Visualization for a Trance? (Updated)

[jilola]

Sounds like you're on the right track there.
The usual visualizations for getting into trance are about moving downwards falling or floating down a river or some such. The goal is to basically to create a pleasant feeling that gradually calms down your conscious (surface) mind until there is on thought left. Awareness remains but the active thinking parts shut down.
The clock tower thing seems to dothe trick for you. All you have to do is loose the final remaining thought of the scenario. Maybe you could end the tour on the outside watching as the tower slowle disappears into a rising fog leaving you wiith only a featureless shroud mist.

After you get the mind calmed you should be able to use any number of the ways described in th eliterature and on this forum to initiate an AP. I can't really say whether it works or not as I'm still working at it myself. But I'm definitely getting closer and closer so I'm confident.

2cents

jouni

[WalkerInTheWoods]

You could be very much on the right track. Though I have not done this technique I have read about one where you visualize a scene, concentrate on it until you are out of body and inside this scene you have created. From there you can explore your own little world or leave and go to the astral proper. While you are visualizing you should try to feel your astral body and forget about your physical.

[jilola]

Fallnangel: Isn't that pretty much the same as the virtual projection technique Robert describes in his book?

2cents

jouni

[monicat777]

When I was first successful at meditation, I was focusing on one point on my ceiling and eventually all of those extra thoughts kind of melted away. That's how I managed to get in a full "trance" state.  I stayed in that particular state of meditation for a long time.  From there I started to project and also experience 'obe'  That was before I knew what any of that meant. And from there I had VERY psychic dreams.  Nothing as spectacular as the fate of the world.  Just small instances throughout the next day.  I hope sharing what I personally experienced is of some help to you. moni

[Tom]

The virtual reality technique is easier to do but harder to set up. It uses a mirror to reflect an image of some sort of scene. Then, going out of body in the real-time zone the mind is kept blank and the reflected image is regarded as an actual place. Going into it creates the scene on the astral. It is easier because it does not require sustained concentration on maintaining the scene, but harder in that it involves setting up the image and reflection. It also requires being able to project into the real-time zone.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Jilola, it probably is. I have not read his book so I cannot say for sure, but I have heard of this method from many sources so it is not unheard of unless you are new to astral projection.

Monicat777, I am wondering, if you have psychic dreams are you able to change the out come or is whatever is suppose to happen going to happen reguardless?

[jilola]

Tom: Why is the mirror necessary? Couldn't one go into the picture itself?

2cents

jouni

[Tom]

That was never clear to me. I have posters on my walls which would be perfect if the mirror was not needed. Maybe something about reversing the left & right sides of the image?

[WalkerInTheWoods]

I have never heard about using a mirror. I have read from several sources about just using a picture, poster, or whatever. The mirror might help but I am not certain about it.

UncleSam, getting excited or trying too hard can stop the projection. I usually have OBE when I am not even trying, only meditating. It sounds like you were about there. You need to learn to remain calm and stay in control of your emotions and you will be able to get out and have longer experiences. Easier said than done but still something you should work on.

[Tom]

The method I read about years ago was to draw a rune on a card and wear it on a string around your neck. Looking into the mirror, you see the rune's reflection and then project through it. This would be sitting up with your eyes open. It was in a book by Donald Tyson on runes. He said that every rune has a world that is governed by it and projecting into these worlds or using the mirror as a window into them helped with understanding the runes.

[UncleSam]

Does visualization work for going into a "Trance" like state?  Last night I was sitting in my armchair imagining taking a self-guided tour of Big Ben (I've never been to see the clock though ) and I felt VERY peaceful, it was the only thing on my mind.  This seems to be the only method for me to clear my mind but I don't know if this is what it feels like to fall into a trance.  If it is, I still have one thought on my mind, which is the scenario I am living out.  

Does this work for OBE/AP?  If I am having a scenario imagining having an OBE and I become very involved in it, like with Big Ben, will I start to have an OBE?

Thanks

UPDATE:

After I finished reading most of the posts that you people have given me, I went and sat in my comfy chair again with a few pillows to support my neck and head.  I started thinking of the "floating down the river" technique and the river brought me to a little town with 8 houses (4 on each side of the street).  There was a man there scolding me for putting my raft in his port (lol).  Well, the man let me through into the town, but when I walked into the town my thoughts just STOPPED.  It was weird and probably the most different experience that has happened to me in my short life.  I was sitting in my chair enjoying this when, suddenly, I remembered that my hands weren't in my lap....  they were supposed to be at my side where I put them in the beginning of this meditation.  I FREAKED out because I thought it was the beginning of my first OBE but I guess because I freaked out and started TRYING to have an OBE it messed up the process.  Could this be the case? Or, am I just getting overly excited about learning about OBE?

=Nick=