Messages

Great experience LB! Your teacher reminds me of the being I encountered in the early part of my Still Knocking on the Door experience. very strict and somewhat dismissive.

My guy was tall, thin, with black slick-backed, shoulder-length hair...very human-like but clearly alien, with blueish/grayish/ashen skin...

Great experience, Jenn!

Yes, the beacon ping is conveniently placed within the session to keep us from drifting off too far and to re-center ourselves. Later on, you can learn to ignore it if you wish and stay with an experience, as you prefer.

Propping myself up with pillows in bed has often worked quite well for me. Don't be afraid to experiment with this, especially if, early in a session it just doesn't feel right.

As the images slowly became more distinct, you just "casually observed them", which is one way a Phasing can begin. Often the images can be disorganized and nonsensical at first; then they stabilize and come more into focus. Then, as you described, your attention is drawn to one image in particular and, in this case, it seems you received some kind of clairvoyant experience. There can also be clairaudient (hearing) or even clairomniscient (that sense of intuitive knowing). And often, you may not get a complete and satisfactory answer as to what actually transpired, instead you have to rely on your intuitive/subconscious skills. And like LightBeam said, you may not get a more top-level explanation, but by the emotional energy that this generated, you can be sure that a very significant amount of Non-Physical consciousness accepting, processing and assimilating has begun...and might take a few days to complete. It is your choice to let that process continue on its' own or you could lay down for a brief ten minute meditation/reverie and ask a couple simple questions-this was part of doing the 5 Questions Exercise; now is when you might apply that technique. In this case, you might just let it go for now...but it is always your choice.

She could have been a past self, a parallel life self, an aspect of your current self-possibly childhood. As floriferous pointed out, most of us want and expect visuals to best explain an experience. Now you are realizing that even the visual may not provide enough context every time, and that your deeper insight sounds like it is buried within the strong emotions that are being experienced. Feeling drained, as you say, is a good sign that a fair amount of personal energy was involved, even in such a seemingly straight-forward experience.

Nice one!

Is someone banging on your door? Hello! Anybody in there?!

The subconscious and/or higher conscious...or maybe just the Multiverse itself, has a weird, ironic sense of humor...that's what I get from the banging...Is someone banging on the door?
Is it you banging on your own door and the Multiverse banging along with you, lol?! Talk about a noisy etheric exit sensation...did I mention the audible types of exit sensations, lol...

Nice tacos, btw, need some kind of meat, lol...

This is good...just keep on with getting on...

Hello Tak_09,

I enjoyed your first thread very much! I think you have described wonderful experiences in some of the higher dimensions, including Kepple's F4. Very cool!

Thank you for sharing this! These experiences show the many different ways of engaging the Multiverse. So good!

Over the years, I have become aware that we all have guides, and maybe even different groups of guides, assisting us in our journey. Some are likely of similar alignment to our specific being; others may be alien to our current conformation. This was a difficult idea to contemplate fifteen years ago but makes much more sense now.

Regarding Non-Physical beings performing astral surgery on us...Over the last fifteen years, I have realized that I had been experiencing such events. I do not remember much, but what I have remembered has also unlocked very deep and subliminal memories that I have had experiences regularly throughout my life, since childhood. Over my 62 years, I have increasingly become aware that "astral work" has been performed on me many times. Like you, I realized that much of this work was "maintenance".

Several years ago, one of the Moderators here, Nameless, shared a link to an article by Soren Drier (whom I think, sadly, may have passed during the Covid debacle), which described a variation of what you have described. This was the astral surgical team- a group of 3 or 4 very short, pudgy men dressed in almost comical white World War 1 surgical garb and gear, using brown satchels which included seemingly wooden mallets and wedges and vices, quite ancient ideas of surgical tools...but they would show up in the near etheric/astral dimension and perform healing operations on people. Reading this article, a series of very indistinct memories occurred to me and I realized that these guys or some others had worked on me several times over my lifetime. They were very business-like and serious about their work, which was strange considering their almost comical appearance.

In your case Tak, it was likely that a very different class of entities had appeared to work on you. I cannot speak specifically to that, except to say that the experience is very believable. There appears to be very many different entities at work here.

I was abducted by ET's as a child around the age of 5, then again at age 34. At age 54, in 2015, I had an out-patient minor surgery to remove a mole on my upper-right eyelid that had bothered me for twenty-some years. The surgery was very simple and I drove home with a pirate eyepatch. At 11PM that night, I walked into my kitchen to get a drink, walked back into my living room and realized the television had gone into stand-by mode...looking closer at the clock display, I realized it was now 2AM...I had lost 3 hours just that quickly. Asking the opinion of a knowledgeable friend here on the Pulse, he said, "Obviously, you had something removed which they wanted replaced immediately!"...and I think he is likely right about that. Who they are and how many they are, I just do not know.

I haven't shared this before, but 3 or 4 years ago, i barely awoke one morning to a beautiful woman; A translucent golden light being sitting on the edge of my bed, whispering reassuring words to me. As I came more aware and turned to talk with her, she motioned me to return to sleep. That is my only remembered light being experience.

My last week at the Monroe Institute, for a week-long Starlines 2 course...the first night, I didn't wake up but became Non-Physically aware in the middle of the night feeling something like a gentle red laser beam tracing a plum-sized circle around the back of my head. Damping down my initial concern, I realized somebody? was working on me in the Non-Physical. The circles gradually heated up to the point of being uncomfortable...at a certain point, I thought it was actually burning my hair and skin! I let that go for awhile until it reached a point of near painful and then I put out a mental message saying that is enough...and the activity subsided and ended. After the first session the following morning, I spoke of my experience.

