The Astral Pulse

Hi All,

After all the 'tension in the head' ramblings, I've have been making a concerted effort to achieve a stable focus 10. I've been practicing Frank's noticing exercise more than anything else, tho I've had the odd dabble with trying to phase to F2oC.  I've read through Major Tom excellent essay on recognizing a Focus 10, can relate to alot of the things he's said. I get the enlarged space in the head, the loss of perception of body parts, etc...
So my question is; Once you know that you've arrived (figuratively speaking), at Focus10, do you just keep looking/focusing off into the blackness, wait for the shift to happen, or is there something I need to do on a more 'pro-active' level?

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Steve, I am glad you posted this question because I was going to posted my self if not.
As Steve I was also inspired by Major Tome essay and decided, to fallow the quest to master F10.
I my mind there is no doubt the AP/phasing is a real phenomena, I had some very real experiences when I was Kid, and some as a grown up, but there were all random.
I tried many techniques, spent countless of hrs, with no results.
After reading M.Tome's essay It made me realize that before running I need to learn to walk, so decided to get a good foundation, no matter what.
So with no expectations in actually achieving a phasing experience, I began to practice only f10 every day.
Well to my surprise after a few weeks of practice, in one session I achieved what I think a good f10, I was there just enjoying the feeling with out trying to do any thing, when this image began to appear, I must say it was no ordinary brain Image it was very 3 dimensional and the colors were very very vivid.
I was inside what looked like a huge temple covered with bluish tiles very beautiful and the designs on the tiles were very intricate. (It was to good to be a product of just my imagination)
And then I did the mistake of trying to look at it with my physical eyes and bam I was back.
The experience only lasted just a few seconds, but made me realize what I believe, Frank said that one of the secrets is to relax the eyes, and to not try to look with them.
So my question is the same as Steve, and If what I went true is the beginning a of a phasing?
Thanks

Hey,
Glad to see this topic also as I am confused myself.  I believe he said something along the lines of using it as a 'springboard' to get to different attentions.  As far as that, I can only guess.  I would imagine once you arrive at focus 10 or begin seeing the '3d darkness' that you obtain the sort of imaginative or perhaps perceptual confidence to focus whatever you were wanting to focus on.  Maybe, once you begin seeing the the vivid images, the trick is to jump into your imagination and take control--resulting in an obe/lucid or whatever you may call it.

As far as achieving focus 27 or beyond, my guess is that you just have to know you are there and you will be.  Unfortunately I cannot focus to that extent yet.  But soon! ;)

Hi,

Thanks for the replies :)

LOBO1,

Sounds you're at a similar stage to me, like you, have made the concerted effort to practice every day now, am finding the ability to get to Focus 3/10 alot more straight forward.
For the first time last night I was getting alot of sounds, voices(Mumbled conversations) and there was this tune playing off in the distance, though like the voices I couldn't quite pick up the melody. I spent quite a bit of time trying to chase it down inside my head, tho it was proving quite elusive! After I decided to call it a day I looked up at the bedside clock to discover that I'd been there for an hour and a half, instead of my usual forty-five minutes :shock: The funny thing is that it seemed like the usual time period that I practiced...So I'm not sure what happened there, but I'm looking forward to trying again tonight! :D

QuoteThere is no real correct way to deepen the state further. Once you obtain sufficient "lift" in a deep focus 10, it can either be a roller coaster ride and being castapulted in a completely different environment, or you may progressively deepen the state through focus 12 (abstract forms) until you reach 3d blackness (focus 21).

Tom,

  Well this is the thing I'm aiming for (The 3d blackness), from what you say it sounds like I need to continue tinkering about in Focus 10-12, 'till I get the 'whoosh' off to another "area/focus"

QuoteTo get that going..a mental run down can work (but only from a deep focus 10 in my experience), or just fool around with images a bit, since it is very delicate blance of left and right brain activation (for lack of a better term), and you do not want to axctivate your left brain too much..prematuraly...

When I've tried doing a rundown from this point, I find it very difficult not to wake the brain up, so when doing this would it be right to try to...err...waft the imagery in, in a dreamy sort of way, rather than calling it to mind in the usual sense?

Cheers,

Steve

Hi Tom,

Thanks again for the reply.

QuoteAs far as the exact process however, I tend to look at more as an ability to dissociate yourself from the physical. Like grasping a sense of being completely out of normal reality in both mental orientation or positioning, as well as completely ignoring the senses.

