The Right Frame of Mind

[ARoberts]

Hi guys, I've just discovered AP and before I try it for the first time, I have an important question.

From what I understand, AP heavily incorporates the old 'Mind over Matter' addage, and I was wondering whether a specific frame of mind is helpful, or even essential.

I say this as, growing up I found school very easy and academic subjects such as the Sciences seemed to be my strong point, which trained my mind in a very logical sense (I'm always striving to understand the underlying mechanisms of everything rather than letting it be).

However, despite this I have always had a fascination with the unknown and unexplainable, and I often get bored with the world as it is, because nothing interesting ever happens :p and my mind is capable of dreaming and wandering away from reality.

So my point (after a long time rambling, which I apologise for) is, does a carefree, wandering mind merit advantages over a logical, analytic mind? I just worry that my mind won't shut off and I'll never be able to practice AP.

Thanks

[Firmitas]

Welcome

I just recently discovered AP as well. I do think its very advantageous to have curiosity about what else is all around us. This will naturally bring you closer to it and I'm sure it will help you. As far as the wandering mind goes, I'm not sure if its really a 'good' or a 'bad' thing. Your mind is you and you are your mind so its not like you can change it you know?

With what you said about you being a logical person who strives in the sciences, it sounds like you might want to take a look at Bob Monroe's "phasing" technique. You can find some extremely helpful/interesting posts by Frank who was pretty much amazing at perfecting this technique and he goes into greater detail that may be slightly easier to understand.
you can find it at,

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_astral_projection_experiences/the_frank_kepple_phasing_resource_is_now_available-t25805.0.html

Good luck!
-Firmitas

[mcdwg]

In my own experience even when I have had a couple of OBE's and some phasings my mind always tries to analyze what it is, is it real?  So in a way I think that is a blockage to more progress.  I truly feel that if we let our mind go and just experience without too much thinking then more doors open and experiences become more vivid and just better, I have just started to just try to live everyday as it comes without too much thinking and I just feel a lot better during the day and at night as well.

[Jarrod]

I have a good example of the analytic mind vs. the intuitive "just accept it" mind.  I'd classify myself as more analytical minded.  When I study something I want to understand it completely down to it's most basic core.  I have a good friend however who is the opposite.  We're both interested in psychic and spiritual topics and both our mindsets have their advantages and disadvantages.  My problem is that I can't let go, let things come to me and just accept them.  Like shutting the analysing process off so I can enter trance...that's so difficult for me.  But on the other hand, I have more drive and focus and understand a lot more of the principles behind the practice and am able to learn from my experiences by picking them apart after the fact.  My friend's mindset makes her just kind of naturally gifted because she's able to let go very easily but she doesn't have enough drive or focus to do much with it.  I think you should aim to be able to reach both ends of the spectrum because at different points you need to be analytical and to be able to let go and just go with it.  Oh and mcdwg, I've been practicing mindfulness lately and it makes me feel a lot better too.