A young woman, who turned out to be a remarkable psychic, shook her head and said, "This explains a lot. I wasn't going to say anything unless you said something first, because i really wasn't sure. I was talking with my guides in this session when this other group of guides interrupted us and insisted, I tell you that last night, they were working on opening your 8th chakra. And they wanted me to communicate that to you." She also asked why my guides didn't just communicate that directly with me and I responded by informing her that, apparently, I had a former agreement to limit their communication with me as part of my life here on Earth. Later in the day, during dinner, I sat near this woman and asked her if anything else had been communicated. She laughed and said she was not going to say anything, unless I asked. My guides had apparently communicated to her a sequence of finger-taps, like a security code, to be tapped onto the back of my head. So, later that evening, she did this...and I am very grateful for her participation in this...a great confirmation of guides and cross-communication. Even as a very seasoned and experienced psychic, comfortable within her own talents...this was apparently something new for not just me, but her!

EV

Phasing/Mental

In the Theosophical Model of Reality, our physical and spiritual evolution requires us to learn to develop and activate our consciousness within each of the energy bodies or vehicles of consciousness and how to navigate and operate upon the plane or dimension within which each of them resides. Those energy bodies/planes are the physical, etheric, astral, mental, causal, buddhic, nirvanic, monadic and divine. The final four bodies are considered beyond Space and Time and experiences within them are likely of the bodiless and formless regions described by Frank Kepple as F4. I'm not sure about the causal- maybe it is a perspective that straddles both sides, the form and the formless. Our experiences of "point consciousness" I think, are likely examples of causal or higher level experiences.
The mental body appears to be further sub-divided into the lower-mental and upper-mental and it seems likely that the lower-mental begins experiencing, at some point, within the upper-astral...maybe the astral proper? When I first read of this, some forty years ago, it all seemed like needless and artificial complication by an elitist cult of late 1800's Theosophical wanna-be prigs... but my experiences over the last ten years have only served to confirm the ideas. It could be a form of front-loading, but I don't think so. I actually now have a much better understanding of the divisions and definitions they came up with...and a pretty high degree of respect for the work they have done.
Perspective from the mental body or the mental plane is a step up from the astral- you go from full technicolor to HD-Blue-ray level clarity, both the environment and your awareness.
Characters you meet are nearly always sentient and intelligent beings; sometimes even somewhat dismissive. Some experiencers meet their Guides (we all have them) Instructors can sometimes show and explain concepts.
ETs are sometimes encountered.
The Monroe Institute has courses that explore these areas, the most prominent being Exploration 27, where they offer an opportunity to explore the Human Afterlife Regions of what is likely upper astral and mental plane areas.

Anyone feel free to add to my list

PS

I finally decided to do this in three parts. I almost lost the entire piece, at first...nearly losing two hour's work...and that has just happened too many times...so I went back and broke it down into manageable pieces, that if I lost one, it wouldn't put me over the edge! I know many of you understand that!

EV

Phasing/Astral

Dreams and lucid dreams apparently take place in the astral plane/dimension. This is the home of our subconscious and there appears to be two distinct areas- the personal astral and the collective or astral proper. Our initial forays into the astral are restricted to the personal level until we have demonstrated a certain degree of control and maturity over our baser emotions- excitement, anger, sexuality, etc. Non-physical, sentient entities are actually watching us to some degree, at this point; we have shown up on their radar, so to speak. The greater community of the astral proper will not tolerate a bunch of hedonistic, misbehaving, immature astral travellers until we demonstrate manners, an acceptance of protocol and a willingness to be of service to the greater good. (I had only read about this ten years ago as theory, but my experiences since then have only confirmed these ideas)
In an astral OBE, we have moved from monochrome environments to full technicolor vistas and noticing the dullness or sharpness of your visual can be understood also as an indication of your level of awareness within the environment.
The astral body feels much, much lighter and "cleaner" than the etheric. Movement is much more natural and easy. It is like you naturally feel in a dream, just now with more awareness.
Shifting from PR to the astral is nearly instantaneous and can involve a multitude of evolving techniques, usually a visualization of some sort. Clicking instantly into a new environment is often reported.
The environments can and will likely vary, early on being sometimes quite simplistic, even cartoon-like. This soon changes to much more realistic.
We now begin encountering other characters and try communicating with them. At first, they seem soulless and empty...probably because they are just creations of our subconscious. Communication can be verbal, but often feels quite limited. This is where the early ideas of non-verbal communication or telepathy, start to become a recognizable option, even a necessity.
Often, in these experiences, thought-blocs or downloads become more noticeable...we realize large amounts of data/knowledge are being imparted to us in strange, new ways. New lines of communication and learning are opening up to us.
Often, we can levitate or fly or exercise other NP abilities; but also, sometimes we realize these abilities are somehow restricted. This is our early introduction to understanding that certain "rulesets" may be put in place. More on this later...
The duration of the experience is greatly increased to an hour or more...in fact, Time begins to lose the quality we perceive in Physical Reality (PR).
Emotions such as fear, anger and the sexual drive can become problematic and have to be controlled; this is a key part of the learning. The astral plane is also referred to as the emotional plane, and it is the battleground for learning control of our emotions.
We begin to realize that any new environment is often offering us the chance at a lesson, it is a learning environment. In one experience, failing a lesson can offer repeat experiences until we learn the lesson. We begin to realize that our learning has not ended. The learning is actually increasing.
Adherence to the environmental ruleset is crucial to fulfilling the lesson.
This is where the experiences and the learning really opens up...we get a really cool variety of experiences...and as good as this is, we realize there is SO much more...