It's interesting that you mention this as I've been musing over the last few weeks about the validity of the waking consciousness experience, given what I've been reading about the fact that we're not actually in the body anyway. The thing that I've been trying/tinkering to impress with myself is the sense these other three focus's of attention are as equally valid, in order to try to loosen the hold that my F1 focus of attention has currently. The interesting thing that's happened with this is that when I've spent the day treating what I'm experiencing, whilst awake is not as real, given the wider scope of reality, is me just perceiving actions and movement within consciousness...Subsequently when I try the rundown in the evening the clarity of the visuals in the rundown at somewhere around F3/F10 (Monroe), is markedly sharper and have thought 'wow! That's an improvement!' The other thing I notice is that my thoughts have a direct impact on what I see in the scene, i.e thought=action, so I can only conclude I getting a bit closer...Maybe? I'll try re-orientating my perception of self in relation to my body tonight, whilst on the border, see what happens :)

Duh...I seem to have been rambling again :roll:

Cheers Tom,

Steve

Hey Steve,
It seems im at the same point as you as far as phasing goes. I can get to the border of sleep quite quickly and easily, but once there i don't seem to get very far. For the last few sessions ive had situations where i was close to entering imagery, but the sudden realisation that the transition is happening inevitably makes me lose it, I kinda flinch with excitement and it drags me out of the state.

QuoteAs far as the exact process however, I tend to look at more as an ability to dissociate yourself from the physical. Like grasping a sense of being completely out of normal reality in both mental orientation or positioning, as well as completely ignoring the senses.

I can completely relate to this, the few experiences ive had that saw me almost entering imagery happened when, for a second or two i just let everything go, like really sunk my attention deep into the image as if it was my only reality (its actually hard to explain).

Good luck steve and keep us posted on your progress, any breakthroughs you have will likely help others like myself :D.

>RooJ

where would i go to read about these focus levels? and how to acheive the lower ones??

Hi Rooj,

I must confess I'm finding the phasing process quite frustrating at the moment, like you I can get to the border in a pretty straight forward fashion and the method in getting there is pretty reliable...But it feels like I'm standing in the foyer of a movie theater, I really want to go in and see the movie, but I don't know how to open the door (So to speak).

Last night I was lying there quite happy in a good focus three (M), or maybe a light focus ten and it just wasn't playing. No pushing, pulling, reaching, or dis-owning the body, or relaxing the eyes would produce any sensation of the shift. Just as I was calling it a day the house was cooling off from the sunshine of the day and made a loud cracking sound, nearly gave me a heart attack...At that point I threw my hands in the air, with exasperation and went down stairs.
What makes the whole thing even worse is that when I went to bed later I closed my eyes, as normal, and was asleep within ten minutes :roll:

Wizzle3,

If you've not seen these threads;

What is Phasing and how can I do it?
What are the focus levels?
What is Focus 10? (Mind Awake/Body Asleep)

You'll find them in the FAQ section;

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=46

Cheers,

Steve

Hey Tom,

No, I've not tried the early morning sessions as such...I'll have to get myself, or rig myself up a quietish alarm...I can just guess what the comments will be from my wife at the thought of getting woken at 5am..LoL.

Thanks I'll give it a go, see what happens. :)

My attempts last night were scuppered pretty quickly, what with phones ringing and thunder storms raging overhead...But the interesting thing was when I went to bed. Relaxing my eyes in the way I do when practicing phasing triggered the launch into dreamland almost instantanousely. So it seems there's something I'm doing that's getting in the way...Hmmmm

Cheers,

Steve

Quote from: Steve 2B
After I decided to call it a day I looked up at the bedside clock to discover that I'd been there for an hour and a half, instead of my usual forty-five minutes :shock: The funny thing is that it seemed like the usual time period that I practiced...So I'm not sure what happened there, but I'm looking forward to trying again tonight! :D

Hello

That's interesting what you said Steve, because this is something that has surprised me on several occasions. One night, I looked at my watch, it was 00:01 am, easy to remember  :) . I started my rundown and eventually reached what seems like to be Fz due to the kind of 3D feeling, room getting bigger and bigger, and low physical input.
Afterward, I came back to normal waking state and I looked at my watch: I read 02:02am  :shock:  I just could not believe it, exactly 2 hours had spent for what seemed like say 45 or max 1 hour.

I know that Monroe's Focus 15 is considered to be a "no time" state. Also, Major Tom reminds us just above your post that 3D blackness is linked to Focus 21.  So, is this a possibility that I believe to be at Fz while in reality I would be at Focus 15 ? Or is time 'distortion" a characteristic of Focus 21 as well ? Does the switch from 2D to 3D ensure that I was at Focus 21 ?

I would really appreciate if someone could answer me about this.

Yours,
Eagle of Light

It was just last night that I found a really great way to sordof disconnect yourself from the physical. I was actually comparing myself to Neo in the matrix about he realized that his life in the begining of the movie was not the life he thought it was. Trying to put yourself in Neo's place and his likely thought of mind when all of this realization occured and act as if that was YOU it may help.... atleast it did for me.

