text:
OOBE Research Center presents:
A Practical Guidebook
(Former School of Out-of-Body Travel)
(Version 2.0, October 2011)
By Michael Raduga
Translated by Peter Orange
Pictures: M.Raduga, E.Leontyeva, S.Buryak
Model: Maria Forza
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I believe that everybody is going to exist in two worlds soon.
The practice of phase states of the mind is the hottest and most promising pursuit of the modern age. Unlike in the past, the notions of "out-of-body experience" and "astral projection" have already lost their mystical halo, and their real basis has been studied in minute detail from the most non-nonsense approach. Now, this phenomenon is accessible to everyone, regardless of their worldview. It is now known how to easily master it and apply it effectively.
This guidebook is the result of ten years of extremely active personal practice and study of the out-of-body phenomenon (the phase), coupled with having successfully taught it to thousands of people. I know all of the obstacles and problems that are usually run into when getting to know this phenomenon, and have tried to protect future practitioners from them in this book.
This guidebook was not created for those who prefer light, empty reading. It is for those who would like to learn something. It contains no speculations or stories, only dry, hard facts and techniques in combination with a completely pragmatic approach and clear procedures for action. They have all been successfully verified by a vast number of practitioners that often had no prior experience. In order to achieve the same result, it is only necessary to read through each section thoroughly and complete the assignments. It gives each and every person something that previously could only be dreamt about - a parallel reality and the possibility of existing in two worlds.
The book is beneficial not only for beginners, but also for those who already know what it feels like to have an out-of-body encounter and have a certain amount of experience, as this guidebook is devoted not only to entering the state, but also equally dedicated to controlling it.
Contrary to popular opinion, there is nothing difficult about this phenomenon if one tries to attain it with regular and right effort. On average, results are reached in less than a week. More often than not, the techniques work in literally a couple of attempts.
(Sponsors and investors are needed for translation into other languages this free ebook and other our books, videos, etc. Also we need financial support to promote the phase worldwide. Let's change the world together! Take a part in it!)
Michael Raduga
Founder of the OOBE Research Center
January 11, 2009
Quick Instructions for Novices
Success Rate:
For 1-5 attempts (1-3 days) - 50%
For 6-10 attempts (2-7 days) - 80%
For 11-20 attempts (3-14 days) - 90%
Way back when, people did not have consciousness. Yet once it developed, it gradually started occupying more and more of the waking state. However, nowadays consciousness is outgrowing the waking state, and has begun continuing its expansion into other states. Consciousness increasingly springs up during REM-phase sleep, giving rise to the most astounding phenomenon of human existence - feeling oneself in an out-of-body experience. It is probable that men and women of the future will have a conscious existence in two worlds. For now, however, this can only be accomplished using the special techniques described in this book.
Hints at the occurrence of this phenomenon may be found in the Bible and other ancient texts. It lies at the foundation of other phenomena such as near-death experiences, alien abductions, sleep paralysis, and so on. The phenomenon is so extraordinary that many occult movements consider experiencing it to be an accomplishment of the highest order. Statistical research has shown that one person in two will have an intense encounter with it. Meanwhile, the existence of the phenomenon itself has been scientific fact since the 1970s.
The phenomenon is well-represented in many different kinds of modern practices, albeit under various names ranging from "astral projection" and "out-of-body experience" to "lucid dreaming". We shall use the pragmatic term "the phase" or "phase state" to refer to all the above phenomena, as there is no difference at all between them in their usual practice. We will also take as materialist an approach as possible, casting aside all theoretical tripe and concerning ourselves only with what works in practice.
As regards sensory perception of the phenomenon itself, this is not a mere visualization exercise. Reality itself is but a dull daydream in comparison to the phase state! You won't feel your physical body on the bed there, and all of your senses will be fully immersed in a new world of perception. You can touch and behold anything, walk and fly, eat and drink, feel pain and pleasure, and much, much more. And all this with even more realism and lucidness of perception than daily life! This is the reason many novices experience shock - or even mortal fear - upon entering this state. It's a true parallel world in terms of perception.
The practical side of the phenomenon holds even greater opportunity. In the phase, you can travel the Earth, the Universe, and time itself. You can meet any person you want: friends and family, the deceased, and celebrities. You can obtain information from the phase and apply it towards improving your daily life. You can influence your physiology and treat a number of ailments. You can realize your secret desires and develop your creativity. Meanwhile, people with physical impairments can release themselves from all fetters and obtain anything lacking for them in the physical world. And all this is just the tip of the iceberg of ways to apply the phenomenon in daily life!
You may think that it's difficult to learn if you've read elsewhere that you need spend months, if not years, on it. Get those old wives' tales out of your head - we're in the 21st century! The instructions laid out in this section will help most people to experience this amazing state within only 2 to 3 days of trying. Remember: the techniques described in this book are the result of many years of experimental research at the OOBE Research Center. Thousands have participated first-hand in developing and perfecting the techniques presented here, and have proven that they can be used by absolutely everyone. All that you need to do is follow these simple instructions as exactly and carefully as you can. Then, you'll be able to literally live in two worlds!
There are three primary methods for leaving the body. They are used at different times of the day: after sleeping, while sleeping, and without sleeping beforehand. We will begin getting experience using the techniques by starting from the easiest ones - the indirect techniques, which are performed immediately upon awakening. They are quite simple. After mastering those techniques, you can then try to leave your body in the evening or during the day, without sleeping beforehand.
So, you have decided to experience out-of-body sensations and want to achieve this as quickly as possible. To that end, here we present a brief description of the easiest method - cycles of indirect techniques. This is a universal and most effective way to obtain a phase experience. It has been refined by the OOBE Research Center's work with thousands of people all over the world. The secret to indirect techniques is to perform them upon awakening, when the human brain is physiologically quite close to the phase state, or still in it.
Interesting Fact!
Indirect techniques are mainly to thank for our 80% success rate over only 2 days of attempts at three-day seminars, even in groups of 50 people and more. Once, more than half of the group had a phase experience by the second day, and most had two or more experiences.
Cycles of indirect techniques consist of attempts to separate immediately upon awakening, and if that is unsuccessful, then quickly cycling through techniques over the course of a minute until one of them works, after which it is possible to separate from the body. Usually, 1 to 5 properly performed attempts are all that is necessary to obtain results.
The techniques described below work extremely well both when awakening from a daytime nap, as well as in the middle of the night. However, we will be concentrating on the optimum strategy - the deferred method - which allows for numerous attempts to be had in a single day. This substantially increases the probability of success occurring in only 1 to 3 days.
On a night before a free day when you won't have to wake up early, go to bed at your usual time and set your alarm so that you'll only sleep for about 6 hours. When the alarm goes off, you must get up to drink a glass of water, go to the bathroom, and read these instructions once again. Do not attempt any techniques before going to bed the night before, no matter what the case. You just need to lie down and get some sound sleep. The sounder you sleep over these 6 hours, the better your chances of getting results.
After 3 to 50 minutes of being awake, go back to bed and concentrate your attention on how you will perform cycles of indirect techniques upon each subsequent awakening in order to leave your body and implement your prepared plan of action. No need to set the alarm clock this time. Each subsequent awakening should occur naturally. If it's too bright in the room, you can wear a special eye-mask. If it's loud - use earplugs.
Meanwhile, focus your attention on how you're going to try to wake up without moving your physical body. This isn't mandatory, but it will substantially increase the effectiveness of the indirect techniques.
Now, sleep for 2 to 4 hours, but take advantage of natural awakenings that occur during this period of time. They will happen much more often than usual. After each attempt - whether successful or not - you must fall back asleep with that very same intention of waking up and trying again. In this way, you can make many attempts over the course of a single morning. Up to a quarter of those attempts will be successful, even for novices (70 to 95% of them will be successful for experienced practitioners).
Each time you wake up again, try not to move or open your eyes. Instead, immediately try to separate from your body. Up to 50% of success with indirect techniques comes during this simple first step - one that is so simple that people don't even suspect that it could work.
In order to separate from your body, simply try to stand up, roll out, or levitate. Try to do it with your own perceived (i.e. subtle) body, but without moving your physical muscles. Remember that it will feel just like normal physical movement. When the moment comes, don't think too hard about how to do it. During those first moments after awakening, stubbornly try to separate from your body any way that you can and no matter what. Most likely, you'll intuitively know how to do it. The most important thing is not to think too hard and not to lose those first seconds of awakening.
Interesting Fact!
During the second lesson at School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars, participants are asked to explain in their own words how they were able to separate, but without using the words "easily", "simply", or "as usual". They are usually always unable to comply with this request, as separation nearly always occurs for them "easily", "simply" and "as usual" when the moment is right.
If immediate separation doesn't work out - which would become apparent after 3-5 seconds - start right then and there to alternate between 2 to 3 of the techniques that are most straightforward to you, until one of them works. When this happens, you can try to separate again. Choose 2 to 3 of the following five techniques so that you can alternate through them during awakenings:
For 3 to 5 seconds, try to imagine rotating to either side along your head-to-toe axis as vividly as possible. If no sensations arise, switch to another technique. If a real or even slight sensation of rotation arises, focus your attention on this technique and rotate even more energetically. As soon as the sensation of rotating becomes stable and real, you should try to separate again using it as a starting point.
Swimmer technique
For 3 to 5 seconds, try to imagine as decidedly as possible that you are swimming or simply making swimming motions with your arms. Try to feel it no matter what, and as vividly as you can. If nothing happens, switch to another technique. There is no need to switch techniques if the sensation of swimming arises. Instead, intensify the sensations that arise. Afterwards, the real sensation of swimming in water will come to you. That's already the phase - and there's no need for separation when you're already in the phase. However, if such sensations occur while you're in bed instead of a body of water, then you will need to employ a separation technique. Use the swimming sensations as a starting point.
Observing images
Peer into the void before your closed eyes for 3 to 5 seconds. If nothing occurs, switch to another technique. If you see any kind of imagery, peer into it until it becomes realistic. Once it is, separate from the body right then and there, or allow yourself to be pulled into the imagery. When peering at imagery, it's important not to scrutinize details, lest the image wash away. You'll need to look through the picture, which will make it more realistic.
Hand visualization
For 3 to 5 seconds, imagine vividly and decidedly that you are rubbing your hands together close to your eyes. Try no matter what to feel them in front of you, to see them, and even to hear the sound of them rubbing. If nothing happens, switch to another technique. If any of the above sensations start to arise, then keep with the technique and intensify it until it becomes totally realistic. Afterwards you can try to separate from the body, using the sensations arising from the technique as a start-off point.
Phantom wiggling
Try to wiggle your perceived hands or feet for 3 to 5 seconds. Do not move a muscle under any circumstances, and do not imagine the movement itself. For example, try to intensively press down and then up, wiggle to the left and right, and so on. If nothing occurs, switch to another technique. If a slight or sluggish sensation of real movement suddenly arises, then focus your attention on the technique, trying to increase the range of motion as much as you can. Once you can move by at least 4 inches, immediately try to separate from your body starting off from the sensations arising from the technique.
All that you need to do for each attempt is alternate between 2 to 3 techniques for 3 to 5 seconds each. This leads to indirect techniques cycles, where the practitioner alternates one technique after another over the course of a minute in search of the one that works. It is very important to do no less than 4 cycles of 2 to 3 techniques during an attempt. Remember - even if a technique doesn't work immediately, that doesn't mean that it will not work on the very next cycle of techniques, if not just a bit later. That's precisely why it's necessary to stubbornly alternate techniques, performing no less than 4 complete cycles, but all within no longer than a minute.
For example, the entire process may take place as follows: a phaser goes to bed at 11:30pm and sets his alarm for 6:00am; at 6:00 he wakes up to his alarm clock, goes to the bathroom, drinks some water, and recalls the indirect techniques as well as his interesting plan of action for the phase (for example, to look in the mirror and fly to Mars); at 6:05am the phaser goes back to sleep with the clear intention of entering the phase upon each subsequent awakening; at 7:35am (or whenever natural awakening occurs) the phaser awakes unexpectedly and immediately tries to separate from his body then and there; not having separated within 3 to 5 seconds, the phaser begins to try to do rotations, but those also do not work within 3 to 5 seconds; the phaser performs the swimmer technique, but that does not work within 3 to 5 seconds, the phaser does phantom wiggling, but it doesn't work within 3 to 5 seconds, the phaser does rotation again, then the swimmer technique and phantom wiggling for 3 to 5 seconds each; then he once again does rotation, swimming, and phantom wiggling for 3 to 5 seconds each; on the fourth cycle he begins to do rotation and it unexpectedly starts working - the feeling of rotation arises; the phaser keeps with this technique, and spins as hard as he can and separates from his body right then and there using the sensation of rotation: he then runs to the mirror, all the while actively palpating and scrutinizing everything around him from a close distance, which intensifies his sensations; having already looked in the mirror, the practitioner employs the translocation technique and finds himself on Mars, but he is unexpectedly returned to the body; the phaser then immediately tries to leave his body again, but is unable to; he falls back asleep with the clear intention of repeating the attempt upon the next awakening and staying longer on Mars; and so on.
Just repeat the above using the techniques that come most naturally to you, and you'll open yourself up to a whole new universe!
If you take 20 to 30 minutes out of your day to simply train the techniques and the procedure, the method will be remembered and work better. This will substantially increase the success of attempts upon awakening.
Dream consciousness is also considered to be a phase experience. If you suddenly realize that you're dreaming while asleep, then that's already the phase. You should therefore proceed to implement your plan of action and stabilize the state. If dream consciousness does arise, it would be a side effect of doing technique cycles upon awakenings. This side effect is quite common - always be ready for it.
Fall back asleep if you can after each attempt (whether successful or not) in order to make another attempt to leave your body upon your next awakening. That way you'll not only be able to leave your body in one day, but also to do it several times on the very first day!
Interesting Fact!
At a School of Out-of-Body Travel seminar, a novice was able to leave his body for the first time in his life in 6 of 8 attempts upon awakening the very first morning.
Even the most unsuccessful attempt should last no longer than a minute. If nothing happens over that period of time, it's much more effective to fall asleep and catch the next awakening, as opposed to stubbornly trying to squeeze results out of the current attempt.
Before entering the phase, you should clearly outline what you are going to do there immediately after separation. This will increase both the quality of the experience and the likelihood of it occurring. Below is a list of the most interesting (if not the most straightforward) phase activities for novices (choose no more than 2 to 3 activities and remember them well):
Look in a mirror (a must for the first phase!)
Eat or drink something you like
Visit any tourist attraction
Fly over the Earth
Fly throughout the Universe
Fly to neighbors, friends, and family
Meet a lover
Meet a deceased relative
Meet any celebrity
Take medicine for treatment
Obtain information from phase objects
Travel to the past or the future
Walk through a wall
Transmutate into an animal
Drive a sports car
Ride a motorcycle
Breathe underwater
Put your hand inside your body
Feel vibrations
Inhabit two bodies at once
Inhabit another person's body
Move and set fire to objects just by looking at them
Drink liquor
Make love and reach orgasm
For your first phase, be sure to set yourself the goal of making it to a mirror and looking at your reflection. You should specifically program yourself to do this activity, as it will substantially facilitate your first steps in conquering the phase. You may then complete other items on your plan of action and never return to the mirror again.
If your sensations in the phase are dull (i.e. poor sight or numbed bodily sensations), try to touch everything around you actively and scrutinize the minute details of objects from up-close. This will allow you to have a more realistic experience. The same activities should be performed in order to maintain the phase when the first symptoms of a return to the body occur (for example, when everything becomes dim).
Returning to the body is something you needn't worry about. The state will not last more than several minutes in any case, especially for novices who are little-acquainted with techniques for maintaining the phase.
Set yourself this goal: make 5 to 10 attempts to leave your body upon awakening. This procedure, when followed correctly, is sufficient for 50 to 80 percent of novices to get their first results. Turn back to this section if you run into a problem, as it describes the mistakes encountered in 99% (!) of unsuccessful attempts.
Never try these techniques every day, otherwise the success rate of your attempts will drop drastically! Spend no more than 2 to 3 days of the week on it, preferably only on days off. If you don't have an opportunity to sleep in long and with interruption, then don't forget that cycles of indirect techniques can also be used after any other awakening - in the middle of the night for example, or better yet, during a midday nap. What's most important is to establish the clear intention of trying them before falling asleep.
Despite the simplicity of these techniques, novices stubbornly deviate from the clear instructions, following them in their own way or only half-way. Remember what's most important beforehand: the more carefully and literally you follow the instructions in this book, the better your chances for success. Ninety percent will obtain results within one to three awakenings if they do everything correctly from the beginning.
Interesting Fact!
At School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars, the main task consists not in explaining the proper procedure, but merely in getting participants to follow it to-the-letter. Even if that goal is only half-way accomplished, success is inevitable.
Typical mistakes when performing indirect techniques include:
- Lack of an attempt to separate
Forgetting to simply try to separate immediately after awakening before cycling techniques, even though this may lead to up to 50% of all experiences. Exception: awakening to movement, after which one may immediately proceed to the techniques.
- Lack of aggression
A desire to get a technique to work no matter what and really get into it is the main criterion for success in employing the indirect technique procedure. Meanwhile, determination should not be superficial, but intensely focused on the actions to be completed. Lack of determination can also manifest itself in passively falling asleep during an attempt.
- Fewer than 4 cycles
No matter what happens and no matter what thoughts occur, you should perform no less than 4 cycles of techniques, assuming none have worked so far. Not following this simple rule will scuttle more than half of your opportunities to enter the phase.
- Unnecessary Change of Technique
Despite the clear instructions given, novices will stubbornly switch techniques after 3 to 5 seconds, even when a technique has started working in one way or another. This is a serious error. If a technique has started working - however so slightly - you need to keep with it and try to intensify it in any way possible.
- Unnecessary Continuation of a Technique
If a technique hasn't begun working in the least after 3 to 5 seconds, it should be changed for another. The point of cycling is to quickly alternate between techniques until one of them starts working.
- Forgetting to Separate
When any technique starts working upon awakening - no matter to what degree - the practitioner is nearly always already in the phase, and is simply lying on his body while in it. That's why you should always try to separate immediately upon there being stable signs that a technique is working. If that doesn't work out, then you need to return to intensifying the technique and try to separate again. If you don't use the first seconds of a technique working, then the phase usually ends quite quickly and the necessary state goes away. Don't lie in your body while in the phase!
- Excessive Analysis
If you analyze what's going on when cycling through techniques upon awakening, then you are not concentrated on the techniques themselves and are sidetracking yourself. This will cause you to miss nearly all chances of obtaining results. The desire to experience the technique working should fully consume you, leaving no place in the mind for analysis or contemplation.
- Excessively Alert Awakening (no Attempt or a Sluggish One)
Due to the perception of an excessively alert awakening (which will be not actually be alert, but only seem to be from 70 to 90% of the time) the practitioner will either forgo trying anything, or will make attempts quite unassuredly, which is equivalent to not trying at all. You ought to follow the instructions automatically, and not pay attention to such perceptions upon awakening.
- Attempting for Longer than a Minute
If no result is obtained after one minute of cycling, then your odds of success will be much greater if you go back to sleep right away and catch the next awakening in order to make a new attempt, as opposed to stubbornly trying to continue on with the techniques.
- Incomplete Separation
When attempting to separate, sometimes it doesn't come easily or completely. Sluggishness, stuck body parts, and being stuck in two bodies at once are some things that may occur. Never give up under any circumstances and do not stop separating if this happens. Full separation will occur if you counteract such problems with all your strength.
- Not Recognizing the Phase
Practitioners often enter the phase but then return back to the body because they feel that what occurred is not what they had expected. For example, when observing images they are often pulled into the scenery, or they are spontaneously thrown into another world when rotating. Practitioners often think that they have to experience the feeling of separation itself, which is why they might return back to their bodies in order to obtain it. The same applies to becoming conscious while dreaming, as the practitioner is already in the phase and it only remains to deepen and implement his plan of action.
- Awakening to Movement (no Attempt or a Sluggish One)
Awakening without moving is desirable, but not mandatory. There's no sense in forgoing most opportunities by waiting for the right awakening. You must take advantage of every awakening that you can.
- Wasting the First Seconds
Try to develop the habit of immediately and reflexively proceeding to the techniques upon awakening, without losing a second. The more time that elapses between awakening and the attempt itself, the lower the odds of success. It's best to learn to catch not so much the very second of awakening, but rather the transitional moment when "surfacing" from sleep. Separation is almost always successful during that transitional moment.
- Selection of Same-Type Techniques
There's no point in selecting techniques for your practice that are similar to one another or focused on the same sensation (when using techniques from other parts of this book).
- Use of a Single Technique
Cycling indirect techniques upon awakening is a universal method that can work for anybody provided they alternate several techniques. Completely different methods may work over different attempts. That's why using only a single technique upon awakening instead of cycling through at least two leads to substantially lowered odds of entering the phase.
- False Physical Movement
Sometimes separation is so indistinguishable from ordinary physical movement that novices are unable to believe their own success. They perceive separation as a physical movement and then disappointedly lie back down into their body. In such cases, one ought to carefully evaluate the situation and possibly perform reality checks.
Do It No Matter What. When performing phase entrance and separation techniques, put your all into them and concentrate on them as if they were your life's goal and mission. Chomp at the bit to leave your body.
Be Aggressive. Put all of your enthusiasm and desire into the techniques. The desire to get the techniques to work should be coupled with full aggression in achieving that result.
Be Self-Assured. During attempts, be as sure as possible of the results. When making attempts, lack of assuredness in yourself and the results will substantially lower your probability of phase entrance. Nearly all phase entrances are accompanied by self-assured thought like "I'm going to do it now", while unsuccessful attempts involve thinking "I guess I'll try, but I doubt it'll work".
Do it Robotically. Don't think about anything when completing the technique procedure. You already have the instructions. Just carry them out, not matter what things may seem to you or what thoughts enter your mind. Robotically is also understood to mean exactly. The indirect technique procedure has been honed by work with thousands of practitioners all over the world, neglecting any detail isn't worth it.
If you were successfully able to employ the indirect techniques and enter the phase at least 3 to 5 times, then you can gradually move on to the advanced textbook in order to flesh out your practice. Now you're a man or woman of the future, and all that remains is to hone your new ability!
We believe that everybody is going to exist in two worlds soon
Sponsors and investors are needed for translation into other languages this free ebook and other our books, videos, etc. Also we need financial support to promote the phase worldwide. Let's change the world together! Take a part in it!
Real Experiences to Guide and Motivate
Our inboxes receive a daily flood of phase entrance testimonials at the OOBE Research Center, School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars around the world, and all of our many-language websites and forums. A small selection of them are featured in this part of the book in order to vividly demonstrate how out-of-body experience occurs in practice. Of course, mere words can hardly convey even a tenth of the emotion people experience. However, they are enough to demonstrate how important and fascinating this can be for absolutely everyone. Thousands of phase experience accounts are also freely available on the "Practitioner Blogs" section of our forums.
We start with first-time novice phase experiences presented in order of entrance method and technique.
Presented here are testimonials describing first-time phase experiences achieved during the first step in cycling indirect techniques: attempting to separate immediately upon awakening.
Johnny Asmussen
Silkeborg, Denmark
I woke up one morning without moving or opening my eyes, and it was a very good feeling. I then thought to myself that I should do my indirect technique. But instead, I said to myself, "Try to leave your body", and I thought that I would sit up on my bedside. I was lying on my back, but I had not yet moved at all, and so I decided to give it my all and thought, "Just do it!" Almost immediately, I was sitting up on my bedside.
I knew that I hadn't moved at all because I never get out of my bed that fast; it happened in a blink of an eye.
In my enjoyment of total freedom, I forgot my plan of action, and I forgot the most important thing to do next – deepening. While sitting there, I turned my head to look at my body, just to be 120% sure that I was out of my body. Just before, I had looked down at my bed (M.R.: wrong reality check). I woke up looking at the ceiling in my "real" body (M.R.: no re-entering).
It was short, it was quick, but it was the phase. I am hooked for life!
Alexander Dyrenkov
Moscow, Russia
My first entry happened at night. I was lying in bed and thinking about the phase, as I had been unable to fall asleep for a while. I dozed off for a moment and then awoke again, this time already in the proper state, and then easily rolled out (more or less unconsciously and reflexively). I went deeper by means of touching and then falling headfirst. It is a pity that I've already forgotten a lot of the experience, but I do remember that after deepening I fell right down onto the yard of my grandmother's house, but then lost consciousness, and so I returned into my body and rolled out of it several times (M.R.: no plan of action). I was unable to sharpen all my senses: When I deepened one sense (touch, for example), another (i.e. sight) would fade away. After that, I have a gap in my memory concerning my travels (consciousness and lucidity were weak, and I fell asleep and "resurfaced" several times), but I remember having been to a lot of places.
Here's how the episode ended: I dove headfirst into water from a high board (after first having deepened a bit), and then my sense of touch grew sharper: I felt "water" and hit my head against a very soft "bottom." I resumed the interrupted fall through willpower, but then it occurred to me that my grandmother wanted to wake me up. My level of awareness was not quite adequate, as it did not occur to me that I was actually sleeping in a dormitory, and not at my grandmother's house. That's why I decided that I needed to return to my body. A sharp fall occurred right after that thought, and was followed by sensations similar to those one experiences when hung-over.
Anthony Pucci
I had just had a slightly disturbing dream. (I can't recall what it was now, but it left me a little shaken.) I woke up, eyes still closed, and completely still. "Well, I'll give it a shot," I thought to myself. I tried to move my arms without using muscles. My right arm rose slightly, and I've had some experiences in the past that helped me remember the tingling sensations present during separation - holy cow, it's finally working!
I was still a little doubtful when it came time to get up, but I tried nevertheless and that "electric shock" sort of feeling coursed through me after total separation. "I did it," I said aloud. "I can go see her now." Who she is may be explained later if I feel up to it, but for now, I will call her Mia, since she is relevant and that name is easier for me to type. I regained my composure and recalled that I had to deepen, and did so. I felt the walls, the bed posts, and my clothes. I was wearing a very long shirt (down past my waist) and some boxer-briefs, instead of what I had gone to sleep in.
When I finally got my vision to return, everything seemed larger than it should've been, and I felt slightly anxious, sort of like that paranoia you feel after watching a scary movie. Regardless, I pushed through it. I went to my door. "Mia's behind this door," I thought to myself. It didn't lead anywhere unusual, just out into my hall. Again, things were a little larger than they should've been and a few places were covered in a very dim greenish light. I called her name, beckoning, "Mia?" My voice was quiet and shaken. I couldn't seem to regain my composure for some reason. I continued calling her name, and asked, "Where are you?"
I heard her voice in my head responding, "Huh? I'm right here." I went down the hall in a half-panic, checking various places in the house for her. Everywhere I went was extra-large and dimly lit in green. "Where is here?!" I cried. Her voice answered me again, "the usual place." I was getting frustrated now. I wanted to see Mia badly, asking, "Where's the usual place?!" I retraced my steps. Maybe she was behind me.
Unfortunately, that's where my story ends, because I returned to my body soon afterwards. I tried to leave it again, but I couldn't budge. The residual doubt and fear in my mind may have held me back. I know I made a few mistakes in my techniques, namely not being absolutely 100% convinced that my door would lead me to Mia, and not maintaining.
Svyatoslav Baranov
Perm, Russia
I woke up on my side. I didn't feel like sleeping anymore, but I closed my eyes anyway. When I lay down on my back, I immediately felt the sensation that I was about to fall from the couch (I was lying on the edge), and some kind of lapse occurred, as if I was being pulled somewhere. I lay down once again, and this buzzing started, and a green light appeared before my eyes. I lay back even further, and my eyelids started to flutter. I thought that I might fall from the couch at that moment, but then my vision came to me, and I observed that I was already lying on the floor next to the couch! I got up on my feet and noticed that the room was "spinning" as if I were drunk, but everything quite quickly went back to normal. At that very moment, I understood that this was it! The phase itself (M.R.: no deepening)!
In ecstasy, I forgot about all the techniques and went to look about the room (M.R.: no plan of action). Everything was just like in reality, but some things were out of place. I tried to levitate and bent backwards, and was somehow thrust outside. It was dusk out there, and there was a lot of snow on the ground. I went around the house and tried to levitate. I was able to soar upwards, and saw the horizon and sunset. But then I began to lose altitude. After having flown to the window on the other side of the house, I wanted to go up to the roof, but then a foul occurred (M.R.: no maintaining). In a fraction of a second, I had the sensation that I was "nowhere". But then, my real eyes opened (with difficulty) and there was once again the feeling of some sort of lapse (M.R.: no re-entering). Awareness was dim during the phase, apparently due to not having gotten enough sleep.
If separating upon awakening is unsuccessful or for some reason no such attempt is even made, then quick alternation through techniques is employed. Separation may be attempted once one of the alternated techniques starts working.
Dodd Stolworthy
Ventura, USA
I went to bed at 10 pm. I woke at 5:30, used the bathroom, and went back to bed. It took me a while to fall asleep. Once I did, I woke up a couple of times and changed positions each time. I felt vibrations come on and heard people talking as they came in my house. I also heard little footsteps near my bed and thought it might be one of my kids. Luckily, I remembered that this type of phenomenon happens when entering the phase (M.R.: no separation). I stayed still and strained the brain to increase the vibrations. This worked really well (M.R.: no separation). I then used phantom wiggling and got my left arm out. At this point I tried to separate by rolling out, but with no success. I then got my right arm out, but I thought I had actually moved my real arm. I was worried I had blown the whole thing, but decided to continue anyways. I tried to see both arms in front of me. They quickly appeared and I saw them through closed eyes! I started swinging my arms from side to side and rolled out of my body.
I was now on the floor next to my bed. I was so excited. I had just done what I had been reading about for 10 months! I remembered to stabilize the experience by rubbing my hands together. As I was doing this, I looked down and noticed my hands looked fat and swollen. I then saw my wife leave the bedroom and go downstairs (M.R.: no plan of action). I followed her and noticed the sun shining in through the windows. It was still dark in real life. My wife then went back upstairs, so I decided to go outside. I started for the front door but decided to fly through the window. I landed in the street and walked around for a bit. I started to go up to my neighbor's house, but noticed that everything was fading (M.R.: no maintaining). I had lost the experience and was now back in bed. I quickly spun around (in my mind) and noticed myself right back in the same spot I had left! I walked up to my neighbor's door, rang the doorbell, and waited for her to come. I then lost it again and tried spinning, but it did not work.
Maxim Shvets,
Moscow, Russia
I went to bed with the intention of entering the phase while dreaming or upon awakening in the morning. I woke up at about 6:30 am, and decided to try the method of visualization, as phantom wiggling had not worked over the past 2 days (M.R.: no separation). Vague images gradually created a scene in front of me, which I then found myself participating in. I felt myself separating from my body, and rolled out of it. I opened my eyes. Some guy grabbed me by the shoulder and said, "You've left your body, be cool." I told him that I was ready. He turned me around, and I saw my body...
My body was lying on its back with open eyes, even though I had started visualizing while lying on my stomach. Not assigning any particular significance to this, I decided to deepen right away. I squatted down and began to quickly palpate the floor and the walls with the palms of my hands. I then looked at my index finger, and could discern the lines in the skin. Figuring that this was all wonderful, I went to the kitchen in order to fly (M.R.: no plan of action). However, I remembered that it was best for novices not to attempt this. I returned to my bedroom door and pictured there being a sunny beach behind it. I opened the door and immediately woke up lying on my back (M.R.: no maintaining and no re-entering)...
Plymouth, UK
I woke up (M.R.: no separation) and immediately applied phantom wiggling on my left arm for five seconds, and my arm began moving freely (M.R.: no separation). I could at this point have had an OBE, but I wanted a lucid dream (M.R.: wrong logic). After five seconds of phantom wiggling I switched to five seconds of listening in (M.R.: wrong action). After about two seconds of listening in to the high pitched natural sound inside my head, it started to increase in volume (M.R.: no separation). After five seconds I still hadn't entered a dream, and so I switched to five seconds of observing Images. I didn't see anything, so I switched to straining the brain. Immediately the high pitched sound in my head became very loud, and so I immediately switched to listening in again (M.R.: no separation). I saw a purple pool of water and felt that its clarity was very good. Then, I found myself fully immersed in a lucid dream.
I was in a deep, beautiful valley with lambs frolicking about. I looked around and marveled at the ability to be able to have a lucid dream in a matter of seconds (M.R.: no deepening). I enjoyed my lucid dream...
Artem Arakcheev
Moscow, Russia
I did indirect techniques. While peering at images, I caught sight of the same dream episode that I had been watching until I first woke up. The picture was very realistic. It seemed to me that I could change everything in this dream. I tried to get out of my body, and immediately flew through my head right into that dream. I landed at the door of the home that I grew up in. I then found myself at a window on the second floor.
Having remembered about the deepening techniques, I quickly began to scrutinize the window itself. My attention then shifted, and I peered out through the window. Everything was in its place, like in real life. Some man approached the door. I don't know why, but I was sure that I needed to watch what he was up to. I instinctively took off from the second floor window, going right through the glass. I lowered to the level of the ground floor. The man walked in through the front door. I followed him, flew in through the door, and began to pursue him.
I then remembered that I had a plan for the phase. At precisely that moment, the phase space began to fade and disappear. I realized that I should apply the maintaining techniques, but did not manage to do so in time. Within a moment, I woke up to myself lying in bed. My body temperature went up. My breathing and heartbeat became more frequent. A second attempt to separate was of no use.
Porto Alegre, Brasil
I was awoken by my cat and ended up accidentally employing the deferred method since I had slept some hours before this OBE. Then I did forced falling asleep, then cycled rotation, observing images, listening in, phantom wiggling etc. I can't remember which one led to vibrations. I amplified the vibrations once I felt them (they were an unknown sensation to me until then), but I couldn't remember what I was supposed to do then: to wait for sleep paralysis or try to separate. Then I decided to do just anything and tried to separate by floating upwards, as if me and my body had the same magnetic charge and would repel each other, because I've ruined some attempts before by trying to roll out and moving my actual body.
It worked, to a point. I felt as if I was floating about one foot high. Meanwhile, my plan was to separate, turn around, see my body and think, "Wow, man!" Then I would start rubbing my hands, palpating, peering and do a list of things while maintaining. But instead, I floated without seeing anything, I just felt the "thrust" pushing me up, which took about half a second or less and without sight. I simply "was" in a place that I hadn't consciously chosen, and I kind of forgot that I could make decisions at that point and started watching things passively. Earlier I had remembered all the techniques that I should employ, but at the moment it slipped my mind.
I went to a place where somehow I knew only musicians went to in order to find other musicians and play along with them. It had a great positive "vibe" to it, I then heard voices of people talking around. There was a female voice, and this girl walked from right to left behind me but somehow I "saw" her All Star shoes. She was commenting about what a cool and friendly place it was. There was a guy with a black trench coat and a shaved head playing something between a piston and a trombone - it was deep dark blue, and he played it with one hand and a guitar with the other, producing awesome music. The piston's keys were actually chromed Fender-type "elephant ear" bass tuners. He didn't put his mouth on the thing at any moment and played it pointing it towards his foot the whole time. The guitar was suspended out in front of him by a strap on his left side with its neck pointing upwards. It sometimes sounded like a piano. There were no amplifiers, pedals or cables at all.
When I felt he was about to finish his music, I wanted to applaud him and tell him that it was awesome, but he disappeared to I don't know where. This was strange because it was as if the music was still sounding, and I wouldn't dare open my mouth while he was still playing. It was beautiful.
Then, a man about 60 years old who was dressed somewhat like a sailor (at least that was what I thought) approached another guy who was playing some unknown instrument, resting the thing on his left shoulder like a violin. I think it was not an actual instrument, but rather something like a sewing machine or something oneiric in nature like that. The sailor stopped by the side of the sewing machine man and from inside of a worn out black, cheap looking plastic bag for which most people wouldn't give a penny, neither would I, pulled a barbed edged transparent acrylic plate which looked as if it was just sawn off of a jigsaw, as if it was a randomly cut plate which had fallen off while the actual piece, whatever it could be, was being made. The plate was about 1 foot by 1 foot 4 inches and was not exactly rectangular. I'd never suppose that thing would play music.
Actually, when he played perfectly accompanying the sewing machine guy, I asked myself, "what will he be playing with..." I lurched forward and opened my mouth in complete surprise: It was a Flexing Instrument. I had never thought of this obvious concept before, and probably wouldn't have without that experience. Everybody knows the bass, "pook" or "wok" sound that an X-Ray plate or some large plate like that - even made of different materials - makes when flexed, and most people know the high pitched, "kweek" sound of tiny steel lids about 2 inches in diameter that come in small cans of several types - the noise they make when folded in and out. Well, when the sailor held the plate with the tips of his fingers near the edges of the plate, the folding area was wider, and so the sound was bassier. When he held it with his fingertips close to the center, the folding area was smaller and so the sound was higher pitched. He could get his hands closer or farther as fast as choosing notes on any other instrument, and could play along with every note of the sewing machine man. It was impressive. I don't remember how this phase ended (M.R.: no maintaining).
During some awakenings, the mind sends hints in the form of various sensations that can be easily used to enter the phase. You need only intensify those sensations and separate from the body. Such hints usually consist of images, sleep stupors, vibrations, noise, dream figments and real or false numbness.
Ivan Yakovlev
Antwerp, Belgium
I don't know what woke me up, but I knew right away that something was out of order. I could not open my eyes, and my body was almost just asking to rise up. I understood what was going on – all of this indicated that I was having an out-of-body experience. The first thing I tried was to lift my left hand up, and it worked. I understood that this was an astral hand, because I could see through it. I moved hastily and carefully to the other side of the bed (There was a strange sensation in my head at that time). I calmed down and tried to do something again. I levitated about half a meter above the bed. Vision came back to me right then and I saw what appeared to be my room, but not exactly it, as the rug on the floor was of a different color pattern and the door was closed for some reason (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action).
I could not comprehend why everything was lit from behind my back. Then, I looked over my left shoulder and saw a small bright white ball behind my shoulder blade at a distance of 8 inches. It was lighting up the room up. Then I tried to go through the door, but was unable to (M.R.: no maintaining). Out of the fear that I would never return to my real body (M.R.: wrong logic), I woke up in the everyday world (M.R.: no re-entering).
Natalya Kozhenova
Shchelkovo, Russia
When I was about 17 or 18 years old, I read some esoteric articles on astral projection. They seemed quite interesting to me, but no more than a curiosity – I did not particularly believe in such things.
One evening, I went to bed as usual. I woke up in the middle of the night, but was unable to move my body and there was a loud noise in my head. Having been reminded of those articles, I simply tried to levitate and I managed to do so, as if through my forehead somehow. The sensation of flying was very realistic, to my great surprise. The first thought that occurred to me was, "Wow, these astral guys weren't lying!" I hovered above my body for some time in the dark. I thought of vision, and it started to appear. I then flew towards the window, and upon turning around in to face my body (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action), I saw it in its proper place. I decided to fly back to it and touch it. When I finally poked it, it sucked my back into it, causing a quite strange sensation (M.R.: no maintaining and no re-entering).
Alexander Furmenkov
Saint Petersburg, Russia
I woke up at early in the night after some difficulties with falling asleep. Blurred images started to float before my eyes and I realized that I could enter the phase. I started to discard unnecessary images, and after getting ahold of one of them, I emerged in some kind of a yellow corridor. The level of general realness and awareness of the experience was about 80% to 90% of that of reality. I remembered about the methods for deepening, which is why I started to look at everything going on around me, but this did not yield any serious results. I started to touch myself, but all sensation seemed somewhat dampened. I realized that I was losing awareness. I came round, but nevertheless fell asleep in about 20 seconds (M.R.: no plan of action and no maintaining).
If you become aware that everything around you is but a dream while you are in one, then everything from that moment on is already the phase. All that remains is to make it a full phase experience by enhancing your sensations and carrying out your plan of action.
I was sitting on a bench, just thinking and doing nothing, when suddenly a woman showed up and said to me, "Maybe you are dreaming". I was in shock. It struck me like lightning: "Oh my God! I am in the phase!"
A plan, a plan, I had a plan. What should I do next? Since I'd just finished reading Michael's book, I knew all about deepening and maintaining, and so I touched everything around me, looked closely at my hands and rubbed them. My vision and other senses got stronger and so I moved on to my plan.
I wanted to try flying, walking, teleporting, diving into the ground and jumping through walls. First of all, I tried flying. I jumped up as high as I could and then floated down. I jumped again and started flying. I felt the wind and the sun. I could see far into the distance. When my vision got blurry, I decided to teleport into my room and do some maintaining and deepening.
In my room I found that same woman, and she told me: "try going through walls". I touched the wall and was a little bit afraid. After forgetting my fear I started running towards another wall and jumped through it. The feeling was amazing. The woman advised me again: "Try diving into the ground, but don't forget to imagine where you want to end up". I walked into the middle of my room and started falling down. I closed my eyes and imagined a beautiful rice field. It felt like I was falling forever, and then - BOOM! I was falling down from a very far height. I was falling towards a huge table full of delicious dishes which had rice as the main ingredient. I started laughing and thought: "Wow, my subconscious played a hell of a joke on me". That's when I woke up (M.R.: no maintaining and no re-entering).
Reşiţa, Romania
I don't think that I needed to realize that I was dreaming because as soon as I fell asleep, I became lucid. I couldn't see anything but the screen of an iPhone and I knew I had to choose the place I wanted to be in. I chose a weird place that I had never seen before and then I saw a white door. I opened the door, wondering where it would bring me to (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). I got in a weird room and there were a lot of skeletons on the floor, so I freaked out and then teleported somewhere else.
I remembered having been in many other places when I woke up next to my bed. I wasn't sure what had actually happened, I thought it was still a lucid dream.
I was next to my bed and could see almost everything in my room, even the turned-out TV - but I couldn't bring myself to look in my bed's direction. I didn't want to do that at all.
After a while, I started to feel my breath. I was scared because I was breathing too slowly and I thought I was going to die if I didn't start breathing faster (M.R.: wrong logic).
I wanted to wake up, but each time I tried I got back in my body but only for a second (in SP) and then again next to my bed. I had tried to wake up about 7 times before I finally woke up (M.R.: wrong action). I was scared but also amazed of what had happened to me. However, I could consider myself "lucky" because I had experienced sleep paralysis before and I knew how to get out of it.
After the experience I didn't even bother trying lucid dreaming again, I got all interested in OOBEs.
Rostov-on-Don, Russia
My first time entering the phase. I dreamt that I was hurrying somewhere, and constantly thinking about something. At a certain wonderful moment, I hit upon the idea that I was dreaming, and decided to try to exit (M.R.: wrong action and no deepening). I lay on the ground and began to exit, imagining how I was separating from the body. During the transition, I nearly was thrown out of the phase due to tension and fear. I was nonetheless successful. I saw myself at a doorway after having crawled through a wall. It was like coming out of a bog. The sensation of separating was very vivid.
I suddenly noticed a person there. He helped me to get completely out (M.R.: no plan of action). He introduced himself, and started telling me some particulars about the world that I had landed in (I don't recall well what he said, as I was looking around the whole time and couldn't tear my eyes off my surroundings - I was spellbound). In the end, I became worried about my body, and decided that it was time to return back (M.R.: wrong logic). Returning was like a nightmare. There were voices, sounds, and strange sensations. I had the feeling that time had stood still... I was so happy upon waking up that I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.
One night I was dreaming of travelling in a car with a friend and thought she was driving way too fast and then I got bizarre rushing sensations that enveloped my entire physical body and it felt like I was being turned inside out.
The sensations stopped, and then I was fully awake and completely aware and I opened my eyes. I was in my bedroom lying on my back and my body had a blue hue or tint to it (M.R.: no separation and deepening). I felt my arms moving around and I realized what had happened and panicked. I asked to go back to my body and then with a slight tingling I opened my eyes for real (M.R.: wrong action) and I was actually lying on my side facing my partner.
Then I knew the experience was real.
Alexei Bakharev
Sochi, Russia
This was the first time that I managed to become conscious while dreaming. Before falling asleep, I concentrated on the darkness before my eyes and tried to remain consciousness as long as I could. All of a sudden, I dreamt that I was levitating to the ceiling, which resulted in my becoming conscious that I was dreaming. My phantom body responded poorly to attempts to control it, and simply hovered beneath the ceiling (M.R.: no deepening). There were two people sitting on the floor below. They were looking in my direction, but it seemed that they did not see me (M.R.: no plan of action and maintaining). At this point I woke up and felt some sort of tingling and itching in my legs (M.R.: no re-entering).
Direct entrance into the phase without prior sleep (or after a period of full awareness) is achieved by bringing about shallow dips out of conscious awareness. All that remains is to separate from the body on the way back up from such a dip.
Phil B.
New York, USA
I woke up at 6 AM today, went to the bathroom, and then lay back down immediately to try to sleep. I usually have difficulty falling asleep, so this time, for the first time, I put in earplugs and wore a facemask. After about an hour, I was still quite awake and running through ideas for my class in my head.
