Dreams & AP attempt - Please help me understand.

[mindscreen]

First, Thank You All for sharing your experiences and insights here in Astral Pulse. I am a beginner so, constantly reading and learning.  Long post warning!

I would like to share/get your input on my progress thus far (trying to keep it as short as possible, unsuccessfully..)

Quick Background:
Couple months ago, I read a guide about run-downs along with Monroe Hemi-sync Gateway Wave 1 - Focus 10.  This made sense and I started practice focusing on AP.  Soon, light to medium Focus-10, body numbness, calmness/clarity(which I knew from mediation days) started to come back during sessions.  Few times total body was numb with only awareness of head.

After getting this process into a rhythm, noticed that I'd always "click out".  More recently, I'd end up in dreams.  Started a dream journal to keep track of things since last month.

My sessions start like this:

• Prayer & Affirmations.
• A full body tense/relax exercises.
• Wave-1 Intro to Focus-10 audio using Bose noise cancelling headphones. 
• Mental rundown to coincide with Monroe's instructions.
• Noticing blackness, and becoming involved in the imagery.
• ^*On most sessions: lose awareness/lucidity >> sleep or "click-out??" >> dream.
• ^*Wake up (usually around 2 hours later) and write notes.

^*This happened repeatedly for few weeks/sessions.


One night after practicing breathing etc., felt what could be vibrations and a sudden shift in body position.  Unless, I imagined this whole thing! , it had to be my second/astral/etheric body(which I'll just refer to as Astral Body for simplicity). Left shoulder went a bit "under" the pillow/mattress... in a nutshell, some part(s) of upper body felt out of alignment.  To seize the "opportunity", tried rolling over, stretch/extend arm techniques.. didn't work, whole thing ended in few seconds and I opened eyes.. END of Session.

Another night in a deep state, decided to use frequency technique and "increase" frequency of Astral Body which triggered vibrations immediately.  But when I try to move the Astral hand or exit, ended up moving physical hand/body >> loss of deep state >> wide awake.  Many similar attempts (with different exit techniques) end up moving physical body parts instead.  END of Session(s).  Not sure if my timing and/or conditions were right...

Couple weird experiences:  One night, left arm just moved a little by itself and fell back down like someone picked it up and dropped it.  The next night, right arm did the same!  I maintained a calm attitude and suspect that these could be just energy movements.  -Must say the second time around, a thought/doubt did cross my mind if some entities are doing this... silly. anyway, didn't feel fear or think much further.

Fears. Well, came a long way and it's still a work in progress but, the realization that courage, love and empathy can overcome them is helping tremendously!!! 
I Thank the higher powers and Guides and think that everything is happening as it is supposed to and Truly feel that I am being gradually introduced to one feeling/experience at a time (you'll see what I mean).  I affirm that I'll be patient and persist on the path no matter how much or how little is gained.


Here is where things get interesting:

DREAM-1:
Few days ago, I had a dream and I was trying to project within the dream!  I don't consider this a "lucid" dream because I was NOT aware that I was dreaming.  Anyway, this is all in the dream:
I was with few people I knew and at some point, I lay down to project.  I hear a Siren like sound with increasing loudness/volume gradually.  Also, I saw a white energy like lights? or grouping of erratic white lines shaping to a ball? in the third eye/brow area.  Someone was waking me up(in the dream itself) and I woke up feeling frustrated with that person. END of Dream.
Soon after, there was an actual physical disturbance (unlike the waking just mentioned) and I woke up in physical.
END of session.
-----------------

DREAM-2:
Two days ago, another similar but important dream.  Again, going by what I understand what a Lucid Dream is supposed to be, I just can't say it was a lucid dream because I didn't gain lucidity in the dream or become aware that I was dreaming.  Anyway, This is super confusing for me, so please remember: until you read "END of Dream", everything below happened within the dream itself.  Currently, physically, I live in a house.  Here is the dream:
I was in an apartment and went to lay down in a bed to project!  I was fully aware that I was making the AP attempt!  After sometime, there was that same "Siren" like sound in my ears with increasing loudness and I knew that I just had to rollover.  I did and landed softly on the floor.  Then the "perspective" shifted --to a 3^rd person/camera view (like I got out of the Astral Body? or, the body laying in bed saw the exit???)-- and whichever "I", saw the Full Astral Body's shimmering/glowing edges with a translucent body hovering.  Then, the "perspective" shifted back to normal as in, I was seeing with Astral Body and saw the body in bed sleeping with an eye open and a leg bent in awkward position.  With the Astral Body, put hand through a wall, didn't go through it; instead, I went through a glass window, hovered, moved, explored, and came back.  END of Dream. 

