[Gasfghj]

I first learned the word "astral" about a year ago and in the past six months have been woken up frequently to the vibrational stage. I usually roll out and have a short OBE. I'm assuming that this newfound ability is related to the drastic spiritual shifts I have been making, but I'm still having a hard time understanding how/why this all started and is continuing, as I have not searched it out at all and actually have a lot of fear and resistance to developing this ability, although I do see much value in it.

A couple OBEs ago, I walked down my hallway and into my living room to meet me (in about 10 years, I'm 25) at a children's table, smiling. This was almost a week after I had asked my higher self to "let me talk to enlightened me/megan". Unfortunately, my point of consciousness transfered back to my body before I could even sit down with her/me. Getting out of my body doesn't seem to be the problem, it happens without me trying, but I can't control how long I'm out and keep popping back in right as something good seems to be happening. I'm assuming it is relate to fear, but does anyone have advice on developing the ability to control the duration of an OBE and also how to release the resistance and fear I'm experiencing?

I've been focusing on understanding/relating to/communicating with/trusting my higher self, since that seems to be the most appropriate use of astral projection for my personal spiritual path and that has helped immensely with everything BUT the duration of my OBEs. I'm not sure what I'm missing or if its just common when you are new. Thanks for the help!!

[Allorneadesee]

Writers such as Monroe, Leland and others (Maybe Robert, but I don't remember his talking about this) seem to relate a natural progression in their experiences- First, nonlucid dreamstate lessons, then the progression to lucid dreaming, and the movement to astral projecting in many environments, some obviously 'learning environments'. So I would say that everything is tied in how your development is going- the underlying theme would be self-exploration. I know mine has followed similar lines.

But there are other more 'mechanical', or 'technical' aspects to AP, which include proficiency at energy work (or energy body development) and certain approaches to meditation designed to improve the awareness of your thought process- you probably have already done a lot of self-examination and all that good stuff, are probably involved in some sort of spiritual practice, and perhaps need to work on the thinking process itself- how it works for you and how your consciousness changes as your mental states change.

So things like the duration of your OBEs and what you do when you're out are being worked out as you practice, and staying with the process and observing yourself as you go through it is a valuable tool.

Just my two cents.

[Gasfghj]

Thanks for the great advice! It leads me to a couple more questions... this may be a pretty silly question, but what does working on the thinking process look like? More in depth/regular journaling? I guess if I have to ask, you hit the nail on the head!

Slowing down and focusing my mind is by far my biggest issue. I was told a while ago that I have ADD and PTSD. It can be an advantage in processing and grasping new concepts, but it severely interferes with my meditation/relaxation. I am lucky enough to have lots of opportunities to meditate and can meditate frequently, but, as in my OBEs, the duration is usually minimal simply because I can't be still mentally. What kinds of meditation/ approaches to meditation would you recommend?

I remember starting that typical process the way you described when I was a kid, but around age 8/9 I stopped remembering dreams altogether. Even since I have been waking up with vibrations, I have only had very limited memory of only three dreams. Each of those three times I "returned" to my body almost immediately after I became aware I was dreaming, so I don't remember much. I journal everything I remember, but I would like to start really remembering my dreams. Any advice on that?

Thanks so much for your advice and help! I really appreciate it!

[VowJoyday]

I'm probably not one who should be giving advice since I am so new at this, but something that has helped me is to have something to do while I am out.

During the only conscious-exit-conscious-entry OOBE I have had I decided to find a playing card that my husband had (drawn at random, without looking at it) hidden on top of one of the kitchen cabinets. I always leave a light on in the kitchen at night, so when I finally got out, I had no trouble seeing the card. I did have some trouble of interpreting the card, but that's another story. I think this tip was mentioned in the Astral Dynamics book, but I'm not sure. I now have a whole laundry list by now of experiments that I would like to try out. One of these experiments involves visiting my sister, she lives on a different continent and has something on her refrigerator door for me to find.

I also have a restless component that makes it difficult to concentrate sometimes, but I have found that giving that restless part something to do helps me focus. It is a bit like multi-tasking. For example, it is easier for me to go into trance, and to remember dreams, by thinking about music, or by focusing on a mental 3D puzzle, or some complicated visualization. Another thing that seems to help is to imagine a linear dialogue with someone, and then to gradually increase the complexity by focusing on their facial expressions, and then focus on the surroundings, until more and more comes through.

I don't know how to increase the duration of an OOBE since I have only been out one time where I was at any distance away from the body and that time I had trouble getting back in again. I could probably have been out all night, for all I know. It almost turned into a joke: Wake up! wake UP! - I never thought I would have to say that to myself. Now I understand some people who have said that when I sleep, I'm like a corpse - completely non-responsive to anything going on

From what I have read, moving away from the physical body might increase lucidity and duration, but I can't speak from experience.