E3mpirical1,

It's interesting you mention this, as for the first time last night I got a real tangible sensation of being seperate from the body. I was doing my usual noticing exercise, tho this time I was trying out something I'd been mulling over, about how to get the eyes to relax without having to constantly battle at a/ keeping them still, b/ stopping them powering back up if something happened to wander by as such.
 I'd been thinking at what point do the eyes normally feel most relaxed when focusing on something, for me it always seemed to be when I'd been looking into the abyss when I'd gone scuba diving, or looking at those deepwater expanses on the nature programs on tv.
So I tried to recall that sensation when looking into something of that nature, sure enough the tension started to drop away quite rapidly. Then I tried adding/wafting a little bit of visualizing, to try to deepen the sensation was quite suprised that the eyes didn't make an attempt to look at any of the images.
At about that point I started to become aware of a sense of seperation. I knew it was still there(body), could hear my breathing if I flicked my attention to it for a moment, but it felt I was no longer bound to it, if that makes any sense. Visually I was getting lots of swirly patterns and some hypnogogic images.
Unfortunately at that point the Mp3 track I listen to ended, so ended my practice for the day.My usual practice is about 50 mins, but it felt only like 25...
Still I think maybe it was a bit of progress. Still waiting for that 'woosh' tho ;)

Cheers,

Steve

Hi

Thank you Major Tom for your answer.

If I understand correctly, you consider that time distortion is in some way due to losses of awareness. That's interesting and makes sense.

I thought nevertheless this could be also a property of other areas of consciousness. Some people experiencing NDE report time fluctuation longer than the "clinical death" period. Yet, their experience is very vivid and realistic (so much this almost always completely transform their mind about life on Earth). In this context, this is hard to believe that those people had "blinked out" ? What do you think about this ?

Yours,
Eagle of Light

Steve,

Great posts, very informative! I can totally relate to the sudden sounds trashing any efforts to meditate, never mind the level! Sometimes it happens often enough that I am tensing up, just waiting for the next interruption. Then I can scrap that session!  :?

I also have problems keeping my eyes relaxed -- they want to try and focus on what I'm seeing behind my lids. I've had moderate success at keeping them still, but will try your idea and see if things improve.

One area (of many) I could use some help with is relaxing my neck and the base of my skull. I can get the shoulders to loosen up, but it seems no matter what I do, my neck is tense. Any ideas?

Eagle,

I wouldn't worry too much about the time thing. If Einstein couldn't figure it out we aren't likely to do it.  :)  Major Tom is right about what he calls "blinking out." I will be well into a good meditation, then suddenly realize that my mind has been drifting in all kinds of directions without my noticing. It's not quite sleeping, just drifting. All I do is bring my mind back and start again.

greatoutdoors,

Thanks for the sentiment. Just vocalizing my inner ramblings, attempting to get to grips with it all, maybe put a few ideas in the collective pot?
Heh..There's this one loud click that occurs somewhere off to my right-hand-side at about the 30-35 minute level. It's starting to get predictable, so much so I begin to wonder if some of these sounds are a product to knock/test a persons concentration? A bit like a 'beware of the dog' signpost, even tho there is no dog!, or maybe a "CAUTION! You're now leaving regulated 'Mindspace"...LoL...
 It's only some wild newbie speculation on my part...But there are some distinctive regulars that make appearances. I can only suppose they might be just another one of those things I need to learn to filter out.
 As for the realaxtion thing..Did you read the article on relaxation that mactombs posted?

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20148

I know first hand about the neck and shoulder difficulties as I've had back troubles over the years, caused by a mild scoliosis(aparently alot of people have this without realizing it). Anyway, when I'm practicing I use one of those pillows that has the tiny polystyrene balls in it, not the regular foam ones. The nice thing about these is that you can get the exact shape you want, can go through the session without getting that uncomfortable feeling of wanting to move. Also have a look at Franks posts about relaxing the eyes and the squishy ball technique, as I've now taken to using this method, works really well. Don't bother with the body at all, consentrate on relaxing the face and eyes and the rest seems to follow automatically.

The thing I've been thinking/observing alot in the last week is what I do when I'm going to sleep normally, in terms of the body/eyes/mind and the launch into dreamland. I tried out the relaxing the eyes thing I use in my phasing attempts and 'PoP!' I was asleep in an instant, so I know that part works...I also know what the shift feels like as I notice the sensation as I wake up in the mornings...So I'm asking the question now why is doing that so easy(sleep), and yet something I'm doing, or maybe not doing is making the phasing so bloomin' tricky!?

Yours, still thoroughly confused :roll:

Steve

Hi All,
Pardon me for dropping in on your thread.
I was interested to see Major Tom's comments about "blinking out"  and was wondering if anyone else had been through this.  i.e. is it a phase in development or something else?