More after a short break...

[These are some personal observations on differences between Etheric and Phasing OBEs:]

From what you have described as your early OB experiences, it appears that you have had etheric, astral, mental and possibly higher level OBEs; and I think this is true for many experiencers, including myself. Being children and not having any knowledge of what was happening, other than our own intuitive instincts, upon reflection, I think many of these OBEs were blended in many ways- we almost seamlessly shifted from one to the other, from dreams to lucid dreams to dreamy etheric experiences such as flying in the night sky, which was one of my most favorite.

I've never noticed a silver cord of any kind, either.

These are some personal observations on differences between Etheric and Phasing OBEs:

Etheric

The visual environment is monochromatic- in shades of one color only: usually gray, dull green or dull brown (often described specifically as sepia)...never full technicolor.
The etheric energy body "feels" closer to the physical: It has a discernible weight and density to it. This relates, I think, to the slower rate of frequency.
Moving around in this state has a slow, ponderous, lethargic quality to it, like deep sea-diving, almost a drunk feeling.
Since we are NP and without the usual five senses, the new sensory input has to be interpreted and it is initially quite challenging to re-learn how to see, touch, move...the senses of hearing, smelling appear not to work at all.
Our range of exploration, possibly for energy usage reasons, appears very restricted- 20 feet to maybe 500 feet...the immediate room we projected within, maybe the apartment or house, maybe out to the front or backyard or a nearby field (my early childhood flights seemed to take place in a nearby field...later attempts were restricted to my house). Moving beyond these limits always involved a shift either into a higher body, a remembered location from my past, or I lost awareness.
Although etheric OBEs appear to be in the near-physical realm, distinct relocations of doorways, windows, furniture and fixtures often are reported, leading to questions about just how accurate this environment relates to the current physical one. Temporal overlays may be involved.
The duration of the OBE is usually quite short, maybe a few minutes.
The personal energy required seems to be considerable, hence the short duration. Energy work noticeably helps the exit and extends the duration.
Vision is very tricky since it is not PR photons on retinas. We are converting NP energy data into what we prefer as a visual. Hence, we get strange moments like 360 degree vision, seeing in all directions at once. Or seeing into closed drawers.
Examples of etheric projection are what we have read about in most of the literature most often, so it is what we expect to experience...rising out of the body and floating about. The truth is more likely that we have already experienced a number of different types of projections and the literature naturally inclines us to focus only on the one. That should also indicate something about the difference in the quality/extent of our personal experiences versus what we read in most of the books...
The etheric body is very closely associated with the physical body, so projecting requires learning to "shake" it loose in order to separate. When successful, it feels like we float up in ghostly form either in whole body form or from a particular point on the body- heart, brow or back/top of the head. This may relate to chakra activation.
Many times the exit involves great vibration, noise, winds howling, being shaken or violently pulled out...sometimes Invisible helpers are possibly pulling us out? Maybe at our subconscious request?
Looking at ourselves in the mirror can produce surprising results!

One thing at a time...

Blossom-

The Gateway Experience home course was originally produced as cassette tapes, then later as CDs. Which one do you have and how many Waves is it?

I loaned out my Wave 3 and Wave 4 several years ago forget the specific contents of each. IIRC,  Liftoff is one or more sessions promoting the classic etheric OBE. At this point, it can be tricky to find that right mental state, as you are reporting. One observation you have made is partially correct and you have already suggested two good answers: Chakra balancing and some form of energy work. The heavy pounding of your heart is, in my opinion NOT your physical heart, but rather an overactive heart chakra or energy center. I have had to deal with it and it is commonly reported as a pre-projection phenomenon; and is also commonly reported in Sleep Paralysis episodes as the heavy pressure on the chest, a tightness, restriction of breathing leading to fear of suffocation; also a feeling like your heart is going to burst out of your chest. I have felt all these symptoms at one time or another and it has always been during or near etheric OBEs, never during my Phasing experiences.

I don't pretend to know exactly, but it seems to me that it is connected to the energy conduit or chakra most closely related to the form of OBE we are seeking to experience and the classical Theosophical theory appears to reinforce this idea. Early in our OBE evolution, it seems the non-physical (NP) energy is sourced from and through the first four lower chakras, which until we learn to balance and control and understand the nature of their energetic output, our early experiences often involve aspects relating to those chakras- Fear of mortality, prominent sexual energies, over-excitement, etc. And it's in the heart chakra that all that lower energy gets routed through and results in too much energy and too much confusing excitation.

Like you reported Jenn, I had a variety of OBEs as a child and nobody and nothing could explain them, so I shut up about it and determined to figure it out myself. Those answers started forming when, as a twelve year-old, I discovered Monroe's Journeys Out of the Body, in 1973. Stories about this particular book, almost literally falling into people's hands at the right time, are nearly legendary in numbers. And I think chakra theory and the multiple energy bodies/vehicles theory leading back into Hindu/Buddhist history is part of the explanation; but that's just my personal take on it and I stay open to new ideas and theories. When I took back up this practice in 2006, initially, it was rediscovering and understanding the etheric OBE. And with some success there, my experiences naturally progressed at some point into what Monroe called his Quick-Switch Method, which since then has generally become referred to as Phasing.

So, yes, I think some form of chakra work or balancing can only help. Robert Bruce's book Energy Work is excellent and his New Energy Ways worked for me to smooth out the energy pathways when I suffered the same difficulty as you. I disagree with some of RB's views on negative-entities, maybe because I simply never encountered them, but his NEW is basic, practical, easy and it works!

