Hello AP! I have a question...

[TheSodaJerk]

First off I'd just like to say hello before I just randomly burst in and start blabbering off my questions. Sooo hello!

But to start things off I've been fascinated with the possibility of consciously traveling in the astral for about a year. Though I've been practicing meditation and concentration exercises in that span as well as studying the different techniques used by many people. But enough of my rambling, I'd like to get to the point.

So last night I was going to bed as usual and decided to put myself in a deeply relaxed state since I didn't try to for almost a week. Well I got to clearing my mind and decided to try something new which instead of using the progressive relaxation where you start from your toes up I decided to imagine my body being pressed down by a large weight (Forgive me if there's someone who's already thought this up) which work pretty well, if not, better than what I was using. As for clearing my thoughts I was using my habitual daydreaming as a tool to channel my thoughts into one subject. All in all this was completely new for me and I only expected the usual heavy feeling and then me just get bored and go to sleep.

Well last night was different. In the middle of it all I suddenly felt a jerk that wasn't just a limb or cheek but my whole body which was accompanied by a falling feeling which happened almost simultaneously. My eyes then shot open and for a second I wondered what had just happened but I rolled over to my side ( I sleep on my side) and didn't give a second thought over it until now.

My question is what caused that jolt? I first assumed that it was from being cold but I was comfortably under the covers and my fan was only producing a small breeze. But it wasn't like when your whole body shivers because you get a cold chill down your spine. The jerk was short, sudden and without warning.

The falling feeling was also very new to me. The only other time I've ever felt that kind of feeling was on the few roller-coasters I've been on that free fall dropped and the one falling dream I had as I jumped out of a window.

I'd rather not make hasty conclusions and lie to myself but hopefully have someone who might have a clue e as to what it may have been.

[kiwibonga]

The scientific name is "myoclonic jerk"

Usually it happens when you fall asleep but did not expect to fall asleep... You'll be conscious but with a distorted sense of space, so you get startled and have a natural reaction to try and get back on your feet. With enough development I came to find that they usually happen during tiny dreams that we tend to instantly forget. Waking up "violently" usually has that dream-erasing effect.

The fact that it happened is a good sign, you were right there at the gate but popped back out... What you'll want to do is try to stay there, right in the middle, not so awake that you're still feeling your physical body and seeing the darkness behind your eyelids, but not so asleep that you're unconscious. It's key to the whole thing, pretty much.

[TheSodaJerk]

Thanks for the advice! Though I got to a full paralysis state I had to give up because my right eye wanted to open. But I understand that practice makes perfect and I'll keep in mind to do what you've suggested.

Thanks again.

[LittleJoe]

The falling feeling can be used to help deepen your trance. Many people visualise themselves falling of a cliff for instance, to produce it.

Next time you feel it, try to hold on to the feeling. Don't try too make it more intense or anything, just focus on the feeling. Do this for a while until it stops or when you get bored, when you do, you'll find yourself in a deeper trance, or 3d blackness. That's the theory at least, but it works for me