[Vedun*]

If you ever tell anyone that you're interested in AP/spirituality/New Age stuff, and that you practice AP, do they ever treat you differently?

I was talking to some people online about it a few days ago, and most of them were completely closed to any of the ideas. Some of them told me that it was a lot of rubbish and that I was wasting my time on it, and in general, they seemed to be unable to comprehend why I would possibly be interested, and why I would want to learn how to AP (which they don't believe in anyway.)

They weren't exactly treating me like I was weird (although I'm sure that must happen a lot with people who talk about this stuff to others who don't believe in it) but there was a general...I'm not sure what it was. It was a kind of, "Why-are-you-into-this-stupid-nonsense" type attitude, and at times, they seemed almost annoyed that I'm interested in this.

Has anyone else ever found that?

[jeargefef]

I don't usually talk about it until it comes up. Recently, though, I've been amazed at the topics that come up and the people who are interested in them. Spirituality/metaphysical thought is becoming more prevalent than it used to be, but the idea of AP is still in the more 'radical' of the ideas. Why, I don't know.

[Bwvapays]

Yeah, all people will treat you different, unless they believe in metaphysicsl and astral projection etc. My suggestion is to tell no one about your beliefs unless you are sure that they share them. I'm not saying be overly secretive, but the majority of people today will think you are wierd. Even family.
There has been a great increase in the "occult", though. More and more people are questioning the empty(just my opinion, don't want to start a whole arguement) Christian faith and turning to things like Wicca and Spiritualists, or combining the Chrisitan faith with the faith that they want to have. They usually do this because they find it hard to let go of everything that has been beaten into them.
I hope that someday all metaphysical and more spiritual beliefs will be accepted into society. I think that 2012 won't be the end of the world(very morbid idea) but a new beggining and more accepted views of astral projection and other spiritual things that some Christians despise.
Anyway, try to keep your astral practice as discreet as you can. If you tell your friends and family, there is a good chance they'll think your a Satanist or that you're crazy. :cry:
It's your choice in the end, but I garantee you that at least one of your friends and family members will be discriminated towards you.

[Vedun*]

or combining the Chrisitan faith with the faith that they want to have.

That's what I do. I call myself a "New Age Christian." I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, and I believe he was the Son of God. I don't share all of the Christian beliefs, though.

I know Christianity has its faults but I still think that, overall, it's a good faith.

My parents and sister know I'm interested in astral projection. My sister isn't really bothered; she's not that interested in what I do, even though she thinks the AP stuff is a bit weird. My parents don't believe in it, and they don't actively encourage me to be interested in it, but they don't seem to have a problem with it (when I asked for some AP books for Christmas, my Mum ordered them or me.)

[Bwvapays]

That's exaclty wut I am! I do agree that christianity has a good lesson, but New Age religions seem to have a better way of teaching it. The thing is that it sucks for me becuz I have no1 ,except for people on the forums, that I can talk to about it either becuz I go to a Catholic school which prohibits astral projection and other sorts of thing like this because it's "prayin to the devil." Does that even make sense? I encourage you to discover the astral realm and all other spiritual ablilties. Your life will change for the better!

[mincbiori]

I never talk about it with anyone who isn't open to the ideas or on the same sort of path as me. Its funny though just how many people I've encountered over the last few years, who do have an interest in all this stuff.

Maybe its the law of attraction in action.

[ingeneensueva]

I rarely talk about astral projection unless it is brought up. My dad can do astral projection. Even though he can do it he still does not like to talk about it. So I just look around forums and read about it on my free time. My suggestion is to keep it to yourself and only talk about it when someone mentions it and is ready to hear it.

