Astral Travel = Bad... Focusing on "the here and now" = Good

[JourneyofTruth]

Hi All

As a regular out-of-body explorer, I often get asked one question more than most by family, friends and others - the question usually goes like this...

"All this astral traveling sounds like fun, but what about the here and now... surely focusing on the physical world is more important than all this nonphysical stuff!"

I usually respond by saying something like... my out-of-body adventures have shown me that the here and now is much more expansive than just the physical domain - that the here and now is the entirety of the 'Earth-Life-System', which is multidimensional in nature.  That they're view of the here and now is limited by their lower level of awareness etc...

I'd be very interested to hear other people's views on the subject of the here and now.

This post is in response to a talk I attended last night, where one of the speakers said... "the Ascension process is about the here and now - the physical world, not being off in a meditative state and such".

And another speaker defined the word "grounded" as meaning - "being in the here and now", and again, not "being off in other realms".

Again, personally, I see the length and breadth of the Earth-Life-System as being the here and now, which I'm able to access through OBEs.

I really would appreciate if someone could frame this into a more concise/digestable/approachable way!

Happiness

Todd
http://www.journeyoftruth.co.uk



 

[kurtykurt42]

Don't rely on other people to tell you how you should live. Always pursue you're own self interest, whether it's in the here and now in this dimension or any other.

[JourneyofTruth]

Don't rely on other people to tell you how you should live. Always pursue you're own self interest, whether it's in the here and now in this dimension or any other.

Hi Kurtykurt

Thanks for your reply.

It's not a matter of relying on other people to tell me how I should live, the question was how to frame a relevant response to the question of "the here and now", which for most is the physical domain only, or they see the here and now of the physical domain as being the only important focus.

Limiting thoughts and beliefs, and a limited level of awareness means the physical domain is how most view the here and now... however, I put it to you that as you increase your knowledge and awareness, you'll start to see a broader version of the here and now... the whole of the Earth-Life-System, which is multidimensional in nature.

Thanks again for your Reply!

Gratitude

Todd

[CFTraveler]

My answer would be-
Why would you think that doing astral travel is different from focusing on the here and now?  The here and now is wherever you go, and all you're doing by astral traveling is making the here and now bigger and more interesting.
That's what I'd say if someone said that to me.

[JourneyofTruth]

Hi CFTraveler

Wonderfully put!

Thank you...

Todd

[Panthau]

These are all believe systems. If you believe the here and now is better/stronger/more valuable, then it will be.
Just experience what you experience, if it is your real life or astral travel or enlightement...its all good.

[Tiny]

"...surely focusing on the physical world is more important than all this nonphysical stuff!"

I recognize this thoughtform, I've "thought" it myself and now I think that it originates from a rather putrid source that is hindering people from advancing.

I've seen it expressed also in a friend that recently ceised to be a friend, he said "Go out your door and in the world!" suggesting that I should stop seeking awareness in myself and go following the stream of society and it's entertainment/business etc.

[JourneyofTruth]

Hi Tiny

I hear what you're saying man!

It seems that even within the spiritual community - people just don't seem to get it.

Personally, I put most of it down to fear... perhaps fear that they might actually bump into their own higher-self, fear that they might be forced to release a few beliefs for a few knows, and other fear related issues.

Nevermind, we don't really need to convert anyone - do we!  We're all on different paths, and no path is more or less valid than the next.

Knowing this, I guess we should be grateful as this diversity is what enables us to see this human learning system from all it's myriad angles, which gives us the complete picture we need to graduate the system.

Happiness

Todd

[cocteautwin]

It's all a grand illusion!
There is no difference between having a physical body and by not having one.
Astral travel just shows us what "life" is about without limitations -

It's all the SAME - we just don't live in our heads while travelling - we just don't limit ourselves -

[JourneyofTruth]

Hi Cocteautwin

Well said...

AP shows us are unlimited potential - and lets us explore that.

Thanks for replying to my post!

Happiness

Todd

[JourneyofTruth]

These are all believe systems. If you believe the here and now is better/stronger/more valuable, then it will be.
Just experience what you experience, if it is your real life or astral travel or enlightement...its all good.

Thanks for that, Panthau. belief systems indeed!

