Astral Projection experiences and questions

[dcal026]

I guess I'll start by saying hello

I have some personal questions about my experiences I've had regarding astral projection. I'll start by saying I'm a natural born skeptic, so normally I wouldn't believe in astral projection, at least not whole heartedly. Within the last three years though, I have accidentally entered the astral plane 3 extremely vivid times, it's been years and I still remember the experiences like they were yesterday. Entering the astral plane, I was so lucid, it was very real but it also felt like nothing I have felt before, both emionally and physically.

I only just learned about astral projection (about 2 months ago) and imidiately knew that is what I had experienced those times, almost 3 years ago now. I have been since furthering my understanding of the topic, reading and watching videos (it seems as if it's all I can think about these days) but it is hard to discern who is telling the truth from farce and who has actually been to the astral.

I would like to describe my first experiences with the astral. The first time ever projected I was staying at a friends house. His guest room is small and extremely eery. There's no reason why it should be eery, the furniture and bed are nice, you know it's a nice room... apart from feeling like death is hiding with his cythe in the closet. I was drifting to sleep when I realized there was this dark, well entity for lack of better word staring at me. The room was exactly the same, it wasn't at all dream like and I was very awake... though when I realised the fear boiling, I also became aware that my eyes were closed! With a jolt my eyes opened, my awareness felt as if it had to realigne with my physical body, and all fear imidiately dissipated. It was one of the weirdest things I have felt; to be very awake, and then re-awaken. I did this probably about three more times in the succession of 30 min or so. Fall asleep unaware that my body was asleep, feeling the fear (which at this point, had grown a strong err of curiosity) start to creep on and seeing this entity starring at me. Somehow I was fooled into thinking it was real every single time and was surprised to re-enter my body. Eventually I did end up falling asleep through the night. That was 3 years ago and I still remember the vivid and strange feelings surrounding that first time.

Fast forward a year from that point. Having dismissed that, as a really cool strange experience, I didn't think much of it... till it happened again. I had gotten a girlfriend at the time (go me, being smooth with the ladies and such) and was falling asleep in her bed at like 3am. She is a super light sleeper and was resting on my shoulder... mind you I am a restlass person; so as to not disturb her, I wouldn't move, focusing on my breath, not itching or moving, and telling myself to fall asleep. I had no idea at the time this was an actual technique, to induce LD or AP. Suddenly, just like the first time, I realized I was looking around her room but somehow acknowledged that my eyes were closed and recognized the similar exetrenely, lucidly real, yet somehow not real feeling, I had had a year prior. This time there was no entity so it was very calm. Her room was the exact same; down to every detail, yet more adorned with light. It was still dark yet there was a blueish-silvery glow to the room, as if a full moon had basqued it with light at just the right angle to illuminate all of the dust particles present. It was weird. I never left my body, I had know clew I could, just observed the room and suddenly kicked back into my body with a bit of a jolt. It was disorienting because I had just felt myself in a differnt position looking at the same room. Again it was weird. Almost in disbelief I drifted off again to myself re-entering this new, yet oddly familiar, world... or more accurately, it felt like a new way of expierencing, a familiar world. I went in and out of this state, amazed and oddly euphoric at the reality I felt being there until I eventually just went into dream land waking up the next day.

Again chalking this up to a weird anomaly I dismissed it, feeling as though even if I were to discuss it with someone, I couldn't find the words to accurately portray such a strange thing nor would they care or understand. They would just think I was babbling some strange nonsense, that was just all in my head. I wanted to keep the magic of what had happened alive for myself, without being tarnished by the views of those who couldn't understand or empathize. I didn't view it as important or as a tool, I didn't have an inkling of an idea of what astral projection was, let alone that I could leave my body and explore the universe in this state. So I let it be, chalking up to a very fascinating trick of my brain.

Fast forward 2 more years to the present day about two months ago. Those two years went by without anything even similar happening. I forgot about them, the memories, still vivid, but left to the far reaches of my mind. I had stumbled upon the idia of lucid dreaming, though I had heard of it, seemed like a lot of work for something I wasn't sure was real or was just a bunch of people convincing their self they were lucid in and controling their dreams. I try to keep an open mind though, skeptical as I am. I hear people out and try to gather my own truths, some people are just way too out there for me. Anyway this youtuber who I really liked did a video about the differneces of lucid dreams and astral projection. Immidiately upon hearing how astral projection works and feels I knew that was what had haphazardly occurred all those years ago. Just like that I knew it was real, I had felt it and realized astral projection was what I had been searching for, not lucid dreaming. I had finally legitimized both those experiences and the existence of astral projection (atleast for me) in one fell swoop.

