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Hi

I am interested in whether it is possible to deliberately slow down (or quicken) "time" during AP. What I mean by "slowing down" time is that, for instance, one spends a few hours exploring the Astral while his physical body only sleeps for 20 mins. I know some techniques by which it is possible to slow down time during an LD (for instance, looking at a analog clock and imagine it slow down then stop), but an Astral projection is not (entirely) same as an LD. Since the Astral environment is less influenced by one's own thoughts than one's own dream environment, I am not convinced that the same techniques, used to slow down time in a dream, work just as effectively during an AP.

Some techniques to slow down time in LD besides the above mentioned: intend to stop "real time" (can also say it out loud); imagine yourself being in the dream for ours;

Is it possible to slow down time on the Astral just as in an LD?
Does anyone happen to know some methods which are used specifically to slow down time on the AP?
Alternatively, is there a "place" (or state or dimension) on the Astral where time flows slower? (where one can spend ours, while the physical body only sleeps for minutes). If there is, how can one locate it?
((I know that some people think that there are no actual "places" on the Astral, but it was easier to express myself this way))

Many thanks for the suggestions,   

Hi

I have a question concerning later (more deeper) stages of a kind of Buddhist meditation (the mindfulness of breath meditation). Could anyone, who is practised in this form of meditation, give me some suggestions?

As I know, in the early stages of the practice (where the ancient Buddhist text on meditation, the Anapana Sutta says "Breathing in long breath, one knows: 'I breathe in a long breath'..."), one can do the following: while focusing on 'holding the mind constantly on the breath', the meditator should pay a (mild) attention to certain characteristics of the breath (the length of each in/out-breath, whether the breath is heavy or light, its beginning/end, or the pause between the breath). By observing these characteristics, the attention is established more easily on the breathing.

However, as I know it, later on (in deeper states), the observance of these characteristics should be better dropped, and only the simple act of ,,holding the mind constantly on the breath" remains. My question refers to this stage:

1,Is this the stage, when the Anapana Sutta says: ,, ...conscious of the whole (breath) body, I shall breathe in – the meditator trains himself-conscious of the whole (breath) body I breathe out..."?

2,When should I drop focusing on the above mentioned characteristics (the length of each in/out-breath, whether the breath is heavy or light, its beginning/end, or the pause between the breaths)? If this happens automatically, then its all fine. However, in case this does not happen by itself, when should I stop focusing on them?:
2/a,Should I drop them when I feel that my attention is well-established on the breath, and such 'tools' are no longer necessary?
2/b,Or should I stop focusing on them only when I feel that, since I has reached a more subtle mental state, the act of observing them has become too 'intrusive'(or too coarse), and it disrupts the stillness of my mind?

3,When reaching later (more deeper) stages, should I stop deliberately paying attention to all above mentioned characteristics of the breath? Or only the observance of the 'duration of the breath' should be dropped (and the observance of the others retained)?

Many Thanks for the help.

Hi

I would like to ask a question concerning Frank's noticing exercise.
During the exercise, with closed eyes one should passively observe the 'darkness' in front. While doing so, sometimes my vision goes a bit blurry. (I perceive the images/ light patterns less clearly than before). When this happens, in most cases, I do not bother about it. After a short time, due to the fact that I observe these images with mild curiosity, my vision becomes clearer automatically. 

However, sometimes, I deliberately 'readjust' my focus (this time its not like the automatic process mentioned above). I am doing this 'readjustment' with minimal effort, and I do not focus directly on the images. This feels natural to me and this readjustment is more like a semi-automatic process, since the mild curiosity, with which I observe the images, 'prompt' me to readjust my focus so as to see them more clearly. 

Can anyone tell me? Is it all right if I do the 'noticing' exercise this way? (even if the 'readjustment' mentioned above can happen several times during my session)
Thanks for the help   

Hi. I have question concerning noticing exercise.

During noticing, I close my eyes and observe the blackness in front of me. After a while, I begin to see images (light patterns, dots,...). However, while staring at the blackness for a while, my vision tends to become blurry (I begin to preceive the images less clearly). Sometimes, this state only lasts for a few seconds, sometimes  my vision remains 'blurry' for longer periods. Usually, this happens several times during my exercise.

Is it all right, if I let my vision remain blurry (even if it means that I can hardly preceive the images) for longer periods? Or should I try to deliberately 'retune' my focus (and try to see the images clearly), whenerver my vision starts to become blurry?

