A basic method for spoken trance

[Birm]

Great Post!!!

Thanks for sharing.

I have a question:

When you say

quote:"Next a very clear thought or what seems like a set of thoughts will enter your mind. You may again be tempted to interact, but stave that natural inclination off! The thought(s) may be repeated and you own mind may echo it or not! "

I realized that this happens to me everynight when i go to sleep. Before i fall asleep these thought enter my mind and if i concentrate on them i can clearly hear voices of several people talking. The conversation never makes any sense, and sometimes can be frightening.

What do you think about this? Does this have any relations with spirit communication or am i just entering some thought form area?

Thanks,
.
.

[Eol007]

quote:Originally posted by Birm

Great Post!!!

Thanks for sharing.

I have a question:

When you say

quote:"Next a very clear thought or what seems like a set of thoughts will enter your mind. You may again be tempted to interact, but stave that natural inclination off! The thought(s) may be repeated and you own mind may echo it or not! "

I realized that this happens to me everynight when i go to sleep. Before i fall asleep these thought enter my mind and if i concentrate on them i can clearly hear voices of several people talking. The conversation never makes any sense, and sometimes can be frightening.

What do you think about this? Does this have any relations with spirit communication or am i just entering some thought form area?

Thanks,
.
.


[]

Hi do,

Sincerely appreciate your reply and again sorry for moralising on your thread a bit!

One the whole and I think RB states – the type of scenario you are talking about is either mind chatter (you may be familiar with the example where RB (I think) was watching various aspects of himself etc.), and or astral or global human mind background noise (not sure of the most suitable terminology here)! It is not really worth worrying about and is different to clear spirit communication. I experienced it for years from early childhood to early teens, and I think many people do, but eventually blank it out!  

Regarding the section you have quoted: the thought given by spirit will be crystal clear by comparison, but subtle at the same time and probably will feel internalised. However with early development for general mediumship their presence have oter chactoristics... e.g. some clair/voyance/sentience etc.  

Cheers,

S []

[Birm]

Thanks for the kind reply Stephen,

That is a very long post and when i finish reading it carefully then i will have more questions.

Very Best,
.
.

[Kodemaster]

Thank you for posting this. I have bookmarked it for future reference, in case I ever amass the enormous amount of time required to devote to this practice (as well as finding a decent mentor in conservative Utica/Rome NY!!!).

[Eol007]

Hi all,

This is only an outline draft. Appreciate it is very long and needs refinement.

In the first instance I personally would only advise this practice for experienced sitters i.e. those who already have a good understanding and experience of spirit communication and for those who feel they are ready to attempt this level of communication.

As you know a high level of trust in your guides is required and also confidence that you will be protected from unwanted visitors. A healthy attitude of mind is best and this is not suitable for the ungrounded individual at all! Also if you have a fear based mindset – do not even consider trying this as you may be susceptible to flights of the imagination etc. Guided practice under the watchful eye of an experienced trance medium is very much preferred. As they can observe you going through the various physical, mental and altered states involved. Also they will be sensing and attuning with your guide and will be aware of the levels of altered state you may be at and enjoying! All the same I have worked with this one off and on my own for almost two years without any problems occurring!

Although I have been taught/guided through other techniques, this is close to one taught by a highly respected tutor in the UK and seems to evoke trance for spoken communication quite quickly.

As a precursor try not to eat at least an hour if not several hours before this practice as there will likely be a lot of sensitivity around the solar plexus and stomach. If really hungry perhaps have a light snack an hour or so earlier and you can always eat a light meal afterwards if you wish. Most will find that they will naturally not feel like eating anyway and may sense a build up of energy and have feelings of hypersensitivity and a brooding excitement some hours before their practice. The plexuses mentioned may be hypersensitive during and following the practice, and any sudden disturbances especially sound and movement can cause a shock reaction which may make the sitter extremely nauseous. More likely a full stomach will prevent you from been able to raise enough energy to work effectively with the trance state as per similar type practices. However it is not unusual to feel or be more conscious of simple internal movements in the bowel like bubbling and this is nothing to be alarmed about etc.