I've been using the Gateway series of Cd's for about 12 months now and have recently realised that I'd never really cracked the f10 properly and so recently, I've been going back over the first Wave to try and re-establish a good F10.

What I've found is that the more I concentrate on F3, F10 and advanced F10 tracks, the more I 'blink out' pretty much every time.
I can be absolutely convinced that I've maintained awareness right through the track only to realise that I have absolutely no conscious awareness/recall of whole chunks of "time".
If it wasn't for the fact that I know that Monroe's voice is present at certain stages, I'd be prepared to swear on oath that I hadn't missed a thing.

So, the question here is, is there anything I can do to overcome this? is it just a developmental phase or am I I going to be stuck here for evermore?


What's also interesting is that when i first went through these tracks, if I look back at my journals i can see that i was experiencing a lot more visual imagery then than I am now. Although I wasn't going as deep then.

Anyway, that's my two 'penneth's worth.  Any hints from the more experienced of you would be welcome.

Cheers
Jon

Jon:

I've been using wave one for a several months, and recently had some success with it:

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=20281&sid=efe568bde99239fccd4fd4c8daac4d6d

I've "blinked out" many times, but recently have been very aware during the whole thing with little or no visual imagery. I use track 3 most often, as track 2 takes too long to get to focus 10. With track 3, you go to 10, then back awake, then back to 10 again. The second time around is when it really starts to put me there. As mentioned in the post, I do this twice a day, everyday.

Stookie,
I've been using the CD set (I have all 7 waves) for about a year now, but found that although I had gotten through to the end of wave 4 / beginning of Wave 5, I was getting less and less out of it the further I got.
Also, the less I got, the less I was inclined to practice and day to day life started to get in the way.

That's why I recently decided to go back to wave 1 and start again with F10.

Thanks for you inputs though, it helps to hear that someone else has had a similar experience

Cheers
surfer8

Ahhhhhhhh,

I can't take it no more..LoL Ok, Ok I've just gone and bought the Wave 1 cd's :D

No but seriously, I've been thinking about getting these for some time now, from all your posts here and other threads I can't resist anymore ;)

Should be delivered Monday. My wife will be away on business for the rest of next week, so I'll be getting into them big time!

Cheers,

Steve

Steve,

Thanks for the info. I'm going to chase down Franks eye technique as soon as I finish here. The bead pillow idea may be worth trying.

As to what happens when we sleep, for me it seems my mind blanks out before my body does. The trick is holding on to that half-sleeping, buzzy stage you hit right before lights out.  :)

Okay, I admit to ignorance. I can't find anything on eye relaxation techniques. Help?

greatoutdoors,

No probs, here's the link to Franks 'Squashy rubber ball technique'

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1141

At the w/e I was having a play with that moment just before you fall asleep, kinda ended up in a tug of war. It felt a bit like standing on the edge of a precipice, I'd start to fall over, got that fast sense of movement, would pull back to stop myself blacking out.

On a side note, when I woke up this morning I was making note again of the sensations(In terms of relaxation), which I found quite different from even my most relaxed state whilst I'm doing my phasing practice. I wonder if this is because I'm attempting a different action? Still, my cd's should turn up today. I'm not expecting some 'wonder-cure' to my troubles, but from what I've read from the others have posted here, I'm interested to see what effect they'll have as an effective tool to reach a good focus 10.

Cheers,

Steve

Steve 2B -

Keep us up to date on how the CD's work for you. You seem to be going at them with the correct mind state ("I'm not expecting some 'wonder-cure"). The CD's don't do it for you, they are assistance to YOU doing it.

I've meditated for many years, but my goals did not include OBE/AP experiences.  At least not until now.  When I first started using the Monroe tapes, I found that I had already reached F3, F10 and even F12 in my meditations.  However, with meditation, you try to keep your mind clear of visualizations and sounds.  They get in the way, or at least they do for the meditation that I was practicing.

Now that I am learning to OBE/AP, I can shift my conscience easily enough, but I don't 'go' anywhere.  Recently, I read Frank's web site and he stated, "They don't actually realize that changing your perception in consciousness, and shifting your area of consciousness, are two very different things."  Well, that was my problem.  I could shift my area of consciousness, but I wouldn't allow my perception to change.

A little more research and I found where Frank talked about his noticing technique.  Just watch the 'darkness' and look for a spot that's not quite as dark, or a sound or a flash of light.  After awhile, your perception changes.

My problem now is that I loose focus.  My thinking becomes more like dreaming then OBE/AP.  Once I start to realize that I've shifted my perception, I pop back to the 'dark' where I was meditating.  There is a fine line that you must maintain and I have almost no practice at it.  A few more days and I should be exploring PF2 with no problem.

I just got the Wave I CDs as well as the second of Monroe's book (I can never find it in the bookstores). The funny thing is, the very morning before I got the CDs, I attained my first real intentional Focus 10!

