Disconnecting from the Physical Body

[Lighthouse4]

Hi All!

I've been practicing lucid dreaming techniques and OBE/AP techniques for about 8 months now. I've had 4 lucid dreams where I realize I'm dreaming and then I take off flying into space or over the ocean or go to a distant land. They are so vivid and real. I really love it. Wish I could become aware in my dreams more often.

I also have been trying out the wake back to bed method (sort of...I basically just realize I'm coming out of a dream, stay very still to keep my body sleeping and begin focusing my awareness on intent to have an OBE) and I also try afternoon meditations. Two times in the last month, I thought I was detaching from my body and walked out the bedroom door only to realize it wasn't my house. The first time, the whole thing seemed to turn into some kind of weird dream (fuzzy, not vivid like my LDs) in a house with my kids. I think it was related to the fact that I had strong intent to have an OBE and go to my older son's room and heal him. Anyway, I don't know if that began as an OBE and I "lost" control of my awareness and it turned into a lucid dream.

Question 1): I know one can go from LD to OBE or AP. Is it possible to go from an OBE into a lucid dream state or dream state?
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The second time that happened, I was coming out of a dream in the early morning hours and felt that usual buzzing sensation when coming out of a dream, and then felt a slight snap or disconnect of some kind. I got out of bed and walked out the bedroom door, only to see once again that it wasn't my house. I could see only what was in front of me (not peripherally) so I said, "Clarity now" and then my physical eyes opened up and I was in bed. Not sure if it was an OBE or... something else? Like the one I mentioned above. But I did feel that snap which was new to me. I felt I had sort of disconnected from my physical body.

A couple days later, I was coming out of a dream in the early morning hours, felt the buzzing sensation and let myself "go with the flow" (& sort of go deeper with the sensation) and felt a definite snap or disconnect and knew my "energy body" was floating inches above my physical body. I was very aware, like when I'm awake. No question. I had intent to begin floating off to the side so I could stand up. I began slowly floating off to the side, but my husband turned over in bed and I came back to my body. This just happened the other day and I'm very excited because I KNOW it was an OBE. I was so much more aware than the other times. But I tried again this morning, and felt the buzzing and simply couldn't get to that same "go with the flow" feeling... it seemed like I couldn't get to "that place" where the sensation could go deeper.

Question 2): Can we be less aware for some OBEs than others? Meaning, feel less *awake*? Like I mentioned, this last OBE I was so aware that I felt awake. Oh, and I could still sense my physical body breathing in bed at the same time, but my awareness was "more" (nearly all) with the "energy body" that was floating than the body in the bed. I felt fully awake as I floated there.

Question 3): Any advice on how to get that back? I was super disappointed that I couldn't do it again this morning because I *thought* "Oh, now I know for sure what it feels like to separate so surely it will be easier next time."
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During afternoon meditations (even when I've had plenty of sleep), I find myself falling into sleep when trying to get to the buzzing stage that I easily get to in the early morning hours upon waking from a dream (I often fall back to asleep, of course, during those early morning attempts as well). During these afternoon meditations, I say "falling into sleep" because I usually pull myself back to focus over and over and over again. I don't usually fall asleep. But it's a struggle. I have the jerking movements, my body feels loosened, like sloshing, and sometimes on and off tingles but I can't seem to get to the "disconnect".

Question 4): What am I doing wrong? Any advice on that?
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Question 5): I enjoy Tom Campbell's MBT material. Are you all familiar with his material?
I feel a bit discouraged as he says that we don't even need to do these techniques; we should be able to go from "here" to "there" in our consciousness without too much fuss. But I feel like I do need these techniques to help me progress. I suppose with many years of practice.

[Lighthouse4]

I  just realized...maybe I should have put this in Astral Pulse Hotline? If so, let me know and I'll delete and put it in there.

[Nameless]

Hi there, how are you? I'll take a stab at answering some of your questions. Keep in mind I am only speaking from my own experience.

Question 1): I know one can go from LD to OBE or AP. Is it possible to go from an OBE into a lucid dream state or dream state? Absolutely

Question 2): Can we be less aware for some OBEs than others?
Yes. A lot will depend on how you get to the OBE state but even saying that is sort of not completely true. OBEs like dreams come in just about every depth you can imagine from barely recognizable to extremely vivid beyond description.

Question 3): Any advice on how to get that back?
Nope, none that would make sense at this point. What you are discovering is that OBEs/lucid dreams are very elusive. My best advice is to follow your instincts, those will lead you in the right direction better than anything else. Trust yourself.

