The Alpha Trance

[SmileySpirit14]

well when your in a trance, TRUST me, you'll know. sit down or lay down (which ever ways comfortable) and, well, meditate! absorb energy from the air, from the ground, from any elements. just absorb it and let it run through your body. very trance-y!!!

just look in the forums. click astral chat or astral techiniques or sumthin...its real helpful!!!

[:X]GOOD LUCK![:X]

[The AlphaOmega]

The sensations you have felt are the beginning stages of trance.  Think of it like this.  Have you ever attempted an OBE, and simply fallen asleep, and then the next morning you can remember trying, but you don't recall when you lost conciousness.  Well, that point that you lost conciousness was trance.  You may have actually conciously achieved it, and yet simply don't remember.  In trance you feel no body.  Physical sensations have gone.  If you try you can return to the physical aspect of things, but you don't want to, you're happy where you are.  The worries of the day don't bother you, and the concerns and chores of tomorrow are of no concequence, because you are content with where you are.  The mind can still drift to sleep however.  Achieving trance and keeping trance are two different things.  An exercise that I learned for myself the hard way may help you.
Lie in bed as if to go to sleep, lieing on your back though, not how you would normally sleep.  Concentrate on staying awake and keeping the mind clear.  When you find your mind drifting and daydreaming, as we all do every night before we sleep, stop what you are doing and sit up.  Take ten deep breaths while fully awake and try again.  Eventually you will be able to recognize the symptoms of drifting to sleep and be able to hold them off much longer, untill eventually your body falls asleep before you do.  Just a suggestion.  You may also want to try attaining trance in a meditative state also, rather than putting your body in a position that is easy to fall asleep.  Good luck!

[LotusLegs]

I've heard, "When you are in a trance, you'll know it." However, I think i've gotten to the point where I really have no idea what sensations I'm looking for (even though I may have reached a trance).

I used to think that when I felt expanded and lost I was in a trance, but then thought I should be waiting for more sleeplike feelings (like mental and physical heaviness), but these sleep-like feelings are nowhere near as intense and wonderful as the expanded state.

I was once at a point where I thought a trance was simply when my body was a little tingly from not moving very much.

I guess my real question is, "What does a trance feel like?" and I'd like to hear it from some one who knows FOR SURE.

(No offense, but when trainees who have never achieved OBE are telling other trainees what they THINK is right, it could really throw people off.  I think there should be a ranking system that let's everyone know what level of APer a member is on this site.)

[LotusLegs]

Thanks AlphaOmega,  I'll try that technique.

[LotusLegs]

I've posted this message to discuss the ever-elusive Alpha Trance.  Well, it can be elusive to some people.  I have heard people on this forum describe it as mind-awake/body-asleep, mind-asleep/awareness-awake, mind-awake/eyes-aleep, etc.

  People also express how important it is to AP that a person be able to achieve and maintain trance meditation.  I have read that "AP is not hard once you achieve this state."  (Someone even mentioned that, after achieving a trance, she simply "rolls" out of her body, which implies that exit techniques are not as important as achieving trance)  But since I have not projected yet, I am not sure whether or not I have achieved trance meditation. (even though I have experienced some pretty intense sensations.  Like what The Bruce describes as a feeling of being "swollen" or "far away; not sure where you are.")

I hope that people will post the answers to these FAQs:

1) How does a person KNOW they are in a trance?
   What are the signposts?
   What is the mind state?
   How long does it take for different people?
   Etc.

2)How does one achieve a Trance?
   What are the different techniques?
   What things are important to keep in mind while meditating?
   What is the core principle that is universal to all techniques  of achieving a trance?
   
3) What techniques do different people use once they have achieved trance in order to project?
   How does one execute these techniques without loosing that trance?

(AND WHAT ABOUT THETA TRANCE?)