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quote:Personally I think the trance thing varies. For me, I am simply unable to 'clear my mind' of all thought. I think as long as your mind is relaxed, not 'off', but just relaxed, then you're good. I mean how can your mind be both calm AND focused at the same time? Now, having random thoughts interrupting you from whatever exit technique you're focusing on could cause problems but that just takes more willpower and maybe practice to fix.

I've found that it's quite possible to be calm AND focused while in a trance state, though I won't say that this is an easy thing to do. I think the difficulty comes beacuse most poeple are so worried about being calm and relaxed that they cease to be either. I know for myself things always get screwed up when I start reminding myself what to do, like " ok, don't forget to stay realxed...and don't get to excited if something starts to happen..oh and don't forget to monitor your breathing.." things like that always seem to knock me out of trance a bit. Now I'd say that having random thoughts interupting you while your in a trance would be a good indication of a LACK of focus, and quite often in this sort of thing if your not calm then you've probably got a lot of random thoughts running through your head (e.g. a lack of focus). It might be better to think of being calm and focused as being relaxed and having a quite mind, or at least a less active one.

quote:The AlphaOmega,
I disagree. I lay down on the bed. On my back. I don't sleep very well (if at all) when lying on my back. I never have, and probably never will. So this position works wonders for me, and i'm sure for a lot of people out there who don't lay on their back. I think you would be surprised how many people sleep on their sides or their stomach at night.

Right on Dragen...if it aint broke don't fix it. I've found it just as easy to trance in one state as much as the other so I totally agree with you.

Man you guys are funny,

I'm not married so I don't have any stories about my wife, but I'll talk for a minute about my experinces with this subject. I've been pagan since I was fifteen years old. My dad is a Baptist minister and my mom is a typical ministers wife (the SUPER CHRISTIAN[B)] Needless to say I've been spritually commited to the metaphysical pratices for quite a while, and I've had the opportunity to share my beliefs with people quite often. In the case I must agree that it is often best to say nothing unless approached about it. Most pople either don't, won't or can't understand things form our mode of thinking and often times, trying to explain that you have the abiltiy to leave your body or move objects, or read thoughts and feelings or whatever, will lead to more than your capable of dealing with. Believe me there's nothing worse than being the only pagan in a house full of christians who think you worship satan.

On the other side of this issue. I've got a lagre cadre of pagan and pagan friendly folks around me at most times so it's very easy to talk about the subject when ever I feel the need to. Additonally, my brother is constently trying to have a better understanding what I belive in so I'm always talking to him about it as well. I think that's the goal for most people. Not so much to convert but to quell mistinterpratation. That's not such a bad thing, as long as your not trying to turn the brow beating back on those who would do the same to us because they just don't get where we're coming from. If people know what your doing and understand that it's not what they believe it to be then I belive that it's a good thing for everyone and it makes our lives a little easier.

...ok..I'm done now[]

Holy reality,

no worries on the whole french accent thing. I've had the same thing happen to me several times with differnt accents. For me it usually comes out as an English, Australian, or Irish accent (funny cause I'm more African American than anything else). I'm not exactly sure why it happens but it's just fun for me to hear my words or thoughts in what seems to be someone elses voice.

As far as the whole thing about awarness is concerned. I think Dragen's on the right track. I think the most important thing to do in situations like yours is to just chill out and enjoy being in that state. I think you'll find it's easier to "control" the hypnagogic state once you stop trying to control it. I tend to think of being aware as simply watching what's going on and being attentive to it. I know that whenever I try or focus to hard it tends to wake me up or snap me out of trance, I've got all my best results when I just enjoyed it.

oh yeah, and the numbness thing seems to come a lot easier and all over the body infact, when you've got a good amount of energy flowing. Next time your training, try bouncing your awarness around to differnt parts of your body or try "tapping" your chakras, that seems to work really well for me.[]

wow, that was fast!!

I seriously didn't expect a reply so soon. Thanks for the advice, I'll keep you posted as things progress. I'm really excited to see how things go.

thanks

Hey gang,

I think you guys are right in regards to Astral Dynamics. I've had my copy for about a year and I finally got around to reading it about a month ago. Once I started I couldn't put it down, Robert Bruce has a lot of theories that I've kinda had floating through my head for a while but never really understood until I got a hold of his book. It also gave me renewed confidence in the possiblity of astral projection. I've been stuck at the same point in my projections (Dragen, you've read my other post) for ten years (since I was fifteen) and never understood what I was doing wrong. None of the other books I've read were helping so I just kinda gave up after a while. But now I'm working with Rob's techniques (which come quite easily to me I've noticed) and I'm hoping I'll achive a full projection soon enough.

And I'm planning on trying that earplug thing too. I don't usually have trouble consentrating but anything that makes it easier is definelty worth trying out.

thanks

Hey gang,

I've had similar problems as well. Like Dragen I've found it very easy to see myself from say..the other side of the room but I still get this feeling like I'm stuck. In fact, most of my experiences have been almost identical to the ones that Dragen has discribed.

Additionally, I'm curious as to what it's suppossed to feel like? What kind of sensations occur once your out of body. I've often had situations where I felt like I was out of body but I was still very aware of my physical bodies surroundings. Even if I was some place else entirely (mentally), I would still hear if say, some walked into the room that I was in. Is that normal or what? Am I actually getting out of body or am I just floating around in la, la land?

Any help would be appreicated.

thanks