[Shea]

<sub>As a young person (both physically and spiritually), I feel that the "here and now" is as literal as it sounds. A plethora of individuals worry too much about their pasts and futures, and before they realize it, they've missed out on the present. I've learned to appreciate every moment; in fact, I don't think about my future as frequently as teenagers should. For all I know, I could be in this lifetime to die at the age of 19 and grow from that experience.

That's why I've been working to project astrally as often as I can. I feel like once I get there, my whole spiritual development will be... easier. Or more effective. Or something along those lines.</sub>

[JourneyofTruth]

Hi Shea

Thanks for posting!

After 3+ years of conscious out-of-body exploration, I feel my knowledge and awareness of this human learning system has growth phenomenally - and one of the biggest things I've learned is this...

There is a limitless amount of limited thinking and beliefs being generated by a majority of physical and nonphysical humanity!

I personally have chosen to start de-cluttering my mind with such limitations - including that of "here and now" being the most important focus... if I wasn't meant to access (and therefore focus) on the 'wider reality', my higher-self wouldn't have planned it for this life experience.

It's that simple folks!!!

Happiness

Todd

[JourneyofTruth]

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[Optic]

Well, if you really think about it everyone goes off to dreamland at night, completely unaware of their condition, only sometimes having "vivid dreams" this vividness is due to their consciousness being more aware or awake and in the now. Usually people are never in the "here and now" people daydream during their daily activities, they dream of going fishing, of seeing this or that person, being in the here and now means to have your consciousness completely awake every moment of your existence, whether you lay down to have a nap, to sleep, to work, to eat etc, most people are never in the here and now, and that is because they/we dream during the day and this rolls over to our sleep, we dream during sleep, we dream because our consciousness is engrossed and identified with all the subjective elements of our mind.

To have astral experiences means that you are in the here and now! while most people are engrossed in their subjective elements during sleep or naptime, even during the day while you may be out projecting these people are daydreaming, thinking about other things and forgetting the present moment, they react to the physical in an automatic way thinking that they chose to do this or that. No their "monky mind" chose to do that with their consciousness persuaded or hypnotised to do certain things. You see to be truly in the here and now one not only perceives the physical world but also one is understanding and directly observing their own inner psychological, emotional, sexual/instinctual processes simulataneously understanding how the impressions of the physical world (the things we see, hear, touch, smell etc) are being interpreted intenally and producing certain reactions that may be harmful and completely unconscious.

To be in the here and now means you are a conscious living being from moment to moment as the moment arises, whether you are in the astral plane or physical plane, if you are in the astral plane but are unconscious then you are not in the here and now, you as a consciousness are asleep, maybe identified with your own subconscious elements (dreams).

People are usually ignorant when it comes to dreams and such, because they think its not something valuable, they tend to give more importance or value to their physicality, because it doesnt appear to them as vague as dreams do. However our dreams are a reflection of how we are in our dayto day life, submerged within our own subjectivity with our consciousness deeply asleep. If we were truly conscious during the day we would be 100% conscious of what we do and where we are in our sleep. The more conscious you are during the day the more conscious you are in your state of sleep, try it.. it works.

And by being conscious of being in sleep you realise that you are infact astral projecting albeit unconsciously and interacting with the subconscious elements you have created, the elements you are always interacting with during your "waking hours" therefore you dont realise you are asleep just as you dont realise that you are asleep during your "waking" hours.

[JourneyofTruth]

Optic...

That was a fantastic posting!

I offer my complete gratitude for sharing your thoughts in such detail...

Happiness

Todd

[Stookie]

My 2 cents:

Every level of consciousness has it's reason for existence and experience, and every aspect of consciousness can be experienced "here and now". Astral projecting isn't running from the physical as much as physical existence isn't running from sleep. All areas of consciousness are equally important and making one area more important than another (including the physical) is an unbalanced view.

[JourneyofTruth]

Stookie

You give people good value for only 2 cents worth... fantastic way of looking at things!

Happiness

Todd

[T.L.]

If it wasn't for the out of body experience I wouldn't completely understand the nature of reality. I would not completely understand how the world works. One thing above all that the out of body experience has shown me is that the purpose of life is different for each individual, and that purpose is something of your own creation. Once you understand more about life, you are able to live your life to the fullest. If it wasn't for the out of body experience I wouldn't be doing that. So in a way my life has a lot more meaning than it ever has.