Can you have a dream that you had an OOBE? HELP!!!

[Curious39]

Hello everyone!!

OK... please read.  I'd really like opinions on this because I am completely uncertain as to what happened to me early this morning. 

Typically, I awoke around 3am ... probably more from habit at this point but it's a great time for me to relax and attempt projection.  I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and applied a little Vaseline to my lips since I knew I'd be breathing out of my mouth once totally relaxed... and my lips were a tad chapped.

Returning to bed, I began to relax.   Normally, I stare at the back of my eyelids until my body is very relaxed.  At a point where my body was very heavy and losing physical sensation... my eyes refocus into the black depth out in front of me, where I resume staring.  This time, however, I focused on the objects I saw and let them express their forms in my mind.  The result was a beautiful array of hypnogogic imagery, which I had not experienced in any session prior to this.  Now, in this case, the imagery appeared long before I was completely relaxed, as my intent was to attempt this visualization exercise.

At this point in my session, it was probably approaching 4am.  My wife, sleeping somewhat fitfully next to me was a bit fidgety due to the cold she has, and as a result I kept becoming startled from my exercise.  This really was preventing me from my ultimate goal:  a completely conscious OOBE.  I pressed on anyway, feeling quite comfortable except for the occasional distractive noise.  Then, I heard the cats outside the door playing... then a car horn in the distance... then a daughter using the bathroom down the hall.  By now it was around 5:30am and I decided to scrap the event and just roll over and go to sleep.

I got myself pretty relaxed, saw some hypnogogic visuals and felt pretty good about the progress I made as a whole, so at this point I wasn't disappointed.  I turned over and just let my mind wander... before long, and without knowing it, slipping peacefully (and typically) to sleep.  The last sight I saw was my clock on my nightstand:  5:50am.

I woke up again, kind of surprised that I had to pee.  So I turned, got out of bed and walked into the bathroom feeling kind of groggy and out of focus.  I looked down and decided I'd try something.... I placed my hands on the sides of the sink and HOLY SMOKES!!!  My hands passed right through the sink.  I knew I was dreaming... I don't know if I was OOB, but it was a strange state of consciousness and felt precisely like a dream.  I turned out of the bathroom, wandered into my bedroom and passed right through the door.  Things got strange from there.  I went down the stairs to find myself in a room that seemed totally familiar... but it wasn't my downstairs.  As I reflect on it now, I think it was a strange hybrid of my sister's kitchen, in her house... three states away.  Anyway, they were chopping up a beef brisket and pieces were on the floor where my semi-conscious dog was gnawing away on it.  I turned and went up the stairs but was stopped by an infestation of crabs and shellfish which pinched at my hands and prevented my passage.  OK... I knew this was a dream at this point (weirdness) and just "willed" it away.  Went up the stairs and back into my bedroom.   I decided I'd take a look at my body... which suddenly looked up... and was kind of scary looking... sat up and reached for me... then I was suddenly back in my body again.

That last part... looking back now... must have been a dream as well because my wife wasn't in the bed, but in the physical world, she was.  So I turned over and slept more... then awoke from my dream.

I got up, went downstairs and ran into my family again.  It wasn't unusual... it seemed perfectly normal (but had this been physical I'd have freaked out).  Yep, I was in a dream again.  I had awoken from a dream into a dream.  SO, I tried to show my family that I was OOB.  I put my hands on a sink again (which conveniently appeared) and oddly... they only went halfway in then hit something solid.  My mother was saying "I can see you so how could you be out of your body?"  So I showed her by floating up the stairs.  That wasn't a problem... but I lost the part of my mom and have no idea what happened next.  I was back in my body and I remember thinking, "geez I hope I actually wake up and really wake up... one more of those dream to dream things would freak me out a bit."

I woke up.  I didn't open my eyes at first but my consciousness was the more familiar "physical" me.  I looked at the clock:  6:30am. 

