What's happening to me?

[KTS12764]

Hi everybody, I have a question about something that has been happening to me recently.  It happens quite often and I'm not particularly sure what is going on.

I learned about astral projection at a very young age (about ten, I believe) and since then have been quite interested by the practice.  I went through phases where I would try to project, would not get much result aside from a funny butterfly-in-stomach feeling occasionally, and would give up because I wasn't getting anywhere.

Over the past few months, though, I have been having very strange experiences.  I will be asleep, then will wake up in the middle of the night and, still quite groggy and relaxed, will think about astral projection.  Then suddenly I will feel incredibly heavy and will feel as if there is some incredible pressure on me, but at the same time I will feel like I'm not in my bed.  Also, I will often feel incredibly scared for no reason.  I feel like something is around me and I will want it to stop, but it will continue.  I will try to pull myself up and out of my body, convinced I'm projecting, but will feel incredibly tense and "stuck."  Sometimes I also hear a very strange humming noise (this only happened once) and will feel like I can't really breathe.  Last night was particularly strange.  I just remember thinking of the Hail Mary prayer (Hail Mary full of grace...I don't know why) and without really trying I just felt like I was sitting up.  I woke up and saw my arm still on my couch, and kind of fell to the left to try to get away before waking up back on my couch.  Then I remembered being seated on my computer chair just behind the sofa, and reached to pull my finger, because I remembered someone saying something about how if you are projecting when you pull your finger it will stretch.  It didn't stretch, but instead my arm felt stiff and I felt like I couldn't pull.  I then woke up on my sofa.

I'm just wondering, am I projecting?  What's going on here?  And if I am projecting why am I feeling scared and pressured?  I don't mind these experiences but they aren't particularly comfortable.  If it is projection could someone please help me figure out how I can gain more control over them?  Thank you!

[interception]

Certainly appears to be classic symptoms related to projections. Congrats!

Feelings of pressure and fear... all perfectly natural responses. Just go with the flow. These sensations will abate in time.

[nickspry]

Do a reality check if you are unsure.

[RisingSon]

Your experience is not that uncommon, I in fact have similar results much of the time when I project from the vibratory state.  I've only a handful of successful, complete separations, but I've been in the vibratory state (AKA sleep paralysis) many times and been fully aware.  The issue is getting used to the sensations of that place without fighting them and working on a good exit technique.  For some of us it takes more time, so don't give up. 

[Asi911]

...Then suddenly I will feel incredibly heavy and will feel as if there is some incredible pressure on me, but at the same time I will feel like I'm not in my bed.  Also, I will often feel incredibly scared for no reason.  I feel like something is around me and I will want it to stop, but it will continue.  I will try to pull myself up and out of my body, convinced I'm projecting, but will feel incredibly tense and "stuck."  Sometimes I also hear a very strange humming noise (this only happened once) and will feel like I can't really breathe...

... If it is projection could someone please help me figure out how I can gain more control over them?  Thank you!

It seems to me like you're experiencing sleep paralysis.. and if so, that's a great step towards astral projection or OBE.
The greater the number of experiences you'll have, the less scared you'll feel and gain more control.
From what i understand, fear is the number 1 blockage. Focus on overcoming it.
Good luck and don't forget to enjoy every step of the way!

[Stillwater]

Yeah, I would agree. Those are the sort of sensations that can precede a projection, especially early in the morning, when you wake up from a decent amount of sleep (6 or so hours).