After an hour I wasn't falling asleep yet, but I was very relaxed physically, and so I tried forced falling asleep. After about 10-15 seconds, I felt a strange dislocation and numbness settle over my body (M.R.: no separation), which felt unusual. I immediately tried listening in, and heard a very loud ringing sound, like fire alarms going off. I listened to it and it got louder and then seemed to peak. It was very loud (M.R.: no separation), but nothing else was happening and so I switched to observing images for a few seconds. Still nothing. The ringing got even quieter, and so I went back to listening in. It got louder again, and again it seemed to peak.
Then, I realized that it was so loud that I was probably already in the phase but didn't realize it. I tried rolling over with a sudden jerk, and BAM! I was out of bed, standing on the floor! I can't describe how unexpected this was: I had no idea what rolling out would feel like, and it turned out to be kind of like climbing out of a pool, about that much resistance. Michael's advice to not worry and just DO IT was right on the money.
I was very excited, but I remembered the SOBT advice to immediately deepen. Everything was grey and I felt nothing, heard nothing, saw only grey silhouettes around me. I started rubbing my hands together firmly in front of my face and they slowly came into view, along with everything else in my room. I started peering at my hands and fingers, and my vision became crystal clear. My room came into perfect lifelike focus. I walked around my room peering and palpating everything I could find. Since it was my first time in the phase, I examined all the random objects lying around on my shelves and table and they all appeared perfectly real, even the writing on them (I didn't stop to try to read the individual words because I didn't want a foul). I continuously reminded myself that I was phasing, so as not to lose consciousness and fall asleep (M.R.: no plan of action).
After spending about a minute looking at everything and being amazed by the simulacrum of reality, I decided to try to do something with the experience. I didn't have any plans beforehand because I was not really expecting success, but I decided on the spur of the moment to try flying. I looked up at my ceiling, then down at my feet, took a deep breath and tried to levitate while looking at my feet. They slowly rose a few inches off the floor, and as I exhaled they went back down. Perfectly controlled, as I expected. I tried again, with another deep breath and this time a jump, and I launched myself through my ceiling like superman, fists extended. I didn't want to pass through my ceiling insubstantially, I wanted to blast out, and I did, through about 10 floors of brick and plaster which exploded in front of me like a multistory pratfall in reverse.
Then I was out, above my house. I was not in my neighborhood, but in some kind of huge cave that housed an entire city. I didn't recognize anything and didn't have any plans of where to go, so I just flew around a little bit and eventually zoomed in on a window where some "friend" of mine (I don't know who it was, they were just labeled "friend" in my dream consciousness") was watching a movie on television. At this point, since I didn't have anything to do, and I was just hovering outside the window with a pause in my actions, I fouled and woke up in bed.
I hadn't moved and I wanted to immediately try to enter the phase again, but I was just too excited and I felt my physical body very clearly. I decided to get up and record my experience, and when I stood up it confirmed that I was completely awake and not the least groggy or relaxed since I was able to turn on my computer and write clearly and lucidly right away.
Barnaul, Russia
I was in my bed imagining that I was leaving my body and soon I felt that I was pulled by someone out of my body. I decided not to resist it though the vibrations were strong and frightened me a little. And in less than no time I found myself standing on the floor out of my body. The room was luminous with sunlight. I felt free and extremely happy, as if I got rid of something unnecessary which always troubled me.
My new body had no legs but there was no need in them (M.R.: no deepening). And I had thought that it was necessary to bring something from the other room as the fact confirming that I was in Astral (M.R.: wrong logic and no plan of action). I flounced out of the room, seized a bag and brought it to my bedroom. (In the morning the bag was in its former place again).
Then I watched something strange: my new bed and room existed simultaneously with my old bed and room. Everything had mixed up and I hastened to return to my body. I saw my body lying in my bed and became suddenly very upset. I thought: "How such a young soul can return to such an "old" body?". Then, I felt a pity to myself and I tried to join my body (M.R.: wrong action), but did not manage it. Fear overwhelmed me.
At once I recollected, that I had read somewhere that one should make a turnabout to join his body. I did so and soon found myself in my physical body.
John Merritt
Houston, USA
A friend of mine found A Practical Guidebook on the net and sent me the link. I read the book, and soon it finally happened.
I went to sleep around 10 or 11 and woke up at 4. I stayed up for 30 minutes and lay back down. I started meditating, and then going over the techniques and separation in my mind. I fell into a free floating state, going in and out of consciousness. I started observing images. And soon vibrations started. I had already experienced vibrations once or twice. The first time I felt them I was scared and they went away after a few seconds. The second time I tried to intensify them and it seemed to work for a few seconds, but then again nothing. This time I used straining the brain and the vibrations got stronger and stronger. And this time I didn't lose them. They intensified and came to a crescendo, and when they were over, I felt different. My next thought was I was already separated from my body. All I had to do was just stand up! And I was right.
I rose up out of my body and sat up and stepped off the bed and I was out! I hadn't really planned what I would do (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). The room was dark, and my first thought was to turn on a light. I was in my bedroom so I walked into the bathroom in my bedroom and flipped the light switch on. Nothing. I vaguely thought to myself, "maybe the light is burned out", so I walked out into the hallway and into the other upstairs bathroom and turned on that light switch. Again nothing. But I remembered then from reading lucid dreaming books that light switches don't work in dreams. And since I was in my astral body turning on the light switch wasn't going to work either.
I decided to go back to my bed and look at myself. I ran into the room saw my bed and literally jumped up on the footboard and looked. And there I was. Or there my body was. And it was the most incredible feeling I'd ever experienced in my life. I was outside my body and I knew it. I was wide awake, fully conscious, with all my essence, memories, all of me. But there it was asleep on the bed. My physical body. I even saw one of my arms jerk a little. After that I felt the need to verify what had just happened, and see if I could remember it. Soon I was back in my body and wide awake (M.R.: no re-entering). And it was true. It had really happened. At last I had done it. And it was real. And I remembered every second of it.
Artem Mingazov
Ulyanovsk, Russia
I lay on the couch and tried to directly exit. Everything was going along well when my consciousness suddenly "checked out" for a moment. When I returned, I realized that I was lying on the bed and felt a phantom body. I tried rolling out to the side, which worked, albeit with some difficulty.
Here I began to palpate the bed and myself (I did everything a bit hurriedly). I couldn't see yet. I decided that I could deepen and I dove head-first into the floor (that is, more exactly, into the void). I flew down a little bit, and found myself in my neighbor's apartment below. I then flew back up to my own apartment and stood on the floor. Trying to restore vision, I opened my eyes. It felt like trying to open the eyes after a long period of sleep deprivation, my eyelids were heavy and yielded grudgingly. I looked around: I was standing in my room, it was sunny outside. I decided to try to fly (well, I love flying) (M.R.: no plan of action). I was able to fly up to the ceiling, but immediately began to gently fall back down, being pulled backwards. Upon touching down on the floor, I bounced back up. This was comparable to when a balloon falls and hits the floor, springs back up, falls again, and then bounces up again. I was only able to remain standing on the floor after repeating this process several times.
Suddenly it became difficult to breathe, and I tried to go back to my body (M.R.: wrong action), but was somehow unable to. At first panic arouse, but then I realized that giving in to the fear would do me no good, and that I would have to stick it out. But as soon as I calmed down and relaxed (M.R.: no maintaining), I had a foul (M.R.: no re-entering). All of the above sensations lasted for about a minute.
Matthias Holzer
Vienna, Austria
March 13th, 2001 - This was my first OBE. There were two experiences with the "vibrational state" before, but I didn't have the guts to go through with it since at the time I believed the essential soul would leave the body, which could be dangerous. Nevertheless, this time I decided to do it for real. I was 20 years old at the time. I awoke at five o'clock in the morning, but felt very tired and knew that I'd fall asleep again as soon as I lie down. As soon as I relaxed the vibrational state set in, my body felt paralyzed like it was asleep and I heard the roaring noise I already knew. The state seemed to be not very deep because as soon as I tried to move, I moved the physical body and awoke.
However I immediately started a second attempt, which worked. I waited a bit longer this time, suddenly my "body perception" changed and then I just carefully moved like I would get up in my physical body. The next moment I was standing up and knew I was out of body. I couldn't see very well, only a bit (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). I was curious if the "silver cord" I had read about really existed (M.R.: wrong logic). I felt for it and true enough, there it was, extending out of my astral back. I tried to look at my physical body on the bed, but I couldn't see it. Then I tried to look at myself, my astral body, and could see my left hand shimmering in a light purple color. At this point I decided to end the experience and got back into the bed in order to reenter my physical body (M.R.: wrong action). This didn't work at first, but there was no fear, my consciousness faded into a dream and I awoke about an hour later well rested and very satisfied.
Oleg Kudrin
Moscow, Russia
I woke up. It was still dark, I answered "nature's call", and I looked at my watch: 4:15 am. I got into bed and lay on my left side, closed my eyes, and... It felt like something was shining into my eyes. I realized that that was impossible: it was 4:15 am, and I was the only one awake. There was no-one else in the room besides my wife. Meanwhile, the light steadily intensified. I experienced some slight fear, mixed together with curiosity - what would happen next? And then the light became brighter and brighter, I felt I was in danger (M.R.: no separation). But at the same time, an instinct to investigate took the upper hand. I knew that something unusual was happening, but knew that all this was impossible - a bright light of an unknown nature piercing my eyes through closed eyelids! Then, the idea occurred on its own that they were coming to check on me. And after that - I'LL GO ALL THE WAY!
The next moment, I found myself in a small, rectangular room with subdued light. There were ledges along the wall that you could sit on (I figured they were benches). One wall had round portholes of about three feet wide. I looked through them and realized that I was in deep outer-space (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). There was an impressive construction outside the room that I was in. What I saw there could not exist in even the most fantastic environments on Earth. It was a lattice construction, but the elements had no logical structure and gave the appearance of a beehive. It seemed to be a dual tube construction of such colossal proportions that the diameter of only one of those tubes could be compared to the diameter of a stadium. Bustling and scurrying around the structure were small spacecraft, which appeared to be doing some kind of work.
"It's a docking portal" - sounded the answer in my head. I turned around, and in the far corner of the room sat a beautiful young woman dressed completely in Earthling fashion, wearing a skirt and jacket. Strange as it may be, she looked like a famous pop singer, although the similarity was incomplete. This woman was much more interesting than that artist.
I shall formulate the one question dogging me at the time as follows: "What is the emptiness that the Buddhist masters speak of?" I framed that question to the good-looking person in the room with me. For some reason, I didn't come up with the idea of doing something else... Besides, I'm married. But my question was heard, and the answer followed ...
What I then experienced has no parallels in everyday life. Moreover, those feelings cannot be expressed in words - human language simply lacks the ability to communicate such concepts, but I'll try. It was as if I were turned inside-out. Everything outside of me turned out to be inside of me, including the stars, galaxies, and other worlds - in short, the entire material Universe. And this ALL was collapsed to such small proportions that it all could have fit into the eye of a needle. And I, being outside this material universe, was looking at it simultaneously from all sides, even though I do not have hundreds of millions of eyes. I was one large field encompassing the space around this compressed universe, and able to take it all in at once visually! I myself was endless, I had no boundaries in space or time. All around was stillness, and I myself was this stillness. Contemplating this universe brought the realization that through effort, I could turn into NOTHINGNESS. Next thought - but then there would be nothing to do the contemplating?
Then, I became like a funnel collecting in from the perimeters of my universe, whirling inside it, pulling all in deeper and deeper, until I lay on the bed as I had been after having "answered nature's call" (M.R.: no re-entering). This vision moved me so much that I already couldn't sleep, I just wanted to run outside and jump for joy and delight. I wanted to tell everyone about my experience, and simply share it - but I realized I would be taken for a schizophrenic.
And that's more or less how I lived from that point on, often recalling that vivid experience, and treasuring it in the depths of my soul. I dreamt nearly every day about having a similar experience again - until I discovered the indirect techniques.
Roman Reutov
Samara, Russia
Truly, the most interesting things almost always happen unexpectedly.
After a sufficiently long break in my attempts to go to the other world, tonight I decided to try it again. I threw in the towel after yet another unsuccessful attempt, rolled to my other side, and decided to simply get a good night's sleep. I do not know exactly how much time passed while I lay down and thought about what I was still doing wrong while observing interesting images that my imagination was drawing. But at one fine moment, I suddenly felt the phenomenon that is commonly referred to as vibrations. I started to intensify them (I should add that the feeling is indescribable), but I could not levitate, though I really wanted to take a look at myself from the outside. I decided to simply stand up, and that's when it all became most interesting! The entire process of transitioning from a horizontal position to a vertical one was accompanied by increasingly palpable vibrations and a louder and louder roaring sound in my head. The sensation was the same as that experienced after going to bed after not having slept for 24 hours and then being suddenly roused by somebody: my head spun, everything started crackling inside of it, and I was about to lose consciousness. Then, a flickering picture started to appear. It stabilized after one or two seconds, the roaring in my head died down, and I realized that I was sitting on my bed.
I was in my apartment, thought it was noticeably altered. My room seemed more or less the same, though the interior was indeed different upon detailed examination (M.R.: no deepening). For example, my mobile phone, which is always within a reach, was somehow an older and different model. It turned out to be the first object that I tested, as I suddenly wanted very much to find out what time it was and check which day of the month it was (M.R.: no plan of action). I distinctly felt the phone in my hand, but upon attempting to concentrate on and look at the display, I was thrown back into the reality.
I immediately climbed back out of my body and decided to simply pace around the apartment while trying to remember what I could experiment on. I tried to conjure an object, but that didn't work and resulted in some mental activity. This caused the phase to fade and my being thrown back into reality. In total, there were about five successive entries into the phase that lasted for 2 to 3 minutes each. The experiences were not stable at all, which is why I was examining my surroundings in a hurry, always trying to get ahold of anything I could get my hand on. However, there were a good amount of impressions, considering that it was my first entry.
Sometimes a person does nothing to reach the phase or even knows nothing about it - but it nonetheless occurs spontaneously for him. This usually happens during relaxation, slumber, awakening, a dream episode, or the like. Analysis of mistakes in these accounts has been kept to a minimum in consideration of the fact that their authors lacked prior knowledge regarding the phase.
Munoz Lundquist
Orange County, USA
My first out-of-body experience was very dramatic. I fell asleep around 4-5am. I experienced a sensation all over my body, I was in a meditative state of sleep, but at the same time I was aware of what was going on with me. I had this feeling of a tingling sensation all over my body followed by paralysis.
Suddenly I found myself levitating from the bed and wound up in a standing position. I got very scared and started praying, asking the lord to protect me. Then I got back into my body, quick like a flash. When I woke up I had this feeling like I needed to understand what just happened to me. I did some research and I was told that you can travel places, and go to the moon so I couldn't wait to try again. That day, I was feeling so good with myself, I felt I have discovered something new and exciting!
Oksana Ryabova
Moscow, Russia
I seemed to me that my deep morning slumber had been interrupted by the discomfort and mild pain of numbness in my left arm, which my head had been lying on while I slept. The desire arose within me to get rid of that discomfort. I moved my numb arm in front of me and opened my eyes. But I couldn't see the physical arm in front of me, even though I clearly felt it there and could curl and uncurl my five fingers and bend the arm at the elbow. This all made me somewhat confused. I clearly understood that something like this could not happen in the normal physical world. I decided that this was a very realistic dream, and that in order to wake up, I would simply need to close my eyes and strain my brain with the desire to awaken. That thought was followed by action. I opened my eyes shortly thereafter, thinking that I had finally woken up.
Before me was the daily reality that I always observe upon awakening: a large window through which sunlight pours onto my bed in the center of the room, a desk and chair, a bookcase of academic literature, and a wardrobe with clothing in it. Just like always. I decided to spend this weekday-off (I had a lot of days off that week) getting calm, easy rest.
I sat up Indian-style in bed with my elbows on my knees. I squinted, enjoying the rays of May sun massaging my face. It was warm, and the air was fresh. And I felt a sense of peace pour through my body like a sort of unearthly sweet nectar. I turned to look around. And suddenly, that state of relaxation abruptly changed into cold and shivering, the sense of peace transformed into terrible fear - my body was lying behind me! Panic. I glanced at those hands in front of me that I could feel but not see. They were lying peacefully on the bed alongside my body. I touched them and felt their velvety skin, yet not feeling the sensation with my physical hands. I tried to return to my body. I lay down into it, closed my eyes, straining in an attempt to wake up. I opened my eyes and got up, but the body was still lying there. Fear, otherworldly mortal fear. Tears. Perplexity. Incomprehension. The question, "what next?" And all around me was that bright and sunny day.
I became more and more afraid. The desire to leave that state grew exponentially. All of my attempts to return to my body brought no result. Frightened and scared, I sat on the bed like a figurine. Suddenly, out of the silence, I heard steps in the room. But I couldn't see anybody. The fear grew worse and worse. I began to scream at that invisible man wandering in my room, bidding him to stay away from me. I then asked the question, "Who is he and what does he want here, and why can't I see him?" I got an answer: "Don't be afraid, this is all normal". He appeared a moment later, standing beside my bed. He was about 6 feet tall and a little over 30 years old, with a stocky muscular physique. His hair was dirty-blond and cut short, his eyes were gray-blue. He was wearing only a black bathing suit. Around his neck was a thick gold chain. He began to explain something to me about a certain city, calling it a transfer point. Then he said that many go through such a state and that it was a normal thing. He took my hand and said, "let's go." A moment later, we found ourselves on some sort of old-town street. The house that we stood in front of had a blue rectangle on its corner with the name of the street and house number. I was easily able to read everything, and was surprised at what I saw.
We stood almost naked in the middle of the street, but passersby paid us no attention. I realized that they didn't see us. I didn't stop looking around, shocked and scared by what was happening. My head was filled with what was at the time a terrible question: how to return?
The young man abruptly ran towards the corner of the house in front of us. Entering through its wall, he said that it was time for him to return, as his friend was due to arrive. He disappeared. I stood in same place for some time, watching people pass me by. I didn't know how to get back to my room, because the place from which we entered the street turned out to be a wall. What a bad break, how was I to go through the wall? I closed my eyes thought about my room, and recited, "whatever will be, will be," stepped forward, and found myself on my bed.
Sweeping my eyes over the room, I discovered that nothing had changed in it. The sun shone into it just as it had before. Breathing in a sigh of relief and closing my eyes in great hope that I would wake up, I rushed to open them. To my horror, I instead found a table with medical instruments on my bed. Waves of fear swept over my body with renewed intensity. I gulped that I would not make it through if they put me under the knife. I closed my eyes once again, and started to pray. The fear gradually receded, I calmed down..... and finally woke up. The first thing that I did was to make sure that the table with the medical instruments was not there. I jumped up and started knocking on the dresser, the wall, and on the window in order to make sure that it really was all over.
Andre Sanchez
I was in my bed and I noticed two plastic objects in my right hand. I thought it was weird for them to be there so I got up and threw them on the floor. The first one did not make any kind of sound. The second did, likely because I started expecting it after noticing that the first one didn't. I thought it was odd so I went to the light switch near the door and tried turning the light on. It didn't work. I had two thoughts: "very strange… could I be in 'the phase'?"; and, "did the power go out?"
I left the room and went into the hallway, walking towards the living room, but it was very dark (which would be normal if the power had gone out during the night). I was thinking about how this was all somewhat odd, but felt too "real". I started to worry and tried calming myself down by thinking that if something really strange and/or scary happened, I could be sure I was in the phase, and shouldn't worry. I vaguely remember a weak yellow-greenish light starting to appear from the living room, but I did not see anything.
Dmitry Markov
Moscow, Russia
My first time was the most terrible event in my life. I had never experienced such terror. It happened in December, 1990. I was falling asleep in my bed at home. Suddenly, I heard someone enter my room, but I did not pay attention to the "intruder". Then, two female hands grabbed me from behind, and while pressing my belly, started to lift my body up. I distinctly felt thin fingers with long nails on my belly, but was completely paralyzed and absolutely unable move any part of my body or put up any kind of resistance. I felt my body go through the ceiling, but then was pulled still higher and higher.
I got scared that this could be death. I was afraid not so much of death as of the unknown. All of this happened so swiftly that I found myself unprepared for such a crossover. I started to pray. I asked God to help me free myself and go back. I panicked. I can't say how many seconds my forced levitation lasted or how high I was lifted above my house, but the moment came when I instantly returned to my bed.
April L. Alston
Raleigh, USA
I had my first OBE experience by accident. After my morning workout at the gym, I felt exhausted and came home to my dorm for a nap. When I was awaking from the dream, I felt a tri-location of myself. I was aware and could feel everything in my dream, and I could also feel everything in my body lying on the bed. I also felt a third consciousness falling through the bed. My third one was what I believed to be an OBE to the "real-time zone (RTZ)". My energy body felt like it was separating from my physical body by falling through the bed. This happened by accident.
I felt like I no longer had a body, but that I was a floating sphere of consciousness. I could sense things 360 degrees around me but I couldn't see with my eyes because I had no eyes. I could perceive where things were around me though. I had an intense burning sensation in my head and the more I tried to focus my awareness into the astral body, the more the pain worsened. Eventually, I woke up from the experience. I kept lying still and tried to reenter the trance but I was unsuccessful.
Tatyana Kiseleva
Vancouver, Canada
That particular evening, I finally decided to deal with the outside noise that had ruined a few previous attempts and got myself a set of nice, bright orange ear plugs.
I plugged my ears and went to bed with an intention to wake up in the morning and practice the deferred method. Also, just before going to bed, I read a few forum posts on Michael's website about people's first experiences. All of this led to the following:
I woke up in the middle of the night because of a very loud "thump" I heard somewhere in the building. I was sitting in my bed, thinking that the thump must have been really loud because I could hear it perfectly even with my ears being plugged. I decided to go to the front door and peek into a peep hole in hopes of seeing what was going on. I heard the loud "thump" again. It sounded a bit scary. I lowered my feet to the floor, stood up and walked out of my bedroom towards the front door. I could feel the cold floor with my bare feet. As I was approaching the front door and could see the bright peep hole in the darkness, it hit me: "I am in the Phase!"
I did not believe myself. "I did not do any techniques", I thought, doubting.
So I decided to test if it was indeed a phase. I lifted both of my feet up - that made me 'sitting' in the air - then I grabbed, with my right hand, the edge of a sliding door of a closet and pushed against the door with my both legs. I flew backwards, all the way to the other side of my living room, really surprised that I was still feeling my hand holding the closet door! My arm must have stretched like 10 feet (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action)!
I was floating right by my fireplace, seeing both of my feet in the air in my pajama pants. And I still did not believe that I was in the phase, so I decided to fly up, but I could not push against the floor because my feet were in the air. So I concluded that it's not the phase (M.R.: wrong logic) and I decided to go back to sleep.
At that moment I found myself sitting on my bed, again realizing that my plugged ears were bothering me tremendously, and so I took the plugs out. However, a second later I realized that my ears were still plugged. "Hmm", I thought, "that's weird. I just took the plugs out, didn't I?"
And that's when I realized I was lying in my bed and feeling my real ears. I jumped in excitement, as I realized what had just happened. It was my first real out-of-body experience, although I did not believe it! I was 100% aware of the experience, but I was about 90% conscious, otherwise I would clearly know that I was indeed out-of-body.
I took a notepad and as I was writing everything down, I vividly remembered the vibrations that I felt before leaving the body. It was exactly as they are usually described - like being electrocuted without pain.
Joshua Rachels
Belleville, USA
I found myself struggling to fall into a full sleep, with what felt like "naps" and the last recognizable time occurring in reality was at 4:30 a.m.
I had once again rested my head back down and what felt like almost immediately after doing so the next thing I was "aware" of is that I am in a field walking toward what I had recognized as an old comic shop I used to visit. Not having any notion as to how I may have gotten there, I remember staring at the ground of the field beneath my feet and questioned if I had been dreaming. I then tried jumping as high as I possibly could, which initiated a leap several feet high and long, cueing the realization that I was in fact dreaming.
Now this is where things get a little broken (sequence-wise) for me, so please bear with me:
The next thing I recall is being inside of the building I was heading towards in what I was told was a rehabilitation center. Everyone around me was dressed in white. None of the faces where completely recognizable except for two: a good friend of mine named Dan and a women with no name (in the phase I referred to her as "the one I love") and even the woman's face blended back and forth between what I can only describe as a mix between Natalie Portman and one of my ex-girlfriends.
I remember Dan leaning against a doorway next to me while I was staring into a mirror (I could see myself, but my hand kept touching my face as it was blurred – the only visible portion was my white clothes and hair) as he began answering what I can only assume was my subconscious question of why I was there and for how long. I told him I could not remember how I got there or why I was there and I remember his response as clear as day:
Dan: "Do you know why you're here man?"
Me: "I can't even tell you how I got here. Marijuana?"
(keep in mind I was in a "rehab center")
Dan: "Haha - you can't remember? That's probably why you're here in the first place. You're here for like a month dude. Go check the schedule."
At this point I believe my subconscious began to panic about possibly becoming stuck, because time in the phase seemed to begin to narrow. People began crowding me around the "schedule". I remember specifically an African-American man shouting beside me, "who's Josh, who's Josh!" soon after leading me outward toward the front door where "the one I love" had been leaning, gesturing me to come closer.
I then remember walking with "the one I love" when she began crying, begging me not to wake up, screaming that we could be happy there together if I stayed. During this tantrum, chains developed on her arms and legs and I began to feel heavy.
I then began thinking of my family, my mother specifically and thoughts of getting stuck in a coma, which I do believe led to my subconscious to panic further because time seemed to narrow even further.
"The one I love" then led me into a back room and well, not to get vulgar, but we began having sex and right before my "orgasm" she started screaming at me not to go, at which point I felt myself being pulled away - and in fact I was being pulled away.
Now here's what really blew my mind about the whole experience: I then awoke to daylight and rushed out of my room to find my mother and stepdad standing in the living room. I began explaining my experience to them both. However, my stepdad began pre-guessing my whole experience dead on, which I questioned. I then took out my phone and noticed there were scratches and dents all over it. I handed my phone to my mom to look at the damage and as she hit the back light button I WOKE UP!!
I shot up almost immediately after opening my eyes, it was still dark outside I looked at the time..5:17 a.m.
We believe that everybody is going to exist in two worlds soon
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Here we will concentrate not on the fact of out-of-body experience itself, but on the activities carried out during it: translocation within the phase space and controlling it, finding objects, and experimentation.
These practitioners occasionally apply their out-of-body experience towards some goal or another, and these experiences are on a wholly other level than simply appearing in the phase. The phase travels introduced here exhibit a greater degree of skill - and in some cases luck - than those of the first section. This, however, does not save the practitioners from making a slew of mistakes, which often prevent them from experiencing maximum success. Analyzing these mistakes will allow the reader to avoid them in his own practice.
The Rocky Mountains, USA
I was moving when I woke up, and I tried various positions for FFA (forced falling asleep) and they did not work so finally I lay out flat on my back and began going through the relaxation routines and then when it felt right I started the brain squeeze, phantom wiggle, listening in, etc.
Within three to five minutes I found myself immediately in a phase. I was at a mall. I decided to get up from the bench I was sitting on and go to the men's room (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). As I was walking I noticed as the tiles on the wall started changing from a dingy white to a sparkling, bright white and black checkerboard. My feet dissolved and I floated up a few feet and began float-flying. I went past a rounded wall and thought, "there should be a chocolate shop behind this wall". But as I started to go through it I stopped and thought I wanted to get out of there and do something better.
I went to the front entryway and it was a fine piece of architecture with shiny marble reaching to much higher heights than would be expected for a mall. I was floating up to the top but gave up and just went through the wall to the outside. I had tunnel vision so I started doing my Qi Gong and then "Clarity Now!" exclamations and my vision improved. I then remembered my 'to do' list and began flying off into the clouds (this time was a Sufi level of Heaven). I reached a place of orangey, creamsicle like clouds and there was a black speck sort of shaped like the Polo logo guy in the middle of it and I thought, "that's me".
Nothing else was happening, so I came back to my body (M.R.: wrong action) and started writing it down.
The Rocky Mountains, USA
I think I may have had three very long OBEs last night. I woke up around 3:45am and began the brain squeeze and then phantom wiggling and suddenly it was as if I had projected into the phase. I spent a long time with my brothers enjoying a nice visit. Then, I landed back in my body. I was thinking about getting up to write it down but I wanted to project again and I did. It only takes a few seconds once I have managed the first exit. I immediately landed back in the exact same place with my brothers as though nothing had changed (M.R.: no deepening). We were doing a project together but I told them I had other things to do and that I was going to take off alone (M.R.: wrong action). They nodded to me and I turned to run and then began flying.
I went to a large building and interacted with some attractive women (M.R.: no plan of action) for a while but local security came to stop me and I flew up to an upstairs room (M.R.: wrong action) and I wanted to fly through a window but it felt very real -- so real I wondered if I would be able to go through it. I affirmed to myself that I was OBE but slowed down as I approached it and then flew through with no trouble.
Then I went to a room with a large table where men were gathered and talking. It felt like an exclusive club of sorts. There was a banquet laid out with delicious food prepared in ways I had never seen before and I dove in and was having a great time. I was conversing with a couple guys and I mentioned that I was OBE and that I had a body far away in another state. They just looked at me with blank stares and one quickly looked down and walked away. Then I began speaking with the man across the table from me and he mentioned something that reminded me of one of my "Action Plan" items. I told him what I wanted to do and he motioned to a woman standing behind me and I could hear her talking to someone. He said, "Well then, she is the one you should talk to". I turned around and tried to introduce myself but landed back in my body (M.R.: no maintaining). I made the decision to leave the journal aside and project again, hoping that I would remember all this in the morning.
I projected again and arrived immediately at a busy street corner. I asked someone if he knew how I could find this woman I had been directed to in the prior OBE and he pointed her out in the crowd. I went over to her and we sat down on the curb and began speaking and she gave me a nickname that I could call her and it wasn't until after I had gotten up and was having coffee that I laughed and made the connection to something I had journaled on a few days ago.
My alarm went off and I got up... otherwise I think I could have gone on for another hour or more.
Jorge Antonio Becerra Perea
Hidalgo, México
After waking up around 8:00 am (on a holiday, of course), I had breakfast and went back to sleep. Then, after having an extremely weird dream, I managed to awaken without movement. I immediately tried to separate by rolling, and failed. Then I tried forced falling asleep (FFA) followed by phantom wiggling, but this time I tried to move my legs slowly and feel the movement. Suddenly, I noticed that I was already standing next to my bed, but with my blanket still over my body. After taking it off, I started to deepen in the phase, touching and peering at everything, and immediately after feeling myself in a hyper-realistic environment, I started to explore my own house (M.R.: no plan of action).
The time was changing constantly between day and night, and in the next room I found my uncle, watching TV. I was so excited about the phase and so curious that I tried to explain to him that everything was non-physical, just to watch his reactions. He said I was crazy, ignored me and continued watching the TV. Then I threw the TV. through the window and continued to the next room.
Suddenly, I came back to my body (M.R.: no maintaining) and started the separation again. I separated again in my room. This time, it was night. I started to call a woman I was looking for by name, but I started to have problems with my voice, so I decided to trans-locate to my school. I closed my eyes, and imagined the place. Suddenly I started to feel a sensation of flight, and after opening my eyes I was already there. The place was pretty different than in reality, but I enjoyed it a lot more than if it were as usual. I spent a lot of in-phase time looking for that woman, asking people, calling her name, with no results.
In the end, I lost consciousness and fell into a normal dream. Anyways, it was a wonderful experience.
Jorge Antonio Becerra Perea
Hidalgo, México
I got conscious during a dream when I was about to go upstairs at home, just after a false awakening. The stairs where so freaking scrambled that I immediately got lucid. Suddenly, the phase faded out, and before I could realize what was happening, I went back to the dream. I appeared in the middle of a huge street (M.R.: no deepening). I didn't have any plan, because I was not expecting this experience, and so instead of thinking about it I decided to explore running and jumping between cars and buildings in a kind of extreme parkour style.
It had been one of the most vivid and fun phase experiences I have ever had. I have no words to describe the feeling of complete freedom I had at those moments. After exploring half of the entire city (I was running really fast) I started to have some serious problems with the phase stability, and so I decided to awaken by myself before falling into a normal dream and losing the precious memories of this experience (M.R.: wrong logic).
Jorge Antonio Becerra Perea
Hidalgo, México
Everything started as a normal dream. In my dream, I was trying to fall sleep in my bed, with no success. Suddenly, I started to hear strange and loud noises outside, so I turned my head to the window in order to see what the heck was happening, and what I saw really scared me.
There was a UFO flying through the city, as if it were looking for people to abduct. It stopped right over my house. I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. Suddenly, I awakened, with absolutely zero movement, and I had the idea of trying the abduction method or the fear method. I started to recall the fear I was having a few seconds earlier and also tried to imagine the abduction. Sounds and vibrations started to arise and I immediately tried to separate by just standing up.
It worked.
After deepening by palpation, I noticed that three of my best friends were with me. They were watching TV. It's funny that although my native language is Spanish, the TV program was narrated in English, and I could understand everything.
Then I moved into the living room, and, following my action plan, I tried to translocate to London. I had a lot of problems with translocation this time. I started to visualize Big Ben in front of me, and while the image was forming behind my eyelids, it stopped and the tower morphed into a weird Japanese building.
A lot of samurai soldiers started to jump out of the building in order to attack me. I thought that it was because I was losing lucidity, so I used peering to deepen the phase, closed my eyes, and suddenly the image of a switch appeared before them.
I focused my attention on the light switch, and while translocating I tried to visualize London, but I ended up in a kind of formal meeting on the coast.
Now I realize that I was at The Hague, Holland. I tried to do an experiment. I took out my iPod Touch and suddenly it morphed into my cellphone. I took a look to the screen and the only thing I was able to see were strange symbols. Then, I walked through the crowd of people. My father came and asked me what I was looking for. I told him that I was looking for a person very important to me. I kept looking for Victoria (that's her name) with no luck, and suddenly the phase vanished. Once back in my body, I separated again. One of my friends was still in my room.
I translocated myself to my school, and I suffered such a loss of lucidity that I entered my classroom, sat in my desk, and paid attention to the class lesson. Suddenly, I stood up and said to myself "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!" I left the classroom, did some deepening, and threw my backpack away. A friend came up to me and said, "hey, your backpack!" I told him, "you can have it".
I can't remember what happened next. I probably fell asleep (M.R.: no maintaining). The next thing I remember is that I was at a car-wash station. I had a bottle in my hands and started to experiment with it. I poured the bottle onto the floor while trying to feel the bottle still filled up with water. As a result, I had a bottomless bottle in my hands...
April L. Alston
Raleigh, USA
I was sleeping, minding my business in a dream one day, when all of a sudden lots of ninjas started attacking me throwing knives at me. I deflected one of the knives and then I realized I was dreaming. Now lucid, I began flying around and deflecting knives, having fun (M.R.: no deepening). I didn't have time to experiment in the astral plane because I was busy deflecting knives. More and more ninjas started attacking me. When I ran away and came to an opening outside (M.R.: no plan of action), a large army of ninjas stared me down, and I knew there were too many. I started shooting ice balls out of my hands in a flowing motion as I began to freeze the entire army of ninjas. As I was freezing them, I felt a sharp pain pierce my back. I had been stabbed by a sword. The fun was over. I forced myself to wake up (M.R.: wrong action).
After awakening, my boyfriend called me. Before saying hello, he said, "April, please go back to sleep so I can take my sword out of your back." I told him about my dream, and he said that he sent the ninjas into my dream to distract me so that he could put a sword blade into my back to test my intentions regarding him. This proves to me that the movie, Inception, is VERY POSSIBLE!
Tatyana Kiseleva
Vancouver, Canada
Deferred method. About 7 am. Ears plugged, wearing a mask. Trying to do the techniques: phantom wiggling, observing images, listening in. Nothing is working. I feel too awake but I am still trying and alternating each technique with forced falling asleep.
At certain point I realize that I am still in my bed watching TV. I have a TV set in my bedroom but not this one and at a different spot. The TV that I see is my old one and now is at my mom's house.
As soon as I see this I realize that I am in the phase. I am looking at the screen and thinking about my plan (M.R.: no deepening). Now, one of the items on my 'phase to-do list' is to find out what happened to my dad who disappeared a long time ago and I don't even know if he is alive or not. So on TV I see a person walking away. The person looks like one of the singers my dad liked very much and also resembled a lot. So I start calling him, dad, dad. The person on the screen turns his head and start transforming into my father and I feel the sensation of being pulled into this picture. In a second he and I are standing in front of each other in the middle of my bedroom. He is wearing a cap and a light colored jacket with a yellow sweater sticking out of the jacket. Later I asked my mom if he ever wore anything like that. She said no, however she mentioned that this description matched more my dad's brother, my uncle, who I never met. So I am hugging my dad and telling him that I am so happy to see him and starting to explain that I learned to leave my body. No dialog, however, took place. He was there but that was it, he wasn't responding, wasn't doing anything and finally he disappeared.
Then I remember looking at myself in the mirror, there was me exactly as I was at that time in reality, in a t-shirt and pajama pants.
I remembered that I need to do deepening techniques, but first I decided to find a pen and notepad and write everything down, right there in the phase, so I won't forget. I found a notepad (I have it in reality) and a thick red pen (don't have it in reality). Now, because I was wearing a sleep-mask, in the phase I sometimes had normal vision, and sometimes my sight was blocked by the mask. So as soon as I was all set to write everything down, I realized that my sleep-mask was blocking my vision. I started to pull it off my face thinking that I should not open my eyes because I might wake up… and bingo, I woke up (M.R.: no re-entering).
Tatyana Kiseleva
Vancouver, Canada
I am in LA right now, participating in an experiment at the OBE Research Center that Mike is leading.
Today's assignment was: using the differed method and cycles of indirect techniques, roll (or levitate, or climb) out of the body and meet the aliens that are waiting for us there (this was a goal for this experiment).
Again, I woke up a bit disappointed because it was time to get ready for our second session and none of the techniques worked. I was in my LA hotel room. It looked different from how my room looks in reality but I guess in my mind it was just a different room (not my bedroom at home), so I was not really paying attention to the fact that the main door and windows had switched places, it was much lighter in color and overall amount of light in the room, there were some staff around, a camera that I don't have, and knickknacks everywhere.
So I started becoming aware when I was in the shower and noticed that the water drops on the shower walls were dark in color. I decided to stop showering and then when I was back in the room, getting ready, everything felt so real that I don't even know why I decided to check if it was the phase.
Imagine it yourself: yesterday you went to bed, then you woke up this morning, showered, got ready, did this, did that and then decided to check if it was the phase - and it turned out that IT IS (!)
So I decided just for the heck of it to test if it might be the phase by "breathing with the nose pinched" technique and of course it did not work at first, because I had been doing it with the "how can it be the phase, everything is so real" thought. But I kept trying and after a third attempt air got out from somewhere behind my ears and I happily confirmed for myself that I was totally in the phase.
I felt very happy. I started rising in the air and flew in a couple of circles under the ceiling. Then, I felt the need to deepen and I really focused on that. I looked a few times at my palms. I looked at myself and noticed I was wearing a towel wrapped around me. Then I started touching everything in the room. I took a camera and put it on the floor, thinking that I will check later it it's going to be on the floor in reality. (don't know what had gotten into me, that's a pointless test, I guess I just remembered someone doing this once) At first it felt that my hands were numb, but as I was touching everything I got back my sense of touch.
Since perception was back to 100%, it was time to go look for aliens. They were not in the room. I looked outside of the hotel window and saw some road with huge fallen branches on it, a chain-link fence and some greenery and trees behind it. Aliens were not there either. So I decided to get into the corridor, I opened the door, it was really dark inside, even the light from the room could not penetrate it. I thought, aliens must be there, so I stepped into the darkness... At least 3 tiny hands touched my shoulder... I totally freaked and woke up... (M.R.: no re-entering)
Craig P.
Los Angeles, USA
I took a nap from 10:40 am to 11:20 am. I tried to fall asleep so I could practice upon awakening. I was having difficulties in falling asleep so I thought nothing was going to happen. After awhile I must have fallen asleep as I noticed a floating type of sensation. I then decided to separate however I felt like nothing was happening. Then I noticed I was looking down at some drinking glasses that are on the top shelf. I realized I was out of the body.
Things were not very clear so I tried to start looking at objects and feeling them. I told myself to go see aliens. The next scene I was near a mountain in a clearing with trees around it. There was a space ship. There were two aliens with helmets on. They also had a type of robot with them. It was about 7 ft tall and was silver in color. The aliens did not appear to be friendly. When the alarm went off I felt like I was 100 miles away and it was difficult to come back to the physical body.
Antwerp, Belgium
I entered the phase this morning. More or less like the previous times, only this time I rolled deliberately over to the other side of the bed. I came down on the floor, which became visible when I opened my eyes.
I touched the sheets. Everything turned very real and I thought to myself, "where am I" because I was so overwhelmed by the vividness.
The light was dim and I asked for more light but it didn't change. The room was a combination of our room now and my room when I was a child.
I pinched my nose and blocked my airways but I could breathe normal. I stood up and went to the door (M.R.: no plan of action). I opened it. It was dark outside. Then I saw that there was a drawing on the outside of the door. It was a little figure and when I looked more closely it began to move his head.
I wanted to touch it, but I felt paralyzed. My arms felt very heavy. Once I had almost touched it, I woke up (M.R.: no re-entering).
Antwerp, Belgium
This morning I had a difficult phase entrance. Without feeling much -nearly no vibrations- I tumbled out of bed. It was very dark and my consciousness was unstable. I made several weird movements, still half unconscious. After a few moments I ended up sitting against the bed (M.R.: no deepening). It was still dark, but consciousness was better and I spoke to myself, saying something about the envelope.
I crawled on my hands and knees to the other side of the bed where my bedside table was. Everything looked realistic and the envelope was in its place. I picked it up and felt that there was something small and thick in it. I ripped it open and in it was a shiny packaging of a cookie or something like that.
I opened it and found that it was a chocolate. I bit into it and it was delicious. It had coconut in it.
As I was chewing on the chocolate, I closed my eyes for a moment to concentrate on its taste. The taste remained the same and there was of course my smacking, but I felt pressure in my head, which was building up. I opened my eyes again and the pressure disappeared.
I now came across a little dilemma. Should I eat the whole chocolate, or should I start my mission of translocation? I decided to do the latter and threw the chocolate away.
I stood up and started running with eyes closed. The running didn't feel natural but I was moving anyway. I felt no walls, no resistance of any kind.
Because of the closed eyes, I again felt a foul coming so I opened my eyes - but everything remained very dark and I was afraid of losing it.
my experience would have ended there.
Instead of giving up, I kept running and opened my eyes as wide as I could.
This apparently helped, because suddenly a light appeared at the end of some tunnel (no NDE tunnel). When I came out of the tunnel I was filled with joy!
I saw a blue ocean with big waves striking against the rocks. I was on a road hugging a beautiful rocky coastline. The sight was magnificent.
I was on a bus or something - I saw trucks on the road that had problems because of the big waves. Shortly after this I woke up (M.R.: no maintaining).
When I was running in order to translocate, I didn't think of a particular location. A few days ago I fantasized about where I would translocate. In my fantasy, I would end up in a 17th century sailing ship on the blue ocean.
New York, USA
I woke up not trying to move but that was unsuccessful. I decided to try some cycles anyway and began with phantom wiggling. To my surprise I felt my body go into sleep paralysis and get numb (M.R.: no separation). Then I switched to listening in, but then I decided to try and separate by rolling over. There was resistance, but it ended up working and I stood up. I was skeptical as to whether I was really in the phase, even though I have had lots of experiences before. I guess it was because the transition between waking and dreaming never felt so conscious and self-induced before. Not to mention that it only took about one minute.
I hear my mother in the kitchen. I did a reality check by trying to put my right index finger through my left palm. It was a struggle, but it worked - so I know I am in the phase. I walk out into the kitchen and my mother says good morning, I give her a kiss on the cheek and continue down the hallway (M.R.: no plan of action). I touch the walls as I am walking to stabilize the experience, even though I don't need to. It's pretty dark inside the house but I can see that it is sunny outside. I am in my shirt and boxers, although normally I just go outside and clothes appear on me without me noticing.
I open the front door and see all of the upstairs neighbors outside on the porch. I close the door back just to double check that I am phasing before I go outside in my boxers, I do the reality check and it works again, so I go outside. By this time the neighbors were going upstairs. It is indeed sunny outside and there is a little kid outside sort of nagging me, but I ignore him. I half-heartedly try to create a portal and teleport by going through the floor but neither of those work. I walk down the block and I try this hopping thing that I read about to get around faster, but I don't like it. I fly upwards and don't have much control... I keep going higher and higher and have to grab on to these power lines to prevent me from leaving the atmosphere.