Getting relaxed enough and finding that correct mental state was always difficult for me. One trick that worked for me was to either try waking up an hour or two early and making an attempt or trying a WakeBackToBed techniique where I would go to bed and sleep for only three hours, then get up and read for an hour (no food and no exercise), and then try a visualization. In your case, you could listen to the Focus 10 Freeflow tape and once you feel in MABA, simply pull out the earbuds, continue in the F10 state and try various visualizations we call Rundowns. A big factor we discovered in promoting an etheric OBE was noticing whatever energetic sensations appeared and learning to allow and follow these sensations until they increase and at some point the release/liftoff happens. This involves a technique of "passively observing", not getting overexcited and not forcing the issue. These sensations can be visual or auditory or kinesthetic. You can hear and feel hurricanes or helicopters; you can feel rocking back and forth, floating or falling; the key is to remain calm and trust in the process. Rundown visualizations were discovered to often help initiate these sensations. Keep it simple- You can visualize dancing, ballet, snow skiing, surfing...any physical activity that involves rhythm and movement. An excellent Rundown was offered by Selski- The Trampoline. Simple and effective!

Hope that helps. I don't want to overload you but you are noticing all the right things and asking the right questions and getting great answers from everybody.
EV

You mentioned having to visualize...I am assuming you did this to help the process move along because the visuals didn't automatically show up when you expected.

This is normal at some point in sessions like these...it involves a process of "priming the pump" or helping the visualization to either get started or to continue. I first read about it in some books relating to TMI sessions, and honestly, I rejected the idea out of hand, at least, at first...I don't like the idea of creating anything artificial or that can be construed as fantasy or "making it up as you go along"...

Probably during my third course at TMI, I realized I was getting nowhere early in the first couple days and had to redefine my strategy, and that is when I added a little creative imaging to my Hemi-Sync...and it wasn't in the first thirty seconds, but maybe after a minute or two of my own personal visualization, imaging interactions, imagining dialogue with other entities...BOOM...the visuals and dialogue carried on without my conscious input...I was quite amazed and found a new respect and understanding for the technique of Priming The Pump...

So, yeah, that is part of the learning...and the learning doesn't appear to ever stop...

Not every session will resonate immediately; some work instantly, others don't or won't, or take time...

The Gateway Experience sessions are mostly tightly-scripted and I would suggest sticking to the script. You are right that the Free Flow sessions are not scripted and offered as 45 minute opportunities to apply your own ideas and techniques or to just relax and become more thoroughly familiar with that particular Focus Level. You are having such good experiences early on and there is a long way to go in this Series, so again, I suggest doing just what you are doing now. Don't get hung up on doing any exercise more than twice early on; don't let yourself feel bogged down. There are a lot of exercises waiting for you, and many later ones that will certainly bear repeating multiple times. And once completely finished with the Series, you will likely want to return to certain early Focus Levels such as F10, F12, F15 to understand them better from a new perspective. Also, certain personal work can be done more effectively from some of these "lower" Levels; higher is not necessarily better.

Regarding the differences between Etheric or OBEs that appear to happen closer to the Physical Dimension (ie...you float like a ghost out of your body and roam around your house) versus Phasing experiences...okay, it seems you are already somewhat familiar with the Phasing type, where you click to or instantly materialize in a new environment (arguably the Astral or Mental OBE). This was what I wanted to warn against by putting off reading the Monroe books while doing Gateway. It can get confusing and end up front-loading our expectations. In his book, Monroe started with involuntarily experiencing the "Classic Etheric OBE". He didn't understand it, but described and reported his experiences. This is how it starts for many people, but not all. By his second book, Far Journeys, Monroe was describing how his experiences had evolved into the "Quick-Switch Method" which later became known as Phasing. These are two very different and distinct experiences, but Phasing seems the obvious evolution of our experiences, however one wishes to explain it (and we still have differences about that). The Gateway Experience includes an early Etheric-type exit Session that invites that kind of particular experience. So, the problem with possibly front-loading someone with different types of experiential expectations becomes more apparent. Blossom, it seems that you are already having semi, if not more complete Phasing experiences, even in these early F10 Sessions, so I feel it is important to explain this distinction. Going forward, I just recommend remaining as open to the experience as possible. And Phasing experiences can happen at any time within these Gateway Sessions...so again, always go with the flow...trust yourself.

Monroe was a pioneer in the truest sense- His first book actually contains a variety of experiences: Most were the Classic Etheric type; but then there were arguably parallel dimension experiences; then what seem clearly Phasing-type; and then even higher-level bodiless, energetic experiences (speaking to Causal, Buddhic, Nirvanic...to throw in Hindu mysticism)...an incredible multitude of experiences that many have confirmed in their own ways.

What makes the Monroe books problematic is the timing with when a person reads them. They can be quite eye-opening and revealing...or they can introduce some real confusion into how a person works out and comes to understand their own experiences. Part of the fun, no doubt. I found Journeys in a bookstore when I was twelve, and it helped to explain my experiences at the time, Lol.

Hope that helps. EV

I agree with LightBeam on this in that these are energetic signals as our consciousness is moving/shifting/traversing through frequency levels, Focus levels and so forth. It's a kind of static or noise, but also momentary opportunities to jump off into a certain frequency, if we want. It's noise on one level as we move through it, but it could provide jump-off points if we choose to make it so.

For people unaware of the practice, it is understandably confusing and frightening.....