Now I have been meditating and practicing AP techniques everyday, for a month and a half or so, with some recent promising results within the last week. It's harder now that I'm actively trying though, as apposed to wandering into the astral plane just by chance happening. The vivid memories of those happenstance experiences were the threads that kept me going through the weeks of no tangible results.

This week has been a bit of a break through for me. I have successfully projected 2 times. The first night as per usual I fell asleep trying AP methods but this night I woke up naturally at 3am. I was really tired but decided to give my all into trying to stay aware into falling asleep. I began dreaming and was just barely able to keep my conciousness on the skirt tails of lucidity. It wasn't really a lucid dream; I had know real control nor awareness I was dreaming but I was, strangly, observing. One of my dream characters then told me this phrase "you must cicumvent the body." My mind then strongly latched on to that word circumvent. Within seconds I became lucidly aware and the dream world around me dissolved seemingly instantly, like a vail being lifted to reveal the truth, leaving only my room around me. I hadn't woken though, and I instantly recognized the feeling of seeing everything around me but knowing that my eyes were closed. Finally I had willingly found myself in the astral. Knowing more about astral projection at this point I had a more acurate rule, to feel and understand what was going on. It felt like I wasn't connected conciously to my phyical body. I couldn't exactly place my physical arms or legs in space, I knew they were there but wasn't a part of them at that moment in time. I affirmed this trying to force myself out of my body to go explore. As I tried to sit up it was like trying to escape from being stuck under thick mud; what seemed like every atom of my body tingle (I'd say it was akin to the tingling you get right before you shiver, or when someone tickles your back... but really intense and all over my body) but the force pulling me back was too strong and I got pulled down and woke up. When I came into physical my body was in a completely different position then I had though when I was out in the astral; it was the same disorienting feeling I had gotten, being kicked back into reality years prior.

While I didn't get "out" of my body to explore, it was the first time I had experienced the same feeling all those years ago. I had done it! I had conciously gotten to the astral plane on my own will. My disappointment of not yet getting to explore was far dwarfed by my excitement of successfully projecting.

The other night I had set my alarm to 3am to wake up and I did, to try and recreate my success. I drifted to sleep and found myself astral again... so far so good. As I lay there I tried to imagine floating up (instead of forcing my way out) through the ceiling to the deck (I live on a tall ship, long story doesn't matter). I didnt, or at least don't remeber, floating up, but I suddenly found myself just hovering above the deck two or three feet. I was amazed and intranced, just trying to take in what was happening and where to go or what to do. The boat is covered for winter, it has a frame and plastic to keep the snow off, so it is sort of like a green house. It had that same blueish-silver radiance as I found it my (ex)girlfriend room two years ago; a moon-glow that seemed to basque the world. For some reason and I still don't know why (it could've been everything from nerves or fear, to a stray thought about my physical body), but as quickly as I found myself there, I was back in my body feeling amazed yet slightly annoyed wishing I was still there.

Those recent experiences are hard to make happen thoug,h it seams random for all the hard work I've put into it, which nights I project and which nights I doze off to dream land... I try every night. There are also some discrepancies with my experiences versus the common ones I have read, time and time again around the internet. I would love talk to someone who is experienced in AP to help me, which is why I am here, writing this novel of a post now.

As for discrepancies I don't get vibrations. I just dont. And everything says there is this tell tail sTage in which it feels like a freight train is running past. For me I'm either in the physical or I'm in the astral. There is no clear point that distinguishes them, or the moment which I switch over. I was wondering if someone could shed light as to why I don't feel these vibrations?

Along those lines I also feel that I can't find that opaque barrier to cross over when I just lay down and try to find the astral plane. Yet when it happened accidentally, it was right when I was trying to fall asleep. When I am conciously trying to project, my only success is found through breaking the sleep cycle and trying at 3am. I suppose my question is how do you attain the power to project from just relaxing into it... especially if there is no vibration stage to search for?

What are some things to work on to try and explore the astral, I have gotten all of 20 ft from my body and there are so many things I would like to explore and dicover! Techniques to stay in the astral and strengthen the experience?

I would also love to know what some experienced projectors think and have to say about my rise to to the astral and my experiences thus far.

Has anyone had similar experiences to mine and felt similar sensations?

If you have gotten this far, kudos, I applaud you! You are exactly the people I want to talk to. I hope my rendition of what I have experienced is interesting and if anyone can help me understand more, I would be abundantly greatful!

Cheers

[lolaivanna]

i find this subject so interesting too you certainly had some cool experiences, im still working this out for myself too. hope you get more answers they should be a lot of people here that can help you understand more best of luck !!

