Possibly Getting Close?

[Bredirish123]

Hi everyone my username is Bredirish123 but you can call me Shane, I'm quite new here and thought this would be a great community to settle into so I may expand my knowledge of OBEs and APs. I first heard of Astral Projection from the recent movie "Insidious" (Which got Astral Projection completely wrong). After seeing it I came home to see what Astral Projection is and to find out exactly what made Hollywood use it as a plot device. Needless to say I was shocked by everything I read; this may have been due to being skeptical of the ability in general. (I was previously an Atheist, but now I'm starting to realize more about life and the heartbeat of the Universe) For some reason though there was a part of me that believed this is possible and I figured I would pursue it and unlock some of the blocks on my mind, body, and soul.

After spending hours on the Internet researching, mulling over other people's experiences, and absorbing anything on APs and OBEs like a sponge I thought I'd give it a shot. I knew that a big part was believing it is possible and letting go all fear. These two things were simple for me, I read that this practice is completely safe and I have complete faith in my abilities. With my first attempt I laid in bed, relaxed, and closed my eyes. Clearing my mind was so difficult for me since I am one of those people who always has something on my mind. (Cue expression of deep thought) Eventually I was able to after about 15 minutes, I focused my breathing but didn't feel "all quite there" in a sense I felt a little tingling in my feet/legs and my breathing became very shallow as if I were asleep but my mind conscience felt just as I did when I were up and moving about. From what I had read on the Internet you almost feel in a state of extreme sleepiness but are conscience to the point you still realize your surroundings. I continued to focus on my breathing and the tingling feeling in my lower body, they weren't quite vibrations but they seemed more like the sensation you get after you try to wake up a limb that has fallen asleep; except the sensation was less intense. Eventually when I figured I had reached the mind awake-body asleep state I tried the rope technique and the feeling intensified but after a good 10 minutes I couldn't focus anymore and opened my eyes.

In my most recent attempts (Weeks later) I tried experimenting with Binaural beats to assist in deep relaxation, which seem to work well enough. From what I can recall a lot had happened as I drifted between asleep and awake, I felt myself going numb but I still sensed the feeling of my sheets, blankets, boxers, etc...on me. The tingling sensation came back but it ventured further up my body and I even felt my toe or fingers twitch on occasion. I focused on intensifying the "vibrations" but they dissipated some and I switched my focus to clearing my mind more. Eventually I began to see what were bright lights, nothing dramatic but it was almost as if my eyelids had opened just a little to let light in even though I was in a pitch black room. For some reason I don't think my eyelids opening slightly is good at all, as from what I read they should be shut at all times. I let my eyelids close again and focused more on my breathing to the point to where I felt like I should imagine the sense of pulling myself up a thick coarse rope. I felt as if something inside of me (Maybe my Astral Body) was tugging to break free but no matter what I never got the signature pop of my Astral Body breaking free. Again, after a while I couldn't focus anymore, my eyes would not want to remain shut without me forcing them shut, and I developed a slight headache. It was almost as if I had just taken a restful nap and no matter what my body and mind did not have the need to rest so it chose not to.

In short, what does this mean? Am I getting close to a Projection? I feel like I'm doing everything right but it's as if my Astral form just does not want to break free; that or I'm not reaching the mind awake-body asleep state. I'm going to try meditating on my Chakras but I have no idea where to begin if that be the case.

[Boom]

Hi Shane,

Welcome to the forum. I havent seen the movie you speak of. But have just checked it on imdb and it sounds good. Its not out here till June though.

Im also very new to this and have only had a few small experiences of anything you could call Astral or OBE. And most of those havent exactly been sharp or as crystal clear as others on here seem to make out. But i guess its just baby steps.

It sounds like youre slowly getting there.  I have never managed to have any experiences whilst just laying there attempting to fully relax my body. I find it difficult. What seems to have worked for me, is to bust myself out of a dream. Or catch myself just as im falling to sleep. What I mean by that, is to start going to sleep as normal, but with the intent of wanting to astral project. Then let the mind wander off as normal, but at the right time grab your conciousness back and go for astral projection. And then I suddenly feel a huge woosh and feel like im in a totally different state.. but for the most part, aware.

Also this works in a morning, or doing a daytime kip. Hasnt worked late at night when i go to bed though.

Others here may give other, better ideas also. Im just wanting to share, as a fellow newbie, what seems to have worked for me so far.

[Lizelle]

How are you breathing? A tingling in hands & feet could be a sign of hyperventilation (which would be odd for someone trying to relax, I admit). I think it's possible to cause that even without breathing too quickly as in normal HV. Not that it's harmful, but IMO it's not the vibration you're looking for. Mine are felt intensely though the body, especially chest & head.

[bluremi]

It sounds like you are trying too hard to "get there".

When you fall asleep and have a dream, what are you trying to do? Nothing, you just lie down and close your eyes and everything takes care of itself. Now you just need to do the same thing but add an element of awareness. Just awareness, no effort.

Pick something to focus on, like your breath, and just stay with it in the present moment. Remove all thoughts of progress and self-evaluation (how am I doing, am I getting there, what's happening now, what sensations am I feeling). Just notice your breathing and any sensations that you feel without analyzing them or judging them. If you catch yourself striving to do something or thinking about what you will be doing once you get to an OBE, just calmly let the thought go and return to your focus of attention.

[Bredirish123]

So the other night I could feel myself get closer than ever before. (So it seems)

I laid down after a long and exhausting day, by this time it was around 3:00am and I knew I was ready to sleep. I've tried Astral Projection after waking up in the morning but my mind and body is too ready to get up and move so I prefer trying at night when I can lay and fully relax. I began by laying down in pitch dark, adjusting my position as needed, then I began to just repeat a simple mantra "I will Astral Project" over and over again while focusing on each breath. I then let my attention focus on various Chakras. I thought of my Third Eye and what it represented. This is when something interesting happened, I felt a vibration at the base of my spine shoot up my body to the top of my head. I could feel strong vibrations in both areas and I focused on intensifying them. As I continued to focus on the vibration I got fuzzy "images" (They weren't quite images, but more or less an occasional color blip that seemed to outline features in my room); I then felt as if my arms were moving, but not in any physical sense. It was as if they were covered in a block of cement but still freely moving (not physically of course) it felt as though they were. I assumed they were my AP Arms. I then focused on climbing a ladder but the vibrations subsided and I began to lose focus to which I opened my eyes and sat up.

The difference with this attempt than my others is that I hadn't used Binaural Beats and I had spent less time focusing on projecting but on relaxing my body and mind. Do you think I'm on the brink? If so what more should I do to make my "arms" climb the ladder. I could feel them moving up but I couldn't make them climb the imaginary rope. I just pictured in my mind the sensation.