It would've been wonderful to experience reintegration of "dreaming Astral Body" to the "dreaming body" lying in bed, in the dream itself.  Unfortunately that didn't happen and the whole experience was cut short by a physical disturbance and I woke up in physical instantly.   I don't know if any of that makes sense.

Analysis/Observations:
For the "dreaming I" (as in dreaming-self), the act of projecting was instinctive(i.e. when to exit, the act of exiting itself, hovering, moving etc.) and not surprising at all! 
But that "dreaming I" was really surprised at the "buzzing" like sound when dream-Astral hand was put through a wall. 
That was a "new" and extremely real experience to the "dreaming-I".

Question:  If the act of AP is not new and felt intimately known like breathing itself to me, why would "I" (whichever I, at this point) find "buzzing", static like feeling after putting hand through wall be so novel and new? 
Am I correct in thinking: it's because we project all the time during sleep etc., but during natural AP subconscious (or whatever is in charge) never puts hands through walls? 
Silly or trivial as it sounds, nevertheless it still is a puzzling thought considering how much effort I am making for Conscious AP. 

While I was excited about the experience, I felt disappointed that it was in a dream; therefore, it cannot be relied upon as a "solid" experience (I know... you'll say it was all Astral).  Remember, I am trying to achieve Conscious AP.
--------------------------------


Astral Projection (well, almost):
This time, I used Wake Back to Bed method.  Slept all night, woke up at 6 am and tried to project.  As usual, put the headphones on, run down to Focus-10.  Shifted at some point and saw what looked like a big tray of "white clouds and blue sky"(don't ask).  Got curious what would happen if I go closer to them or move them, and as I thought that, the clouds began to "vibrate" and move slightly.  I heard the unmistakable "Siren" come on again and gradually started to get louder!  Not sure if I became lucid during the attempt but, the "clouds and sky" are gone, Siren on full blast, started seeing the white energy static ball/grouping of white electrical discharge like light building up brighter quickly in the brow/Third Eye area.
Realized what's happening and noticed that my physical body (back and neck) is tensing, breathing is fast and also felt that I was lifting up very slowly.  I was relieved that the sound is finally here (first time experiencing in actual AP attempt) and at this point, wary of the ever increasing loudness in ears, remembering to stay calm, focus shifted to ongoing fast breathing.  I must've been worried that I'll screw it up somehow, decided to quickly "salvage" the experience by slowing the breath.  So, I tried to stay calm and deliberately breathed slowly maybe less than 5 times.  To my disappointment, the Siren stopped and couple seconds later, I was wide awake. 

It all happened so fast.  Although, I would've liked a full AP, I was not completely disappointed and actually, felt a sense of accomplishment that I reached a milestone!  This was not a dream and I was completely aware of the physical unlike the previous experiences / dreams.

Questions:  During the practice of over couple months, I have experienced the "vibrations" and/or waves moving up and down while vibrating.  This is not present in the latest attempt.  Does that mean that I don't get vibrations anymore and my sign post is the "Siren"?

Also, WBTB method may not be easy all the time for me with schedule etc., what else can I do to improve projecting consciously?  Is practice the only way?  I guess I am trying to find something/anything that I might be missing.

I am open to any questions.  Please help me understand and become proficient.

Lastly, Thank you for your patience in reading what could be a small book.  I appreciate it!

[Karxx Gxx]

Your sign post can definatly change. I personally dont get vibrations anymore.
And practice is the best way. There are other things that you can do throuh out the day to help you with projecting. I think someone calles it the wiggle method on this site.
What you do is move your 'ethiric' body. Your imaginary body. Astral body, what have you. You just dont visualize it, but actually move this invisible body. You might feel the urge to feel the real body, if this occurs then you are doing it. Heck, Ive heard a study where people imagined they were exercising and got stronger! random

Also you can use 'tools'. Some use the devils lettuce  (marijuana) or 'dream tea'. There is like 3 certain herbs that help with lucid dreaming (basically astral projection) and such. Or headsets.

Taking a 'nap' randomly during the day is the best method for me personally.

(only read the questions part. Sorry if i missed anything else)

[mindscreen]

Thanks Karxxx GX.

Sometimes, I feel physical life's pressures also play a major role.  Anyway, will try the random napping and "wiggle" method as you suggested. 