I agree with Lumaza that you might consider moving your practice to a comfortable reclining chair, if you have that available. A recline angle of 37 degrees has been reported in the literature as beneficial, but like most things in this practice, adjust it to your own tastes...there are no hard or fast rules...

The three Monroe books are enjoyable reads. However, I would recommend waiting to read any of them until you finish the Gateway Experience sessions. I'm saying that because you are doing so well with them. Reading any new material, especially these books, can "front-load" you with unnecessary and possibly conflicting ideas which might interfere with the ongoing sessions...so I advise to stay off that for now. Your choice.

I suppose the great energy feeling may be from your REBAL exercise, so if you are feeling that during the day, that is a great confirmation! The Multiverse is certainly reinforcing the recognition with the episode of the guy in the parking lot recognizing your energy in such an obvious way. That is kind of hard to ignore! LoL!

The energy twitches get heavy for me at times. There are nights where I cannot fall asleep and the moment I am close, I startle and jump, sometimes feeling like I've lifted off the bed six inches in a jolt! On nights like this, it can happen ten, twenty times and becomes very distressing and wearing. You may be right about trying some RB Energy balancing techniques...thank you for that idea!

Thank you for taking the time to describe your experiences here. It helps others, and maybe we help, in return.

Good stuff!

Regarding headphones, it reads like your current headphones are doing the job just fine for now. You could call or email the Institute and ask- I think that initially, they were against noise cancellation as that might interfere with the Hemi-sync, but I think they are more relaxed about that now. Again, it looks like your current setup is working just fine.

Your initial experiences read as very productive. When you fall asleep, that's okay; it means you are certainly relaxing into the session with no problem, and if it's not simply an issue of starting too late at night or being too tired, then this kind of sleep can indicate that "work" is still being done, but at a subconscious level. Those are often described as noticeable "click-outs".

Maybe you are starting your session at your normal bedtime or utilizing the session within a WakeBackToBed technique...if it is during a WBTB technique, then I would suggest staying awake a little longer between the first and second intervals, such as 45 minutes to an hour; then you won't be as strongly pulled back into sleep so quickly.

Even spending multiple weeks at TMI, I could never get to what I felt was a complete F10 Mind Awake/Body Asleep state like I did the first few accidental times I did it at home. What I came to learn was that all the Focus Levels, whether F10, F21 or F27 are not fixed points in Consciousness, but rather a range within a given continuum or spectrum in Consciousness...so there can be a high F10 or a low F10 or a middle F10 and it can vary from person to person and from day to day. I eventually realized that I never had to be in a "perfect" F21 or F23 or F27 to experience what I was supposed to. So don't get too caught up in searching for the exact, correct state you think you should be in. Like you wrote, if you feel that you have reached a fairly deep, meditative state, then that's your confirmation. And from what I am reading of your experiences so far, you are doing really well...so just keep on with the relaxed "noticing" and go with the flow of whatever happens.

When you start the F15 or F21 sessions, you might consider finding the time to do back to back sessions, like a session in F12, then a session in F15 and then a session in F21. I know that means a commitment of like three hours, but the "build-on" effect can offer sometimes surprising results...something to consider.

Hope that helps!

EV

Wonderful and succinct description of the forces at work, LB! The personal, action-reaction-understanding process seems to be accelerating recently with significant realizations becoming increasingly available...much learning is occurring.

Me...I'm a three nights after New Moon, Waxing Crescent...which, I guess, fits with my stopping by Earth every several thousand years...it's always a kind of fresh beginning, and as clean a cycle as I could ask for...lol

Insomnia is a huge difficulty for me. Long ago, I gave up on the idea of laying down at 3PM or 8PM and meditating to a point of conscious exit; I just cannot relax to the necessary point. If I go to Monroe and spend three days in Hemi-Sync, yeah, I get there and can maintain the entrance point for the next three days...and it works...but that requires spending a week at Monroe.

So, I look for the moments of opportunity during my sleep cycle...and that is still problematic; very difficult to predict or control. The best periods during my nightly sleep cycle are described as WBTB moments or opportunities...either after two, three or four hours of sleep or early in the morning, as wake-ups and conscious exits from there. I understand that that presents difficulties with the work schedule, but that's where we are...you have to find a method and a way to fit it in somewhere in your schedule...and experiment.

What you have written makes me think that you know and recognize that 'window of opportunity'...so, you need to keep searching for those opportunistic conditions and what works specifically for you. And also realize that these conditions will change over time. It is a haunting challenge that demands we continually search for it, as a greater part of our learning.

Keep in mind that a properly formed Intent is always helpful and possibly necessary to success.

I can't speak to the pills other than to ask if they are something new; if so, then maybe a correlation.

But it sounds like your experiences have shifted into a more meaningful context that requires you to be more present and aware in your experiences, and I think that sounds like a good thing and your responses seem appropriate.

Moving into these levels of experiences does demand more of us, on many levels. It is part of the learning. So don't feel put down by it, feel the challenge. Your reported experiences read very positively to me. Good work!

A very interesting retrieval Volgerle! Thank you for sharing this at such a necessary time; we all could use a reminder of the truly helpful work that is always open to us.

I think your recollection and interpretation is probably 100% correct. I would like to add a few ideas.

