How Alert are Others in the Astral?

[Selski]

Hello there

I had a night full of memories last night.  Not only did I have an incredibly realistic dream (see "The Galley Murder" in the dreaming section), but I also visited the astral a few times.  

I managed to totally bypass the RTZ (hurrah!) and found myself in some sort of room.  Others were there.  They were preparing for a party of some sort.  I realised I was naked, but this wasn't an embarrassing thing, it was more of a natural astral state to be in.  If that makes sense.

I asked them if they could see me and they all could.  In fact, they seemed to find the question a bit strange.  Of course they could see me, what did I think I was etc. etc.  Although none of them pointed out my nakedness, or at least they didn't seem to notice that I was only wearing my birthday suit.  

Then, some other "astral traveler" came in the room.  I knew this because he was also naked and looked rather 'ghostly'.  I thought I'd be having a conversation with him, however after asking him if he could see me, it became apparent that not only could he not see me, he couldn't hear me either, as he just floated by and carried on.  Once again, the nakedness was a purely natural event.

Then I was sat next to a man called Trevor.  I seemed to be chatting to him quite amiably.  A lightbulb went off in my head as I remembered Novice's example of how to tell if others are awake or not by the colour of their bodies.  I looked at all the people in the room.  They all looked normal and "real" to me.  

Then I remembered a post by Major Tom from ages ago about how he tells if others are 'dreaming' or 'awake'.  He looks into their eyes and if the eyes are sparkling and alert, then he deduces that person is "awake/aware".

I turned to Trevor and asked if he would look at me full in the face.  He obliged.  I looked into his eyes.  

They were dull and lifeless - no reflection whatsoever.  And while I was doing so, I realised this was someone I knew in physical reality, although it didn't look like him.  

I deduced that Trevor was a sleeper.

But the fact that "Trevor" was actually someone else surprised me.  I wasn't expecting that at all.  It was an utter 'knowing' once I looked at those eyes, that I was looking at this real life friend.  Very odd sensation.

A busy night...  

Sarah

[Novice]

Very cool experience Sarah!

I never tried to look people in the eyes before, I'll have to remember that one.

I read your post and had to sit back and think for a few minutes on it. I may be wrong, but from what I can remember (without looking back through my journal entries) the dull grey appearance seems to only occur while in the 'lower level' areas. I don't like the terms lower/upper and so on, but I'm not sure how else to describe it. Its the areas in which most people while sleeping tend to congregate or go to or whatever they do. If I am in that area, then I see all of them like ghosts but comprised of a dull grey color similar to cigarette smoke. When I see someone 'awake' they are very bright and seem to glow.

Now when I am in the 'upper level' areas, I see things differently. I rarely perceive actual bodies. Its more like I sense a presence and can tell who they are and what they are like. I notice that my mind will usually give them some vague shape or form, but I don't see an actual body. And the only time I'm aware of specific body parts is if for some reason I need to see them. Then they tend to appear, but then they disappear just as quickly when I'm done looking at them. I guess that sounds a bit odd. But in these areas, I don't remember meeting anyone 'asleep'. They all seem to be pretty coherent. However, if I know the person in physical life, their ability to retain the experiences within their consciousness vary greatly -- most simply don't remember them upon waking. I know I've done this numerous times myself. I find out later about something I did/said earlier in the astral but I don't remember when I'm awake. However, while I'm in the astral -- I remember it quite clearly. Talk about confusing!!  

[MisterJingo]

It's interesting because in OBEs which seem to be in the RTZ I seem to come across a lot of people with 'dull eyes'. Their eyes looked very glazed over, and they don't really look at me. I always presumed they were dreaming.
I can communicate with them, but it's more like I'm speaking directly with their mind (their lips don't usually move), and they are unaware of it.
I've found family members in this state when wondering around the house – including the most brilliant RTZ experience I've had to date. My awareness was blazing like sun, much more lucid then in waking reality. I found my dad wandering about the house in a glazed state during that OBE and had an extended conversation with him (pretty boring stuff).

[upstream]

Other dreamers' head seem somehow pronounced for me, almost like shining. People with familiar faces would change as I talk with them. I come to the conclusion that my mind projects familiar faces on different dream beings, or it is they trick to make me comfortable. My father, for example, turned out to be a dream helper of some sort. He had been watching me for a long time, waiting patiently for me to realize its presence. It's a new relationship anyway and I'm still somewhat excited.