Could it be that my experience(s) happened in a "training zone" -I forget what they called it exactly in that message thread I was reading a while ago.  Will go back and find it.  Also, there were some posts with similar dream-ap experiences.  I'll reread them and see if I can get something out of it. 

[EscapeVelocity]

Welcome to the Pulse mindscreen! I hope that you will find the information and advice that helps you most.

Let me start my response by remarking that your description of your initial OBE attempts is such an excellent description of many peoples' early efforts that it almost requires no modifications to be made into a more permanent topic or description of what to expect. I have read, over many years, multiple early experiences by many different people, and this one, yours, is just simply SO well described, that I have little to add to it other than commentary. Excellently written!

If this is not just a recitation of what you have read from others; if this is actually your individual experience, then I will commend you, not only on your written expression of it, but your immediate and obviously clear understanding of what is occurring. If this is the case, then nicely done! And thank you for your representation of it.

In a manner of quick summary, I will say this: Everything you describe is quite normal. The process can unfold this seemingly slowly and step-by-step...it did for me and it has for the majority of others as I have read. You are actually hitting every step one by one after another...and there are certain various tactile, and energetic and, ultimately 'conscious', realizations to be made as we proceed step-by-step...and some of these you have already described. Don't become frustrated, just keep pushing along. This is kind of like trudging through 3 feet of snow for 2 hundred yards or even a mile. This is one portion of the early work of Non-Physical awareness. There are multitudes of tests and learning taking place here; you may recognize some of it as you go along, the rest only later.

To attempt to answer a few questions-

I think KG's advice is right- your exit signal can change from vibrations to the siren sound; just remain open to these possibilities. The rule seems to be to just follow whatever sensation is presented; this is also a form of training.

Training Zone- It is difficult to tell just where it starts or ends. So just treat it all as a form of training, at least for now. Regardless, if you pay attention, the lessons are everywhere; it's part of the beauty of it all.

Dream 1 and 2- I have seen this many times and even experienced it myself. I think these are 'pretend' run-throughs of the OBE within our personal dream context; it is as if we are trying out the concept within the safe environment of our personal dreamspace. It is also a subtle form of asking permission of our sub/inner/higher self to undertake this OBE activity. In your case, in Dream 2, I think you may have actually engaged the OBE...it is that subtle of a thing, you may have or may not have, that decision/experience is up to you.

Putting hands through walls or not...in time you will put these experiences into a better context. Whether you did or did not doesn't necessarily really matter...the key to ANY experience, Physical or Non-Physical, is did you learn something from it? Did you take away something of value?

Final advice- Don't change a thing, you are doing great! Add an affirmation to explore the next best concept you need to learn, some Intent to explore and learn, maybe a specific thing you want to know about.

Keep doing what you are doing! Be happy and explore! Have fun!

EV

[mindscreen]

Thank you for those kind words EscapeVelocity!   There are a lot of people here with more expertise.  I am just a beginner in numerous ways.  In any event, I really appreciate the recognition and encouragement!

Regarding the process being slow you said, "This is kind of like trudging through 3 feet of snow for 2 hundred yards or even a mile".  I found this analogy interesting because initially, the "desire" to AP is high after reading and wanting to experience.  Later, things slow down as reality sets in and it becomes more of a practice.  I didn't mention before but very long time ago, I've experienced OOBE couple times and both times, I was very afraid of what was happening and didn't know what to do.   

As far experiences, the ones mentioned are in fact my own and anything otherwise would've been cited accordingly.

The lessons part you mentioned is something for me to think about seriously.  Your insight is true; I began to feel that some past to recent "misunderstandings" are unwarranted as they are clearing through recent dreams and interpretations.

I find it somewhat difficult to know whether particular content of a dream is based on what I am reading/experiencing in PR or if it is "genuine" lesson so-to-speak.  For example, a variant dream of a meeting that took place in PR.  Wouldn't that be just my mind spinning itself over the event/details and a continuation in the dream?  As you said, anything can be a lesson if we look through those lens.  Sometimes, finding what to learn is a difficult task indeed and it may be missed altogether.

Regarding hands through walls experience, I guess what I wanted to understand was, why that particular act stood out as very strange when the biggest act of projecting itself was deemed so normal...  I suppose that is "my" experience and couldn't expect another person to comment...  maybe, I was hoping to hear that someone also experienced the same...? What I took away is that projecting is something I should be able to do very easily.  And, PR fears, objections and beliefs can and do carry over to dream/astral realms as well.  However, knowing this and putting it in practice are two different things.  In actual AP (like I mentioned before), body tensing and other signals consumed my thoughts.  The need to adjust and accommodate for these events in future attempts is apparent.  All I can say is that there is a lot of work ahead.

