Gateway Wave1 pointers

[lucid dancer]

I haven't read Robert Monroe's books, so I'm not familiar with the 'focus' areas. The way Frank describes the steps, it seems very scientific and timed. If I try this technique on my own, do I have to be disciplined like that.... or can I keep it simple?     By the way, Frank thanks for sharing your info. You've inspired me!

[Frank]

It's good to hear people getting creative. Yes, the possibilities are truly endless. Though please do always bear in mind the objective is to project within the Astral, and the imagery is merely a prop that sets the stage for the next Act. (Imagine a real stage where just a few abstract forms, here and there, can so very easily set the tone of the next Act. That's how you need to be working.)

Act 1: Energy Conversion box. Bring on the props, set the stage, do your bit, then move to Act 2: Resonant Tuning. Here the props change, you play out the scene, then move to Act 3: Declaration Stage... and so on. All so it flows with the CD. But watch you don't get bogged down in nitty-gritty detail.

Though too much detail will not effect you in the early stages. For example, you can imagine your Energy Conversion Box in as much detail as you like. It won't have any negative effects at all. Reason being, at this stage, you are still within the lower realms of your imagination. But the higher you go, creative-imagination wise, the more abstract your thoughts become. And remember that right at the end of your creative imagination, is the border to the Astral. (I promise you, it really is that close!)

That's the main reason why, imagining in too much detail can bog you down. In that it keeps your focal point of thinking within the lower realms of the imagination. When what you should be doing is gradually travelling towards the border. So feeling your thoughts naturally getting progressively more abstract, the further you progress, would be a positive sign.

The key transition is from Focus 10 to Focus 12 (the tricky one!). Hence the need for all the thorough preparation beforhand. Please bear in mind that *everything* you do in the previous Acts, is done solely to bring you to the point where the transition from F10 to F12 is performed as smoothly and easily as the transition from C1 to F3 (say).

In other words, if you are having difficulty with the F10 to F12 transition, it is 99.9% likely that the cause will be due to some problem in the preparatory stages.

Focus 12 is very simple to recognise: it occurs when I say in my latest post to Adrian (above) where I sense the blackness taking on a 3D effect, and I start to see colours, etc. This is Monroe's Focus 12.

Focus 10 (mind awake body asleep) brings you to the edge of the border. And, like all Astral borders, there is not an immediate and sudden transition between one realm and the next. There is what is commonly known as a Buffer Zone.

At Focus 10, as I say, you are standing on the edge of your creative imagination. At Focus 12, you mentally "step into" the buffer zone between the edge of your creative imagination and the Astral proper. (Note: In my earlier work I used to call the effects of stepping into the buffer-zone, the "stray energy" stage.)

The F10 to F12 transistion is not given on the Wave 1 CD. So you will have to create your own sense of expectation based on my description. The F12 transition is given on a later CD but I found it of little use.

Thing is, once you are at F12, stepping into the Astral and making contact with some guide is a relatively simple matter that I imagine most people would hardly have difficulty with. Well, provided you know the ground rules about remaining mentally still (just releasing a mild air of curiosity) and remaining completely closed emotionally, that is. Otherwise you'll step into the Astral and begin flitting all over the place. Which is no use at all.

Yours,
Frank


PS

LD: The process I describe is based on what I can glean from Monroe's latest two books (I haven't bothered with his ealiest work JOB, as Monroe says himself that he moved on from all that) which is coupled to the Gateway, Wave 1 CD. So if you have no experience with these, you will have a hard time trying to work out where I am coming from. The reason why my approach sounds scientific is because I'm a scientist.

[clandestino]

hello there folks. I'm keenly awaiting delivery of Monroe's books on the subject...

I just realised something whilst reading the last post; I'm 99% sure it is going to happen to me, and it'll probably happen to others as well.

When I eventually step into the astral from Focus 12, I know that I'm going to be filled with excitement / emotions as I will have reached a milestone that I've been working hard for......As I understand it, this excitement / emotion is going to hinder me. What can I do to minimise this, and make my first experience a good one (!) ?

anyone ?!
cheers
Mark

[Adrian]

Greetings Frank!

Thanks once again for your time in providing so much help and detail!

I hardly like to take too much more of your time on this, but I am thinking ahead I assure you http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile.gif" border=0>  A couple of extra, hopefully simple questions below:

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
Focus 12 is very simple to recognise: it occurs when I say in my latest post to Adrian (above) where I sense the blackness taking on a 3D effect, and I start to see colours, etc. This is Monroe's Focus 12.

Focus 10 (mind awake body asleep) brings you to the edge of the border. And, like all Astral borders, there is not an immediate and sudden transition between one realm and the next. There is what is commonly known as a Buffer Zone.

At Focus 10, as I say, you are standing on the edge of your creative imagination. At Focus 12, you mentally "step into" the buffer zone between the edge of your creative imagination and the Astral proper. (Note: In my earlier work I used to call the effects of stepping into the buffer-zone, the "stray energy" stage.)