It was a long phase and for some reason I lost a chunk of memory here (M.R.: no maintaining). I don't remember where I landed, I remember bits and pieces but my memory kicks in when I am in a department store and I see a guy that looks familiar. I ask him, "don't I know you?" He shakes his head "no" and keeps walking. He looks suspicious so I keep an eye on him. He meets with another guy and he points at me and they start running after me. I duck behind some people as they run by and I go the other way. I go out of an emergency exit expecting the alarm to sound, but it doesn't. There are two locked gates leading to stairs that go to the roof. I melt through both gates and go to the roof. I fly away and they come out and start flying after me. I use mental energy to fly faster but it isn't enough. We battle for a while, and then I end up in a portal inside some sort of spaceship.
I am driving it through these tunnels that remind me of the Matrix. I crash into the walls a little but for the most part I am good. I pull up into the place that these tunnels lead to. This part is boring so I will skip it.
I walk out of this building and I am in a cityscape full of people. I walk down this block and my vision gets sort of different, almost movie like. I walk in this hotel lobby and people are sitting around. I decide to look for someone to have to sex with to end the experience because I want to remember everything. All of the females around are either not attractive or too young. I look back at the hotel door and there is a lady looking at me but she turns away quickly. I was curious why she was looking at me and who she was so I go outside. She is kind of in a panic running towards a black van. I run after her and pull open the door before they pull off. There is a guy in the driver's seat and she is crying in the passenger's seat. She said that when my friend got his promotion (from the boring part of the experience I skipped earlier) she was forced to set him up and that this is the guy that made her do it. I started punching him in the phase and this caused me to lose my proper frame of mind to maintain and I woke up (M.R.: no re-entering).
New York, USA
I wake up to slight consciousness and I'm unsure if I have moved or not. My first thought is to go back to sleep, but then I decide to try to enter the phase. I apply forced falling asleep and immediately start to feel vibrations. They fluctuate between strong and mild and I start to feel them subside. I then remember what I always tell myself: if I get vibrations, then I'm already in the phase. So I try to roll out of my body... There is resistance, but I am able to do it.
I stand up in my current apartment and it is completely dark. As I am walking to the front door, I try to put my right index finger through my left palm to make sure I am in the phase. It works, and so I open the door to the hallway but it looks nothing like my actual hall. It is still very dim and there is another gentleman there. I point to different areas and say the word "lights", and sure enough, one-by-one they come on. I keep touching things to engage the senses as I am walking. I walk into a room with a young boy in it and he is watching TV. I think about my plan of action and remember that I wanted to try the teleportation technique in SOBT. I had previously been teleporting by melting through the floor but it was unreliable and I would end up in darkness sometimes. I had read in Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming that closing your eyes in a dream can cause you to wake up, but I figured that if Michael does it all the time then this isn't fact.
I ask the boy where should I go... to a football game? He says yes, but then I figure that since I have never actually been to a football game, I should go to a basketball game instead. I close my eyes and concentrate on where I wanted to go. I start to feel movement and even get the feeling you get when going down a huge drop on a rollercoaster. When the movement stops, I open my eyes. It has worked, and I am standing in the middle of an arena while a basketball game is going on. I take a step onto the court and immediately the referee blows the whistle to stop the game and get me off of the court. I go sit in the stands and began talking to one of the prettier girls. I don't remember what we were talking about, but after a short while she wants to exit the main arena and go towards the concession stands and bathrooms. You can guess where the rest of the experience went.
Vienna, Austria
I had a lucid dream. It was a dream I have quite often: going home from work and realizing I'm missing my suitcase. As soon as I got home in my dream, sure enough my suitcase was standing there. I then became aware of a discontinuity: I remembered that I had punched the flextime clock at work when leaving, but the card for this was in my suitcase. How could I have done this if my suitcase was at home? This must be a dream! I became lucid, and as usual at this occasion I immediately woke up in my excitement. However, I instantly entered the vibrational state, which seemed very strong and stable. I tried the rolling out method and it worked perfectly.
As usual, I reached for the silver cord, but only felt something like mild electrical energy in my neck where the cord is usually located (M.R.: no deepening). First off, I decided to walk into my mother's room with whom I was living at the time (M.R.: no plan of action). I expected to see her in bed and for an instant I thought I'd see exactly this, her face on the pillow (I couldn't see very well however), but then I realized that she must have been in the living room since she always got up very early and must surely have been awake at this time - it must have been a reality fluctuation. Next, I looked into one of the mirrors in my mother's room, wondering what I would see. What I saw were several distinctly separated body parts of mine floating around - like a photograph of me had been cut into a jigsaw puzzle!
Then I looked at my hands, they started to melt until the stumps looked cut off, just like the picture in the mirror. Next I continued into the living room, looking for my mother, but I didn't see her. Now I decided that I finally had to leave my apartment, something I had never accomplished in all my years of OBEs. Without any difficulty I walked through the closed main door and out into the corridor. The light out there seemed to be on, but I realized that I was having some sort of tunnel vision, a very narrow field of view. I demanded more energy and better sight, but this didn't help much. As I walked down the corridor, physical reality disappeared more and more towards the end of the hallway (where in reality the door to my grandmother's apartment was located, where I wanted to go), there was just some kind of rectangular portal. Now only half conscious, I decided to return to my body and end the experience because I didn't want to risk losing my memory of it (M.R.: wrong logic). That very instant, I awoke physically in my bed (M.R.: no re-entering).
Oleg Sushchenko
Moscow, Russia
Last night I spent about an hour developing the interplay of images in my mind after I no left felt any feeling of kinesthetic sense. I was lying on my back in an uncomfortable position. After sliding towards sleep for some time, I felt slight vibrations and echoes of sounds from the dream world, but the uncomfortable position still hindered me. In the end, I thought the heck with it, and decided to lie down however was comfortable, and turned over to lie on my stomach. Despite the fact that the movement upset the process, after about five minutes the state began to return and build up. I was able to get a little vibration this time, although I was unable to amplify it. I drew a picture of my kitchen in my mind, and because the images in that state were really vivid, strong, and realistic, after some time I understood that not only were my attention and awareness there, but so were my bodily sensations. I was quite surprised that the phase had been so easy to fall in to (there was no doubt that this was the phase).
I jumped out through the window and began to fly around the courtyard. Actually, it was the first time that I had flown only upon a single mental command, without any physical effort (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action). The courtyard bore only 10% similarity to its real-life counterpart, but I was not at all surprised by this, and I simply enjoyed it as much as I could, as I was able see and was not immediately thrown out. But, after having looked at and taken in the city, the thought of whether or not this was the phase and not just a lucid dream occurred. I was so conscious in the dream that I was able to know about and comprehend such terms, and differentiate between them - can you imagine?! I have to add that I gave little attention to my memory, so I can't say how much of my "self-awareness" was there, but I was aware enough to be able to differentiate between the phase and a lucid dream (or at least think about the difference).
I even went and asked people around if it was the phase or a lucid dream. Sounds funny, doesn't it? The funniest thing was that they answered that it was a different world, and they refused to discuss the topic any further with me. Then, I decided to not get my mind all mixed up and just go with the plot, which turned out to be quite long and uninterrupted! I recalled a moment from the day before how I had lain down and induced the phase while lying on my back, and how I had turned over and flown away. I recalled all this periodically during the course of the phase, and realized that I should try to ask about what had been going on with me on the forum later.
Then, later in the phase, I found myself in a basement. As there was just a really nasty smell there, I decided that I had already had enough and that it was time to go back. That happened even more easily, as soon as I thought about going back (M.R.: wrong action), a vibration as light as a breeze went through me and then I was back in my body with full awareness and a well-rested body and mind. I was completely refreshed! And that's despite the fact that I remember everything, every second of the dream, from the moment I started flying!
Munoz Lundquist
Orange County, USA.
I got up at 7 am, made coffee then I went back to bed around 7:30 am. I started relaxing and putting myself in a meditative state and doing the breathing techniques (from Michael Raduga's book) to induce myself into falling asleep. Suddenly I felt a jolt, right there and then I knew that it was the moment I have been waiting for to be aware of the phenomenon. I continue to relax, inhaling and exhaling. Suddenly, I got up from my bed, looked around, and proceeded to scan my bedroom. I then started to do the deepening technique that I had learned and was starting to apply: touching the walls, textures, rubbing the palms of my hands, looking at my arms, and saying to myself, "is this a dream, or am I out of my body?" (M.R.: wrong logic)
The texture of the fabric of the thermo I was wearing was real, I touched the wall and it was solid (M.R.: no plan of action). I knew from hearing it that you can go through walls, but this didn't happen. I looked again around my room and suddenly everything turned green, like a forest-green color, even my thermo shirt. It was a very intense emerald-green color. Peaceful and yet so intense, I was fully aware of what was going on, and at the same time very excited.
I remembered that I needed to be very aggressive in my deepening technique, and so I continued touching everything in my surroundings and continued to rub my hands, touching my arms and trying to look at myself. I knew it was me. It was so real, it was awesome! I don't understand why, but I was thinking of my brother and out of nowhere, he appeared in my room. I didn't panic, I then proceeded to open the door in my bedroom and everything was so different. I was going downstairs and everything was still green around the house. It looked like an old 1920s house.
I continued going to the next level and saw 3 black dogs and their hair was luminating like neon blue lights, it was incredible. I was thinking to myself, "okay, this is enough (M.R.: wrong logic) of the experience for right now," and went back to my body. When I woke up, I started to write down everything as I didn't want to forget anything, since I was told to document my experience and progress.
New York, USA
Meeting with OBE friends in California and sharing their excitement motivated me to want to try something new and see if I could get OOB while traveling on the plane to home, since I knew it would be a long trip and I could sleep. I was concerned it might not happen, as I have never attempted this in a noisy, bumpy, moving environment, but still wanted to try.
I used my usual affirmations and visualization before sleep, and remember being surprised to feel my left knee floating up as I sat in the plane seat. (I was in a window seat, next to the wing of the plane.) It didn't bring me to awareness of possibly being OOB, as my mind registered it as something interesting but not that unusual.
It was at that point that we had to have hit some turbulence, or maybe my seatmate moved slightly to bump me, but I felt my astral leg quickly and heavily sink back into my physical body, enough to startle me to more awareness.
I realized, "hey wow! I WAS starting to get OOB!" Without waking completely, I settled back in and soon found both knees now floating up, to the point where I felt totally squished in the seat! I wondered how do I get out fully while sitting in this plane seat?!?
I thought a change in position might help, so I leaned back, falling through the back of the seat, and then used a "floating" visualization to try to lift. My next memory is of seeing the ceiling of the plane only inches from my face!
I now realized I was out!! I was so thrilled, yet I told myself not to get too excited. I remember thinking I should verify it by moving my hand through the roof of the plane (M.R.: no deepening). As I placed my hand partially through the ceiling successfully, I fearfully remembered I was in a moving airplane and maybe shouldn't disturb some important "wiring" or such and so pulled my hand back in quickly! (This shows me how strong my beliefs were that you just don't go outside or mess with a moving airplane!)
Next, I was doing handstands on the back of the seats, flopping myself into unsuspecting passengers' laps, and then moved to the front of the plane. I found two open seats next to a young male and thought I'd just stop here to check out first class. While there, the stewardess made some announcement, and I realized that no one was too happy about her disturbing their quiet. I could feel the passengers' 'irritation' and even sensed some 'discontent' from the stewardess as she performed her job.
At that point we did hit turbulence, and I awoke fully from my experience. I was so happy to have succeeded! I knew I had felt 'confined' to the inside of the plane by my fear of causing problems should I have exited it.
New York, USA
I found myself "awake" lying on the couch, and being aware of a sense of FEAR! Not so much a sense of me being fearful, but fear that was associated with someone quite close to my body as it lay on the couch (M.R.: no separation)!
I didn't really see this person at first, I just felt the fear energies emanating from him or her, which of course, to be honest, made me just a little bit concerned. My fear dissipated immediately when I realized this was a very small child standing next to me! (He couldn't have been more than 2 years old, likely less…)
I was at first caught off-guard, wondering "Now what do I do?!" (M.R.: no deepening and no plan of action) Then I sensed an adult presence also nearby at the bottom of the couch area. This was a female, clearly seen, short sandy-colored hair and small glasses and a petite frame. I somehow knew she was waiting for this child to know she was there.
I'm not sure how I did it, but turning to face the child, I sent love and even tried to hug him with my energies. He calmed immediately and I told him, "look who's here!" as I picked him up and handed him to this woman. I have no idea how I knew what to do, or if I was doing the right thing, I just did what felt to be right.
The woman smiled, the child's energies calmed and changed, and then they both disappeared!
I was on my one-and-a-half week dry spell and I was not trying to get into the phase. But I broke my dry spell by becoming conscious within a dream. Once I understood that I was in the phase, I immediately tried to do deepening, but I failed and got thrown back into my body. Refusing to surrender, I somehow managed to reenter my phase - YAY! So, after successfully reentering my phase, I performed deepening and throughout all of the phase I did maintaining.
My plan was to talk with my subconscious and ask for my talents and a quick way to earn money. After summoning my dream character to talk with me, I started the conversation. It was a very strange conversation, because she kept asking non-related things which I can't remember. After finally asking the question I had wanted to ask, she answered, "Eating". She said this and nothing more after that. That's when my phase ended (M.R.: no maintaining and re-entering), after about 10 minutes of being in it.
My break from the phase was still on, so I decided not to try indirect techniques. I found myself awake after about 6 hours of sleep but without using an alarm, although I ignored this and went to sleep again. Then, I had a conscious awakening and it already felt like I was in the phase. Indeed, a very strange feeling. I thought, "Well, I should try using a separation technique". And I did. It worked and I separated.
I was standing in my room, but my body was not in bed, so I started doubting if I was really in the phase, even though separation had felt very real. I immediately pinched my nose and I could breathe in through it. I rubbed my hands and touched everything around me. Once I felt that my phase had good quality, I started acting as planned. In the end, it was very nice phase experience , but I had forgotten to do maintaining and woke up after about 10 minutes.
The alarm clock on my phone broke (don't ask how that happened), so lately I've been trying to wake up after 6 hours of sleep without any kind of device to help me. And I succeeded today. I woke up, went to the bathroom and went back to sleep. The thought of conscious awakening was going through my head as I drifted into a dream. I managed to exit that dream, and so I woke up without moving (M.R.: no separation). And then I had to face my biggest difficulty - loud noises (my family was up very early preparing to go to work and they were shouting for no good reason). I decided not to let this chance slip away and performed observing images. It worked immediately and there was no need to perform separation technique. I ended up in the phase.
After successfully entering the phase, I immediately performed deepening. I also performed mainitaing throughout the phase. My plan was to try shapeshifting and turn into a wolf. I tried imagining myself becoming one and started running on my hands and legs like a dog, but I failed, and so I tried again. After a few unsuccessful tries, I started hearing loud noises and thought that it was my parents, so I had to do something. I performed deepening, but to no end... I lost control and woke up. I tried to re-enter, but failed.
Minneapolis, USA
After awakening without moving, I begin indirect techniques. I am still very sleepy. In an "imagined movement" cycle I begin to feel very real sensations and lose all connection with my physical body. I am blind somewhere in the phase.
I rub my hands, arms, legs, and face until I get sight. Oddly, at first it is only imagined sight like in a normal dream, but it quickly becomes complete sight like in real life. The phase is still very weak, but I begin my plan of action. I should have deepened further through peering or other options, but didn't. I will pay for this shortly.
I am in my bedroom. My wife is there but, thankfully, no one else is. No strangers milling about like usual. Normally she isn't there. I'm still groggy so I begin to talk to her, but then remember my plan of action and go downstairs.
I walk through my living room on my way to the kitchen and touch the wall to change its color. It turns yellow, even though I had meant the walls to turn blue. I should have deepened since this was an indication I didn't have complete control. Instead, I continue into the kitchen.
There are two strangers in my kitchen at our breakfast nook. This isn't uncommon. They ignore me.
I open the refrigerator with the intention that a small vile of a liquid will be in it. This liquid will help deepen and lengthen the phase (I tell myself this to induce a placebo type effect). The fridge is full of food, but the only drinks are 7-Up and milk. We never have 7 Up. I close the refrigerator and open it again with the placebo intention. Once again, it is full of food and the 7 Up and milk. I drink the 7 Up telling myself it is my "phase potion."
I should have deepened further once again since my lack of control over my refrigerator items and general groggy state showed a very weak phase.
I continue my plan of action by going outside to our garden. When I step outside, my vision goes away. I'd never lost vision before in the phase. I then begin rubbing my hands and try to deepen, but I am so groggy and the phase is so weak I am already close to exiting into sleep like I do all too often.
In the end I do restore vision, but now it isn't as realistic as it normally is. It is nowhere near real life.
I walk to one of my grapevines and make it grow out the full year's growth and produce ripe fruit. The fruit is very sickly looking and tasteless. This lack of control should have signaled me to deepen, but I continue on.
Suddenly, I'm not in my yard. I am in a random place with two people I know from my past. They are talking to me.
I have almost entirely lost lucidity and no longer have control over my phase. We are by a pool and one friend throws the other in. This is very dream-like and not very lucid, but I do have a little lucidity.
I do find a tree that looks like my chokecherry and it has mature fruit. I take a berry and eat it. Unlike the grapes, it tastes just like a chokecherry, which is to say it tastes very bitter and awful. I start spitting it out everywhere and thinking, "why would I taste this and not my grapes, this is awful, but my grapes are awesome!"
Then I return to my body. It is now 8 am (M.R.: no re-entering). My memory of the entire experience is somewhat diminished. I am fairly certain I had slipped into a complete dream state somewhere in there because it didn't quite feel completely real like a normal phase experience should.
Minneapolis, USA
I had a regular separation, but no vision. I felt around, but the furniture I felt wasn't my furniture. I thought it would be cool to be in a mountain cabin, and when I gained vision I was in an unfamiliar mountain cabin. Again, I was alone.
It was completely real again, like my last experience. I was so excited I started running around (after doing deepening). I ran around the house exploring for a while until I was out breath (M.R.: no plan of action). Then, I was afraid that all the heavy breathing would wake me up.
This time, the thought of having a real body instantly made the phase experience weaken, so much so that I was afraid I would fall asleep. I began to deepen.
Then I saw a jug of a drink in the kitchen and told myself it would help me deepen.
It was the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. I've eaten and drunk in the phase before, and it always tasted like whatever I thought it would. I didn't have any expectations, only that of deepening. It was like a sweet carbonated drink, only without any bite. It was truly indescribable.
Strangely, the drink did deepen me back to complete realism, and I was so excited that I ran around exploring again. Then, once again, I became afraid of waking. This time, that thought brought me back to bed.
I attempted to separate, but then my wife called for me and so I got right up. After a few moments I realized that I was still in the phase. I actually only got up in the phase, but it took me a few moments to realize this. I was back in my house.
After some time in my house, I awoke in my bed for real, but quickly re-entered the phase into my house once more.
I was going to do a fourth reentry, but my real wife shook my arm during separation to get me up for the day, because it was well past the time I normally get up.
I'm not sure how long I had slept for before I entered the phase the first time. I do remember having a very vivid normal dream during that time. I may have also fallen asleep between phase experiences, but I still remember them being so real that I doubt it.
I got up for the day 1.5 hours after first waking up for the deferred method (the phase likely happened just in the last few minutes).
Alexander Lelekov
Saint Petersburg, Russia
When I'm dreaming I usually move by taking great leaps, much further than a kangaroo, about 100-300 yards. This happens regularly in my dreams, and I usually immediately realize that I'm in a dream. During one of the leaps, I realized while airborne that I was dreaming and also realized that I was able to land in a small dirty pond. As expected, I landed right in the pond and went deep under the water (M.R.: no deepening). And at that very moment, I found myself in the stencil, with my hands and head half stuck in it.
I got a little nervous that this attempt would also be unsuccessful, and so I immediately tried to separate from my body. I was unable to get my head or hands out, and for the first time I tried to turn around round my axis and managed to get out. Then I either slipped down or fell from the bed, but I did not feel any pain. I crawled for 1-2 meters and then felt that I could go back. I started to touch the rug and some other thing, though I don't know exactly what it was as it was dark, and, lo and behold: within 20-30 seconds I probably felt what small kittens feel when their eyes open for the first time. Everything was foggy and blurry at first, but then a picture started to appear, the room filled with light, and colors became bright and vivid. I tried very hard to restrain my excitement, and, to my surprise, was able to.
I walked around my apartment thinking about what I should do (M.R.: no plan of action). Realizing that I did not have that much time, I decided to talk to an elderly man who would answer my questions. I decided that there would be an omniscient elderly man behind the apartment's front door, which I was about to open. And there he was, half-bald, about 60 years old, in a grey coat waiting for me. I asked him the question, "What should I do to get into the phase more often?" But he started to tell me about how he was raped as a child. And to be more precise, this was already not an elderly man, but an elderly woman. I was not very interested in hearing her story, thus I tried to move away from her, suggesting that we could talk later. But the elderly woman was persistent, and I did not want to offend her, because I thought that this was an unusual phase with its own set of rules, and namely that once you have asked an old woman a question, you are supposed to be courteous and listen to the entire answer (M.R.: wrong logic).
I went with her to the kitchen of my apartment. The telephone suddenly rang. I got scared that the telephone was ringing in my apartment and would wake me up, which is why I immediately started to look at my hand in order to maintain. But the sensations were quite stable, and I stopped doing that. Then, me and this lady wanted to cook something in my kitchen. She said that I could heat a frying pan without gas. But I instead decided to try the technique of putting the hands together and blowing on them, and returned back into my body (M.R.: no re-entering).
Bistrita, Romania
I set my alarm for 5 am, as I had gone to bed at midnight! The alarm went off, I silenced and got out of bed at 5:10 am, went to the kitchen, ate something, smoked a cigarette, and then got back to bed with intention.
So, I do not know how I got into the phase again, I think I just woke up into it.
I remember very well being in a strange room again, and my vision was blurry. I remember the place as being very colorful. I had shouted aloud, "I need clear vision", and then repeated myself. And as I had shouted, I found myself peering at the walls of the room before me. After few seconds, everything was a crystal-clear as the picture from a Bluray disc.
I deepened by punching the walls. This time, like every other time I observed the details of my fist entering into the wall, I felt it so realistically. It was as if the wall was made from rubber. I saw and felt how it moulded tor my fist. The wall even changed color: it went from yellow to bluish. As is typical of me, I had no plan of action. Even when I have a plan of action, I do not recall it very well when in the phase.
So I found a mirror. I looked at my reflection, everything was normal. Then I closed my eyes and intended to see my muscles as being larger. When I opened my eyes, my chest seemed pretty big, but it looked like it was the chest of a 70 year old. I thought, "what the heck?"
I closed my eyes again and created my intention, more intensely this time. When I opened them again, to my surprise I was like Vin Diesel: big chest, well defined, big arms etc. I said, "damn I look awesome!"
So from there on I think I pretty much lost it (M.R.: no maintaining). But it was great anyway...
I had an awakening and immediately attempted to roll out. That didn't work, so I tried brain strain, but still nothing... So I phantom wiggled, not sure which part of my body, just something - anything, as I was determined to separate.
It worked, and I felt myself moving upward and forward and then I seemed to get a little stuck, and so I thought, "Oh, I am just going to stand up - they say that works when you are stuck." I immediately stood up, my legs from the knees down went through my bed. It was very pleasant to be free of my body. The whole movement of separation had a slight, effervescent tingling sensation (as you see on Star Trek when they are translocating, i.e. "Beam me up Scotty.")
I moved to the side of my bed, but I hadn't opened my eyes yet as I was a teeny bit anxious (excited) about what I would see when I did. I naturally started touching everything within reach: the wall, the bed, and the stool at the end of my bed. I then opened my eyes.
I immediately felt and saw a small dark shadow at my feet. I knew it was Tsar, my Mother's Blue Russian cat. Although he does not live with me at the moment, I knew it was him. As I moved away from room, I caught a glimpse of my body lying in my bed: my mouth was slightly open and I could hear myself softly snoring. I had no desire to look directly at my body.
I was thrilled to be out. I stepped into my living room (M.R.: no plan of action). To my left was a lamb and a sheep and several brownish-black geese. I was delighted to see them there in my living room. I felt Tsar at my feet again.
My attention was drawn to what was outside through the window. There I saw colorful, twirling carnival rides. The colors were not brilliant as I had hoped they might be, however when I looked directly at one it twirled faster. There were a multitude of birds in the sky, passing overhead. It was quite surreal. I got the same feeling as I got when watching the scene when birds flew by in the movie Jurassic Park.
Back in my living room, the animals had gone but I noticed wet, sloppy bird droppings on the carpet (naughty geese!). I looked at my hand it was not normal. Half was natural flesh, and the other half was like moulded, skin tone plastic, as in the mask the Phantom of the Opera wears. I was not at all perturbed at its appearance. I just thought, "oh, that's interesting." My next thought was, "I am going poke my finger through my hand." I did, and then quickly removed it, thinking to myself, "eewww! It works." Again, I was not perturbed.
I moved into the kitchen. It was as if burglars had been there. There was broken glassware and crockery all over the bench. I am presuming it was those naughty geese again. Anyway, I turned to the refridgerator and saw a broken mirror on the floor and wondered where it had come from. The refridgerator door was ajar, I opened it further and discovered that the vegetable crisper drawer had a mirrored front and it had been smashed. I opened the freezer door to see about 8 cups of ice cream (the commercial kind, something like Cornetto). Their lids had been peeled off and sticky ice cream had run and dripped everywhere. Was it those birds again?
I turned back into the living room to see more runny bird droppings than there were before. Puzzled, I wondered how I was going to clean up this mess.
I then heard people outside and looked down through the window. (I live upstairs.)
There were half a dozen people dressed in dark blue workman's clothes down there talking. One of them was a woman who shot me an unpleasant look and said something that I couldn't hear. I felt threatened. A little nervous, I waited for them to pass underneath my apartment, but they didn't appear on the other side of the building. Phew! (In reality, my apartment is suspended between two buildings, cars and pedestrians pass under.)
Standing on the threshold of the living room and kitchen, I decided to fly and see how that felt. I zoomed around the ceiling a couple of times.
Now standing in the living room, contemplating what I should do next, I felt a little bored. I figured I might as well go back to my body (M.R.: wrong logic). I moved to my bed and crawled into my body. I felt a little disheveled and crumpled in there, but as soon as I felt smooth and comfortable I opened my eyes.
Brisbane, Australia
I woke up. I needed to go to the bathroom, but decided to ignore the need. I felt light vibrations and did forced falling asleep. I knew I was in the phase. I could feel myself moving, but the vibrations weren't there anymore. I thought to myself, "that's odd... oh well, just roll out!" So I did!
I was on my husband's side of the bed and I couldn't see properly. My eyes felt stuck together. After some straining, I could see out of my left eye fine and noticed a whole lot of pillows and blankets piled on the floor. I thought, "how did all that get there??"
I tried to open my right eye, but the eyelids were stuck together. I tried physically opening it with my fingers, but it was stuck like glue. I thought, "what if I rip my eyelid," but knowing full well I couldn't. Then, I realized that the reason my eye was not opening was because I had to deepen! I closed my eyes and frantically started touching everything I could. I touched the walls, my husband's bedside table, and knocked over everything. I could hear glass hitting the table. I'd knocked over a glass of water. I still couldn't see! I sort of stalled, and didn't know what to do.
Then, I remembered that while in the phase, I had wanted to stick my head out of my closed bedroom window, look out, and jump! (my bedroom is on the 2nd floor) I ran excitedly to the window and stuck my head out! Argh!! It works! So cool!
I jumped out, and before I hit the ground I said, "I want to fly." I took off and flew around my house and the others around it. Ahhh so this is what it feels like. It was amazing! Then all of a sudden - SPLAT! I fell out of the sky! How rude!
I jumped up and tried again. I didn't take off, but sort of hovered and then fell again. I did this twice, and on the third time I took off. I flew down the road. I still couldn't see out of my right eye, and thought, "I wonder if I can make it rain?" I said, "I want it to rain," and it started raining! As soon as it had started raining, I could see out of both eyes. I wiped my face. There were beautiful cool rain drops as I was flying! It was so peaceful. I didn't want it to end.
It did however end, and I found myself sitting on the side of the road a block over from my house. I realized I needed to go to the bathroom! Damn it! I woke up.
This was the coolest thing I have ever experienced in my life - so much fun! I can't wait for more OBE's - bring it on!
Boris Bender
Moscow, Russia
I became conscious in my dream almost immediately after falling asleep. I was in my apartment standing in the corridor. Being surprised by having so suddenly found myself in the phase, I started to touch the walls with my hands to test their firmness or, "realness," as well as to intensify the phase by touching. I entered the room (M.R.: no plan of action). There was a bed standing next to the wall, with my mother sleeping on it. I could not see her face, only her body under the blanket. The room and corridor were exact replicas of their real-life counterparts.
While thinking about my sleeping mother, I suddenly started to feel somewhat uneasy. When I approached the window, I saw a grotesque landscape behind it that was similar to pictures from movies about catastrophes: a wasteland, houses in ruins, odd pileups of building materials, slabs of concrete, garbage, craters from explosions here and there, and I noticed human figures in some places.
Fearing a foul caused by the fact that I was taking in a panoramic view (the view from the window spanned 180 degrees and cut off at the horizon, which is in fact almost exactly as the view from my apartment is in real life), I turned back into the room and started to touch the wardrobe, and then knelt down to touch the floor. All the while, my fear had been growing stronger and stronger: both out of thinking about my sleeping mother and due to the view from the window. Anxiety turned into real fear within a matter of several seconds, and then graduated into terror and panic. I lost the ability to think critically. I had only one thought: I had to go back to my body (M.R.: wrong logic). I darted back to my bed and suddenly found myself lying on it. I closed my eyes, but could not understand if I were in my real body or still in the phase. My terror grew even stronger when I half-opened my eyes and saw that my mother was getting up from her bed. She looked like a character from a horror movie and apparently was hostile to me.
I wanted to disappear, dissolve, and wake up! I hectically tried to recall the techniques for an emergency exit from the phase, but with poor results: I tried to freeze, relax and touch my fingers to my toes in order to feel a connection with my real body. At some moments I felt like I had it, thinking, "The connection had been restored!" I opened my eyes, but realized that I was still in the phase when I saw that the room had changed, and was now awash with garbage.
The fact that the attempts kept ending with false awakenings was driving me crazy. I was especially shocked when I got up after one of the false awakenings and saw my mother standing at my bed, still looking threateningly at me, like a vampire or a zombie from a horror movie. Plus, she started to reach out toward me with her hands!
I nevertheless kept on and tried to freeze and wiggle my toes, this time without opening my eyes, and not checking where I was. I started to calm down after some time, but I was unable to feel my real body, which was confirmed by the fact that sounds were coming in from the phase: I heard sparrows chirping outside the window, though it reality it was too late for sparrows to be out. However, the chirping and the associations that it brought (i.e. day, warmth, sparrows, and sun), probably helped me a lot and calmed me down, as I finally managed to sense my real body and found myself in reality. Nevertheless, after I got up, I immediately started to verify for about half a minute that I was no longer in the phase by touching objects, making sure that they were hard, and feeling all of my bodily sensations.
All my entries into the phase were spontaneous via lucid dreaming or in a state of very dim consciousness. This was my first fully conscious separation. Because of this, it felt like REAL FUN.
I returned from a business trip and went to bed with an eye-mask on at 3 pm. I attempted to enter the phase by direct methods, but fell asleep. I woke up in about 3 hours without movement, but with a feeling that I had woken up completely (M.R.: no separation). Nevertheless, something told me to try to move my arm - in case it was my phantom arm. The arm started to rise together with the duvet. I had a feeling that the duvet was covering my head as well (which was not true), and therefore decided to raise the arm higher to test whether it was my phantom arm or not, as at some point there would be light from the window if it indeed was my real arm. No, there was no light and I realized it was my phantom arm. I tried to roll out with the arm. At first, separation was partial. I tried again and rolled out from the bed and ended up on all fours on the floor. Vision appeared almost immediately. I started palpating the floor, walls, and window shades, feeling the texture. Then I rose and started clapping my hands. There was sound. Then I went to explore the rooms (M.R.: no plan of action). I passed by a mirror. I looked at myself and saw myself there with dark glasses and a wide smile, although I was not smiling at the time. I went into a room and saw a beautiful partition wall made into an aquarium. I saw people behind the partition and went there – and then, a foul! (M.R.: no maintaining)An attempt to separate again did not work.
My main mistake in the phase was in not taking the clues that the deepening was not sufficient. The clues were: no change in perception of realism after application of deepening techniques, the weak sound of my hands clapping, and the strange reflection of myself in the mirror.
John Merritt
Houston, USA
I already had a few successes with astral projection, but they hadn't lasted long, and I had never made it out of my house. I consulted with a friend and she told me there was a sort of gravity that tended to pull you back into your body if you stayed too close to it, and that what she did was try to immediately leave the location of the physical body so that the pull would be weaker.
So, I set my intentions on leaving my house as quickly as possible on my next successful attempt. After a few days I had a projection. And I remembered that I had wanted to get out of the house this time, and so as soon as I rose up off the bed I started running down the hall, down the stairs, and to the front door. I opened the door (or at least it felt like I opened the door) and ran outside. I had done it. Within seconds of leaving my body, I made it outside the house. I hadn't really planned what I would do once outside and I just started running through the yard and towards the street. I happened to look back toward the house, and I saw a couple of little red eyes in the darkness. And those eyes were moving too! I could see that it (whatever it was) was running too, and I was afraid that it was running after me! I got scared and immediately found myself back in my body (M.R.: no maintaining and no re-entering).
This projection was special because it was the first time I was able to leave the house and the first time I encountered another entity while outside my body.
Alexei Teslenko
Moscow, Russia
Actually, I was not planning to travel that night, but when I woke up around midnight I decided to try to enter the phase nevertheless. I started to perform phantom movements with my arms, but then a strong sleepy lethargy overcame me and I suddenly wanted to give up my attempts to enter the phase and simply fall asleep. However, I was persistent and continued to perform phantom movements with my arms. Instead of feeling the usual vibrations that occur when this technique is performed, I simply fell asleep and continued the phantom movements while dreaming. Because of that, my consciousness apparently did not fall asleep completely, and I became aware that I was dreaming.
I immediately climbed out of my body. There was no vision, conscious awareness was no more than 50%, so the phase was not that deep. In order to maintain the phase, I immediately started chaotically touching everything around me. It helped. Vision came, though it was murky. I then found myself in my apartment. I decided to strive to deepen. After I had achieved a stable phase, I decided that it would be good to grab a snack and headed for the fridge (M.R.: no plan of action).
I should add that I was on a strict diet at the time and was craving something sweet or fried. However, when I opened the fridge, I was quite disappointed. There was a lot of food in the fridge, but all of it required preparation (raw meat, fish, dill, etc.). However, there was a bottle of sparkling mineral water on a special lower shelf in the fridge. Without giving it any thought, I took the bottle and started to chug it.
All of the sensations were just as in real life: I felt the bubbles from the carbonation, that peculiar taste that mineral water has, and also how the water went down my throat. In general, everything was quite realistic, though there was no sensation of my stomach filling up with water and, moreover, the water felt somewhat dry. It sounds funny, but that very feeling of water's dryness spoiled my overall impression somewhat. After a foul, I realized that a possible reason for this might have been dryness in the mouth of my real body.
Usually, if there are, for example, candies in the kitchen or in the fridge, I actually take a handful of them and consume them while traveling through the phase.
After going to the fridge, I wanted to see something interesting. I decided to employ the technique for creating objects and people, and so I closed my eyes and focused on the image of a girl whom I wanted to see at that very moment. I affirmed my desire, and I then opened my eyes, concentrating on the area to my side. The air grew misty at first, and then the person I was expecting materialized out of the air, and came to life, seemingly fully autonomous and with free will - she had the same manner of speaking as in real life, and acted in the same way…
Ventura, USA
I set my alarm to go off in 6 hours, but I woke up to vibrations after 5 hours of sleep (M.R.: no separation). Straining the brain worked really well and the vibes got stronger and stronger (M.R.: no separation). While they were getting stronger, I told myself that if I heard any kids coming in the room or felt the bed shake, that it was fake! This is because I've been fooled too many times.
My body started getting loose and floaty and before I knew it, I was just out! Didn't have to separate!
My neck has been messed up since April and the last couple weeks I've made it my goal to do something about it in the phase (I got the idea from the thread "Healing in the phase" by Jeff on the obe4u.com forum). I wanted to try some kind of manual stimulation, but I did not see my body on the bed. Instead, I noticed my sister-in-law was sleeping with my wife in my bed.
I wanted to accomplish my goal before I fouled. Since I didn't see my body, I recalled Michael talking about taking pills. I was a little worried about taking random pills, so I did a reality check first and then went for it.
When I woke up I noticed weird tingling, vibrations in my neck and I feel pretty good today!! I'd say a 20% improvement! AWESOME!
Ventura, USA
I was waking up and felt a strange feeling in my hands and feet. I also noticed I was sleeping in the baby's bed but, like most dreams, did not think anything of it. Meanwhile, I felt the presence of someone standing by my bed. It was a strange feeling and the presence that made me question lucidity, so I stuck my hand through the wall, and BAM! I was now lucid.
So I grabbed my 7 year old son, put him on my shoulders and told him we were going flying. I jumped up but nothing. So I decided to walk through the wall. As I did so, everything went black and I knew I was losing the phase. I rubbed my hands together and waited patiently for the phase to return. To my surprise, it did! I've been able to recover phases before, but none after losing them as long as I had here. So this time I decided to not do anything until I was able to make the phase more stable. I rubbed my hands some more and everything became so vivid! I still had my son on my shoulders, and decided to just jump through the wall and I gently floated down to the street - man, what a rush! I then took another huge leap and slowly floated down again (M.R.: no plan of action). Everything faded and I did not feel any hands that I could rub together, and so it ended (M.R.: no maintaining).
I've heard of people lying still after phases and being able to re-enter the phase, but I was not able to do it.
Matthew Shea
I was having a dream, and at the end of the dream, I could feel the shift in consciousness as I came back to my bed (M.R.: no separation). I attempted rubbing my hands together, and I decided to incorporate rubbing my face as well. It began to start to feel realistic, so I starting putting more work into it. Then, I tried to get up. Immediately after trying to get up, I questioned whether this was the physical world or not. Regardless, I kept on trying. I had to put in a large amount of effort into it, but I eventually managed to get myself out of bed.
I couldn't open my eyes. I tried to force them open with my hands and got a little bit of light in. Then I remembered that sometimes you don't have vision, and that you need to do grounding techniques. I began feeling the walls and soon enough my vision began to come to me. In the process, I could hear a woman I know giving orders to someone. When my vision came, she was gone. I projected into my brother's room instead of my own, but now the whole house was different. There were people everywhere dressed in hunting uniforms. I walked into one room and there was a desk with a girl I know behind it (M.R.: no plan of action). She seemed to be in charge of what was going on around there. We talked for a minute and then someone came in with a dead moose in a huge bag. It was quite strange.
I proceeded to walk somewhere else, but I don't know how I got there. It was a huge room, with shelves full of VHS tapes on one side and someone playing the piano. They were playing Jewish music, I think, and people were all around, listening. We walked into another room and someone started dancing. I began to dance with them, just fooling around. Everybody came into the room and watched us dance or joined us. I started to lose the phase, and could partially feel myself lying in my bed. I felt around trying to ground myself again but it was too late. I could feel the sides of my bed. I tried to get out of my body once again but it never worked.
Matthew Shea
I felt as if I was lying in my bed at first, but at the same time I felt like I was in a dream. I could hear a game show or something on a television, so it was definitely in my head. I relaxed and knew I was either in a dream, or about to be. All of a sudden, I was thrust into the phase. I landed in a grassy field in a place like my town, but having a bit of a different appearance. I walked along, and felt the grass and other things as I did. I crossed a road as a huge vehicle came down the road. The vehicle hit me and knocked me down, but luckily it didn't hurt. I felt as if I was observing a movie. It felt great. Suddenly, I realized what my plan was.
I really wanted to try and fly and go visit someone that I know. I jumped a couple times to no avail. Then, I jumped and began to fly a little. All of a sudden, the police came and pulled me out of the sky (M.R.: wrong action) and accused me of terrorism! I ended up being let off because they really don't know what the heck they were talking about. I went home after this. I really wanted to try and visit my friend again, so I went and put my shoes on. At that point, I started thinking about my physical body, and so I immediately stopped thinking about it and continued with the shoe thing.
I walked outside, and then I start thinking about what the world around me looked like. I gazed up behind my house, where there are usually a few hills. They were huge now and very grassy instead of rocky. This amused me and I looked around some more. Now there were hills in my front yard. As I gazed up at the sky, I noticed something amazing. There were moons of every different shape and size, differing from the normal color. Some were pale blue. Some of them were oval and some were round. It was a really fantastic sight. After this, I continued on my way to visit my friend. I started walking down the road, trying to fly again and again.
My brother showed up and I told him what I was doing. He suggested that he give me a boost. I told him that I might end up hurting myself like that, and so he doesn't do it. I kept trying. I even jumped off someone's head when I saw them coming up the road. I guess I finally gave up on it. There was a small lapse between then and when I ended up in my house (M.R.: no maintaining). Once I did end up in my house, we were having something to eat. As I was sitting at the kitchen table, I all of a sudden woke up (M.R.: no re-entering). It feels really interesting to just wake up peacefully in your bed after an experience like that.
I woke and started to apply the indirect techniques after an attempt to separate. Nothing happened...
I remembered to keep doing cycles, and once I reached the fourth cycle and was really struggling to not fall asleep, I noticed that I was hearing a beeping noise, and so I started listening in. I don't really remember, but I think I tried to separate in my bedroom at that point. I teleported and suddenly found myself standing in a shopping mall.
I sort of knew it was a dream, but my mind couldn't accept it, and so I was both aware and unaware at the same time. But then my "aware half" decided to touch the ground and everything I saw around. The dream was now perfectly clear.
I tried to summon a person.I thought, "around that corner I will meet my friend Johanna." Once I walked past it, I saw her! She had on different clothes than usual, but her face looked all the same. I talked to her while simply admiring the vivid world and projections of people I know. She then gazed at me for several seconds and kissed me! I was shocked, because I don't have feelings for her. However, here I lost lucidity (M.R.: no maintaining)...
Dmitry Bolotkov
Moscow, Russia
The following all occurred after I woke up, and then began to doze off again. I lay on my side and was beginning to fall asleep, when I saw some fuzzy images from a previous dream. My body began to fill with heaviness, I practically stopped feeling it. Mild vibrations arose. I immediately remembered about the phase, and just relaxed... Imagine my surprise when I felt that I was separating. My heartbeat abruptly increased during the process. I separated, and found myself suspended in the air (I still couldn't see yet). So I started flailing my arms and legs, spinning in the darkness, trying to fly as far away as possible from my body. I came up against something solid (the ceiling, I think). My legs then swung down to the left, and I assumed a vertical position. I started rubbing my hands, trying to see them. My vision gradually came to me.
I finally saw my own hands. They were smaller than in reality, and seemed to have a green hue to them. Then I reviewed the situation: I was in my old apartment, but the furniture was chaotically arranged. I began to palpate and scrutinize everything. My vision was incredibly sharp, much clearer than in reality (I've become quite nearsighted over the last two years). Strangely enough, I felt as if my eyes were closed, but that I could nevertheless see. I then was somehow able to turn off my vision. I dove into the floor (M.R.: no plan of action).
I flew down for some time. Then, I stopped and turned my vision back on. I was in outer space, and saw totally strange planets. Because I'm afraid of heights, I turned off my vision again and wished to find myself in another place, one where I'd have something solid to stand on. After a few moments, I felt I was standing on something. I turned my vision back on. I was in the desert. Strange animals were grazing, there were pigeons everywhere, and poker chips scattered all over the sand. For some reason, I figured I was near Las Vegas. I walked around a bit. Once I started looking around, my field of vision began narrowing. As soon as there was nothing but a small peep-hole of vision left, I began rubbing my hands together and looking at them. My vision returned after several seconds. Then, a pigeon ran up to me with the clear intention of biting my leg. I began running away, kicking up sand at the bird (M.R.: wrong action). That's when it all ended. I found myself back in my body, and opened my eyes (M.R.: no re-entering).
Yan Gvozdev
Moscow, Russia
When implementing the counting technique, I thought about parks, and an image of a photograph of an autumn park appeared before me. I tried to bring the image to life, as if I were moving the details of it. Inside, I felt that I was in a state suitable for trying to enter the phase, and was able to dive into the picture upon my first attempt.
I now found myself in that autumn park, it was very beautiful. In an effort to deepen, I started to palpate everything around me: leaves, the bark on the trees, and my own hands. The state stabilized, and I went for a walk around the wonderful park. It was full of birds singing and crisp leaves.
As previously planned, I decided to play it by ear.
The first thing that came to mind was the question of how my future home would look, something that I had been thinking a lot about. I concentrated, and transported to that home using the method of closed eyes.