The CDs, however, have been helpful in reaching Focus 10. I've reached it a couple times with the second exercise, and a couple other times I've gotten into a really deep state of body relaxation bordering on sleep. Today it was interesting because my legs decided to start twitching a lot, and every time a leg would, there would be a big white electric flash.

I don't do the resonant tuning, I use an alternate method for "energizing", so I can't say I follow the instructions to a T, even so I've enjoyed the CDs so far.

one_each, that's interesting what you say about meditation. I know that a lot of meditation is just as you say about keeping your mind clear, but I had no idea how it related. I didn't have a clue what Frank meant by "They don't actually realize that changing your perception in consciousness, and shifting your area of consciousness, are two very different things" until now. Thanks for that, your post gave me one of those "aha" moments, and this one is going to be useful. :)

That was a big AHA! moment for me as well.  And just for the record, I don't use resonant tuning either.  The energy seems to build up on its own well enough that I do project.  I just need to get my awareness under control.

Each day I get better at it, but I'm not quite there yet.  I project in and out of my meditation several times each night and a few more times before I get out of bed in the morning.  It would be frustrating except that I'm enjoying the journey too much.

Hey All,

In my 10+ years of OBE/AP I have never used any recorded audio or artificial visual stimulation.  I wonder what it would be like if I did?  Would the results be the same?  Or does the external stimuli actually alter the experiences?  hhmmmm.... maybe one day I shall try it and see!

Peace,
Beth

Stookie,

Sure, will do :) I was supposed to get them on Monday, as yet they've not turned up(Now wednesday morning) <sigh>. I phoned the company up yesterday, said they'd most likely arrive today...

mactombs,
               WTG!! I'm glad to hear you're getting results from the cd's, sounds like they will be of definate help<keeping fingers crossed> ;)

The last couple of days for me have been pretty non-productive, tho the night before last I woke up at what must have been about 5.30am, as my sinuses were hurting for some stupid reason. I then started having a conversation with myself <sounds pretty weird> about how to get a better focus10 and how better to shift my perception. At that time in the morning I felt really relaxed, was getting all kinds of colours and hypnogogic images, even a few of those textures I'd been hearing about before people wizz of to the Fz. I was quite suprised at how lucid I was, quite capable of having a coherent  conversation. I was trying to shift my focus, every time I tried I found all I was managing to do was starting to power up the brain. I remember thinking no,no,no don't power/wake up the brain, so I got the feeling that prompting a shift must be done another way. So I just lay there, looking beyond the pretty colours/ images and fell asleep again....Doh!  
Since my wife is away for the next few days I'll be able to practice with the cd's in the evening, set the alarm for about 5am, try to make the shift from here also.

Beth,
You're so lucky to be able to do this 'au-natural', I've never once had a spontaneous/conscious OBE. I wonder if learning this kind of thing is part of my development plan? Hmmmm...I'd like to think so! :)

Cheers all,

Steve

Steve2B,

LOL...yes, I guess you can say that I am lucky, but believe me when I say that when it first started happening to me, I was totally shocked, amazed, and very overwhelmed!  I did not know anyone with whom I could discuss it with and for a long time I was totally on my on!!  I was never afraid, however, for I somehow knew that this was a blessing in my life, but ... you are also lucky that you have a forum such as the AP to seek information and guidance!!  

So, I guess we are both lucky in our own way!!  If you haven't projected yet, just relax, concentrate on simple visualization and meditation (for mastering this can take a while) and probably when you least expect it, you too will be amazed!! :D

Peace,
Beth

Beth,

Ahhh yes, you're so very right there :) I feel very fortunate and humbled to be able to get guidance from all the wonderfull people here. Already it's taken years off having to studying the mystical texts, to find out how to access other levels/focuses of reality, for that I'm very, very gratefull :) It's just great to be able to talk about these things, that in general western society still finds a bit...odd. LoL

Oh..My cd's have just turned up! Woot! :D

Thanks Beth ;)

Steve

I love the resonant tuning. When I started I had never done any chanting or humming before and was like "I'm not doing that. That's just weird. I'll sit still through that part." But the first time I did the CD, I tried it because the manual says to at least try all the exercises once. Now I've found that when I first start to feel any vibrations, it's during the tuning. I do it 90% of the time. The sensations I get from it are very relaxing and buzzy. Then I increase the vibes with the REBAL exercise, and by the time I get to Focus 10 (if I get to 10) the vibes move on their own.

Well then...

Last night I had my first play with the Wave1 cd's, proved to be quite a revelation about what the Monroe focus levels (3 and 10) feels like, compared to my efforts so far without them.
I got time only to play through the first disk, went through the exercises/ introductions to focus 3 and focus 10, made the effort not to try to 'do' anything as such as RM says on the disk just to let things happen, see where it goes. Focus 3 is pretty much what had suspected it to be, found it to be a relaxing introspective state to be in. I did notice that the hypnogogic images kept popping up and there these bands/waves of light were rippling along to the sound of the hemi-sync tones. It was quite tricky to stop my eyes from wanting to look at specifics and just take in all that was happening.

