Duality

[Eloquence]

Hey all,
The other night I was having one of those flying dreams, not lucid or anything, just a normal dream. I was flying over a big city and at some point, I gained lucidity, and my ability to fly just went out the window. I fell, and then everything went black. It was at this point I began to see faces in the darkness, disfigured faces. I mean, really messed up looking. They were talking to me. While I was unable to understand what they were saying, I knew what they meant. They were essentially telling me that Astral Projection was evil and blablabla. I ignored them and pressed on with my desire to project. They vanished and I was suddenly able to feel things again. I could feel my body laying in bed, and... another body laying in bed. Both of which I had control over. Well, I think I had control over anyway. I didn't try to move my 'physical' body out of fear I would 'wake up'. So anyway, Still in this blackness, I tried to move what I thought was my astral arm. I lifted it up, it was so weird feeling this arm and my other arm firmly on my bed at the same time. I couldn't sit up with my astral body, it was too heavy. So I tried to roll out of bed with it instead, and got halfway. It felt like I had a 100kg backpack strapped to me. Every movement required so much effort. Anyway, I lost my concentration for a second and really woke up .

At the very least, it was an affirming experience for me, as I have had very limited success since I first started trying at the start of 2006.

So, question time.
1. Is the sluggish body I encountered common?
2. How can I overcome something like that if it happens again?
3. How come I didn't have any vision, and was stuck in this blackness?
4. Any tips/suggestions?

Thanks in advance
- Chris

[catmeow]

Sluggish body is quite common.  Either you feel really heavy, tired, pulling against a resistance, or moving through treacle.  Also vision tends to be poor at these times.  I'm not sure why this happens, but there is a school of thought that says that this is an "etheric projection".  The "etheric" body is your physical aura and although we can function in it, and separate it from the physical body, it can't move far away, does not support clear consciousness, and is subject  to a tug or resistance in moving away from the physical.  Many people don't like this idea of an etheric body, and it may or may not be true, I'm just mentioning it so that you can make your own mind up.  Alternatively, it's possible that you have an unconscious "resistance" to projection, and this presents itself as all the symptoms you described - heaviness, poor vision etc.  When this occurs to me I just struggle against it, but usually have to wait for another day to get a better quality experience.... 

[avocado]

It is very common to lose your 'dream control' when you gain lucidity. Your mind has many predispositions on how it has to function in a space. When you are in a dream, your mind takes these predispositions with it. Subconsciously your mind thinks there is gravity. This annoying detail can also cause problems during projections. You may find yourself not being able to go through walls, or fly through windows. But, in truth, anything is possible. "There is no spoon!" 

As for the exit, I would investigate using some specific exit techniques. For beginners, I recommend the roll out technique. Gather all your wits about you, and ROLL! It works great.
The more you exit, the easier it will become. And before you know it, you won't need to roll like an idiot anymore.

If you ever find yourself without any vision, a common thing to try is to use 'commands' such as "CLARITY NOW!" or "VISION NOW!". Don't say please, just demand it! Or what I do is I just picture my eyes opening.

[Selski]

Heaviness used to be a common occurence for me.  It would feel like I had about 10 blankets on me at times.  Or that I had been drugged and couldn't rouse myself.  Very frustrating, but normal.

The way I overcame it was to ignore the symptoms and not focus on them.  As soon as I stopped worrying about being blind, I gained sight.

As Faithless say, "You don't need eyes to see, you need vision."



Sarah

[kosmos]

i had similar experience. I was also in a dream and suddenly total blackness and in a few seconds i find myself in bed seeing things as thew are hearing sounds very loud (my breathing for example). i also couldn't move, but i thought to my self I'm actually in my second body (astral or eteric- it really doesn't matter) and i tried to move whit thoughts (forget about your body and concentrate on astral. i suppose when you are fully out of body that you gain more control). I would imagine myself floating up and a would. but then i remembered that i must woke up to get to college. try that, it may works.

[Eloquence]

Alternatively, it's possible that you have an unconscious "resistance" to projection, and this presents itself as all the symptoms you described - heaviness, poor vision etc. 

I was in total blackness though lol

Heaviness used to be a common occurence for me.  It would feel like I had about 10 blankets on me at times.  Or that I had been drugged and couldn't rouse myself.  Very frustrating, but normal.

It happens to me in dreams too sometimes, I remember I had a dream once where I was at school and I was trying to get to class. But with the weight of my body, it took me what felt like an hour to drag myself by my hands across the campus lol.

The way I overcame it was to ignore the symptoms and not focus on them.  As soon as I stopped worrying about being blind, I gained sight.

I wasn't really worried, I was just trying to get out first

If you ever find yourself without any vision, a common thing to try is to use 'commands' such as "CLARITY NOW!" or "VISION NOW!". Don't say please, just demand it! Or what I do is I just picture my eyes opening.

I'll try to remember that next time! Thanks

Sluggish body is quite common.  Either you feel really heavy, tired, pulling against a resistance, or moving through treacle.  Also vision tends to be poor at these times.  I'm not sure why this happens, but there is a school of thought that says that this is an "etheric projection".  The "etheric" body is your physical aura and although we can function in it, and separate it from the physical body, it can't move far away, does not support clear consciousness, and is subject  to a tug or resistance in moving away from the physical.  Many people don't like this idea of an etheric body, and it may or may not be true, I'm just mentioning it so that you can make your own mind up.  Alternatively, it's possible that you have an unconscious "resistance" to projection, and this presents itself as all the symptoms you described - heaviness, poor vision etc.  When this occurs to me I just struggle against it, but usually have to wait for another day to get a better quality experience.... 

That would certainly explain it. I've had another experience similar to the one I described above, but instead of being able to move and not see, I could see like I see my monitor right now, as clear as day, but was paralysed lol. But, it is re-assuring to have experiences like this from time to time. Keeps me somewhat... motivated I guess. Which is difficult at the best of times for me.

Thanks for the help guys, I'll try to remember it all next time I get an oppertunity.