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One thing you guys might try is a visualization with more movement in it.

Astralsuzy, if you can regularly get to the point where you are starting to snore, then this may be the "boost" you need.

These are visualizations known as Rundowns and I came across the first one years ago, developed by a member named selski; she called hers the Trampoline Rundown. It simply consists of visualizing yourself bouncing on a trampoline. The movement seems to activate your etheric/energy/dreaming body and you begin to feel exit sensations of various types and you let those take over until an exit occurs.

I soon realized that this method could apply to many pleasurable activities and sports. The more rhythmic, the better; the more up & down or side-to-side movement, the better.

So dance, ballet, skiing, snowboarding, motocross, cross-country, riding a horse, show-jumping...you get the idea.

This worked amazingly well for me one night, quite by accident, as I was up late with stomach pains, very tired and trying to sleep. The image of me, seated on a sled coming down a bouncy snowfield...and I just let it take me as the sensations increased...the next thing I knew I was dumped on my back and sitting on a gravel road in some dark forest, all of it quite real at this point!

EV

You ask the question, "Is the astral like this?"

Early in your experiences, your environment may seem fairly unstable, changing and fluid. Later on, it will noticeably stabilize. Part of the reason for this instability is that the environment "reflects" your awareness and challenges you to adapt to your new modes of perception. This new Non-Physical environment is very thought-responsive and with a few experiences you should start to understand how much your concentration and focus will need to adapt and improve. It is an intriguing challenge and the learning probably never ends.

You related this experience very well and moved through it with good insights, some of which you described and some others that indicate good instinctive understanding.

In the "classic" definition, this reads like an etheric or RTZ experience; it is a subset of the astral. That is one definition. Another way is to just group them all together for awhile and call them Non-Physical or NP experiences, as I see you have done elsewhere. Your early experiences may relate to this particular environment for awhile, but will eventually progress into other environments as your learning grows.

A few questions that you might think about:

1- Was your environment in full color, black and white, or other?
2- In the NP you don't have physical eyes; so how were you "seeing"?
3- How was your thinking affected? How did you feel? A new combination of feel/think will develop in the NP.
4- If you could feel the wall, but not pass your hand through it; if you could dive through the bedroom door but land on the floor on the other side...how is this possible? Some things are solid and others are not...

Good experience and you handled it well! Your fun is just beginning!

An issue I forgot to mention is the "continuity" of experience that can evolve over a series of similar SP events. This can lead to a misconception that reinforces the reality of the SP experience over a series of occurences. This is a very powerful reinforcement of what is actually a "false" event to the point of it being very difficult to dis-believe.  

Another resource to check out is:http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/everything_you_could_ever_want_to_know_about_sleep_paralysis-t38734.0.html

curious956,

I have a strong opinion on this subject of Sleep Paralysis and the "Evil Shadow People", so I will offer a personal perspective. I have dealt with this myself since I was a teenager; I have also conquered it and come to understand it in its variety of ways to deceive us.

I also spent nearly two years moderating a forum devoted to sleep issues which included Night Terrors and Sleep Paralysis. Needless to say, I saw a lot of this.

Xanth, funfire, Nameless and Bluefirephoenix are all explaining this phenomenon and how to handle it, within a variety of perspectives. The challenge for you, is to explain it to your friend. Good luck! The power of this phenomenon is tremendous and the manner to overcome it is no easy task.

This is possibly the first challenge of entering the Non Physical Realms. It is the basic and most fundamental fear test. We can openly give you the answer because that is not the hard part; the hard part is applying the answer. funfire has given the answer already, go back and read the post; and that is to embrace the bad guys with unconditional love and acceptance. The challenge is to do that within that moment of absolute fear. I know it and have been there; many of us have, so we know the abject terror that possesses your friend at that moment. But that moment is the crux of the decision; do you operate your consciousness from a position of Fear or Love?

So, now having the answer, let's work backwards a bit. Nameless pointed out that your friend "wakes up fit and fine" despite these awful experiences. If it was really that bad and that real, wouldn't your friend be chewed up, spit out and disappeared into some godawful hell by now? Apparently not...and that leads into BFP's point...