Wear loose fitting and comfortable attire in the first place. Remove all metal objects from your person - including eye glasses, rings, buckle belts, ear rings, etc. There are numerous examples where trance and more particularly physical mediums have received severe skin burns in the proximity of metal objects. I assume this is due to the levels of energy raised and that most metals acts as conductors of electricity at least. Although I am not sure of their physical properties with respect to this work! It would be interesting to delve more into the reasons for this, but best to stay on the side of the cautions of old just in case.

If sitting with others ask them to do so likewise!!! Reduce any other distractions to a minimum and switch of mobile phones and ringers, electrical equipment and so on. Try to ensure you will not be disturbed by visitors by making suitable arrangements etc. There is no need to sit in a darkened room, however reduced or ambient light is preferred. Red lights are unnecessary and more suited for physical mediumship for well known reasons. The classic cabinet can be used if available, but is not necessary.

Procedure: -

Seat your self comfortably in an upright chair - standard position for mediumistic practice.

Posterior to back of seat and spine erect, but not stiff, feet hip distance apart, knees bend and feet straight ahead in line planted on the floor, neither too far from the body or too far in. Use a cushion under your feet if preferred, also for back or behind etc. A good natural pose in other words!

Arms relaxed and hands either placed face down on centre of thighs or say palm in palm... what you feel fine with.

As with any sitting practice try to keep your head centred yet unstressed!

Use or recite internally whatever your preferred prayer or protection exercise. You may wish at this stage to send a clear and loving thought of intent - directed to only but your highest inspirers/guides/helpers to work with you. However they will already be aware of this anyway and will have been preparing for the sitting and with you in advance on a subconscious level!

Close your eye lids and relax. Take a few deep yet natural belly breaths through the nose. Similar to standard diaphragmatic yogic techniques, but there is no need to use ugi (spelling?) breathing... i.e. to feel the sounding of the airflow as it passes the back of the air passage behind the throat.

Then move to more natural breathing rhythm and maintain breath awareness.

As you are doing this recite internally the So-Hum mantra - which can be repeated twice (no fixed repetition period needed) on each in flow and outflow and maintained throughout the practice until indicated below.

You should find any extraneous thoughts will dissipate quite quickly with this method.

The next phase is to apply a variation of the alternate nostril breathing technique. Although in this case you do not need to pinch your nostrils with the fingers. Note: as you probably know during the waking day the left and right passage can seem easier than the other to breathe through at times, and the congestion in one or the other apparently alternates on approximately a 30-40 min cycle. However both will seem to clear once you start to move into this step. Do not worry if this seems difficult as with practice one can consciously control breath via either nostril. Even if the breath is slightly strained on say one side there is no need to despair as energetically this will balance your energy pathways quite well anyway and has a different objective to pranayama work anyway!

If not already done so at this stage you may wish to ask your inspirers to draw closer!

Breathe out and take an in breath - starting the intake via your left hand nostril - use diaphragmatic control, but not as deeply as the calming ones taken initially. Do not apply breath retention between each breath. As soon as you feel a gentle fullness in the lungs start the outflow, but via the very same nostril - i.e. the left hand one!

Repeat on this process on the left hand nostril 2 more times.

Then without interruption apply the technique on the right hand side - i.e. three cycles.

As soon as you have completed this start an intake again via the left hand nostril, but switch the outflow to your right hand one. At the very same moment as you begin the outflow bring your awareness to the bridge of the nose. There is however no need to over concentrate on this and go goggle eyed - i.e. only hold attention on the brow for a couple of seconds and continue with the out breath.

Repeat process with intake via right hand nostril etc.

In terms of time for inflow and outflow again there is no need to be religious with timings - I find something around 5 - 8 seconds each way more than adequate.