Could you possibe describe this "stray energy" and "3D blackness" a in a bit more detail? This is to assist people in recognising that they are at F12.

Also, how does the transition from the "buffer zone" to the Astral occur? E.g. is it a gradual or rapid transition, and how do your surroundings alter at thisparticular point, and also I suppose, how can you recognise that you are out of your imagination, and in the Astral proper?

Thanks again, as I said, I am asking these for a reason, in addition to hopefully assisting others.

With kind regards,

Adrian.

[Frank]

Adrian: The 3D blackness thing is difficult to explain. (I think Jeff_M might have some better input on this as it forms the basis of his own projection technique.) I'll try and think of a good analogy and get back to the thread. With me, the point at which I sense the 3D blackness is the point where I leave the Physical behind completely. My focal point of awareness has "crossed the bridge" and is now *completely* immersed in another reality.

As for the whirls of colour. Imagine that the blackness was gently swirling around you, like a black fog. Then, intermixed with this black fog, was fog of different colours all gently swirling around. Often I can hear a tune playing which sounds like it is drifting over from a distance. Or sometimes it might be just a single note. Many times I can see a bright light (higher being) in the distance that is obscured by the fog.

In my early work, at this stage, it was common for me to hear all kinds of pops and bangs. Or sometimes I'd hear stomping noises, or Velcro-like ripping or tearing sounds, etc. I'd also see all kinds of abstract shapes like black & white outline drawings. Some of them looked quite devilish in nature, and once I'd have sworn there was this huge head of a wolf right up alongside my face. Which there wasn't, of course, but the energy was perceived that way for some reason.

However, I find that, nowadays, all I get is the coloured swirling fog which is often accompanied by musical tones of various description, and the bright light.

I'm normally in the buffer zone for about 5 seconds. All the while the fog is swirling I get a sensation of gradual movement. Then the fog clears and the Astral comes into view. What I see, or what I do from here depends on my original Intent. If I pass through with no real fixed objective (as I often do, but I'm trying to get out of the habit), I'll just end up standing around somewhere, in no place in particular. What I like to then do is walk around for a short while, just taking in the fact that "here I am again". From which point I'll decide what to do.

At this stage, it is obvious that I am situated within the Astral proper. There is no mistaking it. It feels *exactly* like I was standing within the Physical, only it's the Astral. Though please bear in mind this is only due to the fact that I can remain emotionally closed.

The tendency for newcomers, at this point, is to flit all over the place as their minds flit here and there. Which brings me to Clandestino's point about excitement and so forth. Yes, this is a very natural thing and any emotional release will hinder your progress. But at least you know that.

The first 10 or 20 times you project your emotional release will no doubt scupper your experiences. But your realisation of the fact that it is your own emotional release that is the cause, will help you overcome the problem within a relatively short time.

When I first started projecting within the Astral, I had one heck of a job trying to make sense of it all. One moment I'd be immersed in one scene, then another, then another......

At that time there were no Internet BBS's that you could join in order to ask questions and get help (er, come to think of it, when I first started there were no desktop computers!). As a result, it took me just over 5 years before the penny dropped, and I realised that my own release of emotion was the cause of my flitting about here, there and everywhere.

Nowadays, the facts about emotions and their effects when released within the Astral are starting to become common knowledge. Which means the problems can be overcome in weeks, not years.

Yours,
Frank

[Adrian]

Greetings Frank!

Thanks once again for your detailed and valuable information.

I am leaving this topic locked for now so we can build on it. And get a better "picture" of the whole thing.

I was wondering whether you had tried, or thought about doing the whole sequence without the Gateway CD yet? Many here won't be in a position to get it.

Also - once in the Astral, I assume that you become unaware of the CD track itself.

Thanks again  - this is developing into something most useful I believe.

With kind regards,

Adrian.

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
Adrian: The 3D blackness thing is difficult to explain. (I think Jeff_M might have some better input on this as it forms the basis of his own projection technique.) I'll try and think of a good analogy and get back to the thread. With me, the point at which I sense the 3D blackness is the point where I leave the Physical behind completely. My focal point of awareness has "crossed the bridge" and is now *completely* immersed in another reality.

You know what I like about your posts, Frank?  They help me to pinpoint exactly where I am in my progress, in regards to Monroe's Focus Levels.  For example, I never realized that I was in Focus 12 when I started to see the blackness turn three-dimensional!

Adrian....I'll try my best to explain a little more about how I percieve these 3D shapes and blackness.  

To get a better idea, just close your eyes right now for about five seconds.  If you're like me, you see blackness....probably some spots of light and after images, but mostly just black.  Another thing you would have noticed is that this blackness is two dimensional.  It's like looking at a TV screen.  You may see things, but there is no depth to them.

