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Wow.  I never realized how amusing Minnesota politics is!  This should be an entertaining Governor race!

Er... even if this cheezeball did win, I expect that execution by impaling is illegal.

[ever]

I had a long, strange, often troubling night of dreams last night!  They just came one right after another!  I woke up around 3:30 AM and was completely exhausted!  (We need an emoticon for this!)  

The great part is that, for the first time ever, I was able to rouse myself up and write all about it in my dream journal!  I'm so proud of myself!  :bouncy:  And it was wonderful, because the more I wrote, the more I remembered, and the more meaning I was able to derive!  

Most of the dreams were clearly just residue from my day or from things I've been thinking about.  However, my level of lucidity was pretty remarkable.  I was a pretty keen observer of what was going on, and I had very clear thoughts and emotions about all of it.

Some things of great interest:

1.  There were a couple of sequences that involved shopping/dining places... inspired by Selski, I think--but minus the, er, ambiguous sexuality!

2.  There was an odd sequence where I seemed to think I was in F2, but was actually probably in F3---or I guess it could have been an overlay, maybe?  What happened was I was in this resort-type place--a lovely place in a peaceful rural town somewhere... it sort of reminded me of New England, for some reason.  Anyway, at one point, I was in a pool, swimming, and there were lots of other people around, both adults and children.  I was floating/swimming on my back, and I complained that the water was sort of white and not clear.  I didn't like it, so I said, "Oh well, I'll just imagine it's the Carribbean, and it'll be nice and blue and clear."  And the people around me looked at me and at each other really strangely, and rather indignantly, as if to say: "Who does she think she is, saying she can change the water?!  Must be a druggie or insane or something!"  :crazy3:  The thing is, I don't think I was really able to change the water or anything in the environment.  And I think I was so embarrassed that I changed over to a totally different dream sequence!  :seeya:  

I don't remember what all happened--I don't have my journal with me at the moment.  But it was pretty wild!  I'm so glad I was able to write so much of it down!  :mrgreen:  I just hope I can keep it up!

[could]

Amazing experience!  I agree that this version of "reincarnation" makes a lot of sense.

Due to this strange effect, I still think it is possible for events in other lives to affect us in this life, particularly if it is some kind of traumatic event; for this to happen there has to be some kind of (still unknown) close connection that links your 'current' life with that other one, allowing this bleed-through to occur.

You know, a while back, I thought about this same thing, and thought it would make an awesome story!  I was thinking of writing about (supposedly) different characters whose lives parallel each other, but also have times when they intersect, and times when they diverge... and how together they really make up one whole, complete person and one whole, complete life story.

Yeah, it's really ambitious, but I think just exploring the ideas would be beneficial for me.  And hey, who knows, those "characters" really could be other me's!  :mrgreen:  I wouldn't be surprised if writing could be one means of tuning into those other people and other lives.  Anything I write, and any characters I create, are really just parts of myself, after all.

Thank you both for the information.  I'm glad I'm not the only one who experiences this.  I generally haven't found it uncomfortable so far, only mentally distracting.

Hm... so what does it mean when the chakras become active?  I've never experienced it before.  I know there is tons written about chakras, but I've never had the patience to read through it, especially since I didn't feel it applied to me.

No one now knows when Jesus's birthday really was, but He obviously had one, so why not celebrate it during the most glorious festival time of the year?

The plants/foliage: holly, poinsettia, mistletoe, evergreens, the Christmas tree, wreaths, etc.  Anything that thrives in winter is a very special, sacred symbol to me.

OK, this is probably going to be really difficult to describe, but I've experienced it over the last couple of weeks while working on my phasing, particularly while doing the noticing exercise.

After I do noticing for a while, and begin to get distinct patterns and color blobs and all that... I get this strange feeling like the inside of my head is vibrating... like there is a little motor running inside my head.  And it actually affects my visions--the patterns, blobs, etc. shake around.  You know how a film looks when the camera is shaking or being buffeted by the wind?

It's the weirdest thing, and rather distracting!  Occasionally, I get the same feeling in my upper abdomen, right under where the front of the ribs come up to the breastbone.  But mostly it's my head.  It doesn't feel at all physical, but rather all internal.

