Cant stay awake.

[wotto]

I have been trying various OBE techniques. I get to a very relaxed state, but end up falling asleep. Anyway to keep my awareness active while my body goes to sleep?

[Lionheart]

I have been trying various OBE techniques. I get to a very relaxed state, but end up falling asleep. Anyway to keep my awareness active while my body goes to sleep?

Sorry, the only advice I can offer is "don't try, do".

This was great advice from a Boss I had years ago. I looked at him when he said it, the way you are most likely looking now while reading it.

But in the end, it ws sound advice and led me to many successes in my life!  

Besides that, I would find something to keep your mind Aware and occupied, like creating scenarios that you wish to achieve in the Astral, Mantras, counting numbers, etc. This will keep you alert enough until your body goes to sleep.

Good Luck and Safe Travels!  

[roman67]

Welcome to Astral Pulse Wotto. Good to see you here. I think you have got the answer of your question. I think you are right Lionheart.

[Astralsuzy]

It is best to get enough sleep otherwise you have a high chance of falling asleep.  Do not sleep in a position that is too comfortable and if you try to ap in bed you have a higher chance of falling asleep as we are programmed to go to sleep when we go to bed.

[Bedeekin]

See... the vast majority of my own explorations were and are done in bed... at night.. before I go to sleep while in a really comfortable position.

Telling people that APing in bed isn't the best thing or not to be comfortable is narrowing their choices and expectation and may only be applicable to the very few.

[M4RT1N]

i concentrate on my breathing or i repeat a word in my head that usually keeps me awake also get a lot of sleep but not too much.

[Paul77]

Sometimes I have periods like you. I bought a watch vibrating (special for the deaf "Vibralite 8") to wake me up without disturbing my wife. For example, you set one hour after your tests, you shift your sleep cycle. the negative is sometimes insomnia.

[Astralsuzy]

See... the vast majority of my own explorations were and are done in bed... at night.. before I go to sleep while in a really comfortable position.

Telling people that APing in bed isn't the best thing or not to be comfortable is narrowing their choices and expectation and may only be applicable to the very few.

If you can ap in bed that is better than going somewhere else.  I used to be able to ap in bed a lot.  I occasionally can ap in bed but not that often.  It does not matter if you ap in bed or not.  You do what works best for you as everyone is different.  If you can get into a very comfortable position without falling asleep that is good as well.  Of course, you would still do that as it works for you.  You find ways what works best for you.  If something does not work then you try something else.

[Astralsuzy]

I am starting to ap in bed like I used to.  That is really good because I am increasing my chances.  This morning I said to myself, I can ap in bed.  Just concentrate so I do not fall asleep.  I decided to breath slowly in and out.  Normally I do not breath slowly.  I saw a face.  I thought what do I do.  Then I thought it is time to get out of my body so I did.  I got out of myself very fast and I was in my house.  Later on I remembered I have to get my awareness but it was too late, I went back into my body and I woke up.  I was lying in bed again and I thought I will try again.  I was breathing in and out and I saw a tree but I was still aware that I was in my body.  I tried to forget about my body and focus on what I was seeing.  It worked.  I remembered to get myself aware and I was at the beach.  I could feel the sand etc.  I felt aware but not as aware as I should have been.  When I woke up I realised that I did not see very well.  There is always something that I do not do right or I mess it up.  I have to keep practicing and to improve my ap,s.

[Pauli2]

Sleeping until you're rested is not wrong. So go to sleep during the day.
Wake up naturally. Do this during the day.

Once you're fully rested, go up, only stay up for no more than an hour.
This have kept me fully awake. Lay down, close your eyes and wait.
You'll not fall asleep.

I don't guarantee any OBE, but most likely you'll get some kind of
experience after a few tries. Keep your attention relaxed and open
for anything, like "knowings", impressions etc. I tend to keep the
room as lit as possible at this time, even if I close my eyes.

If you get into sleep paralysis (SP), welcome it. Be calm, and just
look with your eyes (physically open) at the point most distant
from you. Then a little joyful, a little focused, think to yourself
"Forward, Forward!" and imagine yourself moving forward.

As you're physically paralysed something may happen nonphysically. :)

[Bedeekin]

If you get into sleep paralysis (SP), welcome it. Be calm, and just
look with your eyes (physically open) at the point most distant
from you. Then a little joyful, a little focused, think to yourself
"Forward, Forward!" and imagine yourself moving forward.

Oh dear. This isn't good advice in any way. Apart from welcome it and be calm. That's great advice. However, opening your eyes physically is absolutely a 'No No'... If you say you do it and it works for you, then you aren't opening your physical eyes.

[Szaxx]

A simple approach.
Go to sleep as normal and where you lose the physical feelings, KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE JUST ENOUGH TO REMAIN AWARE.
For this art to work you have to dump absolutely everything physical and this means not even thinking of you body at all.
Success awaits.

[Crichou31]

i agree with szaxx.

[Astralsuzy]

A simple approach.
Go to sleep as normal and where you lose the physical feelings, KEEP YOUR MIND ACTIVE JUST ENOUGH TO REMAIN AWARE.
For this art to work you have to dump absolutely everything physical and this means not even thinking of you body at all.
Success awaits.

It is the opposite for me.  I guess everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another.  I try to be aware of how my body is feeling.  If my forehead feels like it is getting relaxed, it means I will ap any moment.  If I miss that sign I usually fall asleep.  Other times my body feels different so I know it is time to ap.  Sometimes my inner self leaves my body.  If I am not aware of what is happening I may not notice it.  Sometimes I might see something when I am meditating.  When that happens I know I can ap.

[Szaxx]

If it works great stuff. The stage of those mini dreams where you can easily fall asleep are where I create a scene and try to join it. This is where I let go of the physical. Not doing this prevents an exit and you either crash out asleep or have to create the scene again.
Other times I set an intent once relaxed and drop the physical. Its faster and not as effective, its a good way of having a lucid dream though. A bonus of sorts.

[AteBits]

Szaxx: Can you post a technique or something about what to do to keep the mind active? I'm thinking about what lionheart wrote (counting, imagining a scenario etc.). What else is there? Does it have to be connected with AP/OOBE at all, or is it just about keeping the midn active enough to "slip through"?

Much appreciated

[Szaxx]

One I use when tired is to count two ways alternately.
Start with 1 and 300.
Count up from one and then down from 300 doing the calculation. Its so easy in the physical, try this in deep phase. Youll have to restart quite a few times as the distraction factor starts its thing.
You should get a series of numbers with strong visualisations.
Eg,
1,300,2,299,3,298... Doing the maths as you go.
Look at the visuals and when they are very clear with synchronous sounds you quit the math, keep your numbers in mind and simultaneously interact with the scene.
Its not easy but you stay alert.
Give it a go.

[Astralsuzy]

You are correct if you think of your physical self the ap will end.  I have done that accidentally a number of times.  I like your idea of how you keep your mind awake.  I must try that.  I used to but I got lazy.  Hopefully I will try that again.