The Astral Pulse

Hello everyone!

I'd like to start a journal to keep track of my progress and to receive feedback along the way. I've been extremely interested in AP for a long time, and I've decided to commit myself to the process to see what I can learn.

About Me:

Low thirties and have a young child. I'm a bit busy, so I chunked out 1 hour every night dedicated to astral projection attempts, meditating (if needed), and journaling here. I've been meditating on and off since I was around 15, so I have some familiarity with altered states of consciousness. To this day, however, I have never had an astral projection.

Goals:

Have a conscious astral projection, preferably without having to alter my sleep habits (by waking up extra early or in the middle of the night). I already sleep feel rather tired in the mornings, and I don't want to jeopardize that even further. In addition, I'm open to other experiences of altered consciousness and psychic related activities.

History of AP so far:

I've been practicing AP for 2 weeks daily so far. I've encountered what I'd consider minor vibrations a few times, but then I fall out of it shortly after.

Roadblocks:

I over-analyze... a lot. I also like to consume as much information as possible, which results in more over-analyzation. As a result, I end up changing techniques frequently and thinking far too much while trying to astral project.

I've also been weightlifting/bodybuilding for many years. I have the same over-analyzation problems there as well. A half a year ago, I started working with an online trainer. The trainer has been able to keep my on the straight and narrow whenever my obsessive mind wants to see more results or change routines. I've made far more progress in this past half a year than I've made in a solid year or two prior. If anyone is willing to, I'm hoping that some of the more experienced members can keep me on the straight and narrow in a similar fashion. It doesn't take me much to snap out of wanting to change things, a quick reminder gets me back on track. I'd really appreciate it!

I also carry quite a bit of tension. I can relax most of my body well, but my jaw is always extremely tense. It is also difficult for me to let go of things while meditating, although I am working on it.

Current Practice:

I've read a ton information already on techniques and have become quite overwhelmed. It seems like the less complex, the better. I'm am going to follow Frank K.'s routine along with Wave 2 of the Gateway Experience (as recommended).

Purpose of the Journal:

Keep track of my experiences, learn from others, receive feedback and guidance, and to keep a track record of my evolution and studies.

I'm excited to be here!

4/26/2020 @ 6:30 PM:

I laid down on a soft mattress in a bedroom different than my own. I spent a few moments organizing the room and letting my spouse know that I would need peace and quite during the time I was meditating/APing.

I performed the Frank K.'s recommended rundown to the Gateway Experience's Wave 2 disc. The visualizations went well and were fairly vivid. By the end of the tape, I was in a very relaxed state. There were a few moments of time where my consciousness drifted off and I quickly returned afterwards. During the peak moments of the visualizations, I briefly saw a lit up phone screen and a red blinking dot that appears to be on a smoke detector. Both of the images were very vivid, but only lasted for a few seconds. Overall, I remained fairly detached to the results, which was one of my goals since I tend to over-analyze stuff. This was a very good session.

Practice Session - 4-28-2020 @ 6:30 PM:

My practice session was using Frank K.'s rundown to Robert Monroe's Wave 2 (Introduction to Focus 10). I am still working on refining my visualizations and sensory exploration during the rundown. When it is more refined, I'll share it in detail.

Observations for today:

• My visualizations are getting clearer. Some of my visualizations often appear almost perfectly real for brief moments. I believe the imagery only lasts briefly because it is so unexpected, my consciousness snaps back to normal. I believe that through repeated exposure, these visualizations will become normal and I'll be able to sustain them longer (while staying conscious).
• I've been introducing more feeling sensory in the rundown. This includes the feel grass, concrete, etc.. The touch sensory is pretty easy to imagine for me.
• Each sequential time I perform my rundown it feels a little more effortless. I noticed that when it becomes more effortless instead of rehearsed, more random things start to happen during the rundown. This might include additional sensory and divergences from the initial rundown that feel natural.
• During my rundown, there is a period where you are relaxing your body. Instead of focusing on my actual body, I "projected" a double above myself and relaxed that non-physical double. Interestingly enough, relaxing the double also relaxed my physical self. (I relaxed a "projection" to focus more on the non-physical.)
• I got extremely relaxed by the end of the tape. There were a few moments that I realized I had lost consciousness when I came back. The moments were brief (less than a minute), but I think it will be important to stay conscious when the deep relaxation sets in.

Overall, it was another good session. I didn't feel any vibrations or other OBE projection symptoms, but I can feel a lot of my imaginative skills improving.

Practice Session - 4-29-2020 @7:00 PM:

My practice session was using Frank K.'s rundown to Robert Monroe's Wave 2 (Introduction to Focus 10). I am still working on refining my visualizations and sensory exploration during the rundown. When it is more refined, I'll share it in detail.

Observations for today:

• I was very distracted today. I had difficulty visualizing with much detail and often found myself losing focus and thinking of day to day tasks.
• I noticed that I became frustrated when my visuals were straying my previous visualizations in terms of content. I want to work on this. I want to keep an open mind and allow my mind to stray from the normal path as long as I am conscious of this occuring.
• I found myself trying to remember what I was encountering so I could document it here. I believe this also drew me back to the physical. I want to work on experiencing the run down only, and recalling it later, even if that means reduced accuracy.
• Towards the end of the rundown, my vision (closed eyes) grew bright white. There were various flashings of white light as well that were short lived.
• For a few minutes, I felt an extremely heavy wave going over portions of my body. It felt similar to my limbs becoming immobile (or perhaps falling asleep). Again, once I became aware of this and focused on it, it went away.

Today's session wasn't one of my best. However, I felt it taught me an important lesson about staying relaxed and non-judgement towards experiences. The more I consciously observe an experience, the faster it seems to disappear. I suspect that observing with a relaxed consciousness will let these experiences develop deeper, which I imagine is relevant for astral projection.

Practice Session - 5-1-2020 @8:00 PM:

My practice session was using Frank K.'s rundown to Robert Monroe's Wave 2 (Introduction to Focus 10).

Today's observations:

• A had a scratchy throat and a cough most of the day, so it was a bit difficult to focus at the beginning of the session. Eventually, these hindrances went away.
• During certain parts of the rundown, I noticed that body feels like it is performing small swaying motions back and forth. They aren't overly fast or intense, but they do often intensify as the rundown continues.
• Once the tape gets to Focus 10, I'm not really sure what I should be doing. The narration essentially ends, and I tend to shift between viewing blackness and creating more visualizations. I'll have to read what Frank recommended doing at this stage. Until I have a game plan, or at least an outline, my brain tends to jump from OBE related subjects rapidly (i.e. viewing blackness, exit symptoms, visualization an exit, just breathing, etc). This feels counter productive.
• I got to a fairly relaxed state by the end of this.
• My brain has been performing a noticeable "shift" while I am doing the runtime. Like, for a few moments, it feels like everything is different, including my conscious thoughts and my "view" kind of alters. When this occurs, my mind usually tries to analyze it or make it happen more. Naturally, it starts to fade when this happens. I want to learn to relax into these sensations more so that I can continue to explore them.

Overall, it was a decent session considering I had some physical bodily distractions occurring.

Quote from: Puls3 on May 02, 2020, 00:55:50

• My brain has been performing a noticeable "shift" while I am doing the runtime. Like, for a few moments, it feels like everything is different, including my conscious thoughts and my "view" kind of alters. When this occurs, my mind usually tries to analyze it or make it happen more. Naturally, it starts to fade when this happens. I want to learn to relax into these sensations more so that I can continue to explore them.

Overall, it was a decent session considering I had some physical bodily distractions occurring.