There are, indeed, many times, SO much metaphor is involved and I wonder that it is not just our individual way of interpreting the energies at work in the moment, but also metaphorical forms our guides may utilize in order to acclimate us to the situation of the person being retrieved...as well as the probable metaphorical energy and situation of the retrievee herself (in this case). This is all energy, after all; energy structures that are widely variable, it seems. So, is part of the magic that a guide brings to the event the ability to match the metaphorical cognitive ability of a certain retriever...to the natural metaphorical tendency and situation of the retrievee...in other words, matching the receiver to the sender? Projectors such as ourselves are brought into retrievals because we carry an energy marker that only still existant beings carry, and that apparently is enough to catch the attention of those somewhat recently deceased and still too closely focused on the Physical Realm. Otherwise, the guides wouldn't need us; they would just perform the retrieval themselves. But also, it might be a good training ground for us, as well. So, the reasons we are brought in likely vary.

The metaphor of the underground subway or train station is fairly common for the more experienced. It is the natural departure point to other areas of the Non-Physical. Kurt Leland describes it often in his books and I have read of it in many others' narratives. In my own experiences, I've not so much gotten the subway but often find myself on a bus or train, going somewhere. Eventually the idea sank in and has become a lucid trigger for me. The fact that you found the girl in a sort of subway station tells me she was likely recently deceased and at the point of departure, but somehow menaced and bullied by some kind of private, personal hell. Your appearance with your PR energy marker was enough for her to instantly clear her confusion and recognize the reality of the transit system right in front of her and to move on. It can happen that quickly and cleanly.

The descent through the levels and the guide suggesting you grab a bannister every few floors struck me as very interesting. Whether it was from F27 down to F22 in Monroe-speak, we can quibble about; I think the retrieval was likely in F23...but the descent required you to move down in terms of frequency and I think the guide was warning you that it would be a strain on your maintaining awareness. Therefore, the idea in a very metaphorical sense, was to visualize it as descending floors in a building and reaching out to grab hold of a bannister and pause for a few moments to re-establish your awareness as you moved downward. This is similar to the idea of maintaining awareness in a RTZ OBE by grabbing hold of something physical to steady yourself; in the astral, it is more directly about taking a moment to readjust/stabilize to the new frequency. My question is: Why wouldn't a guide just tell you this in a straightforward manner, why cloak it in such metaphor? Many of us have had these moments. My guess is that it is all part of the teaching and learning...learning in unusual and unforgettable ways...and maybe a little fun for our guides thrown in. lol

So, it appears that your awareness did fade out, maybe due to the rapid descent...so you learn the hard way what the guide was warning about...maybe it was meant to happen that way...so, later in the night, you get another crack at the situation when your consciousness is better situated, and you complete the mission successfully...Nicely done! What a cool experience!

LightBeam- Excellent and poetic summary as to our overall context!

Tides- Great points! I agree with your first point, only slightly differing that consciousness/awareness does or can reside outside of the physical body, but for that physical lifetime duration, it is somehow anchored somewhere within the physical body, pineal body, maybe? That is a whole other thread to explore...

Second point- Yeah, dogs and cats usually understand what is going on, lol...

Kupe- You offer some very good insights. The first, is one no one I can remember bringing up, but I certainly admit to suffering myself...Voyage Envy or Experience Envy (as I call it)...yeah, I am just a little jealous of reading some of other people's experiences...I wish I was there or that far ahead, as it seems...so, are we racing each other to Buddhahood...? A silly endeavor, but nonetheless, it exists. From the perspective that it continues to challenge us to get better...then maybe it is a good thing.

Curriculum...? I have mentioned that idea more than once; I think there is, but it is, like you said, tailor-made for each of us, with guidance from the Universal Source, slightly modified and tailored by our local Guides/Teachers...or somesuch...

That was a great post Kupe: What do we expect- meetings with loved ones, teachers, friends...Intent and expectation are necessary to start the process, but the destination is often not what we are necessarily looking for; the answer is to remain open to the possibilities.

I get the idea that 'Free Will' is not best expressed on the Physical Plane; here involves the most restrictions as far as I can see. Free Will is still very importantly involved; and here, it may be the real proving ground of it's expression. The Astral or Mental Plane (the NP in general) seems much more ready for 'Free Expression' but there are still restrictions...

More ideas...good stuff all around and thanks to all
My understanding of Monroe and his return to one of his earliest incarnations, as an 'energy curl' in some far-off galaxy system, where he indulged in endless, but ultimately, boring play was that he was energetically ready to evolve as a soul.

Okay- Not to sidetrack, but to deal with a recurring question and which may shed a little light on current experiences.

There has long been a debate about whether or not we are, in some semi-physical, energetic fashion, leaving our physical bodies when we have an out-of-body experience...or not...

I can only speak from my own experience, as well from what I have read, over some fifty-plus years. And that answer is a qualified yes. I remain open to new information, but my experience and learning says- yes. I think a key difference to the question is a person's experience, which, of course, is fundamental to any discussion or debate. If you haven't had the experience of more than one type of OBE, then you are understandably confined to exploring and considering that one type of experience. I personally think there are several, if not, many types of OBEs.

We must each come up with some type of description or classification in order to differentiate between them. My first classification system was the Castaneda model which was basically the physical versus the dreaming body. That made sense and sufficed for some years, but then I read of the Theosophical system which delineated the etheric, astral, mental, causal, buddhic and beyond energetic bodies...a theoretical stretch for me at the time, but over the years, I have found some confirmation along these lines. Slowly, over years, I have learned to see definite differences within each of these states.