I found myself near a very beautiful house. I had never even daydreamed about so beautiful a house in real life. I walked towards it, rubbing my hands together all the way in order to deepen the state. Once I got closer, the home began to change and take different forms at a speed commensurate with the thoughts in my head.
Then, walking around the house for some time, peering at and touching the furniture, I had the thought that the house somehow reminded me of a beautiful hotel, and then the house turned into a hotel. It stood before me like one of those huge beach-side tourist resorts in Egypt.
I entered the enormous hotel. It was full of guests. I walked among them, talking with some, and touching at others out of curiosity. Then I went into the restaurant, and saw there a variety of dishes. I sampled some of them. Then, I went out for a walk inside the hotel, continuing to talk to people I encountered along the way.
Internally, I had been asking myself about the near future in real life, and trying to figure out who or what could tell me about it. My wife Alexandria appeared, and we started to wonder together about our near future, as we were quite interested to know about it. My wife's double behaved exactly like my spouse in real life, with the same character traits.
Alexandria proposed that we try to enjoy ourselves, and think of something to do by the sea. For example, we could go down the great water-slide at the hotel's water park.
We went up to the highest water slide, which was so high up that I became short of breath. I realized that going down such an enormous water slide would be good for maintaining and stabilizing the phase state. It absolutely wasn't clear why there wasn't a swimming pool at the end to land in. I figured that it perhaps wasn't such a good idea to slide down, as we were quite high up. But Alexandria went first, and I, like a real gentleman, slid down after her. But then, as I had guessed, the slide ended 50 yards from the ground. At the bottom was asphalt. There was no time left to concentrate and imagine that there would be a swimming pool at the end of the slide. I flew right onto the asphalt. 110% Realism. While I was still flying, I figured that the landing would be quite painful. I landed with a thud right on my feet. The pain ran up my entire body, especially my shins and knees. Once the realization came that I had modeled that pain before my descent merely by thinking about it, the pain immediately vanished.
Then Alexandria decided to have more fun - she was already in a painfully playful mood. She found some kind of amusement-cannon that would shoot us quite far into the sea.
She again decided to go first, and I went right after her. It shot us 300-400 yards out from the shore. While I was flying behind Alexandria, I became quite afraid. Why so far out into the sea? Would we be able to swim back to shore?
I often mentally compare the phase space to the real world, and can state that they are often indistinguishable from each other. This is especially true of a very realistic phase when you ask yourself the question, "And exactly where am I right now?" At such moments, the only thing that helps is a deep analysis of the situation and thinking about the body, but doing so risks fouls occurring.
She went first into the water, and I after her. Due to the height and speed from which I fell, I dove quite deeply into the water. I felt like I was suffocating. I could not breathe underwater, and started looking for Alexandria. I spotted her courageously swimming down in the ocean depths.
I came to my senses, and started concentrating on breathing underwater. I was successful, but the weight and depth of the water unnerved me. I swam down to catch up with Alexandria. We swam deeper and deeper, overcoming the water pressure with difficulty. We went down to 1500 feet below sea-level. Impressed by what I saw, I was at loss for thoughts, as the events taking place were completely indistinguishable from reality.
We swam even deeper, and something caught our eye. We swam up closer, and saw something like a cave in the coral reef. When we went down a little deeper, the seabed was clearly visible.
We spotted a tunnel that led into a cave, and swam towards it. Alexandria seemed to have already known the way. I followed behind her, not quite understanding where we were going, but trusting her completely. We swam into the cave, and surfaced inside the pool of water inside it into an air-filled space. The chamber had windows like those of an aquarium. One could watch all kinds of beautiful fish swimming right past this sea-cave. We were greeted by four women in the cave, who appeared to have been waiting for us. They sat us down next to each-other. They looked like journalists and anchorwomen.
I stopped moving once I sat down, and started to fade out. I began to focus on issues concerning our future, forgetting to maintain the phase.
I started asking them my questions once the newscast started. Then, I accidentally thought about my body, and a foul occurred (M.R.: no re-entering). I nevertheless obtained a lot of visual information, which I later distilled into events and images.
Two weeks later, I went on vacation to a big hotel in the real world, where I saw the same images that were described above and occurred in this phase. Of course, the correspondence was not 100%, but the overall picture of the situation completely coincided in terms of meaning and significance.
So last night after about 4 hours of sleep, I woke up and did a few little things, went to the bathroom, lit some incense, and then went back to bed. As I was falling asleep, I started to observe dream images coming in and out of my awareness. Once I felt that one was strong enough, I just got up and fell off the end of my bed. I was now in the phase.
I was in complete darkness, which happens to me a lot when I exit my body, and so I started deepening techniques untill I could see. Here's the interesting part: I've been wanting to do an OBE "test" for a while, and so before going to bed that night I had shuffled a deck of cards and put one high up in my room where I couldn't see it (I hadn't looked at it). As soon as I could see after deepening, I climbed up and looked at the card. What I saw was the 8 of diamonds.
After doing this I jumped out my window and explored a "phase" garden. Two alien-like creatures drove up and pulled out guns on me, but I disarmed them quickly. I stole their car and drove around crashing into things for fun. Then I had a false awakening. I was back in my room, but had woken up in a standing position, and I so instantly knew I was still in the phase.
This time, I decided to try something else I had wanted to try. It might sound a bit crazy, but I spoke to the plants in my room, I made them grow huge and they filled my room. It looked spectacular. Then, the spirit of the plants manifested as my bag, which was strange, and he spoke like an old English man. I don't really remember what he said.
Shortly thereafter I woke up for real, and it took me a little while to remember what I had done in the phase, but once I did I jumped up and checked the card to see if I was right. It turned out to be the 8 of clubs, so I got the suit wrong but the number right! I was still pretty happy - even though I didn't get it 100% correct, it was close enough for me!
So I woke up at 6:30 this morning, did a few things, and went back to bed. I didn't do any techniques as such, but it took me so long to get back to sleep that I felt myself enter sleep paralysis, and so as soon as I felt the moment was right I got up and fell off the end of my bed (seems to be becoming my standard exit procedure these days). After some deepening I walked out my room and saw my reflection in a mirror: I was wearing a hat, which was confirmation for me that I was now in the phase, as I haven't worn a hat in years.
So I wanted to repeat my previous test in a slightly different manner. I got my sister to write down a 3 digit number and put it in her room to see if I could read it in the OBE state. I walked in her room and her boyfriend was asleep, I called out his name a few times and tried to convince him it was a phase but he seemed sleepy and didn't respond. The results from looking at the number were inconclusive, as I perhaps hadn't deepened enough and it wasn't very stable. Anyway, after also telling my sister that this was a phase and they could both do what they wanted, I dived through the floor to relocate.
I ended up in an old library and tried some deepening, and the normal method of touching everything worked. There was also a CD on the floor, I wanted to use more senses than touch to deepen further, and so I licked the CD. At first it didn't taste of anything, but after a few licks it kind of tasted how I suppose a CD would. This did seem to make my surroundings more realistic.
Last night before bed, I was reading a highly interesting website on the Illuminati, actually made by some members. I figured I would try to find out more about them in the phase, and so I called out, "Illuminati". Before I finished the word, 3 chairs moved by themselves into a small row and a voice said, "take a seat", and so I did. The walls of the library opened up into a stage and many robed figures began to put on a show and sing (nothing like I was expecting!). Shortly after it began, I thought to myself, "if I just sit here and watch I will probably wake up soon", and lo and behold after thinking that I pretty much woke up straight away (M.R.: no re-entering).
Perhaps just having the thought of waking up made me lose the phase quicker?
Also, I've noticed that if I have an idea of what I'm going to do in the phase, it generally comes with some expectations of what will occur when I try it. Not on one occasion has trying an idea out ever met my expectations (I'm not saying it has been better or worse, but just completely different to what i would expect). In the phase I would expect happenings to occur based on expectations, but clearly this isn't quite the case.
Last night I had what seemed like a very long phase experience. I went to bed at 1:00 am and as I was falling asleep I started to notice some visuals, and eventually found myself in a room that was dark and dull. It seems my experiences from falling straight asleep always seem to be this way. In addition, it felt very unstable and I felt some invisible force pulling me around like it was trying to get hold of me.
Since I haven't had luck using sensory amplification to enhance my visuals in previous direct experiences, I decided to try something slightly different. I sat in my normal meditation position and took some deep breaths. As I first sat down, the "force" was strong and I kept moving around, like on a ship in a storm, but after a few deep breaths the force weakened and my visuals enhanced. I flew out the window and shortly thereafter awoke again in darkness.
I realized it was a false awakening, and remember feeling uncomfortable again and so I started to sing my favorite Bob Marley song. I remember a man in a suit who was "coming after me" as if I didn't belong there and was trying to take me away. I tried to make him disappear, but it didn't work, and so I went for him. He then deflated like a balloon and fell to the floor.
I was in what seemed like a club, and I asked one woman "what is the truth about this reality?" She replied, "It's all statistics." I found this confusing, and so walked around a little trying to decide what to do (M.R.: no plan of action). I remembered a website someone posted on a while ago with some "tests", one of which was to draw the infinity sign on a door then walk through it. I found a door and scratched the "omega" sign on it and walked through. It was just another room in the club, with a bar, and two men. One of them seemed very busy (I assumed he was the manager) and the other was sitting and drinking. The manager walked past me and I asked him to tell me something wise. He said, "bad socks"!
I spoke to the other man briefly but can't really remember the conversation. I went out of the room and sat with some people. I picked up a tissue and transformed it into a cheesecake, it tasted so delicious, so good in fact in made me want to have sex, and so jumped on a nearby lady, as we began we started to fly through the air, I remember flying through trees and could feel the leaves caressing my skin as we flew. At the point of climax I awoke again, in darkness.
I was still in the phase, this time in some sort of factory, with a huge green machine, I'm not sure what its purpose was. The phase characters told me that it required a special cog to work; I think they called it a trigadore (?)cog. After this, I remember a friend of mine coming into the room, upset, and I gave him some advice. I told him that sometimes you have to forgive yourself and not be too hard on yourself. This seemed to cheer him up.
Again I was shifted into darkness, almost hoping I was awake this time - but no, I was still in the phase. I decided to attempt to wake myself up (I thought it might not work, but I tried anyway), and just ended up feeling a sensation of movement and re-appearing in darkness. I found myself back in the club where I was previously, at this point I was starting to get concerned as it had felt like I had been in the phase for too long. I walked around the bar and asked a woman, "If I was lucid for the whole night, how long would it feel like?" I then realized it was a foolish question, as time in the phase cannot really be established. I re-phrased the question, asking when I might wake up, and she said "sometime today". Shortly after this, I awoke for real.
This phase felt like it went on for ages, and more happened that I haven't written here or have forgotten. When I eventually woke for real, I looked at the time: 1:43 am. I had only slept for about 40 minutes but it felt like much longer. I tried my hardest to remember as much as I could, I wanted to write it down then, but I didn't want to wake my girlfriend, and so I decided against it.
Arlindo Batista
London, UK
This is my very first OOBE in which I could seemingly see the physical world as it is. I saw myself and my partner lying in bed and everything was crystal clear. I had the sensation of being catapulted out of my body as I heard a noise like a stone knocking the inside of a bucket. I watched my white ceiling approaching me very quickly, and just as I thought I was going to crash into it, I slowed down right up against it. I never actually remained in one location. I moved constantly. The movement was gradual, as though I were moving in frames of space - if this makes any sense to the reader. Then I could see everything in my bedroom. I was near the ceiling, and a feeling of excitement caused me to bounce all over the place at amazing speed, without actually touching any objects.
I wished to inspect my body closely, and instantly I found myself next to it as if by teleportation (M.R.: no plan of action). It was very weird. Initially I had felt like I were just a "floating head", but upon seeing my physical body, I started to look around for my new body. Suddenly, a transparent version of my hands and arms could be seen. Inside my new limbs, I could see moving patterns and could make out something like transparent veins and what looked like a fluid running through them. However, this was unlike what I have seen thoroughly illustrated in human anatomy books.
I then flew out of my bedroom window, and saw the landscape outside in the early hours of the morning. I was hovering 15 feet above the ground and as I moved I saw a little girl in my neighbor's window looking at me. I flew towards her, a bit confused because she could see me, and I asked her, "can you see me?" It seemed like I had projected this to her as a thought form. She shook her head in denial, which contradicted the fact that she had responded. She seemed terrified, so I hovered away and back to my room. When I woke up (M.R.: no re-entering), I thought to myself, "Was it an intense lucid dream? Was it very accurate about the reality I know?"
After all, I knew my neighbors and had never seen that little girl (she seemed to be about 5 years old) before. Then, in the following days, I noticed that my neighbor's daughters had friends around and they seemed to stay over. On one particular day, my partner sent me to the fish-and-chip shop. On the way there I went past our local Baptist church. I saw my neighbor talking to some people outside, and suddenly I saw the little girl! She was real as she came running out of the church with other children. She never saw me as she was having fun running around the adults with her friends. Then I realized that I was probably seeing her for the first time with my physical eyes. But how could I have a visual memory of her?
Arlindo Batista
London, UK
After an eventful day at the park with our children, Stacey and I went to bed around 12:30 am. I'd had a glass of milk and a couple of chocolate digestive biscuits before going to bed. I was so tired that it didn't take me long to fall asleep. I woke up at 3.50 am to use the bathroom. My sleep inertia symptoms were strong and it felt like the perfect opportunity for an out-of-body excursion. I lay down feeling like a dead weight and just relaxed. Soon I entered a familiar state of clarity and the hissing pulsation returned. I remember thinking that perhaps the "pineal engine" had ignited and was revving up to a rollercoaster of rushing sounds. What followed was a sensation of detachment from everything, but I was still conscious of lying in bed without visibility.
Suddenly, I could hear voices as though a radio had been switched on in my head. I couldn't understand what they said, but somehow the audio focused on a particular female voice which spoke as though it were delivering a lecture (M.R.: no separation). The subject-matter appeared to be consciousness itself, and a sentence stuck out to me: "The 'I' is the center of consciousness; therefore we are all centers of consciousness." The voice then proceeded to divulge a deep secret about reality that made me experience an epiphany, and yet I don't recall what was said. The voice turned into a whisper and was drowned out by orchestral music and clapping. This was followed by a vibrational surge, and subsequently I appeared to have separated from my body solely by willing myself out.
Vision was hazy, but I could distinguish my bedroom environment (M.R.: no deepening). I shifted in midair into the hallway and towards the mirror on the wall, which looked grey and absolutely non-reflective. I glided through it as I wished to see Marge, Stacey's deceased grandmother. What is unusual about what followed is that I was not traveling through a dark void as is typical when I plunge into the hallway mirror. Instead, I was zooming past treetops, rooftops, roads and vehicles. When I came to a halt, I saw that I was at ground level, skittering through an alley littered with rubbish in broad daylight. The colors of the environment were dull and I tried to make them brighter with my mind, but to no avail. Involuntarily, I teleported to another setting.
Initially, it was hard for me to see where I was because I kept laterally zapping from surface to surface, unable to fixate on a particular location. I managed to slow down my movement near the ceiling of what looked like a large bathroom. I saw a little girl, who appeared to be eight or nine years of age, in a tub full of dirty water, and her groggy face was barely sticking out. I could see her swallowing water and lots of hairs until her head was completely immersed. A scowling man entered the room. He was tall, stocky, and his hair was short, dark and spiky. Wide-eyed and in a frenzy, this character drowned the child by pressing her head further down using a plunger. Neither characters took any notice of my presence. The intensity of the experience was alarming and I was literally in fight-or-flight mode as I witnessed that crime.
My perspective changed galvanically and I appeared to be in the tub now. The room was the same but the lighting was different. The same scowling man came in and proceeded towards me. In a reflex action, I ascended to the ceiling and, when I looked down, I observed a naked boy in the tub, screaming in sheer horror. Mercilessly, the man drowned the boy, and, as he did so, he blamed the child for what was happening to him and accused him of being the reason why he was a monster. He growled and shook the boy underwater. The child's efforts to break free were futile. I moved about the room uncontrollably as I attempted to see what else was going on.
I regained physical awareness in sleep paralysis, hoping that what I had experienced was imagined. My head hissed again. I heard more voices in my head as though they were engaged in dialogues with classical music intervals. I separated again, but this time, into a dark void. I wished to see Marge and felt hands gripping me on either side and leading me somewhere. I saw light ahead and found myself in a crisp environment. Sharp colors defined a surreal scenery composed of what appeared to be Roman ruins in a forest. I set out to look for Marge there but encountered a bald black man instead. I asked him who he was and he told me his name was either Simão or João Figo. We spoke in Portuguese. I asked him where we were and he told me that we were in the same place all the time. The conversation then became more vague and dreamlike. At times I had the impression that he could say what I was thinking and vice versa. It was as if we were somehow connected. I was unsure whether I could at times control his speech, or if the fact that I was thinking what he said at times was coincidental.
As I regained physical awareness, I heard mild showers in my head and my body felt cold. It was 7:30 am.
Dmitry Plotnik
Moscow, Russia
Returning from a night out, we wandered into a shop called "The Magic Stone". We bought a druse piece (small crystals encrusted on the surface of a rock or mineral, in our case, amethysts). According to my girlfriend, the rock helps one to "tune in to one's dreams". To that end, one simply needed to put the piece on the headstand of one's bed, and just go to sleep. That's just what we did. We had to get up really early the next morning (at about 5 am) in order to make it for an excursion. As it were, we didn't have time to waste, but I nevertheless made an attempt to "tune in" to my dreams. I feel asleep at some point, but continued on to dream that I was lying on the bed and trying to tune-in for an exit from the body. At that very moment, I felt a light tingling in my back, a kind of life energy. I even tried to facilitate the sensation, thinking, "great, it's coming, so act!". It intensified, and now felt like waves going up and down my spine (M.R.: no separation). A characteristic sensation, long forgotten, went through my body. The sensation could not be considered pleasurable in any way, and that's when I thought to myself, "now I remember why I had stopped intentionally trying to enter the phase." However, it was already too late to turn back. At some moment I was lifted up, barely having time to look back at the couch.
I soon found myself in a spacious room (M.R.: no deepening). It was so large that the only thing that I could see clearly was the wall next to me. There were also some people in the room. They all wanted something from me and kept coming up to me with stupid pretexts. I kept telling them to "buzz off", and tried to drive them away. I had only one thought in my head: "I've got to find my girlfriend". I tried as hard as I could to remember where we had fallen asleep, but my memory kept failing me. Different characters constantly distracted me the whole time, one of them was especially persistent. At one point, he even insisted that I help him to open his bottle of wine with a corkscrew. I decided to help him, and once I had opened the bottle, I thought: "Why not? I've never tried out wine in phase," and put the bottle right to my lips. The wine tasted really funny, more like watered-down blackberry jam with pieces of fruit floating around. The unfinished bottle somehow was no longer in my hands, and I continued trying to get out of that room.
The only thing I could find to deepen with was the wall of a strange construction made of wooden planks. It was whitewashed with what seemed to be an oil-based paint (more than anything else, it reminded me of an outhouse). I was about to poke my head in when an assertive type warned that, "... it's a portal from which uninvited guests are able to crash in..." Not eager myself to climb in there, I contented myself with taking off a small dark mirror from the outer wall. I played around a bit with my reflection (which did not always want to follow when I moved my head), but those characters milling about stuck to me like glue. I then decided to have some fun, and began looking into the mirror together with those companions, in pair with one at a time. However, their reflection was quite different from their outward appearance. I got quickly bored with this game, and told everybody to go away again.
I finally decided to get out of that building, concentrating on where the place at which we were sleeping might be. I abruptly opened a door, but was disappointed. There was an unfamiliar outdoor scene on the other side. It seemed to be just before dawn outside, the darkest hour. Single cars went down the street. I began to peer at the cars parked at the curb. They had quite a funny-looking appearance. Suddenly, a car swerved off the street and towards me. It drove up to me, and I could see an interesting-looking woman sitting behind the wheel. She was wearing mostly green. We talked, and I couldn't get past the idea that she was speaking "bookishly", as if quoting the lines from a character in 19th century literature. I told her, "Now you're saying all that and so on..." She looked at me, and I noticed her strange eyes. She had green ladybugs instead of ordinary pupils. I realized that I was beginning to return to reality (M.R.: no maintaining).
I woke up (M.R.: no re-entering). I realized that I was lying on my back with my arms at my sides, and holding my girlfriend's hand in mine. She suddenly woke up too, and began to relate her experience...
Nadezhda Maslova
Moscow, Russia
We were already a bit stressed out on the night that it happened, because we had to wake up very early the next day in order to go on an excursion. We were afraid that we'd oversleep. I had woken up several times over the course of the night, and finally decided to use the nocturnal awakenings to enter the phase.
I successfully "exited the body", and stood up on the pull-out bed (M.R.: no deepening). I was in the same room that I had fallen asleep in, but discovered that there were two mirrors on the wall that weren't there in real life. Peering into one of the mirrors, I noticed that I wasn't wearing the same clothes that I had fallen asleep in. I then recalled my "idee fixe" - to whisk my boyfriend into my own phase experience. I went over to the couch he was sleeping on, pulled him up by the arm, and took him up to the mirror. I was then thinking, "So maybe he'll see himself in the mirror and become conscious while in my phase?"
We stood in front of the mirror, and I saw our reflections diffusing. I figured that I had been unsuccessful once again, and so I let him go. But I resolved to crawl into the mirror myself in order to translocate. I got up onto the table, put my hand into the mirror, and started moving in head-first. I suddenly realized that the mirror was "closed" - that there was nothing but darkness and a wall behind it, and thus I wouldn't be able to translocate anywhere. I then opted to employ the technique of "rotation". I started turning and imagining a favorite birch-tree forest from one of my travels in the phase. I really wanted to go there again.
I turned and turned, but could not enter into the forest, even thought it was vividly flashing before my eyes. I was unable to come to a halt in time. In the end, I landed in my mother's apartment. There was a toy stuffed rabbit lying on the floor. I took it by the hand, figuring that if I started to lose the phase, I would fiddle with it in order to stay in. Then, I saw another mirror on the wall, and decided to have a look at my reflection. I looked, but the reflection was not of me, but of some blurred creature, like a ghost. I even became somewhat frightened. That fear returned me back to the body (or so I thought while still in the phase), with the stuffed animal still in my hands.
I found myself back on my bed, but I didn't give up there. I decided to try another way to get my boyfriend to join me in the phase (after all, it gets lonely walking around all alone there!). I grabbed his hands and started sliding out of bed. We actually fell off the bed, but did not land on the floor. It was as if we had fallen from a cliff, and were suspended in air. Even though it was dark in the room that we were sleeping in, there was daylight all around us during our fall. Everything was really bright, much brighter than in the experience that I had just had. I was sure that I had been successful in pulling him into the phase with me! But then I saw that the arms holding me were clearly not his. I lowered my eyes, and saw that I was embracing another man!
He looked somewhat like my boyfriend, but his face was more aged and a bit different, while his hair was longer and gathered in a ponytail. I push him away and asked, "Who are you?" And he responded, "Well, I've already told you my name. Or maybe you're just seeing the future?" I calmed down a bit and told him, "I need a dress, I don't want to run around half naked." He replied, "So let's go buy one". I turned around, and saw a shop. We went in - actually, we hovered in about a foot off the ground. We were greeted by a mulatto shopkeeper, he showed me all the dresses hanging on the rack. I was in ecstasy! I stepped towards the rack... and instantly found myself back in my body (M.R.: no re-entering)!
What a shame, not to have been able to wear those cute dresses at least in the phase!
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Presented next are out-of-body experience accounts from the most famous authors and researchers in the field: Muldoon, LaBerge, Monroe, Castaneda, and Bruce. However, if their experiences are to be compared with some of those from the previous section, it would turn out that some humble freshman from the countryside is able to exceed all of them in terms of understanding how to use techniques to control and apply the phenomenon - with the possible exception of Stephen LaBerge.
The explanation for this is simple: the knowledge we have now could only have arisen thanks to the foundation they laid, whatever its quality. It is no exaggeration to state that their work was revolutionary for its time. But now we live in a completely different era, with contemporary advances in technology and technique. A time will come when our currently up-to-date knowledge becomes antiquated.
In order to give the reader practice at independent analysis, these experiences are provided without commentary regarding mistakes. Gather your courage and, using the analyses in previous sections of this book as a guide, comb the experiences of the authoritative figures for what modern knowledge now recognizes as the most typical and common mistakes:
- no separation;
- no deepening;
- no plan of action;
- no maintaining;
- no re-entering;
Sylvan J. Muldoon
The projection of the Astral Body (1929)
A few mornings ago, I awoke at about six o'clock and lay awake for about twenty minutes. Then I dozed off to sleep again, and dreamed that I was standing on the same spot which I occupied in the metronome dreams-in the instances I told you about before.
I dreamed that my mother was sitting in a rocking chair, and she said to me: "Do you know you're dreaming?" I replied: "By gosh, I am, aren't I?" That ended the dream, and it seemed that I had no sooner said" By gosh, I am" than I awoke in the physical body, in bed. I was conscious, but unable to move; I could not utter a sound, could not move my eyelids. This condition prevailed for about three minutes, and all the time my entire body kept twitching, especially the limbs . Then I suddenly became normal.
About two seconds later a loud rap sounded-as if some one had struck the iron of the bed a blow with a heavy mallet. The noise was so loud that I "ducked," as it rather frightened me… Remember, I was perfectly conscious for about two seconds before this rap sounded. No one was anywhere near, and this occurred in full light. These physical manifestations are certainly interesting to me, at least-as I never before have experienced such things. But then, neither have I ever tried; these things came about by themselves…
Robert A. Monroe
Journeys Out of the Body (1971)
…I woke up early and went out to have breakfast at seven-thirty, then returned to my room about eight-thirty and lay down. As I relaxed, the vibrations came and then an impression of movement. Shortly thereafter, I stopped, and the first thing ! saw was a boy walking along and tossing a baseball in the air and catching it. A quick shift, and I saw a man trying to put something into the back seat of a car, a large sedan. The thing was an awkward-looking device that I interpreted to be a small car with wheels and electric motor. The man twisted and turned the device and finally got it into the back seat of the car and slammed the door. Another quick shift, and I was standing beside a table. There were people sitting around the table, and dishes covered it. One person was dealing what looked like large white playing cards around to the others at the table. I thought it strange to play cards at a table so covered with dishes, and wondered about the overlarge size and whiteness of the cards. Another quick shift, and I was over city streets, about five hundred feet high, looking for "home" Then I spotted the radio tower, and remembered that the motel was close to the tower, and almost instantly I was back in my body. I sat up and looked around. Everything seemed normal.
Important aftermath: The same evening, I visited some friends, Mr. and Mrs. Agnew Bahnson, at their home. They were partially aware of my "activities," and on a sudden hunchr I knew the morning event had to do with them. I asked about their son, and they called him into the room and asked him what he was doing between eight-thirty and nine that morning. He said he was going to school. When asked more specifically what he was doing as he went, he said he was tossing his baseball in the air and catching it. (Although I knew him well, I had no knowledge that the boy was interested in baseball, although this could be assumed.) Next, I decided to speak about the loading of the car. Mr. Bahnson was astounded. Exactly at that time, he told me, he was loading a Van DeGraff generator into the back seat of his car.
The generator was a large, awkward device with wheels, an electric motor, and a platform. He showed me the device. (It was eerie to see physically something you had observed only from the Second Body.) Next, I told about the table and the large white cards. His wife -was excited at this one. It seems that for the first time in two years, because they had all arisen late, she had brought the morning mail to the breakfast table and had passed out the letters to them as she sorted the mail. Large white playing cards! They were very excited over the event, and I am sure they were not humoring me.
In this morning visit to Mr. Bahnson and his family, the time of visit coincides with actual events. Autosuggestion hallucination, negative; no conscious intent of visit, although unconscious motivation possible. Identical reports with conditions of actual…
Robert A. Monroe
Journeys Out of the Body (1971)
…The vibrations came quickly and easily, and were not at all uncomfortable. When they were strong, I tried to lift out of the physical with no result. Whatever thought or combination I tried, I remained confined right where I was. I then remembered the rotating trick, which operates just as if you are turning over in bed. I started to turn, and recognized that my physical was not "turning" with me. I moved slowly, and after a moment I was "face down," or in direct opposition to the placement of my physical body. The moment I reached this 180° position (out of phase, opposite polarity?), there was a hole. That's the only way to describe it. To my senses, it seemed to be a hole in a wall which was about two feet thick and stretched endlessly in all directions (in the vertical plane).
The periphery of the hole was just precisely the shape of my physical body. I touched the wall, and it felt smooth and hard. The edges of the hole were relatively rough. (All this touching done with the non-physical hands.) Beyond-through the hole—was nothing but blackness. It was not the blackness of a dark room, but a feeling of infinite distance and space, as if I were looking through a window into distant space. I felt that if my vision were good enough I could probably see nearby stars and planets. My impression, therefore, was of deep, outer space, beyond the solar system, far in an incredible distance.
I moved cautiously through the hole, holding onto its sides, and poked my head through carefully. Nothing. Nothing but blackness. No people, nothing material. I ducked back in hurriedly because of the utter strangeness. I rotated back 180°, felt myself merge with the physical, and sat up. It was broad daylight, just as when I had left what seemed a few minutes before. Lapsed time: one hour, five minutes!..
Robert A. Monroe
Journeys Out of the Body (1971)
…This was a most unusual and vivid experience, and I don't know if I want any more like it. I went to bed late, very tired, around two in the morning. The vibrations came in promptly without induction, and I decided to "do something" in spite of the need for rest. (Maybe this is rest.) After moving out easily, and visiting several places in quick sequence, and remembering the rest need, I attempted to get back to the physical. I thought of my body lying in bed, and almost immediately, I was lying in bed. But I quickly realized something was wrong. There was a boxlike contraption over my feet, evidently to hold the sheet off my legs. There were two people in the room, a man and a woman dressed in white whom I recognized as a nurse. They were talking softly a short distance from the bed.
My first thought was that something had gone wrong, that my wife had discovered me in some kind of coma and had rushed me to the hospital. The nurse, the sterile atmosphere of the room, and the bed all supported this. But something still didn't feel right.
After a moment, the two stopped talking and the woman (nurse) turned and went out of the room, and the man approached the bed. I grew panicky because I didn't know what he was going to do. I became more so as he bent over the bed and held gently but firmly onto each of my arms at the biceps, and looked at me with bulging, glistening eyes. Worst of all, I desperately tried to move, but could not. It was as if every muscle in my body were paralyzed. Inwardly, I writhed in panic, trying to get away as he brought his face down closer to me.
Then to my utter astonishment, he bent over further and kissed me on each cheek, and I actually felt his whiskers; the glistening in his eyes was tears. He then straightened up, released my arms, and walked slowly out of the room.
Through my terror, I knew that my wife had not taken me to the hospital, that this man was a stranger, that I was again in very much the wrong place. I had to do something, but all the will I could muster didn't have any effect. Slowly, I became aware of a hissing in my head, much like a strong steam or air hiss. Through some dim knowing, I concentrated on the hiss and began to pulsate it, i.e., modulate it soft and loud. I made the pulsating go faster and faster in frequency, and in a few moments it had accelerated to a high-order vibration. I then tried to lift out and succeeded smoothly. Moments later, I was converging with another physical body.
This time, I was cautious. I felt the bed. I heard familiar sounds outside the room. The room was dark when I opened my eyes. I reached for the place where the light switch should be, and it was there. I turned on the light and sighed with great, great relief, I was back…
Stephen LaBerge
Lucid Dreaming (1985)
…As I wandered through a high-vaulted corridor deep within a mighty citadel, I paused to admire the magnificent architecture.
Somehow the contemplation of these majestic surroundings stimulated the realization that I was dreaming! In the light of my lucid consciousness, the already impressive splendor of the castle appeared even more of a marvel, and with great excitement I began to explore the imaginary reality of my "castle in the air." Walking down the hall, I could feel the cold hardness of the stones beneath my feet and hear the echo of my steps. Every element of this enchanting spectacle seemed real—in spite of the fact that I remained perfectly aware it was all a dream!
Fantastic as it may sound, I was in full possession of my waking faculties while dreaming and soundly asleep: I could think as clearly as ever, freely remember details of my waking life, and act deliberately upon conscious reflection. Yet none of this diminished the vividness of my dream. Paradox or no, I was awake in my dream!
Finding myself before two diverging passageways in the castle, I exercised my free will, choosing to take the right-hand one, and shortly came upon a stairway. Curious about where it might lead, I descended the flight of steps and found myself near the top of an enormous subterranean vault. From where I stood at the foot of the stairs, the floor of the cavern sloped steeply down, fading in the distance into darkness. Several hundred yards below I could see what appeared to be a fountain surrounded by marble statuary. The idea of bathing in these symbolically renewing waters captured my fancy, and I proceeded at once down the hillside. Not on foot, however, for whenever I want to get somewhere in my dreams, I fly. As soon as I landed beside the pool, I was at once startled by the discovery that what from above had seemed merely an inanimate statue now appeared unmistakably and ominously alive.
Towering above the fountain stood a huge and intimidating genie, the Guardian of the Spring, as I somehow immediately knew. All my instincts cried out "Flee!" But I remembered that this terrifying sight was only a dream. Emboldened by the thought, I cast aside fear and flew not away, but straight up to the apparition. As is the way of dreams, no sooner was I within reach than we had somehow become of equal size and I was able to look him in the eyes, face to face. Realizing that my fear had created his terrible appearance, I resolved to embrace what I had been eager to reject, and with open arms and heart I took both his hands in mine. As the dream slowly faded, the genie's power seemed to flow into me, and I awoke filled with vibrant energy. I felt like I was ready for anything...
Carlos Castaneda
The Art of dreaming (1993)
…As I was watching a window in a dream, trying to find out if I could catch a glimpse of the scenery outside the room, some windlike force, which I felt as a buzzing in my ears, pulled me through the window to the outside. Just before that pull, my dreaming attention had been caught by a strange structure some distance away. It looked like a tractor. The next thing I knew, I was standing by it, examining it.
I was perfectly aware that I was dreaming. I looked around to find out if I could tell from what window I had been looking. The scene was that of a farm in the countryside. No buildings were in sight. I wanted to ponder this. However, the quantity of farm machinery lying around, as if abandoned, took all my attention. I examined mowing machines, tractors, grain harvesters, disk plows, thrashers. There were so many that I forgot my original dream. What I wanted then was to orient myself by watching the immediate scenery. There was something in the distance that looked like a billboard and some telephone poles around it.
The instant I focused my attention on that billboard, I was next to it. The steel structure of the billboard gave me a fright. It was menacing. On the billboard itself was a picture of a building. I read the text; it was an advertisement for a motel. I had a peculiar certainty that I was in Oregon or northern California.
I looked for other features in the environment of my dream. I saw mountains very far away and some green, round hills not too far. On those hills were clumps of what I thought were California oak trees. I wanted to be pulled by the green hills, but what pulled me were the distant mountains. I was convinced that they were the Sierras.
All my dreaming energy left me on those mountains. But before it did, I was pulled by every possible feature. My dream ceased to be a dream. As far as my capacity to perceive was concerned, I was veritably in the Sierras, zooming into ravines, boulders, trees, caves. I went from scarp faces to mountain peaks until I had no more drive and could not focus my dreaming attention on anything. I felt myself losing control. Finally, there was no more scenery, just darkness…
Carlos Castaneda
The Art of Dreaming (1993)
…It seemed at that time that every breakthrough in dreaming happened to me suddenly, without warning. The presence of inorganic beings in my dreams was no exception. It happened while I was dreaming about a circus I knew in my childhood. The setting looked like a town in the mountains in Arizona. I began to watch people with the vague hope I always had that I would see again the people I had seen the first time don Juan made me enter into the second attention. As I watched them, I felt a sizable jolt of nervousness in the pit of my stomach; it was like a punch.
The jolt distracted me, and I lost sight of the people, the circus, and the mountain town in Arizona. In their place stood two strange-looking figures. They were thin, less than a foot wide, but long, perhaps seven feet. They were looming over me like two gigantic earthworms. I knew that it was a dream, but I also knew that I was seeing. Don Juan had discussed seeing in my normal awareness and in the second attention as well. Although I was incapable of experiencing it myself, I thought I had understood the idea of directly perceiving energy. In that dream, looking at those two strange apparitions, I realized that I was seeing the energy essence of something unbelievable.
I remained very calm. I did not move. The most remarkable thing to me was that they didn't dissolve or change into something else. They were cohesive beings that retained their candlelike shape. Something in them was forcing something in me to hold the view of their shape. I knew it because something was telling me that if I did not move, they would not move either.
It all came to an end, at a given moment, when I woke up with a fright. I was immediately besieged by fears. A deep preoccupation took hold of me. It was not psychological worry but rather a bodily sense of anguish, sadness with no apparent foundation.
The two strange shapes appeared to me from then on in every one of my dreaming sessions.
Eventually, it was as if I dreamt only to encounter them. They never attempted to move toward me or to interfere with me in any way. They just stood there, immobile, in front of me, for as long as my dream lasted…
Carlos Castaneda
The Art of Dreaming (1993)
…I had a most unusual dream. It started with the appearance of a scout from the inorganic beings' world. The scouts as well as the dreaming emissary had been strangely absent from my dreams. I had not missed them or pondered their disappearance. In fact, I was so at ease without them I had even forgotten to ask don Juan about their absence.
In that dream, the scout had been, at first, a gigantic yellow topaz, which I had found stuck in the back of a drawer. The moment I voiced my intent to see, the topaz turned into a blob of sizzling energy. I feared that I would be compelled to follow it, so I moved my gaze away from the scout and focused it on an aquarium with tropical fish. I voiced my intent to see and got a tremendous surprise. The aquarium emitted a low, greenish glow and changed into a large surrealist portrait of a bejeweled woman. The portrait emitted the same greenish glow when I voiced my intent to see.
As I gazed at that glow, the whole dream changed. I was walking then on a street in a town that seemed familiar to me; it might have been Tucson. I gazed at a display of women's clothes in a store window and spoke out loud my intent to see. Instantly, a black mannequin, prominently displayed, began to glow. I gazed next at a saleslady who came at that moment to rearrange the window. She looked at me. After voicing my intent, I saw her glow. It was so stupendous that I was afraid some detail in her splendorous glow would trap me, but the woman moved inside the store before I had time to focus my total attention on her. I certainly intended to follow her inside; however, my dreaming attention was caught by a moving glow. It came to me charging, filled with hatred. There was loathing in it and viciousness. I jumped backward. The glow stopped its charge; a black substance swallowed me, and I woke up.
These images were so vivid that I firmly believed I had seen energy…
Robert Bruce
Astral Dynamics (1999)
…I awoke at about two in the morning, lying on my back with my whole body vibrating. I could feel myself about to spontaneously project. My arms and legs were already starting to float out. However, I did not want to project. I was tired and had a busy day ahead of me, and just wanted to go back to sleep. I'd been having a very interesting dream up until then and wanted to go back into it if I could. I felt heavy and sluggish but managed to roll onto my left side. The vibrations stopped immediately and the heavy sinking feeling soon left me. Happy now, I snuggled down and relaxed back into myself, concentrating on the dreamscape I had just left and the name I had given it: "Advantage". I hoped this would take me back into it, as this trick often seemed to work.
After only a few seconds, I popped directly into the dream I'd left earlier. The transition was breathtaking. There was a full continuance of waking consciousness. I did not fall asleep and then wake up within the dream, but projected directly into it from the full waking state. I suddenly appeared in a busy, brightly lit department store, just like the one I'd been dreaming of earlier.
In front of me, a dark-haired young woman was setting up a dining room display. I saw people everywhere, shopping, serving, packing shelves, etc. Everything looked and felt real, stable, and solid. It was simply mind-blowing! I jumped up and down few times to feel the weight of my body, then pinched myself, "Ouch!" This hurt just as it would in real life, and my body weight felt normal. I was fully dressed and could even feel the texture of my socks when I wiggled my toes inside my shoes.
I glanced at my hands. They looked normal and did not melt. I tried creating an apple in my hand, but nothing happened. The dreamscape I was in did not waver in the slightest. Curious, I thought, in a normal lucid dream the environment can be altered and anything can be created by imagining it. Regardless, I was fully aware that I was dreaming.
I walked over to the young woman and asked her what she was doing. She told me they were getting ready for the big day, whatever that was. I picked up a large vase of flowers from the table in the middle of her furniture setting. The china felt like real china and the flowers smelled like real flowers. I pulled a rose petal off and ate it. It tasted dry, scented, and faintly bitter, just as a rose petal should taste, but the taste did not linger in my mouth as it normally would, I tipped the vase and splashed some of the water into my hand. It felt cold and wet, just like real water.
I braced myself, hoping that I was truly inside a lucid dream as I believed. I yanked the linen tablecloth from under the main table setting in the display. It almost worked, but the vase and a couple of plates smashed noisily on the floor. A few people looked, but no one seemed to care about the breakage, not even the shop assistant whose display I had just ruined. She went on unpacking and arranging things as if nothing had happened, shaking out another linen tablecloth as she busied herself resetting the table.
More confident now, I walked down an aisle and pushed over several large pieces of cheaplooking pottery from the top shelf, one at a time. I looked around to see if anyone noticed. These made very loud smashing sounds and broken pieces flew in all directions. A few people looked over, but no one seemed to care. Reassured by this, I walked over to the checkouts and jumped up onto one of the benches. A few people looked at me, but no one seemed to care and no one said anything.
I slipped back into my body and rolled onto my back thinking, "Wow! That was incredible ... so real!" I fought to control my excitement and settled back into myself again, trying to get back into the dream. This was getting really interesting. I held the store and its name in mind again and tried to sink back into it, but to no avail. The vibrations started up again and I felt myself starting to project. This time the projection reflex caught hold and buzzed me out of my body. I came to rest at the foot of my bed. The house was dim and quiet as I floated around my bedroom deciding what to do. I took a quick look at my hands. They looked strangely elongated and started melting away.
Not wanting to continue the OBE, I dove back into my body and opened my eyes. I lay there for a moment, then closed my eyes and tried to get back into the dream. The vibrations started up again and another wave of falling, floating heaviness came over me as I started projecting again. I fought it off and rolled over onto my right side. The projection symptoms stopped, but I couldn't get back into my dream. I rolled over onto my left side and settled back into myself again. This position felt much better. Holding the image and name of the dreamscape in mind again, I soon found myself back there.
I reappeared in the store where I had started during my last visit, several minutes ago. The same shop assistant was busily setting up the same dining display. The vase I'd broken earlier was whole again and back on the table where it had been earlier. I walked through the store, looking for signs of damage from my earlier visit. Everything I had broken earlier was whole and back on the shelves again. It was like nothing had ever happened. This was incredible! No matter what I did, the scenario restored itself.
I slipped back into my body again and rolled over to my back, trying to settle myself and get back into my dream. I think my excitement had interrupted it. The vibrations started again, so I rolled over to my left side again. I was getting the hang of this now, and realized that projecting into the dream was much easier from my left side. Settling back into myself and holding the store's image and name in my mind again, I slipped back into the store. Everything was normal and I was back where I had originally started from again, with the same young lady busily setting up her dining display. She
looked up and smiled as I waved, then happily went about her work. I decided to explore further afield before anything else happened, and walked out past the service desk into the mall. I walked for some time, exploring the huge mall. There were a fair number of people around.
Everyone seemed very busy shopping, or preoccupied with whatever they were doing. Of note, all the children I saw were very quiet and well behaved, walking like polite little robots beside their mothers.
There was some light background organ music playing and the usual noise of people quietly bustling about. A few people were talking on telephones here and there, but no one seemed to be chatting or talking to each other. People answered when questioned, but their replies were uninteresting and not very helpful. It seemed impossible to start a conversation that did not involve talking about the person's immediate task at hand.
Everyone seemed to lack personality, like background characters in a movie. On the surface this dreamscape was incredibly real, maybe too real, but beneath the surface it lacked something.
This looked like real life, but was definitely not the same type of real life I am familiar with.
I had decided to look for a way out of the mall and do some further exploring when I suddenly felt weak and heavy. The strength flowed out of me and I felt like I was moving in slow motion. My legs floated slowly upward as I fell ever so slowly to the floor, settling there weak and paralyzed.
People stepped over and around me as I lay there, but no one paid any attention to me. I felt like a child's balloon bobbing about on the floor. I was weak and heavy and could no longer feel the normal weight of my body, nor could I feel the floor beneath me.
I slipped back into my body again, coming wide awake this time. I rolled over to my back and lay there pondering the significance of these experiences. The vibrations did not start up this time, probably because I was pretty much wide awake now. It was obvious to me that my resting position had been affecting the different types of experiences I'd been having. I was far too excited and wide awake by now to do any kind of further exploration with this phenomenon, so I gave up and went to get a drink and record this experience in my journal…
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Below, the author presents the most interesting excerpts from his phase travel log: it happened to him for the first time in the fall of 1999, when he was a senior in high school. One of the interesting things about these excerpts is that they describe the development of a personal practice from the teenage years through the present day.