I get that as well. Sometimes my shift in consciousness occurs shortly after I close my eyes and begin to just notice the darkness there. I will then get a "prompt" to readjust my vision. If I do readjust my vision it shows I wasn't ready for the shift to occur. If I don't refocus my vision, I get a strong surge of energy in my head that makes it feel like it is going into "overload". It is short lived but very powerful. After that, the depth of the darkness has changed considerably and I now in the Void. From there it's time to utilize thought = action and set a intent. I can tell that at that point I am not seeing with my physical eyes anymore. What I am experiencing seems so much more "expansive". It's really hard to explain it.

Those distractions can be troublesome if you "allow" them to be. I have itched myself, readjusted my whole body in the tub, sneezed, all kinds of things. But then I just stay the course I am on.

When I was new to this though, it was a whole different ball game, lol. I had problems with my eyes opening, excess saliva, the need to constantly swallow, breathing problems like hyperventilating, all kinds of things. They were self imposed blocks and obstacles to keep me physically focused. I had to learn to overcome them. That came by staying the course and going into a deeper state of relaxation. Your physical self will fight tooth and nail to keep you physically focused. That's why this practice is such a difficult thing for most people. They don't get past that.

Practice Session - 5-3-2020 @6:00 PM:

I'm continuing to use Frank's rundown to Wave 2 of the Gateway Experience. Some notes on today's session:

• There was one section of the rundown where I "forcefully" made the declaration recited in the audio. In addition, my actions in the visualizations were bold. They seem produce a more immersive effect when I was confident in my actions.
• I got the "altered consciousnesses" stage (mentioned in the previous post) many times this. I noticed that when I hit that state, I often shake right back out of it. I think if I could learn to let that altered state take effect without me losing focus, I may experience even deeper and greater results.
• A little bit more descriptions of the sensation: it almost feels like you get the "shivers" on your body and head. A wave sensation flows over me and it also alters my consciousness during this action. I don't believe that the sensation is one that has to go away immediately; I believe that if I could maintain a detached focus that it would remain. It also reminds me of the moment where you would fall asleep if you weren't trying to keep your mind awake. It will be interesting if I allow my body to fall asleep during that stage, but my mind remain aware. (I know I'm rambling a bit here, but I'm trying to articulate what the feelings are like. I'll elaborate more as time goes on.)
• I had a few moments of intense daydreaming there were very vivid. During these moments, I lost consciousness - so I don't really recall what was happening.
• Lastly, my "self" disappeared for around 5 minutes. There was a point where I was so relaxed that I felt like only my consciousness was sitting there. Puls3 the human was no longer there or a concept I cared about. The feeling was very relaxing and felt natural.

Overall, this was another good experience. I'm excited to continue the study?

QuoteSometimes my shift in consciousness occurs shortly after I close my eyes and begin to just notice the darkness there. I will then get a "prompt" to readjust my vision.

That is nearly exactly what happens to me!

QuoteIf I do readjust my vision it shows I wasn't ready for the shift to occur. If I don't refocus my vision, I get a strong surge of energy in my head that makes it feel like it is going into 'overload'... After that, the depth of the darkness has changed considerably and I now in the Void.

Can you explain this a bit more? I've been getting that surge many times in one session. Is that a prompt that I should be doing something?

Today I experienced a shift like you describe, but instead of it being visual focused, it was if I disappeared altogether. "I" as I know myself wasn't there. There was only observation of the audio I was listening to. A sort of emptiness, but a very comfortable one.

Quote from: Puls3 on May 03, 2020, 22:58:39
That is nearly exactly what happens to me!

Can you explain this a bit more? I've been getting that surge many times in one session. Is that a prompt that I should be doing something?

Today I experienced a shift like you describe, but instead of it being visual focused, it was if I disappeared altogether. "I" as I know myself wasn't there. There was only observation of the audio I was listening to. A sort of emptiness, but a very comfortable one.

It is very difficult to describe. But you did a great job of describing it in the last part of your current quote above.

It comes on like a urge to move my eyes. I have trained myself not to move or even use my physical eyes while noticing. The urge/prompt will then become really powerful, along with a sensation that my head is going blow up, hence my saying overload. Then, everything goes quiet and I am just "there". There is no urge to use my eyes period. I can't feel anything except for a "vastness". At this point I sometimes will test it by shooting a basket/tossing a basketball or rolling a ball, just to see how it plays out. Lately though I have been experiencing a lot of cave exploring, which then leads to a hall full of doors. Every door entered opens up a new adventure.

In the last week I have found that once I hit this vastness, I then feel like I am warping at high speed in reverse. The visuals of leaving my home, the Earth and everything appears during that experience. It's like a trip through the Universe, yet I am being pulled to into it. Sorry, this is yet another thing hard to explain because it defies our Human understanding of it.

If you give into the prompt and do readjust your eyes, you aren't ready for the shift and either need to relax more into it or deepen your focus into the darkness in front of you. Don't strain your vision. Just "passively observe" it and "notice", without question, anticipation, expectation or excitement. Again easier to say than it is to do. But that's why we continue to practice, until the day it comes naturally to you.

Quote from: Lumaza on May 03, 2020, 23:48:27
It comes on like a urge to move my eyes. I have trained myself not to move or even use my physical eyes while noticing. The urge/prompt will then become really powerful, along with a sensation that my head is going blow up, hence my saying overload. Then, everything goes quiet and I am just "there". There is no urge to use my eyes period. I can't feel anything except for a "vastness".

That is a great way of explaining it too!

Quote
If you give into the prompt and do readjust your eyes, you aren't ready for the shift and either need to relax more into it or deepen your focus into the darkness in front of you. Don't strain your vision. Just "passively observe" it and "notice", without question, anticipation, expectation or excitement. Again easier to say than it is to do. But that's why we continue to practice, until the day it comes naturally to you.

Great advice Lumaza! Thanks for the reflections!

Practice Session - 5-5-2020 @ 12:30 PM:

Observations:

• During the deepest portion of the trance, the visual images seem to becoming more prominent the more I practice.
• I seem to be reaching a deeper state of consciousness at a quicker pace.

The session was good, but there really isn't much else to note this time.

Puls3,

You will not likely find a more precise description of the Focusing process as what you have read by Frank; and Lumaza takes it to an even more subtle level with the details and nuances that he describes. I think that your replies #5 and #6 show excellent progress in the very subtle aspects and consciousness changes that need to be recognized. Good work!

I would like to add a couple very specific suggestions that may help:

1) Focus 10 has a gradient of finer levels to it. Each of the Focus levels do actually. I never understood that initially and always thought I had to be at some point other/deeper than where I was. I have found that some people can get to a 'high' F10 where their body is completely asleep yet their consciousness is still fully awake (a true MABA). Some people can do it every time. I cannot, even when I am at TMI. I have done it but only infrequently...so I know the state and I know it can be achieved; but I'm not one who can do it on command. But what I also learned at TMI is that I can still achieve everything, even from much lower F10 states...so my point to you is that when you notice the physical relaxation and the mental relaxation, you are in a sufficiently deep F10 state, so be confident with that. State your Intention, do a Rundown, try Noticing for awhile...success can require multiple attempts and what I read here tells me you are making good progress; it may not necessarily feel like it for you at the moment, but I definitely see it.

2) You mentioned 'forcefully' stating your Intent. That doesn't work for me but it seems to have gotten a result for you; so work with that if it feels right. The other part of this Reply mentioned the 'disappearance' of your 'self' for 5 minutes. That is good and let it continue to happen. That is almost to the point of a 'click-out' or dropping into the Void. Often, and especially early on, we get caught up in Rundowns and Noticing and stating Intentions...which is all well and good, but it may not be the right time for it...and what we should be doing is continuing to relax until we fall asleep. For years and years, listening to the Hemi-Sync I fought that impulse...and now I realize that I was likely completely wrong; I should have let it happen. You have to be willing to set your Intent and then let it go...and maybe the first couple times you do fall asleep. What you soon realize is that you didn't just fall asleep, you actually experienced a 'click-out'. You just drop into sleep in an instant...and then awaken as the session is ending. And you have to trust that you did receive 'Learning' but that it had to be taken in on a subconscious level. Only after spending now 4 weeks at TMI do I realize that 'click-outs' still happen at various times, for me and even for the most experienced TMI participants and Trainers. So it is a new form of learning that we need to become accustomed to and trust.