Once you get around Focus 10 (mind awake/body asleep), you will have begun to see more images (still two dimensional).  With me, these images don't disappear quite as quickly as before, although they still only last a couple of seconds.  I just try to leave my mind open to receive anything that I'm shown.  Usually I see all kinds of weird, fleeting images.  If I could write down my mental process at the time, it's kind of like this:

::blackness::

:::image::::

"Hmmm, looks like a stick."

::blackness::

::new image::

"There's something green....."

::blackness::

The hardest part is quieting this internal dialogue that takes place in your mind, since your mind thinks it's "Mr. Know It All" and tries to prove how smart it is by identifying everything it sees!  Like Frank says, maintaining a curious, open mentality is extremely important from this point on.

Eventually, you'll start to notice that this two dimensional blackness starts to take on some depth.  It almost looks like there is a black wall a little further back from the blackness that you've been looking at.  It's at this point where the images I see start to become three dimensional.  Instead of seeing just a stick or a color, I start to see things with more shapes, like a ball, or a book.  I consciously acknowledge this turning point, and I realize that I can now observe depth perception.  Although I know that my body is still somewhere, I am starting to get drawn into this void.  So when I see these images begin to take on this tangible look to them, I know I'm getting close to phasing into the astral realm.

I hope I did some justice with that explanation.  I'm sure Frank will add/comment on it when he gets some time.


Keep smiling,

Jeff Mash
MyJokeMail.com - Jokes and Humor
http://myjokemail.com

[Frank]

Adrian: Yes, I'm getting to the stage where I only use the CD every other morning. After another month, or two, I guess I won't need the CD at all, as it will have done the job it was designed to do.

Yours,
Frank

[Tracy]

Ok,  I am really excited!!!!  First of all, I don't have the CDs either so I only know of the different focuses that are described on this thread.  For the past month I have been fooling around with consciousness levels and totally ignoring the manual Projecting sequence that it recommended in the book.  Just having too much fun with WILDs remote eye and other such stuff.  After reading Jeff M and Franks last post it was as if they crawled inside my head during one of my meditations.  The same sequence that Jeff described is for word exactly how I experience it.  You see, just this past week the blackness turned 3-D and thinking it was a figment of my imagination I thought how strange.  Were is this supposed to be going.

Instead of just looking at a black slate behind the eyes it has turned and felt like a void or section in space expecting to see stars and planets but none to be seen.  I have a sense that it is the same void that some people experience when they projected but their astral sight hasn't turned on yet.  Is this the same void?

And also I have a question on the 3-D images, when I wake up from a vivid dream or lucid I see the 3-D images (not all the time) slowly appear in my view turn on 25-30 degree axis so you can see every angle of the item and slowly fade to be slowly replaced by another rotating 3-D item. They are almost more 3-D with the shading depth than a normal physical world object.  Is this type of 3-D figure the same that is to be experienced in the 3-D void?  And Frank, how long did it take for the 3-D to become swirling color?  

If you can't afford the Monroe CD's, don't  feel like you are left out and in the dark.  Relax and work with your consciousness.  Slowly let go and experience the feelings and experiences that your mind gives you.  See how close you can get before going to sleep and keep your journal of your experiences.  Be patient and be happy to have progressed as far as you have.  The CDs sound just wonderful and very helpful but are spendy at this time.

Thank you  all very much for being so open!  Know I don't feel so lost.

Tracy

[Frank]

Tracy: you hit on something important which I'd like to stress again: It's where you say, "Be patient and be happy to have progressed as far as you have". This is ever so important.

Now and again, someone will turn up with the question about wanting to AP. But they say they are impatient and want quick results. Problem being, Astral projection is not something you can throw money at and it comes quicker, like, paying extra for next-day delivery.

The other aspect concerns your use of the word: happy. So many people approach AP like they were approaching some wild animal. From many people's posts it seems like every twist and turn is yet another cause for alarm. Leading to yet more anxiety, fear and stress.

I'd like to take this opportunity to hit home the fact that Astral Projection is FUN. Yes, it's incredible FUN. And it fills you with a tremendous sense of JOY and HAPPINESS.

quote:
And Frank, how long did it take for the 3-D to become swirling color?

It's not so much the 3D changes into swirling colour. It's more like a passing through phase. All the while I'm getting a sensation of movement where first it becomes 3D, then I move through that and get to the swirling colour stage. Then the fog clears, so to speak, and the Astral comes into view.

Looking at it another way, if I get to the 3D stage and just remain there, then there I will remain just floating in a 3D void. Oh, while on the subject of being in the void, what you might try is asking for some music. It's really nice floating in the void listening to your favourite classical pieces.

Yours,
Frank

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
Looking at it another way, if I get to the 3D stage and just remain there, then there I will remain just floating in a 3D void.

Yep, that seems to be where I'm at now.  Having difficulty going 'further' to the next phase.

Frank, let me ask you.  You've mentioned on a number of occasions that you simply phase into the astral....no feelings of separation from a physical body.  So would you say that you simply feel a slight movement (while passing through F12 & swirly color phase) and then BOOM!  You find yourself in the astral environment?

