Usually every night I try to obe for a good hour. Usually I just lay on my back or side and picture myself a few feet above where I am actually laying.
I have a very hard problem keeping my eyes relaxed. I believe I need to start mediating more often without trying to achieve an OBE. During the night I will begin to see something in the blackness and as soon as I "see" something my eyes will automatically try to focus on it thus losing the image. Anyone else ever go through the same thing? How can I overcome this?
From reading these forums I may believe this is the beginning of dreaming but the visions are not very clear at all.. just like a small picture in the pitch black behind my eye lids. Sometimes I see a persons face, or just a pair of eyes, or just one eye. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
This is how I think everyone starts out while practicing a thing called Phasing, not sure if your familiar with it. If not check out the Phasing FAQ post in the FAQ section. This still happens to me when I try to phase before bed. I am just not quite relaxed enough when the images start and I sort of pounce on them with my eyes, even though they are closed. WHY??? WHY would I need to focus on something I am not seeing with my eyes? That is what you need to get past my friend and its not easy. I usually have the best success with allowing my self to fall into this imagery in the morning when I awake and then go back to bed almost right away. Your so relaxed and still in a foggy state that instead of focusing on the images with your eyes you do it with your mind. I have done this the past 3 mornings and had 4 or 5 exits each day using this. Feel free to keep doing your usual practice, it will work for you, you just have to keep trying, but if given the chance try it in the morning as well, it will be WAY easier. And remember, the images are NOT being seen with your eyes so dont try to focus on them.
I cannot "starve" like some people do. Most of the reasons concern because I need to take food with my medication and I have such a high metabolism.
I have noticed I have had MORE OBE/lucid dreaming experiences if I eat certain things. The night I had a lucid dream and an OBE while sleeping I ate a bunch of stuff.
Now, if I'm trying to get into a deep trance during meditation, I make sure I haven't had much to eat in two hours and eat a lighter meal before. Which is why meditation in the morning is easier verses a big dinner at night. I'm sure then if you're trying to induce an OBE it'd be best to not eat much, but I don't advocate starving oneself or stressing oneself out in order to induce something. That is very much like trying LSD in order to induce things.
One thing I have really noticed, morning naps have produced a significant amount of "experiences," even if I ate a something right before I laid down.