Sleep Paralysis...

I was in deep trance twice in the last two days in an attempt to project and both times I felt the desire to open my eyes and found I had what I assume is sleep paralysis over my entire body, except I could move my eyes, and later my mouth. I knew the paralysis was part way along my goal to projecting and as a result had no fear at anytime in the experience (which lasted 3-5mins).

I watched closely for a few minutes to make sure I wasn't partially projected or something similar but I was definately watching through my physical eyes but the rest of me from neck down was in paralysis... I attempted a few things to try to turn this into a projection but was unsuccessful..

In order to use similar future experiences and turn them into a projection I did a little research on the internet and found this:

The OBE & Lucid Dream Quickstart version 1.0a available here

In the Lucidology quickstart guide I read this:

Here is very simple exit method by a forum poster named tsunaH which works surprisingly well. Once you’re in 100% stone cold sleep paralysis you’ll find that you can control:
1.) Your breathing
2.) Your eyes
3.) Your face
When you reach 100% sleep paralysis your breathing is physical but your eyes and face have shifted into nonphysical focus.
What you do is shift your focus in to your face which draws you in to nonphysical focus completely. To do that, simply open your mouth and continue breathing in the slow sleep-breathing rhythm your body will already be in.
This will initiate the separation process and you’ll probably begin to hear rushing noises and vibrations which are both effects we’ll talk about more in Lucidology 101. Once things have quieted down again you’ll be in an OBE and can just get up out of your body in the nonphysical version of your bedroom.

from The OBE & Lucid Dream Quickstart version 1.0a p.9 - Craking the safe: The "Open Mouth" Exit Initiator

I believe that I will find myself in this sleep paralysis situation in the future and I hope this method may allow me my first full conscious projection experience.

Getting Serious with the Vehram Energy System

Yesterday I had quite a good day with enough rest and by 9pm the rest of my family were retiring. I decided to do the same, and as I was getting ready I started programming my subconscious to wake me up at 3:30am.

Later I woke in bed and was not sure why... To my knowledge there was no 'reason' behind my awakening and I didn't yet need to use the toilet. I decided to get up and use the bathroom anyway.. When I checked the time it was 3:35am.. I would have been right on time :)

I thought I would use this opportunity to attempt a projection but was not successful. I did have a very vivid dream in the early hours of this morning, although non-lucid.

Here I believe is why the Projection attempt was unsuccessful:

1. I believe my focus was too 'hard/awake' to enter a body asleep state. Each time I softened my focus by allowing myself to go closer to sleep, the prospect of falling asleep would seem to be almost threaten my goal. Part of me was believing I didn't want to fall asleep as each time I got close to sleep I would again focus on being aware of breath, sensations whatever. From my understanding in order to project we need to cross the threshold (maintain awareness) between awake -> asleep/dream. It may be useful to wake yourself ever so slightly each time sleep approaches and then allow yourself to fall deeper next time before waking up slightly again but in order to project it is essential that at some point that we cross the threshold.
2. I have programmed myself for many years since childhood to loose focus and 'switch off' when approaching sleep so I can go to sleep. Altering this habit is essential.
3. The Power of Sleep was too tantalizing. It was almost delicious as it approached (being a slightly underslept father doesn't help).
4. Eventually I gave up.. I wanted sleep more than I did a projection experience, I rolled over on my other side with the intention of sleeping.

Although a plesant vivid dream is always welcome, I am looking now to achieve conscious projection. To improve the likelihood of projection I believe I need to:

1. Learn to use a softer type of focus while crossing the threshold (awake->sleep). Incorporation of an affirmation may help...
2. Practice...
3. Remember that if I wake in the middle of the night to firstly ask myself why I am awake as I may have set my internal alarm to wake me for conscious projection. In order to further explore the effectiveness of the Vehram Energy System thinking about it in the day, at night, before bed, and first thing upon awakening should help.

Hope this helps,
Newmethod

The Power of Intention in Dissolving Obstacles

The time that I have been able to give my practice lately has been fairly slim for a number of reasons. Through reduced time I have lost some direction with my practice. Things around me have been quite busy and I haven't made the time for myself to make space with myself. This in turn has created greater pressures in my life which have made their way into intruding on my practice.

I have had some minor successes recently in learning astral projection techniques but have been getting caught up in the fact that I still don't feel that I have had a truly successful projection after about 4 months of practice. Granted this practice has been a little intermittent over these times and is not long in the scheme of things, but my frustration has been building and with each "unsuccessful" attempt, I was feeling more and more distraught, and more and more frustrated.

On a positive note I have read more on Robert Monroe's idea on focus levels which gel very well with me. Along with these ideas I have been using techniques from the Vehram System.

Now to my insight: I have had a realisation about what is a major factor contributing to my frustration and possibly hindering my exploration of consciousness through this realm.

One word: INTENT

I had forgotten about my intention of why I first started to learn astral projection.

Originally it was about exploring the afterlife and wondering about where consciousness truly exists and whether I can exist outside my physical body as a fully functioning autonomous consciousness.

Although not a bad goal in itself, somewhere along the line AP became more about "getting out" and the fact that I could "do it" and less about my original intention. After realising this I hope I can now balance goal (achieving conscious exit) with intention (outlined above).

I wrote this blog today incase it may help just one novice projectionist who like me, was becoming frustrated with their practice.

Peace,
-Newmethod-