Hey guys,
I've tried to AP before in the past but never really seriously like I am now. After reading the forums for tips, reading websites etc, and from my own practice and reflection, I find myself with some questions. I'm getting a little frustrated, yes I did have one very brief experience, and a couple of very close projections, but nothing really big so far. My first question is, how do I deal with the frustration? I am trying to learn something that others have said are true, and I know to be true myself but have never truly experienced, and I feel I am flying blind. Robert Monroe says something like "you can read about it, and believe it, but it's something you have to experience and to know." I feel like I'm in New York trying to reach LA without GPS or maps, only someone telling me which way to turn and how far to go etc.
Part of it I think is going back to the basics. I know how to meditate, but I have "monkey mind" and it is hard to focus without my mind wandering. I will get to a very relaxed state and feel vibrations, but then I will start seeing things, hearing things, then my mind starts racing. My body will tense up because something is happening and maybe it's a subconscious fear to let go. Mainly I fall asleep after that. Sometimes I do maintain focus, but then I'm laying down and nothing happens, I just remain in a very relaxed state. At that point my mind may try to conjure up false sensations that something is happening.
My second question is about intent. I noticed there was a post relating that you have to have proper intent to project or phase. What is proper intent? Is it good enough to say, "I want to leave my body?" Do I need to be specific and say, "I'm going to leave my body, travel to the astral plane, and meet a guide or see a certain dimension?" Does intent have to be deep like, I want to find the hidden meaning of my existence or can it be such as I just want to fly around and have fun?
I know AP etc is a fantastic skill, one many people never believe, let alone attempt or actually accomplish it. We're so stuck in the physical world that we often forget about the non-physical. I've always been drawn to the non-physical and the esoteric. Mostly it is because I am an explorer at heart and this is why AP appeals to me very greatly. I do have some skepticism however, but I want to erase it. I know developing meditation can help me acheive my goals, and here is my third question.
I have heard of NEW (new energy ways) and others have mentioned like Vipassana meditation. Do I need to build up my energy body before I can seriously project or is this unnecessary? What are your beliefs about meditation and the best ways to build up your energy?
Thanks for your input,
Jonathan
Quote from: Astralaegis on August 15, 2011, 03:28:44
Hey guys,
I've tried to AP before in the past but never really seriously like I am now. After reading the forums for tips, reading websites etc, and from my own practice and reflection, I find myself with some questions. I'm getting a little frustrated, yes I did have one very brief experience, and a couple of very close projections, but nothing really big so far. My first question is, how do I deal with the frustration? I am trying to learn something that others have said are true, and I know to be true myself but have never truly experienced, and I feel I am flying blind. Robert Monroe says something like "you can read about it, and believe it, but it's something you have to experience and to know." I feel like I'm in New York trying to reach LA without GPS or maps, only someone telling me which way to turn and how far to go etc.
Part of it I think is going back to the basics. I know how to meditate, but I have "monkey mind" and it is hard to focus without my mind wandering. I will get to a very relaxed state and feel vibrations, but then I will start seeing things, hearing things, then my mind starts racing. My body will tense up because something is happening and maybe it's a subconscious fear to let go. Mainly I fall asleep after that. Sometimes I do maintain focus, but then I'm laying down and nothing happens, I just remain in a very relaxed state. At that point my mind may try to conjure up false sensations that something is happening.
Hi Jonathan,
btw. welcome to the Pulse :)
I, like you, practiced for a while but not so seriously.. having only one close attempt where i was sitting up but couldn't get my legs out.. after a couple of months i did become frustrated.. I took up practicing again a couple of years later.. at that time i took it up much more seriously.. I joined the pulse, was meditating regularly and reading plenty in an effort to overload my mind with the subject.. for months (maybe 5) i practiced again before i had any success.. before i had my first AP i found i had a belief that AP'ing is difficult.. was probably impossible for me to experience etc. etc.. after i saw this for the next month or so i would regularly tell myself it's easy.. it's something i'm doing naturally etc..
In my first AP i came from a lucid dream back to my body and noticed the black of my eyelids and felt my body without moving and laid perfectly still.. and within moments i had a short strong wave of vibrations and suddenly i could see the room and feel my energetic body turning/rolling and i just went with it and boom..
There was a post http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/direct_to_wild-t34846.0.html (http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/welcome_to_out_of_body_experiences/direct_to_wild-t34846.0.html) in the last couple of days mentioning direct and indirect projections/WILD's ..
The indirect method is much easier for a lot of people than the direct method..
Easiest way i have found for myself is the same as i had my first one above.. an indirect method :-)
Can you lucid dream? If so try this..
