Indicator of predicting good experience vs. bad experience?

[thehunter09]

Well a few days back after meditating I had a few nights that reminded me too much like my childhood... fear of going to sleep and awakening to a horror flick starring me is not something I wish to bring on myself, so I quit meditating... especially with classes starting back up I figured it a bad mix.

But I want to know what has a greater effect on whether one will get a good or bad experience... your positivity/negativity going into the projection, or your mood/personality in general... the reason I ask is because I'm a pretty troubled unit and have over the years developed a sort of paranoid, untrusting way of thinking. Could one still have good experiences and reach enlightenment while being in a negative situation and state of mind? Could one's iritable, paranoid mentality carry over into the astral or magnify it ten fold? This doesn't have much to do with behavior, as I'm generally a stand up guy to people but it's more an act than anything. I'd also like to ask if dreams are a good indicator of what kind of projections one will have, because I haven't had a nightmare in years and only remember dreams that are neutral. This isn't so much about facing a negative projection, but if all I get are negative experiences than it's not really worth it. Thanks for any responses.

[CFTraveler]

As someone who is fairly paranoid myself, I can tell you that it is my opinion that going through possibilities (i.e. 'what could go wrong') is a pretty crappy way to go about life, because of the pesky way our thoughts tend to create our reality.  However, I have found that nightmares are usually our subconscious trying to tell us something we should be aware of, and be possibly afraid of.  So I'm not surprised you don't get too many nightmares- because you already thought of all the possibilities.  It's possible that the opposite is true about your dreams- they are pleasant because your subconscious/superconscious is trying to tell you that things are not as bad as you think they are.
As to Astral projection, I'd say that it depends- you do create your own boogie-boogies, but they can't hurt you.  It is possible that you can get out of your negative bubble by going out and seeing what's out there- I don't know if you're ready to take the chance, because I think at this point anything and everything is possible.
I think meditation is a good start to start getting a little taste of expanded awareness, without trying to take it to the next level.  Who knows, it may just be your cup o' tea, so to speak.

[blackcat]

Whatever is in your mind can easily get amplified 10 fold when out of body.  So if something looks pretty, you could easily get super fascinated like that is the most beautiful vision ever!  Or if you are a tad nervous, you could quickly feel terrified beyond all get out.  It all comes from you.  I have experienced the terror of sleep paralysis a few times .  It's quite bad, but  it is possible to control your fear and get past it and then you can actually go on to have a very fun trip.  I know it is hard, but you have to realize, you are not a victim of anything other than your own self.  You choose your reality out there with your thoughts.  Controlling your experiences is about controlling your own mind and emotions.
-Eva