[MiniBoy]

I know what you mean, people can look at you differently when you tell them what you believe in or have experienced. I myself want to tell so many people of my experiences and beliefs but I rarely do. Why? Maybe I am afraid of what they will think? I guess, even though that shouldn't be an issue. I only have 3 people I can talk to about it really comfortably. One of them has had a near death OBE, one's my girlfriend, and ones a hippie coworker heh. I know what you mean of being a "new age Christian", I believe in God, his son Jesus and every word in the Bible to be true. I have incorporated many different things into my life, from philosophy...some energy techniques ect...Not to many from other religion's just yet. I've completely parted from the whole Christian religion, I merely have a relationship with God, through his Son and his people. I still hold to the teachings of the Bible, but not the teachings of the Church which...aren't always the same. If people don't at first believe you, it may be too early for them to begin understanding. I know I had to have my eyes opened through experience and exposure to bring about my beliefs. God literally had to open a number of doors to me. Its hard for people to believe in something so foreign to them, especially something not tangible. Living a life of love and light, can attract people to you and make them wonder where you get your peace. I've had workers in the past, who've ridiculed my lifestyle saying not going out and doing what they do as far as crazy drinking/drugs/partying is lame...at least around their friends. When I get them alone, and get a good chance to talk to them they sometimes open up. I've had some say they notice something different about me...thats when I begin to talk about God or spirituality. Needless to say, I've had some pretty interesting conversations. So if you ever want to talk about spirituality, astral...ect. Sometimes the best thing to do is to let them approach you.

[voodoosdv]

Heck, yes. People seem to forget the other "normal" things about you and just remember that you are a flake. Been there, done that, don't talk about it much anymore.

My husband doesn't really believe in it, but he'll never come right out & say so--he does have to live with me, after all! I'm not worried about him, though; I'm certain that in time he'll believe.

My mother has told me about the one and only experience she had as a young teenager, but she really doesn't like to talk about it much. So, she believes, but prefers not to discuss it.

My best friend, like my mother, had an experience but after describing it to me once, doesn't like to talk about it anymore. She has some odd ideas about it, I think, that are inaccurate (for her it wasn't a pleasant experience...not frightening, but she didn't like where she visited), and I think that clouds her feelings on the issue.

Otherwise, I just keep things private. I'm not embarrassed or ashamed, but I just have no use for the funny looks that the uninformed give me.

[Shootohoist]

I'm going to post in the opposite direction of what seems to happen to many others.

I usually don't openly discuss my interest in AP or my beliefs until asked. My fiance knows, and has even shared a personal OBE experience with me thou it scared her so bad that she isn't at all interested in actually learning how to induce one. My sister knows, though she scoffs at it a little despite her being an accomplished Lucid Dreamer. I don't tell my dad. He's a very christianly devout person and I don't think he'd take the idea well at all.

But my last job was as a security guard on a casino boat. I got a lot of "just sitting around time" and when I picked up RB's Astral Dynamics, I would often read it on the boat.

One weekend we had a security guard come down to help fill in for our people and he was a nice guy. While I was reading he sat down and asked what the book was (usually I hate this kind of thing as I expect people to respect the fact that I am READING and not exactly looking for conversation.) But I'm also a nice person, so I closed the book and gave him a very basic description, "It's a New Age book."

Now this guy seemed like a perfectly normal guy for his age. Social, popular. When we had talked, it was mostly about football. I was slightly surprised when he actually asked me what New Age was. I explained to him that it covered most things like paranormal investigating, astrology, dream interpreting, and AP, ect.

I was even more surprised when that description didn't deter our coversation. Instead he asked me what this particular book was about. So I gave him a basic description of AP, the kind you'd give to somebody without pushing your own beliefs on them. And instead of treating my beliefs as something odd, he proceeded to tell me an occurence that had happened to him!

He had being partying with some friends (this did include smoking Marijuana) and he apparently got very tired and went back to his room to take a nap. He remembers waking up and going back out into the living room and listening to his freinds talk. It wasn't until he tried to talk and they didn't hear him that he thought anything was odd. Shortly after he woke up back in bed. He got up and went back out to join the party and soon found out that his freinds had said everything he had heard, but they told him that he wasn't out there, he was sleeping in the bedroom.

I just thought I'd share this. It seemed to be an actual relief to him to think that such things were possible and that there was some explanation out there. I don't know if he ever did anything with the knowledge (like me when I first stumbled across the theory of AP in an encyclopedia) but its in his head now.

[Stoniaanapy]

Kevin

I've become a lot better at picking people out now. You'd be surprised at how many have had these experiences yet keep to themselves. If I feel as though it's worth bringing up I usually start with the subject of sleep paralysis. If just one person in the group relates then things really start moving fast, you'll find that others in the group will become interested as well. You just need to get the ball rolling in as inviting a manner you can manage.

Well done though, you've definitely helped someone there.