Newbie needing some guidance

[Amongthestarz333]

Hi Everyone!

Nice to meet all of you. Like many I have been intrigued by the OBE/AP journey and have dived in head first into everything that has to do with said AP, for the last month or two. My goals for my AP are to seek guidance, go further in my spiritual journey, and maybe see some loved ones if they are willing. I feel like since I have learned about AP, it has given me a hope that I thought I have long lost. Anyways, that was a little about me.

On to my attempts. I have read and watched so many videos on AP, I am almost burnt out I think. Those is just how I tend to do things LOL. Head first, all in kind of gal. We are a work in progress. I have been meditating daily, but usually guided. So initially I started using the guided AP meditations from YouTube and I got to what felt like very close points. Then I started to think I should probably learn to meditate and get Into the trans state without that assistance and I feel like I have regressed? Any time I did get any kind of feelings my brain automatically would turn on and be like oh here we are! You're doing it! And then be like aww well you lost it. Or it would also be like okay now calm down, stay calm. So lots of self chatter in there which led me to start trying meditation without the guides. It seems I'm not getting very far without them. At most my body will get heavy. I will try to use the phasing method, the other method of "day dreaming", but I feel that I am most hyper vigilant. Side note I have been writing all my dreams down too! Have had 3 lucid dreams so far.

Another note, I have been trying to AP for a nap around 5pm. Or at bedtime. Neither work.


I have had one successful event, but I'm not even sure how it happened. I believe I was in a lucid dream state, then woke up in the physical. But I was in mind awake body asleep. I could not move my body, thought to myself "out of body now" and a voice in my bedroom laughed at me and said "just get out of your body". So I rolled out. I could not balance, I kept falling forward and I still had my cipap on my face lol. So I kept trying to get it off with my astral hands. I gave up, and went back to my body.


That being said, idk how I woke up in that state. Because I certainly didn't actively get there.


I am getting tired, because I am getting headaches from trying too hard as mentioned not to do. But I'm trying not to try? lol it's not working though.


Thank you all for all the information you have provided here! I have enjoyed it sooo much!!

[LightBeam]

Welcome to the Pulse! Please read the sticky topics on techniques. Start trying them all, until you find what works for you, but try one method at a time and commit to follow it precisely for at least two months. If it doesn't work, then move on to the next, and so on. I suggest the William Buhlman's books and to try the technique that works for me, which is visualization and motion. But you have to do the technique most nights of the week and do it AS you are falling asleep for about 15 min. You have to wait for at least 4-6 weeks before you see results for your energy to adjust by focusing you being some place else as you fall asleep. Don't give up too soon. Then when it happens you just have to keep doing the technique a few nights per week to maintain the experiences.
Meditation is not the only way, dont try it too hard because that creates resistance. It should be something that you enjoy and not something you have to do or force yourself to do. Also, drop the insistence on how and when it may occur. That also creates energy barriers. Just relax and select techniques that are truly enjoyable to you and you wont experience frustration.
Understand that you are in spirit at all time, you never left the natural spirit world. You just need to thin out the filters to see what is already around you by paying attention to synchronicity, signs, information, intuition that is coming continuously from your larger self. Allow knowledge downloads, ask questions and see what thoughts first pop into your mind. Just being aware that you already are connected to all that is and you are already everywhere all at once, more will become visible to you. You can receive knowledge while awake, just stay aware of what you are within the multiverse. You are within the entire multiverse as we speak. Can you let you imagination go wild and truly feel it?  There is just a little cloak over a small part of yourself that is creating the illusion that you are just one of the drops in the ocean, when in fact you are the entire ocean in a drop.

[Amongthestarz333]

Hello Lightbeam,

Thank you so much for your input. I feel myself trying to use visualization but this is a difficult method for me. I am getting better, non the less. I find myself narrating my visualizations instead of being there myself. The only time I felt a deep level 10 was with a guided hypnosis of mind awake body asleep. But now I haven't really achieved that state anymore. I'll get an ache in my arm, or leg which will bring me back. I'll keep trying to see which method is best. I am also working towards my awakening, so hopefully soon instead of just knowing I will also truly understand and feel the words you have shared with me. Thank you 🙏🏼

[Lumaza]

 Greetings Amongthestarz and welcome to the Astral Pulse! 

