Welcome back dreamers. I wanted to share with you a dreaming technique that I recently re-discovered. I actually found it in a book that I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, Lucid Dreaming for Beginners by Mark McElroy. I read this book a couple of years ago but I found myself thumbing through it again recently because lately I’ve been having trouble remembering my dreams. I have poor sleep habits and although I do recall dreams every so often, most of the time I sleep to deeply to remember them. The technique is actually a bit of a pain in the ass but the results are worth the trouble, especially if you’re the type of person who always burns the candle at both ends. When you are constantly working or just too busy you become so exhausted that when you sleep you don’t remember anything. People like this sometimes say things like, “I never have dreams," or “it’s impossible for me to remember my dreams.” Those type of statements are just cop outs, everyone has the ability to remember their dreams, it's just a matter of making a commitment and finding a technique.
Your sleep cycle also plays a big part in whether or not you recall any dreams in the morning. For someone interested in practicing lucid dreaming it’s essential to have good, healthy sleep habits, but even then it’s possible that your current sleep pattern causes you to always wake up from deep, fourth cycle sleep in which you don’t dream. Naturally it’s easier to remember your dreams when you are waking up from 3rd cycle, REM sleep. Personally I have horrible sleep habits, I usually stay up too late watching TV, I wake up periodically through the night for no reason and I get less sleep than I should. Sound familiar? If so the following technique might help you as it did me.
This technique is rather simple but for some it’s also a pain in the ass. Others won’t even entertain the thought of it! You have to be willing to wake yourself up two hours early each day, stay awake for a half hour, and then go back to sleep for 90 minutes. If you can’t commit to this it’s no problem, it is kind of extreme! Just try to pick a few days, or even one day a week that you can do it. It’s really not bad at all, when you do it you will realize that when you wake up from the 90 minute sleep session you feel very refreshed and invigorated. Hopefully you will also have some dream content to write down. If this technique works for you, it’s a good time for you to practice lucid dreaming. Once you are comfortable with the fact that you are waking up from dreams and remembering at least some details, start trying some exercises. Start with simple observation. What you want to do is find dream cue’s using some of the techniques I have mentioned in previous posts. Observe clocks and writing, any object that might make you realize that you’re dreaming. Just remember to write everything down and keep track of your progress.
In the next post I will discuss how to create an effective dream journal. I will also post images of some of my journals.
Thanks for reading….
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Uninvited Guests (part 2)
Since the invention of cameras many people have discovered strange images of objects which have become known as "orbs" on their photographs. Orbs are translucent spheres that appear to be freely floating in the air. Many paranormal investigators believe that these “orbs” could be evidence of spirits. Skeptics claim that these orbs are simply photographic glitches, or a trick of light. I tend to side with the paranormal explanation because I have taken photographs that contain orbs and they were taken in buildings that are known to be haunted. I have taken hundreds of photographs in my own house and other places and never found an orb in any of those pictures. If these orbs are actually just “tricks of the light” wouldn’t it make sense that they would appear in photographs taken everywhere and not just those taken in cemeteries and old haunted buildings?
I have also seen images in photographs that look very similar to orbs but are not precisely the same. Pictures taken outdoors at night sometimes contain anomalies which look like orbs but are actually insects or even raindrops that are illuminated in a strange way by the flash, making them appear circular and similar to an orb but not exact. The picture below was taken in Upstate New York and shows hundreds of orbs. On the night I took the picture I was at an outdoor wedding and had walked away from the party for a bit. When I noticed the orbs in the picture I looked around but there were no insects (at least not hundreds of insects) and there was no heavy fog or dew in the air. I had taken several other pictures in the same area, some contained an orb or two but no other picture showed this many orbs. (The pictures posted here have not been enhanced or edited in any way. They are shown here the exact way they were taken).
I don’t know what to make of this picture. I do believe that spirits can exist just about anywhere and that they can be caught on film, but I find it hard to believe that all of these orbs are spirits. Is it possible that one powerful spirit can be seen as multiple orbs? Many of the pictures taken at the wedding that night contained orbs, the entire time I was there I felt a little uneasy and several times I thought I had seen somebody out of the corner of my eye but no one was there. While I was continuing to take pictures I didn’t think much about the orbs but the next day when I downloaded the photographs, I looked at the full size versions and noticed that many of the pictures from that night contained orbs. However the most unusual images from that night were two pictures that I took of people on the dance floor. These pictures show a somewhat human shaped anomaly made up of extremely bright light. The image had very defined edges and almost looked like a woman wearing a wedding dress! The lights around the dance floor were not very high-tech, in fact they were pretty standard. I’m not an expert, but from what I can tell there was no way these lights were capable of creating such an anomaly. I took many other pictures around the dance floor that night and no other pictures had this effect or anything close to it. Below are the two pictures of the strange “being of light” and another picture that contained an orb. I included this "orb shot" because it is one of the clearest orb pictures I have seen. Again, these photos have not been doctored in any way.
