Question from a novice projector with no control

[kranada]

I origionally checked out the api concept about 2 years ago and found it very intresting. To date I've projected 3 times. The first time was about 12 years ago while lying in bed and in a deep meditative state visualizing light energy charging up my chakra's I heard a high pitch ringing in my ear and heard popping sounds then  whooosh silence  I was in blackness. I could hear sounds but nothing that i could understand then about 15 seconds later I popped back into my body.  The second time was a week later but this time I heard the ringing and heard the popping then I saw white light pulsing very quickly and whoosh I was out of my body and could see. I couldn't believe it I  actually did it I was floating above my body but couldn't move, I kept telling myself to calm down and tried to turn my head to the right  i slowly started to look around and began to move closer and closer to the ceiling I was just about to go through the ceiling when wham I popped back into my body. I was so siked so charged up but never really tried to do it again. I think part of it was that in my mind I knew that I did it and I could always do it again if and when I wanted to. Another reason was that at the time I liked sleeping on my stomach and only lied down on my back when I wanted to work on projecting. I started sleeping on my stomach again. Another reason I may not have wanted to do it again was because when I was out the 1st and 2nd time I heard things and felt like something was watching me, I didn't like that feeling and I didn't know where the whispering was coming from. About 2 years ago was my 3rd time, this time it was very different. I was dreaming and all of a sudden I found myself in full control of myself and awake I was hovering on a highway. I saw a red truck coming toward me and it ran through me I then found myself in the passenger seat of the truck and the driver seemed to realize that I was there and he freaked out and pulled his car over to the side of the highway. I lifted up through the roof of the truck and flew through the air and wham I woke up. Now I know the 3rd time was a projection because it felt just like the 1st and 2nd time except it was in the day not at night, but what I didn't understand was how did the driver of the car see me. I mean this guy was scared and it wasn't like he saw me but it was like he didn't know what he saw he had a shocked look on his face and was very scared. I don't think the 3rd time was a lucid dream it seemed like a projection it felt like a projection but how did that guy see me?  I don't know. Anyway I'd like to start practicing projection again and I'd like to try and get to API. Does anyone have any tips for a person who has little experience and no control like myself.  Thanks everyone.

[hays1012]

i have consciously projected four or five times in the past year. i will be the first to admit i am no expert, but i have acquired a lot of useful knowledge in the last year. i only started getting in conscious projection in the past year too. i think what you really need to do is (if this doesn't comply with your spiritual and religious beliefs i completely understand) you can always, while in a relaxed state, pray and call to your spirit guide/s to protect you and assist you in your projection. or guardian angels, whichever you prefer to call them. everyone has their own way of projection but the method i use is for beginners or people who don't find other ways as comfortable or easy. i will post here how i project, if you don't find it comfortable or whatever i completely understand i hope i helped some.

hayley

Begin by laying down on your bed, or wherever you are comfortable horizontal. I recommend no noise unless you're using an astral cd. Relax your body and try as hard as you can to clear your mind. Once you have done this start with your toes and in your mind say "my toes are relaxing...my toes are relaxed" do this to all your body parts starting with your toes all the way to your head. you will feel like you are tingling or vibrating inside your body. try to stay in this state for as long as you can. and deep breaths in and out. you can even, after the body relaxation, imagine a warm band of gold going down your body every time you breathe out. starting at your head and moving down your body to cover you as you breathe out. i did this the first time i consciously astral projected and it worked. also i asked my spirit guide/s to help me and protect me and assist me in any way the could. i prayed to them in my head and they answered! also focusing on one thing after the body relaxation, like making contact with your guides or focusing on one word and repeating it in your head can also help.

[kranada]

the hardest part for me is getting into the trance state and holding it. When I was practicing 10 years ago I could draw up energy much quicker then I can today. I used be heavy into Chinese martial arts (baguazhang to be exact), that whole system is designed around cultivating your internal energy. I don't practice anymore so when I try to draw up the energy while lying down It doesn't come to me as easy as it used to. I so want to learn to have an obe at will with full control, does anyone know any good techniques other then chakra visualization to cultivate the necessary energy to have an obe?  Also is it better to practice obe in the morning or at night?  Thanks for you help everyone.

[Timandra]

Does anyone have any tips for a person who has little experience and no control like myself.  Thanks everyone.

Hi kranada, just read a lot in Permanent Astral Topics, which has a lot of good information about the subject. That will keep you busy for a while...