Bluefirephoenix makes the assertion that your friend's experiences are SELF-generated. I believe that she is exactly right. I know, it is horribly real and very scary. And I base my assertion on my own experiences and a hundred other people's reported experiences. For starters, take twenty minutes and do two searches on Wikipedia: Do a search on Sleep Paralysis and then do a search on Night Hag. On Night Hag, especially read the Folklore section to see the variety of cultural experiences and commonality that SP inspires, it's quite interesting. This is not an individual thing, it is experienced by millions. Now we have some better perspective to understand just where we actually are.

These SP experiences are self-generated because the generative force works through the subconscious mind of the individual. That is why these nasty SP experiences seem SO totally designed for each of our particular weaknesses and fears...that's even why a certain degree of ironic fright is thrown in. That's because it's all pulling from our innermost, deepest thoughts/desires/wishes/fears. Our subconscious actually links us to the "astral".

That is also the huge irony of the challenge of entering the NP, the Astral...it is only through the successful understanding and control of our subconscious mind. Until we come to complete terms with this challenge, we go no further; we only muddle around within our own subconscious. Don't get me wrong, there are great ideas and lessons to learn and understand here, some really cool adventures...but that is where we are. We may get the exceptional trip into the Astral Proper, usually accompanied, but that is the exception and a fairly rare thing, until we progress.

Like BFP stated, we have to remain open to new information/ideas. I like Kurt Leland's idea of "Provisional Beliefs"... jeez, it seems my whole life has been nothing but a series of provisional beliefs...

Nameless,  I will toss out another idea that may relate to your experience at age three; it may not relate AT ALL or it might. I do know that I had a number of experiences between 2 and 5 that may simply be natural formative experiences fully explainable by conventional child psychology...or there may be NP components involved as well.

This is simply a soul theory that says that the soul may originally enter the child at different times: during impregnation, any time during pregnancy, or any time during the first five or six years of childhood.

Unfortunately, I have forgotten most of my earliest memories (1-3) other than some oddities that stuck with me for quite awhile. Ages 4-6, I have some "beauts" that I remember very clearly and keep to myself.

Some other OBE posters have recounted early memories that have triggered the process within me. If you want to search a bit, look at some of CFTraveler's postings here on the Pulse that may relate.

Bluefirephoenix's second case may relate to something I am coincidentally reading in Dolores Cannon's first book of her Convoluted Universe series. That has to do with parallel universes and continually branching timelines from our own. This theory proposes that there are an infinite number of branching and parallel universes that aspects of our soul participate within, each with varying degrees of differentiation. And sometimes the universes collide and interpenetrate one another and a shift of personalities between two soul aspects can take place. Like a convergence or an alignment. The convergence may last for an instant or minutes or hours; it may last for weeks or years. It is very rare, but Cannon's regression cases suggested the possibility very strongly.

Certainly, much more divergent personalities and lifestyles have been reported in both the literature and my own personal connections; lifetimes on obviously alien planets or in dimensions where the person is clearly out of place within the extant society but has no choice but to adapt as best as possible until a return shift occurs. Monroe reported this in his first book; quite bizarre at the time, maybe not so much today. This has only happened for me in brief glimpses and leaves my thinking very incomplete on the subject, but the anecdotal evidence is growing, at least for me. BFP's friend sure sounds like one...

Interesting discussion.

I first came across the concept of Walk-ins back in the late '70's, early '80's through a series of books by the psychic author Ruth Montgomery. At this point, some 35 years later, I still have the books but can't remember details or the best of the series. I pulled from my shelf "Strangers Among Us", which I think was a pretty complete and good read.

Basically, a Walk-in situation occurs when a person becomes SO dissatisfied with their current life, SO incapable of completing their Life Mission, possibly contemplating suicide...that an alternative is introduced; that alternative is that another soul will step in and take over that particular life and its particular karma/circumstances, thereby relieving the first soul of its task so it can return to the Afterlife and strategize a new life/approach. Thus, the opportunity afforded by the present Physical being/circumstance is not wasted.

This was an interesting concept at the time to contemplate, but I must admit that as disconsolate as I was at the time, and as close to self-termination as I was at times, the option was never afforded me. So I just don't know...possibly the idea relates directly to the quality and opportunity provided by a specific life that may be abandoned. The personal implications of this were uncomfortable... , lol...

I also find it interesting that I haven't encountered the idea in any writings after those by Ruth, maybe a few simply by reference. Currently I am reading Dolores Cannon's work and I haven't seen a mention.

The theory seems natural and possible, but that's all I have I must admit, after only a few decades, lol.