This final experience took place last Christmas when Matt and I went out to Oklahoma to visit my family. When we went to my sister’s house she showed us a picture that had a strange aberration on it. There was an image in the glass door that was simply unexplainable; it’s what most paranormal investigators would define as a vortex or portal. When she first showed it to me I was skeptical, I assumed I would solve this mystery in two minutes. I figured that it had to be a reflection or double exposure of some sort but the more I looked at this picture the more my curiosity grew. The structure was not something in her yard because her yard is just flat grass in that area. It was definitely not a reflection because there was nothing in her yard or kitchen that looked anything like this structure. That whole night I kept thinking about the image and what could possibly have caused it. To this day the image in this picture remains one of the most mysterious anomalies I have ever seen.
Below is a picture of the strange vortex. Believe it or not this was just a picture of a window, that fuzzy little creature must have come through the portal! (I’m joking of course). Look directly above the little dog (Elvis): there is a strange object that looks like an entrance way (or ramp) leading up to a doorway. The doorway itself looks like it’s made of thick, carved wood or something. If you look all the way to the left it looks like there is a similar object, or part of the same object with that same type of carved notch. It sort of looks like a reflection, but it’s not. It doesn’t really look like a solid object either. We looked around the area for anything, of any size, that looked like this but there was no explanation. The object looks distinctive enough that if it was a reflection from something in the house or yard it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out what it was.
I don’t have answers to explain any of these pictures. I don’t claim that they are evidence of spirits or anything paranormal, I simply offer them as a curious phenomenon. If you have had similar experiences or if you have any thoughts on the subject, feel free to post your ideas, I value any comments you may have.
Thanks for reading...
I have also seen images in photographs that look very similar to orbs but are not precisely the same. Pictures taken outdoors at night sometimes contain anomalies which look like orbs but are actually insects or even raindrops that are illuminated in a strange way by the flash, making them appear circular and similar to an orb but not exact. The picture below was taken in Upstate New York and shows hundreds of orbs. On the night I took the picture I was at an outdoor wedding and had walked away from the party for a bit. When I noticed the orbs in the picture I looked around but there were no insects (at least not hundreds of insects) and there was no heavy fog or dew in the air. I had taken several other pictures in the same area, some contained an orb or two but no other picture showed this many orbs. (The pictures posted here have not been enhanced or edited in any way. They are shown here the exact way they were taken).
This final experience took place last Christmas when Matt and I went out to Oklahoma to visit my family. When we went to my sister’s house she showed us a picture that had a strange aberration on it. There was an image in the glass door that was simply unexplainable; it’s what most paranormal investigators would define as a vortex or portal. When she first showed it to me I was skeptical, I assumed I would solve this mystery in two minutes. I figured that it had to be a reflection or double exposure of some sort but the more I looked at this picture the more my curiosity grew. The structure was not something in her yard because her yard is just flat grass in that area. It was definitely not a reflection because there was nothing in her yard or kitchen that looked anything like this structure. That whole night I kept thinking about the image and what could possibly have caused it. To this day the image in this picture remains one of the most mysterious anomalies I have ever seen.
Below is a picture of the strange vortex. Believe it or not this was just a picture of a window, that fuzzy little creature must have come through the portal! (I’m joking of course). Look directly above the little dog (Elvis): there is a strange object that looks like an entrance way (or ramp) leading up to a doorway. The doorway itself looks like it’s made of thick, carved wood or something. If you look all the way to the left it looks like there is a similar object, or part of the same object with that same type of carved notch. It sort of looks like a reflection, but it’s not. It doesn’t really look like a solid object either. We looked around the area for anything, of any size, that looked like this but there was no explanation. The object looks distinctive enough that if it was a reflection from something in the house or yard it wouldn’t be difficult to figure out what it was.
Thanks for reading...
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Uninvited Guests (Part 1)
I have always had a secret fascination with spirits and ghosts. I know there are many people who consider a ghost to be nothing more than a kid with a sheet over his head at Halloween. For many people seeing is believing, and if they never actually saw a genuine spirit they simply don’t believe that they exist. My last few posts have been about astral projection and if you have any experience in the astral you have seen and possibly interacted with spirits. If people can travel on the astral planes, it’s logical to assume that spirits can sometimes manifest themselves on the mundane or material plane. Personally I have never seen a ghost but I have experienced many odd occurrences and I've also had the feeling of being watched. When I was a kid my friends and I used to explore the Eastern Military Academy located in the Cold Spring Hills of Huntington, New York (now known as OHEKA Castle). The place used to be completely dilapidated and abandoned so it wasn’t difficult to find a way in. So many strange incidents happened in that building that I wouldn’t be surprised if strange occurrences are still happening there today. We would walk around exploring demolished classrooms, the abandoned bowling alley, the rifle range in the basement and endless, pitch black corridors. The place was absolutely magnificent but I would usually find myself running out of there as fast as I could with all my friends right beside me!