I wish I had learned this about thirty years ago, Lol.

So trust and let go and fall asleep a few times, and I think you may be surprised at the results.

Hope that helps.
EV

Middle of the night experience (5-5 to 5-6 sleeping):

I have a very interesting experience last night, and I wanted to note it here before I forget. I'm not entirely sure what the experience was; whether it was a lucid dream, an astral projection, or something in between.

My experience:

Note:  While reading about phasing, I remember reading that you can slowly fade into a visualization.

While I was dreaming, the landscape in front of me morphed into a familiar out door area where I used to play as a child.When this happened in the dream, it reminded me of the phasing, which made me conscious of the whole experience. I then declared my intention to have an astral projection. At that moment, I slowly lifted up into the air and was floating. The visualizations were extremely vivid, nearly as vivid as waking life. I then flew through the air and dipped towards the ground. While I was close to the ground I brushed my hand against the grass. I could actually feel the grass in my palm as realistically as if I did so outside at this moment. After performing this swoop, my vision faded dark and I woke up conscious of the whole experience.

The experience was extremely realistic. The vividness of the images, the sensations of touch etc., led to me to believe the experience was something greater than just an ordinary dream. I'm not sure what to label it, or whether labeling is even necessary. I thought it was interesting nonetheless, so I wanted to share it!

 Pulse3, in a Dream, you are already experiencing a non local/non physical state of consciousness. You should explore the place you find yourself in. There is a reason you are there. Lessons and teachings can be found in those scenarios/simulations.

It looks like you are learning how to ground yourself to the scene at hand. That's great. That will take you far in this practice. Grounding = lengthening/prolonging, being able to hold a strong NP focus.

An ordinary Dream only differs from a Lucid Dream, by the level of conscious awareness you have in/during it.

Quote from: EscapeVelocity on May 06, 2020, 02:17:11

But what I also learned at TMI is that I can still achieve everything, even from much lower F10 states...so my point to you is that when you notice the physical relaxation and the mental relaxation, you are in a sufficiently deep F10 state, so be confident with that. State your Intention, do a Rundown, try Noticing for awhile...success can require multiple attempts and what I read here tells me you are making good progress; it may not necessarily feel like it for you at the moment, but I definitely see it.

That is a very interesting reflection EscapeVelocity, I appreciate the comments. I've never really considered the various depths of F10, but then again, what you say makes sense. What type of a Rundown do you usually perform once you reach this state? From what I can gather, Frank used a Rundown lasting over 30 minutes that matched up with Wave 2 of the first Gateway Experience CD. Although, from what I've read so far, I'm not entirely sure what I should do once the narrated CD comes to an end. Perhaps I need to read more. (I try to read as little as possible so that I don't overwhelm myself. I have the tendency to over analyze stuff, so if I restrict the information coming in, it helps solve the problem.)

Quote
You mentioned 'forcefully' stating your Intent. That doesn't work for me but it seems to have gotten a result for you; so work with that if it feels right.

It felt right at the moment during that day. I haven't felt that way since though.

Quote
...and what we should be doing is continuing to relax until we fall asleep. For years and years, listening to the Hemi-Sync I fought that impulse...and now I realize that I was likely completely wrong; I should have let it happen. You have to be willing to set your Intent and then let it go...and maybe the first couple times you do fall asleep.

That's interesting! I've always tried to keep my brain active enough not to fall asleep. It seems like if I let myself fall asleep, it would be no different than a nap, you know? Like, why would I astral project if I let myself sleep (because I've slept 1,000's of times and haven't astral projected by luck)? Could you explain this a bit more, I'm intrigued!

Quote
What you soon realize is that you didn't just fall asleep, you actually experienced a 'click-out'. You just drop into sleep in an instant...and then awaken as the session is ending. And you have to trust that you did receive 'Learning' but that it had to be taken in on a subconscious level... So trust and let go and fall asleep a few times, and I think you may be surprised at the results.

What kind of 'Learning' or results can occur during a 'click out?'

I really appreciate your feedback!

Quote from: Lumaza on May 06, 2020, 23:44:53
Pulse3, in a Dream, you are already experiencing a non local/non physical state of consciousness. You should explore the place you find yourself in. There is a reason you are there. Lessons and teachings can be found in those scenarios/simulations.

It looks like you are learning how to ground yourself to the scene at hand. That's great. That will take you far in this practice. Grounding = lengthening/prolonging, being able to hold a strong NP focus.

An ordinary Dream only differs from a Lucid Dream, by the level of conscious awareness you have in/during it.

Thank you for the feedback! Over the past month or so, I've become far more aware of dreams and I usually remember more than one per night. It's definyinteresting!

Practice Session - 5-10-2020 @ 6 PM:

Another session using Wave 2:

• I slipped into the "void" a few times during the session. I also noticed that I got a falling sensation each time it occurred.
• I ended up be quite relaxed by the end of session. Today, it was relatively easy to get relaxed.
• I had a lot of day to day thoughts pop in to my head while performing my rundown. Some days I have almost no extra thoughts.

The session felt so so. I've had better and I've had worse.

Practice Session - 5-15-2020 @ 6 PM:

For today's practice session, I performed my same rundown. However, this time, I was not listening to the Wave 2 audio. I find that the audio sometimes paces differently than I am prefer: I.e. too fast or too slow.

Here are my notes:

• I really enjoyed moving through visualization at my own pace. I was able to slow down and appreciate certain moments and sensations more.
• After the rundown is over; I'm a bit unsure what I should do. If I just stay there and relax, my mind tends to return to my physical body. I've tried staring into the blackness as people have recommended, but the low amount of stimulus usually leaves my mind to wander.
• After the rundown completed, I decided to swing in a hammock. I imagined the surroundings, the sound of the rope against trees, the breeze, and the sensation of swinging. While this worked for a while, my mind began to wander again. I suspect it got "bored" due to the repetitious nature of the activity.

Take always: I believe I prefer the rundown without sound now. I'm still unsure what to do after the rundown. Also, if you haven't astral projected after a certain duration, do you just wait until another day?

Overall the session was good, but I've come out with more questions than answers.

Quote from: Puls3 on May 15, 2020, 23:32:46

Take always: I believe I prefer the rundown without sound now. I'm still unsure what to do after the rundown. Also, if you haven't astral projected after a certain duration, do you just wait until another day?

It doesn't matter if your mind wanders. My Doorway technique was created for those that suffer from "Monkey mind". All you have to do is engage yourself in some kind of mental activity that doesn't involve you focusing on your "physical body" and no "sneak peeks" to see what it is doing either. Something like a virtual tug of war created by a focus on opposite directions can lead to some fantastic adventures. Look at sports or hobbies that you like. Utilize what "you" think would keep you involved. Something that you have a passion for. I will sometimes just hit a ping pong ball repeatedly with a paddle into the darkness before my eyes. I don't need to see the paddle or even the ball. I just go through that mental activity. All of aa sudden, the ball is hit back and I am in a game. I don't necessarily care for ping pong. I play it once in awhile at my son's home. I used it because it has a simple repetitive motion, like shooting a basketball or even rowing a boat. Do you see what I am saying here?

QuoteOverall the session was good, but I've come out with more questions than answers.