(when I say 'try to retune my focus', I do not mean to focus on the images themselves. It is more like not letting my vision go 'unfocused/blurry' while staring at the blacness)

I think, when my vision goes blurry, I should let it happen, and continiue obseving the images this way. However, occasionally, I prefer to 'retune' my focus, because it irritates me when I can hardly tell whats going on behind my closed eyelids. I only do this rarely (2-3 times in an hour), since this 'retuning of focus' causes some unwanted awareness of my physical eyes.

Thanks for the help

HI

I have a question concerning Frank's 'noticing' exercise.
In brief, during noticing you stare into the blackness in front of your closed eyes, and passively observe/notice whatever appears there.

In Xanth's phasing method (http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2010/11/25/xanths-phasing-method/) I have read the following:

In the begining, you should choose a spot (within the blackness) where you 'fixate' your gaze, and 'notice' the images with your peripheral vision. However, elsewhere I have read that that 'choosing such a spot' is not necessary, and simply staring into the blackness is fine.   

Is it necessary to choose such a spot/direction for your gaze during noticing, or simply staring into the blackness is enough?
I think either option is fine (In other words, it doesn't matter wheter you choose a spot/direction for your gaze or not), but I am not sure. Thanks in advance

During 'noticing' (a 'phasing' method), you observe the blacness in fornt of your closed eyes, while you try to hold your attention ('notice') any kinds of 'light activity' taking place there.

Does anyone happen to know where (to what distance) one should adjust the focus of the eyes in order to be able to see these 'light patterns/light activity' clearly?

Should I hold my focus directly in front of me (a few centimeters away)?
Or should I hold my focus farther away (a feet or more)?
Or is it an automatical process? (The eyes adjust themselves automaticly to the distance where these 'light patterns' appear/the 'light patterns' appear at a distance where I initially begin to focus)

I find it very difficult to preceive whats going on behind my closed eyes and I thought that the reason might be the fact that I hold my focus at the wrong distance.

Thanks for answering

During the 'noticing' exercise, I close my eyes and focus on the blackness in front.
While looking at the blackness in front of closed eyes, where should I hold my gaze? I usualy keep my focus in the middle of my field of vision. However, I am not sure about the distance. There are several options:
1, Should I keep my focus at a point 1-2 feet away or only a few centimeters away?
3, Should I try to keep my focus right in front of my eyes, where my eyelids are?

I am asking this because during the 'noticing' exercise I either do not see anything behind my closed eyelids or find it difficult to ascertain the 'place'/'distance' where images appear (light patterns, dots, shapes (I am not talking about the more 'dreamlike' hipnagogic images)).
I usualy rub my closed eyes which causes some 'light activity' and try to remember where this activity takes place and keep my focus at that distance during the 'noticing'. This distance is quite close to my physical eyes. Is it all right to keep my focus here?

Does anyone have some suggestions?
Thanks

Hi

I have one question regarding the noticing exercise (a phasing method)

During noticing, I observe the blackness in front of closed eyes. While doing so, I try to be aware (notice) any irregualities (paches of light, dots,...) or changes taking place behind my closed eyes. This activity is neccesary to keep the mind awake while your body falls asleep.

There are 2 ways to obseve the blackness:

1, You hold your gaze on a particular area (a few feet before you), and notice the irregularities with your peripheral vision. For instance, when you notice a light pattern in the left side of your field of vision, you do not move your eyes into that direction. You use your peripheral vision instead. This way you will not be able to see things very clearly (with peripheral vision you only see colours, but the shape of things tend to be blurry). Thats my main problem with this method

2, You begin holding your gaze in front of you. However, when you notice something you move your eyes there an focus on it. This way you will be able to see things more clearly, but it requires constant eye movement.

Do you know which method is more suitable for noticing? If I recall correctly one of Xanth's posts suggests the first one (1,). I tend to go for the 1, as well, but I am not sure. Is it a problem if I can not see the shape of the irregularities (in the blacness behind my closed eyes) very clearly?

Thanks   

Hi

I have been using "breath awareness" to reach a meditative state for AP.

During the exercise, I observe the sensations caused by the breath where it enters and leaves the body (around the nosetrills). I do not observe the whole course of the breath. I narrow my focus around a specific area( the nose). I do this because I have read that this is a traditional way of observing the breath (in Budhist meditation).
((((I have tried to observe the breath  in other ways as well, but for diferent reasons it didn't work.))))


However, the sensations around the tips of the nosetrills are so subtle that sometimes I loose track of them. When this happens, I do nothing, I just continue obseving that small area. In other words, the only thing on which I hold my attention is this small area around my nose. I am not sure if the action (holding attention on a small area of the body + looking for the sensations caused by the breath there (but not sensing anything)) is enough to reach a meditative state suitable for AP.