My initial reaction to this is that it was simply a Lucid Dream.  I had a Lucid Dream about having an OOBE.  Then I realized this is precisely what people complain about with all the terminology and so really, I have no idea what to call what happened.  Looking back now, it seemed just like a very vivid, but definitely dream-scape, dream consciousness feeling.  I really don't know what happened.   Dream?  OOBE?  What I read as the "Alice In Wonderland" theory? 


Thanks for reading,

Sean

[netzgewebe]

Hmmm, sound OOBE to me  Congrats!

[Curious39]

Do you think so?   I mean, I'm torn on this one.  It was ABSOLUTELY dream... and I've read that the terms, "Astral Projection," "OOBE" and "Lucid Dream" are all interchangable because they all involve the same dream state.  OK, well if that is the case, then yeah, I did that.  It was a dream.

The thing is... I also hear and read about a phenomenon of seeing yourself... having a much higher level of clarity... of wandering around your house, your neighborhood, fully conscious and awake!  I did NOT do that.

SO ... was I dreaming about having an OOBE?  I've been trying really hard lately and reading a lot, so it wouldn't surprise me if I had a dream.  But ...again... was it just a dream?  Or... what IS a dream?  It is all very, very confusing because part of me is saying "well that was one seriously different dream!" and another is saying "just a dream... and that lobster on the stairs that hung onto your finger was just an element of the same thought processes."  LOL

If I take the "just a dream" perspective, then all dreams are OOBE.  If I take the OOBE "fully conscious, fully clear, just like awake only... no "body"" then... it wasn't that.

I am truly just lost on this one. 

S

[yesjoryyes]

I've have two dreams about having OBEs, it makes me ticked off.

If you know it was a dream, you know it was a dream.  OBEs are suppose to be as really as waking reality most of the time.  Maybe a really low conscienceness projection?

[kiwibonga]

Dreams and OBEs are "written to the same memory," so a memory of an OBE can be as muddy as a dream, and a dream memory can feel more vivid than anything you've ever experienced...

Don't expect your OBEs to be flawless and objective! There are two forces at work during an OBE, the part of you that wants to explore, and the part of you that wants to create. You will inevitably run into reality fluctuations if you do not turn off that part of you that has expectations, that has fears, that has doubts, that interprets everything you do.

The OBE state is extremely difficult to master, because you become in full control of tons of new things, new ways to perceive, new ways to move, to think... And you only get to try them all for about 10 minutes at a time, if you're lucky enough that your projections last that long! Imagine how long anything in the physical would take to learn if you only got 10 minutes (per week? per month?) to play around with it!

[Curious39]

Thanks for the replies!

I have a feeling that as this thread grows, I'm going to land on some important piece of the puzzle I've been missing.  LOL!!

OK,

So last night I called a friend of mine who is a very insightful person -- with a lot of amazing experiences.  I mentioned my little experience and being someone who projected as a late teenager, she shared some info from her experience.

Her experience was absolutely NOT dreamlike, and absolutely not something you could forget like a dream if you tried. 

At first she was somewhat reserved about her experience but she opened up later and filled in the details.  I'll assemble it in order.

As a late teen, around 19 or so (in her 50's now), she acquired a book entitled "The Art and Practice of Astral Projection" by an author named Ophiel.  She started on page one, and kind of worked her way through the book, not really believing it but at each section she was saying, "Yeah, ok, well I did that... cool.  What's next?"  She managed to leave her body and stand in her room.  Did this in little steps along the way.  One day she was comfortable enough to walk around her house.  It scared her.  She felt she was messing with something she really shouldn't be messing with and stopped with that last projection.  In her own words, she never believed it would work.  It was like striking a match -- and when it actually DID catch fire, being amazed it did so.  The experience, for her, was absolutely crystal clear.  She was able to see her own body, she was able to move, walk downstairs... but was amazed that there was no feeling of having a body -- confirmed when she walked through a door.  Otherwise, she was absolutely like being awake.  When she returned to her body, the memory of what she had just accomplished was nothing at all like a dream.  She sat there staring at her hands for a while, trying to make sure she was back "home."  To this day, its as clear as any memory to her.