LOL!  :-D That's par for the course. We always return with more questions than answers in this practice. Other members here can confirm that! Sometimes you get the answer you are looking for and then find that leads to more questions again. You will find that you rarely get a yes or no or even a direct answer there. Your answers arrive via tests, quests and challenges. Just like they often do here in this physical reality we are living in. The NPR (non physical realities) are a whole different kind of "school"!  :-)

There are several ways of entering the Non-Physical Realms: ie- the Dream World, the Etheric, the Astral, Mental, etcetera and in certain ways these Realms/Areas of Consciousness overlap each other; so there is no telling just where you end up the first several times. Most of us start out just like you are- trying to relax enough and make a conscious and controlled exit. And most of us run into the same problems and frustrations like you are. So both Lumaza and I are trying to encourage the method you are following, and to point out certain hints and road signs that will point you in the right direction; and you are doing well with that. But the frustration and slow pace you are experiencing are mostly normal...and we know that because we've almost all been there at one time or another and especially right in the beginning. So what do you do?

You try different techniques. You relax, you meditate, you try Phasing with different Rundowns, you focus on something or nothing or the blackness before your closed eyes...and you look for the hints and road signs...the small, subtle changes within your awareness and five+ senses.
Most people start with relaxing into a low or higher F10 state and try to float out of their body like a ghost into the Etheric. This is considered the 'classic' OBE. A small few can do that first try, others never manage to get that experience. There are various arguments as to why but truth is I'm not sure anyone knows for sure. I could do it on a very infrequent basis but the conditions had to be just right.
Then we learned of the concept of Phasing and that took you somewhere beyond the Etheric experience, maybe into the Dream World or the Astral Plane. Some argued they were the same or somehow overlapping (this made sense to me). With Phasing, there was a feeling of transition but it was something beyond 'floating out of the body'; this was somehow simpler and cleaner. This is what Monroe discovered and described as his 'Quick-Switch Method'. Frank added his F1-4 Focus theory and his 'window-blind' technique, which resulted in a transition/exit sensation for him of 'getting fired out of a cannon'. I remember reading a technique by a member here named Selski who described her 'Trampoline Method' and that was the first Rundown I learned of. Eventually I learned that the important aspect of a Rundown (or at least for me) was that it simulated a physical movement that included up/down or side to side movement and rhythm. So all sorts of ideas spring to mind- snow/water skiing, dance, ballet, ice skating, gymnastics, skateboarding, rollercoasters...and on and on. You get the Rundown right and the visual just takes over at some point, and the visual either launches you, or slides you into a NP environment.

Another way to gain entrance to the NPR is to literally back into it through Dreaming. You fall asleep, you dream and then you become Lucid and take over from there. And the truth may be that both your early Phasing successes and your Lucid Dreams will land you in approximately the same area of the NPR- your personal dreamspace.

And Puls3, you've already done this very naturally and with some talent in your earlier post. And this is how it happens for many of us...but we tend to discount the experience and blow it off as just a dream. The truth is that you have already had quite a success. Lumaza's point is exactly right- once within the dream and lucid, now you have to look for the purpose of the scenario you are in; what is the Test, Quest or Challenge the dream is presenting you; what is the plot and what is the storyline? This is where the teaching becomes apparent, although truth is, the teaching is already underway and has been for some time. Go read Tests, Quests and Challenges...

Why did the Dreaming work so well for you? Well, you described part of the answer- You said your over-analytical mind is probably getting in the way. Yup. That's why I suggested letting yourself fall asleep just once to see what happened. You might just get a nap or you might get a 'click-out' experience or you might get a Lucid Dream or even an OBE that was more to your expectations. In my own case, I get a mixture of all these...and it seems many people do. The key early on in your practice, is to stay open and aware to any of these experiences and gladly accept what you get. Write it all down and it will make more sense later on.

A big obstacle for many of us is an over-active, monkey-chatter mind...throw ego control in there too. Another is fear of the unknown or losing control, even when we think we have sorted those emotions out; for many, there are still subconscious issues, and its understandable given what we are attempting.

Another key to unlocking this is INTENT. Your Lucid Dream is a great indicator that you are doing this, but that the surprise was that the result didn't show up as you expected. One rule of the NPR- You won't always get the experience you wanted, but you will get the experience that you need. With Intent, you re-program your internal computer with simple instructions. With affirmations before your sessions and before you go to sleep at night you re-write your basic programming.

I know that the out of body experience is safe and natural.
I give myself permission/I ask my Higher Self permission to have an out of body experience
I know that I am safe and protected
I ask for the next best and highest lesson to benefit my spiritual progress

Only one, two or three at a time, mix and match as you see fit. Keep it short, simple and positive, no acronyms like OBE (our subconscious doesn't process language that way apparently)

Setting a proper Intent and utilizing affirmations are two of the most powerful tools you will always have at your disposal.

Early Morning 5-17-2020 ~5:00 am

Recently, before bed and any time I wake up in the night, I repeat an affirmation before falling asleep, "I will leave my body, return safely, and remember."

I can't remember the beginning of the experience, only a brief moment or two. Essentially, I was looking at a beautiful valley that appeared as real as waking consciousness. At this moment, I realized my eyes were closed (physical body), yet I was still seeing things. As soon as my i made that connection, I woke up.

Upon waking up, I became flooded with a few memories of this exact event occurring in the past. (Eyes closed, but being able to see. Each time, when I made the connection, I woke up.)

I'm not sure whether this I am tapping into and remembering a portion of an astral projection, or whether it is lucid dream. Regardless of the label, the experience is very unique and far different than an ordinary dream.

As a note too: I'm beginning to feel a common theme or lesson in my experiences - let go. I get a feeling that if I could learn to let go of the need to control and analyze things, my experiences would be more frequent and longer in duration. I'll be working on this during my practice sessions.

Quote from: Puls3 on May 17, 2020, 11:44:14
Early Morning 5-17-2020 ~5:00 am
As a note too: I'm beginning to feel a common theme or lesson in my experiences - let go. I get a feeling that if I could learn to let go of the need to control and analyze things, my experiences would be more frequent and longer in duration. I'll be working on this during my practice sessions.

Listen to that feeling. It knows what's best for you. Relaxing, releasing and letting go comes as the result of "passively observing" without question, anticipation, expectation or excitement. Which as you are finding out first hand now is easier said than done! You are doing great though. Keep it up!  8-)

Quote from: Lumaza on May 17, 2020, 20:16:37
Listen to that feeling. It knows what's best for you. Relaxing, releasing and letting go comes as the result of "passively observing" without question, anticipation, expectation or excitement. Which as you are finding out first hand now is easier said than done! You are doing great though. Keep it up!  8-)

You said it perfectly Lumaza. Learning to passively observe will be my next focus (but not too much of a focus :-D). Also, I very much appreciate your comment above. I usually have to spend a few days mulling it over and reading them a few times. Your time is much appreciated.

Quote from: EscapeVelocity on May 16, 2020, 03:17:32
There are several ways of entering the Non-Physical Realms: ie- the Dream World, the Etheric, the Astral, Mental, etcetera and in certain ways these Realms/Areas of Consciousness overlap each other...

... I know that the out of body experience is safe and natural.
I give myself permission/I ask my Higher Self permission to have an out of body experience
I know that I am safe and protected
I ask for the next best and highest lesson to benefit my spiritual progress

Only one, two or three at a time, mix and match as you see fit. Keep it short, simple and positive, no acronyms like OBE (our subconscious doesn't process language that way apparently)

Setting a proper Intent and utilizing affirmations are two of the most powerful tools you will always have at your disposal.

Wow, that's a lot to think about. Much like Lumaza's informative posts, I need to spend a few days contemplating both of your posts. I especially like the idea of setting an intent. That seems to be a common theme among many APers. And I've been getting into affirmations too, I really like your recommended one.