Do you have any idea?
Can I reach this state if I do the meditation in the above mentioned way?

Thanks in advance

Hi

I am practicing the "run-down" phasing methods. I have tried several scenarios, but neither of them  have brought me success yet. I do two kinds of activity. One with less movement and another with more movement. I would like to ask which one is more suitable for a run down.

As an enviroment I usualy imagine a white beach, where I do various activities:

1, using some tools I bulid a sand castle, while feeling the water reach my foot, feeling the wet sand on my hands and hearing the sound of the waves.

2, I go into the sea with a ball and play and swim. (sometimes instead of this I practice martial-arts near the sea)
( I enjoy all 3 activities)

The (1,) activity is more creative and complex (since I am building sg) and does not involve a lot of movements.
The other two is less complex and less creative. But they consists of more intense movements, which makes it easier for me to actually "feel" what I am doing (involve body awareness more)

Can anyone tell me, which type of activity is more suitable for "run-down"? The (1), which is more creative and involve less movements? Or the other 2, which involve more intense movements?                                                                         Thanks in advance

Hi
I have 2 questions about noticing

1, I have read at several places that Frank describes "noticing" as an "exercise for beginners" or a "preliminary exercise before using a rundown". This confused me a bit because I thought that "noticing" (passively observe the blackness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatewer takes palce within) is an effective phasing tecnique and one can phase to F3 by using noticing only. Can someone tell me if I am right? Can I get to F3 by using noticing only?

2, When I do the noticing exercise, I observe the blacness in front of my closed eyes and notice whatever I see (light patterns, swirling shapes,...). When I see some more distinctive thing I sometimes think "What an interesting shape" or "what a nice colour" and things like that. This helps me keep my attention on noticing. Otherwise ( as Frank suggests) I do not get too curious and observe these things passively.

All in all, when I do the noticing exercise I do not keep my mind totally empty and allow myself to occasionaly comment on things. Is it all right to do the exercise this way? Or should I do it more like a mediattion when I try to keep my mind empty and passively observe the object of meditation (flow of breath, blacness in front of closed eyes) and do not comment on them? Thanks for answering

Hi,  I would like to ask 2 questions about phasing.

1, I am familiar with the "rundown" type of phasing, when you create a mental scenario, engage your senses as much as possible and after a while you find that your mental scenario developed into a dream sceen (and hopefully you remained lucid enogh). In other words, you phased into F2 (Frank`s model).

I also know another method which Frank often calls "Monroe`s method" in his posts. As far as I know, this means that to reach Condition B, you lie down, relax, and simply observe the blackness in front of your eyes. Soon you began to see "light patterns"( can be more complex images as well). If you remain aware, this action somehow leads to the 3D blackness (when your pbody falls asleep). In other words, you only have to passively observe the blackness in front of your eyes and these light patterns in order to reach the 3D blackness. No other action is needed to get to 3D blackness and it is not necessary to listen to Monroe CD or an alternative of it. 

Can anyone tell me if I am right in this? 

2, Can anyone suggests how can I phase from the dream sceen (created by my rundown) to the 3D blackness? How can I make the dream sceen fade away or how can I get to F3?
Thanks for answering

I would like to ask a question regarding exit sensations.

Im practicing R Bruce`s method of astal projection. After the relaxation and e-raising, I go into trance as deep as I can. Then I do some e-body loosening. In most cases I do not do an exit tecnique since I don`t feel exit sensations.

Is it possible that the reason why I don`t feel the exit sensations is because I don`t do an exit tecnique? (imagine flying upwards, rope tecnique, etc)

In my opinion, exit sensations are induced by the "deep enough" trance state. Applying an exit tecnique for a period of time (imagining keeping puling the rope,...) can also help, but it is not necessary to do exit tecnique to get the exit sensations. The body loosening can also help to induce exit sensations if you are already in trance. Therefore it is not necessary to do an exit tecnique to get these sensations and exit tecnique should be used when exit sensations are already present.    

Can anyone tell me if I am right in this?                 Thanks

Hi
I wolud like to ask 2 things about LD-s. I have 1-2 LD-s per week. After I realize that I am dreaming/becoming conscious, the dream usualy ends very quickly. I might have 20-40 secs (subjective time) then it ends abrubtly. I am aware of tecniques wich can prevent the dream from ending: Looking on your hands or the ground, start spinning, flying... These are all should be applied when the dream imagery starts to fade. However, in my case the dream diisapears abruptly, so I can not use these tecniques. I tried to stabilize the dream with focusing on my hands and the ground for a few seconds, but it did not prolong my dream very much.