One night we formed a rather large group and went exploring the castle. Of course there was no electricity so we would have to walk through the halls with candles and flashlights. At one point we were in the basement and all the candles blew out simultaneously. This would have been odd enough in itself, and could possibly be explained had there been a breeze or a draft, but that wouldn’t have explained why the flashlights all went off as well! For a short time (which felt like an eternity) we stood in the pitch black hallway trying to re-light the candles or turn a flashlight back on. But lighters didn’t work and the flashlights wouldn’t turn back on either. We were ready to run for our lives but as fast as they went off, the flashlights came back on and the lighters worked again. This incident was just one of many strange things that happened inside that building. I had a friend who was attacked and bitten by a bat up on the top floor, near one of the towers. On another occasion several of my friends decided to visit the castle during the day. While they were there a cadet hat flew down from the top of the large spiral staircase in the grand entrance. Of course this was a very large building and we would sometimes hear or come across other groups of people doing the same thing we were. I suppose it’s possible that some of these strange happenings were carried out by other explorers (vandals), but in a building that size it would have been difficult to get close to us or run away without making any noise. Below is an image of the grand staircase before the castle was renovated. There are also pictures of one of the hallways, a bathroom and the front entrance just after workers arrived to begin the renovations. Enjoy the pictures and thanks for reading. "Uninvited Guests" will continue in the next post.
One night we formed a rather large group and went exploring the castle. Of course there was no electricity so we would have to walk through the halls with candles and flashlights. At one point we were in the basement and all the candles blew out simultaneously. This would have been odd enough in itself, and could possibly be explained had there been a breeze or a draft, but that wouldn’t have explained why the flashlights all went off as well! For a short time (which felt like an eternity) we stood in the pitch black hallway trying to re-light the candles or turn a flashlight back on. But lighters didn’t work and the flashlights wouldn’t turn back on either. We were ready to run for our lives but as fast as they went off, the flashlights came back on and the lighters worked again. This incident was just one of many strange things that happened inside that building. I had a friend who was attacked and bitten by a bat up on the top floor, near one of the towers. On another occasion several of my friends decided to visit the castle during the day. While they were there a cadet hat flew down from the top of the large spiral staircase in the grand entrance. Of course this was a very large building and we would sometimes hear or come across other groups of people doing the same thing we were. I suppose it’s possible that some of these strange happenings were carried out by other explorers (vandals), but in a building that size it would have been difficult to get close to us or run away without making any noise. Below is an image of the grand staircase before the castle was renovated. There are also pictures of one of the hallways, a bathroom and the front entrance just after workers arrived to begin the renovations. Enjoy the pictures and thanks for reading. "Uninvited Guests" will continue in the next post.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Out of Body Experiences - 0002A - (Protection & Technique)
(continued from OBE 0002)
There are many different opinions and beliefs regarding protection. As I mentioned earlier, if nothing else it offers you and your body peace of mind. The Canterbury Institute strongly recommends the following physical protection technique because it’s a technique that your physical body (“Me”) understands. For this technique all you will need is a pound of salt and a squeeze bottle. Mix the salt with a half gallon of water and fill the squeeze bottle with this salt water solution. (Store the rest in a convenient location). Create a circle with a radius of just under 5-1/2 feet(5.44 ft.). Stand inside your circle at the eastern rim and with your squeeze bottle make a complete, unbroken, clockwise circle. As you do this say the following;
Spirits of mischievous intent, Spirits of lower entities, You may not pass this sacred line. As I will, so mote it be.
When you have finished the circle, you should end up facing east. Put the squeeze bottle down and while still facing east make the sign of the cross in the air before you. (An equal armed cross if you are Pagan or a traditional, sword shaped cross if you are Christian). While making the cross you should say affirmations that are appropriate for your religion. After you finish you will turn to the south and repeat the steps, then west and north. An example of simple protective Christian affirmations would be;
EAST: Jesus, son of man, help me find my future. I have no fear, I am strong. Jesus protects me all day long.
SOUTH: Mary, mother of God, Surround me with protection. I have no fear, I am strong. Jesus protects me all day long.
WEST: Michael, angel of the west, As I lie secure my rest. I have no fear…. (same as above).
NORTH: Raphael, angel of the north, come with me as I travel forth. I have no fear… (as above).
UPWARD: Jehovah, from your throne, Protect me with mighty power. I have no fear… (as above).
Once you have completed the cardinal points of the circle, lie down with your head to the east and gesture an upward spiral in the air above you with the fingers on your right hand held closely together. Recite the final (upward) affirmation. Now you can continue your exercise feeling no fear, knowing that you are protected from any harm. (G. & Y. Frost, 1982)
(Note: If you are not comfortable squirting the salt water solution on to your floor you can look for an alternative such as an unbroken circle of pure salt or sulfur. Another alternative is to soak a length of heavy cotton twine in the highly concentrated salt water solution mentioned above. Create your unbroken circle using the string while reciting the affirmations in the same manner, just be sure to connect or tie the ends of the string to close your circle. You can store the string after each use (re-soaking it occasionally to keep it fresh).
