Help me meditate

[Rusty]

Howdy folks i have been trying to astral project or meditate with out any luck. I have a hard time deepening into a trance state the only way i can deepen is to let my mind wander and i start thinking
of nonsense. I can't tell you what i am thinking about but it seems like nonsense any way as soon as
i realize i am deepening and become aware of it i come out faster than i went in. how can i deepen
and regain awareness with out coming back? any advice will help i have tried guided meditations
but that seems to make it harder for me. Even falling asleep is a real challenge for me i once was up
for a full week with out any sleep simply because i couldn't enter sleep.I am taking melatonin as a sleep
aid it helps but its still hard. Any thoughts on deepening or sleeping leave your tips here.

[Steel Hawk]

There's far better people and places out there for suggestions on insomnia. I just stay up all night until I can finally pass out. Astral Projection made it worse -- now when I try to fall asleep I sometimes find myself popping out naturally. Afterwards it's smoke a cigarette and try to sleep in another 30 minutes. Trust me, I am not a natural projector -- I'm probably the one person in the world not meant to project, took me years, but now after years it's become almost natural.

Bunch of theories out there and advice on what you need to do. But from personal experience I'm GLAD I learned to clear my mind of thoughts, it's very helpful even in day to day life.

You have to start by clearing your mind for a few seconds (1-2) then a though pops in. Then start over... Eventually you'll be able to get to the point where there are no thoughts for 30 seconds.. and then 60 seconds.. etc. This takes weeks though.

But the benefits last a lifetime.

You need this ability to maintain the deepest of the trance.

Following a scenario or letting your mind wander is an effective way to allow yourself to go into a very deep trance. But you need the ability to clear your mind once you stop the scenario, when feel yourself falling too far into it.

Once you break the scenario you can then clear your mind and use a technique (or just relax and see what happens) to induce vibrations and then project.

I find it helpful to focus on one thing, breathing, a ringing noise in my head, or the blackness in my mind. This helps go further into the trance.

Think of it like this, your subconscious mind is the gatekeeper or guard, he won't go on break until he's sure you're asleep. You have to convince him that nobody is home for him to stop paying attention to you. Once you do that you can sneak out. So long as you don't make too much noise he won't come back.

[Rusty]

Howdy steel hawk thanks for responding so i guess letting my mind wander is the wrong way to go.
I can empty my mind of thought but i just don't seem to deepen that way.Perhaps i need to hold
an empty mind longer to deepen i don't know but its worth trying thanks for the help. How long does
it usually take you to enter deep meditation? I just can't lose perception of body i am always aware
of my surroundings.

[kurtykurt42]

You'll find after practice you can enter into the trance state faster. It can take 15-20 mins when you starting and after a couple months you will be able to do it in 2 minutes.

[phxsun]

For me its seems to be the opposite, I fall asleep way to easily, apparently I do not get enough sleep! I can fall asleep the min. my head hits the pillow. I even drift off during meditation. I usually only get a chance to try and project once a week. But, once I get the sleep I need the vibration are easy, and OBE, well I did get there once so far.

[Rusty]

Howdy kurty Kurt,physun thanks for the responses i have been continuing to try these guided
meditations i bought on line they do light breathing and pore breathing and other stuff. Any ways i
always get very itchy is this common? I have also been to a point where my whole body is very tingly
and numb but i still can't lose perception of my body or shift my awareness. when i feel my awareness
shifting i become aware of it and come back right away. Thanks fellas any more tips appreciated.

[Stimpy]

when you meditate do you focus on your body or do you focus on your mind and try to forget the body?

[Rattleglans]

when you meditate do you focus on your body or do you focus on your mind and try to forget the body?

Hi!
I am unexperienced but I think I am capable of answering your question.
I started out unable to reach a deep state of mind. I began to focus on my breathing. Eventually, i was visualizing air inside of myself (not much of visualizing... but i "sensed" blue. Very strange indeed :]) as i was breathing. Just focus on your breathing and try to imagine it.

When i do this, i feel like the air is being stored in back of my head... really strange lol... Just tune in to whatever you can feel while you breathe and try to concentrate on it. Eventually you can just empty your thoughts and subconsciously concentrate on your breathing... and eventually you can wean further and not focus on your breathing at all (don't stop breathing though  )

[Xanth]

When you're meditating and you finally notice that your thoughts are drifting you away, don't shudder and jolt yourself back to a clear mind... just gently realize that you're thinking about stuff and quiet it down.  It definitely takes some practice, but you'll get it eventually.