Question 4): What am I doing wrong? Any advice on that?
Okay, this ties into Q3. Trust yourself, I can't stress that enough. If you yourself being pulled towards sleep there might be a reason for that so allow it and stop fighting. Make sense?

Question 5): I enjoy Tom Campbell's MBT material. Are you all familiar with his material?
Do what works for you. No matter what you read or what we tell you in the end Your instincts should prevail. If the techniques work for you stick to them and give whichever one you've chosen time.

I feel you are a natural but you think you need to do every thing just so. Let me reassure you there is no one way or even much of a right way from everything I've heard and read and my own experiences.

You're doing fine.

[Lighthouse4]

Hi there, how are you? ...

Thank you...your response is helpful to me.

[Lumaza]

  Here are my answers based on my own personal experiences.

Question 1: Yes you can. It all has to do with your level of awareness. During any of those scenarios you are already in a "non physical state of being", so all you need to do is change your intent. I used to try to control everything. After awhile I learned to go with the flow. If I found myself in a lucid scenario, I would just explore this and see  it through. There is always a meaning/message or teaching behind it. If there wasn't, why did I end up there in the first place?

Question 2: Yes. There are many levels of awareness. Grounding yourself to the scenario at hand and opening your peripheral vision in it will help you greatly here. William Buhlman teaches the use of the command "Clarity NOW". I find that works quite good as well! 

Question 3: Do what got you there in the first place. Like they say "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"!

Question 4: What are you doing wrong, nothing. You just need to change your mindset on this. Remember, you naturally have a "non physical experience" every night. We call it "Dreaming". But what I have found, it is so much more. The trick is to hold your conscious awareness in the scenario at hand without "clicking out" and losing the conscious memory of it all. It's a true "balancing act".

Question 5: Yes, I have listened to most of Tom's many, many interviews. Sometimes it can take him half an hour to answer 3 questions!  He is very deep and thorough. But look who his audience is. He has to keep his talks to something explainable, even though he is speaking of a zone that can only be understood upon entering it oneself.
Years ago I sent a email to Tom. I was having a very strange occurrence. I was in my shower shampooing my hair, closed my eyes to avoid shampoo burn and saw very vividly that I was teetering at he edge of a raging waterfall. Vertigo immediately kicked in and I began to fall. Luckily I managed to grab my shower curtain as I was falling and it saved me. The next time it occurred, it was once again in the shower, I closed my eyes to avoid shampoo burn and saw I was dead center in the middle of busy street. Nobody noticed me, but I seriously felt my "nakedness'.
Tom's reply to my email was that I had reached a new level of teaching and that the shift is just a simple thought away. We just need to get out of it's way.

I second Nameless's final statement "You are doing fine"! 

[Lighthouse4]

  Here are my answers based on my own personal experiences.

Thanks, Lumaza. Sounds like I'm on the right path. I am a "rule follower" and like Nameless said, I feel like I need to do "every thing just so" and imagine that if I do, it will all start falling into place. I guess our experiences can be as unique as we are. Your shower experience, for example--I've never heard anything like that before. I'm sure there are so many wild experiences people go through as they make their way into this new and fascinating NP world.

I continue to practice each time I find myself waking up during sleeping hours, and I meditate once each day. After hearing your response and the response of Nameless, I believe I can say I've had, at least, three OBE experiences where I was lucid enough to remember them (especially that third one, like I mentioned...so awake and aware!). Anyway, that's motivation for me. It's like a little reward for the work I've been doing. I'm also journaling my dreams which is helping me remember more of them.

Night before last, I did my usual practice but this time I chose to create an image in my mind (flying over the ocean...one of my favs) and try to... is it called WILD? Anyway, I went straight into a lucid dream flying over the ocean. Ah! Just loved it...but short lived. I fell into a dream, still pretty vivid but forgot I was dreaming. But get this... (so I'm in my bed asleep) I dreamed that I was chatting with a friend and said, "Let's go back to sleep...I'm gonna try to AP." I fall asleep on the couch and then AP and walk about the house. Then my AP turns into a dream and then I wake up (in my dream). And then I wake up for real. LOL So, while in bed sleeping, I dreamed that I fell asleep on the couch, APd and then dreamed and then woke up. Hope that's not too confusing. The whole thing reminded me of the movie, Inception (I assume you know it) which was what I had talked about the day before this dream within a dream thingie. Strong subconscious. Sheesh.