Practice Session 5-19-2020 ~7:00 pm

I've made a few minor modifications to the rundown, but in general, it is the same as before. I no longer listen to the audio as I feel it was holding back my pacing and imagination. Some notes from today's session:

• Around 10 minutes into the rundown, I got an extremely relaxed sensation. It felt like my body was starting to spiral into itself. For example, my head and upper torso were rotating to the right and inwards. The feeling became so prominent that for a moment, it felt like my body had altogether disappeared and at that center of the spiral was only my consciousness. When my brain made the realization and wanted to remember to document it here, the sensation ceased. This is again a testament of being relaxed and to let things happen as they should.
• At the end of my rundown, I know consistently get a "relaxed" wave that comes over me. At this moment, my vision alters and looks into the "3D" void. I experience intensifying hypnagogic visuals. (Usually they start out as flashes, and for moments, I see brief images that almost look like shapes or objects. They are not yet clear enough to make out though.)
• After a few minutes into the relaxed state, I notice the classic OBE vibrations course through my body. They tend to get pretty intense pretty fast, and I found the need to "ground" myself (which was me focusing on my breath). When I focused on my breath, I become grounded, but the vibrations also ceased. This is likely because I am bringing my attention back to the physical body.
• Next time I experience the vibrations, I will try to let go and focus on them instead of distracting myself. Since they are somewhat uncomfortable, due to the sensation being unique and unfamiliar, I'm going to need to experience them more before I'll be able to fully relax into them.

Overall, this was another great session. The spiral sensation was very unique and mind bending. Also, I'm able to sustain the vibrations for longer than before. My goal is to continue letting go and observe things with a relaxed awareness. I believe this relaxed awareness will allow these non-physical sensations to continue to grow.

 I enjoy reading your "evolution" here!  8-) Keep it coming!

What I really like though is how you are aware not only of the positives here, but also why your experience came to a halt. At first, it is very difficult to just ignore everything and observe. You are now finding the benefits behind it though!

That imagery that fades, will begin to be prolonged. When it does, you won't need to join anything, you will already be in the reality that you are witnessing!

Quote from: Lumaza on May 20, 2020, 00:00:26
I enjoy reading your "evolution" here!  8-) Keep it coming!

What I really like though is how you are aware not only of the positives here, but also why your experience came to a halt. At first, it is very difficult to just ignore everything and observe. You are now finding the benefits behind it though!

That imagery that fades, will begin to be prolonged. When it does, you won't need to join anything, you will already be in the reality that you are witnessing!

I really appreciate the feedback and following my thread! It makes the experience feel deeper.

Quote from: Puls3 on May 23, 2020, 22:51:19
I really appreciate the feedback and following my thread! It makes the experience feel deeper.

:-)

Practice Session - 5-23-2020 @ 6:00PM:

Today I'm at my mother and father in laws with the family. I decided to settle down and do some practice here. This is the first time I've practiced in a recliner; I quite like it! The general process is the same: I did a rundown and eventually looked at the 3D darkness once the rundown concluded.

• The initial visualizations went well. I'm able to drop into a fairly deep trance quickly now.
• Near the end of my rundown, there was a moment where my brain started relaxing and my imagery went on another path. Immediately, I snapped it back to my rundown since I wasn't "done." Only after this happened did I realize it would have been more fruitful to stay aware but let my mind go into the dream-like state. I'm still learning  :-D
• While my trance was deepening, I again noticed I was resisting the feeling of going deeper. When I realized that, I let myself relax into the feeling. I was able to both realize I was resisting and to relax the resistiance better than before. It still needs more practice though.
• At the peak of my trance, I could hear someone speaking, although I'm not sure who. It sounded like typical chatter that your brain is always performing, but instead it had an actual auditory sensation to it and it echoed a bit. Definitely different than normal. I can't recall what the voice said.

Overall, it was another good session. I'm noticing each session is bit different than the others. I'll notice different details and different events happen, even if they are small. Although I've only been at it for a while, I can see that practice is deepening the experience.

A few additions notes. I notice that if I do the exact same rundown each time, my mind wanders more. It seems beneficial to let my mind change up some of the smaller details. As a plus too, my mind gets more involved when there are small differences and a freedom of imagination during the rundown. Being too strict on replicating experiences seems to harm the overall experience. Perhaps it is overthinking, which is more a characteristic of the physical? I'm not sure.

Also, two nights ago during my practice, I noticed two "lights" in my 3D blackness behind my eyes. I'm used to the normal flashing discharge you see when your eyes are closed, but this time I saw a vivid blue and green light, much like Christmas lights. This was the first time I'd seen true color while practicing.

 Great job!  8-) You are learning quickly. The faster you can you can put your "left brain" at ease, the faster you will find yourself "there".

Rundown and techniques are just "Blueprints". They are not set in stone. When the scene starts to morph, allow it to and go with the flow. Don't fight it. Take what is given to you!  :-)

Practice Session - 5-24-2020 @ 7:00PM

I did my typical rundown again today. Today's notes:

• Today I decided to let my experience guide me, even if the rundown was not complete.
• I got about half way through my rundown and fairly strong vibrations started. I began experimenting on what I should focus on when this occurs. If I focus on my breath they stop - if I focus on the vibrations, they intensify to some degree. During this session, I mainly focused on the sensation of vibrating. I also wondered what would happen if I focused on nothingness when this was occurring - but I found that extremely difficult to do.
• Today, it felt right to make my intentions clear in a direct way. I stated my intentions similar to the following, "I am ready to astral project. My mind and body are prepared and I'm ready for experiences beyond the physical." I made my intentions with pure confidence and it felt right.
• Once the vibrations began getting stronger, I placed another intention, "stronger vibrations now!" As soon as I placed the intention, my body was overtaken my an intense sensation. For a few moments my body felt like it was distorting and I couldn't hold my conscious awareness. After a few moments I regained consciousness. My body had a strong wave of relaxation go down my spine and throughout my body. Nearly instantly, I was perfectly relaxed.
• Part of me feels I could projected at that exact moment if I was mentally and physically prepared. It felt like it was part of the training; like my body exposing me to the sensations that I will take advantage of in the future.
• After this event, I wasn't entirely sure what I should do. I tried various things like: attempting to detach from my body via floating, looking into the 3D blackness, and just letting go to see what happened. I had various other minor sensations, but my normal waking consciousness slowly returned.
• While I was a little disappointed that the sensations faded, it felt like that initial event was the purpose of this training. After the exposure was over, I could sense that my body felt that was enough for today.

Overall, another good sensation. It feels like I'm getting closer. Each day I experience some new consciousness alteration, which is exciting. Until next time!

 Well done!  :-) 8-)

There are things I read above in your current post that I could have helped you with and commented on. But I would rather you find out them for yourself and it looks like you are doing just that. Much of what we say here on the Astral Pulse really has to be experienced before it makes sense and finally sinks in.

I find that the "exit" occurs after the vibrations have came to a apex and now everything is just silent and still. That's when the show begins for me!  :-) I normally don't experience any vibrations when I Phase. My vibrational state comes when I awaken "spontaneously" in SP (Sleep Paralysis) and experience a full body OBE. If I wanted to I could initiate the vibrations while Phasing. That would mean I would have to keep a semblance of awareness on my physical body while Phasing. I have that occur a few times during more of a "dual awareness" shift.

I believe is may have experienced an OBE last night. Descriptions below:

Sometime in the night, I became aware that I was dreaming. In the dream, I stated my intention - out of body now. In that moment I recall being back in physical body. I decided to exit my body and tried to roll my astral body out of my physical body. Next thing I know I had a sensation of feeling my face against carpet. My eyes were still closed, so I opened them. I was low towards the ground and had the desire to see my body in bed since I've heard about it so much. However, I remembered that seeing your body can end the experience. Instead, I was satisfied with just seeing the ruffled comforter where my leg was.

Next, I decided to do something  I mad the intention to float out of this room, but I noticed my vision was still blurry. I again set an intention "clarity now" and my vision sharpened.

Controlling my astral body was difficult. I recall making it through my wall and then floating up into the attic above my house. At this moment, I thought how beautiful and realistic astral projection was. I also got a bit scarred since everything was so dark and I wondered if I'd encounter any non-physical being. However, I decided to keep going.