It's worth noting that my many years of experience and thousands of phases logged have had a strong effect on the practical side of my practice. I long ago realized those desires and wants that everyone has, and at that - many times over. Nowadays, I mostly do technical experiments, research, and hone my skills, all while obtaining elementary satisfaction from the practice itself and the vividness of sensation in it. That's why even the most recent excerpts from my log are not characteristic of the phase as it is usually practiced. They are merely the most illustrative examples. An unprepared audience would simply not understand ordinary phases.
As with the previous section, the reader is encouraged to exercise his theoretical knowledge by undertaking an independent and critical analysis of the experiences described.
October 1999
False Alien Abduction
I went to bed with a feeling that I had lost another 12 precious hours of my life. Then I suddenly woke up. Unfortunately I can't say exactly for how long I had been asleep, but, probably, for two or three hours. My mind was clear. And there was something else.
Before I could determine anything else, a sudden thought paralyzed me: I was being taken away, I was being abducted by THEM! That thought struck me. What I felt that moment could be compared to the greatest shock, the only difference is that I had all the symptoms of shock at once. My world turned upside down, as did my insides. At that moment I couldn't explain even to myself why I was so sure that I was being abducted by extraterrestrials, but I had no doubt that my guess was right. I knew it, I simply knew it. And what happened next proved that I wasn't going mad. When that thought came to my mind, I got a feeling that high-tension current went through my body. It didn't harm me, but made every cell of my body vibrate. And, the most important thing was that I could not move. Only my eyelids obeyed me. I had never been so scared in my life. All the sensations were more than real, and so my last doubts disappeared.
In my mind I kept asking those creatures to postpone my journey, saying that I wasn't in the mood, and that everything would be fine the next time. At the same time, I damned myself for my weakness. I understood that such things do not happen every other day. I was lying on one side facing a wall, and so I could not see the rest of the room, although I didn't hope to see anybody because I decided that they were doing it from their ship, but for all that I was sure that they did hear my thoughts. Meanwhile, it seemed that my mood didn't bother them as something lifted me up from my bed.
My heart could not have been beating faster. I pleaded them to stop. And they did. As cautiously as they had lifted me up, they put me down. I couldn't have been happier. I felt that I was born again. A sigh with relief escaped my lungs. But it was too early for champagne.
Not giving me a chance to enjoy my lucky escape, they lifted me up again and carried me to the window. I still could not move, no matter how hard I tried. Then something roused my interest and I almost forgot how frightened I was. I was moving feet first towards the window but I could see that it was closed. So, I became curious about how they were going to drag me outside. Everything was so real that I did hope that they wouldn't use me for glass breaking. And I knew that they wouldn't do it. Being the representatives of an advanced kind, they would find the way to spare me from unpleasant experiences and save the windows. When I was near the window I closed my eyes in order to intensify the new sensations and not to break the window (I don't know or why I decided this would help). But I felt almost nothing, only some imperceptible plane went through my body from toes to head.
I opened my eyes. I was outside, on the level of the third floor just opposite my window. The cloudless sky was studded with stars. I'd never looked at the stars from that position, and it was unforgettable. By that time I had managed to beat my fear, and so what was the point? I decided to make the most of it. I was even glad that the aliens hadn't listened to me and had dragged me out of bed, because I would never have dared to do it myself.
My fear subsided and I managed to relax, and even complained about the weather, as it was rather cold and I was wearing Adam's costume. I just managed to reconcile myself with destiny and started to look at the bright side. The next moment, I was already in my room and in my bed.
Only after 1 to 2 years would I start to understand that it was just my first spontaneous phase experience, and that it had nothing to do with aliens.
February 2001
A Glass of Juice
I awoke at night and thought of the phase. That thought evoked strong excitation bordering on fear, thanks to which I fell right into the phase. I began experimenting with vibrations, but was still afraid to separate. The vibrations gradually became so powerful that they simply threw me out of my body. After having overcome my fear with great difficulty, I then floated about the room. As my sight returned, night turned to day. I then came back down and stood on the floor, extremely frightened by the realness of everything going on.
However, there was a table at the window of the room that shouldn't have been there. But I didn't even stop to think about that, as I was nevertheless still in shock over what was going on. Concentrating on the situation at hand, I noticed a glass with some kind of liquid in it on the table. I got the idea of testing out how real the sense of taste would be. Still totally surprised by the realness of everything, I went up to the table, picked up the glass, and held it up to my eyes in order to get a better look at it. I then hesitantly brought it to my lips, and took a sip. My God! I didn't expect it to be that realistic. It was a glass of tomato juice. I could feel its texture with my lips, tongue, and palate. By the time it hit my throat, I was already savoring the taste. I felt the cold from the glass on my hands and lips - everything was indistinguishable from real life.
Relishing both the taste of the juice and my triumph in entering the phase, I quietly thought about the new frontiers opening up before me while quenching my thirst. However, I completely forgot about the need for concentration, and had a foul. I was in a great mood all the next day after having discovered this experience.
May 2001
Maximum Deepening
Right after dinner, I decided to enter the phase using the direct method. To that end, I started implementing the dotting technique (concentrating my attention on different parts of the body). However, I encountered difficulties during relaxation: I could not stop my mind from getting distracted with other thoughts. Only with great difficulty was I able to concentrate on the task. I kept to relaxation. Then, I once again employed dotting for about 20 minutes, but nothing worked. However, weak vibrations arose from time to time. Meanwhile, I became more and more sleepy. At one point my conscious awareness checked out, but then quickly came back (this didn't seem to last more than a minute, which was confirmed by my alarm-clock upon returning to the body) under the influence of my preliminary intention not to fall asleep. I then began to feel alert and was enveloped by vibrations, which occurred on their own in amid the transition between physiological states. I was easily able to amplify the vibrations.
Then I rolled out. However, the vibrations began to die down, and I was returned back to my body. I tried to separate again by climbing out. I was able to do this despite great difficulty. I was now suspended in an indeterminate space of vague sensation. While separating, I felt a strong feeling of discomfort that nearly persuaded me to cut the attempt short. However, I knew that that this sometimes happens and always occurs before plunging into a more stable phase. In order to deepen this phase, I decided to employ levitation.
It succeeded, and I derived real pleasure from this process. For some reason, the levitation did not lead me into the deepest phase, and so I began to fall head-first in order to further deepen it.
The movement and deepening brought a feeling of slight uneasiness that bordered on fear, but I was able to keep it under control from the outset. I soon realized that I was in the deepest state that I had ever been in. This increased my anxiety. For the sake of experiment, I kept going deeper and deeper. I began to have thoughts about the impossibility of returning to the body from such depths. My vision faded in and out, because I was made uncomfortable only by my feelings, and not by what I could see around. Once my vision came to me, what I saw cannot be described in words. That's how uncommon, indescribable, and realistic it was. It was as if I were seeing with some other organ of sight, one far more advanced than the human eye. I couldn't feel my body (neither my real or phantom one).
For the first time in my life, I physically felt my thoughts: when I started thinking about something, I begin to automatically move through space. Meanwhile, I could clearly tell that my thoughts were causing this movement. My brains were somehow being wracked by thought. (this was the first time I had ever had this experience, and so I can't say how realistic it was, or if it could actually be experienced in a normal state. Nonetheless, the sensation was quite realistic). Realizing how deep I was in the phase, I decided to get out of there, as I was afraid for my life. As it is easy to suppose, this was, to put it lightly, not easy. I began to feel fear. I was completely unable to enter my body or get control of it. Once was finally able to feel it, it felt like someone else's. Contrary to my expectations, even concentrating on my big toe did not help. Instead of getting me out of that state, relaxation deepened it. Then, I got completely lost: what normally helped wasn't working, and there were no other effective methods to employ. After long desperate attempts, I finally managed to enter my body. This only happened thanks to attempts to move any body part I could, in addition to concentrating on breathing.
June 2001
A Domed Paradise
I suddenly became aware that I was in a dream. I felt joy and satisfaction. The positive emotions were so plentiful that, having become aware of my presence in a world outside of reality, I tried to share my emotions with passersby. I didn't even care that there was no point in doing this. It should be noted that I did not have to return to my body in order to deepen the state and separate once again, as is normally to be done, as there was an immediate and atypical realism to my surroundings. It was that very realism that had led me to become aware that I was dreaming in the first place.
I was in a very interesting place: there was no sky - instead of it there was a low, large blue dome, which distributed a strange light across the entire space; the scenery all about recalled a corner of paradise: there were a lot of fountains, streams, and numerous architectural curiosities of unknown purpose. There were flora and fauna everywhere: all the streams were teeming with myriad types of fish, all the trees were alive with the chirping of flocks of exotic birds (from simple green parrots to those of fantastic appearance). There was so much to take in all around. Wherever one looked, there were beautiful flowers and trees of all different shapes; many people milled about on all kinds of business, paying not the slightest degree of attention to me, and there were many objects with unfamiliar objects around.
All was distinguished by a rich display of life in all its manifestations. Everywhere was crowded, peopled, and there was practically no free place to stand. Everything literally teemed. However, there was room enough to move about. I was seized by intense emotion arising from such an uncommon, and, most importantly, realistic and vivid landscape. Everything could be taken in visually, and in minute detail. There was a lot of everything around to observe, I did so with relish. In other words, I performed the technique of concentration, I didn't even have to think about procedures for maintaining. I didn't feel at all like carrying out my previously planned tasks. I didn't need anything else but to enjoy the simple pleasure of observing this little corner of paradise. I felt like a stranger in a strange world, and was very happy to have landed in such a place, and been able to experience it firsthand. For this, I was sincerely grateful for the phase. Something like this would never have happened in real life. The thought occasionally came to me that this was not simply my inner world, but actually some real one. However, the laws according to which it operated went against this. The only thing that could have startled me was the realness of the situation. My inner world could not accept such things, as I had already grown accustomed to thinking about reality in a different way over the course of my life.
My presence in this paradise was threatened by the possibility of my conscious awareness checking out, and me subsequently falling asleep. I started to become quite worried about this, and so had to perform some active exercises in order to keep my awareness from submerging. Without thinking twice, I decided to start talking with people there, because this was always one of the most interesting things to do. Unfortunately, everyone present there was unfamiliar with me from reality. But that did not bother me too much, because an interesting scene started to develop before my eyes.
The two men started singing some songs, before that they had been quietly sitting on a bench and enjoying some unknown liquid from wineskins. From the tone of their voice and their appearance, one could easily guess at the alcoholic inspiration for their vocal concert. After singing the refrains of some well-known songs, they graduated to obscene limericks and jokes. That's when it got really interesting. I expected them to recite only things that I already knew, but to my total surprise, this was not to be the case. I stood there and listened very carefully to everything. Even though the limericks were funny, I was more shocked than amused, as I had never heard any of them before. This meant that at that moment, my brain was literally composing quite high quality stuff on the fly, without any intervention in the process on my part. Perhaps I had once been unwittingly exposed to everything that I heard in that world, and simply not paid attention to it, and now it was coming back to me in this form.
Then, I suddenly got the idea that I should enjoy myself in a more active and unusual way. After all, one ought live in the moment...
March 2002
Healing Myself
After one of many morning awakenings, I hadn't moved at all physically, and immediately began trying to separate from the body. I realized after a couple of seconds of trying that separation would not happen right then, and so I peered into the void before my eyes, trying to discern any images. There weren't any, and so after a few seconds I started with phantom wiggling, which manifested itself somewhat in the feet: both feet inched up somewhat, and them came back down. Meanwhile, my ears were filled with a soft noise, and there was a slight "buzz" in my body.
I tried to increase the amplitude of the motion for 5 to 10 seconds, but was still unable to achieve anything. In order to overcome this barrier of some sorts, I decided to switch to the technique of observing images for some time, and then continue with phantom wiggling. However, the images came on so strong that I realized that I could skip phantom wiggling, as it would be much easier to simply use the images. Before my mind's eye appeared a river, and behind it a steep hill wooded with tall trees. I began to peer into it, trying to take in the whole picture. It immediately became sharper and sharper. I realized after 2 to 4 seconds that I was viewing the picture just as if from a window in real life. As soon as that realization came, I rolled out of my body and into the room.
I quickly got to my feet and started palpating and trying to see. My vision returned at once. The phase was sufficiently deep that I could see everything as clearly as in reality. Meanwhile, using the deepening techniques led to everything becoming much more visually intense and colorful than I was accustomed to in real life. This startled me a bit. The thought of returning to the body even flashed through my mind, but I was able to overcome it, and immediately concentrated on the goals that I had set: treating high blood pressure, conducting an experiment on the viscosity of fluids, and some items of fun to improve my mood.
I opened the door of my wardrobe, which in reality contained a box of medicines. I looked for the drug that was to help me lower my blood pressure or at least make it easier to deal with my condition. Delving into the package, I took out the various tubes of ointments, packages, and spray-cans, peering at them in order to maintain the phase. I also tried to figure out what the medicines were, and whether or not I needed them.
It took some time, as for 15 to 20 seconds I couldn't find anything worthwhile. Then I suddenly pulled out some blue bottle with pills. On it was written, "LifeMix - Life without Hypertension. All the best products in one". This was very close to what I was looking for, so I immediately took two tablets, chewed them, and swallowed. They were awfully bitter and distasteful. At one point, that bitter taste even made me forget that I was in the phase and that I definitely needed to do something to keep it from being over. Instead of letting that happen, I bent down and covered my face with my hands.
Suddenly, a strange wave of unusual sensations coursed through my body. My head and entire face started to fill up with blood, causing swelling in my lips, nose, cheeks, and eyelids. It goes without saying that this was an unpleasant sensation. It was more than unusual. This was especially true of the sensations I felt inside my head. It was as if it were heating up and expanding. I figured at that point that I had done something wrong.
As soon as I thought that, I felt as if a balloon filled with cold water had burst in my head. Here the heat turned to cold, and my head and body "decompressed" back down to size. I felt an uncommon lightness and freshness inside. I had the sensation of having tapped a new reserve of strength and life-energy.
In order to not have to search for that blue bottle again, I set it on the right corner of the lower shelf. Afterwards, I decided to cement the effect by performing a physical exercise that had always caused pain in my head due to heightened blood pressure. I ran into the hallway and sat on the floor, with my back against one wall and feet towards the other. I pushed off with my legs while pressing my back against this wall, thus simulating bearing a physical load. All the while, I tried to peer at all around me, concentrating on my position. The wall wouldn't give, and I had to make Herculean efforts to somehow straighten my legs. I bent my legs back again, and then returned to trying to straighten them out.
I had physically exerted myself more than once in the phase, which had always been accompanied by increased blood pressure in the head. This was often painful, and the discomfort would even last throughout the morning after awakening. This time, my head felt easy and light. I just concentrated on the physical effort, and not on how hard this exercise was to perform. In addition, I tried to deliberately relieve my head of that heaviness and pressure, trying to create subconscious programming for the physical world. In addition to all of the above, I did my best to give myself hypnotic suggestions.
That done, I moved on to the next items in my plan of action....
April 2002
A Phase Gone to Wasted
…After another awakening, I decided to try to enter the phase. Even though there were no symptoms of the phase being close, I was immediately able to roll out. Surprised at how easy it had been to roll out, I began to deepen by palpation: first I ran my hand along the length of the bed, and then started patting down objects near it. The sensations gradually became increasingly real. But still I could not see. So, I decided to continue with palpation, hoping that vision would come by itself, as it always had before in such cases. After taking several footsteps about the apartment, vision came back to me somewhat blurrily. I was easily able to deepen it by concentrating on my hands.
Instead of doing anything productive like conducting research, I decided to have some fun. To start with, I skyrocketed through the apartments above mine, experiencing the unforgettable feeling of flying through concrete floors. I then repeated the motion in the opposite direction, all the way down to the ground floor. I could see how my neighbors had decorated their homes through that flight up and down the apartment complex. There was a great temptation to cause havoc in the apartment on the first floor, but I was even more interested in flying. So, I blasted off headlong at an angle up through the wall and out into the open air. I flew about 50 yards out and hovered over the apartment complex's playground. In order to stay in the phase, I would look at my hands from time to time, and only then take in the landscape in between doing so. My heart leaped at the height. I could feel wafts of air coming from birds flying by. This all gave me a real high. At one point I faded somewhat and almost lost the phase, but managed to create vibrations through straining the brain. I was long able to maintain the phase after that by controlling the vibrations, without having to resort to concentration.
I then came up with a brilliant idea - I decided to try to test myself in the role of a fighter pilot. It was not easy to concentrate on this goal. I quickly picked up speed, and yawed to the side. The higher the speed I flew at, the louder the screaming in my ears. I felt the maddening velocity and G-force with every cell in my body. Of course, I could have chosen to feel only the movement itself, but I deliberately tuned in to the sensation of all the aerodynamic effects. Air whistled by with increasing warmth as it flowed around me. It was only with difficulty that I overcame instinctual fear that I had brought in with me from the real world. Clouds whizzed by above, and below me were homes, forests, and people - everything was so real that I had to really ponder what was going on, and what to make of it...
January 2004
A Journey into Outer Space
My body was still very tired, even though I had already been able to sleep for several hours that night. As soon as I lay down, I almost immediately felt vibrations occurring, but was not relaxed enough to bring them up to full force. At the moment, the best way to relax and enter the phase seemed to me to be through "trans-awakening" (the free-floating state of mind). I turned out to be right, as after the fifth or sixth time I felt intense vibrations enveloping me from all sides. In this case, there was no need to amplify the vibrations or deepen the phase, as my body was tired, and it would create a most deep state all on its own in order to more quickly restore its vital energies. I just lay for some time and observed the changes occurring within me. However, I could not remain idle for long, lest I unintentionally fall asleep.
I spent some time on fixing my secondary attention on avoiding falling asleep and involuntary exit from the phase. I rolled out. As usual, I rolled out of the bed as if for real, but not hitting the floor. Instead, I hovered above the floor as if I had fallen on a one-foot high invisible air mattress. I have rolled out hundreds of times, but I always experience doubt in the back of my mind that I am actually falling out of bed in reality.
A multitude of ideas flashed through my mind on how to use this position. I immediately formulated an approximate plan of action, which included those senseless things that I save for a rainy day. However, I first decided for the umpteenth time to observe outer space scenes. I took up my goal: the Cosmos. Here I was immediately picked up by a mysterious force that whisked me away at breakneck speed. My vision quickly came back to me, and I found myself floating in an unknown part of the Cosmos. I don't know how true-to-life the sensations were, as I have never been in outer space. Nonetheless, I probably experienced it just like it would be in real life. Sight was the predominate sense here, I stopped paying attention to the other four. Taking in the galaxy within my field of view brought fantastic pleasure. The unusualness in the visual perception consisted in the uncommon way that my eyes had to focus, as we rarely use our eyes in that way in real life. Taking in the galaxy required my eyes to fully uncross and look at the sight in parallel. The galaxy seemed as if it were alive, and I said to myself that this was probably the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen.
However, I couldn't stay there for long, as there was nothing to concentrate my sense of sight on, because the objects were very far away. I returned to the void, and, suspended in a static position, created strong vibrations. For a while, I simply enjoyed this uncommon sensation. It was interesting to observe the characteristics of this phenomenon. When I raised my arms and brought my palms towards my face, I felt strong, warm wind streaming from them to my face. Noise filled my ears. When I palpated my head with my hands, it seemed as if I was touching my unprotected brain, but there was no pain.
I enjoyed this state for some time, plunging in some unknown direction. After a short flight, I was ejected back into my room at home. This time everything in it corresponded 100% to reality, enough though I had not set myself that goal. Nothing interested me in the room, and so I walked through my bedroom door into the other rooms, with everything as in real life. I didn't have to look long for adventure, as I found my mother and brother in the other room, both of whom I had not seen for a while. I spoke with them about anything that came to mind, just for the sake of hearing their voices and getting a chance to look at them. This was a real gift for me. But I faded out a bit, and was only able with great difficulty to regain control over the state through the infamous technique of falling head-first …
October 2006
A Murdered Friend
Don't watch the morning news and eat at the same time. I vomited all today's breakfast into the toilet after watching the news report that someone I knew, far from a passing acquaintance, had been brutally killed that night. He had tried to call me a couple of weeks before, but I hadn't been in the mood to accompany him on another one of his drinking bouts. For my own peace of mind, I decided to somehow try to make amends.
I lay down. With great difficulty, I calmed down and began to focus my attention on phantom wiggling with my arm. No wiggling occurred at first, but once it came, it started quickly increasing in amplitude. A short lapse in consciousness occurred after about 10 minutes, and I was able to easily get up out of bed.
I didn't need to deepen. After closing my eyes, I immediately focused my attention on the image of my friend. Then, something picked me up and moved me in an unknown direction. After several seconds, I was literally thrown into the kitchen of his apartment. As usual, he sat in a chair at a table cluttered with cognac. He didn't pay any attention to me. He didn't look good, with many bruises and cuts on his face and arms. Although there was almost no blood, it was all awful to look at due to the hyper-realism, and I began to feel nauseated again. When I came closer, he turned to me and sobbed... I tried to ask him what had happened, because they didn't say exactly what had occurred on the news. It turned out that his lifestyle lay at the cause of it all. He started shouting that he wanted to live, and that he would no longer act like that if he could only live again. I apologized for not having picked up the phone. I looked at him for the last time. And, acting against my beliefs, I returned to my body.
By evening, his explanation of what had happened was confirmed. As for his behavior and external appearance, they were understandably triggered by my still raw emotions. I think that if I meet him in several months, he'll look and act differently.
December 2008
Tyrannosaurus Rex
I woke up during a daytime nap. While still in a drowsy state, I tried to roll out of my body and fly up into the air, but nothing happened. However, I felt that I was in a state very close to that of the phase. I tried forced falling asleep, and then felt lapses of consciousness, during which images flickered before my eyes. A few seconds later, I decided to try separating from my body again. Meanwhile, I knew that if that didn't work, I could switch to observing images, as they were already there. However, that turned out not to be necessary, as I was easily able to simply get up out of my body. My vision immediately came to me. I was quickly able to make the state that I was in extremely realistic by palpating and peering at objects around me. I also managed to quickly palpate my body, all the while creating and amplifying vibrations in order to cement myself in a deep phase.
While I had a clearly-formulated plan of action regarding studying the phase, I had already re-thrashed its details several times that week. At that moment, I really just wanted to use the phase for my own personal enjoyment, and do something I was looking forward to for a while. At one of my seminars about a week before, I had told my students about how it was possible to go for a walk among dinosaurs. A desire to do so now burned within me, as I had not done anything of the sort for a long time. So I scrapped my previous plan of action, closed my eyes, and concentrated my attention on the Tyrannosaurus rex. I then felt the sensation of movement. The translocation took longer than usual. This was normal for such a situation, because it was simply psychologically difficult to believe one would see dinosaurs, even though I had succeeded in doing so many times before. The rational brain tends to have difficulties with things like encountering dinosaurs.
I nevertheless managed to get myself together and concentrate my attention. Then, I landed on something soft. It was a patch of moss in the forest. I began to scrutinize the moss and palpate it with my hands. Vision almost immediately came to me, and became incredibly sharp. I crouched on all fours and stared for a while at everything right in front of me - mainly small twigs of various shapes and decayed leaves. There were also all kinds of insects crawling around.
I then focused my attention on my own feelings and perceptions. I was still wearing the same t-shirt and shorts that I had fallen asleep in. My body itself seemed unusually pale. However, I was most surprised at how hard it was to breathe. Not only was the air saturated with indescribably-repugnant odors, it also turned out to be quite hot and humid. Trying to breathe in only through my nose made me dizzy. Meanwhile, the air was so hot that breathing in through my mouth hurt my throat. In the end, I decided to breathe in through my mouth, and was able to banish the pain.
I turned my attention to my surroundings. There was forest all around. Very little sun made it through the canopy. The trees were very tall, and had long straight trunks. There were plants all around that looked like ferns, but they were nearly my height. I had found myself in a small clearing without trees. The whole place was filled with sounds that were unnatural for a forest. Instead of birds chirping, I heard whistling and croaking. I heard roaring from time to time coming from somewhere in the distance. I kept hearing crackling and then something crashing to the ground. I could hear a lot of rustling and dull thuds coming from somewhere behind the bushes about thirty yards away from me. I immediately understood that that's where my objective was.
By the time I decided to head for my dinosaur, I was already itching from constant attacks by exotic insects of all colors and sizes, both terrestrial and airborne. While heading for the target, I all the while scrutinized my arms and the leaves that I had ripped off with my hands. I intentionally made right for the tree trunks ahead. I kept special tabs on the hyper-realism of the experience, as this was the most important factor here. The vibrations didn't die down one bit, as I constantly kept them going right from the start.
I went up to the bushes and cautiously peered through them. There was a stream flanked by a muddy bank, from which an enormous patch of horsetail shot up. My objective was wading right in the middle of the stream, I almost shouted out in ecstasy at the sight of it. I kept quiet only out of a desire to not attract its attention. That could have ruined everything. I tried to avoid drawing its attention not so much because I was somewhat afraid, but more out of a desire to simply watch this magnificent creature from the side, and feast my eyes on its beauty.
I had already seen a T. rex at least five times before, but this one was much larger than all of the previous ones. Even the the color of its skin was different - slightly darker and with fewer spots. For some reason, this one seemed to be a female. The giant paused at some point, apparently reacting to me. I immediately returned my attention to peering at the leaves and the insects on them, so as not to interfere in the situation with the dinosaur, and also remain in a deep phase.
I was quite afraid that this phase might not be sufficient for more sensations - and so instead of sticking it out, I quickly ran up behind the T. rex. It immediately turned in my direction, but I concentrated as much as I could on the thought that it would see me as a friend and not a foe. Risking the phase, I even stopped in order to program the situation. Its huge head looked at me for several more seconds, and then calmly bent down. It seems that it had a victim there.
I ran up to its massive tail. I quickly peered at it up close, and then moved to its face. I was meanwhile in a panic over the phase and its depth, and so made great effort to amplify the vibrations I was feeling. Also, I petted the reptile the whole time, for now moving my hands down its side, and stepping into the cool water up to my ankles. Everything was already so extraordinary, and I didn't want to be ejected into reality by making a stupid move. Fear of the monster had already completely subsided, but I started to grow a little concerned over the great depth of this phase. The unwholesome idea of staying there forever suddenly came over me. However, the instinct of self-preservation kept me to my senses.
Pulling up the reptile's massive and muscular frame, I got up to the front of it. I had not seen tyrannosauruses up so close that often before, so I was a bit amused by how helplessness its forearms appeared, almost like puny unwebbed flippers (Tyrannosauruses only have two clawed limbs). They are generally considered to be vestigial, but this reptile was clearly using them to help itself to the carcass of another big lizard, holding it up. In turn, the prey seemed to be quite ugly and bony. Its innards were hanging out of the large jaws of the dining reptile. I squatted down just a yard away from the dinosaur's muzzle and watched the scene. It didn't pay me any attention, even when I grabbed the gnarled leg of its victim (it looked like a chicken-leg, but a hundred times larger), and threw it aside. The T. Rex, still ignoring me, raised its head and went straight for the delicacy. Its movement seemed to require a lot of effort, and all the muscles of its haunches simply pushed forward when exerted. I could see that the beast was incredibly strong.
After going halfway towards its prize and scanning its surroundings, the lizard turned again to the carcass. It began to go at it again. I had already made up my mind to feed him by hand, but then some kind of alarm went off. Quickly realizing that it was coming from outside the window in the physical world, I immediately dunked my head underwater in order to get rid of that sound by programming the qualities of the space around. It was indeed quieter underwater, but the alarm was still audible. While observing the pebbles at the bottom of the clear water, I plugged my ears with my fingers. The sound became even quieter. Employing the straining the brain technique made the vibrations still stronger, creating a noise that I began to listen in to. The alarm sound went away. I surfaced, took my fingers out of my ears, and then it occurred to me that it could have been a car alarm. "And what if that was from my car?" - I thought. Cursing all earthly matters, I recalled my body in order to return back into it. And it was only just upon feeling the physical body that I remembered that my car had already been at the mechanic's for several days now... I heard the alarm again, but it wasn't coming from my car. And so, there was no point in cutting the phase experience short. I tried to get back into the phase once again, but the wail of the alarm did not stop, and so all of my attempts to return to the phase were in vain.
August 2008
An Experiment and a Love Story
I woke up at about 8:00 am and took a cold shower, but was still unable to get into work mode. I decided to go back to sleep. Given that this would be a good time make attempts to enter the phase, I decided to try make a go of it. However, I wasn't in the mood to try anything but phantom wiggling. Not really expecting anything to come of it, I half-heartedly and monotonously tried to "rock the boat" with one hand. That hand, in turn, quickly yielded and started moving, though initially with little amplitude. Already having practically fallen asleep, I noticed that the amplitude had increased dramatically and my hand began to literally slip out of my body. I decided to monitor the situation more closely, and was able to move my forearm further and further to each side. At some point, I was able to trace a full circle with it. It then occurred to me that there had been a marked change in my sense of bodily perception. Something clearly started to occur. I tried to roll out. That did not work, but vibrations arose upon attempting it. This served as a signal to try more actively to roll out. I tried again - and it worked. Granted, there was some difficulty and sluggishness involved, but it worked.
I rolled out off the bed, but the state was unstable: there were no distinct sensations, and I was drawn back into my body. I began erratically palpating everything. The pull on my body gradually disappeared, and after 5 to 10 seconds my sight started to return. I used it to deepen by peering. That proved to be the decisive factor. The phase became hyper-real.
I remembered right then and there what needed to be tried in this phase, and I began from the most important item - experimenting with translocation. I had wanted to check once again how difficult it was to translocate in space using the door technique. First, I closed the door. I focused my attention on there being an auditorium behind it in which I was to give a lecture. I opened the door, walked into the auditorium, and closed the door once again behind me. I then focused my attention on the other side of the door being the weight-room of the gym that I go to. I opened the door, and looked in to the weight-room. Then, I shut the door and opened it again - the weight-room was still there. I went into it and closed the door behind me. I then focused on deep outer-space being behind the door. I opened the door, which led into the hallway that would have been there if I were really in the weight-room. I closed the door and concentrated even harder on outer-space being behind it. I started to open the door, but something seemed to be holding it back from the other side. I had to use force to get the door to budge. After that, it opened all the way easily. At that point, I noticed that the phase space began to blur. However, I managed to concentrate and restore its realism by straining the brain. Behind the door was deep outer-space.
I stood at the entrance to the weight room, and literally a step in front of me was endless expanse without beginning or end. I could breathe freely. An icy draft came in through the door. Experiments have shown that unless one is simply going from one room into another, translocating using doors is one of the more difficult methods. Such difficulty is probably only due to the internal psychological blocks that people have. While standing and analyzing what was happening, I was sucked into a stencil. The only thing that I could do at that very moment was grab at the door handle, which I did almost automatically.
I then felt myself lying in my body. However, my hand was clearly still grasping the door handle. I began moving the phantom hand on every plane, and soon felt that I would be able to separate. I easily rolled out and found myself in my room.
I quickly brought the state to a level of hyperrealism through peering interspersed with palpation. Realizing that I had already achieved my primary objectives, I gave in to a desire to meet with a girl whom I had not seen for a while, but still had feelings for. I went to the bathroom door, and opened it without a shred of doubt that she would be on the other side. And that's just how it happened. I opened the door and saw behind her the interior of my old apartment where she used to visit me. I had of course hoped to have seen her naked in the bathtub, but this scenario was not bad at all.
She was sitting on the couch and looking out the window. I felt that she understood that I was close-by. I went up and sat down on the floor next to her. I cuddled up to and started being affectionate with her. Thanks to the hyper-realism of the experience, the sensations were incredibly intense and amazing. Simply stroking her skirt and jacket was a stunning experience, as it once was in reality. It was extremely pleasant to feel her soft and warm body under her clothes, pantyhose, and knee-high stockings.
Once I brought my hand to her head and began taking her hair away from her face, she turned toward me and smiled. After seeing the gaze of those same very eyes and that same smile, there was nothing I could do in response but smile. I continued to move my hands over her face, head, and body in order to maintain the phase. Her eyes were sad, her smile seemed to be amid tears. But all the while, her expression was more open and sincere than it had ever been in reality.
She also started to smooth my face and hands. She then came to ask me how I was doing and what I had been up to. Understanding that such communication was only a formality of secondary importance in the phase, I answered only in monosyllables, all the while enjoying the fact that I was next to her, could feel her touch, see her eyes, and hear her painfully familiar voice. Surprisingly, I was not overwhelmed by the unbridled sexual instincts that usually arise when contacting the opposite sex in phase.
After spending some more time with her, I decided that it was time to bring the meeting to a close, as I could see her another time. Before me still remained the task of entering and exiting my body multiple times. Practicing that skill had been a part of my preliminary plan of action.
I intentionally returned to my body and immediately began trying to exit it. I was easily able to roll out. I returned back to my body, and then rolled out of it again. However, my connection to reality greatly increased after that last return, and it took a fair amount of effort to literally fly out of my body. I would also have to employ the technique of forced falling asleep.
Having found myself floating once again in the center of the room, I clearly understood that there was no point in returning back again to the body. Without even bothering to strengthen the phase through deepening, I nevertheless intentionally rushed back to my body in order to discover the limit of my own capabilities, and further refine my skill at exiting the body. Caught in a stencil, I was at first barely able to move, but then I was seized by a wave of awakening. I switched to forced falling asleep, and then on to observing images when forced sleep did not work. No images appeared. I again began to try to divide, but then arose the feeling of having fully awakened.
I started trying to move my hands down along my body and back. Phantom movement arose after several seconds, and my consciousness immediately submerged deeply, sinking away from the outside world. I focused even more on movement, and it occurred even further. I started to try to get up. I was able to, but very sluggishly. My body seemed to be several times heavier than it really was. Any relaxation on my part immediately nailed me back to the stencil. At some point I managed to completely separate, and found myself next to the bed. I tried chaotically to use all available deepening techniques, but nothing helped, and I was returned to my body. I was done for that session.
January 2009
Obtaining Information
Once I got into bed, I found myself in the mood to try entering the phase using a direct technique. After having laid down for a bit and some end-of-the-day reflection, which calmed and relaxed me to some extent, I began to concentrate my attention on imagined rotation along my head-to-toe axis. I was unable to rotate more than halfway for the first minute. But then I was able to rotate all the way around, and it got easier and easier with each minute. I rotated in one direction, and then another. I periodically lapsed into sleep and shallow dreaming. I did not even try to attempt separation when surfacing, because I did not feel any phase symptoms. At one point, conscious awareness sank into unconscious for a longer period of time than before (I almost completely fell asleep). When I came to, the rotation was somewhat sluggish. I intensified the rotation, which then spun me around like an electric motor: my whole body was abuzz with vibrations, even though the rotation was still imaginary, and not as perceptually real as usual. I also heard noise. It became clear that if I was not already in the phase, then I was close to it, and so I tried to roll out for the first time. It worked like a charm. However, I did not fall onto the floor, but floated an inch or two above it, as it seemed to me.
Wasting no time, I abruptly stood up in the middle of the room. I couldn't see the room around me, but clearly understood that I was in it. I quickly began to palpate the floor, closet, bed linen, my own torso, and so on. On the whole, I could immediately tell that the phase was deep, even though I couldn't see. I did everything more out of habit, and in order to ensure a long and confident phase. Moreover, the lapse in consciousness was recent, and it would be necessary to fully regain consciousness before going into action, otherwise I might easily drift out of the phase. After 5 to 10 seconds of palpation, my vision returned. As soon as it did, I stared at my hands, peering at all the lines on my palms and fingers. The phase became not only real in terms of perception - it became hyper-real.
At that moment, I quickly defined my goals: to obtain information about phase training, and to conduct an experiment on the connection between the body perceived in the phase and the physical body left behind on the bed. I didn't initially recall what else had I wanted to do, but figured that I'd remember the other tasks while completing the first two.
All that thought on my plan of action did not take more than two seconds. I then closed my eyes and concentrated on finding a wise old man. I abruptly flew off, and quickly enough found myself in a hut, entering as if staggering in after flying through the wall. The wise man sat facing away from me, so I quickly walked around to face him, and then asked him how I could improve my teaching methodology at seminars. I expected that he would once again propose certain tricks-of-the-trade and special techniques. Instead, he unexpectedly said that it was worth working more actively on the emotional factor and especially motivation, as many simply do not make the necessary effort, mainly because they don't understand what awaits them and how interesting it is. Even though their technique should be corrected, there's not point in doing so when they aren't always motivated and do not perform the techniques thoroughly.
Having obtained what I needed and having set its analysis aside for later, I took advantage of the opportunity and asked a question concerning my personal relationships with people that I care about in my life. However, the response caused me to fade out, and my mind wandered for a couple of moments, which was enough for everything to become blurred. Realizing that directly employing maintaining techniques would be useless at this point, I just tried to maintain the phase by grabbing the sage's beard. I ended up in my body, but with my hand still holding his beard, which I strongly clutched in my hand in order to amplify the flow of sensations as much as possible. Rubbing my hand with the beard, I was able to almost effortlessly get out of bed. After palpating the nearby space with my free hand and realizing that the state was stable enough, I began trying to scrutinize the hand with the beard, holding it close to my eyes. My vision started to return, and within several seconds I was already able to see the space and my hand itself quite clearly. In it lay a thick clump of gray hair. This made me laugh. I tried not to get distracted, and was able to contain myself.
Then, I began to study the connection between the body that is visible on the bed from the phase, and the real physical one. Perhaps the phase space itself came to my aid, because it was precisely at that time that I saw my body indeed lying on the bed. I had been enjoying this sight less and less frequently, though at the beginning of my practice I experienced it with nearly every exit from the body.
Watching myself from the outside was once again not very pleasant, something jostled me inside and aroused mixed feelings. This was perhaps because the person I was looking at did not exactly correspond to how I experience myself to be. I began to touch his feet, stomach, and head. Contrary to old wives' tales, this did not cause any getting pulled into a stencil - this process deepened and maintained my phase, as it was a type of sensory amplification. At some point, touching and examining the face, I all too clearly realized that it was me. Everything faded for a moment, and I even felt someone's hands on my face. But I was then able to go back to what I was doing, and continued on with the same clarity of purpose. I wrapped up the experiment.
Here it dawned on me that I could not remember what else I had wanted to do. Quite disappointed, I now had to go on with doing the first thing that popped into my head, so as not to waste the rest of the phase as a result of my poor memory…
March 2009
An Unexpectedly Long Phase
I had put a lot of work into the book the day before, wrapping up a three-day session. My brain was still very tired, and would need more than the previous night's sleep to recuperate. After working another hour from 8 to 9 am, I fell asleep. I woke up around dinnertime, ate, and was once again unable to resist falling asleep. After about another hour or two of sleep, I woke up motionlessly to partial conscious awareness after a vivid dream. I realized that my mind was clear and relaxed enough to try to enter the phase. Moreover, I had an intense desire to do so. I tried separating - and nothing. I began observing images. At first they were quite dull. I could make out a forest landscape somewhere in the distance. It quickly became more and more realistic, and seemed to be sucking me in. However, I didn't feel like waiting for it to pull me in, and so I tried once again to roll out. I was only able to make several degrees of movement, and then I was stuck again. I returned to my body, and once again rushed to force myself to roll out. I was able to move significantly farther, but was still stuck. I returned again, and even more forcefully started rolling out, this time meeting no resistance.
I felt the phase to be fairly weak. Even deepening techniques hardly helped. I had no vision, and the sensations had less than 50% the stability of those of real life. I was nearly pulled back into my body. I tried palpation on the objects in my room with double effort, and meanwhile ran around in order to obtain more sensations. It took effort, but the situation started to stabilize. Once I could feel that I was stably in the phase, I put my hands to my eyes and aggressively tried to see through the darkness. Sight quickly came, and I could see the whole room no less vividly than in real life.
Since the phase still seemed unstable to me and destined to be short-lived, I decided to put aside my plan of action and instead practice skills that I had not used in a while. First, I went up to the wall and started to forcefully knock on it with my knuckles. I immediately felt sharp and unpleasant pain. I concentrated my attention, and the pain quickly subsided. I knocked even harder. There was no pain. I punched the wall several times with all my strength, breaking the surface of the drywall and leaving a dent. There was no pain at all.
I then looked at my slipper lying next to the bed, and tried to move it just by looking at it. After some hesitation, the slipper started to move a bit, though reluctantly. I noticed that the realism of the space around me sagged somewhat and everything seemed to fade a bit - afterwards, the slipper bent to my every will. I moved it across the floor and made it move through the air. I finally dashed it against the window, shattering it. A cold draft blew in. I then telekinetically flipped the bed over and installed it on the ceiling, all by staring at it. I then focused my attention on the light-bulb of the lamp, trying to turn it on by force of will. The light bulb flickered on, and then off. I increased the depth of the phase to a hyper-realistic state through peering and palpation, and then tried illuminating the light-bulb again. This proved to be more difficult. It didn't particularly want to obey my will. But after a few seconds, it gently reddened, and then lit up.
I finished my phase skills training session by concentrating on the bed, willing it to catch fire. It immediately started smoldering. Then, small tongues of fire erupted here and there. Within a few seconds, the whole bed was on fire, filling the room with a sulphuric smell and a lot of smoke.
Rubbing my hands together in order to deepen the state, I went up to the broken window, startled that the phase had lasted so long, as it had initially been so unstable. I decided to use the last moments of it to take off into outer-space in one of those ultrafast machines featured in the move "Star Wars". I focused my attention on the idea, closed my eyes in anticipation, and immediately felt myself moving. I gradually felt the sensation that I wasn't standing, but sitting on and sinking into a comfortable chair that had just appeared. I now felt that I was dressed in some kind of spacesuit, and holding a pilot's joystick in my gloved hands. As soon as I focused my attention on that tactile sensation and had already decided to bring back my sight, a horribly loud sound started blaring. A force of titanic proportions pulled me from the chair and cockpit that I was in, its safety restraints nearly tearing me apart. The shock forced my eyes open.
Fortunately, my eyes did not open to the physical world. But unfortunately, I saw that I was approaching a huge spaceship at high speed, with sparks flying about all around me. There was already nothing that I could do. After another second, there was nothing but darkness, and I was weightless. Vexed at the interruption of such an interesting adventure, I totally forgot to employ further techniques, and soon realized that I was lying in bed, and could feel daylight through my eyelids. I figured that it was time to get up and continue writing the book. Without attempting to get back into the phase, I went to the bathroom to wash up, meanwhile reflecting on what had happened. I looked in the mirror, and did not immediately realize what was happening: I had huge beer-belly. At first I was in shock, because I had devoted so much energy to getting rid of this "trophy" that I got from "bulking up" and heavy weight training. Taking the belly in my hands, I squeezed and rolled the layers of fat. I then realized that I had never had a belly like this before. And then came the epiphany - I was still in the phase! One can only imagine my relief ...
January 2010
A Long Way for a Short Phase
I woke up sometime at about 9 am, and my first thought was that I had woken up too alertly to do anything with the phase. As always, I forced myself to still try to do something. The awakening was so alert that it was somewhat difficult to convince myself to this end. The situation was aggravated by physical movement - I was lying down uncomfortably on my stomach.
I immediately performed forced falling asleep for a few seconds, causing me to feel a sharp plunge in my mental state, as if I were retreating deep into myself. I tried to separate right then, but nothing happened: neither levitation, nor rolling out, nor getting up. I started performing one of my favorite techniques: phantom wiggling. No movement arose. A few seconds later, I tried visualizing my hands. Then observing images. There was no result, but I noted that my hearing was fading out: I already couldn't clearly hear sounds coming from outside the window or the room. That definitely meant something. I again tried phantom wiggling, but nothing happened after several seconds of trying.
I decided to do visualization of the hands together with forced falling asleep. I started waving my hands in front of my face, and then rubbing may palms together, trying to distinguish all this visually. Meanwhile, I feel into a deeper state, leading my conscious awareness into the void. It was right then that I noticed that I sensed my hands to be less under the pillow, and more in front of my face. Once my conscious awareness got distracted by this, everything stopped right then and there. I again began to fade out, and then tried to feel and see my hands in front of me. With my remaining remnants of awareness, I began to notice that my hands' presence in front of my face was increasingly palpable, and I even began to be able to make them out visually. As soon as I realized that I could see them, I reactivated my conscious awareness, and started trying to discern the hands as clearly as possible. And after a couple of seconds, they became as clearly visible as they would be in reality. Now I could feel them 100%, and even forgot about where they were lying in reality. Not more than 30 seconds had elapsed so far from the moment of initial awakening.
After that, I just got up off the bed, quickly mentally running over my plan of action. But then, the telephone lying on the floor next to the bed unexpectedly started ringing. I picked it up, and could feel not only its physical features, but even how it vibrated out the ring-tone. My colleague from work flashed on the caller ID. I wondered what he would say to me in the phase, and so I pressed the button to take the call. To my surprise, the phone kept on ringing. I became confused. I again pressed the button to take the call, but to no end. I realized that the phone was probably also ringing in reality.