Is this some sort of vibrations, or maybe some chakras coming to life?  I've never experienced anything of the kind before.  Maybe it's a good sign.  But it tends to disturb my phasing practice.  

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else gets something like that.

   

Oh my GOSH, I am ever so glad that I am not the only one who has those gross, freaky teeth dreams!  I have them rather frequently.  The worst part is tasting the blood!  Bleah!  Always so vivid!

Hm... maybe next time I will use it to make myself lucid!  Since, like you, I never have the problem in waking life.

Interesting interpretations... For myself, I tend to think it comes from a physiological stimulus.  Grinding my teeth, maybe.  I also have an annoying nervous habit of biting at the insides of my cheeks and lips. Occasionally I draw a little blood.

I find that wearing a sleeping mask helps me.  It creates a nice, deep, uniform darkness,  excellent for the noticing exercise and visualization.

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

I am a little surprised though that the mask would effect your vision whilst in the Real Time Zone.

Nick, I have no idea why that happened.  I have no real experience with OBE and the RTZ, so I just accepted it.

I'm curious why you went back to your physical body in order to phase. Is it not possible to phase from an OBE?

Present Moment, this may just be my own perspective, but to me, OBE and phasing are two different processes that carry you in two different "directions."  OBE is projecting "outward" while phasing is projecting "inward."  The physical body is the border between what is "out" and what is "in."  As far as I know, both processes can take you to the astral; thus, both processes are "astral projection."  The big paradox is that the astral seems to exist both "inside" and "outside" of us.

I'm probably just confusing the issue even more... and maybe it's just me that is confused.  But that's why I went back to the physical body between the OBE and the phasing.  It makes sense to me, but what do I know?  

[James and MasterJingo]

James and MasterJingo, thank you for all your input!  All of what you say makes sense.  I can certainly understand formerly incarnate humans keeping their incarnate identities intact--whether or not there is any need or reason to.  

Leannain asked whether spirits can have children... I'm not sure, but my guess is that they don't procreate children as we do in physical form.  But I have reason to believe that spirits can, and do, have children, whether those children ever become incarnate or not.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this on the forum, but I've met the spirit of Patrick's and my would-have-been-incarnate-son.

The time I met him, he was with Patrick's spirit, just after Patrick's death--I can't tell you how happy it made me feel to see them together!  He appeared as a little boy, and looked just like his dad, except for the color of his eyes, which were darker brown like mine, and the color of his hair, which was lighter brown like mine.  And like Patrick, he was so solid I was able to hold him.  And he told me that because of my grief for Patrick, my body couldn't hold his, and so instead of being born, he was going to be my spirit guide instead.  It was the oddest thing, being told that by this little child, who had such a very unchildlike manner of speaking!

In reality, of course, he may not have the form of a child at all, or of a male, for that matter, since he was never incarnated.  He might have chosen that guise for Patrick and me.  Or maybe that is our subjective way of perceiving him.  But Patrick---I think he'll always be a man!  I know he will be to me, and knowing him, that's what he prefers too.  

This strange question occured to me at some point during getting ready for work this morning (which says alot about how my mind works ).  

I was just wondering... are sex and gender purely a physical world thing, or do spirits also have sex and gender?  Are individual spirits male or female, masculine or feminine?  I know spirits can certainly appear to have sex traits and act in gender roles---but is that really how they are, or is it just how we perceive them according to our little mortal schema?  

I was also wondering about myself and the greater spirit of which I am part (subscribing to the theory that we are each individual "focuses" of a larger spirit)... I wonder if all the individual focuses of the spirit are female like myself.

Sorry, this all probably sounds really silly.  But I've been thinking about it all day, and I really don't know why I find it so intriguing.  I guess it's just more interesting than my job at the moment.

Well, I'll get back to work and let you guys run with it now! :mrgreen:

My father and sister have described experiences that, to me, sound like astral projection.  But they really aren't into studying and practicing at astral projection.  

They find my proposed explanations for their experiences interesting and sometimes amusing, but I think they prefer to think of them as just strange/mysterious/imaginary/dreamy occurences.  

It's a shame lots of people don't take such things more seriously.  But it's their business, I guess.

