Stuck

[2years]

Over the past week, I've decided to give meditating a shot in hopes that it will help me focus when I astral project. And it has actually worked, when I try and astral project, I'm able to get into a state of stillness and focus. However my problem is that I always feel awake don't know where to take it after that. Any suggestions?

[EscapeVelocity]

Meditation is a wonderful art to learn in its own right and will allow you to develop the thought/emotion control that will be necessary to make progress in the Non-Physical realms, once you get there.

So you describe reaching a state of stillness and focus. If you feel too awake at this point then understand this- you are still WAY TOO AWAKE!

When I was a teenager, I did the same thing; I meditated pretty regularly, and I lay on my bed trying to relax and project...for hours...and days...and weeks. And pretty much got nothing for it, maybe the stray energetic exit sensation once in awhile (which I didn't know enough about to even recognize at the time). I didn't want to fall asleep and waste my opportunity so I never fell asleep. In retrospect, that was a BIG mistake because I never allowed myself to get anywhere near relaxed enough for an exit to occur. (edit: let me clarify that my body was entirely relaxed, but my mind was not; I instinctively refused to give up control)

As far as 'where to take it' from there...well you could try a Rundown (do a search on that term) which is any number of kinds of visualizations that involve movement. Or you could do a visualization such as Lumaza's Doorway technique. Check the dark blue stickies at the top of the first and third Boards here and you will find many techniques to consider. You should eventually read them all so that information is filed away in your memory because at some future point you may happen to encounter what has been described, and you might have a better chance at recognizing it and taking advantage of your knowledge.

So my advice is that if you insist on pursuing this method, then let yourself fall asleep a few times. Run through the technique/visualization/rundown a few times and if that produces nothing, then simply allow yourself to relax deeper and try again until you slide off into sleep. All that 'intent', desire and expectation you have built up may very well carry through into a brief sleep period of a few seconds to a few minutes and then you may come aware already within an OBE. This brief loss of consciousness is quite normal and often results in a loud CLICK! being heard as your awareness re-engages...thus it is referred to as a 'click-out'. And this is a perfectly valid method for achieving an OBE.

You have already made better progress with the Wake, Back To Bed method like you experienced last December; all you need to do is stay calm and passively observe the process as it unfolds, but your excitement likely aborted the event. It can take 4 or 5 of these near-OBE experiences where you make just a little more progress each time, until you finally make the transition...it can get very frustrating but that is a big lesson in the patience and mental control that will be absolutely necessary if you wish to venture anywhere near these realms.

Hope that helps some.

EV

[Lumaza]

Over the past week, I've decided to give meditating a shot in hopes that it will help me focus when I astral project. And it has actually worked, when I try and astral project, I'm able to get into a state of stillness and focus. However my problem is that I always feel awake don't know where to take it after that. Any suggestions?

Take it to the "Basketball Court" or to White Water Rafting. Try a "Rollercoaster". In other words, "jumpstart" a experience. I don't know why people are training others to have a "mental stillness". You can be mentally active and still project. Actually, it's quite a bit more thrilling that was then just sitting there with a creating a "still mind" for a period of time. I enjoy being "proactive".

As EV said, a "Rundown" works great as well. He also gave you some very sound advise.

I like to be occupied until I just find myself "there". Once there, I enjoy my new surroundings. You wouldn't believe how fast a simple shooting a Basketball into the darkness before your eyes can create a game of 5 on 5 with full crowd to boot, lol.
You don't need to see the Basketball at first or anything like that. Just know it's there and keep mentally shooting it into the air. It will soon reveal itself. When it does, don't question it, don't change it. Just go with the flow. Human beings feel they have to control everything. Sometimes it's better to jet let your curiosity get the best of you when you attempt to shift. That will bring you deeper and create a another page for your "Journal"/ log book!  

[omega]

You will no you are getting to the correct point when you start to see the little 5 sec dreams