Step 1:
Relax your body, both mentally and physically. A good way to do this is with breathing exercises. Don’t concentrate too much on breathing but full, steady breathes are very effective. Be sure your “Me” self is satisfied for the moment. If you are hungry, horny or uncomfortable in any way “Me” will not let you go. It might take several practice runs before you figure out all the things that “Me” is going to do to try to keep you from leaving. Don’t be frustrated if you have to get up and change something in the room or use the bathroom. Be patient and persistent, eventually “Me” will realize that you are not going to neglect any of his needs and will let you go.
Step 2:
As you fall into deeper relaxation clear your mind of any thoughts and concentrate on the darkness before you. (If you accidently fall asleep don’t be discouraged. Simply continue as soon as you wake up). After a short while you may notice light patterns. This is actual residual energy from your neural synapses. They have no important function or effect but they can assist in keeping you from falling asleep. Now you have entered an even deeper state of relaxation and you will begin to lose awareness of your senses, you will be alone with your thoughts. (There is no time limit here. You may reach this state on your first or second attempt or it may take a few weeks, don’t even worry about time, it’s irrelevant).
Step 3:
Eventually you will become aware of what is known as the vibrations. The vibrations are what I consider the onset of projection. Nobody really knows what the vibrations are but you will certainly know when you feel them. Your first instinct is fear and curiosity simply because it’s something new. Don’t be afraid, embrace the vibrations knowing that astral travel is imminent.
Step 4:
Practice controlling the vibrations mentally by moving them around your body. The sensations will intensify and become sort of wave like. (At this point your mind will say things like; ‘I can’t believe this is actually going to happen, but seeing that I arrived here rather easily I am going to wake up now because I can do this again anytime I want.’ This is just your fear trying to bail out at the last second. It’s “Me’s” last ditch effort to keep you from leaving so just assure yourself that you are safe and continue your experiment).
Step 5:
As the vibrations surge through your body, try extending an arm and feeling for the bed table or the wall, if you do feel an object or the wall try pushing your hand through it. Your movements will feel completely normal until you feel your hand go through the object. If you feel like your arm went straight through the object bring it back to your side just as if it was physical. At this point you may want to slow down the vibrations and gradually return to normal. Now that you have been to the threshold of an out of body experience and your experiment was a success you might want to stop here and celebrate your achievement. This will prepare you for full separation and boost your confidence. Slowly cease the vibrations and return to normal. Be sure to log your success!
It’s important to realize that at any time after you start feeling the vibrations your body might separate and you may float up to the ceiling (or through the ceiling) or drop through the floor. You might see flashing lights, hear strange noises or even explosions, don’t be afraid, try to ride it out and see what happens. The first time will be very scary and your instinct (or even reflex) will be to instantly return to your body. If you do find yourself popping out of it and you can’t do anything about it don’t be discouraged, your experiment was a success.
Step 6:
At this point you either ended your experiment, and then repeated it to end up back at the vibrations, or continued from the last step. Over time you will find it easier and easier to initiate the vibrations. Most people develop what is sometimes known as a “key step” which is your own way of initiating the vibrations. For some it might be a low buzzing that you sense in your forehead, for others it might be a tingling sensation in your fingertips which slowly evolves into the vibrational state. (You will eventually discover or develop your own key step). Once you’ve entered the vibrational state and are semi-comfortable with it, start to detach by thinking about floating up to the ceiling. Do not let your thoughts stray at all, you should be in complete control and completely aware of what’s happening. Keep remembering that what you are doing is completely natural and your guardian is with you and will protect you and your body. Think about the freedom of floating weightlessly through the air as you lift out of your body.
If you’ve reached this vibrational state but are having trouble detaching, there are several different techniques that may help. The “roll” method is another technique that may help you detach. What you want to do is roll over as if you are rolling out of bed. (Be careful not to actually roll onto the floor). Start with your head and try twisting your neck up and over, then continue with the rest of yourself until you are completely out. Sometimes people have difficulty knowing if they are actually separated because our “I” self, or astral vehicle, is identical to our physical body. The reason for this is simply because that is the way we are used to seeing it. While you are projecting your astral body will typically look as you would expect it to look. You might also see a silvery cord which attaches you to your “Me” self, or mundane body. Over time you may find that your astral vehicle is adapting to suit your needs. You don’t really need legs when you are a floating entity! You may also discover that you are capable of modifying your “vehicle” to suit whatever it is you are doing. Maybe you are in a liquid medium and can get around better with fins? I know it sounds bizarre, and maybe it’s not the best example but it’s really not that far-fetched. If you were to stay in your astral vehicle permanently it would eventually just appear as a ball of light.