Around this time I started to fall back through the attic. I lacked control of the astral body and continued to fall through my ground floor of my house, and then into the earth. Around this time my memory of the experience ended - I believe I returned to the physical and woke up, but not to a fully conscious state since I didn't recall the experience until sometime later when my wife woke me up to feed the baby.

Since I didn't wake up immediately after the experience, it's hard to fully decide if was an OBE, a dream, or a lucid dream. However, I just can't shake the idea that it was a full OBE. Once I woke up, the entire experience came back to me. And what came back to me didn't feel like it dream; the clarity of imagery, the sensations, and my conscious thoughts during the experience are all recalled and quite vivid. The experience, from start to finish, is etched in my mind.

Quote from: Lumaza on May 25, 2020, 00:21:45
Well done!  :-) 8-)

There are things I read above in your current post that I could have helped you with and commented on. But I would rather you find out them for yourself and it looks like you are doing just that. Much of what we say here on the Astral Pulse really has to be experienced before it makes sense and finally sinks in.

I find that the "exit" occurs after the vibrations have came to a apex and now everything is just silent and still. That's when the show begins for me!  :-) I normally don't experience any vibrations when I Phase. My vibrational state comes when I awaken "spontaneously" in SP (Sleep Paralysis) and experience a full body OBE. If I wanted to I could initiate the vibrations while Phasing. That would mean I would have to keep a semblance of awareness on my physical body while Phasing. I have that occur a few times during more of a "dual awareness" shift.

I'm definitely okay learning myself and appreciate any guidance you can provide (it appropriate). I can also see how difficult it is to explain non-physical concepts. It's drastically different than what we are used to.

I thought that phasing might not involve vibrations. When I get into a relaxed state, they just begin to happen. Naturally, it feels right to increase their intensity and use them. And that is a good point about the vibrations and some awareness of the body! It does feel that the it is still somewhat removed from true focus on the physical body since the vibrations feel kore like a non-physical energy symptom rather than a purely physical sensation.

Practice Session - 5-29-2020 @ 6:30 PM:

I performed my normal session. Here are today's notes:

• I've been struggling a bit with staying focused during the rundown. It seems like if my routine is exactly the same each time, my consciousness gets bored and loses focus. I've been experimenting with performing the same sequence of events, but in different landscapes. One time it might be a meadow, then a forest, then mountains etc. When I'm able to visualize new material my focus is much higher. I'm not sure whether small modifications will impact my results.
• I reached a somewhat relaxed state. Once my rundown ended, I chose to stare into the 3D darkness. I saw some minor visualizations and blue colored gem for a few moments.
• I'm still not sure what do after the rundown is over. Staring into the darkness seems to work okay, but not great. I guess, as a whole, I don't know know what to do and/or focus on when the rundown is over.
• I got some vibrations again during today's session. Instead of trying to focus my mind on breathing, I tried to enhance them. And once I try to enhance or feel them more, they faded away. It seems like I need to let them develop on their own. However, I don't know what to do with my consciousness while they are occurring. Too much focus, and they disappear. It could be a relaxed awareness as I've seen mentioned before, which I'm still working on.

Overall, the session was okay. Ever since I had the possible OBE from my last post, I've had difficulties getting into the same, deep level on consciousness I would during my practice periods. I'm not sure whether that experience set "standards" that my mind is attached to? Or maybe this is just part of the ebb and flow of experience.

Practice Session - 6-1-2020 @ 6:00PM:

Today I performed a slight alteration of the rundown. It was still a visualization oriented routine in which I visualized 3 objects in my house.

• After about 20 minutes of visualizing, I got into an extremely relaxed state. My consciousness began to shift in and out of its ordinary state.
• I noticed that if I visualized with slightly less focus and intention to use my five senses, I would drift deeper into relaxation. It seems that if I try to over visualize detail or tactile sensations that my mind is stuck in more of analyzing mindset. This does not seem advantageous for OBEs.
• At around the 20-30 minute mark I was experienced slightly increasing body vibrations. At its peak, it felt like my bed was vibrating fairly intensely alongside with my body. This is the most intense vibrations I've felt so far.
• Vibrations seem to increase of if I can maintain a relaxed awareness. I would describe this awareness as being conscious with no particular focus. It's almost like your mind could fall asleep at any moment, even though you're awake. It reminds me of the empty mind state you get right before you sleep.  
• If I focused on trying to enhance my bodies vibrations, the intensity would lower. However, I noticed that if I visualized myself driving in a truck down a bumpy dirt road that the vibrations would pick back up again. I used the truck visualization since the vibrations reminded me of that motion. It appears that you can enhance your vibrations, but it is preferable for me to do so by visualizing something that produces the motion automatically without focusing on the actual body or sensations.
• Much like above, the vibrations seemed to increase the most when I visualized driving the truck very abstractly. I didn't focus too much on the surrounding, the vehicle, or the road. Instead I just held an abstract idea of driving in the truck where all details were held simultaneously with very little detail or specificity.

For a few moments at the peak of the vibrations, I got the feeling I was very close to leaving my body. Like it was moments away. I knew that if I could let go both physically and mentally a little bit more that I  could have left. I'm going to continue working on holding this awareness that is beneficial for deepening my consciousness. I believe it is key to my progress.

Another note to myself: this awareness is almost like focus without focus.

Overall, the session felt very beneficial.

Quote from: Puls3 on June 01, 2020, 23:22:36

• I noticed that if I visualized with slightly less focus and intention to use my five senses, I would drift deeper into relaxation. It seems that if I try to over visualize detail or tactile sensations that my mind is stuck in more of analyzing mindset. This does not seem advantageous for OBEs.


• Vibrations seem to increase of if I can maintain a relaxed awareness. I would describe this awareness as being conscious with no particular focus. It's almost like your mind could fall asleep at any moment, even though you're awake. It reminds me of the empty mind state you get right before you sleep.  

For a few moments at the peak of the vibrations, I got the feeling I was very close to leaving my body. Like it was moments away. I knew that if I could let go both physically and mentally a little bit more that I  could have left. I'm going to continue working on holding this awareness that is beneficial for deepening my consciousness. I believe it is key to my progress.

Another note to myself: this awareness is almost like focus without focus.

All of those points and descriptions that you had above were leading to the state known as the "no mind" state. It's when you are just "being".

The problem I see is you have a one step forward two steps back thing going on here. You are initiating the process, but just as something does begin to happen, you change it up. You stated your focus on motion which is great, but then went back to "leaving the body". If you would have stayed with the focus on motion you would have seen that a shift was already occurring. Thus, you wouldn't have to "leave the body" because you already had!  :-)

I see you doing constructive things, then all of a sudden ruining all your progress. When in a motion based "Phase", if you turn your focus back to what your physical sensations are you will lose that focus target that got you to where you were in the first place. Even a "sneak peek" is detrimental to the process. I know it's hard to do, but you are getting there! Stay the course!  8-)

Quote from: Lumaza on June 02, 2020, 03:54:28
The problem I see is you have a one step forward two steps back thing going on here. You are initiating the process, but just as something does begin to happen, you change it up. You stated your focus on motion which is great, but then went back to "leaving the body". If you would have stayed with the focus on motion you would have seen that a shift was already occurring. Thus, you wouldn't have to "leave the body" because you already had!  :-)

Yeah changing it up is a common problem I'm running into. I perform my rundown, but as that comes to an end, I'm not always sure what to do. And by come to an end, my planned events are over or I've performed them to a certain point where isn't much left to explore. Typically, I'll start entering other states of consciousness or vibrations before this occurs.

I guess my question is, once the vibrations start, what should I do? Is it appropriate to shift to focusing on the motion? Or should the rundown still continue?

