First encounter

[liamforester]

This is my first major experience in astral projection, although it may seem small and unexciting compared to most I found it a profound experience if only to prove that these things are possible to myself:

I got back from a lecture at about 1pm during the day, I headed straight for my dorm and decided to do some reading as I wasn't feeling particularly tired. I lay down on my bed and after about half and hour of reading I began to get drowsy. Now it is interesting to note that I had more or less given up on AP at the time as I had little success in the field other than strong vibrations. I put my book down and slowly drifted to sleep. I don't know how long I was asleep, maybe just a few minutes, but I do remember what woke me up: it was the sound of people talking in the common room that is directly next to my room in my halls. My eyes remained closed for a while and I realised that I had been listening to the talking the whole time I had been asleep, as though I was only half asleep. I lay there for a while trying to get back to sleep, although I new it wouldn't take much effort because I was half asleep anyway. It was then that I realised that I was lying on my side and that I felt something curled up, lying next to me at the curl of my stomach (it felt definitely like a cat, like it was curled up lying as cats do right up next to my stomach). I opened my eyes and tried to look down towards it but instead my eyes remained on the wall that I was facing. I tried to move my head in order to look toward the "cat", but I couldn't,  I remained staring at the wall. I tried moving my hand to feel what it was, no reply from my hand: I was paralysed. Totally.
Now, anyone who has had sleep paralysis can tell you it is an extremely frightening experience to be paralised in your bed. I kept trying to move my hand and/or my body but couldn't. I was terrified, even though I knew that it was only sleep paralysis couldn't let go of the fear of the possibility that I might be stuck like this forever. My door was left ajar a small bit so I could hear that voices of the people in the common room quite loudly and after a while I started to use this as comfort, that I wasn't alone in the halls. I decided that I wanted to get up and that if I thought it hard enough that I could, I put all my energy into trying to sit up; it worked! I sat up. I looked around then suddenly BAM!, I was back looking at the wall. I wasn't sure what had happened so I tried again; same thing, I feel the sensation of sitting up then I'm back facing that damned wall again. By this stage I was getting worried again, so I lay there facing the wall trying to decide what to do. After what was about a few seconds I felt the "cat" that was apparently lying next to my stomach left and on its way scratched my hand that was lying on my side.
Upon feeling this uncomfortable scratch from an imaginary cat, I had a half realisation that this could be this AP that I had read about a few months prior, and before I had even decided to get up, I was standing up in my room. I don't think that I attempted to look back at my body although that would have been the logical thing to do. I walked or floated out of my room into the corridor and went to the door of the common room, I heard the voices of people inside and I wish that I had taken note of what they were saying or gone in, but the thought to do either of them didn't cross my mind. I stayed in the corridor for another few seconds, then it was as if I thought to myself "yea that enough for now"; instantly I was back facing the wall again, although this time without much effort I sat up. I had full memory of what happened and although some of it felt very surreal none of it felt like an actual dream.

Any questions or indeed answers about what happened would be welcome!

[RooJ]

Cool experience!  

I cant give you any more answers then you have, ive never experienced sleep paralysis sadly. I'd be interested to know however, if you get any sleep paralysis in the future, im wondering whether once you get it it becomes a reoccuring experience.

Good luck and congrats

>RooJ

[Selski]

Hi liamforester

Congratulations for remembering it so well!  

Like Rooj, I've never experienced sleep paralysis, but I've heard it's pretty awful.  You seemed to cope with it very well considering.

No questions nor answers from me either.  Thank you for sharing this - it's a classic OBE in my opinion.  

Here's to many more...

Sarah

[Eloquence]

Cool stuff man. Ive never had sleep paralysis before either *sighs*. The closest ive come is sleeping on my arm overnight to find it numb and limp in the morning .

[Nay]

LOL!  I don't know if I'd *sigh* about that.  They can be pretty darn scary.  Some people are mistaking paralysis for being abducted or attacked by a neg, or demons.  I've had some pretty scary paralysis moments, but like Liam I just kept on going but it is very hard.

Liam, that was fantastic!  That is a perfect account of what one can experience when first trying to consciously project.  You did great!  

I look forward to your next experience!  Keep it up and keep us posted.

Take Care,

Nay

[knightlight]

Rock on with your bad self Liam.  Reminds me of a false awakening I had once where my dead cat was on top of a dresser I threw out about 2 years ago in my room hissing at me.     They can get pretty nuts but its all a part of projection.  I think your heading towards a major breakthrough in the next few days.

[liamforester]

In regards to the question abut whether it has happened since; yes it has.

I think it has happened 3 times since. Once was when I fell asleep in front of the TV, I woke up and I was in paralysis, I new what was happening, I could even hear my dad snoring on the couch at the other side of the room. AP'ing didn't really cross my mind as I didn't feel very comfortable about being paralysed in my room and my efforts were about trying to break out of the paralysis. I broke out after a few attempts. (to note, before I was going asleep, when I was half asleep, half awake feeling I had felt some strong vibs but I was to tired to act on them and simply fell asleep instead.)
Another time I had woken up whilst in class while we were watching a film (I do cinematics) and I had very strong vibs and I was in paralysis, again I felt like I could have left my physical but again my efforts were put into trying to break out of the state. I feel that I may have a fear barrier of not being in control of my physical that I will have to cross to be able to become more adept at it, I do however feel that I am not very far from crossing that line.
I feel that I should also add that before I learned of all of this that I have never had the "vibs" or even had an experience that resembles these except one:
(I tell this in the confidence that I will not be judged by the actions that brought about this incident, if however you view what in such a negative comment please refrain from replying a negative comment as it was during a much different period of my life):
About a year and a half ago, me and 2 friends decided to take magic mushrooms one night,I had taken them before and felt reasonably confident that I was in a stable and controlled enough situation in order to take them. After taking them, we waited for roughly 2 hours but nothing happened so we simply fell asleep. After what seemed like a short but deep sleep I woke up, half hanging off of the bed. I made an effort to get back into bed but was however unable, I was in sleep paralysis, this lasted for what seemed like half an hour of panic, after the half hour I felt an almost "electric" energy come over me and suddenly I was moving again. The energy felt alot like the vibrations I might add.

Whether the addition of the psychoactive mushrooms (that began to kick in shortly after I "freed" myself) had anything to do with this is unknown to me but I thought I would share just incase someone else had anything to add or had more knowledge on the subject.

thanks in advance!