[illiniastibly]

I have a rather odd problem.

During the day, I'm almost always tired. Whenever I'm totally tired and lay down and close my eyes, I feel like I have lost awareness- and I can sometimes see parts of my room through the blackness of my eyelids. I know this is an etheric body thing, but what scares me is, it's like I just have no awareness of anything. Not even me. I cease to consciously know where I am, who I am, that I even exist. Some thoughts remain, though, and I can still snap out of it and open my eyes, but I am wondering how to get this under control.

I know I am close to projecting when this happens, but why do I lose all self-awareness? And how can I get it under control?

The past few nights, I've just let it go, fallen asleep, and woke up fine.

But it is still somewhat terrifying to lose self-awareness...

[Cengaeas]

Everything MalevolenT said is true, but I just want to add one more factoid; when you are asleep your conscious mind isn't in charge, your subconscious mind is, and that part of your mind doesn't have much discerning ability, it just observes what is there, and accepts everything (which is why we can have weird dreams and not think they're weird at all). The part of our minds that does the judging, discerning, etc. is the conscious mind, which is 'out of phase' at the time you're asleep or dreaming. When we lucid dream or project, we are making a conscious effort to bring this conscious mind into phase with our subconscious (or unconscious) observations, and this is something that requires practice and energy, hence all the energy and lucidity work we put into it.
I suggest that you're identifying yourself (a diff. way of saying what M. said already) with your consciousness, but as you said, you are actually bringing in your awareness- now it's time to cultivate discerning skills to maneuver in this state. Good luck!
I suppose you have already read the Treatise (I saw Jman referred you to it in the welcome thread) and I suggest giving the dreaming section a read for tips to increase lucidity.
Happy travels!

[illiniastibly]

There is a reason I get scared, even though such a trance is a positive thing:

My subconscious and unconscious are, quite frankly, a firestorm. I have multiple emotional blockages at this point in my life and a lot is going on. Everything is just below the surface.

Is it possible that this is affecting my relationship with the astral at all, i.e. 'jolting' me out of my body?

I know I communicated over the astral to someone when I was in distress last week, and that got me out of a rather painful and scary state. I wasn't aware of it until the person called me on the telephone asking if I had been trying to contact them.

This is what scares me; that I will lose all composure/control over my own reality when I reach this state.

Is it possible that this is a reaction to my state, and what would happen if I did in fact release when there is so much underneath?

[Averti$ingGuru]

I have a rather odd problem.

I feel what you describe is a normal stage for many aspirants . Currently , a few of my mates in circle and I experience similarly nightly .
Whenever I'm totally tired and lay down and close my eyes, I feel like I have lost awareness- and I can sometimes see parts of my room through the blackness of my eyelids Bill Van de Berg in our circle , has found for the last few months that each night the room becomes filled with spirit . The ceiling became a bluey white and he saw films and spirit teachers appearing beside his bed and then he would nod out and strive to recall where he went . He also has been seeing spirits open eyed during the day that look so real he has been fooled time after time .

I regularly see thru my eyelids in any dim room. In darkened rooms I see spirit wiht eyes opened .

When I lie dowm , I begin to see the ceiling and walls melt away and find self in other people's rooms and then these disappear . What I see is in slow motion and all blue white and gray .

If I have raised energy and lay with the lower legs parallel , the vibes will begin and I will separate . If I have not prepared it might occur anyway .

Or I will continue to wander with my mind instead . I try to focus on a destination point for an excursion before I fall asleep .

Sometimes teachers appear before I fall asleep in my room and sometimes spirit relatives just wanting a chat.

But this week , before I fell asleep there were a bunch of ladies dressed in buiness attire talking as if I was not in the room and it was so strange . I had not fallen asleep yet . I was so startled that I woke my husband and asked him if he could see or hear these ladies . He could only see the shadown showing a group of spirit were there but that meant something to my sensibilities .

So you are not alone. And there is good reason to seek peer confirmation on forums like this , to come to this understanding that what one human apsirant can endure , you can also . We are one in the Universal Mind and those on the stage ahead of you pull you up and along just as you are pulling up those on the stage you have just mastered .

During the day, I'm almost always tired. I would rule out medical conditions such as anemia first . And if there are no medical concerns then consider grounding self and shielding self better .
but I am wondering how to get this under control. * Grounding
* energy exercises~gently dislodge and remove those blockages
* daily meditation
(added bonus : will prevent so much having to be taught at night too )
* deep cleansing breathes daily when you rise
* raising energy each morning

It is possible you have something draining you or that you are needing to raise more energy due to the work you do in dreamstate . If you are feeling sleep deprived , consider asking your guides for a break and not pushing so hard . We have freewill to teach and learn in dreamstate . We have free will to get needed rest and take a break too .
I know I am close to projecting when this happens, but why do I lose all self-awareness? One spiritual goal is to sublimate the ego , to lose such sight of self to consider the greater good , the higher love more than conscern for self . This then is a natural and helpful exercise for an aspirant .
The past few nights, I've just let it go, fallen asleep, and woke up fine.But it is still somewhat terrifying to lose self-awareness So lose the fear , have faith instead .
False
Evidence
Assumed
Real
My subconscious and unconscious are, quite frankly, a firestorm. I have multiple emotional blockages at this point in my life and a lot is going on. Everything is just below the surface. Sitting in meditation for long quiet sessions should help to calm one storm at a time .
Is it possible that this is affecting my relationship with the astral at all, i.e. 'jolting' me out of my body? Yes , Imho as the energy body is developed and becomes strong enough , our body begins to project nightly with more and more recall .
I know I communicated over the astral to someone when I was in distress last week, and that got me out of a rather painful and scary state. I wasn't aware of it until the person called me on the telephone asking if I had been trying to contact them. Clairvocation becomes stronger at this stage . This is good to call spirit teachers . This is good to heal relationships and stay in touch . But it has its drawbacks too as your heart becomes more open you begin to call those you would not call in the physical life and may find self calling relationships that have been terminated .

Also when you are in crisis , and this will continue to occur despite the raising of your vibration , you will have to learn to not send your pain and fear to your support group , not to send your loved ones what you do not need for them to know or feel in empathy for you . Still the peers , the kindred spirits will begin to call to you too and finding you inquire as to your wellbeing . Then we get such confirmation of astral visits in the physical life communications .
This is what scares me; that I will lose all composure/control over my own reality when I reach this state. Abandon that fear . You will go beyond this soon with grace .