I just ordered the book, used, on Amazon.  LOL!!

Anyway, that's what SHE said, but I suppose I'll have to find out.  Opinions?

Thanks again,

Sean

[Novice]

Curious, what Kiwibong said has a lot of truth to it:

Dreams and OBEs are "written to the same memory," so a memory of an OBE can be as muddy as a dream, and a dream memory can feel more vivid than anything you've ever experienced...

I've had experiences while out that are more real than anything I've ever experienced in the physical. But I've also had a LOT of experiences in which my awareness is low and I get dream overlays or fluctuations in the experience. The issue isn't the technique(s) being used, its purely a matter of the consciousness of the individual AT THE TIME of the experience. All of these things are related to your level of awareness/consciousness at the time. And because most people's awareness level fluctuates, so does the clarity of their experiences.

If you haven't done so already, there are many tips and techniques in the Permanent Astral Topics and Astral FAQ xections, so you may want to read through them. For me, what works well to increase awareness is practicing being aware throughout the day. The buddhists call this mindfulness. Basically be totall present and focused on what you are doing at each moment during the day. So when you are tying our shoes, don't think about where you are going to. When you are driving, pay attention to driving, don't wonder what you will be making for dinner that night. For me this has a noticable impact on the quality of my experiences usually within a few days. But everyone is different. So what works for one person may not work for someone else. Keep trying and you'll find something that works for you.

[Curious39]

Thanks very much Novice, and you too Kiwibong,

Its funny but I'm learning this in the oddest of manners.... I seem to be "receiving" answers on how to go further every time I practice.  Its almost like we have a spirit guide that informs and enlightens us a little at a time.

I'm very lucky to have found this forum as well.

Anyway, I'll keep everyone aprised of the situation.  Thanks again!

S

[Selski]

Yo Curious

Not read the whole thread but a few thoughts

I went to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and applied a little Vaseline to my lips since I knew I'd be breathing out of my mouth once totally relaxed... and my lips were a tad chapped.

While not OBE related, I do that too every time I go to bed.

This time, however, I focused on the objects I saw and let them express their forms in my mind.

I've never heard them expressed like that before.  I must try it. 

My wife, sleeping somewhat fitfully next to me was a bit fidgety due to the cold she has, and as a result I kept becoming startled from my exercise.  This really was preventing me from my ultimate goal:  a completely conscious OOBE.

That's curious, because if my boyfriend wakes me up during the night, I am more inclined to be "Mind Awake, Body Asleep" and if I fall asleep, he generally moves or snorts and wakes me up, making me conscious.  This is one of the reasons I go out with him... 

[quote author=Curious39 I woke up again, kind of surprised that I had to pee.  So I turned, got out of bed and walked into the bathroom feeling kind of groggy and out of focus.  I looked down and decided I'd try something.... I placed my hands on the sides of the sink and HOLY SMOKES!!!  My hands passed right through the sink.  [/quote]

Tis amazing eh?

It is amazing whatever. 

You were dreaming.  But you were aware you were dreaming.  So whether you call that an "OBE", "lucid dream" or whatver is up to you.  I'd class it as a great experience. 

It's up to you what you believe...    There's only you to believe or not.

Sarah

[Paola]

Hi everyone,

I awoke once, lying in my bed, thought id get up and when i leaned on the bed my arm went straight through the mattress.  I knew straight away i was out of my body.

I could feel a plastic bag under the bed and i was pulling it up and down through the mattress for entertainment.  The smell of plastic was soooo strong.

I, at that time used to use under my bed as storage, and there was plastic bags under there. I dont ever recall them smelling that strong.

There was no dream really involved, but id started to focus more and it was touch and go.

Next thing i feel is that im restricted at the neck, and i find my legs are floating, but not the rest of my body.

I didnt know whether i was coming or going so to speak, then woke abruptly.

I think any dreams are out of body experiences, if you wake in them, you are just closer to realising.

So perhaps its a state of realisation that is the only difference.

I also think that this activity is one of the most important things in our lives to
practice.

