There's no danger ... right? :/

[okoklo]

I was just asking this because the other night I know for sure now that I was very close but for some reason I got nervous and then just ending anything I had at that time.  So just to give my brain some reassurance please answer the poll.  I'd say most of you will say that it's just that because I got further that the new experience will likely catch me off gaurd and I'll agree.     

[Nay]

You can never be harmed in the astral and I don't care how many people say other wise...  The fear you speak of is really normal and the only thing that helps is just doing it over and over until it doesn't scare you anymore..LOL.. I know that sounds lame but that is my experience.  I will also say that fear never completely leaves.  Just two or three weeks ago I kept wooshing out when I didn't want to and it scared me everytime and I've had many experiences.

Keep it up, you'll get it!!

[Zante]

Haha

Yes, it can be dangerous in the sense that it could have an adverse psychological affect on you.

That's as far as it goes in my experience. Psychosis is my friend : p

Can you physically hurt yourself?

You would have to try very hard to do that. But if you want to cultivate this fancy into a deliberate focus I'm sure that given enough time and years of practice you could learn to hurt yourself physically. : p

[Synergy]

OBEs are a natural ability we have.  We are spiritual beings.... the physical part of us is only temporary and the spiritual side is forever.  Our subtle bodies (the vehicles we use to interact on the etheric and astral levels) are always there... even though we are not always consciously aware of them.  So when we project, we are just shifting awareness from one point of us to another.  There is no more danger in that, then when we are not consciously aware of our subtle bodies.  If any harm would come to us during an OBE, wouldn't it be more likely that harm would occurr when we are not consciously aware of those levels, and presumably not as able to defend ourselves??

I have projected many times... most were spontaneous.  If they were harmful or dangerous, then why was I having them spontaneously?  I always returned safely.  I have never encountered any deviant beings either.  I have read that some people have engaged in forms of psychic battle with entities in the astral, but I really dont know how much of what the describe are really 'dream' images (since thought can create on the astral) so they may be fighting their own creations.  I do not doubt that some disturbed entities (negs as some call them) may exist on the astral level, but they can not do any real harm... Encountering them may drain you of energy and send you back to the physical right away, and they may frighten you, but they can not hurt you.

I am sure that if there was anything dangerous about this at all, I would have encountered it by now...   travel with confidence!

[okoklo]

So I wonder now, if your physical body was in pain for whatever reason, is it possible to project and avoid feeling the pain?  If that makes any sense. lol 

[Synergy]

I have heard 2 different stories on that question....

1. If the pain is intense enough... it may actually CAUSE an OBE!

2. Pain may make it impossible for you to relax enough to initiate an OBE.

[Zante]

So I wonder now, if your physical body was in pain for whatever reason, is it possible to project and avoid feeling the pain?  If that makes any sense. lol 

Hehe

Some people would say that the idea of "pain" is associated with having a physical body and that by experiencing it, you are only focussing harder on staying/experiencing your vessel.

I've read channels however, believe them or not, which state that upon tremendous suffering our spirits make a decision along the lines of "enough is enough" and so we exit. I suppose it's different for everyone else, there might never be a model for it.

[Awakened_Mind]

Anything that is "painful" during an OBE attempt should be stopped and posted on these forums. The specific pain is most appropriate as more people will then be able to help you. Until that time though, keep experimenting.

-AM

[okoklo]

I'll keep that in mind, I should be able to AP within a month, I'm so close now, I know it 

[Eloquence]

Not to be negative or anything, but I read somewhere that whilst AP'ing you leave your body open for posession by evil spirits / demons / whatever. I was just wondering, is this actually possible at all?

[okoklo]

That's actually the reason I started this post in the first place, but then I also read that you are the only one who can enter your body.  Kinda like it's a locked door and your the only one with a key.  Or something like that, I'm to inexperienced to give a good explanation.

[Nay]

No, it's not possible to be possessed or someone take over your body while you're out.

[iNNERvOYAGER]

That's actually the reason I started this post in the first place, but then I also read that you are the only one who can enter your body.  Kinda like it's a locked door and your the only one with a key.  Or something like that, I'm to inexperienced to give a good explanation.