As soon as that realization hit me, I was instantly back in my body. The phone was really ringing. And indeed, it was my colleague from work calling. The question remains as to why that sound didn't immediately knock me out of the phase. Perhaps because the phase space was overlapping the real world in a completely logical way.
December 2010
Turning into Lenin's Mummy
It was an exhausting day: flying into Seattle from LA, and then driving out to Yelm just in time for the first session of a seminar. That's why the plan wasn't to enter the phase, but to at least catch up on some sleep.
I awoke quite early the next morning, and went right for the kitchen to get a taste of the delicious treats that my hostess had baked. It was already fairly light outside, and I got a chance to enjoy the beauty of the brook and pine forest outside the window. I thought about how nice it must be to live in a place with such scenery. After having enjoyed some tasty treats with a glass of milk, I went to go back to bed. As I lay down, I nearly immediately heard some noise. This was puzzling, as the phase rarely comes to me so quickly and without lapses in consciousness. Meanwhile, such noise is a definitive sign that a phase is already in progress. Something wasn't right…
Then, it finally dawned on me: up in these northern parts at this time of the morning, it simply couldn't have been as light outside as it had seemed to me when I was walking about the guest story of the house. It had all happened in the phase! The treats, the milk, and taking in the landscape. And even I, with all of my experience, would have never figured that out if it weren't for that noise which betrayed the fact that I was in the phase once I returned to my body. Incredible…
I rolled out of my body right away and got on with a series of experiments…
As soon as my obligatory plan of action had been completed, I was returned back to my body. I rolled out again with ease and decided to just run through the beautiful environs of the fabled little town of Blueberry Hill, upon arriving there by force of will. The place was quite impressive. I rushed through the window and began sprinting around the house from a distance of 100 yards, intently scrutinizing everything I came across.
My secondary plan of action complete, I was returned back to my body. I couldn't recall anything else important to do. But I had to squeeze everything out of this phase, and use it for still more. For some reason, out of the blue I got the strange idea of turning up inside Vladimir Lenin's mummified body at his tomb in Moscow's Red Square. Without first separating, I began trying to feel myself being him. My body immediately shortened in stature. I began to feel myself in the exact body position that his mummy lies in, as well as in its clothing. For the first time in a long while, once I began to feel the surrounding environment, being in the phase felt very scary. The incredible realness of sensation evoked some strange terror that made me decide to cut the phase short, against my own advice. I returned to my body with only minor difficulty. I opened my eyes. It was pitch black all around me. The time was 2 am.
I went back into Lenin's body, but the terror did not return. This was unfortunate, as I would like to experience such extraordinary feelings again. Seeing as the nearly dumbfounding account of my adventure was illustrative of many items on the curriculum, I decided to share it and everyone at the next day's seminar got a good laugh out of it.
May 2011
A Typical Investigative Phase
I awoke at 6 AM, turned on CNN, and had a bite to eat, as is my custom. After catching the latest news, I turned off the television. I then began to attentively review my plan of action for the day's upcoming phases and add in new details. The morning's first phase was to be devoted to an experiment on maintaining by means of assuming an extremely uncomfortable or even painful position with the perceived (subtle) body. The second phase would be needed to undertake an experiment on the consistency of bodily perception: somehow separate or cut off an arm and see what happens with sensations. Other items on the plan of action for this and subsequent phases consisted of more down-to-earth and everyday goals.
At 6:20 AM I closed the balcony door, inserted earplugs, and put on a sleeping mask to keep sunlight from interfering. After lying down in a comfortable position on my stomach, I once again thought about my plan of action. I decided to enter the phase using a direct technique. I didn't start off with the technique right away. Instead, I decided to reach the edge of sleep first. I got lost in thought at some point, and my imaginings turned into episodes that enveloped me. My mind was then abruptly returned to the body, and I tried to separate, but unsuccessfully. I then began to do the rotation technique quite slowly and passively. My awareness once again began to fade, and another shallow lapse in consciousness took place. On the way back up, neither standing up, nor levitating, nor rolling out were successful as separation techniques. Meanwhile, I could clearly sense an approaching phase. I started doing sensory-motor visualization, imagining that I had already separated and was walking about the room while deepening the phase. Those imagined sensations started becoming real after another micro-lapse in conscious awareness about three minutes in.
As soon as the sensations had become true-to-life, I rapidly made them hyper-realistic through a mix of palpation, peering, and focused intention. Then, I fell backwards to the floor and folded my legs underneath, trying to recreate a pulling feeling in my hips that had once helped me to stay in the phase for a long time. This time, however, my legs bent quite flexibly, and so no pain or strain arose. Feeling that the phase would soon end anyway, I began to twist my legs even more intensely. Mild pain finally came. Realizing that I couldn't hope for much more at that point, I decided to see whether such weak sensations were enough for maintaining the phase. Now fading, I kept my legs in as painful a position as possible. I started counting the seconds that went by, all the while enjoying a tranquility uncharacteristic of the phase. After all, staying in the phase for as long as possible usually requires chaotic action in order to stimulate all of the senses. At 26 seconds in, the sensations abruptly began to dissipate, as did the pain. Several seconds later, I was back in my body. I was unable reenter the phase state, which meant that it had fully run its course.
I began falling back asleep with the intention of repeating the test during my next phase experience, and only then moving on to the other activities on my plan of action. The indirect method would bring me twice more into the phase that morning, allowing me to continue on with the experiment. Yet another phase would come thanks to becoming conscious while dreaming, and all this by 9:30 AM.
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Only for Experienced Practitioners
The term phase state (or simply phase) encompasses a number of widely known dissociative phenomena, many of which are referred to by various terms, such as astral travel or out-of-body experience. This concept also includes the more pragmatic term lucid dreaming, but is not limited to the sense and form implied by that expression. Hence, the term phase has been introduced to ease the study of phenomena that exist beyond habitual – and often inaccurate- associations and stereotypes. The term out-of-body experience is accurate to the extent that it describes the sensation felt by a person experiencing the phase phenomenon.
A phase has two primary attributes: 1.) practitioners possess full, conscious awareness during the experience, and 2.) practitioners recognize a genuine separation from the physical body.
Simultaneously, the degree to which practitioners perceive the phase environment affects the level of sensory experiences therein, which often occur in a higher form than the sensory experiences of wakefulness. This concept is difficult to imagine without firsthand experience of the phase. And so, it is not without reason that this practice is considered to be a higher state of self-hypnosis or meditation, and is often referred to under different names as the highest possible human achievement in various religious and mystical movements (yoga, Buddhism, etc.).
In essence, the phase is an unexplored state of mind where one is unable to control or feel the physical body. Instead, space perception is filled with realistic phantom experiences.
Interesting Fact!
Sensations in the phase state can be so realistic that practitioners who unintentionally enter it often believe they are still in the physical body, and that the experience is occurring in the waking state. These types of unintended excursions most often occur at night or early in the morning.
It is believed that one person in two on this planet will encounter this phenomenon at least once in his life. However, when the variability and differing levels of depth of the state are taken into consideration, practically everyone has encountered it in one way or another. Since the phase is a rare subject of study, many who inadvertently enter it do not realize what has taken place once they return to wakefulness. Many do not assign any significance to the occurrence of a phase environment that is not fully formed because shallow phases don't leave the same jolting impression as deep states. Elusive as the phase may seem, this is an extremely common phenomenon, accessible to anyone willing to consciously learn and apply the correct methods of achieving and maintaining it.
Interesting Fact!
9 and 75 year-olds have studied at School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars. Meanwhile, even as many trouble themselves over the issue of how much age hinders or helps in the practice, these people demonstrated some of best results in their groups.
Even a scientific approach to the phenomenon states unequivocally that the phase is accessible to all, barring serious brain pathologies. This has been unambiguously confirmed by experimental research. Therefore, there's no sense in reasoning that the phase is something difficult, accessible only to a small circle of people, or out of anyone's reach. Difficulties in mastering it attest only to technique-related mistakes, and not to the inaccessibility of the phenomenon.
Science first accepted the possibility of the phase state within the dream consciousness context with Keith Hearne's 1975 experiment at England's Hull University. Over the course of the experiment, practitioner Alan Worsley was able to make deliberate and previously agreed eye movements at the same that an EKG monitor indicated his brain was in a state of sleep. Several years later, Stephen LaBerge would perform a similar experiment at Stanford University that became well known due to his active contribution to the development of this field of study.
Quite a number of scientific experiments have been conducted worldwide to prove the existence of the phenomenon and investigate its nature. For example, experiments on three phasers at the Max Plank Institute in Frankfurt (2008) demonstrated the following: the largest difference between the states of wakefulness, the phase, and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep is observed at the 40 Hz frequency, and is concentrated in the frontal parts of the brain. Essentially, it was demonstrated that the phase is something in-between wakefulness and REM sleep. Notably, those very parts of the brain that are very much responsible for consciousness and whose development distinguishes humans from primates turn out to be the most active while in the phase. This work was undertaken by J. Allan Hobson, Ursula Voss, Romain Holzmann, and Inka Tuin. They are credited with demonstrating the difference between states of consciousness at 40 Hz.
More in-depth explanations of the nature of the phase state phenomenon remain to be discovered. With each passing year, the scientific community increasingly realizes how important the study of this state is, recognizing that it enables a better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for consciousness and how varying states of wakefulness and sleep arise.
There is also a theory which states that the phase is a product of the evolution of human consciousness: consciousness first arose in and occupied wakefulness, and then gradually began to seep into the REM state, the next-closest state still free of conscious awareness. Possibly, conscious existence in two worlds - wakefulness and the phase - will be as commonplace for men and women of the future as being aware only during wakefulness is today. However, there is also a completely opposite theory which maintains that phase ability used to be inherent, but is gradually disappearing. It points to the frequent ease with which younger children enter the phase, but later lose the ability with age due to its neglect.
Although the general tone of this learning material has so far kept to a sufficiently materialist tack, it is not theorizing about the phase that brings people together, but its practice. Practice is indisputable, while theory always leads to contention. For that reason, it makes no difference at all what the practitioner considers the nature of the phenomenon to be, including if he sees esoteric or mystic motifs in it. Everyone has the right to their own outlook and it is by no means the aim of this book to influence any life philosophy or encourage it towards some theoretical bent. What's most important is that the reader be able to get real practice with the phenomenon.
Unfortunately still, there is no clear definition of the phenomenon in esoteric culture, nor an unambiguous term for it. Depending on the esoteric practice, the phase state is alternatively lumped in with astral projection or out-of-body travel, and sometimes with lucid dreaming. Postulated is some essence (the soul or astral body) leaving the physical plane and finding itself somewhere in a) the physical world, b) the dream world, or c) the astral plane, etc. Meanwhile, the number of worlds that can be visited varies depending on the mystical school. For example, the astral plane can be the higher one or the lower one, or also the mental plane, etheric plane, and so on and so forth. In some mystical schools this is considered a higher experience in terms of one's personal practice and state of being, while in others it is equated to the physical world, and is but a layer between more ethereal realms. Just the same, explanations of the nature of the phenomenon and its significance also vary widely.
It is also often considered to be the same state that people experience when dying. In many Eastern practices and religions, like Buddhism for example, where the main goal is to stop the cycle of reincarnation through remaining conscious while dying, it is believed that conscious dying can only be accomplished through ability to enter the phase, which would be a form of training for the moment of death and remaining conscious during it.
There are endless disagreements regarding how lucid dreaming (i.e. dream consciousness) actually differs from so-called "out-of-body travel" and whether its classification under the phase is justified. The same controversy extends to another esoteric term - astral projection. However, such doubts only trouble novices and those whose acquaintance with the phase is superficial. Not a single experienced practitioner can unequivocally differentiate these phenomena, although explanations for this may vary. For example, when classifying all these phenomena together, one practitioner will conclude that it's indeed a parallel world, while another might maintain that it's all generated by the mind.
There are many reasons to classify lucid dreaming (i.e. dream consciousness) together with out-of-body travel. This is not only because existing research and a massive number of peoples' experiences easily prove it. There are a number of questions that adherents of dividing phase phenomena into various states cannot answer. First, why do lucid dreamers and out-of-body travelers use the very same techniques to achieve their states, but merely call the result by different names? Second, why are the fundamental properties of the out-of-body plane and lucid-dreaming world exactly the same? Third, if the world of dreaming can take on any external form with any properties, then how does one differentiate real exit of the soul from the body into the physical world - or a parallel astral one - from a simulated dreamscape? Many can offer theoretical explanations, but not one that can be applied or proven in practice.
People usually encounter extreme physiological difficulty in leaving behind the idea of there being a myriad of worlds that they can fall into. This is usually tightly interwoven with their life philosophy and worldview, which can be pulled at the seams by such questioning. However, even opponents of classifying phase experiences together can easily use the techniques to achieve them in a way compatible with their outlook. This again demonstrates the secondary role of theory and the overriding importance of practice.
Such a question can only arise from not fully understanding the properties of the phenomenon and its nature. When one suddenly understands at a certain moment that he is just as real as he normally is, and is standing somewhere that is not in the physical world with his same hands and body, and can touch everything around him and discern fine details, such much emotion stirs up inside him that no questions arise at all. This is the most amazing experience that a person can attain!
The initial phase encounter is always jolting and sometimes frightening. Depending on the individual, fear experienced during initial encounters with the phase occurs in about one-third of all cases. Even veteran practitioners encounter fear, which speaks to the profound nature of the phase state.
With time, as rapture ebbs and emotions wane, thoughts turn from the fact of the phenomenon itself towards how to somehow use it. And here, a fantastically diverse field of practical application opens up before the practitioner. These applications – which this book communicates – are not to be associated with the many unproven and dubious methods often described in sundry esoteric literature. The information presented herein is verifiable, practical, and attainable.
Whatever the nature of the phase - a state of mind, or perhaps an external experience - this is the sole opportunity to: visit any part of the world or universe; see people who are out-of-reach in real life, including relatives, the deceased, celebrities, and various creatures; communicate with the enormous resources of the subconscious mind and obtain information from it; realize desires that are unattainable in real life; model artistic productions; influence physiology, and more. These are not dull experiences. They are eminently personal and real.
It must be said that various diets, exercises, rituals, and so forth do not produce noticeable supplementary effects to proper practice of the phase. Naturally existent psychological and physiological comfort is of the utmost importance. Thus, methods recommending overeating, under-eating, or tormenting oneself with various diets and strange exercises are useless and ultimately detrimental to a practitioner's wellness and balance, invariably producing a negative impact on the effectiveness of techniques taught in this guidebook. Additionally, no meaningful association has been found between practice of the phase and what may be construed as "bad habits". Regardless of a lifestyle's null effect on phase achievement, a healthy, active lifestyle will always be recommended to enjoy a good quality of living.
Interesting Fact!
If one believes that it is necessary to position one's bed with the headboard facing the northwest or some other direction in order to have more effective out-of-body experiences, then doing so will invariably have a positive effect on results. However, the issue at hand is not the positioning of the body, but a belief that is akin to an intention, which in turn is enormously important.
It has been observed that a regular and orderly lifestyle increases the frequency of genuine, lasting phase experiences. Sleeping normally and soundly is the most basic example of a lifestyle choice that produces direct, positive impact on results, especially when a practitioner commits to a full night's rest several times a week.
In order to better understand the proper approach to the practice, it's worth enumerating four types of people who usually have the quickest and best results. First, people who are mathematically inclined. The more exactly the instructions given in this textbook are followed, the greater their effectiveness. People with mathematical minds immediately get and clearly understand the whole procedure in its entirety, which is why they have better success in carrying it out. Next are the athletes. Their practice is facilitated by their clarity of purpose as well as ability to focus and push themselves. Third are those who love to sleep. A successful practice can definitely be predicted for a person who falls asleep easily and can slumber for 10 to 12 hours, often waking up and then falling back asleep throughout. Finally, children. Their success is ensured not only by physiological factors, but also in much part by a clarity of mind yet to be encumbered with useless knowledge and hamstrung by excessive analysis. Practical instructions reach their minds unhindered and are easily followed unerringly.
There is absolutely no requirement to fall into the above categories in order to take up the practice of phase states. You need only separate out and understand what exactly helps these types of people, try to find similar traits in yourself, and then accentuate them in your own practice.
Similarly, certain types can be singled out who often have difficulties in beginning their practice of the phase. First are those who have light, brief, or fitful sleep due to physiological traits, lifestyle, or their work. Next are active practitioners of esoteric techniques with many years of experience. The minds of such people are so weighed down by various theories and practices that it can be simply impossible to convey even the basics regarding techniques to them, as they immediately interpret everything in their own idiosyncratic way and synthesize it with other accumulated knowledge. Then there are people who are simply inattentive. Their problem consists in frequently focusing on secondary matters, all while blatantly ignoring what's most important.
If a practitioner fits into one of the above categories, that doesn't mean that nothing will work for him or that he's better off not taking up this practice. The truth is that this practice works for everybody, it's just that some of the habits of the above groups can interfere with their developmental path. If you recognize such tendencies in yourself, all that you have to do is to try to overcome or mitigate them.
One of the main criteria for a successful start to one's out-of-body practice is to approach it with a blank slate. If a practitioner has read, heard, or tried out even something having to do with this phenomenon, he's better off forgetting about it or at least putting it aside for now. And that blank slate should be carefully and exactly inscribed with these instructions, which have been proven to work by thousands across the globe.
A number of practices and pastimes have been found to have a positive effect on the practice of out-of-body travel. Sports help one learn to focus on goals, push oneself, and overcome weaknesses. The practice of stopping internal dialog allows one to concentrate intensely and avoid needless analysis when desired. Self-hypnosis and meditation also allow one to learn to concentrate, as well as have control over the mind and body. However, you should never exhaust your energies and enthusiasm by taking up an excessive number of practices at once. That usually leads to overall lack of results.
There should be no neuroticism or obsessiveness in approaching the phase - as they reduce odds of success to zero. All actions should be cool and self-assured, without letting the importance of the end-goal stir one up into a frenzy.
Sound sleep is one indicator of correctness of approach and following the instructions. If all of the methods are implemented correctly, the practitioner will always enjoy sound sleep. Conversely, fitful and chronically light sleep, as well as insomnia, always serve as symptoms of errors in one's very approach to the practice. One's general feeling of well-being is also a good indicator. Correct practice of the phase will never cause fatigue, nor bring out emotional or physical exhaustion. To the contrary, the phase should be emotionally invigorating and energizing. To put it simply, the practice should not cause any discomfort, even during unsuccessful attempts.
It is never recommend to practice the phase state more than 2 or 3 days a week! This is categorically forbidden for novices and is motivated by external factors, in addition to a whole slew of other reasons, mainly psychological. Ideally, over the first months or even years, it's best to only concentrate on attempts before days off from work, when there's no need to wake up early or it's possible to take afternoon naps. Never make any attempts at leaving the body on other days. During them, try to divert yourself from the phase and busy yourself with matters and other practices far removed from it.
Of course, if the phase starts to occur spontaneously during such breaks, then there's no need to run away from it. Take advantage of those opportunities, making use of your entire technique repertoire and practical skill.
Over time, only experienced practitioners will be able to set themselves an ideal schedule that does not affect the quality of their attempts. Some may even do it every day. However, there's no sense in forcing yourself to that level. It's simply not possible for the average novice, no matter how well he has picked up on the all the most important aspects of the practice.
Interesting Fact!
Even the School's beginner seminars take the form of 3-days of lessons with two nights of practice in a row. For a large number of reasons, this is just as effective as if the seminar lasted for an entire 5 days, for example.
If a practitioner has been trying phase entrance techniques every day or almost every day, he should take a break for 1 to 2 weeks in order to start doing them on the right schedule- two or three times per week.
You should try to enter the phase only 2 to 3 days a week, regardless of whether or not your attempts are successful. This should be a simply mandatory rule, so that you don't suffer from emotional exhaustion or hit a wall with your practice. When correctly following it, you can have many phase experiences over a single day, which is why even 2 to 3 days a week is totally sufficient for making constant progress.
Ignoring this rule can lead to quite severe consequences for one's practice: phase entrance will simply not happen at all, and a block in one's practice may arise due to the lack of success. That block will worsen until complete loss of faith in one's own abilities or even the phenomenon itself occurs. The only cure is an even longer break during the week, which it is helpful to take periodically anyway, even when one's practice is successful. To put it bluntly, a phaser should keep to a certain rhythm and cycle during good times and bad, as does the rest of the world.
A novice practitioner must understand the procedure for learning and mastering phase entry. This procedure consists of several primary steps, each of which is a unique science unto itself.
The first and most important step addresses the techniques used to enter the phase state. It is not necessary to master every type of entrance technique (direct, indirect, dream consciousness). Learning and applying the easiest techniques provides the necessary prerequisites to more advanced methods.
Contrary to popular opinion, the need for conscious techniques does not cease upon phase entrance. It is absolutely necessary to learn and apply methods for deepening the phase to achieve a consistently hyper-realistic environment. Failing to apply deepening techniques almost guarantees that experiences will be dull, uninteresting, and subsequent practice short-lived. Practitioners should immediately learn and apply deepening techniques after mastering any one entrance method.
The third step involves mastering techniques for maintaining the phase, as without them the average person would have phase experiences of much shorter duration than is possible. When in the phase, the question of how to leave it almost never occurs. On the contrary, one is normally thrust from it in the course of several seconds if one simply does nothing.
After learning all the necessary techniques for mastering the phase state, it is time to learn and apply methods of control, which encompass the ability to translocate, find and interact with objects, influence surroundings, and so forth.
Once the previously noted steps have been accomplished, a practitioner may proceed to apply phase experiences to enhance everyday life. Over the course of this guidebook, we will examine dozens of these valuable applications in great detail.
With basic skills mastered, remember that practicing the phase is worthwhile and effective only when the results are consistent. If a practitioner enters the phase only once a month, the experience will be too emotional to allow for observation of important principles and methodologies. The phase should be encountered at least once a week. Working toward a level higher than a weekly phase entry is ambitious, even beneficial. Realistically, two to four phase experiences per week might be considered the level of a master, but this is far from the upward boundary (2-6 phases per one day!).
As a rule, novice practitioners achieve the phase less often than is desired. However, with regular attempts, success occurs more and more frequently, which should help alleviate any frustration resulting from failed attempts.
Every budding phaser should realize that the instructions given in this textbook are the best tools for the average person to achieve the phase state. However, many have their own physiological and lifestyle idiosyncrasies, and so something might not suit them or might be counter to their nature. Minor adjustments to the instructions are permissible from the very beginning. As long as they're minor. Substantial changes are only for people with substantial experience, and should only be made using tried and true methods. The methods work for everyone in any case, but for the experienced practitioner they are merely a template that can be fine-tuned to further improve results. If nothing at all works for a practitioner, then it's not a question of method but a question of how well the method is being applied. This is why introducing substantial changes at beginning stages is categorically forbidden.
The aim of this book is to lay a strong foundation for individual practice that is devoid of any dubious elements. Some things might not be as fancy or fantastical as one might wish. On the other hand, everything described here is backed up by the facts. Everyone has the right to choose their own path, personal-growth philosophy, and interpretation of what is going on when building the foundation of their nascent practice.
There are three primary types of techniques that make it possible to enter the phase: direct, indirect and dream consciousness. These methods are performed while lying down or reclining, eyes closed, and the body in a state of total relaxation.
Interesting Fact!
Often, people have an out-of-body experience without prior knowledge or belief in the phenomenon. It just happens, and a large body of evidence has been gathered to support this fact. Even more interesting is that spontaneous experiences often occur after a brief study of material about the topic, like this guidebook...
Direct techniques are performed without any noticeable lapse in consciousness. While practicing direct techniques, a lapse into sleep for less than 5 minutes is not considered a breach of the technique.
By definition, direct techniques encompass the performance of specific actions for a pre-defined interval of time. Successfully applied, direct methods result in a phase entrance without passing through any intermediary states. For 90% of the population, these techniques are the most difficult because the mind naturally exists in an excessively active state. It has been clearly proven within the School's student body that novice practitioners do not benefit from beginning a training regimen with direct techniques. This is because direct techniques require a thorough understanding and masterful application of indirect techniques in order to be effective. The incorrect notion that the phase state is extremely difficult to enter is due to the fact that people are more often drawn to the more difficult direct techniques. It is always better to approach direct techniques only after becoming expert in the use of indirect techniques.
Indirect techniques are techniques that are put into practice upon awakening from sleep.
The effectiveness of indirect techniques is not dependent on the length of the prerequisite sleep cycle. Indirect techniques can be used while exiting a full night's sleep, after a daytime catnap, or following several hours of deep sleep. The most important thing is that there is a lapse of consciousness into sleep before implementing the techniques.
Indirect techniques are the easiest techniques to practice, which is why many practitioners use them to enter the phase. Sleep naturally provides the mind with deep relaxation, which is often difficult to acquire by other methods. Since sleep is required to perform indirect techniques, it is a convenient, oft-occurring means to conduct experiments with the phase. Novice practitioners benefit greatly from the use of indirect techniques, and learn firsthand the possibility of phase entrance.
Dream consciousness is acquired by techniques that allow entrance to the phase through what is commonly referred to as lucid dreaming.
In this case, the phase begins when the awareness that a dream is occurring happens within the dream itself. After becoming conscious while dreaming, several types of actions can be performed, including deepening or returning to the body and rolling out, which will be described later. When deepening techniques are applied in the context of a conscious dream, the sensory perceptions of the phase surpass those of normal wakefulness.
Techniques that facilitate dream consciousness are usually categorized separately from methods used to perform out-of-body travel; in practice, however, it is apparent that the characteristics of dream consciousness and out-of-body travel are identical, which places both phenomena directly in the phase. These practices are difficult because, unlike other techniques, they do not involve specific actions that produce instantaneous results. A large measure of preparatory steps must be observed that require time and effort without any guarantee of results. However, dream consciousness techniques are not as difficult as direct techniques. Moreover, the majority of practitioners, whether using indirect or direct techniques, experience spontaneous awareness while dreaming without having to apply techniques aimed at dream consciousness.
Every phaser finds their own balance between all of the methods for entering the phase based on their abilities to work on them, their individual predispositions, and their very understanding of how to perform them. Some work with only one type of technique. Most often it's the indirect method or dream consciousness. However, whenever possible it's best to strive for balance and diversify phase entrances as much as possible. Moreover, practically everything becomes achievable with practice, and in this field nothing is impossible. With a balanced approach and all things being equal, the direct method will account for about 15% of all experiences, the indirect method 50% (half of those being immediate separations upon awakening, and the other half using the techniques), while the remaining third of experiences will be had thanks to dream consciousness. However, at times the boundary between methods is so hard to pin down that it sometimes appears impossible to assign a phase entrance to a specific method.
In addition to the techniques described above, there are also non-autonomous means and tools: various devices, programs, external influences, and so forth, which can be used to enter the phase. It is necessary to mention that these are only useful to practitioners who are able to enter the phase without supplementary assistance.
Various chemical substances and herbal supplements have been recommended to assist phase entrance, though using them is unlikely to do any good, and use of these has never yielded the effect that can be achieved through unadulterated practice. As such, the use of a chemical crutch is regarded here as completely unacceptable.
Exact scientific proof that entering the phase is dangerous – or even safe - does not exist; there has never been an exhaustive, controlled study to prove either supposition. However, since the phase exists at the fringes of naturally-occurring states of mind, it can hardly be assumed dangerous. Notably, the phase is accompanied by rapid eye movement (REM), which every human experiences for up to 2 hours each night, and this begins to explain the phase experience as entirely safe and natural.
Already confirmed are the psychological influences of the phase on the physical mind and body; namely, the emotional effects that can occur during the onset of the phase state.
Phase entry is a very profound, incredible experience that may induce fear, which is invoked by a natural instinct for self-preservation. The phase can create stress. This is especially true for novices and those poorly acquainted with the nature of the phenomenon and techniques used to control it. Without knowledge and proper practice, a fear-induced reaction can escalate into full-blown terror. After all, while in the phase, fantasy quickly becomes reality, and reticent fears can take on hyper-realistic qualities. When this occurs, it's not the phase environment, but the fear that is treacherous. It goes without saying that fear is a toxic influence, especially to sensitive souls, the elderly, and people with physical ailments, like certain cardiovascular conditions. This does not mean that persons in these groups should abstain from practicing the phase. The solution is to learn about and avoid common stressors associated with the practice, know the mechanics of controlling objects, and understand the principles of making an emergency exit.
Given the possibility of negative phase experiences, it could be advised that practitioners limit the time in phase to fifteen minutes, though it is quite exceptional to maintain the phase for such duration. Proposed time limits are entirely theoretical and motivated by the fact that natural REM does not normally last longer than fifteen minutes, and, at the risk of side effects due to the alteration of natural cycles, experiments directed at unnaturally prolonging REM are not recommended.
During classroom instruction at the School of Out-of-Body Travel, several key factors are known to produce positive and negative effects on the likelihood of success during individual practice:
Positive Effect on Practice
Negative Effect on Practice
Attentive, thorough study of the course material.
Hasty and inattentive study of course materials.
Consistent work with practical elements.
Inconsistent application of techniques.
Diligent completion of technical elements.
Approximating the techniques outside of recommended guidelines.
A relaxed approach to the subject matter.
A hysterical approach to the matter, "idée fixe".
Keeping a journal of all initial attempts, followed by recording successful phase entrances.
A lack of personal analysis when problems or a lack of success are encountered.
Adhering to the recommended number of daily entrance attempts.
Excessive number of attempts per day.
Regular attempts and practice.
Sporadic practice regimen.
Understanding that the author knows his field well.
"I also know everything I need to and will do as I want". This attitude is good only for those who have a great amount of real practical experience. Reading a lot on the subject or simply having knowledge of it is not experience.
Which alternative states are included in the term "phase"?
How does the phase differ from out-of-body travel?
Is the perception of reality different in waking life than in the phase world?
Does the phase have applications for day-to-day life?
What skills must be learned before proceeding to practical use of the phase?
How many types of autonomous phase entrance techniques are there?
What is the difference between direct and indirect techniques?
Which techniques are easiest for the majority of practitioners?
Is it worth trusting various devices and programs that promise to be able to help one enter the phase state? Why or why not?
Should one eat meat when practicing the phase?
Try to remember if you have experienced phase encounters in the past.
If you have encountered the phase, what type of technique gained entrance; direct, indirect, or conscious dreaming?
If possible, ask some friends and acquaintances about the subject of out-of-body travel or conscious dreaming. Do any of them remember a similar experience? What was it like?
Genuine practice of phase entrance is best begun with the easiest, most accessible methods: indirect techniques, which are conscious actions performed upon awakening from sleep. Some critics incorrectly assume that indirect techniques are not ideal, and prefer to start with direct techniques. However, doing so provides no guarantee of success and results in a large amount of wasted time and effort. Starting practice with indirect techniques guarantees entrance into the phase.
A specific universal technique that suits every practitioner is a myth since individuals differ widely in personality, psychology, and learning speed. However, there is a relatively easy universal algorithm, or procedure, that accounts for the characteristics of each person and allows for the most rational, effective way to attain the initial phase entrances. This algorithm encompasses cyclic practicing of the indirect techniques covered in this chapter. Without exception, these techniques - despite their varying degrees of difficulty - are suitable for every practitioner who wishes to experience the phase.
Results can be expected immediately following the first few attempts; however, to achieve measurable results, an average of five conscious attempts must be made. Making more than five attempts even over the course of a single day is fine, too. There is nothing difficult to understand about performing the techniques since they are clearly laid out and based on real internal processes. Remarkably, due to correctly practiced indirect techniques, more than half of students at the live school attain phase entrance after only two days.
Interesting Fact!
Many experienced practitioners prefer to bypass the effort associated with direct techniques and hone their skills through the sole use of indirect techniques.
In order to ensure that one's efforts are most fruitful and productive, we are going to individually examine each step and principle behind the actions in great detail. Let us start from a description of the techniques themselves, which will actually apply practically just as much to direct techniques as to indirect techniques; as they only differ in character and length of application.
There are plenty of techniques, so after practicing all of the indirect techniques presented in this chapter, a practitioner should be able to choose three or four of the most straightforward, individually effective methods.
Separation techniques will be examined later. They are completely different from usual techniques, which only bring one into the phase, but do not necessarily themselves lead to separation from the body. It is often also necessary to know how to stop perceiving one's physical body after employing these techniques.
It is necessary to understand when to employ these techniques, and the importance of waking from sleep without opening the eyes or moving the body. Attempting to enter the phase immediately upon awakening must be learned and practiced to mastery since it constitutes the main barrier to successful practice.
After examining the peripheral information surrounding indirect techniques, the cycles of indirect techniques will be examined, including what they are, how they work, and how they are best used. Successful phase entrance is the direct result of performing these cycles. However, there are exceptions, and it is not completely necessary to proceed with these cycles if one's own mind somehow hints what exactly one should start from, which we will also examine separately.
Nota Bene! The techniques described below are the simple components of indirect technique cycles. Merely implementing each technique's description is far from effective. Of the list given below, it behooves the individual practitioner to choose the most comprehensible and interesting techniques, then actively study and apply the instructions for use.
Observing images
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Immediately after waking from sleep, remain motionless, eyes closed. Observe the blank space before the eyes for 3 to 5 seconds and try to locate recognizable pictures, images, or symbols. If nothing appears during this exercise, the technique should be substituted. If something appears, continue to passively observe the images. Meanwhile, the images will become increasingly realistic, literally enveloping the practitioner. Do not aggressively examine the details of the image, or it will vanish or change. The image should be experienced as a panorama, taking everything in. Observe the images as long as the quality and realism increases. Doing so yields two possible results: the practitioner becomes part of the surroundings, and has achieved the phase, or the image becomes borderline or absolutely realistic, and separation from the physical body is possible.
Training. To train the use of this technique, lie down in the dark, eyes closed, and observe the blackness for several minutes, identifying any specific images that may arise from simple spots or floaters, and then gradually transition to whole pictures, scenes, or scenarios. With practice, this technique is very easy and straightforward. A common mistake made during practice of this technique is when the practitioner aggressively attempts to conjure images versus passively observing what is naturally presented.
Phantom wiggling (movement)
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Immediately after waking from sleep, remain motionless, eyes closed. Try to wiggle a part of the body for 3 to 5 seconds, but without using any muscles. If nothing moves during the attempt, try a different technique. If a sensation of wiggling occurs, even in the slightest, continue to employ the technique, striving to increase the range of movement as much as possible. This technique should be performed very aggressively, not passively. As soon as the range of movement nears or exceeds four inches - which may take just several seconds - the following situations may arise: one momentarily finds oneself somehow in the phase, or the wiggled part of the body begins to move freely. The occurrence of movement during practice of this technique allows the practitioner to transition to a separation technique and attempt to leave the body.
While practicing phantom wiggling, strong vibrations may occur, amid which separation may be attempted. Sounds also often arise, allowing the opportunity to practice listening in, which can lead to phase entrance.
The phantom wiggling technique is not meant to produce an imagined movement by a phantom body. The point of the technique is to attempt the movement of a physical body part without using muscular action. That is, the focus should rest upon an internal intention of movement without physical action. When the sensation occurs, it differs little from its real counterpart and is often accompanied by heaviness and resistance. Generally, there is very little range of movement at first, but with concentrated effort the range of movement noticeably increases.
It does not matter which part of the body is used to exercise phantom movement. It may be the whole body or just one finger. Neither is the speed of the movement important. Increased range of perceived movement is the aim of the technique.
Training. To train the technique of phantom wiggling, relax a hand for several minutes while lying down, eyes closed. Then, aggressively envision the following hand movements, without moving any muscles, for two to three minutes each: rotating, up-down, left-right, extending the fingers and drawing the fingers together, clenching and unclenching a fist. No sensations will occur at first. Gradually, the sensation of muscular action will become so apparent that the perceived movement will be indistinguishable from real movement. During the first training attempts, practitioners are often tempted to open their eyes to see if actual movement is occurring – that's how real the sensation feels.
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Upon awakening without moving your body or opening your eyes, try to peer at something previously determined and close (4-6 inches from the eyes) for 3 to 5 seconds. For example, this may be your own hands rubbing together, or an apple. If no imagery arises within 5 seconds, switch to another technique. If even dull imagery arises, keep with the technique and try to scrutinize it as best you can. The image will then become more vivid and color saturated. As soon as it is becomes perceptually real, you can separate from the body.
When performing the technique, avoid the most common mistake: only imagining seeing the object, instead of having a real vision of it. The key difference between observing images and peering is in the active desire to see something previously determined, instead of passively peering into the void in search of some spontaneous imagery.
Training. In order to practice the technique, lay down with your eyes closed in a dark room and try to spot various predetermined images in the void before your eyes, starting from the simple (apples, candles, an X, etc.) and moving on to the complicated (landscapes, room interiors, action scenes, and so on). Try to be able to see all of the details of the visualized objects as clearly as possible. The more vivid and the more detailed they are, the better the end result. It's also desirable to try to see objects that are just above eye-level, across from the forehead.
Imagined movement
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Upon awakening, without first moving your body or opening your eyes, try to feel some imagined movement for 3 to 5 seconds. For example, this may be running, pulling a rope, etc. If no result occurs after several seconds, switch to another technique. If the sensation of movement is feeble, or the feeling of being in two bodies at once arises, keep with the technique and increase the degree of realism of the sensation as high as possible: to the level of real feeling. At that moment, the imagined sensation will become dominant, and you can try to separate from your body, as you'll be already in the phase. When implementing this technique, spontaneous translocation often occurs to some place or another - after which separation is already unnecessary.
Training. In order to practice the technique, lie down with your eyes closed in a dark room and try to feel, as authentically as possible, imagined movement of various kinds: swimming freestyle, running, power-walking, pedaling with your hands and feet, pulling rope, rubbing your hands together in front you, etc. Such training will help you to learn to quickly create the intention of feeling a specific sensation, which will play a key role right when it counts.
Listening in
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Immediately after waking from sleep, remain motionless, eyes closed. Try to listen to noise in your head. Do this for 3 to 5 seconds without moving and without opening the eyes. If nothing happens during this period of time, switch to another technique. If any sounds like buzzing, humming, raving, hissing, whistling, tinkling, or melodies occur, listen attentively. With results, the sound will increase in volume. Listen in as long as there is some dynamism in the volume of the sound. When the sound stops, or the noise becomes loud enough, a separation technique may be attempted. Sometimes, the noise itself throws one into the phase while listening. At a certain stage, sounds may be extremely loud and have even been described as comparable to the roar of a jet-engine.
The action of listening in consists of actively and attentively exploring a sound, the whole of its tonality and range, and how it reacts to the listener.
There is an optional technique known as forced listening in, where it is simply necessary to strongly want to hear noise, and meanwhile make intuitive internal efforts, which, as a rule, are correct. Performed correctly, forced sounds will intensify the same way as those perceived with the standard listening in technique.
Training. In order to practice listening in, lie down in a silent place, eyes closed, and listen for sounds originating in the head. These attempts are usually crowned with success within several minutes of trying, and one starts to hear that noise that absolutely everyone has within. One simply has to know how to tune in to it.
Testing Individual Effectiveness. Immediately after waking from sleep, remain motionless, eyes closed. Imagine the physical body is rotating along an axis for 5 to 10 seconds. If no unusual sensations occur, try another technique. If vibrations occur during rotation or the movement suddenly feels realistic, then continue the rotation technique as long as there is progress in the sensation's development. There are several possible outcomes when rotation is practiced. The imagined rotation is replaced by a very real sensation of rotating along an imagined axis. When this occurs, a practitioner may easily leave the body. The other outcome is the sudden presence of strong vibrations or loud sounds, amid which separation from the body is possible. During rotation, separation has been known to spontaneously occur and the practitioner enters the phase.
Training. To practice rotation, imagine revolving around the head-to-foot axis for several minutes while lying down, eyes closed. It is not necessary to focus on the visual effects of rotation or minute sensations in the body. The key factor is the vestibular sensation that arises from internal rotation. As a rule, many practitioners experience difficulty performing full rotation. One person may be limited to 90 degrees of movement where another experiences 180 degrees. With consistent, correct practice, full 360 degree rotation will occur.
Several dozen secondary and mixed techniques are presented in a separate section at the end of the textbook (Chapter 12).
The next step to mastering indirect techniques is choosing the right techniques that suit individual predispositions. There is no point in going for one technique or another only because they look interesting and because someone wrote a lot or spoke a lot about them. The choice should be based strictly upon what suits an individual practitioner.
Out of all of the enumerated primary indirect techniques, practically only straining the brain works easily and quickly for 95% of practitioners. All other techniques work immediately for only about 25% to 50% of practitioners during initial training. However, after several training sessions, each technique yields results for 75% of engaged practitioners.
One way or another, every practitioner should identify a certain set of techniques that works best. A set should consist of no less than three techniques; four or five is even better to allow more options and practical combinations. Non-working techniques should not be discarded wholesale by the individual, because they afford an opportunity to achieve success through new, previously unresponsive experiences.
To ensure the correct selection of techniques, each should be separately practiced over a period of at least three days. To this end, one should experiment with each of the primary techniques for 2 to 10 minutes during the day. This regimen allows a precise determination of the techniques that will yield the best results for the practitioner. During the process of selecting personalized techniques, a practitioner learns and retains the techniques in an intimate, personal way, which positively affects how techniques are used during critical moments. Don't put off attempts to enter the phase on weeks when you're training. Instead, do both in parallel.
However, before going to sleep, never ever train if that you plan to use techniques the next morning. In this case, it's much better to train techniques during the day or in the morning. This is one of the most critical errors that novices commit. Training the night before an attempt brings internal exhaustion in its wake and dissipates intention. After a result, a practitioner will have far fewer attempts at night and in the morning, and they will be much less focused and of lower quality.
It is worth noting that the final selection of techniques should be varied. For example, choosing both straining the brain and straining the body without using muscles is pointless because they are practically one and the same. More often than not, they will both either work or not work. This is why techniques should involve various types of sensory perception: visual, audio, kinesthetic, vestibular, imaginary sense perception, and internal strain. Remember that priorities and goals change with time, and that a technique that fell flat during initial attempts may unexpectedly prove valuable later on. Be flexible. No set of techniques should be carved in stone. In fact, the set may change several times over the first few weeks as the practitioner discovers what produces the best individual results.
To close this section, a list detailing the most effective indirect techniques has been provided. This list was compiled with classroom data from the School of Out-of-Body Travel and may prove helpful in determining an effective set of indirect techniques.
The Most Effective Indirect Techniques at School of Out-of-Body Travel Seminars
Swimming Techniques (Imagined Movements)
Phantom Wiggling
Observing Images
Other Techniques
Let us begin with a totally shocking fact: during 50%(!) of successful indirect entries into the phase, it is not necessary to perform any specific phase entry techniques, as separation techniques are immediately successful… This has been statistically proven at School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars and in the analyses of other sources. Conversely, an incorrect understanding of separation techniques may lead to undesirable consequences. It is possible for a practitioner to enter the phase state and be unable to separate from the body. Therefore, it is very important to understand how separation techniques work since they are often a key to success.
Interesting Fact!
Relatively often, a practitioner will try to employ separation techniques to no effect. However, he will later unexpectedly understand that he had been lying in a different position than he sensed that he was in, and in fact, it had only been necessary for him to stand up. This happens mostly among beginners and is indicative of an incorrect understanding of separation techniques.
At times a practitioner need only think about separation, and it happens. This is a rarity, which explains the existence of a whole series of auxiliary techniques. The most important separation techniques are rolling out, getting up, climbing out, and levitation.
Rolling out
While awakening, attempt to roll over to the edge of the bed or the wall without using any muscles. Don't worry about falling out of bed, hitting the wall, or be concerned with the details of how this technique should feel. Just roll.
Getting up
Upon awakening, attempt to get out of bed without physical exertion. This should be performed in a way that is most comfortable for the practitioner.
Climbing out
While awakening, try to climb out of the body without using any muscles. This technique generally comes to mind when a partial separation has been achieved through the use of other techniques, or one part of the body has completely separated.
Upon awakening, attempt to levitate upward, parallel to the bed. While attempting to levitate, do not wonder how it should be accomplished; everyone intuitively knows how to levitate from their experiences in dreams.
Falling out
Practically the same as levitation: upon awakening, try to sink down through the bed.
Pulling out
Here, upon awakening, try to exit the body through the head, as if escaping from a lidded cocoon.
Backwards roll
After awakening, try to perform a backwards somersault over the head without using any physical muscles.
Bulge the eyes
Upon awakening, bulge out or widen the eyes without opening them. Frontal movement toward separation may result.
Imagining Yourself Already Separated
You can imagine yourself already separated and inside your room, trying to feel your separated body as intensely as possible. Your sensations will gradually flow into your subtle body from your physical one, and become just as realistic.
You can try to employ the translocation technique without first separating, which will lead to both translocation and separation occurring at once. Teleportation with eyes closed works best for this.