Keep up the good work!
Paola

[Paola]

Any Ideas on this?

I wake in my sleep, i seem to just open my eyes, but not my physical eyes.

I find myself floating at our rock walls in our bedroom.  I smile intently, knowing i was out of my body.  To test it, i thought id fly up to our very high ceilings.

Then i thought i would go out through the roof, but it was dark  so i changed my mind.

I then turn and i see myself and my partner in bed, and think i must return to tell him about it.

In a micro second, i find myself sitting up telling my partner, he answered and congratulated me.

What was really strange, was that i didnt wake first, ponder for a few seconds, and tell him.

It was one action, from out of body to awake.

Thanks for reading.

Paola

[Keitaro3660]

WAW!!! I WANT TO TRY IT TOO...........
I just know astral, obe, and lucid dream things ^^ i am an indonesian, 18 years old ^^ so maybe my english is not good enough ^^ btw, where thread is the tips to get OOBE state??? n what do we use to get that OOBE? do you use a Brain Wave Generator??? Or just concentrate and relaxing?

Thx 4 reply

[Paola]

I dont use any method really.

Perhaps i sometimes tell myself to have an obe before going off to sleep. Thats really all.

I have no fear  and i know i exist outside my body, from experience of it, therefore i do not have any doubts.  Perhaps doubt is an inhibitor.

[Jelal67]

Last night I had a similar experience... I woke up, and thought "hey this would be an awesome time to try OBE" the next thing I know I "feel" myself separate... it was so awesome... I couldn't move or see well, it was almost dreamlike.. and I walked out of my door. The kitchen lights were on, yet I knew they shouldn't be. Understanding that this was OBE and that my subjective personality can overly dreams, this didn't really bug me. I decided to float through my roof... and I watched as drywall, then wood, then past the fiberglass insulation that lines my attic passed by me like a cross section... again, this was really, really cool. Then I decided I wanted to visit the moon... and instantly I was in space and could see the earth below, yet (this was probably a dream overlay) there was a massive yellow space station thing, shaped like a huge, hollow, cylinder... I clarified my request by saying... THE MOON, and instantly I was there, if but for a second... I think it was yellow for some reason. Then I went someplace else, my memory is real hazy, and finally I decided to visit my girlfriend. I arrived and all I could see was her in her bed, yet it wasn't very clear. A voice said "try and find her..." so I did. Next thing I remember I had her head in my arms and was running my hand across her head. she asked my who I was, in thought, and I told her it was me, she said where was I, and I told her that i was right there, yet elsewhere at the same time. she seemed confused (she seemed like she was still asleep and dreaming), then I essentially showed her in thought what I meant. 

The whole time, it felt like someone was their, watching me and protecting me, in fact I think they helped pull me out...

Yet it was so dreamlike, and I have so many gaps in memory and my vision sucked... Yet it was more than a dream. I could move better and remembered the experience better as well....

Thoughts?

Jelal..

[Paola]

Excellent Jelal!

Seems to me you had excellent control.

I once went through my timber ceiling and saw what looked like molecules of the timber. Pretty awesome.  Im yet to find a microscope to look at timber through, to see if it is the same. Nevertheless, it stunned me and I made a dash for my body.

Ive also felt, which is mentioned in Robert Bruce's book, that one should be at least 20ft away from the body, to remain free from it.

Ive also had the feeling that i am being encouraged to project, by who i dont know.

For better vision, try remembering to say 'Clarity now'.  Its helped me alot.

Good luck!
Paola

[Jelal67]

Next time I go OBE, I'll make sure to remeber that. I can't wait to do it again!

I remember getting out, I felt my feet, then legs, then torso, and everything except my head. Everythin was floating straight up while me head was still inside, must've been fairly comical. I was intresting to feel my physical body at the same time as I felt my astral one...

I used to rope method, pulled out, then feel to the floor, headfirst...

It was awesome...

[Paola]

Ive had that feeling too, of leaving the body with legs in the air and head still connected!

Well, whatever it is, it is not just our imagination!  Sweeetttttt!