I've got to agree with Stookie I just love doing the resonant tuning exercise also. Since I was by myself I could hum away, didn't matter at all. I thought "Hmmm this is a bit of a strange thing to do, but what the heck, go with it"

Focus10 on the other hand was, I must admit was different to what I had previously thought it to be. Although I've certainly managed to achieve a very similar states of mind when practicing the noticing exercise and WHY, but more than anything else it reminds me of the what had happened the other night, when I woke up early, felt deeply,deeply relaxed.
On the cd, the bit where he says to relax the scalp and let the relaxation seep through into the brain and relax the brain...Oooooooooh that was just amazing, could feel the brain powering down and got this really profound sense of the body being asleep.

Can't wait for the next session now!

Very, very impressed! Really glad I got them ;)

ATB

Steve

QuoteFocus10 on the other hand was, I must admit was different to what I had previously thought it to be. Although I've certainly managed to achieve a very similar states of mind when practicing the noticing exercise and WHY, but more than anything else it reminds me of the what had happened the other night, when I woke up early, felt deeply,deeply relaxed.

Lately when doing the CD's I've been reaching this strange state where it's like a part of my brain shuts off. However it only lasts for a short while. The other night I was in hypnogogic state hearing some strange conversation, and suddenly I can't remember anything. I don't know what it was I was doing, or what I'm supposed to be doing, or even have a clue I'm doing OBE exercises. I probably couldn't have come up with my own name. Sometimes I forget what time of day it is, like think I have to get up for work even though it's late at night. It passes, but it's like a strange amnesia state.

Part of this may be a stupid question but I'm asking anyway!  :wink:

First, how much do those Wave1 CD's cost? And second (here goes), are they the kind of CD's you can play on a regular CD player or do you have to use them through your computer? The reason I ask is that I downloaded a BWG once, then copied it onto a CD to take home. But unless I put it in the computer and played it there, I got distorted sound that was nothing like the original.

There's no place near my computer to do a meditation session.

I bought a Rio portable CD player that plays MP3's & WMA's for about $60, then I ripped the CD's to WMA format and burned on 1 disc.  Much easier that way (if you want to invest in the player. I use mine all the time).

Yup I also us a portable, tho I ditched the standard headphones a.s.a.p. I don't like the phones, which rest on the outer parts of the ears, spent the extra money and got a pair of the sony 'ear-plug' type. I gotta admit I somewhat baulked at the price of them but they've certainly paid me back in terms of sound quality + the other bonus is that they don't hurt my ears if I lay on my side for extended periods.

I know this might sound like a stupid question, but is there a point to making the REBAL ballon? I mean it's kinda fun to do the exercise, feel the movement of energy and all that, but what gives?

I repeated the first two exercises + the first on cd2, after the session ended was still getting some images coming though, for some reason I was watching this guy, who was sitting on a sofa. He looked like he was watching his tv, got up and changed channels, or something and went and sat back down again. The funny thing was I was watching him from the prespective of looking out from the tv screen... The image lasted about 10-15 seconds, so does this mean there really are people watching us from the tv!?  AHHHHHHHH!! :D

ATB

Steve

I don't know if there is a point to the REBAL besides learning to recognize and manipulate that sort of energy. I've gotten cranky with all the exercises and have taken a break from them to just try relaxing again.

Ever notice when something is new, you almost get there, but just not quite - then the second time around, it doesn't work as well because its novelty has worn off and your mind wanders more?

Man, if that energy conversion box worked better, maybe I wouldn't have so much stray thinking ... Anybody find the energy conversion box works for them? It worked for me the first time, but now ...

Sometimes I wonder if I have a psychological issue where I intentionally don't allow myself to succeed - like I'm afraid of the change. I've spent so long trying it's like that's what my psyche has accepted as the norm and doesn't want to move on.

I think the only thing that keeps us from projecting/phasing at will is us. We set those limitations on ourselves. I think we're afraid of succeeding, our Ego doesn't know how to integrate that into our world view. Or maybe we're not afraid of succeeding, but rather just strongly believe mastering this should be difficult.

Quote...so does this mean there really are people watching us from the tv!? AHHHHHHHH!!

Or people are constantly watching us on TV! Maybe Earth is just a TV show.

Anyways, I think that the REBAL is an exercise to prove to yourself that YOU are in control of your energy and the flow of it (and the perception of it). Even though Frank says energy work isn't needed, it seems that that's what Monroe has in mind. To make your energy gradually resonate at a higher vibrational level. As you do these exercises over time, your vibrations slowly start to raise naturally.