Another image you never get used to seeing is your “Me” self lying in bed without you inside. It’s a very odd feeling and there’s a good chance that the first time you see this you will jump right back into your body. There’s really no reason to be afraid, your body will be completely safe while you are away. Everyone undergoes what’s known as sleep paralysis while they are sleeping. This natural mechanism is what keeps our bodies from acting out our dreams. It will also keep your body safe and sound while you are projecting. The first time I projected I thought I had just woken up normally. I don’t have my first dream journal handy but if I remember correctly I woke up and had an odd view of my room. I looked across to the mirror but the mirror was much lower on the wall than it was supposed to be. (I might have looked at myself in the mirror for a short while but I’m not 100% sure, I might be mixing this experience with another). I looked down and saw myself lying there in bed in a fetal position sleeping. It took a moment for me to completely grasp what was happening but I soon realized that I was floating up near the ceiling! It was the strangest thing I ever experienced because I didn’t know what was happening. Once I realized what was going on I freaked out and woke up in my bed a second later. I don’t remember why I panicked, I’m pretty sure it was just reflex. Somehow I knew that I wasn’t dead but I knew that I had somehow left my body. Once I read up on it I figured out that I had an out of body experience and I was instantly hooked on the subject.
My first out of body experience is what compelled me to explore the phenomenon further. I never discussed these interests and experiences with outsiders because of the stigma surrounding these subjects. To this day many people consider lucid dreaming and astral projection topics of mythical fantasy, however, once a person experiences a true lucid dream or astral trip their doubts disappear forever and they awaken with a refined sense of awareness.
Thanks for reading….
JC
The protection technique of The Canterbury Institute was taken from the book "Astral Travel - Your Guide to the Secrets of Out-of-the-Body Experiences"
Weiser, 1982
There are many different opinions and beliefs regarding protection. As I mentioned earlier, if nothing else it offers you and your body peace of mind. The Canterbury Institute strongly recommends the following physical protection technique because it’s a technique that your physical body (“Me”) understands. For this technique all you will need is a pound of salt and a squeeze bottle. Mix the salt with a half gallon of water and fill the squeeze bottle with this salt water solution. (Store the rest in a convenient location). Create a circle with a radius of just under 5-1/2 feet(5.44 ft.). Stand inside your circle at the eastern rim and with your squeeze bottle make a complete, unbroken, clockwise circle. As you do this say the following;
Spirits of mischievous intent, Spirits of lower entities, You may not pass this sacred line. As I will, so mote it be.
When you have finished the circle, you should end up facing east. Put the squeeze bottle down and while still facing east make the sign of the cross in the air before you. (An equal armed cross if you are Pagan or a traditional, sword shaped cross if you are Christian). While making the cross you should say affirmations that are appropriate for your religion. After you finish you will turn to the south and repeat the steps, then west and north. An example of simple protective Christian affirmations would be;
EAST: Jesus, son of man, help me find my future. I have no fear, I am strong. Jesus protects me all day long.
SOUTH: Mary, mother of God, Surround me with protection. I have no fear, I am strong. Jesus protects me all day long.
WEST: Michael, angel of the west, As I lie secure my rest. I have no fear…. (same as above).
NORTH: Raphael, angel of the north, come with me as I travel forth. I have no fear… (as above).
UPWARD: Jehovah, from your throne, Protect me with mighty power. I have no fear… (as above).
Once you have completed the cardinal points of the circle, lie down with your head to the east and gesture an upward spiral in the air above you with the fingers on your right hand held closely together. Recite the final (upward) affirmation. Now you can continue your exercise feeling no fear, knowing that you are protected from any harm. (G. & Y. Frost, 1982)
(Note: If you are not comfortable squirting the salt water solution on to your floor you can look for an alternative such as an unbroken circle of pure salt or sulfur. Another alternative is to soak a length of heavy cotton twine in the highly concentrated salt water solution mentioned above. Create your unbroken circle using the string while reciting the affirmations in the same manner, just be sure to connect or tie the ends of the string to close your circle. You can store the string after each use (re-soaking it occasionally to keep it fresh).
Step 1:
Relax your body, both mentally and physically. A good way to do this is with breathing exercises. Don’t concentrate too much on breathing but full, steady breathes are very effective. Be sure your “Me” self is satisfied for the moment. If you are hungry, horny or uncomfortable in any way “Me” will not let you go. It might take several practice runs before you figure out all the things that “Me” is going to do to try to keep you from leaving. Don’t be frustrated if you have to get up and change something in the room or use the bathroom. Be patient and persistent, eventually “Me” will realize that you are not going to neglect any of his needs and will let you go.