You can come from the dream back to your body (just think of it).. maintain awareness, eyes closed and stillness in your physical and it's very likely that much of the difficulty you are having using direct methods will be removed.. the shift into vibes and beyond will be much easier and more simple.. stay aware/focused, exit technique and boom :-D
In regard to frustration.. look at what you have achieved so far and congratulate yourself.. Remember small steps in the right direction are successful steps :).. be patient.. it took me many months of regular practice and focus to have my first AP and it is still an effort at times.. do persevere..
Quote from: Astralaegis on August 15, 2011, 03:28:44
My second question is about intent. I noticed there was a post relating that you have to have proper intent to project or phase. What is proper intent? Is it good enough to say, "I want to leave my body?" Do I need to be specific and say, "I'm going to leave my body, travel to the astral plane, and meet a guide or see a certain dimension?" Does intent have to be deep like, I want to find the hidden meaning of my existence or can it be such as I just want to fly around and have fun?
Not sure.. intent or goals.. i believe you are more likely to succeed if you have a goal or focus you want to learn, achieve, participate in.. it creates an emotional energy that can give you more energy.. both to your practice in the long term and to the experience itself.. My goal was originally to understand more of the universe etc and that is still my greater goal though mostly i just have one or two goals in my mind in any one week, like places or times i want to visit.. but mostly i just practice to explore what is beyond the body.. flying could be a good goal..
Quote from: Astralaegis on August 15, 2011, 03:28:44
I have heard of NEW (new energy ways) and others have mentioned like Vipassana meditation. Do I need to build up my energy body before I can seriously project or is this unnecessary? What are your beliefs about meditation and the best ways to build up your energy?
Thanks for your input,
Jonathan
I believe it can likely help but i don't believe energy work to be absolutely necessary.. But i do believe it can benefit in at least two ways.. Firstly i think energy work will/can reduce the strength of the vibrations.. as i believe the vibes are caused by friction in the energetic system due to the extra energy not being able to flow smoothly/freely.. So clearer channels/energy systems = less vibes = reducing the possibility of not getting through the vibes to a state suitable for an exit strategy.. Secondly it is likely to raise the energy in your energetic system giving you greater health in the physical, increase your awareness about yourself, and likely increasing the energy available to your astral self while you are out.. so beneficial but possibly not essential.
However, using meditation to focus and calm the monkey mind is indeed necessary i believe.. Focus and awareness will help immensely (particularly for those of us that don't just have this happen to us and who are required to work at this)
Do check out some more indirect methods though.. they might give you the breakthrough you are seeking.
-Peace-
I know you don't want to hear this but practice will make it better. One month in you are getting familiar with all the sensations. Familiar enough to let them pass without any thought of them, just notice them and keep going. Read alot about Astral Travel every time you can. The more you condition your mind the easier this becomes. But don't get caught up in the many techniques out there. Energy work/Kundalini etc. are great things for your body period, without the Astral Travel included. These are things that you can do to help you learn focus. Robert Bruce's NEW is a fine example of this.
Intent I find, is where I want to go, every single time I phase my first destination is my "Safe Zone", which is a beautiful beach scene that I created months ago. Now when I get there I sometimes find a "surprise" waiting. Which is going to get to be my next intent. Example, I get to my beach and look around and there is a space capsule with the door open just behind my lounge chair. Next is going to be the question why, and then I'm off on my new adventure for that session.
I have more to say, but I'll get to that later... for now I just wanted to say that the above posts are absolutely wonderful!
Astralaegis these guys are giving you great advice. I was reading your post and I had to check the name to make sure I didn't post it myself in my sleep or something! O_0... You sound like you are having the same problems as me. I used to have OBEs fairly regularly when I was in highschool sitting in a schooldesk to project..but even then I had trouble having one in my bed. I now practice in a sitting position to avoid the going asleep part... most of the time O_0. I'm always worried about falling out of the chair or that one of my feet I have propped up would fall off and wake me up .. or that I'de hit the ground if I actually fell out the chair.. What happens is my mind will try to make it feel like one of the other happens. (I try to focus more on worrying that my feet will fall off the stool I have them propped up on) My mind sort of makes it happen if I'm in that state you are talking about .. where you might feel vibes and then they go away and your in just a totally relaxed state.. Its my way of applying astral pressure to my body (worry the feel will fall) and once they start feeling like they are falling , you should be in the mind awake/body asleep state. Theres no doubt about it.. Keep in mind .. you may try to be repositioning them but they are not moving at all.. and a lot of times if it feels like I'm falling out my chair , I'm really not.. I've had to let myself hit the astral floor and started floating before my nose hit once.. .. I dont prefer to practice this method for obvious reasons lol.. I hope this helps as one thing to try. Some people do the arm up method.. look that one up. I get frustrated when falling asleep so I tend do have some sort of safety net .. alarms help .. sleep deprivation is a pretty easy way to have an accidental OBEsometimes .. but not healthy O_0.. Good luck , if I think of anything else I'll let ya know :)