Major Tom and Frank Kepple on Focus 10/2oC

[hotshotrobot]

Hi. This is my first post. Ever. Here I am.

I'm what the internerds call a 'newbie' to the astral realm (or to be politically correct, the phasing realm). As an aside, I am extremely attracted to the philosophical implications of these practices, especially in Frank's so-far coherent 'phasing' model of consciousness, and I also happen to think that the whole idea is damn cool (is that a proper mystical term?).

Anyway, my progress so far has led me to what I believe to be the beginnings of Focus 2oC (I experience motion that is not related to my physical body), and I am having some problems deciding what exactly to do here. These problems arise from a seeming contradiction in theories of my two favorite posters, Major Tom of the Munroe camp, and Frank Kepple of the Kepple camp.

Major Tom says:
"While in focus 10 (whether it is a light or deep focus 10) start playing around with seeing your favorite images in your mind's eye. Don't create the scene in terms of creative visualization. You don't "build" the image. Rather, you try to "see" a favorite image for only a very brief period of time as if it comes out of nowhere. Do not try to hold it. If it's vague (like for example seeing a half-formed image of a lake surrounded by mountains) then you do not try to make it more vivid."

Frank says:
"Once a person becomes comfortable with the action of looking within, they will naturally want to start looking at something in particular else they'll either get bored, or fall asleep. So next I recommend the creation of some kind of mental rundown in your imagination. Doing this has the effect of capturing a person's focus of attention. Once their attention has been captured, they make the switch from 3rd person to 1st person view and find themselves (normally) within Focus 2 of consciousness. Reason why it's normally F2 is because this area is where your imagination is, which is the faculty that a person uses to create their mental rundown."

So the problem is:
When I'm in the light stages of Focus 10/2oC, do I try and create images to occupy my mind so I don't get bored or fall asleep, or do I passively observe the happenings and just try to remain lucid?

Any help/opinions would be appreciated,
-Andrew

[mactombs]

Welcome to the forum.

The answer is, both. Observing is a good first step, in my opinion. That way you get used to different sensations and so forth. The difficulties here are falling asleep, getting sucked into a dream - but that's what you're trying to avoid by doing the rundown.

The rundown is being less passive. You know the F10 territory a little better, so you know when you're there and what to expect (generally). You can then initiate a rundown and let that take your attention, focus your senses enough to make the Phasing transition. Since you've practiced observing before, you aren't as likely to get drawn away by "astral sounds" or flashes of imagery, or floating feelings.

That's my take on it.

[hotshotrobot]

Thank you for your response. I was waiting to see if others would chime in, but - no dice. I guess your reply was so clear no one felt the need. Anyway, I guess my next question is: what do you (as in whoever is reading this) find to be the most effective of these two methods (that is, the noticing of random internal events vs. the active engagement in a self-created atmosphere)?

I am just curious as to which of these I should devote my time to first. I guess I'm looking for some sort of majority vote on which is the most effective.

[Stookie]

Personally, I like to do "noticing" until I've reached focus 10, then start doing a rundown. When I don't feel so mentally concentrated, I might just do noticing the whole time. I think it's mostly what you feel you have the ability to do. I know some people don't visualize well, so a rundown might not be the best thing. But if you're new to all of it, learning to visualize is a great place to start.

[mactombs]

I agree with Stookie. I find that visualizing is much, much easier for me after relaxing to a certain degree. But I think noticing is a better place to start than visualizing is. It depends on the person.

[kajaLove]

what exactly does frank mean with "mental rundown" ?

[Selski]

Kajalove

Check out the first post for Frank's mental rundown when he used to do the Monroe Wave I CD.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1832

You don't need a CD to have a rundown.  You simply make up your own rundown and practice with it again and again.  It could be anything - skating on ice, walking through fields, swimming the Channel, stirring soup - as long as it's absorbing and interesting enough to you, it'll work.

Sarah

[hotshotrobot]

Selski wrote:
It could be anything - skating on ice, walking through fields, swimming the Channel, stirring soup.

- stirring soup?

How about: conquering Rome, meeting Jesus, discovering the meaning of life, or... doing laundry.  

So, it seems that noticing is pretty much always beneficial in getting into a deep Focus 10, and then from there one can either proceed to engage in a mental rundown, or continue to notice.

I recently stumbled across this e-book by Donald J. DeGracia that details a very comprehensive method of noticing.(http://www.geocities.com/octanolboy/do_obe.pdf [start reading at 'Trance Methods' on page 41])  It involves concentrating on "entopic lights" (the little pin-pricks of light in the blackness behind your eyelids), paying attention to bodily sensations (something Frank may not agree with), and also paying close attention to hypnogogic imagery . I have just begun using this method and it seems to be yielding results already. I think this method may work because it eliminates all of the ambiguity people tend to experience with the mental rundown. For instance, most people have trouble understanding how focused the images should be and end up defeating their purpose by questioning themselves. This procedure is extremely straightforward, and I think it may be helpful to some people.

If anyone reads it, let me know what you think.

[Steve 2B]

hotshotrobot,

Tried to d/l it, but the bandwidths been exceeded...So I'll have to try it again in a day or so.