 Just know that your body will fight tooth and nail to keep you focused on it and only it. Whether it be aches and pains, excessive swallowing, etc., it is a challenge. The key is to learn how to quickly "dissociate" yourself from your physical focus. Once you do that, you will find that there is only the NPR (non-physical realms) left to be experienced.

 Recently I shared with another member here, that they might want to look at Robert Bruce's NEW (New Energy Ways). They did and it worked for them. They also were experiencing the "aches and pains" that seem to strengthen by the second, while attempting to have an OBE. I also said that "Phasing" might be the way to go too.

 In the beginning of my own journey into NPR explorations, I too was challenged constantly by swallowing problems, problems with my eyes feeling like they were opening, just as I was finally about to "exit", and then there was the cramping muscles and "pangs". A brief progressive relation technique helped wonders as well!

 Like Lightbeam said, there are many different techniques to be found in the Stickies in the Sub-forums.  Choose one that you think will work for you, then practice, have patience and you will persevere!

 You may find my "Doorway" technique helpful as well. It utilizes techniques to jump start the "dissociative" process almost immediately. It has changed quite a bit from the opening paragraphs. If you want to see the evolution, you can just skip to the last 4 or 5 pages of the thread.
https://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome-to-astral-consciousness!/the-doorway/

[EscapeVelocity]

Welcome to the Pulse!

LightBeam has provided you some excellent advice from the perspective of the Wider Reality. Lumaza has drilled down and narrowed the context toward some techniques that you should study at this point. I would like to address directly some of your statements and experiences, and possibly give some helpful context on that.

Many of the more experienced explorers of the Non-Physical (NP) started out with the same frustrations you are currently experiencing, not realizing at the time that this was entirely normal and understandable given the difficulty of what we were seeking to accomplish...which actually requires a re-ordering of our understanding of basic operating principles of the Universe...not a small task...so some confusion is expected. This re-ordering of understanding takes time, introspection, thought and reflection. Insights have to be achieved through experience and re-examination and adjustment of our beliefs. And for nearly all of us, it becomes a very subtle process that takes time. So, based on your OP statement that you have only been actively pursuing OBE for a couple months, then I would say you are doing quite well! I understand that you want more and expect more...nearly all of us had the same expectations early on. But, it's like the old saying- you have to learn to walk before you run. It's actually tougher than that- you have to go back to learning baby steps before you learn to walk and then to run...

So, don't be discouraged. You are doing a lot of things right. I will go through some of them one by one, as I can.

You are writing down your dreams and experiences. Great, this is invaluable later on in understanding your progress.

You have watched countless YT videos on the subject. Fine, but there is too much misinformation out there, so let that go for now and read the "Stickies" here that LightBeam and Lumaza mentioned; I would add the thread "How I got out for the first time" for a good reset of perspective.

The fact that you have had three memorable lucid dreams and also become aware within a mind awake/body asleep (MABA) state...this is a great sign of success! Remember baby steps versus walking...this is how it works most often. This is a sign that your awareness is becoming activated not only in the Physical Realm (as it is right now) but also in the Non-Physical Realms of Dreaming, MABA and Sleep Paralysis...oh, and on top of that, you recognized the SP state but did not become emotionally frightened by it...even when a disembodied voice laughed and said to get out of your body! Most people early on would have panicked...nicely done! So this is good, early progress; maybe not what you expected, but let me assure you, this is progress. Again, baby steps...

The CPAP stuck to your head, lol. I have used a CPAP for nearly fifteen years now but never had it stuck to my head in an OBE. However, I have had several instances where my hand or arm was under my pillow and, as I exited, the pillow (or my etheric mental construct of it) was firmly clamped against the side of my head and I couldn't shake it loose, lol. So yes, that can happen. Which begs the question- just what kind of OBE was that?