Also, while getting there in this manner, do you suddenly become aware that you have an astral body?  Where you can feel yourself walking, looking at hands, etc?

I only ask because virtually all of my OBE's have happened from feeling a separation from my body....so I have had body-like sensations from the beginning.  If I simply phase out into the astral, do these body sensations kick in once I'm actively moving around?

And one more thing....when I am going through my relaxation techniques and I hit F12, I'm not imaging myself moving.  There is no visualization scene in my head like the one which you envision while listening to the tape.  Do you think once I get to F12, I should start to IMAGINE some movement forward, through the images?  

Looking forward to your reply, my British friend!




Keep smiling,

Jeff Mash
MyJokeMail.com - Jokes and Humor
http://myjokemail.com

[Frank]

quote:
Frank, let me ask you. You've mentioned on a number of occasions that you simply phase into the astral....no feelings of separation from a physical body. So would you say that you simply feel a slight movement (while passing through F12 & swirly color phase) and then BOOM! You find yourself in the astral environment?

On reflection, I think "movement" is perhaps not the right word. It's more of a gradual mental shift that starts from first seeing what look like moving shadows for about 5 seconds, then 3D blackness quickly followed by the swirling for, say, another 5 seconds, then the Astral gradually comes into view. At this point, I am viewing the Astral from a short distance like if I were at the cinema viewing the Astral on the screen.

Here I have 2 choices: 1) I can put out an "intent" to view something and watch it on the Astral screen. For example, I enjoy working with horses and I like to watch horses in action during olden times. Chariot racing is my favourite thing to watch at the moment, followed by jousting. But you can basically ask to see whatever you want and up it comes on the screen. (Though this is one of those things that it far easier to say, than to do! But it gets easier the more you practise).

Second choice: I allow myself to mentally step into the Astral scene, whereupon I find myself within the Astral proper. Here I am free to just walk around, chat with the locals, etc.

quote:
Also, while getting there in this manner, do you suddenly become aware that you have an astral body? Where you can feel yourself walking, looking at hands, etc?

Having an "Astral body" is not something that I become aware of. In the sense that I don't really need to think about it. I am free to walk about, as I say, and chat with the locals. But it just feels like it's me, normally, like I were in the Physical. Obviously, the "body" I am in, within the Astral, is not literally my physical body. But it feels exactly the same as if it were.

It's difficult for me to explain, but there is no point in the process where I feel any kind of separation from my physical body. It literally feels like all that happened is the scenary changed.

quote:
I only ask because virtually all of my OBE's have happened from feeling a separation from my body....so I have had body-like sensations from the beginning. If I simply phase out into the astral, do these body sensations kick in once I'm actively moving around?

What I would do is try and phase-into the Astral from the 3D blackness stage and not worry about any kind of body.  

quote:
And one more thing....when I am going through my relaxation techniques and I hit F12, I'm not imaging myself moving. There is no visualization scene in my head like the one which you envision while listening to the tape. Do you think once I get to F12, I should start to IMAGINE some movement forward, through the images?

The visualisation scenes that I use are merely tools that are designed to get me to F12 (and the subsequent transition to the Astral). So as soon as I begin to perceive F12 "symptoms" the previous visualisation stuff is redundant.

When at F12, INTENT and EXPECTATION start to play a big role.

Basically, Intent is the engine that drives you, and Expectation has a kind of feedback effect that pushes aside possible reality-fluctuation effects caused by Doubt and the like. Problem is, at this stage and beyond, you become your own self-fulfilling prophecy so you have to watch what you are thinking very carefully.

Try floating in the 3D blackness and put out a specific intent to do something in particular and see what happens.

Yours,
Frank

[lucid dancer]

Frank, your words are so powerful. You should write a book about this! When you say that you voice your intent to view something...are you viewing actual events that have occured? Is it like going to the akashic records? When I read your posts, I can't help imagining the things you've gone through. It must be amazing!  ...Have your thoughts or emotions ever caused something to happen in the physical?

[Frank]

LD: Yes, I am sure that what I am viewing are events that have occured. But I have no actual proof of that (yet). I hesitate to use the term "Akashic Records" as mystical terminology is not my thing. But these particular kinds of images I am viewing on the Astral screen came about originally after posting an Intent to view the Akashic records (or at least my understanding of them).

My overall intention is to try and view specific points in time. At the moment, all I can do, it seems, is to view an overview of events (if that makes sense) that appear to be occuring over, say, several months (or maybe even years) of time.

It's like, for example, if you were to take a photograph but not wind the film to the next frame. Then take another picture, but again not wind the film on. So take, say, five pictures like this without winding the film on each time. The resulting image would be a bit of a jumble. But look closely and you would be able to pick out lots of bits of detail about each of the pictures you took. But there would not be just one clear image that captured one specific point in time. Which is what I am currently working on doing.

Thank you for the kind comments and the book suggestion. Yes, having a high degree of control over the projection process allows you to dig deeper; as you are no-longer at the mercy of all kinds of reality fluctuations. I'm not sure how my interactions with the Astral are affecting my Physical. To be honest, I try my hardest to keep the two entirely separate.