You can try to feel yourself flying at high speed.
Separation techniques are united by a singular idea: nothing should be imagined, movement should be attempted without the use of physical muscles. The techniques produce the same sensations of movement felt in real life. If nothing happens immediately after trying, then the technique is not going to work, though it may deliver results at a later time. A practitioner will instantly be able to recognize if the technique has worked. However, people are often unprepared for the realness of the sensations and think that they are making a physical movement instead of realizing that a part or all of the body has separated. After this unfortunate failure, careful analysis helps to understand what happened and plan for a successful retry.
If separation was incomplete or took place with some difficulty, this is a signal that the technique is being performed correctly, but that strength and aggressive effort are required from this point to achieve complete separation. For example, if some movement began and then stopped after having made some progress, then one should go back and move even harder once again in the same direction.
In order to practice separation techniques, lie down with the eyes closed and attempt all of them over the course of several minutes. A separation attempt has likely been accomplished if no muscles twitch or strain and a sensation of movement occurs. There will be a strong, almost physically palpable internal effort to perform a movement. Naturally, no physical movement actually occurs and the practitioner remains prone and immobile; however, at the right moment, these actions will lead to an easy entrance into the phase.
Interesting Fact!
Approximately 1% to 3% of the time that the phase is practiced, one realizes immediately upon awakening that one has already separated. This means that one may already go somewhere and stand, lie down, sit down, etc. This is not however becoming conscious in a dream, but an actual awakening.
It is also worth discussing how to conduct yourself upon separation if one of the phase creation techniques starts working. In such a situation, it's important to realize that separation should be done with the same body and same sensations that were obtained when performing the technique. For example, when rotating, you need to stand up using the same sensations of rotating, and when observing images you need to separate using the same body that sees the images, etc.
Additionally, it's important not to completely return back to the body if your phase creation technique involves the sensation of partial separation from the body. For example - if rotation worked, then before trying to separate, there is no need to fully turn back into the body and merge with it. Separation would immediately become much more difficult. It's better to do it on the fly after halting rotation in a position perpendicular to your physical body. The same temptation can arise during phantom wiggling, when separation should begin from the arm that began to move - i.e. do not move it back into the physical body. The same goes for all of the partial separation techniques.
If a novice has learned through practice what phantom wiggling is and how it feels, then he may proceed to separation like he would to phantom wiggling, but this time moving his entire body. That is, this is an attempt to move with the perceived (i.e. subtle) body; not a muscle is to be moved in the physical one.
The most important thing is to immediately realize that logically speaking, if indirect techniques have worked or awakening has just occurred, then the practitioner is already in the phase. All of his sensations are no longer coming from his physical body, although it may seem that they do. All that remains is to stand up, roll out, and levitate, as if doing so with the physical body.
Novices and the inexperienced often try to discover some tell-tale sign of separation, and expect to encounter it in practice. Actually, there are a whole variety of sensations that occur during this process. Those who do not know this often waste a large number of experiences when they encounter unexpected situations. That's why it's good to always be prepared for any eventuality and know the primary separation scenarios observed in 99% of all cases.
Types of Phase Entrances (Separations) Listed by Sensation:
- Ordinary movement
Here, separation usually seems like a completely ordinary movement, as if it were made with the physical body. The practitioner simply stands up, rolls out, or levitates as if he were doing so in reality.
- Separation
Actual direct separation of the subtle body from the physical one, as if the practitioner were actually exiting something. Despite the fact that this sensation gave its name to the entire process of entering the phase ("separation"), direct separation occurs quite rarely and the term is inaccurate in terms of sensation.
- Pulling
A feeling of a mass of gummy rubber stretching from every part of your subtle body and pulling it back into your physical one. Forcefully overcome that feeling of being pulled in, and it will dissipate.
- Sluggishness
The subtle body becomes quite heavy, as if it weighed several times more. The sluggishness will dissipate in proportion to the counteracting force applied.
- Awakening to Separation
The practitioner awakens or surfaces from a lapse in consciousness in an already separated state, and does not need to separate or use a phase creation technique. Simply get up and go forth.
- Stuck Body Parts
Some parts of the subtle body can become stuck in a physical stencil during the process of separation. For example, this often occurs with the legs, trunk, head, and pelvis. In such situations you need to fully break free with all your might by changing the direction of your exertion.
- Being in Two Bodies at Once
A feeling arises of not really being in the phase and not really lying in bed, but of truly being in the phase and also truly lying in bed at the same time. You need to try to press on through with the situation, transferring all of your sensations into your phase body, which will become the only one perceived.
- Spontaneous Full Separation (When Performing Techniques)
When performing any technique, you may spontaneously find yourself having already fully separated into your room or into any other place in the phase. There's no need to return back into your physical body in order to "properly" separate.
- Being Pulled Out by Someone or Something
In this case, separation occurs not fully by one's own will, but due to help from a phase object. For example, someone starts pulling at your legs or lifting up your entire body. The important thing in this situation is not to relax, but to start moving on your own as soon as possible. Such a situation often occurs with so-called ""alien abductions", which are actually spontaneous and unrecognized phase experiences the majority of the time.
- Suction
When performing techniques like observing images or visualization, practitioners are often completely sucked in to the imagery being observed, with all the accompanying sensations. This imagery then becomes a full-fledged phase space of its own. There's no need to return back into your physical body in order to "properly" separate.
- Putting Your All into a Technique
When performing sensory-motor visualization and several other techniques, a convergence between separation and the technique itself occurs. This leads to there no longer being a need for separation in the traditional sense. For example, during sensory-motor visualization, the practitioner initially begins by actively imagining that he is walking about a room, but that imagined perception gradually morphs into the real sensation of actually being in the room. Meanwhile, when phantom wiggling it only remains to stand up from the body in which wiggling is felt, and so on. There's no need to return back to the physical body in order to separate "properly".
- Dream Consciousness
Becoming fully consciousness while dreaming with full cognizance of what is occurring is also a separate phase entrance method, but one that does not involve direct or indirect techniques. There's no need to return back to the body in order to separate "properly", although many do so in order to obtain more vivid sensations.
The key to practice is the quantity and quality of attempts made that hone a practitioner's skills. There are several windows of time best suited for employing indirect techniques.
To begin, it should be stated that sleep follows a cyclical pattern. We awaken every hour-and-a-half and then quickly fall asleep again, which gives rise to sleep cycles. Furthermore, we experience two primary stages of sleep: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. NREM sleep includes many internal stages. The more we sleep, the less the body needs deep NREM sleep, and the more time we spend in REM sleep. Phase entrance is most likely to occur during REM sleep.
The best way to implement indirect techniques is by the deferred method. The aim of the method is to interrupt a sleep cycle during its final stage and then disrupt it again after falling back to sleep, which makes sleep light during the rest of the sleep cycle. Sleep accompanied by frequent interruptions can be put to productive uses.
Interesting Fact!
When the deferred method was first made mandatory at a 3-day School of Out-of-Body Travel seminar in June 2008, the overall success rate immediately doubled.
For example, if a practitioner (let's call him Jack) goes to sleep at midnight, then Jack should set an alarm for 6 o'clock in the morning. Upon awakening, Jack should engage in some sort of physical activity, like going to the bathroom, getting a drink of water, or reading a few pages of this book. Afterward, Jack should go back to bed thinking about how, within the next two to four hours, he will wake up multiple times and make an attempt to enter the phase during each awakening.
If Jack goes to bed earlier, then his alarm clock should be set back by that amount of time, since six hours of initial sleep is the optimal length of time. If Jack sleeps less than six hours, then the second half of his night's sleep will be too deep. If Jack sleeps longer than six hours, then there will be little time remaining for attempts, or Jack may not even be able to fall asleep.
If a practitioner naturally wakes up in a forceful manner, it will be difficult to regain sleep. Thus, it will not be necessary for the practitioner to get out of bed with the aid of an alarm. The practitioner should attempt to go right back to sleep.
If a practitioner is able to fall back asleep after as much as 45 minutes of being awake, then it's better to keep to that very interval, as it allows one to obtain the highest probability of success during subsequent awakenings.
Naturally, the deferred method is most applicable in cases where it is possible to sleep as long as a practitioner desires, without having to wake up early. Not everyone enjoys such luxury on a daily basis, but nearly everyone has days off when time may be set aside to practice the deferred method. It is in large measure due to the deferred method that classroom courses at the School of Out-of-Body Travel allow up to 2/3 of class participants to enter the phase in the course of a single weekend!
The second most effective window of time for entering the phase is ordinary morning awakening. This generally occurs during light slumber following a full night's sleep.
Another effective time to practice indirect techniques is after awakening from a daytime nap. Once again, this type of sleep will be light and short, which provides the body needed rest while allowing memory and intention to be kept intact through the moment of awakening. Again, not everyone has the luxury of taking daytime naps, but if such a chance arises, then it would be very beneficial to take advantage of the opportunity.
Nighttime awakenings are the least effective times for phase experimentation because the brain still requires a lot of deep sleep at this time. Awakening at night, the mind is quite weak and hardly capable of any effort. Even if some results are observed, awakening often ends with quickly falling back asleep. This is not to say that normal practice of the phase cannot occur at night; it just won't be as effective as at other times. The nighttime option is best for those who lack an opportunity to use other windows of time for practicing the phase.
Understand that we awaken at night every 90 minutes, which is why a minimum of four awakenings is almost guaranteed when sleeping, even for just six hours. When the practitioner knows about this and strives to seize those moments, with time he will actually seize them and take advantage of them.
Conscious awakening is waking up with a particular thought in mind; ideally, a thought about indirect techniques. In order to start using indirect techniques upon awakening, it is not sufficient to have a cursory knowledge of the techniques to be used when waking. Due to the peculiarities of the human mind and its habits, it is not always easy when waking to recall any particular motive or idea. The goal of conscious awakening is to practice instant action without being idle after waking up.
Interesting Fact!
There exists a belief that the phenomenon of out-of-body travel is practically unattainable, and is accessible only to an elect few through practices that require secret knowledge. However, the greatest difficulty when trying to experience out-of-body travel in a short period of time lies only in immediately remembering about the techniques upon awakening without moving. This is all simple and straightforward. But it is precisely this trifle that is the largest stumbling block when trying to experience such an uncommon phenomenon.
This is not difficult at all for approximately 75% of the population. However, for the other one-quarter of the population, this is a difficult barrier to entry that can even seem insurmountable. If such thoughts arise, one should simply understand that this cannot be so, and that persistent attempts and training are the key solution.
The reasons why people are unable to remember practicing the phase upon awakening are: not being in the habit of immediately doing anything upon awakening, a desire to sleep longer, a desire to go to the bathroom, being thirsty, a desire to suddenly start solving day-to-day problems, and so on.
Conscious awakening with the intent of attempting an indirect technique should be a practitioner's primary goal, which should be pursued at every cost. The speed at which the phase is learned and experienced depends on this.
There are several effective tricks to learning conscious awakening:
Intention upon falling asleep: This is the very important to successfully achieving conscious awakening. A very clear scientific fact has been proven by somnologists (scientists who study sleep): upon awakening, people usually think about what they had been thinking about before falling asleep. This phenomenon is easy to observe if the sleeper is experiencing a serious life problem; they fall asleep with the problem and wake with it. So, in a case like this, if difficulties at the front of the mind are replaced with a desire to practice the phase, this will produce the desired effect. It is not necessary to think solely about conscious awakening while falling asleep. It is sufficient to simply affirm the intention clearly and distinctly, even stating the intention out loud. Practicing these types of conscious actions while entering sleep will do much to promote the success of indirect techniques upon awakening.
General intent: The more clearly a practitioner concentrates on the importance and necessity of waking up and immediately remembering to practice the techniques, the more solid the intent will become, and the more likely the process will fulfill its role and actually lead to results.
Affirming desires: Sometimes an internal intention is simply not enough for some people, or they are unable to properly affirm one by virtue of individual characteristics. In this case, an affirmation of desires should be introduced at the physical level. This could be in the form of a note with a description of a goal placed next to the bed, under one's pillow, or hung on the wall. It could be a conversation with friends or family about the particular desire, or by repeatedly vocalizing the actions that need to be performed upon awakening. It could even be an entry in a diary, blog, or texting on a mobile phone.
Interesting Fact!
There are known incidences of practitioners "programming" food and water to induce phase entrance. They are essentially employing both auto-suggestion and the placebo effect by programming their subconscious mind to perceive that food as bringing not only satiation, but also a high probability of entering the phase.
Analyzing unsuccessful awakenings: Analyzing unsuccessful attempts at conscious awakening is extremely important. When remembering the failed attempt after several minutes, several hours, or even later in the day, focus on it and resolve to succeed during the next attempt. Deep exploration of the failure is highly effective and practical since the practitioner is learning what works, what doesn't work, and making healthy resolutions toward success.
Creating motivation: The greater the desire to enter into the phase to accomplish a goal there, the quicker successful conscious awakening is achieved. Motivation is be created by a great desire to do or experience something in the phase. In general, previous visits to the phase are great motivation, but an uninitiated person does not know it and will need something to which they can relate. For some, this could be a childhood dream of flying to Mars, for others it could be the opportunity to see a loved one who has passed away, for another it could be the chance to obtain specific information, or influence the course of a physical illness, and so forth.
Aside from natural methods to achieve conscious awaking, there are various devices and tools that facilitate a measure of success. These will be covered in Chapter 5 in the section describing non-autonomous ways of entering the phase.
The best moment for conscious awakening is while exiting a dream. This is the most effective and productive time to attempt separation or performing the techniques. At this moment, physical awareness of the body is at a minimum. Awareness at the very end of a dream often occurs after nightmares, painful experiences in the dream, falling dreams – any dream that causes a sudden awakening.
With time, one should develop a reflex that enables one to perform planned actions at the moment of awakening, but when consciousness itself has not yet had time to return. This type of reflex is highly beneficial to seizing the most fruitful of opportunities to enter the phase.
Due to various psychological and physiological factors, it is not possible for every person to achieve conscious awakening after every sleep cycle. Thus, there is no point in becoming upset if conscious awakening does not occur every time. Experiencing only 2 to 3 awakenings per day is normal; this is sufficient enough to attempt phase entrance 2 to 5 times per week when practiced daily.
It is not worth getting carried away with an excessive number of attempts. During the School's courses, it has been noted that doing 10 conscious awakenings or more (some students try 20 or even 30) over the course of one night and morning rarely yields results. This is due to the fact that if one sets oneself a goal that is desired so much that its realization breaks the natural rhythms of the body, one deprives oneself of the intermediate, transitional states that make the phase effective. A practitioner may also quickly become emotionally exhausted from the large number of attempts and be unable to push limits in the right direction. The upside is that one will simply tire out. If that starts to happen, it is better to calm down and try to approach the matter in a more relaxed manner, evenly and gradually.
Alongside remembering the phase immediately upon waking, another important requirement is awakening without moving, which is difficult since many people wake up and move. Upon awakening, scratching, stretching, opening the eyes, and listening to real sounds should be avoided. Any real movement or perception will very quickly disintegrate the intermediate state and introduce reality, the activation of the mind and its connection to the sensory organs.
At first, awakening without moving seems difficult or even impossible. However, it has been proven that this is remedied for through active attempts and the desire to achieve set goals. People often claim that they cannot awaken without moving, that it's an impossible experience. However, after several attempts, it will happen, and it will occur more and more frequently with practice.
Thus, if there is difficulty in awakening without movement, do not despair, just keep trying. Sooner or later, the body will yield to the practice, and everything will happen smoothly.
Awakening without moving is very important because, for the majority of people, experiments with the phase are not possible except in the first waking moments where waking without moving sets the stage for successful indirect technique cycles. Often, a practitioner will make 10 unsuccessful attempts and move while awakening. Once the practitioner learns to consistently wake calmly and gradually, success quickly follows.
However, if an awakening is conscious, but with movement, that does not mean that the practitioner cannot immediately make an attempt to fall into the phase. Such attempts, although they will be about 2 times less effective than usual, should nevertheless be made. Any opportunity to practice while waking should not be wasted. It must only be kept in mind that one must first neutralize the effects of the movement in order to once again fall into an intermediate state. In the case of movement, it is extremely helpful to begin practice with forced falling asleep. Listening in also works well, as does observing images. After performing these, cycling may begin.
After physical movement, the success rate for attempts using indirect techniques is usually substantially lower merely due to the fact that practitioners lose confidence in both themselves and the success of the current attempt. As a result, the attempt itself simply becomes poor in quality and lackluster. However, if the attempt is nevertheless performed self-assuredly and as if no movement had occurred, then odds of success will remain practically undiminished.
Awakening without movement, despite all its importance, is not a goal in and of itself, and also not worth suffering over. When awakening, if there is great discomfort, something itches, a need to swallow arises, or any manner of natural reflex, it is better to deal with it and then act according to practices recommended when movement upon awakening happens.
Not all movements upon awakening are real and, if only for this reason alone, when movement occurs, indirect techniques should follow.
Interesting Fact!
Up to 20% of sensations and actions that happen upon awakening are not real as they seem, but are phantom.
False sensations occur in widely diverse ways. People often do not understand what is going on with them without having experienced the phase. For example, a person may think they are scratching their ear with their physical hand when they are really using a phantom hand. A person may hear pseudo-sounds in the room, on the street, or at the neighbor's without noting anything unusual. Or, a person may look around the room without knowing that his eyes are actually closed. If a practitioner recognizes such moments for what they are, they may immediately try to separate from the body.
Thus far, indirect techniques used for phase entrance and techniques for separation in the phase have been covered. Conscious awakening and the best times to practice it have also been examined. Now, a specific algorithm of action for indirect techniques will be presented. Following this algorithm promises quick and practical results.
It ought to be clearly understood that the more natural and sound sleep preceding an attempt is, the better the effect from awakening and the higher the odds of success. What is needed is to fall soundly asleep and sleep sound thereafter, after which a sound awakening can be put to good use. Cycles of indirect techniques can occasionally be successfully used during fitful sleep, but in most cases this is a pure waste of time and energy. When sleeping poorly, it's better to do no techniques at all and await sound sleep, as opposed to spending all your time trying to snatch the phase from the jaws of a wearisome and hardly salvageable situation.
Algorithm of Action upon Awakening:
1 Testing Separation Techniques within 5 Seconds
As noted above, 50% of success with indirect techniques is immediate due to the fact that the first seconds after waking up are the most useful for entering the phase. The less time that has elapsed after awakening, the better. Conversely, if one lies down expecting something to happen, chances quickly dissipate.
Thus, upon awakening, preferably without first moving, a practitioner should immediately try various separation techniques, like rolling out, getting up, or levitation. If a technique has suddenly started to yield results for approximately for 3-5 seconds, then separation from the body should be attempted up to full separation. Sometimes inertia, difficulty, or a barrier will arise during a separation attempt. No attention should be given to these problems. Instead, resolve to separate - decidedly and aggressively climb out of the body.
Keep in mind that trying to immediately separate upon awakening is a skill of the utmost importance; one that is worth honing from the very beginning, never forgotten.
Interesting Fact!
For some practitioners having trouble reaching the phase, one motivation for separating without using any techniques is an unwillingness to "bang their heads against techniques" any further. This forces them to catch the right moment of awakening much earlier on and push themselves much harder during it. The result is that they are practically always able to achieve the phase upon that first step.
2 The Cycle of Indirect Techniques to Use if One is Unable to Separate
If separation does not occur after several seconds, it most likely means that separation will not occur, regardless of elapsed time in effort. This is where the practitioner must resort to other techniques.
The practitioner should already have chosen a minimum of three primary or secondary techniques that suit a practical repertoire. Here is where the techniques are put into action.
Nota Bene! In order to give a specific example, we will examine the use of three specific techniques, which should be replaced with a tested and chosen set of techniques. The following operational techniques shall be used as examples: observing images (a), phantom wiggling (b), and listening in (c).
After an unsuccessful attempt at separating, the practitioner immediately starts observing the void before the eyes. If images begin to appear within 3 to 5 seconds, observation should continue without scrutinizing the images in detail, or the image will evaporate. As a result of this action, the image will quickly become more and more realistic and colorful, engulfing the practitioner. If everything comes together correctly, a sudden translocation into the picture will occur, or, when the picture becomes very realistic, attempt to separate from the body. If nothing happens after 3 to 5 seconds, then the practitioner should transition to the technique of phantom wiggling.
For 3 to 5 seconds, the practitioner quickly searches the entire body for a part that can be wiggled. Or, the entire period of time is spent in an attempt to wiggle a specific body part: a finger, hand, or leg. If the desired effect occurs, then the practitioner should continue with the technique and achieve the maximum possible range of movement. During this process, a number of things can happen, including spontaneous separation, a successful separation attempt, free movement of the wiggled part, or the presence of sound or vibrations. All of these events are of great advantage. If nothing wiggles over the course of 3 to 5 seconds, then the practitioner should move on to listening in.
The practitioner should try to detect an internal sound. If the sound is there, listen and try to amplify it. As a result, the noise may grow into a roar and spontaneous separation will occur, separating through the use of a technique will be possible, or vibrations will occur. If no noise occurs over the course of 3 to 5 seconds, then the entire cycle should be repeated.
It is beneficial to examine the reason behind the use of a set of three indirect techniques. This is motivated by the fact that the body often reacts to techniques in very peculiar ways. For one person, a technique may work one day and not work on another day, which is why if only one technique is used, even a very good technique that works often, a practitioner can miss out on a lot of different experience through the lack of variety in practice. Thus, a practical repertoire should consist of several techniques.
Interesting Fact!
Sometimes, the first technique that works for a practitioner never results in a repeat of phase entrance again, although other techniques that were not immediately effective at the novice stages of practice later begin to work regularly and successfully.
It is also important to understand that the techniques themselves will work quite poorly and rarely if performed merely for the "sake of appearances". You need to give them your all, trying to get into them with all of your sensations and all of your being. Try no matter what to have all of your sensations become one with the techniques. A phaser's mind must be fully focused on every aspect of each technique being performed. In this case cycling indirect techniques is an easy way to exit the body, as everything starts off quite right and works with ease. If the practitioner doesn't remain aware of this, he risks wasting his time and energy.
3 Repeating the Cycle of Indirect Techniques
If the first cycle of 3 techniques does not yield any clear results, this does not mean that all is lost. Even if the techniques do not work, they still draw the practitioner closer to the phase state and it is simply necessary to continue using the techniques by again observing images, phantom wiggling, and listening in – and repeating this process at least three times.
Having performed one cycle of techniques, one can easily go on to doing a second cycle, a third one, a fourth one, and so on. It is quite probable that during one of these cycles, a technique will suddenly prove itself, even though it had not been working at all just a few seconds beforehand.
A serious practitioner should commit to a minimum of 4 cycles. The problem lies in the fact that it is psychologically difficult to do something that has shown itself not to work, and one may give up taking further action, even though one could be at the cusp of falling into the phase. Keep trying, and then try again, and again! There have been cases where it took ten cycles to produce results. A monumental effort, yes, but one worth the outcome. But don't do it for more than one minute.
4. Falling Asleep with the Possibility of Trying Again.
If a practitioner is unable to enter the phase after performing cycles and attempts to separate, or even if everything worked out, it is still better to go back to sleep to facilitate subsequent attempts. Again, it is very important to go to sleep with a clearly defined intention of actually performing the cycles upon awakening. Such intention vastly increases the probability that the next attempt will occur soon. That is, one should not fall asleep with an empty head and the desire to simply get a good night's sleep. When using the deferred method, clear intention is mandatory, as several attempts are possible over the course of a sleep cycle.
Even if only a few attempts are made accompanied by decided and concentrated effort, then the four steps described in the algorithm will undoubtedly produce entrance into the phase.
It must always be kept in mind that one of the most common mistakes novices make is simply lying in bed while in the phase. Generally speaking, for each successful attempt novices have, there are 2 to 3 attempts where the phase had also occurred, but they didn't take advantage of the moment and missed separating by the skin of their teeth. For example, any technique working extremely well immediately after awakening is a sure sign of the phase. Instead of continuing to lie down in the phase and play with one technique or alternate through other ones, try as hard as you can to get out of your body. Any possible evidence of a technique working should be tested in the same way.
It is also important to immediately take advantage of a technique working. When something starts working, a novice will often, for some reason, fail to take immediate advantage of the moment. The phase is then already over within several seconds, and the techniques no longer work. If an opportunity to enter the phase isn't taken advantage of as soon as occurs, the window of time for leaving the body will simply close within several seconds. That's why it is necessary to try to leave your body immediately upon any technique working substantially well. Otherwise, the moment will be lost.
In order to more effectively use the system of indirect cycles, it is necessary to discuss what to do if one technique starts working, but progress then ceases during the cycle and phase entry does not occur.
First, understand that if a technique has begun to work, only lack of experience and skill will prevent the phase.
Second, barriers are overcome by temporarily switching to other techniques. Let us suppose that noise arising when listening in grows louder and louder and then peaks in volume. It would surely be beneficial to switch to forced falling asleep or observing images for several seconds, and then return to listening in. The sound may then become much louder and provide an opportunity to proceed with the technique. Sometimes, it makes sense to break off several times into various techniques and then return to the primary technique that yielded some results.
The most important thing is to never give up on a technique that has begun working ever so slightly. In essence, it is a road sign to the shortest path to the phase, and should always be followed.
It is often possible to simultaneously perform two or even three techniques and experience no negative effect on results. It is also normal and natural to skip around from technique to technique, deviating from a specific plan of action. For example, sounds often arise during phantom wiggling. In this case, a practitioner may just simply switch over to listening in. Other oft-encountered results pairings are: images from sound, sound from rotation, sound from straining the brain, a strain on the brain from listening in, vibrations from rotation, vibrations from phantom wiggling, and so forth.
During initial attempts at using cycles of indirect techniques, the problem of confusion during a critical moment may arise, when a novice practitioner suddenly forgets exactly what to do and how to do it. This is normal, and the solution is to immediately do whatever comes to mind. Results can be achieved in this manner. When a practitioner is more relaxed about the practice, such problems will no longer occur.
Varied cycles of indirect techniques is an almost mandatory precondition for getting the best result. There are some exceptions. Sometimes, through indirect indicators, a practitioner may be inclined to begin with certain techniques, regardless of what had been planned. These are a sort of hint from the body and the ability to use such cues plays an extremely important role in the use of indirect techniques because they enable a practitioner to substantially increase the effectiveness of his practice.
Hint No. 1: Images
If the practitioner becomes aware upon awakening that some images, pictures, or remnants from dreams are before him, then he should immediately proceed to the technique of observing images, with all of the results that arise from it. If this does not lead to anything, then cycling with a set of techniques should begin.
Hint No. 2: Noises
If the practitioner realizes upon awakening that he hears an internal noise, roaring, ringing, whistling, and so forth, then he should immediately begin from the technique of listening in. If this has no effect, then cycles of indirect techniques ought to commence.
Hint No. 3: Vibrations
If a practitioner feels vibrations throughout the body while awakening, they should be amplified through the use of straining the brain or straining the body without using muscles. When the vibrations reach their peak, the practitioner can try to separate. If nothing happens after several attempts, indirect technique cycles should start.
Hint No. 4: Numbness
If a practitioner wakes to numbness in a body part, phantom wiggling of that part should be attempted. If no result is achieved after several attempts, cycling should be tried. Of course, it is better to refrain from techniques if the numbness is very intense and causes substantial discomfort.
Hint No. 5: Paralysis
If the practitioner feels that his body is immobilized and that he is unable to move a muscle upon awakening, then he has encountered sleep paralysis (sleep stupor). This phenomenon is a sign that one is in the phase, and it only remains for the practitioner to somehow separate from the body no matter what, as well as overcome the night terror that often arises during sleep paralysis.
These hints may arise not only immediately upon awakening, but also upon an attempt to perform cycles of techniques. If the hints are more pronounced than the results of the techniques themselves, then it makes sense to turn one's attention to them or exploit them concurrently with techniques.
It is also necessary to simply understand what the hint is trying to tell you: for example, if some unreal sensation suddenly arises on its own upon awakening, then it is necessary to simply intensify it and leave the body right then. If you follow this general principle, then you don't need to know exactly what the hints are or what exactly to do when they occur. Everything should happen intuitively and easily. The point is that there are a large number of other phase manifestations in addition to the five hints above that one should be always ready for. However, it would be simply impossible to describe them all, let alone remember them.
During the practice of indirect techniques, including technique cycles, unsuccessful attempts may result in falling asleep or becoming completely awake. These results indicate a deficiency or excess of aggression.
If a practitioner usually falls asleep while attempting to enter the phase, then more aggressive action is needed while performing indirect techniques. If, on the other hand, most attempts end in a full and alert awakening, then aggression should be curbed and techniques should be conducted more slowly and in a more relaxed manner. Balance between passivity and aggression is imperative; the phase state is easily attained by those practitioners who find a stable medium between passivity and aggression.
The issue of aggression requires a closer examination. Quite often, attempts at indirect techniques are made leisurely, without desire or real effort, to "check them off the list". Results are more easily realized if the practitioner possesses an aggressive desire to enter the phase. More often than not, practitioners lack aggressive desire, instead of having too much of it. Thus, each effort requires a distinct want to succeed.
Success at entering the phase depends on two factors: quantity and quality of attempts. Accordingly, the greater the quantity of high-quality attempts, the greater the odds of having a phase experience. However, practically all practitioners encounter certain psychological difficulties that deprive them of 30 to 75% of all attempts. That is, phasers often experience only half of what they could due to certain patterns of thought.
This mainly occurs during two common situations in which practitioners simply lose all desire to even try: a) excessively alert awakening b) awakening to physical movement. Even if a phaser suddenly decides to give it a try in such situations, his attempts are understandably performed waveringly and poorly, which is equivalent to not trying at all. However, in the absolute majority of such cases, no attempt is even made.
The hilarity of the situation consists in the probable falseness of the sensations of both excessively alert awakening and awakening to physical movement. For example, the thought, "I woke up way too alertly, nothing's going to work now" is usually immediately followed by falling back asleep. However, a substantial portion of movements upon awakening are false, even though it may seem that they are made with the physical body. But even if there is an actual alert awakening and actual physical movement, the likelihood of entering the phase does not actually decrease as much as one might think. That's why it is not only possible try to enter the phase in such situations - it is a must. Those who follow this simple principle alone may enjoy twice as many phase experiences as those who do not.
However, mindfulness of this principle alone is often insufficient to compensate for psychological certainty that nothing will work during a specific attempt. In order to solve this problem, one may use one a most effective psychological trick based on self-deception. If it seems to the practitioner that there is no sense in making an attempt as nothing will work anyway, he ought think exactly as follows: "Alright, entering the phase will hardly work out, but now I'm going to simply practice for future attempts and do everything as if these were ideal conditions". Afterwards, a high-quality "practice session" will occur, during which it might be easy to have a real phase experience. So, if it seems that nothing at all will happen upon an awakening, then simply give it a go and practice cycling indirect techniques, without worrying about the outcome.
It should also be noted that a phaser will often lose out on an attempt through the belief that he has to catch the right moment of being half-awake. Many think that catching that moment is a mandatory prerequisite for the indirect method. It generally is, but that moment of transition usually doesn't begin at the second one awakens - rather, it arises right when performing cycles of techniques! That is, the moment of being half-awake is not so much something to catch upon awakenings, but more something to induce using the techniques themselves - which is actually exactly what they're there for. That's precisely why there's no sense in giving up a chance for an attempt.
Every practitioner simply needs to be well aware that one may fall into the phase upon any awakening, no matter what it may seem and no matter what thoughts may cross one's mind. That's why you need to not over-analyze or over-think it, but simply to mechanically try, try, and try again.
There is a trick technique for making most phase entrances successful: forced falling asleep. It can be used with the following situations and variations: as an independent technique; when no other technique works; upon extremely alert awakening; when awakening to physical movement; in case of intense physical stimuli from one's physical surroundings; when getting a poorly working technique to yield results, and so on. In essence, this is a lifesaver technique for all those situations when something isn't working as one would like it to, or not as one had planned.
Interesting Fact!
Correctly using forced falling asleep in conjunction with indirect techniques can realistically bring odds of success to near 100 percent. That this, practically all attempts to exit the body upon awakening can become successful.
Odds of entering the phase diminish with every second when using cycles of indirect techniques upon awakening. Forced falling asleep, to put it simply, is a way to reel that receding lifeline to the phase back towards you. It tricks the brain, which will react automatically to all your actions and quickly thrust you into an intermediate state that is easy to use to enter the phase.
What the practitioner does is try to fall asleep as decidedly and as quickly as possible, but while maintaining the intention of not losing consciousness. The most important thing is to not get caught up in how to do it. Everyone intuitively knows how to do it, because everyone has had to force themselves to fall asleep at one point or another. You need only to get pulled in to a wave of sleepiness and catch it at the last second. It's quite similar to real life situations when there is very little time to sleep, and one nevertheless has to catch some rest. This technique is to be performed with that very determination to fall asleep quickly - but of course, here you do not fall completely asleep.
Independent Technique
This technique is used as an alternated technique when cycling upon awakening. Over the course of 3 to 5 seconds, the practitioner tries to abruptly, determinedly, and forcibly fall asleep, maintaining the intention of either not actually falling asleep or of coming back to himself at the last moment before losing consciousness. Afterwards, separation can often easily be successful. In addition, the following sensations may arise, which only need be intensified in order to definitively fall into the phase: vibrations, imagery, noise, and so on. In case of alert awakening or awakening to movement, it is recommend to begin cycling techniques from forced falling asleep.
Interesting Fact!
Some practitioners get forced falling asleep so well that they use nothing else besides alternating it with separation techniques upon awakening.
Periodic Adjustment of the State
This is used in-between any techniques or in-between full cycles of techniques. It is also called the Dnepropetrovsk method. In this case, the idea is that 3 to 5 seconds of credibly imitating falling asleep can not only conjure the phase all on its own, but also cause a kind of throwback to a more transitional state, thus increasing the effectiveness of all subsequent actions. Each time before performing techniques or full cycles of techniques, the practitioner simply throws himself back into a sleepier state via forced falling asleep in order to increase their effectiveness. Thus, in correctly implementing forced falling asleep, a situation occurs in which all actions are performed as if immediately upon awakening, when odds of success are highest.
Interesting Fact!
At an experimental seminar held August 21-23, 2009 in Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine), 40 participants were asked to perform mandatory cycles of all the indirect techniques together with the technique of forced falling asleep. The success rate for the whole group reached 75% after only two nights, not counting those participants who made no attempts at all. This was the most successful seminar into 2011, and the system first tested out there took on the name "The Dnepropetrovsk Method".
Backdrop for All Techniques
This is to be employed simultaneously with all indirect techniques, as a backdrop to them. While performing any technique, the phaser should try to fall asleep simultaneously, as if the technique being performed (phantom wiggling, rotation, etc.) were necessary not for phase entrance, but for accelerating falling asleep. A phaser should simply try to fall asleep to the technique being performed without actually falling asleep. Any technique will usually begin to work at that moment, and it can be easily brought to the phase. One no longer needs to employ or continue on with concurrent forced falling asleep at this point. For example, if a practitioner's hand did not start moving within a few seconds of aggressive phantom wiggling, he will then begin trying to wiggle his hand while trying to fall asleep at the same time. The hand will usually yield to wiggling within several seconds, and the range of motion will begin to increase. Backdrop forced falling asleep may be included in the routine both from the start of attempts, as well as only when the techniques themselves are not working. Such an approach often guarantees the greatest odds of success for indirect techniques.
Interesting Fact!
When performed properly, backdrop use of forced falling asleep makes the choice of technique performed upon awakening inconsequential, as any technique will immediately start working.
Bringing the Techniques to Completion
This is to be used in cases when some indirect technique has begun working, albeit quite weakly or insufficiently. Here, in order to bring the working technique up to the right degree of manifestation, the practitioner should begin to perform forced falling asleep in parallel to it, just as is done with backdrop forced falling asleep. That is, the phaser should try to seemingly fall asleep to the technique being performed. As a result, the partially manifesting technique will start to work much better right then, and allow for the phase to be reached much sooner.
Despite all the merits of forced falling asleep and opportunities it offers, it quite rarely works at School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars for beginners. It is often put forward as an element for advanced practitioners who have reached the next level of sophistication. The problem consists in the fact that forced falling asleep is nearly always difficult for novices to conceptualize. In addition, information overload leads to an inability to digest additional information, and risks crowding out more elementary tasks at the start of one's practice.
This is primarily why forced falling asleep must be approached carefully. Ideally, the phaser himself should start to feel it approach on its own. This often occurs after one has already had a first experience. There's no sense in including it in the first things to be learned. Rather, it should only be used to fine-tune the effectiveness of attempts using indirect techniques. The exception would be situations where forced falling asleep is the last tool that hasn't yet been tried, and nothing else can be made to work upon awakening.
The most important thing is to never try this technique if you don't understand it. A practitioner may lose out on real experience in search of a silver bullet. He would waste time and energy on things obscure to him, and therefore, that which is bound to be ineffective. Conversely, if a practitioner immediately understands forced falling asleep and is familiar with it, then he may dive right into trying it in his practice.
What follows is a very characteristic example of how this technique can be incorrectly understood: Let us assume that a phaser tries to perform forced falling asleep in some way, but that it doesn't work. At the end of the attempt, the disappointed practitioner decides to fall fast asleep in order to catch the next awakening. And it's just at that moment that he begins to feel an imminent approach of the phase (vibrations, imagery, noise). On this the second try, he has done everything the right way - naturally and unaffectedly. Whereas before he had over-thought and over-complicated his actions when trying to do the technique, now he has been doing everything correctly - he simply begins falling asleep, as forced falling asleep should be done.
It's worth paying close attention to the fact that novices often get results from indirect techniques not while cycling them, but only when they want to fall asleep quickly after a failed attempt in order to catch one more awakening.
The main problem when performing forced falling asleep is the risk of easily falling asleep for real, no matter how awake one's mind seems before using this technique. This should always be remembered, and the length of time that this method is carried out should be carefully varied. In most cases, only several seconds are necessary in order to get results. Sometimes it needs to be done for longer, and sometimes the phaser falls asleep after two seconds of performing the technique, although it may seem to him that he had awoken too alertly and that nothing at all would work for him.
Some mistakenly believe that indirect techniques will produce quick, easy results, like a pill. Despite the fact that the techniques described in this guidebook are the best means to entering the phase, strong effort still needs to be exerted. This is not important for some, as everything comes quite easily to them, but for others this is of great importance.
Indirect techniques will definitely work if practiced consistently and as described. It has already been noted that in the majority of cases, making several concentrated attempts upon awakening without movement is sufficient enough to produce results. It may take a lot of time and effort to achieve phase entrance, so practitioners who set goals and work diligently will be presented with a crown of success.
Attempts are important in large measure not only for the final result, but also for the process itself. During practice, the practitioner independently learns and solves issues that may not have been understood in the guidebook. Other times, the practitioner will encounter situations that have never been described at all. It's impossible to prepare a student for every possible scenario, so as a practitioner moves deeper into practice, a unique, individual perspective and portfolio of experiences develops, which will certainly prove useful in the future. Until then, diligent practice of the information presented in this book will ready a practitioner for that personal frontier.
Actions in practice require strict attention. Study the techniques and select those that work best. Set the goal of consistent, conscious waking without movement. Set an objective of performing cycles of indirect techniques while waking up, day in and day out. With such a clear course of action, the practitioner should never defocus his attention or dissipate his energy on other related actions, like, for example, on direct techniques for entering the phase. If the indirect techniques do not work in the course of several days, continue trying. At latest, results occur in a matter of weeks - not months or years, like some sources maintain. Goals are to be stubbornly pursued - step-by-step, firmly, and diligently.
If no results occur after 10 to 20 attempts, it is better to cease practice for a week and take a rest, and then return with a fresh resolve to master the practice. Interestingly enough, it is exactly during such a break that spontaneous entrances into the phase through the most diverse methods occur.
If success is still elusive even after 2 weeks of trying, then a thorough analysis of the regimen should be conducted to root out any obvious mistakes or deficiencies. If overcoming them proves difficult or impossible, switching over to direct techniques is not recommended since they prove much more difficult than indirect techniques. Instead, techniques for entering the phase through conscious dreaming should be practiced.
It is also not worth skipping over problematic areas and trying to make up for mistakes by expending even more effort. For example, ignoring the precondition of awakening without moving will prove fruitless. Bypassing this requirement works for very few people. Facing every problem head-on and working hard to break through will be richly rewarded with unforgettable, treasured experiences. Keep trying!
Internal certainty that nothing will happen instead of believing in positive results.
Stopping the performance of techniques after an unsuccessful cycle when a minimum of four cycles should be practiced.
Constantly awakening to movement instead of remaining still.
Performing direct techniques in the evening. Performing indirect techniques in the evening, instead of upon waking up in the morning.
Performing indirect techniques for an extremely long period of time (2 minutes or more). This is a complete waste of time in most cases.
Switching from techniques that have begun to work instead of following them through to the end.
Passively performing techniques instead of being determined and aggressive.
Performing each technique separately for too long a period of time, even if the technique does not work, instead of switching to another technique within several seconds.
Excessive thinking and analysis while performing indirect techniques, which require mental tranquility and inner stillness.
Stopping and concentrating on unusual sensations when they arise versus continuing the technique that brought them about in the first place.
Extremely long anticipation upon awakening instead of immediately performing techniques.
Premature attempts at separating, instead of performing phase creation techniques through to the end of progress.
Holding the breath when unusual sensations appear. Be calm instead.
Opening the eyes when the only recommended movement is breathing or moving the eyes behind closed lids.
Being agitated instead of relaxed.
Ceasing attempts to separate even when partial success is met.
Straining the physical muscles while performing the techniques versus remaining physically motionless.
Not practicing after an alert awakening, when techniques are best applied - especially in the event of waking without movement.
Merely imagining the techniques instead of really understanding them and performing them, if, of course, one is not performing rotation or other imagined techniques.
Simply wiggling phantom limbs instead of employing a fixed determination to increase the range of movement
Falling right asleep during forced falling asleep, instead of having the firm intention of continuing efforts within only 5 to 10 seconds.
Scrutinizing the details of images when using the technique of observing images; the whole image should be observed panoramically lest it disappear.
Intentionally trying to force pictures when observing images, instead of looking for what is naturally presented.
Simply hearing noise when employing the technique of listening in, instead of attentively trying to pay attention, catch something, and listen in.
Why are indirect techniques the easiest?
Why will one technique work for some people and not for others?
How many attempts are necessary in order to enter the phase?
When observing images, should a picture be conjured?
How is phantom wiggling different from imagined movement?
Where does sound come from while listening in?
How is forced listening in different from normal listening in?
When employing the technique of rotation, should one try to rotate or simply imagine the rotation?
What is physically strained when using the technique of straining the brain?
How is straining the brain different from straining the body without using muscles?
Should a practitioner fall asleep when using the forced falling asleep technique?
According to statistics from classes held at the School of Out-of-Body Travel, which indirect techniques are the most effective?
Why should one practice all of the primary techniques in a relaxed state?
What helps practitioners to enter the phase one-third of the time while using indirect techniques?
Is levitation the most popular separation technique?
What is the essential difference between indirect techniques and separation techniques?
How does the separation technique of rolling out differ from the indirect technique of rotation?
Is it necessary to imagine anything while trying to separate?
When is the best time to use indirect techniques?
Can techniques that are traditionally used upon awakening be attempted during the day? How effective are these techniques during the day?
Is becoming consciousness while dreaming the same as conscious awakening?
When employing indirect techniques, does an inability to awaken without moving have an effect on one's practice?
What are the components of the algorithm of cycling indirect techniques?
What first step must be taken while cycling through indirect techniques?
How many different techniques should a cycle consist of?
What is the minimum number of cycles that must be practiced?
If a lot of time has passed after awakening, is this good or bad for cycles of indirect techniques?
What must be done if a technique gets stuck at an unsatisfactory level of results?
If the cycles do not work, what should be done?
What are hints from the mind?
In what cases is it necessary to introduce aggressive effort when performing indirect techniques?
Upon awakening, perform a full cycle of indirect techniques, and repeat this exercise until phase entrance is achieved.
Direct techniques for entering into an out-of-body experience are used without prior sleep by performing specific actions while lying down with the eyes closed. The advantage of direct techniques is that, in theory, they can be performed at any moment. However, a large drawback exists in the length of time it takes to master the techniques. Only 50% of practitioners achieve success after making attempts over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. For some, an entire year may pass before results are realized. The difficulty in achieving results with direct techniques is not a problem of inaccessibility, but the natural psychological characteristics of the individual. Not everyone is able to clearly understand the specific nuances involved, which is why some will continually make mistakes.
Many practitioners strive to master direct techniques right away because they appear to be the most convenient, straightforward, and concrete techniques. However, it is a grave mistake to begin attempting and mastering phase entrance from this level. In 90% of cases where novices begin their training with direct techniques, failure is guaranteed. Moreover, a vast amount of time, effort, and emotion will be wasted. As a result, complete disillusionment with the entire subject of phase experiences is possible.