Your description of the experience- coming out of a lucid dream and coming aware in the PR in MABA state, then rolling out of your body, not being able to find your balance and dealing with the CPAP...that reads just like an etheric OBE. It's the classic OBE description. I have had many of them, but went on to develop other types of OBEs. There is some disagreement about the factual nature of this but the description stems from the Hindu/Buddhist tradition that posits multiple energy bodies which, through our spiritual awakening, we gradually learn to activate our awareness within- physical, etheric, astral, mental, causal and higher energy/frequency bodies...this is the process you are now undergoing, and hence, a fair amount of confusion comes with it. You have also had relatively recent lucid dreams. That supposedly relates to your awareness activating within your 'dreaming body' or your lower astral body...can you relate to the differences between the feeling of your MABA experience and your lucid dream experiences, the etheric body and your astral? That is something to consider as your experiences continue to evolve. These experiences were to show you that your awareness is expanding and evolving into these new areas of the Wider Reality.

Who was the voice that told you to go out of your body? Was it your subconscious? Your Higher Self? Or somebody else? I don't know that answer and it really doesn't matter other than the fact that you heard it and differentiated it as 'outside' yourself. We all have guides, instructors and invisible helpers available to us. Forty years ago, I considered that just fanciful, whimsical thinking...now I know it to be true. We each have a 'support team' of sorts...like a couple people remaining on the boat while we go scuba diving. There are also independent instructors and helpers who notice us when our awareness emerges into the NPR; there to assist us and protect us while we learn our way around. At some point, they begin testing us and challenging us and it becomes a new form of schooling. That voice that challenged you to roll out of body was likely an instruction and a small Fear Test, to see if you would scare easily and retreat into Waking Reality...Nicely done!

Consider this- A lucid dream is an OBE; you are just entering it, not from the physically-awake side, but from the deeper dreaming side...it is still an OBE. So, when you become lucid, pay attention and look for your purpose in the dream...an instructor is likely looking in and might give you an instructional challenge...this is when the fun begins.

I was lousy at getting to Monroe's Focus 10. Like you, my mind was too active, I never felt I could get relaxed and deep enough. Then a senior instructor at Monroe explained that F10 and all the other Focus states are not 'fixed' points on the consciousness spectrum, rather they describe a range of Focus...so, you can be in a low F10 or a medium or high F10...it doesn't have to be perfect.

If you are trying guided visualizations or binaural beats or your own silent meditation...great...a few times let yourself relax to the point of falling asleep...you may find you can actually get deeper than you think.

I like the afternoon nap, not so much trying at bedtime- your physical body is so tired that it drags your awareness down into deep sleep like an anchor around your ankle in the ocean. The two need to be able to separate. Try WBTB or Wake, Back To Bed method if you can find the time in your schedule. Go to bed at normal time, sleep for 2,3,4 hours...then get up and read for an hour & then go back to bed and observe yourself as your body falls back to sleep. This provides the needed disconnect from your awareness and your physical body. Same with an early morning wake-up...observe the hypnogogics as you fall back to sleep...just things to try...

Affirmations- These never hurt and are free...program yourself when you go to bed. I won't mention the 'I am safe and protected' affirmations because you already sound fairly fearless, lol! Two or three short, simple, positive statements as you go to bed-

"I remember my Non-Physical experiences every night."
"I give myself permission to have these Non-Physical experiences."
"Every night I gain greater awareness within my dreams."

There is work to be done in the Non-Physical. At some point in our training, we are expected to offer service in some fashion, so it is good to make that intention known.

"I offer my service to the Greater Good and Service to Humanity in whatever way I can." ...or words to that effect

Hope that helps,

EV

 

[Amongthestarz333]

Lightbeam, Lumaza and Ev

Wow. I'm not sure what I have done to receive such amazing feedback from you both. Genuinely, I want you to understand how grateful I am that you shared so much of your wisdom with me. I'm sorry about my late response.

