Seem very close but can't get out!

[threemoons]

I've been attempting an OBE for about 4 months now but don't think I've achieved a full-blown one yet. I fall into a deep trance really quickly, after about 10 minutes and get lots of hypnagogics. I've read a bit about vibrations but am not sure if I'm getting them.

What I do feel is intense tingling in my hands and feet and quite often a tugging feeling in my limbs as if I'm being pulled. And recently I've been feeling a strong sensation of movement, as if I'm on a roller-coaster. I believe that means I might be quite close but I can't seem to do the final bit and get out. I've tried the various methods often mentioned to no avail. I'm not frustrated by this as I find the whole experience immensely enjoyable and really hope that I'll get there in the end; I do it every night for around an hour. 

Whilst I'm in this trance state I definitely go places and see things but it's all very disjointed and mostly fuzzy. The places aren't real places though and I never see my own body or room. I've noticed too that in the last couple of weeks I've been able to remember my dreams every single night. Not had any lucid ones I don't think but the last few have all featured animals. Strange....Anyway, I'd welcome any thoughts and am particularly interested in what you might say CFTraveller as you're a woman around my own age and seem very wise!

[CFTraveler]

I'm flattered-  
What I'd say is that you are probably having 'third eye' projections, they probably come naturally to you, instead of RTZ OBEs.  I'd suggest you try to develop your clairvoyant skills, do some energy work, and when you are having the 'forward movement' feelings opt for an exit technique that forces the 'frontwards' projection, and go with it.  I also recommend using a recliner for your efforts because they can make this type of projection easier.
For example, when you are feeling the 'frontwards' tug, I'd say imagine you're in a rocking chair and try to 'rock' yourself out, matching the forward motion to when you're feeling the frontwards tug. (or backwards, or whatever matches your natural 'inclination'.
If you need examples of the type of clairvoyance work I'm talking about, let me know._

[threemoons]

Thanks CF, and for answering so quickly too! Yes, I'd like some examples of the work you recommend.
I haven't heard of 3rd eye projections before, what are they exactly?

[radman32]

How old are ya'll? I'm 17. Now i'm not able to get to deep relaxation in 10 minutes, i'm like able to in 25 (relaxation lvl 11 and on)

I'd also like to get myself a rocking chair or recliner for it would help me too!

recently i've been having more memory of my dreams, some semi-lucid, one almost lucid, some just remote viewing ... and i've also been able to reach hypnagogic state easily, and do all my relaxing and energy work just fine. but when i reach the point for hypnagogics, i usually get caught in the feeling, but i'll end up like five minutes later semi-lucid in a dream. Hypnagogics coming on have to be the weirdest feeling for me though. It's like i'll be so relaxed and focused in my mind, then i'll just feel a scenario coming on, and sometimes i'll twitch and have like silouhette visions of things.

This morning i had woken up at 7 hours sleep, got up for 5 minutes, and went back to sleep. I've also been tossing around more often, but that's how i usually sleep. I was semi-lucid in a dream shortly after my hypnagogics, and I was looking at the night sky and moon. I was enjoying the clouds, and then the moon disappeared. Then i followed this cloud that looked like a sea shell disappate and reappear as a lollipop. Then i heard a voice say, "Don't do it." That voice had shocked me awake. I then noted to myself that i had nothing to worry about. Now that i look back, i think that the next time this voice tries to frighten me i'll be prepared. I'm almost able to induce my own OBE!!!!

[CFTraveler]

Thanks CF, and for answering so quickly too! Yes, I'd like some examples of the work you recommend.

Firstly, I'd recommend learning energy work.  This will lead you naturally to energy body loosening exercises.  Then, for the clairvoyant work, there are  two exercises I recommend:
One is illustrated in Bardon's Intro to Hermetics.  It's basically a 'visual memory' exercise.  Gather a few small familiar objects, assign a few days to a week to each of them.  Then, every day, stare at one  for a few minutes (I'd say two to three at the most), and close your eyes.  Try to keep a mental picture of the object.  See how long you can keep the image in your mind.  Do this for a few days, trying to increase the time you can hold the picture in your mind.  I found this extremely difficult, and even though (at least for me) the results were so-so, I found that the results in my meditative practices were spectacular.  I could hold visions and study them longer, and even had some precog visions, something I had never had before, consciously.
Another one that was very helpful came from Mastering Astral Projection, and it goes like this:
Sit in a familiar part of your house, with your eyes closed.  In front of a wall is good, but not leaning on it.  Then 'extend your mind' to the back of your body.  (I also found this extremely difficult, btw, as I am  primarily tactile, not visual.  But do it, it's an interesting experience.)  See with your mental body the wall behind you, the part where it bends into the floor, whatever may be hanging on it.  Look at the texture in the wall, its color, etc. Then do this on the right side of your body, paying attention to any objects that may be on that side of the room, as if you're looking at it.  Do this all around you.  I find this exhausting, but very fruitful.

I haven't heard of 3rd eye projections before, what are they exactly?