1, Does someone know any methods which can prolong the dream and which can be used before the imagery begin to fade? 

2, Do you know any method with which I can extend my subjective time in the dream? (for instance spend 1hour in the dream while your physical body stays in bed for only 10 mins)           Thanks in advance   

I have been practicing an OBE tecnique similar to vhat R Bruce decribes in his APbook. He says that the order of the elements of the exercise is this:

1, Relaxation
2, Full body energy circuit
3, Going into trance
4, chakra stimulation and energy raising
5, energy body loosening(optional)
6, attempt exit tecnique if you feel the exit sensations 

Hovever, I am doing the chakra stimulation+energy raising before going into trance (after the full body circuit). I knov that Bruce says that it is better to do chakra stimulation in trance but I am doing it in this order because it is still very dificult for me to get into trance state and I can not remain in trance, vhile doing the chakra stimulation part.

I have never managed to get to the exit in this exercise (I have never even had strong exit sensations). That is vhy I am asking,
Can someone tell me if it is possible to do a successful exit if the execise is done in this order(doing the chakra stimulation+energy raising before going into trance) ?
Thanks for ansvering     

In my "mind awake/body asleep" exercise, I am using noticing( passive awareness) to stay conscious.

I do the execise as follows: I do it right after waking up. I relax then start counting my breath until I reach a light sleep state. I have 2-3 clickouts, then when I return to a more wakeful state I stop counting breath and use noticing to stay aware. Basicaly, I have these few secs long clickouts when I experience random toughts, sounds images( during noticing, I try to passively observe these). Between the clickouts, I return to a more wakefull state.

During this more wakefull state( when I do not see any h images), how should I do this noticing. Should I passively observe the blackness in front of closed eyes? Or should I just go with the flow and passively wait( observe nothing) until I return to sleep state?

I am asking this because, I find it dificult to go into hipnagogia, if I just go with the flow and passively wait. Very often, I loose awareness before getting there. Hence, I am unable to go deeper into the hipnagogia.

In Franks Phasing Resource, I have read that in the beginning of "noticing", you should observe the blackness in front of eyes then as going deeper, you continue to observe the emerging images, sounds, random thoughts,...Am I right?

Is it possible to go deeper into the hipnagogia,  get throught it and experience exit sensations in deep F12 by using "noticing" only?   

As far as I know, the vibrations happen in trance. They indicate that the astral body is loosening. As I know, these vibrations occur naturally when I reach a deep-enough trance. However, recently I have read that you have to do an action (place your awareness outside of your physical body) to triger these vibrations.

Are these vibrations occur naturally when I reach a deep-enough trance? Or do I have to do some action, while in trance, to trigger the vibrations?

As I know, a correct AP attempt goes as follows:
I should relax my body then go into  trance by using some form meditation (breath awareness or mantra), and remain in this state and deepen it until I begin to feel the exit sensations (feeling of heavyness, paralisis, floating sensations, vibrations).   I do not have to do any specific action to triger the vibrations.   

When the exit sensations start, I should try to remain calm and continue the meditation. As soon as I think that these exit sensations are strong enough I should try an exit technique (I imagine myself getting lighter and lighter and floating upwards/ I imagine myself bouncing forwards and backwars more and more, then, when this "bouncing feeling" is strong eough, I "jump" out of my body) 

Can anyone tell me wheter this is a correct method of  astral projection?

Is it true that some people do not feel the vibrations but have other exit sensations(feeling of heavyness, paralisis, floating sensations)?   

I have experienced several lucid dreams. However, I have never managed to erase the dream imagery around me (to exit from my dream into the astral plane).

Does anyone have any suggestions how can I do it?

Should I just try to imagine a well-known phisicall location (a peculiar building in my hometown,...) and intend to go there? 

 
I am looking for an effective audio material(binaural beats cd) for astral projection/getting into Trance. I have tried Monroe's Gateway experience CD but it did not work for me. A track is around 20-25 mins long, which is too short for my exercise. I also found the binaural beats a bit too silent compared to Monroe's voice.

Could you recomend a few good "binaural beats" CDs?

Is it enough, if I lie down in a darkened room, Relax my body, simply listen to the CD and let myself fall into a sleep state and do nothing else? Or should I hold my attention on sg( a reccurrent sound on the track, my breath,...)  as if I were meditating?
Thanks in advance.