I think that the energy conversion box has worked for me over time. After putting the things that bother me into it twice a day over a long period, it starts to work on my subconscious to where those things aren't as bothersome or worrisome. I know that many aspects of my outer life have been changing because I'm losing certain fears.

QuoteSometimes I wonder if I have a psychological issue where I intentionally don't allow myself to succeed - like I'm afraid of the change. I've spent so long trying it's like that's what my psyche has accepted as the norm and doesn't want to move on.

mactombs - Maybe you can try putting this into some sort of mental image that you can put in the energy conversion box. I think the name is what it seems: To Convert negative Energy into positive.

mactombs,

QuoteEver notice when something is new, you almost get there, but just not quite - then the second time around, it doesn't work as well because its novelty has worn off and your mind wanders more?

I've been noticing this effect in the last few sessions, think it has been to my own mental laziness, more than anything. The other thing has been observing the time to get the receptors in the eyes to power down has been getting longer and longer, to the point where RM has almost gotten to the point where he'll start counting back down to take you back to c1. I'm still laying there, going" Hang on Rob! I've only just managed to got here!" LoL. I think maybe I need to be more pro-active in the relaxation stage. What I've found helps is repeating the "Relax...Let go...Sleep" in a RM-esque voice to any stubborn part of the body. The funny thing is that the body as such is really easy to deal with, but as per the previous threads on getting the the fore-head and eyes to relax and switch off is definitely more tricky for me.  

QuoteMan, if that energy conversion box worked better, maybe I wouldn't have so much stray thinking ... Anybody find the energy conversion box works for them? It worked for me the first time, but now ...

I know I've only been working with the cd's for a week, or so now, but I find the ECB great, if anything I keep finding new  things to put in it..LoL
I suppose I just made the affirmation/rule that what goes in the box...Stays in the box, until after the exercise.

I agree with what you say about setting these limitations, why they're there I'm not really sure? Social conditioning maybe? You know..."This is the only real world", and all that....I guess it just takes time to break these things down.

Speaking of which, the other morning I got woken up by a neighbor, after he's driven off in his car I was getting back into going back to sleep, but this this time I was particularly aware of all the swirly colours I normally see in my practice sessions. I was looking at an image of what I could only describe as a stick drawing of a plant. The image didn't fade as usual, just stayed there, so I thought hmmm this is kind of interesting, carried on looking at it and after a few moments it changed into a real one, all of a sudden I was standing in a garden, or maybe a forest clearing, surrounded by all this lush foliage. At this point I was a bit freaked as it was full on 3d and crystal clear and got zapped back to the bed. I'm not sure what it was that freaked me out...The fact I'd managed to go somewhere, or the sensation of my consciousness shifting. The only way I can describe the sensation is kind of like the feeling you get when someone drags their finger-nails down a chalk board. I guess I'll get more comfortable with it, the more I manage to do it.

Stookie,
           That's a bit of a worry..LoL There I was thinking we had privacy in your own home, only to find we're in an Astral version of the 'Truman' show! ROFL

Tom,

 Ahh I see what your saying there, in that case I'll be putting the balloon stuff to one side, for the time being, consentrate on the images and getting a more stable focus 10.

Cheers,

Steve


[/quote]

Quote..all of a sudden I was standing in a garden, or maybe a forest clearing, surrounded by all this lush foliage. At this point I was a bit freaked as it was full on 3d and crystal clear and got zapped back to the bed

This happens to me more and more as I do the CD's. I mostly get zapped back because my eyes try to look at it. But little by little I can hold onto it longer. It seems like a different kind of "looking" that you have to get used to. But they always amaze me in how real they are.

I've been doing really well on the Focus 10 CDs with falling asleep. Right after the 10-stage relaxation on the 2nd CD I've been falling asleep consistently. Sometimes I'll wake up right when RM says "One" to end the session.

It's amazing how much more easily my mind can fall asleep than my body ... in fact, I think I have good reason to believe that often my body never falls asleep. It's kicking all night, scratching, moving around. It's automated. Sometimes someone will walk in and I'll sit up and talk to them, and then lie back down and come awake wondering what I just said.

I'm trying to figure out a way to stay aware, to keep from getting mesmerized by those thousands of voices that start talking about something that then will become a dream.

At the same time, I believe Focus 10 is a state independent of the physical body being totally asleep (which kind of contradicts the whole description of Focus 10). I've experienced it before, it's more of a feeling in the brain. I just need to become more familiar with it ...

Stookie,

QuoteThis happens to me more and more as I do the CD's. I mostly get zapped back because my eyes try to look at it. But little by little I can hold onto it longer. It seems like a different kind of "looking" that you have to get used to. But they always amaze me in how real they are.