Yours,
Frank

[Tracy]

quote:At this point, I am viewing the Astral from a short distance like if I were at the cinema viewing the Astral on the screen.

Ok Frank, I have to ask this.  When you see this screen does it show actually moving scenes or are they more a sort of virtual reality where if an object in that scene is a little to far away to recognize that you ask to see the image at an angle.  And complying with your request it rotates around so you can see the sides and back of the image until you recognize it.

And are all the images on the screen real physical looking or can there be images that look more of a virtual reality look to them?  More fakey plastic or clay look along with real physical looking items?  For example a screen of a cute pleasant looking kitchen and wooden table along with a pair of fakey plastic pants hovering in mid air close to the kitchen table.  Sorry about the example but I thought it would help in the description.  This all relates back to the 3-D images I talked about earlier which by the way also have actual scenes of places.  I'm trying to figure out if these scenes are astral in origin or just my brain taking me for a ride.

quote:I am free to walk about, as I say, and chat with the locals.  

Where there actually people in the pictures you viewed or did you have to go in the astral land and find them?

On another note, Even though you have had the cds to guide you I have no idea how you found all this out on your own.  When I go out and just play with my unconscious and strange things occur I feel like I am fumbling around in the dark not sure where I am going or what these strange assurances are supposed to mean and what are you supposed to do next.  Somehow I am guided to the next level and a new mystery unfolds itself feeling lost again.  When I hear someone else actually has been through the same sequence I feel grounded again like I am not going in no man's land.  I know that you have went through this all by yourself and went through the hard work and creativity of solving what to do next without earthly guidance.

Thanks for all the helpful info and for being a pioneer in a strange land.  

Tracy

By the way I'm editing this to say  how right you are about having fun and being happy.   I figure we have the rest of our lives to develop our abilities so relax have fun with it.  See how your unconcious guides you from one area and then to another area all by itself without being forced.  It's like a great novel (or good wine) that should  be savored and experienced.

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
On reflection, I think "movement" is perhaps not the right word. It's more of a gradual mental shift that starts from first seeing what look like moving shadows for about 5 seconds, then 3D blackness quickly followed by the swirling for, say, another 5 seconds, then the Astral gradually comes into view. At this point, I am viewing the Astral from a short distance like if I were at the cinema viewing the Astral on the screen.

Ok....I've been here before.  In fact, just the other night, I saw this mini-cinema.  It was a small, square scene in the middle of the blackness, which showed me a sidewalk.  Of course, right after I realized how real this was for being on my bed, my attention went back to my body in bed. Dooohhh!  This kept happening over and over until I went to sleep.

Anyway, assuming that I didn't lose this astral image....when a person is at this point in his trance-state, would you say you could technically phase into the astral within the next few seconds?  I would think so, since you're already starfting to see these 'scenes.'  However, I think deep down, I've instilled the false belief in my mind that once I see these scenes, I still have a little ways to go before I can project.



Keep smiling,

Jeff Mash
MyJokeMail.com - Jokes and Humor
http://myjokemail.com

[Adrian]

Greetings!

Just a couple fo comments.

First  - the "Akashic Records" might be more aptly called the "Etheric Records". It is conceptualised as a library, but this seem  largely to behave as a symbolic request to view the information. I don't think everyone is permitted to view the Etheric Records, rather only those with the appropriate level of development. I must say that I try to avoid the Far Eastern terminology and use e.g. "Cause and Effect" rather than "Karma". I don't have problem with Eastern terminology per se, but I don't think they assist the Western way of understanding things always.

As for Jeff's cinema screen. I would suggest that anything you are shown at this stage is symbolic. E.g the sidewalk might be an invitation to walk down it. Have you considered trying to "walk" or "project" through that image? You could try, by means of your imagination, imagining yourself to be smaller than the image, and simply walk into it as the portal it surely is. This is similar to another Astral technique whereby one imagines a door with a certain symbol on it. It might be a symbol of the elements (Tattwas in Eastern speak), or a Runic Symbol, or another syembol, and with the imagination, the doors is opened so that you can walk straight into that world.

I want to thank everyone very much for your contributions so far in this subject, and particularly Frank whos assistance and advice is very valuable. I am still looking at implementing a project that should prove most interesting, and bring more people in touch with the Astral.

With best regards,

Adrian.

[Frank]

quote:Originally posted by Tracy:
Ok Frank, I have to ask this.  When you see this screen does it show actually moving scenes or are they more a sort of virtual reality where if an object in that scene is a little to far away to recognize that you ask to see the image at an angle.  And complying with your request it rotates around so you can see the sides and back of the image until you recognize it.

