What works best for me.

[Nick]

Thanks for the post, Swimmingbear! [] I've heard that the method you've described is a good one because the mind-awake/body-asleep state is more easily achieved. Another method is a variation whereby one wakes up at about 4am and then after being up a little bit, settles in to obe/ap.


Very best,
Nick

[Swimmingbear]

Nick,
Thanks for the reply.
The mind awake body asleep state indeed seems to happen much more quickly for me with interrupted sleep. I have tried waking up early and then going back to bed after being up for various amounts of time, from a few minutes to a few hours.  I think what works best just depends on the person and how quickly/slowly they naturally fall asleep.  Right now, although a little inconvient  a longer amount of time awake before I return to bed is more effective for me.  Hopefully I will be able reduce the window of time that I stay awake in the future.  My goal is to eventually be able to project whenever.

[upstream]

quote:I often lose the awareness that I have and it becomes more of a regular dream type experience. Has anyone experienced and overcome this type of situation?

You can keep your awareness sharp by regularly focusing on the fine details of any object you may encounter. My palm work best for me, because it is always at hand. You can pin out a situation or remote place and remind yourself to look for details when you arrive to it.

For instance, you spot a building in the distance and before you take on your wings and zoom on it, say yourself that you'll inspect the roof after landing.

Unforunately, this method will activate your brain keeping your perception from the astral and enclosing you in a stable lucid dream.

[ady]

Oh, that sounds great, Swimmingbear! I am not that far yet, and cannot really give you an advice. Maybe you can try practicing NEW right before projecting? This could increase your awareness during your OBE

andrei

[clandestino]

Hi Swimmingbear,

There are a few schools of thought on extending the duration of a projection.

One is : practise short projections regularly....a few seconds, no more. Concentrate on retaining the memories of the projection. Over time, gradually increase the duration to a minute or two. Compare this technique to running a 4 minute mile.....its something that 99.99% of people can't do straightaway. Instead, athletes go running regularly and build up their fitness levels. Except with AP, you are exercising your mind, so you will need to practise & gradually improve.

Another school of thought is energy. Robert Bruce discusses his NEW energy method in Astral Dynamics. The theory being, that many people cannot seem to project because their energy bodies have not been "exercised". A theory that is also expounded by Juan Matus in Castaneda's writings.

[Swimmingbear]

The most effective A.P. method for me is the use of interrupted sleep.
Going to bed early, 8 or nine and then getting up around one or 2 and staying up about 2 hours is the pattern that seems to work the best for me.  Upon returning to bed I relax my body and just try to go to sleep slowly.  I usually start to feel my astral body begin to shift after a short time.  My hands are most likely to move first.  Sometimes I get stuck and can't get my head out.  Other times all I need to do( once I feel my hands move) is slowly swing my legs out of bed and stand up.  
I usually project about a couple times a month and have several other times (during the month) where I get partially out of my body.
Once I get out I usually follow a set route to get out of the house.  Once I get beyond this however I often lose the awareness that I have and it becomes more of a regular dream type experience.  Has anyone experienced and overcome this type of situation? If so how can I sharpen and prolong my awareness while projecting?  Is it just a matter of concentration?  Any comments or advice would be appreciated.