When I first began projecting, it was unconscious and uncontrolled. I was 4 or 5 and one night, I climbed out of bed and felt completely refreshed and ready to play. I went to my closed bedroom door and grabbed for the doorknob. My hand passed through it. A little strange, I thought, but then just walked through the door, remarking at the texture of the wood as I passed through the material. I walked through the door of my older brother's room, still without realizing the fuller context of my situation...hey, I was like five! Our German Shepard dog was sleeping alongside my brother's bed and looked up at me in a surprised way as I called to my brother to wake up and go outside to play. He resisted and shuffled the bedding and finally spoke to me to leave him alone as he was sleeping. At this moment, I realized something was strange: I don't think he actually spoke, it was a mental response. I tried to rouse him a few times and then gave up, turning to the window and flying out, where I lost memory.

This experience was followed by years of flying dreams, where I found myself already 'out'...I'm not sure what that means...was I in my etheric body or my astral or something else? Looking back, I realize this was a form of lesson, or training. I was learning to fly and to place Intent. Other lessons occurred such as the spinning plate tests over several days that Szaxx confirmed and the Life Raft Retrieval experience that Nameless also had...none of this was confirmed until fifty years later...

I think that it becomes apparent that we all have either slightly different or even widely divergent experiences, especially concerning our introduction, or lol, our re-introduction to the Non-Physical...so that creates some understandable disagreements...

Later in my life, when I again took up the learning of the art of astral projection, I pursued the etheric or RTZ exit...that was the most reasonable idea that followed on from my reading from thirty years earlier. So, did some front-loading occur, or some initial expectations get brought onboard? Okay, I was open to that for quite awhile. But I cannot discount the details of the experiences. I meditated and tried to get ever deeper, with no success...I bumped into vibrations many times, which often scared the crap out of me due to their intensity...but I couldn't manufacture an exit. I grunted and groaned for hours, trying different ideas. The times it did work were very natural in their nature. It was after hours of sleep, when I could find that peculiar, magical moment or window of opportunity where I was sufficiently rested and relaxed. WBTB, was one technique; another was quite by accident (which seems to be the norm) when I had a night of difficult gastric pain and finally set my bed pillows up so that I was sitting up, and finally drifted into a fitful sleep around 4am..and had a wonderful tour of etheric exits and phasings that lasted hours.

Through a variety of these experiences, in some, I definitely was aware of literally lifting out of my body, in a ghost-like fashion, and roaming around my house, like a deep-sea diver stumbling around the seafloor...learning my new senses, trying to figure out how to move...and I could never move past my front door, often not even my bedroom door. Confirmed by the literature, this seems to be the limits of the etheric body. Only a few people report going further than their house, and that may indicate that they have actually shifted into another, or their astral body...I don't know except to say I always lost consciousness beyond a certain physical? distance. This etheric or RTZ OBE was and is very noticeably different from what I consider the next or higher form of OBE- the astral.

The astral is a noticeably cleaner and 'lighter' kind of OBE. The etheric is usually monotone- grays or greenish or sepia tones, there is a heaviness or density to it...the astral is much lighter and full color. If there is a lower astral versus higher astral, then the color goes from full color to full Technicolor, so that is another indication of what may be levels or degrees. Now, you encounter people, at first just obvious characters, but later real individuals. A certain decorum is expected. With the etheric OBE, there is a definite disconnection from the physical. Energy work can help with this. Focusing on certain chakras can help, moving from the root to the sacral then higher. This definitely seems to be the early disassociation method for many people. But it naturally evolves over time...that is my main point...and it eventually leads to Phasing...Phasing can be so simple, at the right time, of just switching focus...

An additional context is that it can take me three days at The Monroe Institute, where I get, what feels like nothing, and then boom! the fourth day, all this experience begins downloading and I have multiple experiences...it is unpredictable and yet, magical...
I guess that my second (or third or fourth) introduction to the NP came about 2011 and later when I posted my Fieldtrip experience here on the Pulse and started getting some really helpful contextual advice from Lumaza, Szaxx and some others.

Phasing? In the proper context and moment, you just naturally 'switch' from here to there, wherever 'there' is. Sometimes it's where you intend to go; other times, it's where 'they' intend you to go.

"How many times have you had clarity appear after a period of being lost?"

In my own case, I would say many times, most of the time and nearly all of the time, lol. If I am understanding your question correctly. That's part of the charm, mystery and wonder of exploring the Non-Physical (NP). I think it is also an indication of what Kurt Leland describes as your NP senses coming online or becoming activated. When we are NP, we are not getting input through any of our five physical senses, but we are getting plenty of information; just in new ways that we have to learn to interpret and understand. I think those moments of clarity are signs of our realization and internal understanding of new information. I generally refer to it as the Intuitional sense, in that I just recognize a kind of certitude with a new insight I have realized. Some other NP senses that Leland describes and I have generally confirmed are the Relational sense (who or what energy am I encountering?), the Navigational sense (where the hell am I and how did I get here?), the Communication sense (she's not speaking, so is this telepathy?) to name a few...

You ask about getting to Frank's F2 or the "reserved for me" area, also what you referred to earlier as the Astral Proper.

This gets into a discussion/debate over Models of Reality and honestly, it's a subjective, personal interpretation. I am happy to discuss from most any interpretive Model and my own current Model basically follows the Theosophic multiple energy bodies idea (Physical, Etheric, Astral, Mental, Causal, etc.) because that was the literature that early on made sense to me and it largely paralleled my experiences. Within that Model was also some discussion that the Astral Plane/Dimension was divided into two general areas of consciousness, the personal and largely subconscious part of our nature, and then the Astral Proper, which is the larger community, generally known as the immediate Afterlife environment that most of us enter at physical death. There was or is, also, the idea that, as a still-incarnated, would-be Astral traveller, you are not automatically granted entrance into the Astral Proper; you have to earn your way in. I don't pretend to know the absolute truth to this question, but my experience has shown me that there is some degree of truth to the statement, and it makes sense. Just like you don't take an immature child to the opera, without expecting an embarrassing tantrum, the Astral Community, and maybe more emphatically, the "System" does not allow you in until you demonstrate a certain level of maturity and manners. This is probably why control of emotions is so highly stressed in much of the literature and certain semi-mythical constructs exist such as the Gatekeeper, the Guardian, the Watcher, the Dweller on the Threshold. Many people have described similar encounters. Another Gatekeeper or Threshold event is an Initiation event, which is what I underwent and marked a significant shift in my experiences.

