First time astral projecting?

[whitewisps]

I've been trying to astral project for just about a week now, and I've heard that a lot of people try it the first or second time and they can do it! So its just been getting me a little bit discouraged. I really want to accomplish it and go to other astral planes and meet other entities and talk about life and the universe and be inspired with wonderful positive experiences. But I can't even stay awake for the projection. This has been my routine (im starting to realize I'll need some practice, or a lot):
I go to bed early around 7 or so because I want to experience it during the daylight rather than during the night when I can't see anything.
I attempt to let my body fall asleep and keep my conscious awake.
Most times I have fallen asleep. But I have found that the latest time I tried it I think I fell asleep, but right after I fell asleep I awoke and my heart was beating really fast and I felt an odd sensation like vibrating or tingling but it wasn't those exact feelings I don't know its sort of hard to describe, its something you actually have to feel for yourself. But anyway, I was wondering if maybe I was about to astral project or something.. What was happening?!
Other few times when I tried I was sort of able to let my body fall asleep. Anyway I think I was. My body was twitching and felt heavy and sometimes uncomfortable and I wanted to move but I knew that if I wanted my body to fall asleep then I had to keep still and keep my mind clear. So I tried not to focus on how uncomfortable I might have been. I thought maybe I was sleeping but I wasn't in any sort of sleep paralysis so I was sort of confused at that point. I just kept still though and kept counting to five over and over again to keep focused. Eventually after what felt like maybe a half hour at the least I felt my heart start to beat much faster than normal and I let it happen but thought maybe it was to early since I had no sleep paralysis, so again, I was a bit confused. Anyway, it would do that for about 20 seconds and then stop and go slower and eventually not happen at all then pick up again. I don't know if it was my state of confusion that made this happen; but I'm pretty sure that if I would have had more faith that it was actually able to happen even though I wasn't having sleep paralysis, that I could have actually had an OBE. So, this kind of experience happened about once or twice. Which led me to believe that maybe you don't have to be in sleep paralysis, but in just a great enough state of relaxation for AP.
I don't know, what do you guys think? I'm sort of confused about this whole thing!
Thankyou!

[Astralzombie]

Welcome to the Pulse.

The time of day that you have an OOBE does not matter. You can have one at night and project to a place where the sun is shining bright.

You were correct when you assumed that you do not need to be in SP to project as well. It's just that when you are in SP, you are already in the necessary state so it can be helpful.

One week is nothing. I'm sure some people have projected on their first try but the vast majority spend months before they are successful. Some have spent years with no luck.

If you are uncomfortable or have a bad itch, move and scratch the itch. It's better to get it over with then to spend the whole time dwelling on it.

Don't give up and good luck.

[HindSight]

On my first couple weeks trying to AP I got the vibrations and everything and all of a sudden they disappeared. It's been like almost 3 years and they've come back all of a sudden but I still have yet to induce a projection. 3 years. But I'm not at all discouraged. It's all part of the journey. Iv learned and grown alot spiritually. Dont give up, just know that you can project, it'll happen when your good and ready.

[Lionheart]

On my first couple weeks trying to AP I got the vibrations and everything and all of a sudden they disappeared. It's been like almost 3 years and they've come back all of a sudden but I still have yet to induce a projection. 3 years. But I'm not at all discouraged. It's all part of the journey. Iv learned and grown alot spiritually. Dont give up, just know that you can project, it'll happen when your good and ready.

That's a great attitude to have Hindsight! 

I'm sure that you have learned quite a bit about yourself along the way. Once you open your up your awareness, you seem to see everything in a different light, per say! 

[HindSight]

I would never give up the opertunity to fly, travel through dimensions, visit the astral cities. It jut sound too appealing to me 

[Astralsuzy]

You have a great attitude  HindSight.    I hope you will ap soon.   Sometimes when I get vibrations I have to get out of my body.   If I do nothing, the ap and ap sensation will end.  Sometimes it will happen by itself.  Other times I have to make it happen.   

[Szaxx]

Perhaps an eye mask to take away any light will help.
You really need to get rid of uncertainty. The fears however small eill prevent you from going further. On occasions I've felt that I would die if I continued. I ignored this without a care in the world. The experiences that followed were absolutely brilliant. You don't forget them, the love you feel is really out of this world and that's just a small part of it.
It's a last test if you like. Having no fear and showing your determination to enjoy these experiences is part of it. It will change your perspective on life and make you a better person. You simply understand so much more and lose the fear of death which is most prominent at the early stages.
I can see you still have issues from your initial post.
These need to go with the understanding that total safety is built in once you get over these issues.
Take the leap, you only need faith in yourself. One outing and you are totally hooked. Words can't do justice to the experiences you will have.

[Lionheart]

Perhaps an eye mask to take away any light will help.
You really need to get rid of uncertainty.

I had the same problem with light seeping in, in the past and causing uncertainties. I read a post here a long time ago about a mask called the Mindfold and decided to give it a try. Here's that post:
  http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/best_night_maskblindfoldets-t31721.0.html

It totally fixed my problem. It is very comfortable and completely blocks out any light, so that you KNOW, that any light you see is either Hypnagogic Imagery or the Astral proper.

You can find it at www.mindfold.com.