Again only three cycles are required on either side. As soon as you have completed this you should feel deeply relaxed and in a trance state, but not as deep as with some types of OBE preparation.

You can discontinue the mantra repetition at this stage.

Move back now to natural breath awareness and at the same time again ask that your highest inspirers draw a little closer. You should feel slightly dissociated yet still alert and the mind should be on tick over with only the lightest rise of thoughts. Although unlikely, you may feel as sense of going to sleep - if this occurs you should bring your focus back with breath awareness and restart recitation of the mantra. You should feel when you are able to move back to simple dissociated awareness and if not simply stay at this stage until you feel a need to complete and finish your practice/sitting.

What occurs next will vary from individual to individual depending on their experience, spiritual and energetic development etc.

However there are several things which will occur if you are in a suitable state for spoken trance. I will list these first although you may be aware of other signs and feelings throughout or even not at all during the practice. Some of these observations were given to me by a wonderful lady trance medium and can be observed when acting as a sitter for someone else developing for trance.

1. The breath will naturally become deeper and slower - which can feel as if one has stopped breathing in extreme cases, although that will not occur! However this may be too low a state for spoken trance and is more akin to moving to deep trance for physical mediumship.

2. Heart centre activity - feels likened to fluttering or palpitation of various intensity in proximity to the actual heart. Can be intense, but naturally settles.

3. Throat centre activity - A need to swallow, although some tutors advise not to swallow - personally I feel inclined to swallow and notice that mucous production subsides with regular practice. I have noted what feels like pain at the back of the centre in the neck in period outside of practice, and assumed this was restructuring of the will aspect of this chakra. This does not seem to occur during practice at all!

3. A deep relaxation in the face muscles and mouth: particularity the jaw, mouth, lips and tongue. As an observer you may notice the brow relax and pallor change slightly.

4. Some eye flutter may occur (REM) but will dissipate and the tear ducts may relax and produce some watering (a good indicator for trance states generally).

5. More throat centre activity. A distinct feeling of gagging and possibly dry mouth rather than moist as felt earlier - again this will clear, but can be exceptionally uncomfortable if you are not used to this sensation. Intensity will vary again and you may be tempted to speak... however see notes below...

In addition to these indicators you may or may not experience a range of sensations in no particular order:

a) Cooling feeling of the extremities in particular below the waist to the feet. As you probably know some spiritualists think this is spirit (I don't think so)... or a feeling of a cooling but gentle breeze in this area.

b) Clairsentient like touches around the body, but most likely on the, arms, hands, upper body including neck and head and face.

c) Various energy rushes around any part of the body. This may also include energy centre strobe effects around any or all of the centres from heart to crown chakra as described by RB in Astral Dynamics, and may include internalised white light flashes and or concussive feelings around the crown.

d) Cobweb like energy sensation on either or both side of the face - can also include a feeling of clamminess. Again spiritualists often confuse this for spirit contact.

e) Hypnagogic imagery may stream across the minds eye. Light external thoughts and or subconscious mind chatter (although if the practice is going well the chatter is less likely to occur).

f) You may feel an energy body expansion and or expansion in the heart centre (bliss like/Loving), although this can also indicate spirit presence. It is more likely that it means that you are in a state to feel more finely attuned of the proximity of their energy and should be able to sense their willingness to work with you in this raised state. However do not be tempted to start or engage in the level of exchange had during normal sittings for regular interactive communication. Keep yourself dissociated yet aware. Do no more than show your willingness to sit for spirit and the only thought would be (if required to ask them to draw closer and blend with your energy). Repeat gentle the invitation as needed, but avoid pleading and step back to calmness and wait again.

Over a long period of time all of these signs will tend to pass quickly during each practice and the levels of discomfort will tend subside, but can come back at times on later dates.

