I am posting this topic due to my ambiguous grasp of Focus 10. I have read all of the material I can get my hands on (most notably Major Tom's essay on the subject), but I think the nature of the state itself is what causes confusion.
1. It is said that: 'Focus 10 is a definite shift of awareness.'
Q's:
i. Should a wait and expect this shift?
ii. Will I definitely feel it?
2. Usually when I'm relaxing, I can get my body to go mostly numb. I then experience two problems:
a. I can't stop being excited (i.e. my heart beats fast and feels tense).
b. I calm down by focusing on something other than my body and goals, in which case I tend to lose lucidity.
Q's:
i. Does my being excited prevent me from entering a full Focus 10?
ii. What is a good way to hold lucidity while also avoiding thoughts of my goals and body?
Does anyone have any advise to share regarding these questions and/or general advise on Focus 10? I know it's a popular topic, but I'd like to have these questions specifically addressed. Also if anyone knows of a previous topic on the subject, that may be of help as well.
Thanks,
-Andrew
Quote2. Usually when I'm relaxing, I can get my body to go mostly numb.
This is already a sign of a light Focus 10, maybe a Focus 8.5 if you will.
Your close. Only in a very deep Focus 10 do I ever completely lose touch with my body AND become floaty in a black void.
You can help being excited. It just takes time and patience to get over it. You've got 2 choices I guess. You can continue to do it the way you are and work through your excitement, or you can take the second path and continue to forget about your body and your goals and slowly gain lucidity. Its a long journey either way I assure you but both will get you where you want.
Thank you knightlight.
Have you made it to Focus 12? Does it just automatically happen to you when your body shuts down?
-Andrew
Quote from: hotshotrobot
1. It is said that: 'Focus 10 is a definite shift of awareness.'
Q's:
i. Should a wait and expect this shift?
ii. Will I definitely feel it?
What do you do in your attempt to reach focus 10? From personal experience, the shift to focus 10 becomes more noticeable with experience. It's as simple as that. Some of these states only come after a lot of regular practice
over time. When I enter focus 10, there is a definate shift in consciousness. Even a light focus 10 where I still feel my body, the shift is very noticeable. One noticeable effect of F10 is an attention of the immediate, its like focus is drawn in, and the external environment is either dimmed down, or ignored. Only the immediate is relevant. it's more then that, theres a quality of mind to it, but thats as much as I can convey in words.
I think waiting for the shift is being too laid back. It is like meditation in a way, it requires relaxed focused awarness. To enter F10 I have to make some effort (I used a trigger).
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2. Usually when I'm relaxing, I can get my body to go mostly numb. I then experience two problems:
a. I can't stop being excited (i.e. my heart beats fast and feels tense).
b. I calm down by focusing on something other than my body and goals, in which case I tend to lose lucidity.
Both of the above are something which experience alone will remedy. I'e been through both, and now achieve very deep states of F10 easily. The best advice I can give is for you to get gateway series 1, and practice the F10 exercises regulalry for as long as possible. These CDs drive brainwaves to the F10 state, and experience will deepen that state so you can appreciate its subtlies. For example. I've used F10 exercises for around 4-5 years, and my state of F10 is much stronger now than it was even 1 year ago.
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Q's:
i. Does my being excited prevent me from entering a full Focus 10?
ii. What is a good way to hold lucidity while also avoiding thoughts of my goals and body?
Being excited can stop a good F10 state from being achieved due to adrenaline and other chemicals exciting the body. (Even chemicals like caffine should be avoided prior to attempting F10 states).
As to your second question, meditation is a great tool to teach one to clear the mind. I would advise getting a good book, such as Eric Harrisons: Teach yourself to meditate, as there is a lot of falsehoods written about meditation on the net. Also, as I said above, the gate way series 1 CD contains tools to stop the mind ruining a F10 attempot, such as the energy conversion box tool (a creative visualisation which I still make extensive use of).
Regarding F12, it generally requires effort to push from F10 to F12. At first it can be hard to notice the difference. For me F12 feels much more 'open and expanded' and there seems to be a lot of visualisation floating about. It is also possible to experience F12 whilst still maintaining some awareness of body. During Gateway experiences at the monroe institute, experiencers regularly speak to people monitoring them during their experience.
Mr. Jingo (or anyone else who'd like to respond):
Here is what happened during my practice this evening:
After my body went fairly numb in the first 15-20 mins., I spent about 10 mins concentrating on taming my excitement. As a consequence of this process the rest of my body became more relaxed. At about the 40 min. mark(I suppose), I felt a definite shift in awareness. It felt like my consciousness had grown from what I could immediately perceive in front of me, to a vast and black expanse of space. Also at this point, I became much less aware of my body, as if it were a small spot of awareness somewhere below me. I experienced little hypnagogic imagery, and no perceivable vibrations. During this time, I tried to "see" my astral hands, but couldn't see anything other than an imagined outline. I remained this way for a couple of minutes, then decided to concentrate on the blackness with my eyes. This was a bad idea, as I was immediately drawn back to my previous state of "small consciousness." After this I lay there for another 10 mins. or so, and felt a tingling sensation in the middle of my forehead (third chakra?).
My questions are:
1. Where do you think I was along the phasing spectrum? Focus 10 or 12?
2. What is a "trigger"?
3. Any advice?
Thanks,
-Andrew
What stage would be ideal for an OBE?