EV

You are getting closer to the exit you are looking for. Like Szaxx said, it may be a function of just letting the enfolding scene develop a bit further. I have experienced "bounceback" within varying degrees of NP scene development at this point, so it is something you need to be aware of; the answer is to relax slightly and allow the scene to strengthen to the point you are drawn back in. Getting bounced a couple times early on is normal.

It might also involve something else like having given yourself permission to do this in a subconscious way. It may only be a minor issue at this point, but may help a little; so include an affirmation to allow this experience to happen. It can't hurt your chances.

EV

As much as I love music of all forms, I admit to almost no natural talent. I have pursued bass and guitar over the years and only recently discovered a bit of a natural ear for keyboard which I need to follow.

NP food experiences! Now that IS a new concept for me!

That's like a BST I could get lost in!

Best,
EV

What a lovely, dynamic exposition!

Electric violins and viola/bass! I have loved that since I was about 15 and the emergence of ELO, followed by Jean Luc Ponty!

Had you listened to that earlier in the evening LightBeam? It is interesting that your subconscious may have used that piece to capture your attention and incorporate it in reminding you of your project!

I was in Arizona last year, at a business meeting; in the bar one evening was a female pianist/vocalist who just captured my attention with her renderings of several covers. As with most of my stays away from home the last several years, I can't sleep well and this occasionally leads to some memorable NP experiences (some good/some really bad); this was one of those. After a fitful couple hours of sleep, I became aware of a piece of music playing in my head and was able to concentrate on the piano specifically, and to follow the progressions beyond my normal ability. It was a beautiful and original piece and I knew that with my lack of greater musical understanding, that this piece would elude my remembering; nonetheless, I had the transcendent understanding of the moment.

I have read of others having these NP musical experiences to explore; it was nice to finally get one of my own!

Yours sounds equally delicious!

Welcome to the Pulse Astral MoNK!

I will add to the very good advice that both Phildan1 and Nameless have given you. Your first priority is to remember your experiences, whatever they may be: dreams, lucid dreams, OBEs or whatever.

You can and must increase your ability to remember these Non-Physical experiences. The first and most simple thing to do is to work on re-programming your mind, which simply means adding some basic commands over a few days or weeks, reinforcing the desire to "remember" your experiences.

Every night, before you go to sleep, you should repeat a phrase that you have decided upon. Repeat it three times a night; write it down several times during the day for a week or two. Something like:

"I want to remember my dreams and out of body experiences. Every night I remember my experiences."

"I give myself permission to have and to remember my dreams and out of body experiences."

Say it out loud, repeat it mentally. Hear it, "feel" it, mean it. This is an aspect of the "intent" Nameless mentioned; Intent is a supremely important concept in NP experience and this is one of the first applications of it.

Your mind, your subconscious, is like a semi-organic computer and it really does respond to simple programming instructions. It may take a week or more, but you will see results.

The next step is to make sure that you start recording your experiences, no matter how incomplete, in a Dream Journal; this will further reinforce your  subconscious desire to remember your NP experiences.

Once you have some progress with remembering, this should give you some initiative to explore some of the Techniques that are described within the high-lighted blue "stickies" at the top of the first three Boards; they are informative and well worth your time.

If this is a recurring theme then I think it is a pretty straight-forward communication between your Higher Self/Teacher/Guide and your subconscious Self. You are being asked if you are ready for some new learning to begin; I'm guessing it's likely learning about the NP side of Reality. You have even recognized the "push" to enter the school but you have some resistance. Is the resistance PR-based, such as daily life, work, family, etc.? Or are there some beliefs or thinking that are possibly holding you back?

You already have a good idea of your level of awareness and control within a LD, you know how to operate within the environment. The teaching and testing will likely consist of being introduced into situations (Simulations) which will challenge you on many and differing levels. If you look back on some of your more prominent LDs, you may find some of this testing already happening including the school and school bus motifs.

Much of what I have read and experienced points to the idea that whether it's a NP teacher or your higher self, at some point we are asked to make a definite decision and declaration that we wish to begin learning.

Kurt Leland has an article that gives good perspective on this type of learning.

http://kurtleland.com/astral-projection-log/2006/99-recognizing-simulations-astral-plane

This is a great topic to have pulled forward Nameless, thank you!

There are several very good insights within the responses and they invite some lengthy consideration.

I made a post regarding this a couple years ago, if I can only figure how to copy it here. In the meantime:

The most simple delineation of these two mind-states is to me the difference between the Physical Reality (PR) mind-state and the Non-Physical (NPR) mind-state. Or the two Personalities, as Szaxx has suggested.