Step 2:
As you fall into deeper relaxation clear your mind of any thoughts and concentrate on the darkness before you. (If you accidently fall asleep don’t be discouraged. Simply continue as soon as you wake up). After a short while you may notice light patterns. This is actual residual energy from your neural synapses. They have no important function or effect but they can assist in keeping you from falling asleep. Now you have entered an even deeper state of relaxation and you will begin to lose awareness of your senses, you will be alone with your thoughts. (There is no time limit here. You may reach this state on your first or second attempt or it may take a few weeks, don’t even worry about time, it’s irrelevant).
Step 3:
Eventually you will become aware of what is known as the vibrations. The vibrations are what I consider the onset of projection. Nobody really knows what the vibrations are but you will certainly know when you feel them. Your first instinct is fear and curiosity simply because it’s something new. Don’t be afraid, embrace the vibrations knowing that astral travel is imminent.
Step 4:
Practice controlling the vibrations mentally by moving them around your body. The sensations will intensify and become sort of wave like. (At this point your mind will say things like; ‘I can’t believe this is actually going to happen, but seeing that I arrived here rather easily I am going to wake up now because I can do this again anytime I want.’ This is just your fear trying to bail out at the last second. It’s “Me’s” last ditch effort to keep you from leaving so just assure yourself that you are safe and continue your experiment).
Step 5:
As the vibrations surge through your body, try extending an arm and feeling for the bed table or the wall, if you do feel an object or the wall try pushing your hand through it. Your movements will feel completely normal until you feel your hand go through the object. If you feel like your arm went straight through the object bring it back to your side just as if it was physical. At this point you may want to slow down the vibrations and gradually return to normal. Now that you have been to the threshold of an out of body experience and your experiment was a success you might want to stop here and celebrate your achievement. This will prepare you for full separation and boost your confidence. Slowly cease the vibrations and return to normal. Be sure to log your success!
It’s important to realize that at any time after you start feeling the vibrations your body might separate and you may float up to the ceiling (or through the ceiling) or drop through the floor. You might see flashing lights, hear strange noises or even explosions, don’t be afraid, try to ride it out and see what happens. The first time will be very scary and your instinct (or even reflex) will be to instantly return to your body. If you do find yourself popping out of it and you can’t do anything about it don’t be discouraged, your experiment was a success.
Step 6:
At this point you either ended your experiment, and then repeated it to end up back at the vibrations, or continued from the last step. Over time you will find it easier and easier to initiate the vibrations. Most people develop what is sometimes known as a “key step” which is your own way of initiating the vibrations. For some it might be a low buzzing that you sense in your forehead, for others it might be a tingling sensation in your fingertips which slowly evolves into the vibrational state. (You will eventually discover or develop your own key step). Once you’ve entered the vibrational state and are semi-comfortable with it, start to detach by thinking about floating up to the ceiling. Do not let your thoughts stray at all, you should be in complete control and completely aware of what’s happening. Keep remembering that what you are doing is completely natural and your guardian is with you and will protect you and your body. Think about the freedom of floating weightlessly through the air as you lift out of your body.
If you’ve reached this vibrational state but are having trouble detaching, there are several different techniques that may help. The “roll” method is another technique that may help you detach. What you want to do is roll over as if you are rolling out of bed. (Be careful not to actually roll onto the floor). Start with your head and try twisting your neck up and over, then continue with the rest of yourself until you are completely out. Sometimes people have difficulty knowing if they are actually separated because our “I” self, or astral vehicle, is identical to our physical body. The reason for this is simply because that is the way we are used to seeing it. While you are projecting your astral body will typically look as you would expect it to look. You might also see a silvery cord which attaches you to your “Me” self, or mundane body. Over time you may find that your astral vehicle is adapting to suit your needs. You don’t really need legs when you are a floating entity! You may also discover that you are capable of modifying your “vehicle” to suit whatever it is you are doing. Maybe you are in a liquid medium and can get around better with fins? I know it sounds bizarre, and maybe it’s not the best example but it’s really not that far-fetched. If you were to stay in your astral vehicle permanently it would eventually just appear as a ball of light.
Another image you never get used to seeing is your “Me” self lying in bed without you inside. It’s a very odd feeling and there’s a good chance that the first time you see this you will jump right back into your body. There’s really no reason to be afraid, your body will be completely safe while you are away. Everyone undergoes what’s known as sleep paralysis while they are sleeping. This natural mechanism is what keeps our bodies from acting out our dreams. It will also keep your body safe and sound while you are projecting. The first time I projected I thought I had just woken up normally. I don’t have my first dream journal handy but if I remember correctly I woke up and had an odd view of my room. I looked across to the mirror but the mirror was much lower on the wall than it was supposed to be. (I might have looked at myself in the mirror for a short while but I’m not 100% sure, I might be mixing this experience with another). I looked down and saw myself lying there in bed in a fetal position sleeping. It took a moment for me to completely grasp what was happening but I soon realized that I was floating up near the ceiling! It was the strangest thing I ever experienced because I didn’t know what was happening. Once I realized what was going on I freaked out and woke up in my bed a second later. I don’t remember why I panicked, I’m pretty sure it was just reflex. Somehow I knew that I wasn’t dead but I knew that I had somehow left my body. Once I read up on it I figured out that I had an out of body experience and I was instantly hooked on the subject.
