Hello, this is my first post on this forum. I've been reading about and practising various astral projection techniques off and on (mostly off) for years now. While over the years I've had many experiences with the paralysis, the vibrations/waves, the rushing sound, even that point at which you hear a bunch of voices like you're in a crowded airport terminal or something, I have had very few actual out-of-body experiences, and only one in which I was fully conscious and up over my physical body. That experience was truly amazing though. The best part about that one, for my analytical brain, was that when I opened my eyes immediately after, the lighting in the room (early morning on a clear day with the sun light casting various shadows) and everything were exactly as I had just seen while out of the body, so it was a great confirmation.
My problem is that regardless of how disciplined and consistent I get about doing the various techniques (I had been doing the rope technique religiously for about two months when that last experience occurred), every experience that I've ever had (all of those described above) has always occurred after drifting off to sleep, or at least briefly losing consciousness. In other words, it's as though I wake up into those experiences. The vast majority of the time, that's as far as it goes. I'll be laying there feeling like my entire body is doing a big wave, or listening to what sounds like a crowded room while feeling that weightless/floating feeling - until it just sort of goes away, and I find myself laying there in bed... again. I've learned, mostly through lucid dreaming, that I need to focus my attention on the moment, or it will change or turn into something else. I'm good at this now while dreaming, but I still cannot seem to get from the preliminary phases to an actual OBE with any consistency.
From reading this forum, it sounds like many of you have moved way past the "how to get out" phase, hah. I am wondering what your experiences are like the moment you go from here to there, or "get out" as it were. Do any of you remain conscious and "awake" from laying down to being out of your body? Do any of you use the classic techniques, and if so, at what point? Any advice, or comments of any kind really, would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Do you have what you would call "lucid dreams" often?
Getting out doesn't work for me either. The truth is it's an inward experience. I found the best way is to focus downward open heart and relax. You cannot get out what your never in. Your body is just an avatar but to get out you have to go inward. Basically keep going til something happens. If nothing has happened your not there yet. You have to forget the body and focus without wavering.
I'm struggling with the that too! Although my lucid dreams are more frequent now. I've stopped trying now otherwise you can get put off with the whole thing.
People on here have said that leaving the body shouldn't be difficult as we are doing it every night. Unfortunately we are not always 'conscious' of it.
I think when we are ready we will stumble across our individual method. I think it's like a puzzle once you've been given the solution you never forget how.
But the problem is with projection the answer is with us already it's just a matter of it presenting itself.
Hello Plato,
Welcome to the Pulse!
A fully conscious, controlled exit is one of the more difficult accomplishments; unless you're just a natural or have had a lot of experiences and learned the subtleties of your personal awareness as it moves along the process of exiting/phasing. Most of us, at least early on, experience a brief disconnection or loss of consciousness during the shift. There is nothing wrong with that.
The fact that you are noticing some 'exit sensations' such as hypnagogia, SP, vibrations, waves, etc. means that you are close.
Something to consider is that more than one process can be at play here. You are not just reading and practicing exit techniques, you are also undergoing an internal discussion/negotiation within yourself, seeking permission within to have an OBE. You can help this along by repeating some affirmations every day at appropriate times. Something like-
"I ask permission and the assistance of my Higher Self to have an out of body experience."
"I am safe and protected when I am out of body."
Say three times, rinse, repeat... :-D
Another thing to keep in mind is that you should be looking for opportunities wherever you can find them. Any time you are on the edge of sleep, coming out of or going into, you should be on the lookout for the right moment and state of mind. You won't immediately know what characteristics mark that state of mind, you have to stumble into it the first several times, then you will begin to see how calm and quiet and balanced your mind must be. So try in the middle of the night, try an hour or two before you would normally awaken, try an afternoon nap on your day off or the weekend. To find the opportunities you need to have reps... this is why Xanth is asking you about your Lucid dreaming ability. LDs are a great indirect method for finding an exit.
As far as techniques, check the first and third Group Headings for PersonalReality's "How I got out for the first time", Xanth's E Book and Primer, Szaxx's Astral Blueprint, Bedeekin's Method, The Wiggle Method. Lots of good reading in all that...
A final thought -Part of achieving an 'exit' is having a goal once you do get 'out'. It can be that frustratingly simple at times, that your Higher Self won't help/allow you to exit because What's the point?! You haven't stated a goal for when you DO get out! This is all part of a crucial concept in Non Physical Experience that you will need to be aware of -Intention. Everywhere you want to go, see or everything you do must have a firmly understood intention behind it. Quite often that intention must be expressed or demonstrated. There's no standing around, navel-gazing or loitering allowed; you'll get swept away or, more usually, the experience will simply end and you're left wondering why. So have a destination in mind, whether it's visiting your living room or your friend or the moon; you can leave the driving to your Higher Self but you do have to express the desire, such as -Show me what I need to learn! or Show me my highest potential!
Hope that gives some ideas
Wow, thank you all for the great responses.
Xanth, I haven't been having many LDs lately, but it's been my experience that when I get in a routine of doing visualizations or practising projection techniques regularly, as I am now beginning to do again, I do end up having frequent LDs.
Bluefirephoenix and paul72, I feel better knowing that others are having similar experiences, and that there is hope for me yet, hah.
EscapeVelocity, that is a lot of great advice. Thank you for reminding me of the importance of affirmations and setting intentions. I had forgotten that I used to frequently stop throughout the day to ask myself if I was dreaming. It got me in the habit of this sort of thinking. I think it really helped me before with LDs. I'm going to check out those resources that you suggested, those titles sound great.
Glad that helped.
Pushing yourself, giving yourself suggestions, at various times is helpful and necessary; the timing is variable. More is probably better, quality is important. We are all different.
Take whatever you are getting and push it, work with it. There you will find the openings. You already are getting the entrance experiences...look for the subtleties, the nuances of the experience that will help bridge to the next set of experiences. This is part of your NP mindset you are developing. Ongoing stuff...enjoy!