Leo makes the excellent observation that the initial NPR mind-state is somewhat "primitive". I agree but will add that with further experience and understanding, a new form of awareness emerges, deepens and evolves.

Cainem provides the suggestion that these two mind-states/Personalities may merge at some point; I lean in this direction at the present time, allowing for a necessary dexterity to remain aware of both.

Continued Non-Physical (NPR) experiences demonstrate that we need to learn new senses, sensibilities, modalities for learning these new NPR environments. Initially, we just try to understand these new senses within our current PR modalities: see, hear, feel, taste, smell...the NPR forces us to find new descriptions, new definitions; how do we define 360 degree vision? Zero gravity? Moving through solid material, bi-location awareness or single-point awareness?

Nameless, you are beginning to question the differences between LDs and OBEs and APs and the varying degrees of knowledge and experience they each can afford you...that is a keen insight...there is good stuff within each, but this realization invites a new level of differentiation of these experiences. Fun stuff! And the sandbox only gets bigger!

With the OBE/AP experience...are we being asked to abandon the PR experience for the NPR experience? Or is it an adaptation, an assimilation of the two...and possibly experiences even beyond that...?

For anyone intrigued by the exploration of the relationship of music, frequency and consciousness, I can suggest an oddly attractive UK film about an alternate reality world with somewhat varied physics from ours; it's a romance with a couple good twists in it and a unique adventure.

By coincidence, it is simply called Frequencies.

I have tried asking for a meeting with my Guide/Higher Self but received very little that is recognizable; it seems that I am to be kept in the dark for awhile; but I do know there is activity; my experiences speak to that.

I share your sense of frustration and slight anger...it seems that this is part of the learning...

Szaxx is wonderful at touching on some of the points that awaken our memories of our energetic reality.

As long as you actively seek new experiences, you will be given them; so don't stop expecting them.

I look forward to your sharing your further adventures.

Nameless,
What seems to me as evident from your active presence here and the quality and knowledge of your posts, is that something has been awakened within you. The fact of this awakening is apparently being "announced" to you in a variety of ways.

Whether it is an awakening from your Higher Self, your subconscious, your Teacher/Guardian (s) or some alien intelligence, this is knowledge that you need to work out for yourself.

The fact that it is happening for you is pretty apparent to those of us who have already experienced it to varying degrees.

The SP alien stuff is pretty raw...I've been there...just go with your gut, your intuition like you are doing...you sound like you are keeping it well in balance and finding the proper perspective.

I get frustrated the same way...but they are not playing games and they will NOT spell it out for you (or me  )...it is a series of teachings that come through in very symbolic and personal terms...at least during this period.

Share what you are comfortable with, because it does help others; and ask or PM anything of greater concern.

EV

This is an interesting gem to pull out of the past Nameless; you are doing your research. I had a slightly similar Southern Baptist/otherwise agnostic influence growing up; and yes, no one to share any of this with, bounce ideas off... lol.

This awakens an old memory of motivating/affecting others as a child; not quite to Szaxx's degree but noticeable nonetheless; I also had an equivalency issue with demonstrating the effect. It was a childhood "phase"...

I have recommended the use of affirmations many times. It is not just for beginners but also more experienced projectors when we slow down in our experiences.

Affirmations serve to re-program our internal computer; they communicate simple wishes or instructions to our inner/Higher Self.

They clarify, they instruct...they are very basic programming.

They don't always work (there may be another process at work), but when they do it seems almost stupidly simple...all you have to do is MAKE THE REQUEST of your inner/Higher/whatever Self...

Keep them short and simple...talking to your subconscious/inner self is like talking to your dog...you don't lecture your dog (because he just tilts his head and stares at you funny-like and ignores you anyway)...you just give simple commands. Present-tense, no negatives.

My thinking also includes the idea that early on our resistance to having an OBE may reflect a natural self-defense mechanism. In this case, we should try an affirmation that asks permission and agreement from our inner/Higher Self to move beyond this defense mechanism. This could involve variations on the theme and may require some time to allow for integration of the OBE idea and acceptance.

Affirmations, in the form of encouraging words, certainly cannot hurt the process. Fairly inexpensive, as well.

True contentment can be realized within any of these experiences or none at all; it is acceptance of the experience itself and nothing further expected nor needed.