Once again, Thank You!

[EscapeVelocity]

mindscreen said- "I find it somewhat difficult to know whether particular content of a dream is based on what I am reading/experiencing in PR or if it is "genuine" lesson so-to-speak.  For example, a variant dream of a meeting that took place in PR.  Wouldn't that be just my mind spinning itself over the event/details and a continuation in the dream?  As you said, anything can be a lesson if we look through those lens.  Sometimes, finding what to learn is a difficult task indeed and it may be missed altogether."

This is generally what we refer to as "front-loading" an experience, or carrying a pre-conceived expectation into an experience. It can be a kind of mistake, but it could also be a lesson unto itself, if not for just that reason alone, or maybe others. No NP experience should be discarded without some consideration; lessons may be found weeks or months later. That's also not to say to get lost in over-analyzing everything, just stay open. Sometimes a dream IS just a dream...sometimes it's just a form of house-cleaning.

This is also a really good reason to write this stuff in a journal as soon as possible. If it doesn't make immediate sense then fine, record it in your journal and then let it percolate for a few weeks; you may find yourself digging back into it with deeper insights. My "Fieldtrip" experience occurred as a deeply buried dream/experience that I barely scribbled a paragraph on, back in 2011. Late in 2013, I felt the need to lay down and meditate on the scant memory of it and a torrent of new memory gushed forth, what I realized was what Monroe described as a ROTE or maybe it was a download of sorts.

[EscapeVelocity]

Regarding hands through walls experience, I guess what I wanted to understand was, why that particular act stood out as very strange when the biggest act of projecting itself was deemed so normal...  I suppose that is "my" experience and couldn't expect another person to comment...  maybe, I was hoping to hear that someone also experienced the same...? What I took away is that projecting is something I should be able to do very easily.  And, PR fears, objections and beliefs can and do carry over to dream/astral realms as well.  However, knowing this and putting it in practice are two different things.  In actual AP (like I mentioned before), body tensing and other signals consumed my thoughts.  The need to adjust and accommodate for these events in future attempts is apparent.  All I can say is that there is a lot of work ahead.

I think your natural instinct is correct here: You realized several things, one being the naturalness of the OBE exit, the PR distinction of hands through a wall, that PR beliefs do, in fact, carry over into the NP and have an effect (if you allow it) and that your PR body is just a thought away and can be distracting.

A couple comments about Focus 10: I will plainly admit that I am no expert on F10. I used the Monroe tapes and CDs for many hours and could never get deep enough. I only discovered F10 as a result of going from the NP BACK to a Focus 10...and was I amazed! There I was, completely aware within my skull! and realizing that my PR body was completely asleep and snoring! At first I thought I had to stay quiet and kind of tip-toe around inside my head. Within a minute I had realized that I could scream at the top of my NP lungs...and not wake myself up! It was so cool! This was F10 I realized. or at least the extreme form of it; there may obviously be degrees to it.

Anyway, my point is that if you are in what you think is F10 and you are still pulled back by PR issues (breathing, heartrate, etc.), then you still need to go deeper. And honestly, you may have to move deeper only gradually, so don't fret about it, you will get better with practice. Personally, I get my best results with the WBTB technique. But, like most any exercise program, it is all good, so I would recommend that you keep doing a mixture of what you are currently doing. I had the "falling asleep" and "click-outs" as well...in retrospect, I think those also serve a teaching purpose.

Also- IIRC, the Monroe Hemi-Sync signal is negated by noise-cancelling headphones...just sayin'.

That irritated me, 'cuz I laid out like $400 for those Bose suckers...

[mindscreen]

...This is generally what we refer to as "front-loading" an experience, or carrying a pre-conceived expectation into an experience. It can be a kind of mistake, but it could also be a lesson unto itself, if not for just that reason alone, or maybe others. No NP experience should be discarded without some consideration; lessons may be found weeks or months later. That's also not to say to get lost in over-analyzing everything, just stay open. Sometimes a dream IS just a dream...sometimes it's just a form of house-cleaning...