I can't wait to re read all of this again and apply it to my practice. I do feel that I'm getting better, and faster into 10. Almost immediately I go into the heaviness, almost numbness, and today I did hear a loud sound in my right ear which ended up startling me and raising my heart rate a lot. But I can definitely get into a medium-heavy 10 where I'm not really sure where my hands are & seeing dream images. My body definitely makes it hard tho like you said! With muscle twitches, numbness, and other fun things LOL

I also had another partial OBE experience! I had a dream, and in the dream I was rolling/summersaulting. So from that motion I ended up in my bed again but I felt my astral body in my physical body. I'm not sure what stage this is? I attempted to project, and as I tried to sit up out of my physical body, I hear my bed creak. I fear I will wake my partner up so I go back into my body. This was in the morning and it was already light out.

EV, as for the voice in the previous experience, it was so silly and coming from my dog's bed so it did not feel like it was anything for me to fear! Maybe it WAS my subconscious telling me to stop being silly and get out! But believe me, sometimes  I am chicken of the dark, haha! And I almost always go in with a protection affirmation, and I have a few protection crystals for good measure. I figured it wouldn't hurt

I will check out all the resources, I even got my iPad a new pen so I can scroll and read the forum comfortably! I really was not expecting this.

Thank you all so much. <3

[Amongthestarz333]

Okay! Update from last nights attempt.

I was practicing before bed. For me this time works because of my lifestyle, and because nap time and 4-5am isn't really conducive to my work life at the moment. Also I feel that at the end of the day I may be tired enough to get into a relaxed enough state.

I was reading all of your posts from years ago. I think it's amazing you al continue to help so many of us so thank you.

So as I was reading, there was a KEY factor that I think I have missed. I am hoping someone can lend a little more insight. Others have countlessly mentioned "look at the darkness behind your eyes and just notice any changes in your peripheral" or something like that? But my eyes are darting from left right up and down I can't keep them still. I missed the part where you all said keep focused on a part behind your eyes like a dot or a flame of a candle. I think Lumaza has mentioned a candle method. Otherwise you activate your "third eye". I'm not sure what that means. And would like some more insight if anyone has some time.

So last night I attempted to focus my eyes and not move them to get past that point the way you have described in other posts. I almost immediately felt shaking, like an earthquake. I did this a few more times.

Things to note:I was wearing a silk eye mask and listening to binaural beats.

Things that were really hard:
1. Keeping eyes shut. I wasn't sure if they were closed or open sometimes and had to sometimes squeeze to keep them closed because staring at one spot would almost pry them open.
2. My body tenses up as I try to focus on a spot
3. I lose my spot I am trying to focus on/its just really hard to stay in one spot

It was my first time practicing this method so if anyone has any suggestions or has struggled with this, or feels this will get better in time? Let me know!

Also can I have my eyes open?

[Traveler_2649]

This video was shared with me here on one of my posts, and I found it helpful.

[Lumaza]

 That is an excellent video to learn how to "maintain" a focus target for an extended amount of time. Once you learn to do that, you will find that the "shift" has already "naturally" occurred. It is "us" that makes this whole thing so difficult. I always say, "your physical body will fight tooth and nail to keep you focused on it and only it". That is why you need to kind of "rewire" your system to allow a "dual" focus to occur.

[Lumaza]

 Amongthestars, it sounds like you are trying to "force" it. Relax, Release and just let go. Learn to do that and you will see the "shift" occurs naturally. At that point, you don't need to do anything but observe until you feel you are in the scenario you are experiencing. Until it becomes "real" or you!

 This is not a race. You will find that this is something you will "become". I say become because it becomes a part of you. It always was. It's just, now you are becoming aware of it! 

[Traveler_2649]

https://youtu.be/Sxvb9pgkrvI?si=J-ZEuuOilSUY2Zuw

[Amongthestarz333]

Update!

Good Morning, from Cali!

So this morning I put my sleep mask on and I had intended to go back to sleep but set the intention of lucid dreaming and it WORKED. Almost immediately, I realized I was dreaming and I did a reality check, breathed in with a pinched nose. (I think I heard my physical body snore a little) And then I just stopped the dream and sat down. As I did this, everything went dark, and I felt myself projecting, but I didn't have to do anything. Physically I was lying prone, on my tummy. My legs were sort of pulled and I was pulled from my legs downwards & I started to go down. And so I was going down into just darkness, and then I was thinking I would like to go up so I did. But I was kinda in this darkness, nothingness. The void I'm assuming? I kept thinking clarity now or I'd like to go to a higher vibrational place/state. But I wouldn't. Then I thought of going to my room and I was back to my body.