Quote
I see you doing constructive things, then all of a sudden ruining all your progress. When in a motion based "Phase", if you turn your focus back to what your physical sensations are you will lose that focus target that got you to where you were in the first place. Even a "sneak peek" is detrimental to the process. I know it's hard to do, but you are getting there! Stay the course!  8-)

Could you explain in more detail which of my actions is ruining the progress? I'm trying to understand how to continue forward, and a lot of these events I'm experiencing are new, so I'm often not sure how to.

Thank you for the feedback Lumaza  :-)

Quote from: Puls3 on June 02, 2020, 14:38:56
Yeah changing it up is a common problem I'm running into. I perform my rundown, but as that comes to an end, I'm not always sure what to do. And by come to an end, my planned events are over or I've performed them to a certain point where isn't much left to explore. Typically, I'll start entering other states of consciousness or vibrations before this occurs.

I guess my question is, once the vibrations start, what should I do? Is it appropriate to shift to focusing on the motion? Or should the rundown still continue?

Could you explain in more detail which of my actions is ruining the progress? I'm trying to understand how to continue forward, and a lot of these events I'm experiencing are new, so I'm often not sure how to.

Do what comes natural to you. You say you finish your rundown and now you are in a relaxed state with "signposts/vibrations", etc. occurring. So, now is the time to make your intent and "stick to it". If you want to focus on a motion based exercise, keep focusing on it. Years ago I had that problem as well. I would "flit/jump" all around wondering what I should do next. What I should do next is take what is given to me. If a visual appeared, allow my curiosity to take me deeper in. If a sound occurred, focus on my hearing and listen. All kinds of things can occur. I compared it to the saying "hold on loosely but don't let go". Which is a great song by the band 38 Special as well. In the past I have even posted a link to the video of that band!  :-) Go with the flow!  :-)


Right now I can see that you are too focused on the signposts. Is it your goal to have vibrations or is your goal to shift your consciousness? If it's your goal to have vibrations, you have succeeded. Now, it's time to let that focus pass and move onto the shift. Unless, of course you are working towards a full "OBE" in every sense of the term.  :| I think you might be getting caught up in a middle ground between Phasing and a actual OBE. With Phasing you are consciously shifting your attention from "here" to "there". No "bells or whistles".  You aren't aware of any signposts, like vibrations etc. because your attention/awareness is focused completely away from your physical self.

A OBE "exit" is completely different in that you do stay aware of what you think your physical body is experiencing, the thing is though, it's not your physical body that is experiencing the vibrations art all. it's your "etheric body". Take a video of yourself while attempting and you will see, your physical body remains motionless, except for a spasm here and there.

In my opinion, the problem I see you having is you want to "control" the process. You are still over analyzing it instead of "allowing" it the freedom to commence. Believe it or not, this is because somewhere inside of you, you still "fear" it. This fear is showing up as a block of sorts. Just as the going gets good, you tend to destroy what you have achieved, That's the way a block works.

I experienced a similar thing in the past. I would be in a great relaxed state, the vibrations would be ramped to the max, then all of a sudden as I was about to exit my body, my eyelids would either open or begin to feel like they were opening and twitching. That immediately killed any progress I had. How did I fix it? I began practicing with a blindfold on. At first it was just a towel, but soon I moved onto a actual sleep mask that didn't put any pressure on my eyes. Problem solved. Well, at least that problem was, then I had to jump the next hurdle and the next one until finally all the blocks were knocked down. So, I am plenty experienced with the "one step forward, two steps back" thing. Like I said, your physical will fight tooth and nail to keep you physically focused. You need to find a way to move past that!

Quote from: Lumaza on June 02, 2020, 19:08:27
Do what comes natural to you. You say you finish your rundown and now you are in a relaxed state with "signposts/vibrations", etc. occurring. So, now is the time to make your intent and "stick to it". If you want to focus on a motion based exercise, keep focusing on it. Years ago I had that problem as well. I would "flit/jump" all around wondering what I should do next. What I should do next is take what is given to me. If a visual appeared, allow my curiosity to take me deeper in. If a sound occurred, focus on my hearing and listen. All kinds of things can occur. I compared it to the saying "hold on loosely but don't let go". Which is a great song by the band 38 Special as well. In the past I have even posted a link to the video of that band!  :-) Go with the flow!  :-)

That's great advice! I generally try something and then my mind tells me it isn't working. Then I change it, then I change it again, and before you know it, the "signposts" are gone.

Quote
Right now I can see that you are too focused on the signposts. Is it your goal to have vibrations or is your goal to shift your consciousness? If it's your goal to have vibrations, you have succeeded. Now, it's time to let that focus pass and move onto the shift. Unless, of course you are working towards a full "OBE" in every sense of the term.  :| I think you might be getting caught up in a middle ground between Phasing and a actual OBE. With Phasing you are consciously shifting your attention from "here" to "there". No "bells or whistles".  You aren't aware of any signposts, like vibrations etc. because your attention/awareness is focused completely away from your physical self.

I am definitely still a bit confused between Phasing and classic OBEs. Most of the books I have read seem to lean more towards classic OBEs, so that could be influencing my attempts. I feel like I've asked this before, but is there a different between classic OBEs versus Phasing? Do you end up in the same location? Could one mistaken phasing into the astral for just elaborate daydreaming?

I've also noticed that I rely heavily on visualizations to determine if I've phased. I have an expectation that at some point, I'll actual be able to "see" fully with my eyes closed, much like you can in the physical. Is that the case?

Quote
In my opinion, the problem I see you having is you want to "control" the process. You are still over analyzing it instead of "allowing" it the freedom to commence. Believe it or not, this is because somewhere inside of you, you still "fear" it. This fear is showing up as a block of sorts. Just as the going gets good, you tend to destroy what you have achieved, That's the way a block works.

I'm definitely an over analyzer, and that is something I am trying to overcome in general. Over analyzing and non-physical things don't seem to work well together.

And I could be afraid, but I'm not exactly sure what I'd be afraid of. I wonder if the fear is something that will resolve itself. I have noticed that I am getting more comfortable with the various sensations that come with practicing. Perhaps time is needed.

Quote from: Puls3 on June 10, 2020, 00:02:12
I am definitely still a bit confused between Phasing and classic OBEs. Most of the books I have read seem to lean more towards classic OBEs, so that could be influencing my attempts. I feel like I've asked this before, but is there a different between classic OBEs versus Phasing? Do you end up in the same location? Could one mistaken phasing into the astral for just elaborate daydreaming?

To tell you the truth, I am still confused with this as well. From my own experiencers I see Phasing as a conscious shift from here to there with no "bells or whistles, aka signposts. OBEs seem to have signposts and normally leads to a RTZ (real time zone) experience. They focus on actually leaving the physical body. This is normally achieved by techniques such as "roll outs", climbing a rope, hot air balloon rising, etc.. A OBE exit is very common via a sleep paralysis episode. The problem I have with all of this is I have had actual OBEs while Phasing and I have had Phase like experiences during SP episodes!  :? :| Like I always say, just when I think I am beginning to understand something, it all changes! I have come to realize that I know nothing, lol!  :-D Hence the need for further exploration!  :-)

QuoteI've also noticed that I rely heavily on visualizations to determine if I've phased. I have an expectation that at some point, I'll actual be able to "see" fully with my eyes closed, much like you can in the physical. Is that the case?

Yes, it will get as vivid, sometimes even more surreal then this realm here. The thing is though at that point you aren't seeing through your physical eyes. You are seeing through your "Mind's eye" They are very different. Your Mind's eye views things from a point of view. Many times there is no need to change direction to see, you seem to have full 360 degree vision upon intent.

QuoteI'm definitely an over analyzer, and that is something I am trying to overcome in general. Over analyzing and non-physical things don't seem to work well together.