Now, theoretically, chakras are energetic vortexes that, besides being 'located' in certain parts of your body, also represent functions- for example, the base chakra is associated with our connection to the earth and all things basic and survival oriented.  All the way up (or almost), the third eye (or brow center) is associated with thinking, 'intellectual' and conceptual pursuits.  It is also associated with visual stuff, like clairvoyance. (Which is why people associate visions with the 'third eye'.  Anyway, when you project, the three usual ways people project are associated with certain chakras, and those are the chakras that are most active at the time of the exteriorization of your consciousness/energy body.
Most first time projectors project through their heart chakra (don't know why) but those are the ones who ask what those vibrations are, that are usually felt around the chest area, and are sometimes accompanied with loud sounds.  A heart chakra projection is usually dramatic, and sometimes traumatic.  That's the one that make people think they're dying, because they think that the heart sensations are them having a heart attack.
These projections are usually to the Real Time Zone, but can produce portals to the Astral, if you have enough energy to keep it going and not lose lucidity.
The second most reported (in my experience) are the third eye projections, which produce those wavy movement sensations, that strobe you sometimes around the room (but not too far) and sometimes you can see vortexes in front of you, and if you 'lean into' them they will suck you into the astral proper.  They may involve hypnagogics or visions, and very slow vibrations can be felt, but almost never.  Phasing is a type of third eye projection that is very smooth if you are good at it.  Selski for example is very good at those.  I'm not, because I'm not very visual, and rarely can discipline myself to phase successfully.
The third one that some people report are the earth-stone projections, and are projections from the belly button or navel chakra.  I have not had one of those in many many years, and don't like them.  They have taken me to the lower astral.  They feel like the heart chakra projection in the sense that there is heavy chakra involvement in it but usually the sex chakra gets stimulated.  A good one of those will take you to the elemental realm, where you will see fairies and such things, a bad one of those will get beings trying to have sex with you.  I don't like those, and they can get frightening if you're prone to being scared.
Of course this is all theoretical, and these distinctions are the ones I've come up to describe the types, their symptoms and results as in my experience.  I'm sure others may disagree, and that's OK.
ps. I've noticed that visual people tend to have more third eye projections, and tactile people (like me) have more heart chakra projections.  Don't know why.

[CFTraveler]

I'd also like to get myself a rocking chair or recliner for it would help me too!

I'd get the recliner, but not a rocking chair, unless you can lock it in the position you're most comfortable with.  Unless you're one of those people that can fall asleep anywhere and tend to pass out easily.

[radman32]

Yeah, I can get way more relaxed while reclining, laying down on my back on a bed seems too rigid for me. I kinda wish i lived in cali or somewhere warmer, cuz i also relax more when i'm basking

[threemoons]

Thank you CF, I'll certainly try the visual memory exercise. What you say about using the different chakras for projecting is very interesting.  In my case, as an extremely visual person, it makes sense that the third eye is more important for me. I practiced projecting this morning at around 7am rather than just before bed as I normally do. I didn't have an OBE but went on to have the most vivid dream and I can remember every detail.  I was flying in a huge room with people watching me (something I haven't done in a dream for a long time) and that was interesting.

May I ask how long it took you to achieve your first successful projection?

[CFTraveler]

Well, that's a difficult answer, because the first time I remember projecting (and realizing this wasn't a dream) was when I was around 8 years old.  (The story is in one of my old posts, don't want to repeat it.

I used to project a few times a year spontaneously and uncontrollably, and all the books I read (at the time I was old enough to research this, around eleven years old) only talked about the phenomenon, but didn't give instructions, treated it from a 'reporting' point of view. (This was before the internet, lol.) So I did this pretty much all my life, and except when it was happening in clusters, I wasn't paying attention to it, until I turned forty, and I started having some scary experiences that didn't fit any reported experiences that I was familiar with- and in looking for the phenomenon (which took around four or five years), I ran into Robert Bruce, who at the time (luckily) was talking exactly about what I was going through, and called it 'Astral Abduction'.  Then I connected what was happening to me with astral projection (for some reason I didn't make the connection until I heard him describe it, but since I was a natural projector, it made sense) then I started doing research, and decided to learn to do it on purpose, and started doing the Mastering Astral Projection program, (which at the time was in book form) and achieved my first completely conscious projection in thirty days).  Of course, I continued the program and did the entire ninety day program, and have been consciously projecting ever since.

Once I learned what all the symptoms were, and learned to control my experiences, the forced projections stopped, and my experiences became more 'coherent'.  So what I would tell you is that learning to project consciously is good, but not the end-all- one thing leads to the other and your explorations will show you more about yourself and the 'bigger picture', so to speak.

[threemoons]

It must be wonderful to be able to project at will CF. I think I had a lucid dream last night, I remember vividly thinking at one point "this is a dream and I can make anything happen". But now I'm thinking, was I dreaming about having a lucid dream! But after flying in a dream the previous night, it really seems as if things are developing. As you say, it's all about exploration and I'm certainly not trying to force anything and enjoy it all along the way. For me attempting to project is all about looking at the bigger picture and finding meaning in life (and death).

ps sorry not to answer sooner Radman, but I'm old enough to be your mother! But hey, what's age got to do with it!! And how are you getting on?

[Lifeform]

I find the idea of "chakra projections" very interesting. I think I'm the heart chakra type of person. Some research on this area of knowledge is needed.

[CFTraveler]

I find the idea of "chakra projections" very interesting. I think I'm the heart chakra type of person. Some research on this area of knowledge is needed.

Maybe you can start a poll.

[Lifeform]

Uh I didn't mean that... I was very tired when writing that as I had been reading lots of things during the day, so much that steam started to come out of my head. I meant that I should find more information for myself.

Maybe starting a poll would give some interesting results... who knows.