What do you guys think??

Sending love,
B.

[LightBeam]

Back to sleep is a good technique. I think most people get up in the middle of the night to just the restroom at least once. IF they can remember before passing out back to sleep to affirm that they will remain aware or start spinning or swaying, this triggers easily AP. The thing is that if you do this towards the end of the night when your body is already mostly regenerated, your brain will be too awake to allow you to have a long uninterrupted by physical senses AP with a lot of clarity. The more awake your brain is, the less you will enter the non-physical with ease and clarity because your body and brain and physical sensations are pulling you back. You can set your alarm if you want too try around 2 am, that way your body will be in deep sleep while your non-physical awareness will be uninterrupted by the physical senses and you will be able to have a clear and long AP. The trick is to not fall asleep ride away after you wake up and spend a minute to start spinning for example. You dont have to wake yourself up completely though. If you do, you may not be able to go back to sleep for a while and your mind will start racing with thoughts. So catch just a minute or two of affirmation to remain aware, imagine some motion and allow yourself to fall back to sleep. You will be awaken non-physically shortly after hour brain goes into deep sleep.

[Amongthestarz333]

Thank you! I will try this tonight and keep you posted.

Cheers <3

[EscapeVelocity]

Something else to consider.

The 'darkness' you experienced may well have been the Void, as you suspected. Think about how you would describe it. Go to the Stickies and read about the Void; then, please come back and give us your description.

If you were in the Void (which I kind of suspect you were), then your Intention for clarity now would not necessarily yield anything new as the Void is already a likely 100% 'clear' state...the need for an Intent is still required but it is now a more specific destination that you have to express, of sorts...this can be a slightly problematic issue to work out at this point; but the fact that you are in the Void likely means Guidance forces are paying attention to you and waiting for a proper response of just where you want to go. This is a subtle form of learning specific to you at this moment. Try what LB is recommending but realize that you are already on the doorstep of what you want to happen. This is just the next step of what Lumaza recommended about relaxing your focus and allowing...the Void is an 'in-between' field that seems to intersect many possible worlds and once you have been introduced to it, it is not an accidental thing...from here, you learn to apply the Intent of a destination or idea and it provides an entrance...it may feel almost incremental to you at the moment but you are making really good progress!

[Amongthestarz333]

Thank you, EV!

I did read up on the stickies about the void, a few times. I am not sure it was the void to be honest as I still felt my body to an extent and I was moving in a direction? There was constant movement. First downward and then upward. I FELT like my sleeping mask was still on my eyes. I also felt like I didn't have a clear destination in mind/intention that I truly believed in. It felt though, like all my intentions have just left my brain! I couldn't think of anything important. Like I want to meet my guides, my higher self, my grandma, go to the moon, go to the beach. Anything! Lol I couldn't think of it.

From what I gather with the void there is no movement and you just are...

I definitely feel like this is progress!

Thank you!
B

[Amongthestarz333]

One more little update:

So the technique ish that I have been using is waking up in the morning when I can still sleep in a bit, and then I try to feel the spinning/swaying motion. After that I try to affirm that I will stay aware/or have a lucid dream. So this morning I went back to sleep after swaying a bit and starting affirming that I would lucid dream and then project. I had a dream that there was a button that would make us go down. Then woke up in the physical. I stayed still and went back to that dream. I kept thinking to go back to that dream of going down, pressing the button. And repeated that over and over, and then I started to project through my feet again!

But then at this time my partner and my dog got up LOL. I tried to get there again but I couldn't.

But this is more progress!

Yay.

Thank you!
B

[BarboraD]

Thank you all for this conversation. I'm following with interest 
Sometimes I experience the same lack of ability (to imagine for example the place of where I want to project) when I feel myself to be in the void and I also experience the movement (forward zooming) there.

[Amongthestarz333]

Thank you all for this conversation. I'm following with interest 
Sometimes I experience the same lack of ability (to imagine for example the place of where I want to project) when I feel myself to be in the void and I also experience the movement (forward zooming) there.

