Questions for you experienced people

[SSJ4SephirothX]

For starters, I'm fairly new to Astral Projection.  In reality, I'm new to conciously knowing about it.  The first night I learned of it, I successfully projected but got scared and went back to my body. Then, I awoke with a 'jerk'.  Though, this isn't neccessarily my question.

My question is: Is heartrate changes normal?  Let me explain.

Last night while browsing these forums, I came across some MP3s that can aid in meditation and concious sleep/astral projection (see http://gnomad.info/).

Today, I decided to give the Boxed Nirvana MP3 a try.  I sat upright in my computer chair and settled in for this experience.  I got past the first stage even though I constantly moved to situate myself during this process.  I also found myself itching all over so I had to scratch.  I got to the second stage and imagined energy emitting from all seven points.  Now, here comes my question in more detail with explaination:

When I reached the third stage, I noticed almost immediatly that I was in a concious sleep.  I was having excessive Rapid Eye Movement and my heartrate sped up significantly.  I felt myself start to project along with excessive vibrations but came out of the state because of my heartrate change.  Does this mean anything to anyone?  After I came out, I went back into it and immediatly went back into Rapid Eye Movement but couldn't harness it so I decided to try another method.

I grabbed a pillow from my bed and laid on the floor.  I began from the first stage up to the third.  Again, I immediatly entered Rapid Eye Movement.  I felt vibrations but not as intense as before.  Though, my Rapid Eye Movement was far more severe and I felt as if I was sinking.  I also saw the doorway in a blurred vision but no movement progressions.  I tried hard to visualize myself rising but I couldn't grasp it.  Was I possibly trying too hard?  Was this blurred vision of my doorway caused by my eyes slightly opening during Rapid Eye Movement?  Or was I in fact trying to walk out of the room?  Shortly after, I could feel my REM slipping away but then it would return, but not so severe.  I could feel my eyes shifting direction behind my eyelids.  I could feel myself looking 'up' but saw nothing but darkness.  Other than the doorway vision, I pretty much saw darkness with a hint of white.  During this, I was thinking about myself creating this thread so I eventually slipped completely out and rose up.

Any suggestions/comments on this?  Is there something I should be doing differently or should I just continue to practice the way I did tonight?

Thanks!

[SSJ4SephirothX]

Well, today was day two and I believe I had made a little progress though, I have a couple questions.

For starters, I think my heartrate did in fact speed up during this session but I sustained.  I went through the stages, blah blah and blah, then came to the REM stage.  Now, once again, I think I was trying too hard.  Is there a trick anybody uses to relax and let everything just flow together?  I know I'll get there eventually, with practice, but am just curious if anyone uses any tricks.  During this phase, I actually saw what was in front of me during my REM so my question on this is, can you have the REM stage with your eyes open?  I did see a couple of things like a brilliant light (could be the light ommiting into the room), a cavern of some sort (briefly) and a dark highway (briefly, but a couple times).  Once again, I felt the sinking feeling.  I tried to make myself rise but I couldn't progress.  I also had visions/sights begin but I think I was trying too hard for them to come through therefore, they faded away.  I eventually had to stop because I was losing the ability to sustain this tonight but this session was longer than last night's.

For you story skippers, here are the questions:

1. Is there a trick anybody uses to relax and let everything just flow together?  I know I'll get there eventually, with practice, but am just curious if anyone uses any tricks.

2. Can you have the REM stage with your eyes open?

3. I've read it's best to do this while laying on your back but I'm much more comfortable on my side for it is how I sleep.  Do you think I may have more success if I do what is most comfortable for myself?

4. Do you think the light from the other room could be causing a distraction since my line of sight is obstructed by the light?

I think that's about it.  If anyone wants to give me some pointers, feel free.

Thanks!

[SSJ4SephirothX]

Thanks for the info!

[dRealM]

another excelent post.. summed up a few questions of my own..  the thing with your eyes.. does it seem like your eyes are moving like that because they are searching for something?  that is what it feels like for me sometimes kindof wierd.. almost feels like i can see people walking around me zipping past