without "looking back". Looking back is a difficult habit to break; it is like telling someone not to think about elephants.