My first out of body experience is what compelled me to explore the phenomenon further. I never discussed these interests and experiences with outsiders because of the stigma surrounding these subjects. To this day many people consider lucid dreaming and astral projection topics of mythical fantasy, however, once a person experiences a true lucid dream or astral trip their doubts disappear forever and they awaken with a refined sense of awareness.
Thanks for reading….
JC
The protection technique of The Canterbury Institute was taken from the book "Astral Travel - Your Guide to the Secrets of Out-of-the-Body Experiences"
Weiser, 1982
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Out of Body Experiences - 0002
Welcome back to Dreawad1. Thank you for your patience. With the old forum I was able to rant and rave about anything that tickled my fancy but now my blogs are about more complex topics and they take a little longer to research and write. Although I have been logging my dreams and practicing astral projection on and off for years, it’s important to me that the information contained within is accurate. If I use information from an outside source I will cite it accordingly.
Astral projection is a topic that fascinates people on countless levels but many people are skeptical about actually trying it. It’s important that a person practicing these techniques is 100% confident that nothing bad can come of it. I have researched many different sources and there is no record of anybody ever having a negative experience. On the contrary I read a story about a paraplegic veteran who was contemplating suicide because he was forced to live out his days in a wheelchair. Once he learned how to project, his life was once again fulfilling. He spent much of his time exploring the astral planes and it even enabled him to once again travel on the mundane (material) plane. In the beginning he was apprehensive but his fears were quickly conquered, as was his fear of death. (Frost, 1982)
Astral travel requires the traveler to separate the “Me” self form the “I” self. The physical body, or the “Me” self, is what grounds people to this existence. It’s “Me” who always wants to be fed, it’s “Me” who wants to get laid and who wants a new car. On the contrary it’s “I” who has no need for these things but as long as “Me” keeps making worldly demands, “I” can never get out! Think of “I” as a mother who wants to break away from her child for a few minutes in order to have some time for herself. She may never get the opportunity to do this because the child (“Me”) is always watching and holding on to her legs. Every time the mother leaves the house the child screams and hollers forcing the mother to come back and pick it up. The child fears the unknown and therefore try’s to avoid it at any cost. When the mother finally manages to get away for a few minutes and then comes back with ice cream, the child begins to realize that mother breaking away isn’t so bad after all. In the same way you need to convince your “Me” self that “I” leaving from time to time is beneficial, because while “I” is away traveling it will also be looking for things to satisfy “Me’s” appetites.
Exploring the astral planes allows the traveler to see the real world, and to see people as they actually are. It breaks down all barriers and gives you the ability to find out what really happened in history and even what is yet to come. In the following paragraphs I will discuss some techniques for a beginner who wants to attempt astral travel. In upcoming blogs I will explore different techniques for achieving astral projection. The first one I discuss here today has withstood the test of time. It is the same technique that I first learned years ago and thousands of people have used it with great success and no negative side effects. Whatever technique you use it is wise to keep your dream journal close by so you can record your results or lack thereof. (Some people use a single book and others prefer to use separate journals for dreams and astral projection, whichever works best for you is fine, just be sure to record every detail possible and log the date and time of every journal entry).
Location is an important factor when deciding to practice astral projection. Choose a place that is relatively free of clutter. If you are most comfortable in your bed that’s OK, but seeing that you and your body normally associate your bed with sleep, you might find it difficult to avoid. It’s best to have a mattress that does not contain any metal or springs, they may become magnetized and interfere with your experiments. Also try to avoid bedding that contains animal by-products like goose down and feathers, these animals may have died in terror which can also have a negative effect on your experiments. Do not wear any jewelry or tight fitting clothes. It’s best to wear loose, comfortable clothes or even a robe. Be sure there are not going to be any interruptions. Turn your phones off, tend to your pets and anything else that might cause an interruption.
The next topic I’m going to discuss is protection. Even seasoned astral travelers still begin their trips with protection rituals. Opinions on psychic protection vary greatly but when you break it down they are simple procedures that serve multiple purposes. They assure “Me” that nothing will threaten the mundane body while “I” is temporarily away. It also erects a psychic barrier around your body so that malicious spirits, who would love to have a physical body to run around in, will be warned off. I realize that sounds scary but these exercises are also meant to relieve you of those types of fears. Keep in mind that if you feel that there will be something looking to harm you in the astral world, you will probably make it happen. It’s also important to be mentally healthy before you begin astral travels. If you are not happy with your life and you always look for ways to escape, astral projection might not be wise. You might prefer mingling with astral beings over living people and ultimately become obsessed with astral travel. Although these protection techniques are very simple, they are also very important. Some people use prayer rituals, some rely on mental protection by forming a sort of “love bubble of light” around themselves and others attempt to make contact with their spirit guides. There are many good spirits and guardians who dedicate themselves to helping projectors. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. If you are unfamiliar with psychic process, prayer will suffice. The Canterbury Institute, renowned for its extensive studies into astral projection, strongly recommends the following protection techniques. I’m noting several different protection techniques here but you should use a protection technique that YOU are comfortable with.