Yes, moving scenes that look as real as if I were watching a movie at the cinema.

quote:
For example a screen of a cute pleasant looking kitchen and wooden table along with a pair of fakey plastic pants hovering in mid air close to the kitchen table.  Sorry about the example but I thought it would help in the description.  This all relates back to the 3-D images I talked about earlier which by the way also have actual scenes of places.  I'm trying to figure out if these scenes are astral in origin or just my brain taking me for a ride.

The problem you face at this stage of development, i.e. when a person gets to the stage where they begin to see inner visions (or progress to Focus 22 and beyond, in Monroe speak), is you become your own self-fulfilling prophecy. In other words, as you think so it instantly becomes, all around you in glorious 3D Technicolour.

So if you decide that these images are your brain "taking you for a ride" that is how they will become for you. Which is why it is very important to learn how to become completely and totally still, mentally. Otherwise you will become forever entangled in all kinds of reality fluctuations.

Taking your "kitchen" as an example: You may be viewing someone's Astral kitchen, but there is an inkling of a doubt inside you that what you are seeing is true Astral reality. What happens is, the Doubt that you feel will manifest in some symbolic way (this touches on Adrian's recent post in reply to Jeff's point about the sidewalk). You might see the cooker, for example, upside down sitting in the sink.

Upon returning to Physical, you dismiss the affair. Thinking there was no way you were projecting to the Astral: it was just your brain playing tricks. So you think your Doubt was justified. As Doubt has now been reinforced that little bit more, next time you project it manifests again, and again, just that little bit more each time. Let this continue and you will reach the stage where you will dismiss the whole idea of Astral projection as just some whacky nonsense. (We had someone join the BBS not so long ago who had gone down this exact route.)

The key thing to realise, is the Astral is a completely separate field of realty. As such, very different ground rules apply. Once you know those rules and can abide by them, the Astral becomes a very stable place. It is even more stable than the Physical. In the sense there are no earthquakes, tornados, terrorist bombs, car crashes. In fact, there is no death or destruction at all (well, the near-earth planes are a bit iffy but these are easily avoided).

quote:
Where there actually people in the pictures you viewed or did you have to go in the astral land and find them?

When viewing the Astral screen I am simply a passive observer. From this stage I can choose to mentally step into the scene whereupon it becomes a part of me and I, in turn, become a part of it.

The way you navigate on the Astral is by use of INTENT which is something I am still working on. For many years I was in the habit of just projecting to any old place and seeing what was around. So now I'm getting out of that habit and trying to project with a specific Intent each time. But still, I can so very easily get sidetracked.

Interacting with the locals can be tremendous fun. And, if the conditions are right, the temptation to play tricks is too great to resist (well, for me that is). My two favourites are jumping off tall buildings and walking on water, both of which can attract quite a large crowd.

quote:
On another note, Even though you have had the cds to guide you I have no idea how you found all this out on your own.  When I go out and just play with my unconscious and strange things occur I feel like I am fumbling around in the dark not sure where I am going or what these strange assurances are supposed to mean and what are you supposed to do next.  Somehow I am guided to the next level and a new mystery unfolds itself feeling lost again.  When I hear someone else actually has been through the same sequence I feel grounded again like I am not going in no man's land.  I know that you have went through this all by yourself and went through the hard work and creativity of solving what to do next without earthly guidance.

Yep, what you describe I recognise only too well. It has taken me 20 years of trial and error to get to where I am today. If I could go back and change anything it would be my initial thinking that all the stuff about Astral guides, and such, was just a load of mystical nonsense. This set me back quite a number of years. Which is why I always recommend the first thing people do is to become open to the idea of having Astral guides right from the start.

Yours,
Frank

[Frank]

quote:Ok....I've been here before.  In fact, just the other night, I saw this mini-cinema.  It was a small, square scene in the middle of the blackness, which showed me a sidewalk.  Of course, right after I realized how real this was for being on my bed, my attention went back to my body in bed. Dooohhh!  This kept happening over and over until I went to sleep.

Adrian is right about the symbolism thing. The moment I read your post I saw it as an invitation for you to walk along it. Then I read Adrian's post. It's amazing how this stuff works to guide us!

quote:
Anyway, assuming that I didn't lose this astral image....when a person is at this point in his trance-state, would you say you could technically phase into the astral within the next few seconds?  I would think so, since you're already starfting to see these 'scenes.'  However, I think deep down, I've instilled the false belief in my mind that once I see these scenes, I still have a little ways to go before I can project.

Try and think about it as being a natural, smooth transition from one focus level, to the next. I get the impression (do please correct me if I am wrong) that you are thinking of it like you go through various preliminary stages, then, blammo, you suddenly find yourself projecting within the Astral.

You have received an inkling of the next stage, which is the Astral screen that starts to come about at the Focus 21 state. You are obviously not yet comfortable in this state as your protective sense of awareness keeps zapping you back to C1 (Physical). But once you are comfortable viewing the screen, you can phase naturally into Focus 22 which is where you mentally step into the screen.

Focus 22, is a region of consciousness that, in my early posts, I termed the Training Ground. In my early days of projection, I got stuck projecting to this region for around 5 years before the penny dropped, and I realised that the scenary that surrounded me was fuelled by my own release of emotion.