Well, without really knowing you or what your situation is, I can nonetheless let you know that I often feel similar things about myself and my life.  So you're not alone--that's the good news.  The bad news is that my giving advice on such things would be like the blind leading the blind.

You're in my thoughts, though, and I'll try to send some supportive vibes your way.

Please feel free to PM if you'd like to talk further.

Take care!

I know the sinking feeling too.  I always try to stay with it, but I usually can't for some reason or another.  Either it makes me uncomfortable, or the cat jumps on me, or some other silliness!  

The falling feeling I felt last night was that really jarring thing where you feel like you've fallen really far and hit your bed really hard.    I feel that from time to time while falling asleep, or while in the early stages of sleep.  My friend said it was because the astral body gets out of synch and then falls back into synch... or something like that.  It's annoying, whatever it is.

You could think of it as sharing information, rather than proving yourself.  If you have a different take on the topic, please share your sources, because apparently they're new to us.  I, for one, would like to know more.

Maybe "pre-Christian" would be a more accurate word than "pagan," since pagan has all kinds of modern meanings.  

In any case, the similarities between Christmas and Saturnalia are well documented and logical, and shouldn't be denied.  I find it less credible that a widespread holiday can be traced to one man's actions.

If by chance you are referring to St. Nicholas, he lived in the 3rd and 4th centuries, long after Saturnalia was established as a holiday.  He certainly helped inspire Christmas traditions, and has remained extremely beloved by many Christians of various denominations.  But wealthy Romans also bestowed charity during Saturnalia.  And from the Czech Republic, there is also King Wenceslas, whose reputed charity is preserved in a Christmas Carol.

So, there are a great variety of historical sources for Christmas tradition.  There are even many more than we've really touched on here, and there is a great wealth of Web sites (not to mention good old fashioned books!) on the history of Christmas.  But I think Saturnalia bears the closest, and most direct influence, given that the Roman Empire was such a great influence on culture and religion.

[can't]

Actually, it started last night, while I was going to sleep... several times I experienced that rather alarming "falling" sensation, and it kept waking me up!  But I fell asleep, and nothing really remarkable happened.  

This morning, though, was a different story.  It gets bright in my apartment, so I put on a sleeping mask that I bought a couple of days ago.  I have found that wearing the mask really helps me "trance out."  Especially when I do noticing.  This morning I got really deep, very numb physically.  Visiting F3 is always my main goal when working on my projection, so I thought about that in the background.  But my mind was very actively stirring about and before I knew it...

I was exiting! :yikes2: Hehe, it wasn't scary, just shocking, because I've never really experienced a proper OBE, despite many attempts when I was younger.  Anyway, although many people have described rather frighetening shaking and loud noises, my experience was quite calm and peaceful.  I could definitely feel strong energy, but it was more like waves than vibrations.  :happy5:  And there was a rushing noise, sort of a combination between a jet going overhead and the roar of the ocean.  Familiar noises.

I felt my head and shoulders raising first, as if I were sitting up, and then my seat and my legs followed.  Once I was entirely out, the waves and noise stopped.  And I was hanging very still, and very, very light.  I couldn't see clearly.  It was like a light silver fog.  I could see light and shadow, but that's all.  At first, I tried to command that my vision become cear, but it didn't work.  Then I thought, "Well, it's because of the mask."  So I raised my hands to my face, and I could feel the mask, but I couldn't take it off.  It was like my hands went through it or something.  I wasn't too concerned, though.  

I was more curious about the floating, and wondered if I could move or fly.  I did a graceful pirouette (something I definitely can't do in the physical!), and I kept turning, completely weightless.  As I did, I decided to float upward, and I did.  If I wanted to spin more quickly, I could do that too.  I saw black blurs moving around me, and at first was startled, but then I realized, it was probably things like my TV, my fireplace, my little Christmas tree, my coat hanging by the door, and my cats lying on the bed--dark things in an otherwise very white room.  

I found it rather pleasant, but not really all that interesting.  I really wanted to work on phasing.  So I put myself back inside.  More waves and jet/ocean noises.  And I was back in my body.  I remembered my journal and wanted to get up and write about my experience.  I reached up to remove my mask.  No luck.  I tried about half a dozen times, and it finally occured to me that they were my astral hands!  So I settled down in order to get completely back into the physical body.  