Sounds interesting

Cheers,

Steve

[Selski]

doing laundry

Each to their own!     Sometimes doing something overly "active" will mean you get too involved in your imagination and miss the subtle switch.  Or you'll suddenly realise you are "in" the pictures you've created and the shock will zap you back faster than you could say boo to a goose.

Doing something repetitive and slightly boring (as long as you don't fall asleep) gives you a better chance of noticing any changes.

I've had brief success with trampolining.   :multiblob:

http://www.geocities.com/octanolboy/ do_obe.pdf

It looks interesting.  I'll have a look-see over the next few days or so.  Thanks for sharing it.

Sarah

[Gandalf]

How about: conquering Rome

What? Wash your mouth out citizen! Or you'll feel my gladius!

Doug

[hotshotrobot]

Thank you Major!

Since your name is part of the title of this thread, I guess any question I ask you is automatically relevant, so...

1.) Do you think energy work/ chakra development is essential (or even recommended) for phasing? I have taken a trial and error attitude in this venture, so I'd like any advice I can get to improve my chances.

2.) What do you think of Brainwave Generator as a tool for achieving the mindset needed to phase? I tried Wave 1 for about a week and liked it, but I always found it too short, and the voice can be a bit jarring and intrusive. BWGen can go as long as you want it to, and I usually go through the Munroe steps in my head. Anyway, I have just started using it and wanted to know if you have any suggestions for presets or anything like that.

3.) Could you lay out in point form the process you use in achieving focus 12 (and beyond)? And also at each step of the process it would be very helpful if you could give a rough description of what you commonly experience.

Anyone other than Major Tom who would like to respond to these questions is more than welcome. The truth is but a composite of individual perspectives, right? Well, actually that's completely wrong. But feel free anyway!

-Andrew

[hotshotrobot]

MT:
Thank you, that is a very helpful response.
I have one(?) more set of questions(:blahblah:) :

So you are saying that you have a very competent grasp of Focus 10, yet you can't get to Focus 12 easily? What about Frank's idea of using Focus 10 as a 'springboard'? Do other people experience this same obstruction?

I assumed, based on the wealth of information I've read, that once one becomes bored with Focus 10, the rest will follow. Is this some kind of embellishment on the truth? I hope not!

Thanks,
-Andrew

[hotshotrobot]

Hello MT.

Wow. I think I've been harbouring some severe misconceptions here. I was under the impression that phasing to Focus 12 is the same thing as traditionally projecting, just a way to make the transition smoother and retain more memory.

More Questions!( ):

1. What is the difference between Focus 12 and the traditional OBE? You mentioned a contradiction in terms, but there must be some great difference in order to warrant the trouble. Which brings me to my next question.

2. How much harder do you find it to phase as opposed to TAP? (TAP, I like that...)

All I want (and I think most everyone can sympathise here) is to get anywhere by the easiest and fastest way possible. I am a patient person, and will go to whatever length, but if tearing myself out of myself is faster than concentrating and willing myself to the same place, I think would go with the former. But again, there must be some reason why you would choose to switch to this method (other than wanting a challenge).

Thank you for your patience,
-Andrew

[mactombs]

2. How much harder do you find it to phase as opposed to TAP? (TAP, I like that...)

All I want (and I think most everyone can sympathise here) is to get anywhere by the easiest and fastest way possible.

You should try both routes. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to try Qi-Gong or energy raising methods. You should try different things to see what works best for you. I like to practice Phasing during the day, TAP in the mornings.

Focus 10 is fun on it's own, springboard or no. I think it's easy to go OBE/phase from Focus 10 (I'm not very aware of F12 at all). The hard part is keeping awareness. For example, a few days ago from F10 I tried phasing to API. I started off on a dock, just picturing it in my mind, the water and the wood planks and the boats and the sky and wind, etc. From Focus 10, just initializing that image was enough for me to phase into an independent world real as this one. A man on a tour boat was waiting to take me to the island on the horizon. I got in the boat and we were headed down for API in the distance. Then I lost awareness, must have fallen asleep.

When I woke up a few minutes later, I felt so good, extremely relaxed and generally fuzzy.

So, I'd suggest if you're practicing in the days, just lie down and keep relaxing, deeper and deeper. Make it your goal to relax more than you've ever relaxed before. Get feeling so cozy you don't want to move, and keep relaxing.

[hotshotrobot]

OK thank you both for your replies.

I think based on this information I will make it my first goal to TAP. I will want more control over my abilities in time, but right now I'm concerned with getting to the Astral. I really want to feel as though I'm in a world not created by myself, or to just fly around in the RTZ at first. A month ago I wouldn't have considered those ambitions so modest. In fact, that idea is what got me hooked on this in the first place! (I love flying in dreams)

Thank you again for your input,
-Andrew

[magicmac2000]

What does TAP mean ? (Sorry about my ignorance )

[hotshotrobot]

Hi magicmac.

It's an acronym I made up. 'Traditional Astral Projection'.

Spread the word and soon I'll rule the world.

Samantha says that I'm not funny.

-Andrew

[magicmac2000]

Hahahha  Tap Tap Tap Tap Very cool For sure I will use it

Thanks,
Manuel.