Sleep paralysis and "lifting out" dreams, mildly lucid

[DASH Project]

Not sure if this goes under "Dreams" or "Astral Projection Experiences," so feel free to move it if necessary.

I have been experiencing a mysterious "rumbling" which is possibly sleep paralysis for almost three years now, where I would feel my body shaking all over, hearing nothing but the rumbling of my own body shivering (but sometimes accompanied by other mysterious sounds like muffled voices or unearthly laughter) and being unable to move or open my eyes at all for several moments. When I finally wake up, I sometimes realize that the version of my bedroom I found myself in while experiencing the paralysis was a slightly different "dream" version of my bedroom in the physical world. Interesting. Also, these experiences used to be accompanied by seeing a skeletal gray zombie-like spectral entity or sometimes another figure which would "paralyze" me with its gaze or something else spooky, though this "spectre" has not appeared consistently for months, even though the paralysis persists. Regardless, I sometimes feel fear or "thrill" after experiencing this, prompting me to hide under my covers.

But ever since about six months ago, said "rumbling" has sometimes come with a sensation of "lifting out," "sliding" or "floating" around or outside of my bed...the first time this happened back in late October 2012 (I think,) I felt myself "sliding" as if being carried by some unseen force slowly off of my bed, then falling to the floor and sliding along the floor, still on my back. There was a limited sense of being able to control it, though not as much as during later, similar experiences. Other times I would feel myself floating above my bed, although unlike other reported instances of similar events, I looked down and didn't find my sleeping body, only a vague shadow in its place.

My latest "lifting out" experiences seem to involve genuine flight, though sometimes I sink through the floor and travel through what vaguely looks like a stereotypical depiction of Hell, only without demons and people suffering, and no terrible feeling of dread at all. I suffer from a recurring phobia of damnation (because I am not a Christian and have a constant, nagging fear that goes "what if the Christians are right and you'll go to Hell for not accepting Jesus?") and usually, I only go there if I think to myself whilst floating "I hope I won't visit Hell." But usually after floating through that spot I go out on another floating adventure to somewhere completely different. Still, I am a little tiny bit concerned that I am genuinely visiting a literal Hell, and I will go there when I die. But that seems unlikely.

Finally, I will say that these "lifting out" experiences are only slightly interactive...most of the time I feel like I am on "rails," as if the whole thing is like a roller coaster ride or something. Does that mean it is just a dream? Or is it a genuine astral experience, and I just need to learn to control it? Please tell me your thoughts...

[Lionheart]

 All of your answers lie in this one Sticky here.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/everything_you_could_ever_want_to_know_about_sleep_paralysis-t38734.0.html

Whether it's a Dream or a Astral Experience. Answer me this, what is a Dream?

[DASH Project]

All of your answers lie in this one Sticky here.

http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/everything_you_could_ever_want_to_know_about_sleep_paralysis-t38734.0.html

Whether it's a Dream or a Astral Experience. Answer me this, what is a Dream?

I just downloaded and saved the article as a PDF...I will get to reading it whenever I have time.

As for dreams also being astral experiences, I'm gonna have to agree with you on that one. Just, some dreams leave me with a profound feeling, others don't. I especially love the ones that do. I also notice that I am more likely to have a profound or at least more memorable and vivid dream if I go to sleep while it's still light out, then sleep longer than normal and ideally wake up before sunrise. Am I the only one who experiences this?

Finally, I wanna say that my deceased dad would frequently appear in my dreams. I like to believe that means his spirit is visiting me, since in many of those dreams my encounters with him are extremely positive, as if he never died to begin with, and is alive and well. Tell me what you all think.

[soarin12]

Remember that in the astral your thoughts manifest to one degree or another.  So if you are thinking about hell and are afraid of it you will probably experience it.  Same goes for your positive thoughts so try to think positive!  As for if you're visiting a literal hell or for that matter if any place or anyone you visit in the astral is literal/real vs. a figment of your imagination---we all have to try to determine that for ourselves.  I have had many projections that I'm convinced were "real" and others where I really have no idea.

I've also seen and felt the presence of my deceased dad.  It was very reassuring and healing for me.  I feel like many of those kinds of experiences are true visitations.