I see that in you and no it doesn't work while you are in a experience. Afterwards you have all the time to analyze things. At the  moment, for now, you just want to be aware and passively observe everything. When it begins to morph, as it will, allow it the freedom to. Don't "create" the scenario. Instead, allow it to develop. That's one of the toughest lessons I had to learn. I would see a round red object and immediately my mind would think an apple or a ball. I then was driving the scene. I didn't want to do that though. I wanted to see what was being shown to me, not what I was creating. I heard a interview recently a Remote Viewer and they had a term for it. They learn to "observe" the scene, not analyze it. It is important to remain "unbridled" and "neutral".  In remote viewing they call it "AOL", which stands for "Analytic OverLay".

QuoteAnd I could be afraid, but I'm not exactly sure what I'd be afraid of. I wonder if the fear is something that will resolve itself. I have noticed that I am getting more comfortable with the various sensations that come with practicing. Perhaps time is needed.

Time always helps! Practice, patience and perseverance is your key to success here and with most anything you do in your life!  :-)

Practice Session - 6-14-2020 @ 6:00PM:

I followed my typical rundown. Once the rundown completed, I just focused on noticing non-physical things like sound and 3D vision.

• I was able to relax pretty fast. Before the rundown was over, I had experienced small vibrations a few times and an inward shift of consciousness that fluctuated between inner focus and outer focus.
• Once the rundown was complete, I began to look into the 3D darkness and just observe. I went through a period of seeing visual imagery that lasted for 15 minutes or more. The imagery would come and go quickly, but some of them were quite vivid.
• At some point, my consciousness completely shifted inward. Although I knew I had  a body and I could still "feel" it, it was no longer relevant or a distraction. I felt like I was simple existing free from all attachments to body and thoughts. (My mind was also nearly completely empty.)
• I continued to just notice and relaxing body parts if they became tense. (Certain parts of my body, like the face, neck, and jaw tend to tense up automatically. I slowly relaxed them without breaking focus.)
• Eventually, I started hearing a "popping" sound in my ear every 5-10 seconds. It was quite and rhythmic. This lasted for several minutes as well.
• Towards the end, I knew like the session was over for that day. I wasn't upset though; I experienced a very deep conscious awareness that lasted a long time. The session lasted around 1 hour and 15 minutes, whereas my normal session are anywhere from 30-45 minutes.
• Another interesting note: even after awaking and writing this summary now, I still feel slightly in a "daze." I am completely aware, but some of me still feels hazy, almost like I'm dreaming. It's a different, but comfortable sensation.

Overall, the session felt very good. I experienced a lot of new sensations (audio for example) and was also better able to maintain my focus. I was much more successful at maintaining a detached awareness than in the past, which I am proud of since that was once of my goals. Also, the detached awareness seemed to further the exploration into the non-physical, which is what I thought it might do from previous experiments.

I can tell I am making progress. Things feel different and they feel different for longer. I'm going to stay the course and keep practicing.

Practice Session - 6-24-2020 @ 7:00PM:

I followed the same general pattern for my mental rundown. This time I used a location that was familiar and important to me. Summary below:

• When my rundown nears its end, I'm often very close to entering an altered state of consciousness. My rundown consists of traveling to a far off location, and eventually traveling through a door that leads back to where my body is located. I see my body and look at it. I then lay next to it in the bed and begin to feel my physical body merging with this "phantom" image (for lack of better words).
• After practicing this merger for a few minutes, I began to feel waves of relaxation flow over my body. Afterwards, my body was fluctuating between extremely heavy and relaxed and me not being able to sense my limbs at all.
• My mind began to calm down even further. I began to enter the "void" as I call it. The void, to me, is where my physical body is no longer in the forefront of my mind. It simply has faded away and I just "exist."
• At first, when I reached this state, I continually tried to continue my merging of the phantom body. However, after about a minute, I realized that I need to let go of that imaginative scenario and just my body and mind go deeper.
• Once I let go, I began to see flashes of random things. I saw strange metallic claw-like contraptions, beautiful scenery, and other abstract images. The images were not vivid in the sense that I was "there," but more so like an extremely vivid mental picture. Much more vivid than if I intentionally tried to conjure up an image, but also less vivid than daily life.
• I can't fully remember exactly what I saw afterwards, but I remember thinking that I was encountering unbridled imagination. I've heard of famous inventors (Tesla, Edison, etc.) entering a similar state when exploring new ideas. I can imagine that a person could "come up with," or be "given" extremely unique ideas in this state.
• The state was very relaxing and felt far more natural than it has in the past. I didn't experience any sort of anxieties. This is progress.
• In addition, I had minutes of small vibrations, a few moments of various buzzing sounds, and what sounded like a voice for brief moment.

Overall, the session was good. I can see myself making progress, especially from where I started. I'm trying not to focus so much on "leaving the body," but instead entering the non-physical in the way that Frank Keppler described it. Which to me, is more like allowing the non-physical to come to the forefront of your consciousness to the point where you merge with it.

Also, as a note, I've been practicing daily even though I may not post daily. I will post when something substantially new occurs, every few days as a general check in, or if questions arrive. I appreciate all of you who follow me on this journey.

Quote from: Puls3 on June 25, 2020, 00:25:49

• At first, when I reached this state, I continually tried to continue my merging of the phantom body. However, after about a minute, I realized that I need to let go of that imaginative scenario and just my body and mind go deeper.

Great job. I see problems that arise and then you turn around and fix them. Kudos for that!  8-) :-)

Quote
Overall, the session was good. I can see myself making progress, especially from where I started. I'm trying not to focus so much on "leaving the body," but instead entering the non-physical in the way that Frank Keppler described it. Which to me, is more like allowing the non-physical to come to the forefront of your consciousness to the point where you merge with it.

To Phase like Frank teaches and is what I generally practice, you must learn not to be so "body-centric" (if that's even a word, lol). I think body centered sounds better. You still seem to have a strong focus on your physical vessel, aka your physical body. Release that as soon as you can. Allow your rundown to lead you to the place of your intent or what normally occurs with me, the place/destination you "need" to see at that  time, the experience you "need" to have. Become a simple point of consciousness with no "limitations" and you will see that your experiences intensify greatly. Other than that, you are doing great! Keep it up!  :-)

Quote from: Lumaza on June 25, 2020, 01:09:40
To Phase like Frank teaches and is what I generally practice, you must learn not to be so "body-centric" (if that's even a word, lol). I think body centered sounds better. You still seem to have a strong focus on your physical vessel, aka your physical body. Release that as soon as you can. Allow your rundown to lead you to the place of your intent or what normally occurs with me, the place/destination you "need" to see at that  time, the experience you "need" to have. Become a simple point of consciousness with no "limitations" and you will see that your experiences intensify greatly. Other than that, you are doing great! Keep it up!  :-)

Thanks for pointing out that I am a bit body-centric. I know Frank's method doesn't really rely on the body much too.

I guess I've been struggling a bit with what to do after the pre-planned portion of the rundown is complete. If you read some examples of Frank's rundown, he usually follows a series of events that correspond to the Wave 1 of the Gateway Experience. I have crafted my rundown based on that.

However, the audio, as well as the rundown itself kind of has a "conclusion" of sorts. It's like a story that has a beginning and end. I know that I don't need to the rundown to end, but I'm not sure what to do after the planned portion of the rundown has completed. Should I stare into the darkness? Let my mind free roam? If I continue to intentionally visualize scenarios for too long, I think it pulls me back to the physical.

I'm also not sure when you end a practice session. Typically, I just practice until I feel that the experience is no longer deepening and I've begun to lose the "feeling" of the practice. I sort of get an indication from my subconscious/intuition that today's session is complete.

Updated comment: I think I may understand my solution to my question above. You mention, "Allow your rundown to lead you to the place of your intent or what normally occurs with me..." That is kind of what I did in the last session. I got to a certain point where my mind was ready to shift and I let it happen and gave up the pre-planned rundown. If my rundown has come to a conclusion and my my hasn't shifted yet, perhaps that is an indication that that session is complete for the day. (My mind usually performs some sort of shift before the end of the rundown.)