Prior to my Initiation event, most of my experiences were dream, lucid dream, Etheric/RTZ excursions, Personal Astral (where most of my environments and character encounters were largely supplied by my subconscious), Astral Simulations (immersive learning environments) and some occasional excursions into what I think and realize was the wider community of the Astral Proper. But again, that's just the trajectory of my experience and entirely based on my subjective interpretation. And it's only in after the fact, that I can look back and realize just 'where' each of these experiences fits.

There is also the question of front-loading a person's expectations, and I am trying to guard against that, but any discussion of these ideas runs the risk. So, I'm trying to lay out a set of possible reasons and conditions that you may be encountering, an idea of context. We use the phrase 'baby steps' a lot here. The learning is a series of innumerable, small steps and it is often very frustrating, especially in the beginning; in fact, learning patience and dealing with the frustration may be some of the earliest lessons.

So, as I wrote in an earlier post, you can be in the Void, the darkness or the grayness (btw noticing the shift from black to gray and the texture is noticing the shift in energy, nice insight) and you can mentally announce or 'Intend' your destination or where you want to go or whom you want to visit...and if nothing happens, then it is likely a sign that you should stop and pay attention to your present environment; there is something important to learn right then and right there. If nothing seems to be happening, a good default Intention to try is 'Show me the next best lesson I need to learn'.

Seeing visually and in technicolor...yes, absolutely. But keep in mind, you are not seeing the old-fashioned way, with physical eyes. In the NP, you are sensing energies with your mind. At some point, you will learn to convert the sensing of energies into a visual context. Early on, it may be black & white, or it may be foggy or out of focus. Other times it will be full technicolor, even 125% full, wraparound technicolor!

You are doing fine, so keep up with your current method for awhile. It can feel agonizingly slow, at times. Your experiences will soon take off.

EV

It reads like a great experience shineling; not just a dream, the messaging is very direct and clear.

Your recall is impressive. Good one.

There are a lot of great threads with really useful information such as the one Lumaza just provided.

It sounds like you may be in the Void, which initially looks a fair amount like outer space. The Void is an excellent destination in and of itself; very relaxing, contemplative, and it can be a transition point to nearly anywhere you intend to go. The Void has some unique characteristics to notice. It can seem rather flat and matte black, but with an odd depth to it that you sense as a sort of "feel", a depth that almost feels like staring into a vetvet-like darkness. The points of light are not stars apparently but represent destinations or even "conditions", and often just observing in a direction, one of those lights will catch your attention and if you allow it, you can be pretty much "pulled" into it and find yourself in an experience.

The fact that you find yourself there, or anywhere, with nothing apparent to indicate what's going on is often a signal of sorts. You can try "intending" to go to a destination of your choice. If nothing happens, you can ask Why? out loud, or you can ask What am I supposed to learn here? Often the environment will respond in some way, sometimes speaking, other times giving you a slight hint so that you realize the answer on your own. If you choose to get pulled into a starpoint, just go with the flow of wherever you end up; it will be a learning experience designed just for you.

Talk about immersive, intuitive learning environments...buckle your seatbelt!

So I am guessing an islander, now a mainlander, lol...my North American unaware assumption...

I really would love to get down there and visit...sounds like two great countries...and peoples.

So, it reads great that some of the Monroe tracks have worked for you, but the fish out of water part...what do you mean by that?

If you have found access to the Non-Physical, then that wonderful realization leads to Where do I want to go? You have many members here who can give varied and quality advice.  I'm much more a middle way person (like your Buddhist way) if that helps...so please don't hesitate to ask a more specific question.

If you have found a personal route to the NP, then congratulations, and then what is the next question you want answered? What's the process?

The answer is usually fairly straightforward and convoluted at the same time...it's probably in front of all of us, all of our lives. I am constantly challenged by the inconsistency, irony and humor that the Universe presents...

61 here, the learning doesn't end as long as we keep asking...

Just kicking this forward because it is a great book that deserves continued recognition.

Having currently taken five week-long courses at The Monroe Institute, I have run into Paul three times there; twice, when he was a registered trainer and once, he just showed up for fun and to do the course with the rest of us. He is a warm and friendly personality, very intelligent and experienced, with a playful sense of humor that infects everyone around him. A remarkable, wonderful person.

Knowing he was going to be a trainer at my upcoming Lifeline course back in 2019, I ordered and read his book, Eyes of an Angel. My copy was 232 pages and was an easy, enjoyable read.

In the book, he discusses his unexpected entrance into Non-Physical and OB experiences, many brought on by more than one near death experience. Much of his history reminded me of my own trajectory through this weird and strange labyrinth of dreams and NP experiences. Some of his report departs from mine with readings that confirm his past life and current seemingly karmic connections. I haven't, fortunately, had any near death events, but within his description of his experiences, I get a strong intuitive/psychical recognition of the truths, both small and large, that he encounters.

I highly recommend the book to any NP collection.