I can skydive in the morning, go fishing in the afternoon and watch the sunset in the evening...each invites contentment in its own way; the challenge is to realize that.

Not always, but many times...I get it.

Start with watching children at play.

Those who are seeking who know they are seeking.

Yes- All these "downloads" are leading us somewhere; otherwise, we would have not experienced them or noted them. I don't have any more understanding than that I have had them and the fact that at the moment I received them, the knowledge that they were somehow very significant.

I have come to trust that that recognition is all that is required at the present moment. When I need to know more, I will be shown more...

All I can do presently is to remain open to more...

These experiences may also speak to the phenomenon of crop circles and the idea that they are communicating to us on very subconscious levels.

These events can also be looked upon as new experiences that are understood within new personal paradigms that will open and develop as our NP senses within a new area of the Non-Physical open and are realized.

Just like our first NP experiences challenge our sensory expectations, we are confused at first, but then we learn to incorporate the new sensory modality...

The downloads indeed remain somewhat mysterious.

You're welcome Nameless.

I came here in 2008, not quite sure what to share or what to expect, but overall the experience has been incredibly rewarding.

Whatever league you are in, you can find it here, and helpful people to move even deeper. Plus, you will find the opportunity to help others with their experiences.

It is a great forum...so I hope you decide to stay awhile. 

Along with Nameless's good observation, I would add that it might also be that your Higher/Inner Self has decided that it is time to communicate some ideas to you.

Be open, be receptive, be thankful...any uptick in LD activity is always a good thing!

Welcome to the Pulse, Nameless!

Hopefully, you will find more acceptance and understanding here; though, that's not to say we are entirely free of some of the idiocy that roams the internet.

There are good subjects to search and this can begin with the dark blue sticky threads at the top of most boards.

If your bent is towards Remote Viewing, then Bluefirephoenix's posts may be of especial interest.

Read, study, share, ask...enjoy!

EV

Experiences such as this one, where you recognize that you are either in Sleep Paralysis or a similar condition which results from being partially-focused within both the Physical and the Non-Physical, can lead to mis-interpretation. This is a very easy trap to fall into, in the early stages of OBE awareness.

In this condition, with partial focus and awareness that you are still within proximity of your physical body, the energetic conditions are somewhat magnified, causing events such as the one you described. Keep in mind that under such conditions, the impressions of your subconscious are manifested quite readily and some very real-seeming and bizarre creations can and will occur. Thus, the classic "shadow entity"; every culture describes it in its own terms. This is a classic form of Sleep Paralysis phenomenon.

It may have been your sister projecting, and maybe even some overlay you impressed upon it, but I give that the lesser probability; more likely just SP hypnogogics which can be remarkably complex and subtle. This should give you some insight into how complex and powerful your subconscious can materialize within your experience; but also understand that this is a localized phenomenon that diminishes entirely as you move away from your physical body (5-10 meters) when you do achieve an energetic exit.

If you experience more of these episodes, you will become accustomed to them. The key is to remain calm, refuse any fear, react with equanimity and just observe how things unfold. It is mostly a kind of static but can also be a form used to test your fear response and maturity. The details you will come to understand, are almost always dredged from your personal subconscious, so you can look for common, repeating elements.

It is problematic and difficult to translate at times, but an experience nonetheless, so be sure to record it in your notes; it may prove helpful later.

The value of these experiences are not always immediately apparent, and may only become evident weeks, months or years later.

This is still a good sign of improvement. Well done!

An increase in lucid dreams is a good sign that your intent to have NP experiences is now involving your subconscious/inner/higher self and you are now getting some environments to work within.

The trick to working within these environments and extending the LD is to "go with the flow"...that is, go along with the dream thread as it is presented and don't get distracted by small inconsistencies that will catch your attention. This can be frustrating for awhile as you figure out what keeps a LD running versus what kicks you out. You want 100 percent control and your effort to gain more lucidity may work for awhile, but eventually you are expected to stay within the LD theme and learn what is being presented there.

This is where you really start to learn how important it is that your sense of "feel" has to develop, both within a situation or with regard to even very small things...and frankly, a lot of trial and error will likely occur.

One thing is when an object catches your attention and you focus in closely on it...and the object begins to waver visually for a second or three...this is a sign that you are heading off course and should re-focus back to the general theme of the LD.

This is just one suggestion and a hint of the necessary differences that are required to develop between the Physical mindset and the Non-Physical mindset.