Focus 22 is also known as the Lucid Dream state. The big difference being you will be entering this region of consciousness with full conscious awareness and, therefore, full control of your actions; as opposed to the limited level of conscious awareness experienced when Lucid Dreaming. Here, don't be surprised if you see people just milling around aimlessly like they were drugged, or something. They are just people who are asleep.  

Yours,
Frank

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
Interacting with the locals can be tremendous fun. And, if the conditions are right, the temptation to play tricks is too great to resist (well, for me that is). My two favourites are jumping off tall buildings and walking on water, both of which can attract quite a large crowd.

Hey Frank.....I've often wondered about this.  Why do you suppose things like walking on water attracts crowds in the astral?  Technically, can't everyone on that realm do exactly the same thing?  Or do you think you're phasing into a Focus Level of people who are not tuned into their environment and what they're capable of?



Keep smiling,

Jeff Mash
MyJokeMail.com - Jokes and Humor
http://myjokemail.com

[Jeff_Mash]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:
Adrian is right about the symbolism thing. The moment I read your post I saw it as an invitation for you to walk along it. Then I read Adrian's post. It's amazing how this stuff works to guide us!

Excuse me while I kick my own @$$.....I hate when I miss opportunities like that!  But seriously, I'm not that irritated....this is all one big learning experience, and I feel that I get one step closer each time I figure out a piece of the astral puzzle.  http://www.astralpulse.com/forums/images/icon_Smile.gif" border=0>

quote:
Try and think about it as being a natural, smooth transition from one focus level, to the next. I get the impression (do please correct me if I am wrong) that you are thinking of it like you go through various preliminary stages, then, blammo, you suddenly find yourself projecting within the Astral.

Well, I never CONSCIOUSLY acknowledged that I think this way, but when I stop to analyze my thoughts (which is inevitable when you try to astral project), I began to realize that while I'm on the borderline of consciously phasing into the astral, I still felt that one of two things had to happen:

1) I had to briefly lose consciousness in order to completely forget about the physical

2) If I didn't lose consciousness, I still had much further to go before I could step into the astral scene on Focus 22.

I know that when I began to see these astral scenes, I would be so passive that my INTENT wasn't present!  I wonder of others make that mistake.  Deep down you WANT to project (which is why you're still conscious at this point, but you've been so mentally passive to get here that your intent gets brushed aside.  Then you get frustrated that you're so close but nothing happens, so you roll over and go to sleep.

quote:
You have received an inkling of the next stage, which is the Astral screen that starts to come about at the Focus 21 state. You are obviously not yet comfortable in this state as your protective sense of awareness keeps zapping you back to C1 (Physical). But once you are comfortable viewing the screen, you can phase naturally into Focus 22 which is where you mentally step into the screen.

I agree, although not being 'comfortable' with this stage kinda makes it sound like I'm 'uncomfortable.'  I think 'unfamiliar' is a better word.    But I thank you for breaking down these benchmarks into Focus Levels.  It makes me smile to think that I'm that far along, since up until now, I was thinking these 3D shapes and astral scenes were all part of the Focus 12 area!

quote:
Focus 22, is a region of consciousness that, in my early posts, I termed the Training Ground. In my early days of projection, I got stuck projecting to this region for around 5 years before the penny dropped, and I realised that the scenary that surrounded me was fuelled by my own release of emotion.

Most of my projections have been after losing consciousness, and then finding myself in the RTZ (or close to it).  What focus level would that be?  Would that be considered the Training Ground which is simulated to look like my physical environment?

quote:
Focus 22 is also known as the Lucid Dream state. The big difference being you will be entering this region of consciousness with full conscious awareness and, therefore, full control of your actions; as opposed to the limited level of conscious awareness experienced when Lucid Dreaming. Here, don't be surprised if you see people just milling around aimlessly like they were drugged, or something. They are just people who are asleep.  

I have encountered this on a couple of occasions.  I projected and found myself in the yard of my deceased grandmother's house.  In the front yard, some girl was aimlessly walking.  I came up and hugged her from behind (I get real affectionate when I'm out!), but she was like a zombie.  I had a feeling right then and there that she was sleeping.

Thanks again for your reply Frank.


Keep smiling,

Jeff Mash
MyJokeMail.com - Jokes and Humor
http://myjokemail.com

[Frank]

Jeff: The Astral is populated by people, millions of whom continue to behave just like they did when incarnate (I'm mainly talking now of the Belief System regions).

If conditions are right, they will look at you as "one of them" in the sense they don't realise that technically your're not: which gives you a mega advantage.  I'm still a practical joker at heart (legacy from my youth) and opportunities for mischief abound to the point where it's difficult to resist.

The real-time zone is some kind of buffer between Astral and Physical. It's not a mental focus state as such, and I have very little experience of RTZ projection. I only learnt to do it for the very first time about 8 months, or so, ago after having had hundreds of Astral experiences over quite a number of years. I found the novelty wore off very quickly, as there is nothing of any real interest you can do (by comparison to the Astral, I mean).