[White Crane Feather]

You are doing excellent. I think I can answer some of your questions.

Vibration: not everyone exspereinces vibration though it is very common. For me they were extremely powerful but now I barely notice them unless i look for them.

Your technique seems sound and like it is working. Exiting your body is like any other skill the more successes you have the easier it gets. I can pretty much exit at will now if I have some quite space to relax and meditate.

Longer exspereinces: this comes with practice to. But the biggest issue here is purpose. Many people find themselves out of body for short times because they are not really there for anything. Early on for me it was about learning, but always my intent was about learning to help people like shaman do. Exspereinces got longer and longer. The most incredible is when you surrendure to God/the great spirit/universal conciousness and simply say I'm yours show me what to do. If you are true in your intention you will be utterly awed at what you will be shown. Now if your intent is strong and positive and you are trying to learn to operate OBE, the trick is to keep active. You must have a goal that stretches to another goal that leads to something else. Staying engaged gives you purpose and the ability to focus your awareness better. If you are just there marveling, you will end up back. There are also all kinds of thoughts you have to wade through. Meditation on letting anxieties and other thoughts Roll off of you is a good excercise to help you with this. This is part of the stuck thick feelings you had when you were trying to move. Moveing OOB is about truth in intent. Any fear, any hesitation will manifest. I still run into this occasionally but I have learned to clear my mind and do without trying. The act of trying is an act of not being able to. You don't try to open your mouth when you put food in it you just do. It's hard to get that at first. For quite a while a baby has to try to walk, then with practice it just does. Learning to operate in pure conciousness is like learning to walk. Although much harder in my opinion.

Even after gaining some mastery over yourself you can never be perfect. Just last night I exited my body. I jumped through the wall onto my grass. I then turned to God to surrendure myself. This is usually where I'm whisked off and given some sort of project, but something was different. I was carrying anxiety with me. The last thing I was given I have felt like I failed. I was instructed to help somone but I didnt simply listen to the instructions. This was weighing on me when I surrendered and it interfeared with the process. I was sent straight back. I wasn't clear in my intent I was actually afraid I would get something important again. I'm actually struggling with how much responsibility I want. This is a major road block for me. I'll have to work through it or give up shamanic work altogether.

So you see the answers to most of your questions have to do with intent and how bad you want it. I have been helping people obtain altered states of conciousness for a number of years now, but the most successful people are those that are battling internal forces and despretly want them to stop, then the ones that are really out to be healers but their situation isn't as urgent. The shamanic journey dosnt work well for people just wanting an exsperience or maybe a fad. Usually all they get are quick glimpses.

I hope some of this helps sorry I went on a little anecdote there. Let me know if I can help with anything.

Edited December 15, 2014 by White Crane Feather

[ArcherSage]

I was meditating to some relaxing music last night and I sort of phased out, but all I saw was darkness. My eyes rolled back and it was like I was sucked through my 3rd eye. But then I woke back up.

[evanst09111314]

I use to only astral project myself in my sleep.. First it was different places then it turned into different time periods. After meeting an older gentleman who also has these experiences he told me he does it while awake.. When I realized I also do it while awake just didn't know it. I thought I was spacing out but I was going elsewhere and didn't remember. I went to Alaska to see the beautiful Northern Lights, I went to the 17th century in an old pub, and seen the land of New Zealand. Its exhausting and if you do it while asleep and run out of energy so don't return to your body in time it can kill you! Now if I stare of into space I travel unintentionally to different places but I'm just time traveling with lots of practice. I don't go into the future but sometimes I can catch a little glimpse of the future of little events. The mind is an amazing thing and the subconscious is amazing but can also be very dangerous since it well has a mind of its own.. (No pun intended there)

[White Crane Feather]

I use to only astral project myself in my sleep.. First it was different places then it turned into different time periods. After meeting an older gentleman who also has these experiences he told me he does it while awake.. When I realized I also do it while awake just didn't know it. I thought I was spacing out but I was going elsewhere and didn't remember. I went to Alaska to see the beautiful Northern Lights, I went to the 17th century in an old pub, and seen the land of New Zealand. Its exhausting and if you do it while asleep and run out of energy so don't return to your body in time it can kill you! Now if I stare of into space I travel unintentionally to different places but I'm just time traveling with lots of practice. I don't go into the future but sometimes I can catch a little glimpse of the future of little events. The mind is an amazing thing and the subconscious is amazing but can also be very dangerous since it well has a mind of its own.. (No pun intended there)

How do you know it can kill you?