Ooooo well I'm glad I'm not alone! Hopefully with more practice, we will get somewhere. I think I will make intent to just go where my soul/spirit intends me to go. Or to meet my guides and I am trying to set these intentions during the day time so I have a better chance of remembering later on!

Thanks for following along, I'm glad we are finding similarities between our journeys

[EscapeVelocity]

BarboraD,
If the 'forward zooming' movement feels like it is pulling you deeper into the Void, then relax and go with it. Observing the Void, you may notice what look like stars or tiny pinpoints of light; you can also notice the depth and texture qualities of the inky darkness; hence, it is also known as the 3 dimensional darkness/Void. A pinpoint of light or some area of the darkness may catch your attention and you automatically begin being pulled towards it. If this occurs, allow the process to occur and you may be transitioned into a totally new environment. If you express your Intent to travel to a destination but nothing happens, it may be that Higher Guidance has another destination in mind for you, which likely will be a simulation or learning environment. So, if you express an Intent a few times and get nothing, then let the forward zooming take you where it will. I know this can feel like a very uneasy and risky thing, to just let go and trust, but know that you are safe and protected...this is when some real fun can begin!

[BarboraD]

Ooooo well I'm glad I'm not alone! Hopefully with more practice, we will get somewhere. I think I will make intent to just go where my soul/spirit intends me to go. Or to meet my guides and I am trying to set these intentions during the day time so I have a better chance of remembering later on!

Thanks for following along, I'm glad we are finding similarities between our journeys

Thank you! I didn't want to comment at first because I wasn't sure if it would be welcome to encroach on your topic here. I'm still new to the forum I'm very glad we can share with others here, how amazing

I fully agree with your intent setting process. I use the same approach - to soak my subconscious mind with it enough during the daytime so it would be remembered during te experiences And I also agree with following the guidance or connecting with the guides.

[BarboraD]

Observing the Void, you may notice what look like stars or tiny pinpoints of light; you can also notice the depth and texture qualities of the inky darkness; hence, it is also known as the 3 dimensional darkness/Void.

Thank you for your kind advice! I think I have been to what I might call the void numerous times (maybe 15? times in the last year since I have started). I wonder, is it normal that it can look a little different each time? I recognise it mostly by the (blissful for me) vibrations and usually the star-like blackness (which I find very beautiful) and yes, the forwards zooming. To clarify, usually, I see numerous/infinite stars. Once I saw 15 stars. Once one huge star/light. Once, it was more of a grainy blackness. Sometimes I'm guided somewhere and sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. Maybe "they" test my patience or maybe I'm not "there" in the void? 

Also, following Frank Kepple's terminology, I guess it would be possible to imagine the void within the F2 instead of actually being there?

[EscapeVelocity]

In my experience yes, the Void can look different and I'm not sure why, maybe it has to do with personal energy or degree of awareness- I've seen it inky black, grainy, with pinpoint lights and without, soft dove gray one time (maybe that wasn't the Void)...I love the blissful tranquility...like a vacation beyond Time!
Imagining it in Frank's F2 is certainly a possibility, I suppose. Maybe the lesson there is simply the realization of that.
The Void is also recognized in Monroe terminology as Focus 15.

If you have managed to have the Void transport you somewhere, please start a separate thread and tell us one of your adventures, we would love to read about it!

[Amongthestarz333]

BarboraD,
If the 'forward zooming' movement feels like it is pulling you deeper into the Void, then relax and go with it.

This is very helpful! If I end up there again, I will allow myself to just be. I think I was just confused like where am I haha. But these comments are all making me feel much better and more confident. I will definitely go in more confident in myself and trusting in my guides.

Thank you so much <3

[Amongthestarz333]

Thank you! I didn't want to comment at first because I wasn't sure if it would be welcome to encroach on your topic here. I'm still new to the forum I'm very glad we can share with others here, how amazing

I fully agree with your intent setting process. I use the same approach - to soak my subconscious mind with it enough during the daytime so it would be remembered during te experiences And I also agree with following the guidance or connecting with the guides.

Please comment away! I love that we can build a community, and any advice you have is welcomed <3