.... My "Fieldtrip" experience occurred as a deeply buried dream/experience that I barely scribbled a paragraph on, back in 2011. Late in 2013, I felt the need to lay down and meditate on the scant memory of it and a torrent of new memory gushed forth, what I realized was what Monroe described as a ROTE or maybe it was a download of sorts.

Well, I learned a new term, as you said, "front-loading".  It makes sense as the dream content fits logically to the logical brain and of course, the correlation immediately jumps out and gets categorized as such.  Incredible!  I am learning that it is not just learning so much about topic(s); it is a way of being and thinking that also needs to be adopted to make progress.

I am writing down as many dreams as I can remember.  Some, I forget / miss altogether.  However, there is one dream that I had 15+ years ago and I still recall it as if it just happened!  Somehow, I feel there is big lesson or "uncovering" of truth that will happen in future, related to this dream.

[mindscreen]

...your PR body is just a thought away and can be distracting.

Distracting is a kind word.  There are times, I'd be getting deeper slowly and realize that I snored, immediately some physical correction takes place by the mind and depth is lost.  This took many many attempts to get comfortable (still not 100%) and try to proceed.  Of course, then the snore sound itself starts to become a distraction.  

A couple comments about Focus 10: I will plainly admit that I am no expert on F10. I used the Monroe tapes and CDs for many hours and could never get deep enough.

It is also the same case with me.  After few times of Monroe "waking" at the end of session when I was just starting to make some progress, I got tired of it.  So, I edited the audio file and deleted the end portion of waking instructions completely.  Then, I copied the waveform that is in between F10 and waking instructions, few times over so, that the whole file gets extended.  This helped tremendously.  Now, the audio after the wave stops without any call back and I just keep practicing.

I only discovered F10 as a result of going from the NP BACK to a Focus 10...and was I amazed! There I was, completely aware within my skull! and realizing that my PR body was completely asleep and snoring! At first I thought I had to stay quiet and kind of tip-toe around inside my head. Within a minute I had realized that I could scream at the top of my NP lungs...and not wake myself up! It was so cool! This was F10 I realized. or at least the extreme form of it; there may obviously be degrees to it.

That's is really cool!  Reading your experience, I remember couple sessions, felt a "phasing?", kind of like a 'topsy-turvy' like feeling -which I think is the brain wave changing (could be wrong) and immediately there was that clarity in mind.  When this happened, I remember not feeling anything except that I was in my head.  Really loved it but, couldn't stay in it too long to explore further.  Of course, my experiences are not as in-depth as yours (hopefully, one day...) but, it is amazing.

Anyway, my point is that if you are in what you think is F10 and you are still pulled back by PR issues (breathing, heartrate, etc.), then you still need to go deeper. And honestly, you may have to move deeper only gradually, so don't fret about it, you will get better with practice. Personally, I get my best results with the WBTB technique. ...

I totally agree with you and clearly see the need for more practice.  Of course, the nature knows when and how to get me "there" but, with PR demands, spending 2 hours in session just to move a 1/4 inch deeper can be, and it is, an eye opener to my wishful thinking.  Some sessions are so wonderful, deep, with crystal clear imagery and I think, the next one will be even better only to find out I can't get rid of the physical nags like minor shoulder or neck pain etc., and that session is scrapped.  

I think the WBTB is what I need to focus more on as well.  My close-call to conscious AP was using that.  I will continue practicing a mixture as you suggested.  More the better right!

Also- IIRC, the Monroe Hemi-Sync signal is negated by noise-cancelling headphones...just sayin'.

That irritated me, 'cuz I laid out like $400 for those Bose suckers...

I am not sure if Hemi-Sync signals get negated by Bose noise cancelling headphones.  At least in principle they shouldn't.  I read the Gateway's Hemi-sync manual and it talks about "noise-reduction" such as "Dolby" noise reduction for cassette tapes.  That removed the "hiss" from program audio and attenuated some high frequencies.  

Noise-cancelling headphones actually use microphones to "listen" to outside noise/audio and feed an "inverse" of the same noise/audio and that's what "cancels" the noise.  The program audio feed (through Bluetooth or wired) i.e. Hemi-sync or music etc., should not be altered in anyway within the headphones themselves.  Anyway, I will contact Bose to confirm this.  

In my experience, they seem to work perfectly fine, with the added bonus of drowning out fan noise or other outside noises.  I bought these (Bose Q35) specifically for Hemi-Sync use and sometimes I wonder if I'd make this much progress without them!  The old ear-bud style headphones were too annoying, and uncomfortable in ear after prolonged wear during a session.  

