Questions Straight From A Newbie

[Bordmb]

   I was first  interested in AP and OOBE about a year ago, but as I had only read a few articles, and none from this site, I soon gave up assuming I couldn't do it. Anyways, I never  fully lost interest and have recently started keeping a dream journal, which has done wonders for how I perceive and remember my dreams.

Three nights ago, and every night since, I have devoted anywhere from 1-3 hours alone in my  room with minimal noise to try to induce an OOBE. Mostly, my body falls asleep, ( I assume) and then if I try to separate absolutely nothing happens. No vibrations or anything. Other than that I am also having troubles with my eyes constantly being restless and never wanting to stay closed  on their own.

My usual routine goes something like this:
1. Lay down on my back and cover  up to my chest and have my arms parallel to my body.
2. Close my eyes and  remain still while focusing on my breathing or trying to keep my  mind  clear. ( Not Easy, but doable)
3. Wait for body to fall asleep.  ( Now here is another one of my questions. I have never had sleep paralysis, and the extent of my body falling asleep is an  extremely heavy and pleasantly warm/ numb feeling only strong in my legs.)
4. Try to separate; fail miserably, roll over and sleep and hope for success in LD.

What am I doing wrong or what could I improve on?

Please don't suggest binuaral beats.

Thanks.

[Rudolph]

" Don't do your OBE attempts at night" (bedtime)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw5r6gPLOU

It is good to watch all of the Lucidology videos. This is a good compilation of the links;
http://www.myspace.com/nowiam/blog/538605584

also check out obe4u.com -- read the free ebook and watch all the free videos.

Waste your time on anything else at your own disgression. 

[Xanth]

Hi Bordmb,

Welcome to the Astral Pulse. 

I was first  interested in AP and OOBE about a year ago, but as I had only read a few articles, and none from this site, I soon gave up assuming I couldn't do it. Anyways, I never  fully lost interest and have recently started keeping a dream journal, which has done wonders for how I perceive and remember my dreams.

In my opinion, if you can fall asleep and dream, then you can do projection... because that's all a projection is.  The difference is that you remain consciously aware while you do it.  Everyone can do it... everyone is gifted with that right. 

You need to get past the social programming that you've had forced upon you all your life though... that's where the tough part comes in.

Three nights ago, and every night since, I have devoted anywhere from 1-3 hours alone in my  room with minimal noise to try to induce an OOBE. Mostly, my body falls asleep, ( I assume) and then if I try to separate absolutely nothing happens. No vibrations or anything. Other than that I am also having troubles with my eyes constantly being restless and never wanting to stay closed  on their own.

The eyes problem plagues a lot of people, including myself. 
i wrote a small article on my website regarding the eyes issue: http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2010/09/03/astral-projection-problems-the-eyes/

Also, try stretching out your eyes before you begin your practice.  Look around in circles as far as you can comfortably, and stretch them out.  Then close them tightly for a few seconds and then relax them.  Do this a few times.  That should help a lot.

My usual routine goes something like this:
1. Lay down on my back and cover  up to my chest and have my arms parallel to my body.
2. Close my eyes and  remain still while focusing on my breathing or trying to keep my  mind  clear. ( Not Easy, but doable)
3. Wait for body to fall asleep.  ( Now here is another one of my questions. I have never had sleep paralysis, and the extent of my body falling asleep is an  extremely heavy and pleasantly warm/ numb feeling only strong in my legs.)
4. Try to separate; fail miserably, roll over and sleep and hope for success in LD.

What am I doing wrong or what could I improve on?

First, body position and position of your arms is meaningless... just make sure your body is in a comfortable position.  Nothing special required.
Your #2 is fine.  Although, keeping a clear mind is a meditation technique all in itself.  If this is something new to you, then that's probably where you should start:  Learn to meditate.
Work towards a clear mind.  As for your #3, this is probably where you're messing up.  There's no "waiting" for anything to happen... you've gotta actively "do something".  In this case, you've got to keep your mind active, or you'll simply lose consciousness, as you've been doing.  Find something to focus your mind upon while you lose bodily awareness.  Note:  You don't need to put your body to sleep, this is a misnomer of the "body asleep" part.  You only need to lose awareness of your body.  For your #4, what are you doing when you "try to separate"?

Also... a Lucid Dream, in my opinion, *IS* a projection.  It's just one of slightly lesser conscious awareness... both happen in the same area of consciousness, sort-to-speak.  If you find yourself lucid, try this:  http://unlimitedboundaries.ca/2010/09/01/how-i-convert-a-lucid-dream-into-an-astral-projection/

^ That technique is what I use to convert a lucid awareness experience into an astral one... and it works quite well for me.

Please don't suggest binuaral beats.

Thanks.

Have you tried them before?  They don't do anything "FOR" you... but they do help you towards whatever state of consciousness you're aiming for.

[Lionheart]

 I am a new poster and to this as well. All I can say is this has been happening to you, the astral travel every night. I have had many experiences in the past that I could never quite understand, but I usually ignored them. I don't think the time was right in my life before to put all the true effort that is needed into practicing. But, time and time again I kept having involuntary experiences while I was asleep. Always waking in a cold sweat or waking up and being totally paralyzed and vibrating intensely. To experience the Astral Plane while awake does take alot of effort and belief. I was taught through my lifetime that things will always come back to you if they are meant to be. You can only ignore so much. before the hint finally hits home and that is that you were meant to do this. I have talked to friends, family, acquaintances about Astral Travel or Quantum Leaping I call it, so they won't think I am crazy. I bought a program from Dr. Steve G Jones about 2 months ago, it cost me 180.00$. I recieve the program, but also recieve a free program to give to someone that wishes to learn. It took until 3 days for me to finally find someone that was interested in even looking at it. Every person I talked to about it told me how interested they were in it and how they would love to try it. They also told me about things in their lives that had happened that were strange and unique. Anyhow, to come to the point, I told a number of 22 people that were interested about my free program, all they had to do was call me back the next day and I would send it to them. I didn't recieve a phone call until 3 days ago. Out of 22 people that told me they were interested, 21 of them for some reason did not want my free program. I finally realized why, that is because they are so much in the physical, that they can not put the time and effort or even thought to doing something like this. They are so absorbed in what's happening in their life, they just don't realize that Astral Travelling consciously would likely be one of the best things that have ever happened to them.
I have finished the program, but have learned much more than I would ever now from reading evferyone's post here. Especially the giant log that was put on here that had Frank's posts before he passed. One of my goals is to meet up with him in the Astral.