[Lumaza]

Thanks, Lumaza. Sounds like I'm on the right path. I am a "rule follower" and like Nameless said, I feel like I need to do "every thing just so" and imagine that if I do, it will all start falling into place. I guess our experiences can be as unique as we are. Your shower experience, for example--I've never heard anything like that before. I'm sure there are so many wild experiences people go through as they make their way into this new and fascinating NP world.

Your welcome, like we said, you are doing fine! 

I'm also journaling my dreams which is helping me remember more of them.

Journaling is a great idea. So is using affirmations before you close your eyes to go to sleep. Use affirmations that are "already done or happening", like "I am consciously aware in my sleep, knowing I am sleeping. I remember my experiences when I awaken for the day". You will find that repeated use of nightly affirmations will lead to repeated LDs and OBEs.

Night before last, I did my usual practice but this time I chose to create an image in my mind (flying over the ocean...one of my favs) and try to... is it called WILD? Anyway, I went straight into a lucid dream flying over the ocean. Ah! Just loved it...but short lived. I fell into a dream, still pretty vivid but forgot I was dreaming. But get this... (so I'm in my bed asleep) I dreamed that I was chatting with a friend and said, "Let's go back to sleep...I'm gonna try to AP." I fall asleep on the couch and then AP and walk about the house. Then my AP turns into a dream and then I wake up (in my dream). And then I wake up for real. LOL So, while in bed sleeping, I dreamed that I fell asleep on the couch, APd and then dreamed and then woke up. Hope that's not too confusing. The whole thing reminded me of the movie, Inception (I assume you know it) which was what I had talked about the day before this dream within a dream thingie. Strong subconscious. Sheesh.

That sounds like a LD that turned into a "false awakening", then back into a LD again. Those really catch you off guard, lol!

Speaking of the movie Inception, I began to use the same focus target that Leonardo used, his "spinning top toy". I use it as a focus in my Phase sessions though. I will imagine it and hold that imagery, then just observe as it morphs into something else. When it does, I continue to passively observe it with a air of curiosity. Soon a whole vivid scenario will begin to appear. I observe that until I am now fully immersed in the scene, then I react. I use the focus of a simple candle flame in the same way. Motion based sports work great as well. I find the target needs to be something that has motion.

[Lighthouse4]

Your welcome, like we said, you are doing fine! 

 Journaling is a great idea. So is using affirmations before you close your eyes to go to sleep. Use affirmations that are "already done or happening", like "I am consciously aware in my sleep, knowing I am sleeping. I remember my experiences when I awaken for the day". You will find that repeated use of nightly affirmations will lead to repeated LDs and OBEs.
That sounds like a LD that turned into a "false awakening", then back into a LD again. Those really catch you off guard, lol!

Speaking of the movie Inception, I began to use the same focus target that Leonardo used, his "spinning top toy". I use it as a focus in my Phase sessions though. I will imagine it and hold that imagery, then just observe as it morphs into something else. When it does, I continue to passively observe it with a air of curiosity. Soon a whole vivid scenario will begin to appear. I observe that until I am now fully immersed in the scene, then I react. I use the focus of a simple candle flame in the same way. Motion based sports work great as well. I find the target needs to be something that has motion.

Oh, cool. I'll try those. Thanks!

[Nameless]

I have to agree with everything Lumaza said in his previous post and will emphasize that motion helps. The motion can be a object, an activity or your body in motion. I think motion ties in with action, that's the one thing that seems to be a requirement for creating anything. That might not make a lot of sense right now but it will in time.

I'll add that when you are journaling be sure and capture not just the scene but the smells, physical sensations, sounds, colors. Anything that sticks out to you.

And YEP, that whole dream within a dream within an awakening thing... Bazar, crazy, wonderful, puzzling <- notice how 3 of those words have zzz's in them, lol.

[Lighthouse4]

I have to agree with everything Lumaza said in his previous post and will emphasize that motion helps. The motion can be a object, an activity or your body in motion. I think motion ties in with action, that's the one thing that seems to be a requirement for creating anything. That might not make a lot of sense right now but it will in time.

I'll add that when you are journaling be sure and capture not just the scene but the smells, physical sensations, sounds, colors. Anything that sticks out to you.

And YEP, that whole dream within a dream within an awakening thing... Bazar, crazy, wonderful, puzzling <- notice how 3 of those words have zzz's in them, lol.

Thank you!