As I waited, however, I automatically phased somewhere!  Within a heartbeat!  I was in a forest, walking.  Unlike the OBE, this was very sharp and very solid!  It wasn't like other F3 experiences I've had, though--no shining silver and gold city, no beautiful, shining countryside or park land.  It was rather gloomy, and there was no one around.  I walked through the trees, and after a while, I heard lots of voices.  

I eventually came out of the woods, and there was a wooden building, some kind of cabin.  And there were lots of people, mostly men in uniform.  They seemed to be Confederate soldiers from the U.S. Civil War.  I thought to myself, "Yes, this must be somewhere in F3.  I can imagine there being quite a number of confused, agitated Confederate soldiers in F3."  They seemed to be arguing amongst themselves.  About ships--one ship was called Lynchburg (the name of a Virginia town where there was a battle during the war), and the other... I can't remember its name, but it was another familiar, historical name that I recognized.  I can't remember the details of the argument... I didn't really understand what the heck they were talking about.

At last, they realized I was there.  They turned on me and were quite angry.  They seemed to think I was a spy or something.  They asked me what I was doing there, and what I had heard.  I tried to say I was just lost and meant no harm, but they didn't listen and began to come at me.  I panicked and turned around and ran back into the woods.

After that, I think I just came back to the physical and slept for a couple more hours.  When I woke up, I regretted that I didn't go with the OBE for longer, since it was such a new, different experience! :poh:  I should have also stood my ground with the Confederate soldiers, but I just didn't feel comfortable.  Physical world instincts apparently don't die easily!

I did a little research to see if there really was ever a ship at the time called the Lynchburg... I found a schooner Lynchburg that was captured by the USS Quaker City while trying to get coffee to Richmond during the blockade of the Confederate coast...  Maybe the soldiers were ticked off because they didn't have any coffee?   :dont-know:

Anyway... I'm so excited!  I hope maybe this will lead to more experiences!   :bouncy:

Ironically, the very term "pagan" has pre-Christian Roman roots.  It comes from the Latin paganus, which literally means "country-dweller," but has rather negative connotations--people who are uncivilized, uncultured, rough, stupid, etc.  Sort of how some people think of country-dwellers even today--bumpkins, hillbillies, etc.

Among Roman soldiers, it meant "civilian" with the negative connotation of "an incompetent soldier."

After the Christianization of the empire, it came to refer to the people in rural areas who held on to their old, non-Christian religion and deities.

It just goes to show how relative things are... and how mutable language and meaning are.

Thanks for this posting--I love to read about the historical roots of modern holidays and festivals.  

I've never felt that acknowledging the pre-Christian customs that have been passed down for so long in any way diminishes the Christian meaning.  The jubilant and harmonious spirit of Saturnalia, along with the symbolism of light overcoming darkness, couldn't be a more suitable tribute to Christ's birth (whenever it may have been).  If we're going to celebrate it, we should celebrate it just like that!  :mrgreen:

People need to accept that fact that Christianity didn't come into being in a vacuum, and it will never exist in a vacuum.  I think the world would be a much happier, less petty place, if that would happen.  

Steve,

Thanks for your thoughts for me too!    I know what you mean... it's just hard to see the possibility sometimes.  

I'm sorry not to see any signs of progress in your situation.  I hope you and your wife are afforded some relief soon... even though it may involve a very difficult conclusion to your relationship.

Our thoughts are with you!  Take care!

Congratulations Knightlight on yet another awesome phasing experience! :applause:

I think that's a very good idea, to incorporate something very ordinary from your everyday life, and use it as a sort of... I don't know what to call it...  Some kind of connection between the physical and non-physical world!  Something to grasp onto "physically."

I think I will try to think of something like that which I can use!  Thanks for sharing--good luck, and I hope you have more exciting phasing adventures to share with us! :mrgreen:

Congratulations, Ben! :applause:

I agree, keeping a dream journal would be good.  I have a journal, but I'm still trying to train myself to write things down as soon as I wake up!  I can tell you I've been having some very vivid dreams/phasing experience, but I can't remember exactly what they were.  I'm getting very frustrated!  :wall:

Here's to many more phasing adventures to come! :mrgreen:

And to me learning to keep records so I can share mine.  