As for your fear about going to hell if you don't accept Jesus, ask yourself this--What does it REALLY mean to accept Jesus?  What did he stand for? What did he teach?  I'll some it up in 3 words --love, humility, forgiveness.  A person that rejects these 3 qualities from their life for long enough is doing damage to their soul and probably will end up in a hell realm.  You attract to you what you are.  So accept love, humility, forgiveness = accept Jesus.  Reject the same qualities = reject Jesus.  To me it's just that simple.  Now if you're a person who embodies love, forgiveness and humility but you can't bring yourself to believe that Jesus actually existed, so what?  Would a loving God really condemn you for that?  This is the point where bible Christians go off the deep end.  They get ultra literal with scriptures that were obviously never meant to be taken as such.  The authors of the bible were at times divinely inspired and were at times offering up their own opinions and perceptions.

I am a Christian who thinks for myself and doesn't follow the crowd.  Just thought I would offer my opinion to you on the subject.  Good luck to you in your astral travels!

[DASH Project]

Remember that in the astral your thoughts manifest to one degree or another.  So if you are thinking about hell and are afraid of it you will probably experience it.  Same goes for your positive thoughts so try to think positive!  As for if you're visiting a literal hell or for that matter if any place or anyone you visit in the astral is literal/real vs. a figment of your imagination---we all have to try to determine that for ourselves.  I have had many projections that I'm convinced were "real" and others where I really have no idea.

I've also seen and felt the presence of my deceased dad.  It was very reassuring and healing for me.  I feel like many of those kinds of experiences are true visitations.

As for your fear about going to hell if you don't accept Jesus, ask yourself this--What does it REALLY mean to accept Jesus?  What did he stand for? What did he teach?  I'll some it up in 3 words --love, humility, forgiveness.  A person that rejects these 3 qualities from their life for long enough is doing damage to their soul and probably will end up in a hell realm.  You attract to you what you are.  So accept love, humility, forgiveness = accept Jesus.  Reject the same qualities = reject Jesus.  To me it's just that simple.  Now if you're a person who embodies love, forgiveness and humility but you can't bring yourself to believe that Jesus actually existed, so what?  Would a loving God really condemn you for that?  This is the point where bible Christians go off the deep end.  They get ultra literal with scriptures that were obviously never meant to be taken as such.  The authors of the bible were at times divinely inspired and were at times offering up their own opinions and perceptions.

I am a Christian who thinks for myself and doesn't follow the crowd.  Just thought I would offer my opinion to you on the subject.  Good luck to you in your astral travels!

Thanks for the very in-depth reply, and sorry I took so long to reply to this thread. I kinda forgot about it lol.

Yeah I am not a Christian, but I do believe in Jesus, and that he possessed some very positive qualities. I guess you're right, "accepting Jesus" doesn't necessarily mean converting to evangelical Protestantism, does it? I am spiritual, not religious, and thanks for your words.

With regards to the astral plane being a place where my thoughts can manifest as some form of "reality" instantly, that again makes perfect sense why I would experience stuff like that when the thought occurs to me. Now the real trick is just to control it...and that's pretty difficult, but obviously not impossible.

I actually had a much better "lifting out" experience back in December, before my fear of damnation resurfaced (at the time my main obsessive paranoid thought was the Mayan doomsday prediction, which is thankfully over now,) but it was extremely cryptic. However, it was extremely memorable, and for months was THE dream I had that affirmed my faith in the spirit world. Should I cover it here, or in a separate thread under "Dreams"?

[MHCS]

It was after a certain event in which I recited the 23rd psalm in full(I have never read it, I might have subconsciously recycled it, but I doubt it.)while encountering four negative energies that I had my first OBE.  I accepted Yeshua the Lamb as my savior during a very paranormal-filled time and that was how I conquered my fear. I brought these events by tampering ignorantly with "extraterrestrial" ideals.  I prayed for abduction, then after some messed up stuff(ghostly activity), I prayed for understanding.  All this while admitting I know nothing...I still don't know anything near what I should but hope that will come with experience. 

Death's brother, Sleep - Virgil.

"Ye, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death,
I will fear no evil for Thou art with me..." I kept going until the end, when I exploded into the most vivid anything...More real, than this real...I have ever had while asleep...

I meditate because that is okay...I pray(A lot more now than ever)...Nothing else...

[soarin12]

DASH-- I'd love to hear about your dream!  You could share it here.  You started the thread and so I suppose you can guide it as you wish.  Sharing it in the dreams section would be good too though so more people can see it.

MHCS --  I love that psalm too.  I always pray God's protection over me before I OOBE and take great comfort in the love and power of my savior!  I had a great dream in which I met with Jesus that I will post tonight under "dreams".

[DASH Project]

And I see you have already found my dream thread 

I read about your Jesus dream too, it sounded very amazing and profound.