How to I help my eyes relax during an AP session?

[Amorda]

 
Hello everyone.
I have been practicing AP for about a month now. I know a lot of people say not to practice at night due to chances of falling asleep, but night time feels more natural to me. I find that during the day or morning, I am too awake and aware to really let go of my physical body. That, and I feel like I could be getting something done during the day. Haha.

My question is this....
Is there any thing that can be done for relaxing the eyes during a session?

I have gotten to the point in my practice where i feel as if i am floating or rather sometimes swaying back and forth. Amost like i am in the ocean. I can feel vibration/pulsations in my body (usually my arms and legs get tingly) as I lose myself in the blackness. I swear i felt my right astral toe pop up last time. I try to be as passive as possible and just let the imagery come to me. But I find myself getting to a point where my eye lids start flickering and sometimes they even slowly open. This is really holding me back....I think.
There was one time where I was in a really deep state of relaxation, and I felt like there was a second pair of eye lids that closed on top of my physical ones. I know that sounds weird, but i felt like I was in a large pitchc black warehouse. Lots of depth.

Anyway... Any tips or help would make my night. I want to try again tonight.

Also, I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I do use binaural beats. Theta. It really helps me when I visualize my mind and the tone of the beat syncing up and almost becomining one. Sorry for the long post!!! I hope to hear from you soon!

[Lionheart]

 Hello Amorda and Welcome to the Astral Pulse! 
I had this problem in the beginning of my practice, I still do now and again too. I found that using a blindfold or in my case a "eye pillow" rectified it quite quickly.
I would be deep in my session, then I would see a flash and think, did I see that or are my eyes open. Or, I was deep in a session and felt my physical eyelids opening for real. This caused a lot of interrupted session and needless doubt. Now when I put the eye pillow on, I first try open my eyes, then I try to see if any light is getting through. Once I see that there is no way possible I can see any light I know I am ready to attempt my Phase. Then I know for sure that the lights that I am seeing are due to the NPR.
Process of elimination works quite well! 
Good Luck and Safe Travels! 

[Anonymouse]

Yep. I had the same problem, it does go away with time and practice though. You only need that, is one of the first steps. Simply relax, and don't get frustrated when your eyes move by it self, or when you can't control them. It will eventually go away with time.

[ChopstickFox]

Welcome! Sometimes I just feel like smacking myself when my eyes start going nutso. It can be annoying. I do find that the harder I try not to do it, the more irritating it becomes. That is a great tip Lionheart! Sometimes it's hard to tell if my eyes are open or not.

[roman67]

Thanks Lionheart for giving the wonderful advice.

[Bluefirephoenix]

Mine twitch. I find using a teeshirt over them helps. Also not too much caffiene

[Bedeekin]

I've never had this problem although I hear it quite a lot.

I would theorise however that it seems like some sort of premature Rapid Eye Movement action... I am most certain it's connected.

[Little Bibble]

as blindfolds go I would recommend the Mindfold as it doesn't touch your eyes so you don't feel the pressure of something pressed against your eyes and if they do accidentally open a little you'll be none the wiser cos it's pitch black.

An exercise for relaxing the eyes which is also perfect for simply moving into Focus 10 (and other similar trance states) is a technique I pilfered from Lee Stone (a past life facillitator at the Monroe Institute). It's a focused breathing exercise where you start by simply focusing on the breath going in and out of your nose. The cold air coming in and the slight warming on the exhale through your nose. See the inhalation as concentration and the exhalation as relaxation. After a while of doing this visualise that you are exhaling through your eyes. In breath for concentration through your nose, out breath for relaxation through your eyes. He debates that a lot of the tension in the body starts with the eyes so if you can relax them first the body will follow. This is also just a great technique to quiet the mind and access different states in itself.

[Amorda]

Thank you everyone for the replies! Lately I have become more aware of how my eyes feel. And before I practice ap, I like to give them a little stretch by looking in all directions. Also, my eyes seem to relax more when I am naturally drowsy! Thanks again. I love reading your thoughts and comments.