I have been practicing the "mind awake/body asleep" exercise for around 6 months. However, I am still unable to go deeper into "sleep state"(F10), because I loose awareness when hipnagogic images start to appear.

Basically, when I am doing the exercise, I usually reach a light trance, and experience brief "click-outs". Sometimes I also have longer "click-outs", short dreams, while I am entirely unconscious. The problem is that when hipnagogic images start to appear, I try to passively observe them but I loose awareness completely right when the images began to form. In fact, I use "passive awareness"( or noticing) to maintain my awareness before and during the hipnagogic period. However, I am still unable to deeper into this state(F10/F12) with this method, because I can not stay conscious during the hipnagogic period.

Can you suggest a way how can I stay aware longer in the hipnagogic period?

Is it possible that, with more practice, I'll be able to stay aware longer during the hipnagogia and passively observe these images without loosing awareness completely? 

Basicaly, I let myself fall into a shallow sleep state, while listening to the "earhiss"(a hissing sound which you can hear in a silent enviroment). After a while, hipnagogic images start to appear. In  most cases, I pay no attention to these images, because I usually fall asleep immediately if I try it. Therefore, I disregard them and continue listening to the earhiss in order to maintain some degree of awareness. Despite having been practicicing for months, I am still unable to go deeper into the hypnagogic state. I am just having some very brief "clickouts" in every 3-5 mins and return to wakefullness betwee each clickout. In addition, I only experience some mild numbness and nothing else from the characteristic sensations of the F10 state.   

Can you give some advice how can I deepen the hypnagogic state? 

when the hypnagogic images start to appear, what should I do?

1, Should I continue observing the "earhiss"( or sg else) and disregard these images?

2, Should I try to passively observe the images without getting absorbed into them?

3, Should I choose sg else to hold my attention( blackness in front of the eyes, breathing,...) instead of the earhiss?

I am using a specific meditative exercise, but I have not managed to achieve a deep meditative state yet.

Basicaly, I simply count my breath( counting after each exhalation), then after 40 I start it over again. I just passively observe my breath and count it, while I try to gently keep all other thoughts out of my mind. In theory, this symple exercise is appropiate for meditation, however, I have not mamaged to get into a deep meditative state yet. I have tried to find some information on the net concerning this exercise, but I could not find anything. 

Has anyone tried this technique? Is this a good way to meditate? I have been using this "counting meditation" for a long time, that is why I do not want to change to something else.

I would like to ask some advice regarding the diferent methods used to maintain awareness while going into sleep state in F10/F12.

Basicaly, when I am doing the "mind awake/body asleep" exercise, I let myself go into the sleep state. Soon thouhghts and visual images(hipnagogic images) start to appear. When this happens I rapidly loose my awareness, but somehow I automaticaly wake up after a few secons.  A repeat this many times during the exercise always returning to complete wakefullness after I loose my awareness in the begining of hipnagogic state. Therefore I do not manage to go deeper into sleep state, because I wake up completely many times. I also have problems with maintaining some degree of awareness when entering into the hipnagogic state.

Is it possibe that with more practice I will be able to stay longer in the hipnagogic state while maintaining some degree of awareness? I used to focus on something( blacness in front of me) to be able to stay conscious during the hipnagogic state. However, this activity prevented me from entering into sleep state. In the first 20 min of the exercise I experienced hipnagogic images for 2-3 times for a few seconds, but after that none (I think because the natural urge to fall asleep disappeared) and the exercise continued as a regular meditation. Therefore, I decided not to focus on anything in particular and simply let myself go into sleep state while paying attention not to fall asleep completely and trying to passively observe the thoughts and visual images in the hipnagogic state.

Can I learn to stay conscious during the hipnagogic state in this way, without using any meditative technique as an aid, which would help me maintain my awareness?       

question regarding F12(deep F10)

Hi everyone! I have recently joined and I would like to ask a question about the difference between the act when you observe sg in front of your "mind's eye" and when you observe the actual blackness in front of your closed eyes.

I have read that when you are going deeper into F12, you should shift your focus(no longer focus on the blackness in front of your closed eyes) and start to go inward. If you manage to go deeper like this, you will soon experience light patterns, shapes in front of your mind's eye(not the blackness in front of your physicall eyes).

Can anyone tell me how can I shift my focus in this way and start to observe space in front of my mind's eye? Is it the space where mental/hipnagogic imaginery appears? When I am doing the exercise, I passively observe the blackness in front of my real eyes in light F10, and hipnagogic images start to appear. Should I shift my focus to the area where these images are or should I continue to observe the blackness in front of my phisical eyes?