What can I do to further my practice?

[Amorda]

  Hello everyone!
I have been practicing for about a month now. Have not fully projected just yet. Here is where I am at.
I usually practice at night before i go to bed. Usually around 11 or 12 pm. I like night time because i am too awake during the day. My eyes wont stay closed. I have even created my own custom binaural beat using 2 different tracks that really relax me and let me zone out. So, I lay in my bed all nice and warm. I focus on the blackness ahead of me. I tell my mind to suck all my conciousness out of my body and place it into my mind. Kind of behind my eyes. Almost like i am watching my own personal movie screen. Lol. My body goes numb and from time to time I get tingly feeling or vibrations in my arms and legs. I have gotten to the point where I see colors, kaleidoscope type formations, and even some still crystal clear images. I find that when I'm the deepest relaxed that I can be that I see random objects really close up. And after that, lately, i feel like I'm being stretched long ways.... Like a laughy taffy.

The problem comes in after this point. Where.... I think I am seeing things but I actually am opening my eyes....my physical eyes!  What's the next step? Any suggestions?  I try to be as passive as possible!

[Lionheart]

 Hello, it sounds like you are doing fine. I had the problem of my eyes feeling like they were opening and sometimes they did open for real, very irritating. It caused confusion and doubt. The remedy, I got myself a eye pillow. Everytime I put it on, I try to open my eyes to remember that sensation and also to see if I can see any light whatsoever. Once I know I can't, all doubt on whether this is real of not is totally gone and I can proceed with my session.

When you get to the Kaleidoscope and Hypnogogic Imagery, just try to passively observe it with an air of curiosity. You will find that when you ALLOW those images to appear then fade away, the next time they come back they are stronger, then stronger, then finally you are immersed in a full blown scenario.

Keep notes on your progress, no matter how minuscule it may seem at first. You will see why this is important later on!

Good Luck and Safe Travels! 

[roman67]

It means your eye pillow helps you lot in this Lionheart.

[Lionheart]

It means your eye pillow helps you lot in this Lionheart.

Yes, it totally erased any doubt I had on what I was or wasn't seeing. This was very important to my continued success! 

Like they say "seeing is believing"! 

[Astralsuzy]

Hello everyone!
I have been practicing for about a month now. Have not fully projected just yet. Here is where I am at.
I usually practice at night before i go to bed. Usually around 11 or 12 pm. I like night time because i am too awake during the day. My eyes wont stay closed. I have even created my own custom binaural beat using 2 different tracks that really relax me and let me zone out. So, I lay in my bed all nice and warm. I focus on the blackness ahead of me. I tell my mind to suck all my conciousness out of my body and place it into my mind. Kind of behind my eyes. Almost like i am watching my own personal movie screen. Lol. My body goes numb and from time to time I get tingly feeling or vibrations in my arms and legs. I have gotten to the point where I see colors, kaleidoscope type formations, and even some still crystal clear images. I find that when I'm the deepest relaxed that I can be that I see random objects really close up. And after that, lately, i feel like I'm being stretched long ways.... Like a laughy taffy.

The problem comes in after this point. Where.... I think I am seeing things but I actually am opening my eyes....my physical eyes!  What's the next step? Any suggestions?  I try to be as passive as possible!
It is possible that your eyes are closed and you are seeing through your closed eyes.  It happens to me very occasionally.  It might be a good idea to wear an eye mask.  I should do the same.  If you can see through the mask you know you can get out of your body.  You can do an ap technique or spiritually get out of your body.

[Amorda]

Hello, it sounds like you are doing fine. I had the problem of my eyes feeling like they were opening and sometimes they did open for real, very irritating. It caused confusion and doubt. The remedy, I got myself a eye pillow. Everytime I put it on, I try to open my eyes to remember that sensation and also to see if I can see any light whatsoever. Once I know I can't, all doubt on whether this is real of not is totally gone and I can proceed with my session.