If already not sensed you should be aware of spirit. They will tend at first to approach and make themselves known to you in the way you have already been familiar. So I will not explain that part here. However if a need for trance speaking arises then you will notice a distinct difference!

You may be shown something and certainly feel their loving presence. You may even see a human representation of themselves etc. It is even posible that you may go on a journey but still feel in body!

The next stage is dependent on the level of trust you have with your guides. As you know this is not possession and you always have the last say in what happens next, but you do need i.e. if you wish for them to use you as an instrument for spoken trance - to allow them to exert some control of your physical functions. I personally liken it to something like: they send a thought which in turn you pass (acting as a gate) to your body. So for instance when I started sitting for trance I felt as if I wanted to say for example turn my head or move a hand etc. As you know other schools of esoteric practice allow similar for walking or moving trance. This may not need to occur at all, but seems a common thing with early development. Note: I do not regard myself in an way an experienced trance medium – just a humble and hopefully thoughtful student.

The speaking phase may come very naturally, although I have noticed that the closeness will occur again, an excitement, and you may feel the presence of a different helper or inspirer being allowed to draw close. As you know many people delude themselves about their abilities to channel – but often do produce wonderful inspired material. This technique is not for that type work and you will be able to recognise and therefore know the difference if applied with sincerity.

Next a very clear thought or what seems like a set of thoughts will enter your mind. You may again be tempted to interact, but stave that natural inclination off! The thought(s) may be repeated and you own mind may echo it or not! The closeness of spirit will most likely be very apparent now, but can be subtle and you may feel throat activity again. Note throat activity by its self does not indicated that spirit will speak and spirit activity does not indicate a need for spoken trance or channelling. It should be easy now not to confuse this way of working with the likes of inspired writing and other forms of channelling including regular mental mediumship.

Now you can choose weather to vocalise or not, and the good thing about this is you will not be forced to speak against your will. You actually need to vocalise these first words yourself. As soon as you do so the flow of thought from spirit will start to grow, it is unlike normal communication, where you may feel tempted to wait for a set of thoughts again before communicating them to a sitter. I checked this with one tutor to seek clarification and she indicated that it is as if each thought is completely independent and unique. So as each thought comes to mind: vocalise. It is like a capacitor releasing charge or better a gate opening and closing to allow each sheep to enter the dip pool. So although it may appear that a flow of thoughts is occurring - it is in fact single thoughts one at a time. Relax and allow this process to move more naturally and it will seem as if the stream has broken. It may also seem difficult to hold any of the words in ones memory, so better if you wish to tape the communication or have observers record it for you. Don't be surprised if the tape records noise or other sounds. It may even come out blank. Also it is unlikely that you will go to unconscious trance at this level of awareness.

In my limited experience the energy dissipates after no more than say 5-10 minutes. With early attempts this may only last for seconds, which would be great in their own right! You will sense the change or dip in energy level and perhaps some closing thoughts given by spirit before feeling a need to complete your sitting. You may feel inspired hopefully to extend feelings of gratitude to your inspirers - thank them and ask that they (or the individual helper) to draw away now, which will be done gracefully.

Take time now to raise your awareness and slowly deepen your breath again and may experience some gagging or need to clear the throat again. Try not move for at least a minute or so! As you know if in a group sitting you should wait until the last sitter had come back. When comfortable open your eyes and relax as you take in your surrounding again. Stretch when fully conscious and you will probably feel like drink of water, which you should keep near to hand.

Close with a prayer of choice and discuss with your group or make notes if alone etc.

If driving take time to ground before going home, as you may well be a little light headed and your energy centres will need a little while to settle down particularly the solar plexus. Later avoid any gregarious contact with other people as you may find yourself to be still little hypersensitive. Frequency of practice - probably best keep it down to no more than once or twice a week.

Finally enjoy the blessing.

Kind wishes,



Stephen

Only a light edit this time round. Will modify my use of English, separate commentary from the process and hopefully make it more understandable on later edits.