The Training Ground is Focus 22. Which is the first mental state you reach after crossing the Astral bridge at Focus 21. Once that bridge is crossed, all release of thought-release-emotion becomes immediate action. Unless you realise this and adapt your behaviour accordingly, your progress to the higher realms will be severely curtailed. Hence my calling it the Training Ground, because it like prepares you for progression to the higher planes.  

As for your need to "lose consciousness" please realise that, correctly applied, with phasing there is no loss of consciousness! This is the very essence of the success of the technique! And is the primary reason why, for example, you can achieve near 100% recall.

The 3D shapes are characteristic of Focus 12. As you progress you should find you come across a kind of null-zone where everything seems to just hang. I mean "hang" in the sense of a computer screen that sometimes can just suddenly hang on it's last action and do nothing more from then on. You may also suddenly get strong intuitive feelings about, say, answers to questions you might have had lingering in your mind: this is Focus 15.

Then things begin to crystallize and you begin to see the Astral screen at Focus 21. This is where INTENT starts to play a big role (Intent is the engine that drives you on to the other, higher states).

Yours,
Frank

[Tracy]

quote: Interacting with the locals can be tremendous fun. And, if the conditions are right, the temptation to play tricks is too great to resist (well, for me that is). My two favourites are jumping off tall buildings and walking on water, both of which can attract quite a large crowd.

That is so neat!!!  So, we can play tricks huh, of course the clean fun ones.  Can you imagine if someone from another dimension came down to earth and performed these feats, the scientist world be flipping their beanies.

quote: What happens is, the Doubt that you feel will manifest in some symbolic way (this touches on Adrian's recent post in reply to Jeff's point about the sidewalk). You might see the cooker, for example, upside down sitting in the sink.

This definitely would explain a lot .  Since the brain is "in tuned" to the consciousness and the astral, it is only natural that doubt would manifest in some form of image instead of an emotion.  We are using our visual in so much at this point.  I was expecting doubt and the like would manifest in an emotion like it does in the physical.  Thanks for helping me with this!

Jeff M,

quote: I know that when I began to see these astral scenes, I would be so passive that my INTENT wasn't present! I wonder of others make that mistake. Deep down you WANT to project (which is why you're still conscious at this point, but you've been so mentally passive to get here that your intent gets brushed aside. Then you get frustrated that you're so close but nothing happens, so you roll over and go to sleep.

This happens to me to, I'm so relaxed it is a real hardship sometimes, but mostly when I am fighting the sleep reflex (what I call it).  I keep telling myself that it is amazing we have gone this far.   All the threads that I have read helps me to see how far we all have progressed!

Very appriciatively,

Tracy





"Man shall never reach his full capacity while chained to the earth.  We
> must take wing and conquer the heavens."--

[Adrian]

quote:Originally posted by Frank:

Jeff: The Astral is populated by people, millions of whom continue to behave just like they did when incarnate (I'm mainly talking now of the Belief System regions).

It is worth mentioning that this is one important reason the Astral exists. For those not aware of the higher spheres and Spiritual realities, it would be too much of a shock for them to pass from the physical world, into a world way beyond their comprehension - which is what the spheres beyond the Astral would be. So the Astral is the first stop for most, and a close reflection of the physical, i.e. the As above, so below. .

It works both ways as well - the Astral also reflects in the physical - that is why they are so closely interrelated.

It is also why we see "belief system" areas, and indeed many other types of areas.  The very highest Astral levels are where people have eventually got the idea of eternal, infinite Spiritual realities, an have fulfllled their desires in the Astral. They have higher vibrations, and lower density, and their Astral bodies will soon dissolve in the elements as they go through the "second death" as they pass on to the mental spheres.

With kind regards,

Adrian.

[Gandalf]

Hello everyone!
This all makes for very interesting reading,
I have absolutly no experience of using Monroe's techniques, this thread is my first experience of them, I have always concentrated on projecting into the RT zone rather than phazing into the astral proper.

I think that I should switch to this second method for two reasons:

1) a much better, more rewarding experience will result from being on the astral as the physical is not really that interesting when oob, we can explore all the wonders of the physical during the day while in our bodies!

2) I have had several experiences of waking up from a dream state and finding myself viewing the 'astral cinema screen' effect, this happens fairly frequently.
When I was reading your descriptions I recognised this right away!
Sometimes I'll wake up (lucid) and see a square 'screen' in front of me containing some scene that is absolutly vivid and real. I don't ever do anything about it though, I just watch it until it disolves and I physically 'wake up'.

From reading your posts I should maybe think about stepping into those scenes as they appear to be astral portals!
Does this mean that in these situations I am lucky enough to become aware at monroe's focus 12 level or something?

Anyway,
Thanks for the interesting post, I think I'll look out monroe's material and check it out!

Regards,
Douglas