exiting the hypnagogia stage

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I'm new to this whole OBE/Astral projection concept, but I've been practicing just lying down on my bed a few times a day.  Sometimes the session takes a whole hour and I never get anything, sometimes I only lie there for 10 minutes.  I lay on my back, eyes are closed, frequent deep breathing, and no moving whatsoever.  I don't know if I'm doing a good job or a bad job; all I've got so far is a numbing sensation throughout my whole body, my thoughts seem to be deeper, I can visualize things clearer (but still not clear enough to actually see them in the blackness of my closed-eyed vision).  My legs seem to merge with the blanket.  I don't think I've ever experienced sleep paralysis, is it a pre-requisite for having an OBE? 

Does anyone have any tips as to how to make the transition from hypnagogia to that other place quicker or easier?  Am I supposed to wait out the hypnagogic visualizations/colour patterns?  (And then what?)  What are some common methods of getting into an OBE?

I know it takes practice.  This whole idea is just very interesting to me.  Thanks.

[CFTraveler]

I'm new to this whole OBE/Astral projection concept, but I've been practicing just lying down on my bed a few times a day.  Sometimes the session takes a whole hour and I never get anything, sometimes I only lie there for 10 minutes.  I lay on my back, eyes are closed, frequent deep breathing, and no moving whatsoever.  I don't know if I'm doing a good job or a bad job; all I've got so far is a numbing sensation throughout my whole body, my thoughts seem to be deeper, I can visualize things clearer (but still not clear enough to actually see them in the blackness of my closed-eyed vision).  My legs seem to merge with the blanket.  I don't think I've ever experienced sleep paralysis, is it a pre-requisite for having an OBE? 

Not necessarily.  But you should be in trance, or the hypnagogic state.

Does anyone have any tips as to how to make the transition from hypnagogia to that other place quicker or easier? 

Someone here came  up with something called the 'triangle' method.  My version of that is listening to the ear hiss.  If I listen long enough I'll start to distinguish a lower tone, and somehow that seems to get me there quicker.  Other than that, wait and don't go to sleep.

Am I supposed to wait out the hypnagogic visualizations/colour patterns?  (And then what?)  What are some common methods of getting into an OBE?

Yes and then it depends.  When I get vibrations I attempt an exit method.  If I don't I try to loosen my energy body by doing energy work, or try to 'fall into' the vision screen.

I know it takes practice.  This whole idea is just very interesting to me.  Thanks.

Good luck.

[Vvid1012]

Not necessarily.  But you should be in trance, or the hypnagogic state.
Someone here came  up with something called the 'triangle' method.  My version of that is listening to the ear hiss.  If I listen long enough I'll start to distinguish a lower tone, and somehow that seems to get me there quicker.  Other than that, wait and don't go to sleep. Yes and then it depends.  When I get vibrations I attempt an exit method.  If I don't I try to loosen my energy body by doing energy work, or try to 'fall into' the vision screen.  Good luck.

what method of energy work do you normally use to loosen... something like NEW or Microcosmic orbit?

[CFTraveler]

I use the body-bounce- use NEW to 'prime' all your parts    and then start 'bouncing' energy from your head to your feet fast (that is, using awareness).  Once you have a rhythm going, then start extending the awareness bounce a few inches beyond/past the head to the feet, until your 'awareness bounce' spans a few feet outside the body.  If I'm tranced enough, this starts a process of 'loosening', or 'that floaty feeling'.  If it's not felt at the onset, sometimes you get the feeling later on, when deep in trance.