Ideally, one day, I'd like to be able to not use any of these.  But right now, it takes too long to get there without them (tried... so, I know ).

[Lumaza]

 The one thing I rarely read about people's NP experiences while consciously aware, aka as Phasing is, the need to "walk themselves back" to this physical focus. I find that when you are truly deep in a Focus 12 or let's say a "deep trance" state, that you can't just turn it off instantly. You need to return the way you came. That tells me that it indeed is all about changing frequency waves. If I end a session and just open my eyes, I will either experience vertigo or be completely disoriented for the next ten minutes.

It used to take me 45 minutes to a hour and half to hit that state as well. Nowadays, I can do it in 10 minutes. If a person takes anything away from my "Doorway technique", it's that a disassociation technique immediately followed by a 6 pt directional focus is very powerful in getting to the correct state to be able to experience a natural shift, while completely consciously aware of it the entire time.
The first step in my technique is basic common sense. It has to do with just relaxing period for a few minutes.

The benefit of daily practice is that you learn what to do "after" the shift has occurred.

Both the disassociation exercise and 6 pt focus have many little hidden benefits.

If you want to experience that for yourself, start simple. Close your eyes and just mentally cycle through the words, backwards, forwards, left, right, up and down. It is also very powerful when to do as the last thing you do when you close your eyes to go to sleep. Just try it, no I won't say "try", I hate that word. Just do it. Make sure you log your results.
You cycle through them just like you are counting numbers. You can slow the words or speed them up. Do it often daily, many times a day at first,  for the next few weeks. After you get used to it and start to see results, you can use it only at the beginning of a actual session.

There are two ways you can go about consciously Phasing. The first is quieting the mind and just noticing. The second is keeping the mind busy with other things, while the natural shift occurs. I have found ways that take advantage of a active mind. Ways that actual produce spontaneous results. These results are a result of "mental associations", that everyone has.

I used to use Bose noise cancelling headphones as well and never had a problem with them. It could be a "placebo" effect though, lol!  You don't need headphones for Isochronic Tones, like you do with Binaural Beats.

[mindscreen]

The one thing I rarely read about people's NP experiences while consciously aware, aka as Phasing is, the need to "walk themselves back" to this physical focus. I find that when you are truly deep in a Focus 12 or let's say a "deep trance" state, that you can't just turn it off instantly. You need to return the way you came. That tells me that it indeed is all about changing frequency waves. If I end a session and just open my eyes, I will either experience vertigo or be completely disoriented for the next ten minutes.

I am currently using FRANK'S run down with Gateway Wave - F10 audio.  Initially, just listening didn't make any sense until I started to put the run down together with it.  Does it get me all the way to F10?  Not sure.  Perhaps a beginner to intermediate level of F10?  Most likely. 
It's been couple months since I started practicing and making serious effort so... yeah, I still need lot more practice. 
Anyway, I used to practice coming back to C1 in the run down after Monroe calls back.  In between, I stopped this practice and, when I am not making progress (unfortunately more times than I wish), I just lay there and sort of let it all "fizzle" away or come back slowly to physical by focusing on moving a finger or hand first to come back to PR. 
Last night, someone was shaking me to get up and I quickly shouted, couple mins please.. and performed the walk back scenario.  It does make a difference.

I am going to read on this "doorway technique" and do the 6 point focus as you mentioned and post my feedback.

There are two ways you can go about consciously Phasing. The first is quieting the mind and just noticing. The second is keeping the mind busy with other things, while the natural shift occurs. I have found ways that take advantage of a active mind. Ways that actual produce spontaneous results. These results are a result of "mental associations", that everyone has.

What you said above is a gem for me(for my current situation)!  It helped in clarifying the methods -which I was a bit confused about.  Also, without knowing the difference, I performed both in recent past with unique results.  I suppose the days when mind chatter is too much, the active technique can be quite useful and vice versa.

I used to use Bose noise cancelling headphones as well and never had a problem with them. It could be a "placebo" effect though, lol!  You don't need headphones for Isochronic Tones, like you do with Binaural Beats.

The placebo part is something I thought about as well because some days, it doesn't do anything!  Other days, I notice my mind undergo a upside-down like shift and come back up with more clarity very quickly.  Maybe, it has to do with my state more than beats but, I have to say they do seem to help.
You are right, Isochronic Tones don't need Stereo headphones.  But, from what I gathered, Binaural beats are better at this.

Thanks for the reply and pointers!