Another newcomer with a beginner question

[Swesent]

Hello to you dear readers!

It seems that Google has brought me to an exceptional source of community and information here which I am very happy to become a part of!

- Introduction -
I'm a 30 y/o from Sweden who, by pure chance, stumbled upon the concept of Lucid Dreaming through a random Google search a few years back. I got curious, got caught in it all, read up on it and practiced for a while. It wasn't until rather recently that I discovered the Astral Projection part and has since then learned a lot through YouTube, home pages and PDF-documents. Too bad this didn't happen sooner though...

- Aborted Earlier Attempts -
You see, over the past ten years or so I have, maybe ~10 times in total, experienced a few common sensations associated with Astral Projection attempts (without exactly knowing what they were at the time). They have always come in the same order and I have always decided to interrupt it at the same stage. First I've heard the noise, starting very faint and gradually building up to an almost unbearable volume. I knew however that there was nothing around me with the capacity to sound like that so I settled for it to be my imagination. That kept me calm and made me endure the noise. Next to come were the vibrations. Starting off barely noticeable and gradually building up to an almost disturbing level. Also here I KNEW that I was completely relaxed so I took that as another hallucination deal.

--- The Reason for Failure
Then came the racing of the heart - that's what made me interrupt it all every time! Suddenly I felt that my heart was racing, beating at least five - six times faster than normal. Not only that, it beat very forcefully as well - like it was pressed up against my chest - it felt so incredibly real! This always got me very worried! I have reason to mind my heart a little "extra" (due to Type 1 Diabetes) and I just thought "Well, that can't be good for my heart nor my body. I have to stop this!" - and so I always did, with very little effort. I just opened my eyes, I could change my position immediately (no sign of any dream paralysis) and drifted off in a "normal" fashion.

Now I have learned that I shouldn't be afraid of the heart part either. However, I'm still not sure from what I've read/heard if the heart rate increases for real or if it's happening without physical indications? But I will do all I can not to interrupt it next time it happens!


- My Beginner Question -
This brings me to the beginner question I have; Is there some kind of static/sure sign when the time is right for me to begin exercising techniques to try and separate from my physical body? As I understand, the sensations coupled with pre-astral projection can occur in different order for people (maybe even different order at different tries as well). My understanding has been that the feeling of the sleeping paralysis setting in is obligatory for everyone at all attempts. It has also been that the paralysis should be the first to kick in, followed by the different sensations.

Some sources have told me that one should wait for all the sensations to pass, leaving you in absolute calmness and relaxation, before trying to separate from the body. Other sources have said that you can begin trying to separate during the vibration stage. (I'm afraid I can't link to any of them right now.) How will I know when I can start trying to leave my body? I don't want to start too early (if that's possible) and risk working against myself and ruining it all every time.

- Epilogue -
Sorry about the wall of text but I would really appreciate some word of advice from someone more experienced.
(Also, I tried to upload a local avatar image - the smallest of them being no bigger than a 61x61 jpg but I always got the response: "The attachments upload directory is not writable. Your attachment or avatar cannot be saved." I'll have to look into that later.)

Thank you for reading and I am very happy and positive for all useful information, help and all enlightening and motivating stories I'm sure to be able to find here!

[Greytraveller]

Greetings Swesent and welcome.
Let me address what happened to you in  "The Reason for Failure" paragraph. What happened is a fear of physical pain or injury. This is actually rather normal. Many people stop their attempts to go out of body due to fear. This is known as the "fear barrier". You can get past this barrier. Here is what I suggest.
First check out the "Welcome to the Astral FAQ" forum here. You will read about several methods that can be used to go out of body. Pick the method that most appeals to you. Try this method for a week or two weeks. If the method does not work then select another method and try that for awhile.
Be patient, determined and try to stay positive. Your first OBE may not happen for a few weeks or even a couple of months. But if you try long enough that first OBE will eventually happen. So don't be discouraged by a lack of immediate success.

Regards 
Grey

[Swesent]

...Be patient, determined and try to stay positive. Your first OBE may not happen for a few weeks or even a couple of months. But if you try long enough that first OBE will eventually happen. So don't be discouraged by a lack of immediate success.

Hello Greytraveller and thank you very much for your welcome!

I will definitely go through the FAQ on this site! I have done a great deal of research about this before I even decided to get started and am familiar with the most common techniques for leaving the body. What I intend to try first is to go straight up. Either by different means of floating upwards toward the ceiling or by the rope method or the grabbing and pulling the corners of the ceiling method.

Your last words I value a lot! They raise my spirits about all this and I can need that sometimes! Stuff can put me down a tiny bit when they don't work how and when I want them to - still got that little childish thing going I guess. But what lies beyond the horizon after a successful AP seems to be so great that I will not let it go anytime soon! It is so invigorating the thought alone and to read about what other people have experienced over yonder. I just can't wait! (even though I probably have to a little bit)

[NoY]

Welcome to the Pulse 


:NoY:

[Swesent]

Welcome to the Pulse  ...

Thank you for the welcome NoY!

I just finished reading through Contenteo's beginner guide - very interesting! Will certainly try a few of the tricks in there.
So much great and helpful material on this forum!

Anyway, thanks for your visit - good times ahead to you NoY!

[Xanth]

Hi there!  Welcome aboard. 

[Swesent]

Hi there!  Welcome aboard. 

Hello back Ryan_!
You have already helped me out quite a bit here.
Thank you sir - I appreciate it!

[Szaxx]

Hi Swesent,
Welcome to the pulse, you will not be dissapointed here. I'm sure you've guessed this already.

[Swesent]

Hi Swesent,
Welcome to the pulse, you will not be dissapointed here. I'm sure you've guessed this already.

Hello Szaxx - thank you for visiting!

Nope, not disappointed - extremely far from it!
Reading everything here inspires me immensely! I draw my days fill of motivation, inspiration and will to keep going from this site!

You know, when I come to think of it, all "seniors" on this forum are a little like Spirit Guides themselves for beginners like me...

[Szaxx]

Hi
The most recent comments that may give hope to all is said by newcomers too.
The sugar level ...
If its that simple by reducing your intake later in the day, the success rate multiplies, then the oldies can learn from the younger. This has validity and I will be experimenting with this idea.
Thanks again.