Due to the length of this post I have broke it into two entries. Please proceed to OBE 0002A
Thanks For reading.
Astral projection is a topic that fascinates people on countless levels but many people are skeptical about actually trying it. It’s important that a person practicing these techniques is 100% confident that nothing bad can come of it. I have researched many different sources and there is no record of anybody ever having a negative experience. On the contrary I read a story about a paraplegic veteran who was contemplating suicide because he was forced to live out his days in a wheelchair. Once he learned how to project, his life was once again fulfilling. He spent much of his time exploring the astral planes and it even enabled him to once again travel on the mundane (material) plane. In the beginning he was apprehensive but his fears were quickly conquered, as was his fear of death. (Frost, 1982)
Astral travel requires the traveler to separate the “Me” self form the “I” self. The physical body, or the “Me” self, is what grounds people to this existence. It’s “Me” who always wants to be fed, it’s “Me” who wants to get laid and who wants a new car. On the contrary it’s “I” who has no need for these things but as long as “Me” keeps making worldly demands, “I” can never get out! Think of “I” as a mother who wants to break away from her child for a few minutes in order to have some time for herself. She may never get the opportunity to do this because the child (“Me”) is always watching and holding on to her legs. Every time the mother leaves the house the child screams and hollers forcing the mother to come back and pick it up. The child fears the unknown and therefore try’s to avoid it at any cost. When the mother finally manages to get away for a few minutes and then comes back with ice cream, the child begins to realize that mother breaking away isn’t so bad after all. In the same way you need to convince your “Me” self that “I” leaving from time to time is beneficial, because while “I” is away traveling it will also be looking for things to satisfy “Me’s” appetites.
Exploring the astral planes allows the traveler to see the real world, and to see people as they actually are. It breaks down all barriers and gives you the ability to find out what really happened in history and even what is yet to come. In the following paragraphs I will discuss some techniques for a beginner who wants to attempt astral travel. In upcoming blogs I will explore different techniques for achieving astral projection. The first one I discuss here today has withstood the test of time. It is the same technique that I first learned years ago and thousands of people have used it with great success and no negative side effects. Whatever technique you use it is wise to keep your dream journal close by so you can record your results or lack thereof. (Some people use a single book and others prefer to use separate journals for dreams and astral projection, whichever works best for you is fine, just be sure to record every detail possible and log the date and time of every journal entry).
Location is an important factor when deciding to practice astral projection. Choose a place that is relatively free of clutter. If you are most comfortable in your bed that’s OK, but seeing that you and your body normally associate your bed with sleep, you might find it difficult to avoid. It’s best to have a mattress that does not contain any metal or springs, they may become magnetized and interfere with your experiments. Also try to avoid bedding that contains animal by-products like goose down and feathers, these animals may have died in terror which can also have a negative effect on your experiments. Do not wear any jewelry or tight fitting clothes. It’s best to wear loose, comfortable clothes or even a robe. Be sure there are not going to be any interruptions. Turn your phones off, tend to your pets and anything else that might cause an interruption.
The next topic I’m going to discuss is protection. Even seasoned astral travelers still begin their trips with protection rituals. Opinions on psychic protection vary greatly but when you break it down they are simple procedures that serve multiple purposes. They assure “Me” that nothing will threaten the mundane body while “I” is temporarily away. It also erects a psychic barrier around your body so that malicious spirits, who would love to have a physical body to run around in, will be warned off. I realize that sounds scary but these exercises are also meant to relieve you of those types of fears. Keep in mind that if you feel that there will be something looking to harm you in the astral world, you will probably make it happen. It’s also important to be mentally healthy before you begin astral travels. If you are not happy with your life and you always look for ways to escape, astral projection might not be wise. You might prefer mingling with astral beings over living people and ultimately become obsessed with astral travel. Although these protection techniques are very simple, they are also very important. Some people use prayer rituals, some rely on mental protection by forming a sort of “love bubble of light” around themselves and others attempt to make contact with their spirit guides. There are many good spirits and guardians who dedicate themselves to helping projectors. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. If you are unfamiliar with psychic process, prayer will suffice. The Canterbury Institute, renowned for its extensive studies into astral projection, strongly recommends the following protection techniques. I’m noting several different protection techniques here but you should use a protection technique that YOU are comfortable with.
Due to the length of this post I have broke it into two entries. Please proceed to OBE 0002A
Thanks For reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)