When you get to the Kaleidoscope and Hypnogogic Imagery, just try to passively observe it with an air of curiosity. You will find that when you ALLOW those images to appear then fade away, the next time they come back they are stronger, then stronger, then finally you are immersed in a full blown scenario.

Keep notes on your progress, no matter how minuscule it may seem at first. You will see why this is important later on!

Good Luck and Safe Travels! 

First, I just want to say thank you for your replies! You are always so helpful and forthcoming with knowledge! I am def going to buy an eye pillow. I used to have one, but I think I got rid of it. It was pink anyway. Lol. Not my favorite color. Last time I practiced last night....my room was pitch black, but the inside of my eye lids seemed a lighter shade of black. I felt like I was getting to the stage where my eye lids like to slowly open. I kept trying to shut them a little tighter then usual to preent this and to make sure my eyes were in fact closed. But I saw something! This dark black shadowy thing kept whizzing by as I did this. I wasn't scared. In fact I was calm.  I just didn't know what it was. Then I opened my eyes...
Lol. Darn eyes! I'm taking your advice lionheart! Maybe one day I'll see you in the astral!

[Anonymouse]

I'll bring the drinks for when that time comes 

[Szaxx]

Hi Amorda,

Have a read it may give you the answers you are looking for.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_astral_consciousness/the_astral_blueprint-t38729.0.html

[Xanth]

Meditate.

[Amorda]

I'll bring the drinks for when that time comes 

I'm looking forward to this! Love your avatar picture. So cute.

[Amorda]

Hi Amorda,

Have a read it may give you the answers you are looking for.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_astral_consciousness/the_astral_blueprint-t38729.0.html

Thank you for the link. Its funny because before posting this thread, I actually searched extensively through these forums. So I have read that post. It's very helpful and definitely something that I will keep in mind. I have pretty much read all the stickies that pertained to ap technique. However... Anymore resources would be appreciated! The more the merrier! I love to learn.

[Amorda]

Meditate.

This is a good idea. I often do this before and after my yoga practice. And then after that, I practice ap when in corpse pose.

[Xanth]

This is a good idea. I often do this before and after my yoga practice. And then after that, I practice ap when in corpse pose.

It doesn't have to happen only before and after your yoga practices.  Your yoga practices ARE meditation. 

http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2012/02/19/adyashanti-true-meditation-series/

Give this a listen. Adyashanti has a great way of explaining it. 

[Amorda]

It doesn't have to happen only before and after your yoga practices.  Your yoga practices ARE meditation. 

http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2012/02/19/adyashanti-true-meditation-series/

Give this a listen. Adyashanti has a great way of explaining it. 

Thanks so much, Xanth! Such a good point.
Last night I was practicing ap and I was closer to projecting then I ever have been. I was just using silence. No binaural beats. I was also using the mantra that sounds like gur tea tock on the exhales. I had these waves of sensations come over me. The first one felt like I was made of liquid and was in a boat or something. The second one my upper and lower body where rotating in opposite circles. Amazing! Then, I saw a big white flash. It actually surprised me. I also started to hear what sounded like a woman sighing in my ear from time to time. So I tried my best to remain calm, passive, and positive. My vison was flooded with blue light on the left side and on the right side I saw this beautiful bluish woman dressed in white. Very angelic. Because of this i was not scared or fearful but blissfully happy. I think there was a partial smile on my face. The woman was replaced by a BIG flower in the upper left corner of my vision. I was moving closer to the flower. Almost like I was going to go into it... And if I would have I really think that this would have been my first journey!

A fire truck came barreling down the road... Broke my concentration.
I was so so so close. Thank you everyone for your inspiration. I can't tell you how excited I am! I wonder what's going to happen next!!!!

[ChopstickFox]

That sounds exciting!!! Keep at it and have fun!

[astralee]

donte forget you may end up in places you rember look out for it. i was seeing it and dident notice what it was.