Occasionally, I'll have projections where I get an intense buzzing/vibrating sensation at the back of the head, where the base of the skull joins to the neck vertibrae ... this is the area of the medulla oblongata (brain stem ... leads into spinal cord). Is this the same area you feel the discomfort? FWIW, I don't feel discomfort ... it just feels like there's a 20-lb humming bird buzzing against the back of my head!
--SOURCE:  http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/archive.php/o_t__t_2129__start_0__index.html


Normal sleep paralysis is thought to be due to mechanisms in the brain stem, particularly the reticular, vestibular, and oculomotor neurons, which prevent bodily movements, block sensory input and provide the forebrain with the internally generated activity that characterises brain activity during REM sleep. This is thought to be necessary to prevent the body from moving in response to dream stimuli. Eyes however are not paralyzed by this system, and this exception was used to prove that lucid dreaming was an objectively verifiable phenomenon.
--SOURCE: http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Sleep%20paralysis


And what was that thing attached to or stuck to the back of my head. It was in or at the medulla oblongata or brain stem area, at the rear base of my skull. I perceived a protrusion or rod like shape perhaps 5 inches long in my head at that area. It reminds me of the silver cord dilemma.
--SOURCE:  http://www.newagereseller.com/jonas/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=print;num=1076306328


It is true that in a variety of practices heat sensations can occur (both physiological and of more energetic unknown origin).  I experienced it a couple of times in lower back part of the head (medulla).  Yes, it can burn, but I have never experienced any unwanted side effects.
--SOURCE: http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=18115

 I'm sorry for your problems!

From what you say, it sounds like your wife is very unopen to communication--the way she dismisses you and shuts down the conversation by her "Whatever" response.  Personally, that always drives me crazy when someone does that!

Furthermore, it sounds like she is going out of her way to disrupt you--why didn't she just sit tight and keep on watching her soaps while you practiced, instead of deciding to retile the bathroom?  It could have been a win-win situation, if she'd let it.

Finally, does she really feel like you practice AP in order to cheat on her?  If so, I'd say that is probably the biggest issue that needs to be addressed.  Being a rather jealous woman myself, I know the pain and the irrationality of it--it's a vile poison.  And it really needs to be talked about openly.  Of course, if I were in her shoes, what I would do is demand that you teach me how to AP too, so I could keep an eye on you!  But who knows how she feels, or what would help it...  

Have you asked her why she has a problem with giving you 45 minutes to practice in peace?  Or ask her if she feels like you show enough consideration for her and her interests, or if she feels that you spend enough time with her---I'm not suggesting that you don't, of course, but questions like that might open her up a bit, and get at some of her trust/suspicion/jealousy issues.

I don't know... I think I was just absurdly lucky with my late fiance... he and I were very different in many ways, and we had some very different interests.  But somehow, we were always able to see each other's point of view, and to respect our differences--or even learn from them.  I'm sure it bored him to death when I'd start harping on certain things... but he never showed it.  He would just listen.  And if I needed some space, he'd do something on his own.  And vice versa.  And lots of times, we rubbed off on each other, rubbed away some of the sharp corners.  We were very complementary to each other.  

But I have no illusion that all relationships work that way.  I seriously doubt I'll ever find another relationship like that again.

Sorry, I didn't mean to make this all about me.  I hope that you and your wife can work something out together.  I hope she will have a change of heart.  Both of you, and your relationship, will be in my thoughts and prayers!

[Did] I say spine? I guess I meant where the spine goes into the base of my skull if that makes any difference to anyone.

Actually, I think that might be quite significant!  I can't quote the source at the moment, but I very clearly recall reading that the medulla oblongata, or brainstem, plays an important role in astral projection.  According to this book, which was about OBE, that is where the "silver cord" connects the astral body and the physical body.  I remember using that information in a story I wrote once, so I know I'm not making it up.

Of course... I personally think the cord and the "astral body" are just constructions.  However, that part of the brain could still have a lot of influence on astral projection--whether OBE or phasing.  We should maybe try a Web search about this.  I'll let you know if I find anything...