No, it's not possible to be possessed or someone take over your body while you're out.

Possibly because you're not really "out". Your  point of focus and perseption moves.

Try this comparison:  If you are on a hill and see a truck driving down the highway below you, will you get runover because you can see it from a distance? Make any sense? I'm not sure myself, lol. A logic game.

[markulous]

Yeah I agree with the above.  IMO(and Robert Bruce believes this too) it's a psychic ability.  Your soul doesn't leave your body.  Your not just lying there with an empty shell.  Things cannot just slip in and possess you anymore than they could when you are awake.  I have had OBE's where I could feel and hear from my physical body, but at the same time move around in the astral.  You are just projecting an image of yourself that has the same senses and thoughts as you.  It's just like your a computer and your astral image is just a cd(or some sort of media storage) that everything is copied onto.  If you lose a cd or someone breaks it nothing happens to your computer.

And I have seen and been around things that have tried to scare/attack me.  I have been "bitten" by things and when I wake up I am perfectly fine.

I suppose you could get hurt.  However I don't believe I can.

[Nay]

Robert Bruce is still learning everyday just like the rest of us.  Sure you can get hurt.. feel better?

I, myself feel like a part of me is out.. so I'm gonna go with that, thanks.

[okoklo]

Well this post/poll ended up going in a different direction after, lol. 

[Synergy]

regarding possesion etc.... here is a way to look at it:

How can some other entity take over your body when you don't really leave it to begin with??  All you are doing is shifting your awareness to one of your other bodies (your astral or etheric) which always exist, even when you are completely awake and unaware of them.  You have more than one body, and they always exist together, think of an onion with layers. You can only be aware of one layer at a time, and you do this by shifting your consciousness vibration level.  But the whole time you are still within your physical body, thats why you can return so easily... even at the mere thought of it.

Some proof to this thought exists.... there have been instances where someone starts to have an OBE and actually becomes aware of BOTH their physical and etheric bodies at once (especially floating facing down over the physical body), which can be a very confusing occurrance, and usually ends the OBE right away, but nonetheless it HAS been reported.  So, if its possible to be 'aware' of both at once, then we must occupy both at once!  We never really leave the physical, just shift awareness away from it... so there is no more chance of possesion during an OBE than when we are awake!

[Leo Volont]

Why should a little bit of danger stop you?

I got my airplane licence when I was still just a teenager.  I've sky-dived.  I've raced motorcycles.  When I was enlisted into the Army, I volunteered for combat duty.  I do ocean snorkelling.  I shop downtown, and I eat Chinese Food.

Its all dangerous.

Grow some balls.   Be a man.

[okoklo]

Woah man, you need to chill out.

[Leo Volont]

Woah man, you need to chill out.

And what is so wrong about giving advice that might actually be helpful.  Afterall, the young man asked.

Remember, I was a combat arms sergeant.  So it would not be the first time I advised a young man to choose bravery and self respect over cowardice and timidity. 

[iNNERvOYAGER]

Yeah, good advice, I don't think it's for the timid.

Somethings you could try as an exercises.

Find a blacked out secure place to sit in the dark. If you have any fear of the dark, observe the fear and continue more sessions until the fear is gone. Use your imagination to visualize something to "combat" the fear. If you're not comfortable with "combat", then try something like, radiating peace and goodwill over the world. You can be a sun, super nova, plasma ball, what ever.

Go into a room with a mirror, like the bathroom, completely blacked out in darkness and look into the mirror. Even if you cant see the mirror, just face it and look at it as your eyes adjust to the darkness and conquer your fear.

We all know that fear is a survival instint, but when exploring consciousness there's no room for fear.

[okoklo]

And what is so wrong about giving advice that might actually be helpful.  Afterall, the young man asked.

Remember, I was a combat arms sergeant.  So it would not be the first time I advised a young man to choose bravery and self respect over cowardice and timidity. 

Sorry man, to me it just sounded like you were getting mad or something, I guess I should just keep on asssuming that everyone here are good people. lol, thats why I always found it a little hard to chat to people like this because you can never tell what the persons reaction actually is.  So thanks for the advice you've posted.