Exactly what I've been thinking too. For ages now I've been trying to figure out what Frank meant exactly(In his earlier posts), when he'd say about how the astral would come in to view and he step into the scene.. What with the experience I had the other morning and a similar instance (After a practice session), I think the penny is beginning to drop a bit. Next time this happens I'm going to have to try to stay passive, not go "OH MY GOODNESS!!", kick myself out of the experience...
The really stupid things is if I could do it several times in succession, so getting used to the sensation, then I suspect I wouldn't baulk just after managing to get there...<sigh>

Last night I had a go a the free-flow thingy, on cd3?
Managed to get to focus10 ok, tho I completely forgot the affirmation/declaration..LoL
As for the early morning session I woke up as I needed the bathroom, but rather than getting up I was trying to do a practice...But the body was being fairly instant, saying " No....You need the bathroom!", so it ended up being a bit of a tug-of-war instead :roll:

mactombs,

QuoteIt's amazing how much more easily my mind can fall asleep than my body ... in fact, I think I have good reason to believe that often my body never falls asleep. It's kicking all night, scratching, moving around. It's automated. Sometimes someone will walk in and I'll sit up and talk to them, and then lie back down and come awake wondering what I just said.

LoL...My wife's a great one for that. She'll be asleep in bed, all of a sudden she'll sit up and start talking to me, sometimes in a language I haven't heard before (The weird thing is that it has a proper form and syntax), then she'll lie down again and won't remember any of it. Hours of fun..LoL

QuoteI've been doing really well on the Focus 10 CDs with falling asleep. Right after the 10-stage relaxation on the 2nd CD I've been falling asleep consistently. Sometimes I'll wake up right when RM says "One" to end the session.

Wow...That's what you'd call 'really' relaxed! Not very helpful tho, huh? I wonder maybe if you could modify the session somehow to help you stay lucid? Like maybe bounce an imaginary ball, or something as Frank was saying when doing a rundown? Do you just listen to the cd, or do you do the rundown thing as in wave1 guide? Sorry for asking the obvious ;)

Cheers,

Steve

QuoteWow...That's what you'd call 'really' relaxed! Not very helpful tho, huh? I wonder maybe if you could modify the session somehow to help you stay lucid? Like maybe bounce an imaginary ball, or something as Frank was saying when doing a rundown? Do you just listen to the cd, or do you do the rundown thing as in wave1 guide? Sorry for asking the obvious  

I just listen to the CD. The rundowns tend to make me cranky trying to maintain them, or they're too simple and I get bored. I don't know if there is a happy medium there. Something really exciting and novel, or I won't stand a chance. I'll sometimes do a rundown and be falling asleep unaware that I've even strayed.

So, I don't like rundowns much right now. I try to keep myself from becoming frustrated and allow myself to just relax. I try to stay aware, try to listen intently, but I either can't relax enough or relax too much.

Focus 10 is such a highwire act.

mactombs,

QuoteThe rundowns tend to make me cranky trying to maintain them, or they're too simple and I get bored.

Yeah I know what you mean there, is one of the reasons why I'd been spending so much time/ effort with the noticing exercise. I've found that just letting the images come to me a much better process, rather than going chasing them in a rundown.
 I've been trying the other cd's over the w/e, have to say that apart from the freeflow track on cd3  the others I've not found to be much use at all. I'm still debating whether to go an buy the wave 2 cd, just for the introduction to focus 12...Dunno....yet.
Since I've got a few days to myself I'm going to have a play with a BWgen track I'd been using, using the focus 10 cd as a primer, see what that does. I know ultimately it's down to my own mental state, not what's on the disk, but I still find the overall process of getting to the state, where the hypnogogia is stable is just too flaky. Though I'm loath to say it I think I need to start to keep a log of what I've tried each session and note what works and what doesn't.

Hope you had a good w/e ;)

ATB

Steve

I just wanted to share a tutorial i found:

http://www.dreamviews.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12621

Its a tutorial on how to achieve wake initiated lucid dreams (WILD's), which is F2 in the phasing model. It's an interesting read and I found it answered a few questions i had.

>RooJ

RooJ,

Thanks for that :) Cool website, that one! I've booked marked it, will get reading asap ;)

Cheers,

Steve

QuoteSo, I don't like rundowns much right now. I try to keep myself from becoming frustrated and allow myself to just relax. I try to stay aware, try to listen intently, but I either can't relax enough or relax too much.

Focus 10 is such a highwire act.

I know what you mean. Lately I've been trying to assess my level of concentration before I lay down. If I'm tired but feel mentally focused, I do my rundown. Sometimes I can picture and feel it perfectly. On days that I'm not so focused, I tend to stick with "noticing" or just what's on the discs. Otherwise I'll just fall asleep. I find that there is no "one thing" that works for me. It totally depends on my mood and concentration level.