Direct techniques should only be practiced after mastery of the easiest indirect techniques or how to become conscious when dreaming. In any case, difficulties will not wear one down afterwards, as it will be exceedingly clear from one's own experience that the phase is not a figment of the imagination. Also, an advanced knowledge of indirect techniques will make it considerably easier to achieve direct entry into the phase.
It is also worth always keeping in mind the average amount of time phasers spend on direct and indirect techniques to achieve results. For example, a novice expends an average of 5 minutes(5 attempts) on indirect techniques for each phase experience (averaging both successful and unsuccessful attempts), but 300 minutes(20 attempts) on direct techniques for each phase experience. An advanced phaser averages less than a minute(1-2 attempts) performing indirect techniques for each phase experience, but 30 minutes on direct techniques(2-3 attempts).
Quality of the phase experience is not dependent upon the chosen entrance technique. Direct techniques do not necessarily provide a deeper, more lasting phase over indirect techniques.
Direct techniques are better suited for some practitioners and not others, but this can only be said for a minority of the practicing population. Meanwhile, indirect techniques are accessible to absolutely everyone all of the time.
Interesting Fact!
In order to obtain best results at traditional 3-day School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars, instructors either completely omit the direct techniques, or wait until the last day to teach them, so as not to tempt novices to use them and subsequently ruin the group's success rate.
If a practitioner has decided to begin practice with direct techniques or has gained the necessary experience with indirect techniques, the underlying principles of the techniques must still be learned. Without these, nothing will occur, except coincidentally and in rare cases. The key to the successful use of direct techniques rests in achieving a free-floating state of consciousness. However, we will first examine a large variety of very useful aspects and factors that make direct entry into the phase much easier.
First, we will examine when it is best to perform the techniques and how intensively to exercise their practice. Then, we will examine the very important factor of body position, and the no less crucial issue of how long the techniques should be performed. Then, we will briefly investigate the issue of relaxation, and then we will immediately move on to the actual direct techniques. Only after covering all of the above are we able to delve into the issue of what a free-floating state of consciousness is and how to achieve it.
The issue of time is not important with indirect techniques since the major prerequisite is that they are performed immediately after awakening occurs. In the case of direct techniques, the issue of timing is much more critical.
Naturally, the best method for finding the right time to perform direct techniques is the same as indirect techniques – the deferred method. However, there are some serious differences here. First of all, one may interrupt one's sleep at practically anytime of the night or early morning. Second, after having woken up (5-15 min.), one should not fall back asleep, but should immediately proceed to the techniques.
Direct techniques are many times more effective with the deferred method than at any other time. This is due to the fact that with the deferred method, the mind does not have time to become 100% alert, and it is easy to fall into the altered state of consciousness that will allow results.
When it comes to specific steps, one should awaken in the middle of the night either on one's own or with the help of an alarm clock. Then, one should get up and do something for 3 to 10 minutes, and then lie down again in bed and perform the techniques. If it is probable that the practitioner will wake up in too alert a state, and thus not even be sleepy, then the interval between awakening and performing the direct technique should be shortened, and fewer things should be done during that period of time. It should be noted that with this setup, a free-floating state of mind plays a far lesser role that with other procedures.
The second most effective window of time is before falling asleep at night, when the practitioner goes to bed. During this period of time, the brain needs to shut down the body and mind in order to renew its strength, which has been expended over the course of the day. This natural process can be taken advantage of by introducing certain adjustments to it.
Attempts at performing direct techniques during the day are less effective. However, if fatigue has already had a chance to build up by this time, this can be taken advantage of because the body will try to fall into sleep. This is especially suited for those who are accustomed to napping during the day.
Generally, other windows of time produce a substantially worse result, which is why one should start with performing direct techniques in the middle of the night, or before a night's sleep. Only after such techniques have been mastered will it be possible to experiment with daytime attempts.
The degree of enthusiasm that is devoted to any pursuit is directly related to successfully reaching a goal. However, it is very important to know when to ease up, especially with the delicate matter of phase entry. One attempt per day using a direct technique is sufficient. If more attempts are made, the quality of each attempt will suffer considerably.
Interesting Fact!
Many approach direct techniques as if digging a ditch: the more - the faster and the better. The result: dozens of attempts that yield no fruit.
A lot of practitioners believe that dozens of attempts over the course of a day will yield the phase. This is not the path to success and will quickly lead to disillusionment with the practice. Even if after a week or a month no results are seen, direct techniques should be attempted only once daily (2-3 days per week). Persistent, analytical, and sensible, stubborn resolve to practice properly will produce the desired effect.
It is useless to attempt entering the phase using a direct technique by lying in bed and resolving neither to sleep nor get up until the phase occurs. Such coarseness in handling the delicate nature of the mind will produce nothing besides rapid emotional exhaustion.
Rigid timeframes apply while performing direct techniques before a sleep or in the middle of the night. Direct techniques attempts should only last 10 to 20 minutes. Longer durations inhibit sleepiness because the mind will concentrate too long on the techniques, and the desire to fall asleep will dissipate, resulting in insomnia that often lasts several hours. Overdone efforts negatively affect natural enthusiasm due to lost sleep and being tired the following day, which is compounded by the reality of a growing number of failed attempts.
If direct techniques produce no effect over the course of 10 to 20 minutes before sleep or in the middle of the night, then it is better to go to sleep with the thought that everything will work out another time. This is the positive outlook a practitioner ought to always maintain.
With indirect techniques body position isn't important since conscious awakening regardless of body position is the goal. However, the position of the body is crucial while practicing direct techniques.
There is not an exact body position that each practitioner should assume since, once again, individual characteristics and instincts differ widely. There are specific rules that allow one to select the right position, based on indirect indicators.
Many hold a belief that the correct pose is that of a corpse – lying on the back without a pillow, legs and arms straightened. This notion has probably been borrowed from other practices claiming that it helps achieve an altered state of mind. However, this position seriously impairs the efforts of the majority of practitioners. The corpse pose should only be used when it is probable that a practitioner will quickly fall asleep while performing techniques in this pose, even though it generally prevents sleep.
If a practitioner experiences difficulty falling asleep and is constantly awake while performing direct techniques, then the most comfortable position for the individual should be used.
If sleep comes quite easily to a practitioner, a less natural position should be taken. If a practitioner experiences fewer gaps in consciousness when the techniques are performed and has a harder time falling asleep, a more comfortable a position should be used. Depending on the situation, there are many possible positions: lying down on the back, on the stomach, on the side, or even in a half-reclined position. It is possible that a practitioner will have to change positions from one attempt to another, introducing adjustments related to a free-floating state of mind. Moreover, no more than 3 days per week should be spent on the direct techniques. The same goes for the practice of the phase itself. This limit may only be raised in case of a high level of experience and nearly all of one's attempts being successful.
By nature, one should clearly understand that direct techniques are in and of themselves relaxation methods, inasmuch as no phase can occur without one being relaxed. Accordingly, one can go immediately into the phase without any prior relaxation.
Since the most effective window of time for using direct techniques occurs before sleep and at night, and lasts only 10 to 20 minutes in any case, additional time should not be wasted on trying to relax, nor should time for relaxation be subtracted from the requisite 10 to 20 minutes.
Correct and quality relaxation is a difficult pursuit and many go about it in their own way, producing an effect opposite to that of natural relaxation. For example, many endeavor to relax their bodies to such a degree that in the end the mind is as active as it would be while trying to solve a difficult mathematical equation. In this type of situation, entering the phase is impossible.
The body automatically relaxes when the mind is relaxed. The body, in turn, will never relax if the mind is active. Therefore, it is better for beginners refrain from the trouble of the nuances of relaxation and save their energies for more elementary matters.
Instead of forcing a technical relaxation, a practitioner should simply lie down for several minutes and this will provide the best relaxation. Lying down activates natural relaxation processes; the most powerful kind.
Complete, peaceful relaxation may only be coerced by those with specialized, in-depth experience. Generally, these are people who have spent a great amount of time and effort mastering trance and meditative states. Relaxation in these cases should take no more than 1 to 3 minutes and no longer, as when a practitioner is expert at relaxation it is sufficient to just think about it, and it occurs.
All quality relaxation techniques may well serve as direct techniques, if a free-floating state of mind occurs while they are exercised. After gaining the necessary experience with trance and meditation, a practitioner of these mental arts may proceed to mastering the phase.
Techniques used to gain direct entrance to the phase are exactly the same as those used during indirect attempts. The only difference is in the method of implementation. However, since direct techniques mostly require passivity, not all techniques work equally well for both direct and indirect entries into the phase. For example, active techniques like straining the brain cannot be used to gain a smooth entrance into the phase.
Direct techniques differ from indirect techniques in their implementation because of the slow, halting production of results that occurs from the beginning of a direct attempt through the end of it. If upon awakening something happens to work, then this can practically always lead to entrance into the phase. For example, the same phantom wiggling before sleep can begin quickly enough, but range of movement will not be easy to increase, and the entire implementation of the technique will rely on protracted, rhythmic movement. Results take much longer: ten minutes instead of ten seconds. These differences also apply to every technique described in this guidebook.
Like with the practice of indirect techniques, to begin the practice of direct techniques, a practitioner should choose 2 or 4 of the most suitable techniques from those that prove most effective for the individual.
The primary difference in working with direct techniques is the time that it takes to exercise each. If testing a specific indirect technique takes only 3 to 5 seconds, then in this case several minutes will be spent. Duration varies depending on certain factors.
There are three primary ways of performing the techniques: classical, sequencing, and cycling - similar to the cycling used with indirect techniques. To understand which variant should be used, consider the following table:
Variations of Using the Techniques
When to Use It
Classical (passive) variation:
One attempt of 1 technique. The technique may be alternated after each attempt.
- when learning direct techniques;
- when a practitioner generally sleeps poorly;
- if attempts lead to waking up;
- if attempts with other variations occur without lapses in consciousness;
- if the body and consciousness are in a relaxed state;
Sequencing (middle):
One attempt with 2 to 3 techniques for 1 to 5 minutes. Techniques are alternated infrequently. Aggression fluctuates with the length of time that the techniques are performed.
- used if falling asleep occurs while using the classical variation, or if cycling results in becoming wide awake;
- when a practitioner generally falls asleep quickly;
Cycling (active):
Algorithm of cycling 3 techniques like with indirect entry to the phase, but performing each technique for 10 seconds to 1 minute, and not 3 to 5 seconds.
- if the classical and sequencing variations put one asleep;
- when one generally falls asleep very quickly;
- can also be employed when exhausted or sleep deprived;
A practitioner should always begin with the classical variation, i.e. using one technique over an entire attempt. Due to the unusual nature of the efforts involved, a beginner's enthusiasm may sustain a completely alert state. Later, however, strong, prolonged lapses of consciousness into sleep may occur. Here, it may be necessary to increase the level of activity by transitioning to the sequencing variation.
Sequencing is the primary variation used for direct techniques because of its elasticity in application. It can be passive if a practitioner alternates two techniques for five minutes each over the course of 15 minutes. It may also be aggressive if three techniques are sequenced for one minute each. Everything between these two extremes allows for proper practice of the techniques and selection of the best variation to achieve a free-floating state of mind.
If falling off to sleep stubbornly occurs even with the active form of sequencing, then one should start cycling through indirect techniques, but performing each technique for 10 seconds to 1 minute.
As work over many months with the techniques is implied, one should not torment oneself if on one day one does not want to do something. Otherwise, one may quickly tire out. Everything should be a pleasure to do and not cause any excessive emotional tension.
There are almost infinite descriptions of direct entry techniques offered in literature, stories, on the Internet, and at seminars. Sometimes, one description fundamentally differs from another. In the majority of cases, however, common threads exist that unite almost every description of a particular technique: short lapses in consciousness, memory gaps, and drifting in and out of sleep, all of which are hallmarks of the free-floating state of mind. After any of these phenomena occur, all manner of unusual pre-phase or phase sensations arise.
Lapses in consciousness may last for seconds, several minutes, or more than an hour. They may range from a simple loss of consciousness to entrance into a full-fledged dream. They may be singular and rare, or may occur several times over the course of a minute. Whatever a lapse entails, the mind attains a mode of operating that is ideal for phase experimentation, provided the practitioner is able to refrain from deep sleep and quickly return to a conscious, waking state.
Not every lapse of consciousness leads to the phase. The lapse must have sufficient depth to be effective. Thus, with every unsuccessful lapse, another deeper lapse should be incurred.
The primary practical drawback of the free-floating state of mind is the possibility of falling completely asleep during lapses instead of only temporarily dipping into sleep. Techniques are definitely necessary to ensure the desired result. Such techniques more or less fulfill an auxiliary function, and thus one need not be strict about them.
Interesting Fact!
It does not matter which direct technique is used; as long as it leads to lapses in consciousness, success is possible.
When performing the variations of the techniques, a practitioner can begin to vacillate between full alertness and complete asleep, coming to, and then nodding off again.
To avoid falling asleep requires a strong desire to return to wakefulness. This is accomplished by a strong resolve on the part of the practitioner, even if, while performing a direct technique, drifting in and out of sleep occurs. The practitioner must firmly assert that at the moment consciousness tapers off, awakening will immediately occur.
On the other hand, if lapses do not occur, and are replaced by complete alertness, the following tricks of the trade may help: full concentration on mental actions or, conversely, musing and daydreaming in parallel with the technique being used. It should be noted that these are only effective at the initial stages of working with direct techniques since such techniques have a strong sleep-inducing effect.
If direct techniques do not lead to light sleep or singular lapses after a long period of regular practice, then it must be assumed that the practitioner is dealing with some appreciable error in technique or in the length of performance.
The number of lapses that occur may be regulated by body position during practice or by changing the variation used while performing techniques.
Entering the phase with a free-floating state of mind most often occurs as the result of three key factors. First, one technique or another may begin to work well during a lapse. Second, nearness to the phase may unexpectedly manifest itself through sounds or vibration after a lapse. During this, transitioning to techniques that correspond to the above symptoms (listening in, straining the brain) may be applied. Third, when exiting a lapse, it is sometimes easy to separate or quickly find a working technique by paying attention to initial indicators.
Interesting Fact!
There is a theory that there is no such thing as a direct phase entrance method, and that all direct methods are actually a subcategory of the indirect method. The only difference would be that direct techniques involve inducing micro-sleep, which authentically mimics falling asleep, creating a physiological state closer to natural awakening, when it is easy to enter the phase.
Lapses in consciousness are not bound to occur in 100% of cases. However, striving to achieve lapses plays a very important role since they are not always perceivable, and a lapse occurrence is not always obvious. They can be very short in duration or shallow. Or, they may not occur at all. Nonetheless, properly applied techniques to produce lapses may give entrance to the phase. This is especially true of the deferred method for direct phase entrance. It is also worth noting that lapses in consciousness can be so shallow and brief that a phaser may simply be unable to recognize them.
It can be categorically stated that there is one situation in which a practitioner will constantly have problems with the direct method, or never get it to work: excessive desire to get results right here and now. If a practitioner lays in bed with the thought that he will enter the phase no matter what using the direct method, then he might as well not make any attempt at all. Such excessive desire inevitably finds physiological expression in the form of a lack of lapses in consciousness, or their weak depth. The problem is that practically every new practitioner makes this mistake. Direct techniques are often considered difficult due to this seemingly inconsequential and barely perceptible mistake.
Interesting Fact!
For most practitioners, a key piece of advice is to let go of a burning desire to enter the phase no matter what when using the direct method.
That's why there should be an element of inner stillness and indifference to the end result before beginning an attempt, let alone during it. You need to let go of trying to control it, and simply commit yourself to entering the phase. One's mind should be completely still and almost completely indifferent as to how successful the attempt will be: if it works - great. If not - who cares? There should be intention to enter the phase, but that intention ought be kept inside, and not find expression in excessive desire or control over the situation.
Until a practitioner learns to have stillness in his approach to direct phase entrance methods, he cannot hope to obtain any real practical experience. In the best case, only one attempt in fifty will result in the phase, even though most of his attempts could have met with success. It's enough to consider that all advanced users of the direct technique benefit from ambivalence towards the result, whether or not deliberately. Conversely, all attempts by novices are accompanied by excessive desire to obtain a result that they have to have, and this is the main reason for lack of success.
Analyzing a typical example of how the direct technique can work should make the situation clearer: say someone accidentally described the direct techniques right away when telling another about the phase. His interest perked, the newly-initiated goes home and begins making an attempt just for laughs, without excessive desire. It turns out that this works on the first try. He experiences a turbulent and hyper-realistic phase. Now that he knows what all of the fuss is about, he longs to go there again. On the next day, he goes back to bed with a clear recollection of those electrifying events that he so desires to re-experience. But now, his mind craves results so much that his body is physiologically unable to fall into the state that had preceded his first successful attempt - an attempt made without any excessive effort. As a result, those same direct techniques no longer bring the phase. Anyone believing that getting results is a matter of technique (and not realizing it's a matter of attitude towards the process) would be dumbfounded.
Using direct techniques in the evening or in the middle of the night take advantage of the body's natural state of fatigue and for practical purposes this natural tiredness may be amplified. For example, direct techniques more easily lead to success if the practitioner is considerably sleep-deprived. Moreover, in such a state, inducing a free-floating state of mind may be forgone. The most important thing is simply not to fall asleep immediately, in addition to employing the appropriate variations with the techniques. Willful deprivation of sleep is torturous and useless even though great results may be achieved by an experienced and knowledgeable practitioner in a severely fatigued state. Beginners are better off approaching all forms of practice in a natural, balanced way.
An intense longing to sleep is not limited to long periods of sleep deprivation; physical and emotional fatigues also play important roles. In that case, the most important thing is not to fall asleep when performing the techniques, and thus one must select a more active technique variation than usual.
The above notwithstanding, factors such as fatigue and sleep deprivation are only to be used on those rare occasions caused by external circumstances. There's no sense in putting your body through intentional misery by trying to force fatigue or extended periods of sleep deprivation. Such situations are practically the exclusive domain of novices - an experienced phaser would always go to sleep when exhausted. Sacrificing the health in such a way is pointless when already having regular and easily-entered phases.
The direct techniques, after all, should only be performed when in a normal physiological state, and with enjoyment. A practitioner should take pleasure in the very process of using the method, and not regard it as a tiresome chore needed to enter the phase. This is the main reason why a practitioner should perform his favorite techniques when he's most in the mood for them. The phase should never be sought by trying one's will or body. With the direct method, there is a direct relationship between enjoyment and effectiveness: the more the process makes you irritable, the worse the free floating state of mind arises and the lower the odds of success - and vice-versa.
There are several signposts that will clearly indicate whether or not a phaser is on track to reach his goal of mastering the direct method. First, an unsuccessful attempt should not cause one to feel irritable or feel one is wasting time. That's the first sign of a strategic mistake regarding the process. There can be no talk of a having a solid direct-entrance phase experience as long as this happens. Next is enjoyment of the very process of performing the techniques. If a practitioner enjoys working with the techniques he is doing and finds them pleasant, then they will also work much better and be much more likely to lead to the phase. In addition, disappointment rarely accompanies unsuccessful attempts when one has such an attitude. One must always show respect for the techniques, and not treat them as a boring chore necessary to get into the phase. If such a problem exists, one should reconsider one's attitude towards the techniques and try to become interested in the mere performance of them. Although the techniques are not even of secondary importance for direct phase entrance, they can serve as a reliable gauge of the quality of the attempt.
If a novice begins his practice from the direct techniques, then he does so at his own risk and peril, having shunned recommendations based on work with thousands of people. When unsuccessful, practitioner himself would be solely to blame for the wasted time and effort. It should always be remembered that many even quite-accomplished practitioners try to avoid using the direct method to enter the phase.
Direct techniques seldom produce quick and clear results, unlike entering the phase via becoming conscious while dreaming or through the use of indirect techniques. At first, direct techniques produce sporadic results, which is why the path of practice should not begin with direct techniques hoping for fast reward. It is better to systematically practice a technique, working toward mastery on a consistent basis.
There is no cause for worry if results are not achieved after a month of attempts. A continual effort to analyze practice and improve should be the primary focus because failures are always caused by distinguishable mistakes.
Although difficulties may arise with direct techniques, one should never abandon what worked until then (i.e. indirect techniques), as this could temporarily deprive one of the experience that one has enjoyed so far.
A combination of direct and indirect techniques should never be used during the course of a single day since this would be detrimental to practical focus and enthusiasm. It is better to separately perform each type of technique on different days.
Lack of a free-floating state of mind, even though it is mandatory.
Assuming an incorrect position when lying down.
Performing direct techniques during the day when a practitioner is inexperienced, instead of in the evening or at night.
Performing more than one attempt per day.
Performing protracted relaxation before the techniques, even when this may play a negative role.
Performing the techniques for too long when they should be exercised for no more than 20 minutes.
Forgetting to affirm a strong intention of awakening during a lapse of consciousness.
Falling asleep during lapses in a free-floating state of mind, instead of working toward multiple lapses while awakening.
Forgetting separation techniques and awaiting some unknown event upon emergence from a lapse, instead of taking advantage of the moment.
Excessively alternating the techniques in a primary repertoire, instead of testing them in a planned and systematic manner.
Holding the breath when unusual sensations are encountered. Always be calm.
Halting practice when unusual sensations occur when it is necessary to continue what brought about the sensations.
Excessive excitement while performing direct techniques.
Lack of aggression during attempts due to fatigue and sleep deprivation.
Lack of a clear plan of action. Understanding and planning the use of distinct variations of the techniques beforehand is crucial to the analysis of subsequent errors in practice.
Which techniques should be mastered before proceeding to direct techniques?
Should results from the use of direct techniques be expected after several days or a week?
Is it better to practice direct techniques during the day or in the evening?
Is it correct to perform three direct attempts per day?
Which body position should be assumed when suffering from insomnia?
Which body position should be used by a person who falls asleep quickly?
How much time should be spent on a single direct attempt?
When can direct attempts be made for a longer period of time than usual?
What is the best way for an inexperienced practitioner to relax?
Can direct techniques substitute relaxation techniques?
Can relaxation techniques substitute direct techniques?
How many variations for performing direct techniques are there?
In what case is the variation of sequencing with direct techniques employed?
Which technique may not be used for direct entrance to the phase with the goal of creating a free-floating state of mind?
What happens to consciousness while in a free-floating state during direct techniques?
Should awakening be attempted if falling asleep occurred while using direct techniques?
What is the probability of entering the phase without a free-floating state of consciousness?
What do unsuccessful attempts using direct techniques most often end in?
Is sexual activity before an evening attempt using a direct technique beneficial?
When performing direct techniques, try to achieve no less than three lapses in consciousness before 20 minutes elapse, or before you fall asleep. Repeat this challenge until phase entrance is achieved.
The techniques for phase entrance via becoming conscious while dreaming are based on reaching consciousness and self-awareness during a dream, which, regardless of dream quality, can be transitioned into a fully realized phase experience. Contrary to popular opinion, having an out-of-body experience through dreaming differs little from other techniques. The outcome is still categorized as a dissociative experience: being fully conscious while removed from the perception of a physical body.
The realism of a phase induced through becoming conscious in a dream does not differ from phases entered using other techniques, and, when deepened, the phase offers more vivid and lucid experiences than those of everyday life.
If a practitioner becomes aware of a dream while in it (usually accompanied by a clear realization that it is "just a dream"), then the phase is experienced from that moment forward.
Beginners often confuse the notion of becoming conscious while dreaming with induced dreaming. An induced dream is the dream of a specific topic, provoked on demand; this does not presuppose consciousness. Moreover, not all practitioners clearly understand what it means to be fully conscious while dreaming. Consciousness while dreaming is always present to some extent, but it is necessary to be as conscious as one would be in a wakeful state. Awareness is not possible as long as the plot of the dream continues. When full understanding occurs that everything around is just a dream, a person drops the dream and starts doing only what he wants to do at that very moment. And after awakening, he should not think that what happened was absurd or unexplainable.
During the process of becoming conscious in a dream, a practitioner's actions must be completely subordinated to the desire to experience a quality phase. This is why, upon becoming conscious in a dream, proceeding to techniques related to deepening and maintaining is crucial.
Techniques for becoming conscious in a dream differ very much in nature from other techniques, and there are good reasons why these methods are differentiated from other practices, like so-called astral projection or out-of-body experience (OBE). However, their characteristics differ very little in terms of results.
The technique-related peculiarities rest in the fact that specific actions are not required to produce immediate, concrete results. All technique-related elements are performed outside of when consciousness while dreaming occurs. This is because it is impossible to take some action if you are not conscious and do not realize that you are dreaming. All efforts are directed at making that very realization somehow occur.
Interesting Fact!
Even if a practitioner pays no heed to the techniques for becoming conscious while dreaming, but applies direct or indirect techniques, on average each third phase will still occur through becoming conscious in a dream. This has been statistically proven at seminars of the School of Out-of-Body Travel.
Many strive to achieve consciousness during each dream over the course of an entire night; however, this is rarely possible due to physiological barriers. There is a good reason that sleep and dreams are an important part of a human life. There is an important need to switch off not only body, but also consciousness, so that it may unconsciously sift and process the vast volume of information obtained in everyday life.
The timeframe for achieving conscious dreaming is very difficult to estimate due to the nature of required actions. Intensity and intention definitely exert heavy influence. A practitioner may become conscious in a dream when first lapsing into sleep, regardless of when it occurs. Or, with regular attempts, this could happen in two weeks to a month. Nevertheless, these techniques promise a much higher likelihood of success than direct methods, and can be compared with indirect techniques - inferior to the latter only in terms of the speed at which results are achieved and the amount of effort required.
Techniques used to attain dream consciousness should not be combined with other types of techniques. It is better to focus on one thing at a time. Interestingly, when a technique is practiced on a regular basis, there is nearly a 100% guarantee that dream consciousness will spontaneously occur. A practitioner must know how to react when this happens.
As with other phase entrance methods, the best time for becoming consciousness while dreaming occurs when using the deferred method. That is, it's necessary to sleep for 5 to 7 hours, then wake up and perform physical activities for 3 to 50 minutes in order to consolidate the effect of the awakening, and finally go back to sleep with the intention of becoming consciousness during dream episodes to follow. The longer the interlude before going back to sleep, the higher the odds of success. There are some practitioners who are able to fall back asleep after a long interruption. Meanwhile, others are unable to fall asleep after only several minutes of being awake, and so they should make the break as brief as possible.
Consciousness while dreaming also arises easily during a daytime nap. It can also occur in the middle of the night, but for physiological reasons such experiences tend to be brief and are usually marginally lucid.
It is possible to simultaneously practice several techniques for becoming conscious in a dream since every technique is directly compatible with and complementary to others.
Remembering Dreams
There is a well-known and widespread of fallacy that supposes that dreams do not occur for some people. Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers their dreams. Even those who actively dream remember only a small fraction of these nightly excursions. Hence, one should not think that it is impossible for someone who does not remember dreams to become conscious in one. Such a person should simply try to use the techniques.
At the same time, there is a direct correlation between the number of dreams remembered and the probability of becoming conscious while dreaming. That is why developing the ability to remember dreams is crucial. In essence, the ability to achieve dream consciousness rests with the conscious mind, which is very much interconnected with memory-related processes.
Consciousness is naturally inherent in dreams, but it lacks rapid, operative memory. Dreamers may know who they are, their names, how to walk, and how to talk, but may not know how surrounding events are related, or the nature of their significance.
By increasing the frequency of remembered dreams, short-term dream memory becomes more developed, which enables more realistic dream experiences followed by a higher probability of dream consciousness.
There are three techniques dedicated to increasing the number of remembered dreams.
The first is to simply recall the details of dreams upon awakening. Within the first few minutes of waking up, try to remember as many dreams from the night before as possible. This should be done with a great amount of attention and diligence because this exercise strengthens the memory. If possible, during the day, or, better yet, before going to sleep at night, recall the previous night's dreams once again as it is highly beneficial.
Writing dreams down in a special dream journal is much more effective than simple recall. Record dreams in the morning while memories are still fresh. The more details recalled when recording the dream, the better the ultimate results. This is a very attentive approach that demands a higher awareness than simple recollection. Writing dreams in a journal significantly increases awareness of actions and aspirations.
Another way of remembering dreams is to create a map of the dream world. This is called dream cartography and is similar to keeping a journal, though an enhanced level of awareness is developed by connecting dream episodes on a map.
First, record one dream, describing locations and events, which are plotted on the map. This cartographic process is repeated with each subsequent dream, and after several dreams an episode will occur that is somehow related to the location of a dream that has already been recorded. The two dreams that took place near each other are plotted next to each other on the map. Over time, more and more interrelated dreams will occur and the map will become increasingly concentrated rather than disconnected. As a result, the frequency and realistic quality of remembered dreams will increase, and the dreamer will increase the ability to achieve consciousness while dreaming.
It is best to set remembered dreams to memory after temporary awakenings versus waiting until morning. To accomplish this, it helps to have a pen and a piece of paper nearby so that a practitioner may quickly jot down a phase or several key words from the plot of the dream before falling back asleep. Using this information, the majority of dreams are quickly and completely recalled.
The initial result from exercising these techniques is a rapid increase in the number of remembered dreams. When this number becomes significant (anywhere between five and ten per night), dream consciousness follows on a regular basis.
Intention is crucial to the success of any technique. With regard to dream consciousness, its significance is multiplied. The creation of intention is inextricably linked to the creation of internal aspiration, which has reverberations in both conscious and unconscious states. In reality, an elevated degree of intention operates as a powerful method of mental programming.
This technique is performed before falling asleep by affirming a strong desire to become conscious while dreaming. For best results, alongside a strong, clearly defined intention, think through what actions will be taken when dream consciousness is achieved.
Creating an Anchor
Since dream consciousness is not linked to specific actions that take place within a dream and sensory perception continues to operate in the dream state, it is possible to develop and use an artificially conditioned reflex to achieve consciousness. The essence of this technique is to train the consciousness to uniformly react to certain stimuli that occur while being awake and when dreaming, establishing a habit of specific response every time a certain situation occurs.
For example, while awake, a practitioner may ask, "Am I dreaming?" every time they see an anchor. An anchor is any object that is often encountered while awake and while dreaming. Examples of anchors include a practitioner's own hands, red objects, or running water. When first using this technique, a practitioner will be unable to question whether a dream is in progress every time a pre-established anchor is encountered. However, with training and a strong desire this technique quickly produces results. Over time, subconscious questioning of the practitioner's state becomes habit, happening while awake and dreaming. The end result is dream consciousness.
It is important to note that one needs not only to simply ask this question, but that it is also important to answer it mindfully, trying to isolate oneself from surrounding events in order to be able to answer it in an as objective and unpredetermined way as possible. Failing to answer objectively will always result in a negative response ("no"), and dream consciousness will not be achieved.
Natural Anchors
In addition to creating deliberate anchors that induce conscious dreaming, natural anchors should be given focused attention. These are objects and actions that regularly cause dream consciousness, even when consciousness is not desired. Being aware of the existence of natural anchors actually doubles the chances of their appearance.
The following experiences are common natural anchors that are present in dreams: death, sharp pain, intense fear, stress, flying, electric shock, sexual sensations, and dreaming about phase entrance or the phase environment. When attempting dream consciousness, identifying natural anchors produces results nearly 100% of the time.
One may try to start flying each time that one answers the question. This is of course pointless when in waking reality. However, when dreaming, this will most likely lead to flight and once again prove that everything around is just a dream.
Consistent analysis of dreams helps to ascertain reasons for an absence of conscious awareness: these analyses are significant to attaining dream consciousness. Over the course of a lifetime, the mind grows accustomed to the paradoxical nature of dreams and pays less attention to them. This becomes apparent while trying to understand that a red crocodile is not only unable to talk to us, but that it also cannot be red, nor can it rent an apartment. While dreaming, these impossibilities are never called into question. The essence of self-analysis is remembering dreams and thinking hard about why their paradoxical features had not been adequately recognized in the dream state.
With experience, the everyday analysis of the correspondence of dreams to reality begins to have an effect on a practitioner's reasoning within the dream state. For example, that red crocodile's presence in a rented apartment could cause doubts that give pause for reflection, which could in turn lead to the understanding that everything happening is just a dream.
To ensure that dream consciousness leads to a fully developed phase experience, one of three specific actions must be taken.
The best is the techniques for deepening, which should be immediately applied once dream consciousness occurs. Deepening must be performed within the dream episode before all other techniques. Doing so virtually guarantees entrance to the phase. The choice of actions that follow deepening is dependent upon a practitioner's predetermined plan of action in the phase.
When becoming conscious while dreaming, it is quite dangerous to try to return to one's body in order to roll out of it right away unless one has deepened beforehand. This could result in a situation where, after having easily returned to one's body, one would not be able to separate from it, as the phase becomes significantly weaker when physical sensations coincide with the position of a real body. If one is to employ such an option, then in order to return to one's body one should simply think about it, which is often sufficient to make the transition occur almost immediately.
Another option is the use of translocation techniques to arrive at a desired place within the phase world. It is also dangerous to employ this variation without first deepening; translocating in a shallow phase makes a return to the wakeful state very likely. Translocation is often accompanied by a substantial decrease in the depth of the phase state.
To achieve dream consciousness, constant practice is highly necessary because sporadic practice will fail to develop the requisite background thought processes.
As a rule, employing phase entry techniques within the context of dream consciousness produces results after several weeks, and the effects of the techniques are increasingly pronounced with time. If there are no results within a month or two, refrain from these techniques for a period of time, take a break for a week or two, and resolve to assume a fresh start later.
Practitioners often stop using these techniques after initial results as later effects become elusive and the frequency of dream consciousness rapidly declines. These techniques should not be abandoned after first yielding results, though a gradual decrease in practice is generally acceptable.
Perceiving the state of dream consciousness as a non-phase state even though this phenomenon is one and the same with the phase.
Attempting dream consciousness while performing other phase entrance techniques when it is better to focus on dream consciousness alone.
When falling asleep, lacking sufficient desire to experience conscious dreaming even though this is critical.
Continuing to yield to the plot of a dream even after achieving dream consciousness, whereas subsequent actions must be independent and based on free will.
Incorrectly answering the question "Am I dreaming?" while dreaming.
Forgetting to immediately begin deepening techniques when dream consciousness has been achieved.
When exercising memory development, recalling the most vivid dreams instead of every dream.
Inconsistent concentration while practicing dream consciousness techniques.
What is the difference between an out-of-body experience and dream consciousness?
After attaining dream consciousness, does the realistic quality of the surroundings differ from that of wakefulness?
Which technique can be used in a dream to become conscious in it?
Is it possible to achieve dream consciousness after the first attempt?
Is it true that not all people dream?
Why is learning to remember as many dreams as possible important for becoming conscious while dreaming?
What is dream cartography?
To experience dream consciousness, what must be done while falling asleep?
Could a tape measure become an anchor used to achieve dream consciousness?
What experiences in dreams often spontaneously give rise to a state of conscious awareness?
What must immediately be done after becoming conscious while dreaming?
Try to achieve at least one instance of dream consciousness.
Non-autonomous methods of entering the phase are various types of external influences that are able to help put a practitioner into the phase state. Computer programs, devices, various physical actions, the aid of a helper, or even chemical substances are examples of non-autonomous methods. In rare cases, these methods actually help, while some hinder the possibility of a genuine phase experience.
Never count on a magical substance or machine to automatically eliminate the difficulties associated with phase entrance. If such a substance existed, the whole topic of phase experimentation would exist at an advanced level of development and prevalence in society.
In actuality, there are no devices or methods able to consistently provide access to the phase state. At best, these exist in a largely supplementary capacity, and the more a practitioner is able to do on his or her own, the more helpful and effective these supplements are. If phase entry has not been mastered autonomously, then results through the use of supplements will be totally accidental.
The reason behind the weak effectiveness of non-autonomous methods of phase entrance rests in the fact that the physiological process responsible for the phase experience cannot be exactly defined. Only generalities are known, nothing else. In order to gain a clear understanding of the state, the processes that give rise to it must be discerned and analyzed. All existing technologies have either blundered down a clearly mistaken path (synchronizing the hemispheres of the brain), or traveled toward the detection and use of indirect indicators (cueing technologies).
Of all non-autonomous assistance methods, cueing technologies yield the best results. The operating principle behind cueing technologies is quite simple: a device detects rapid eye movement (REM) and sends signals to a sleeping practitioner, prompting dream consciousness or an awakening that may be followed by indirect techniques. Cueing programs or devices may also send indicators over specific intervals of time; these are received during REM sleep and are meant to cause a sleeping practitioner to awaken and attempt indirect techniques.
More sophisticated REM-detecting technologies may be purchased at specialized stores or through online merchandisers. REM-detecting technologies work by virtue of special night mask equipped with a motion sensor that detects the frequency of specific eye movements that occur during REM sleep. When the eye movements reach REM quality, the device sends discreet signals to the practitioner through light, sound, vibrations, or a combination of these. In turn, the practitioner must discern the signal and react to it while sleeping with the goal of phase entry through dream consciousness.
The effectiveness of REM-detecting devices is more plausible in theory than in practice. The mind quickly develops a tolerance for these types of external stimuli and stops reacting, and, as a result, such technologies are hardly used more than one or two nights per week. Secondly, a practitioner will detect only a small portion of the signals, and conscious reaction occurs in even fewer instances.
Cueing technologies are best used to send signals that allow a practitioner to awaken without moving during REM sleep, which facilitates a high probability of phase entrance through indirect techniques.
Pricing of these "mind-machines" (the common moniker of any device that purports to produce altered consciousness) widely varies and is determined by quality of REM detection and signaling. Available models include: DreamStalker, DreamMaker (NovaDreamer), REM-Dreamer, Astral Catapult, among many others. Since the use of these devices does not guarantee increased success in practice, investing money in the technology is not recommended. If a practitioner is curious about cueing technologies, similar devices may be constructed at home using a special computer program and a run-of-the-mill optical mouse. Designs for a homegrown setup are easily located on the Internet.
Another do-it-yourself way of experimenting with cueing is through the use of a computer, a music player, or even the alarm clock function on a mobile phone. The practitioner saves short sounds or phrases, played as an alarm every 15 to 30 minutes while sleeping. These sounds will signal the practitioner to wake up and attempt indirect techniques.
If the practitioner decides to use cueing technology, several fundamental principles should be considered as results will be less likely if they are ignored. First, mind-machines should be used no more than twice a week. Otherwise, too high a tolerance will be built up, rendering the machines ineffective. Second, use cueing technology in combination with the deferred method, which was covered in the section on indirect techniques. It is better to sleep for six hours without distraction and then, after sleep has been interrupted, put on a sleep-mask or earpiece and continue sleeping. Sleep will be light for the remaining two to four hours as there will be more REM sleep, making it easier for the mind to detect cueing signals. Finally, master indirect techniques before making use of cueing technologies to attain dream consciousness and subsequent phase entrance.
Working in pairs is considered the second most effective non-autonomous method of entering the phase. One practitioner is to be the active one, and the other fills the role of helper. The active practitioner attempts to enter the phase while the helper provides various types of support to this end.
For example, the active practitioner lies down in bed while the helper stays nearby, waiting for the active one to fall asleep. When sleep occurs, the helper observes the eyes of the active, watching for the signs of REM sleep, which is mainly characterized by quick eye movements. When REM is apparent, the helper whispers to the sleeper, communicating that everything the practitioner is experiencing is a dream. The helper may vary the volume of the whisper, use touch to strengthen the signal, or shine a flashlight on the sleeper's eyelids – which is very effective.
The active practitioner should detect the signals without waking and indicate a state of conscious awareness by performing quick, cyclical eye movements. If no such indication is given, the helper continues to rouse the active practitioner, who may finally wake.
If the active practitioner is unable to stay in the dream, indirect techniques should be performed. The active practitioner should under no circumstances move upon awakening or waste valuable seconds before transitioning to indirect attempts. If phase entrance does not occur after exercising the techniques, the practitioner should again fall asleep with the intention of making another attempt.
Generally, several such attempts are enough to glean results. Working in pairs is best performed just prior to a daytime nap, or with the same deferred method used for indirect techniques - an early-morning interruption of a practitioner's nighttime sleep.
The ambition to create a device that facilitates quick and easy phase entrance has led to the appearance of assorted technologies that claim to fulfill such a role. As already stated, none of these devices has been proven effective.
The most famous of these is the Hemi-Sync system, which purports to synchronize the two hemispheres of the brain. Hemi-Sync was developed by Robert Monroe, an American esotericism expert and researcher. The idea behind Hemi-Sync is that out-of-body sensations may be induced by achieving synchronization of the brain's two hemispheres. However, this type of approach yields a paradox for the lack of scientific (or pseudo-scientific) evidence that hemispheric synchronization influences sensory perception. Actually, it is the cerebral cortex and constituents that are primarily responsible for sensory perception. At the beginning of the 20th century, it became clear that the key roles in sensory processes are played by varying levels of inhibition and activity in the cerebral cortex. Synchronization devices have no effect on the operation of the cerebral cortex.
The idea of using sounds of various frequencies to induce a specific level of electrical activity in the brain is, so far, considered impossible. Thus, the sounds and noises used to assist separation from the body cannot directly affect the process, but merely serve as cueing signals. Such a system works only after having been used for a long time, if it works at all. Moreover, it might only work once or twice. Usually, it never works at all. Nevertheless, synchronization systems are able to help practitioners reach a free floating state of consciousness since the systems prevent sleep or induce wakefulness, providing fertile ground for direct phase entry.
The idea of inducing various phase states through sound has gained wide attention. Many other programs and technologies have appeared as a result, including, for example, the Brain Wave Generator (BWG), which allows the practitioner to independently experiment with a wide array of sounds and frequencies and various methods of transmission. The effect is the same: cueing during sleep or the maintenance of a transitional state. Thus, there is no noticeable difference between using machines and listening to similar sounds or musical compositions.
Inasmuch as the devices described above have not delivered notable result, the search for new technologies continues unhindered. The number of ideas for exerting noninvasive influence over the brain and its constituent parts is increasing. For example, there is a theory that phase experiences may be induced by electromagnetically stimulating the left angular gyrus. However, this, like all other non-autonomous methods, is strictly based on theory. At present, consistent, focused, and unassisted practice is the simplest and only guaranteed means to achieving phase entrance.
Hypnosis is a little-studied method of entering the phase. The idea is that a hypnotist is able to cause a person to enter the phase through suggestion or affirmation. There is no doubt that hypnosis is an interesting concept, especially for persons who easily yield to power of suggestion. However, such individuals account for only 1% of the population.
Due to specific characteristics of human perception, the chances are nil that hypnosis is a likely conduit to phase entrance. So, it seems unlikely that hypnotic techniques will become well-known, or that a top-notch hypnotist would, through suggestion, easily be able to lead a subject directly into the phase.
However, it is completely feasible that hypnotic suggestion may promote increased frequency of dream consciousness or awakening without moving (and remembering to do indirect techniques). Here again, this method is only a facilitator, while actual phase entrance depends on the efforts of the practitioner.
The simplest way to supplement the practice is establishing a reminder that prompts conscious awakening and subsequent indirect techniques. This may be accomplished by blindfolding the eyes or tying a cord taut around an arm or leg. The idea is that the reminder is immediately felt when the practitioner wakes, prompting the attempt of indirect techniques. In actuality, mind-machines work using the same principle since these are most effective as cues that arouse an intention to perform a specific action.
A more sophisticated example of a reminder is when a practitioner dozes off in a position meant to cause numbness to a certain body part. While awakening, the practitioner will take the physical numbness as a cue to practice indirect techniques. A secondary benefit to this method of physiological signaling is that the numb body part may easily be used to perform phantom wiggling. Falling asleep while lying on the back with an arm behind the head, or by lying directly on an arm are effective examples. These and other postures will impede circulation, cause numbness, and promote awakening. Naturally, the numbness should not be excessive.
Diverse experiments that exploit physiological needs are especially popular for inducing conscious awakening or becoming conscious while dreaming. For example, a practitioner may forgo water over the course of the day before attempting to enter the phase. The effect is an acute thirst while dreaming, which may be used to communicate that the dream state has taken over. Or, thirst causes repeated awakenings, during which the practice of indirect techniques may commence. An alternative to depriving the body of water is including more salt in foods consumed before going to sleep.
Another method is to drink a lot of water before sleep, causing the practitioner to awaken, naturally producing an opportunity to perform indirect techniques. Using this has been known to result in dream consciousness.
Another popular method helps with direct techniques. It works by falling asleep while keeping the forearm propped up at the elbow. When the practitioner falls asleep, the forearm falls to the bed as the body shuts down. Feeling the arm fall signals a lapse of consciousness, after which direct techniques may be attempted. If this method fails to produce results on the first try, it may be repeated by raising the forearm before falling asleep again. This method helps some, but rarely on the first try. It should not be counted on as panacea.
Like all other non-autonomous methods, practicing phase entrance using physiological signals should not be done on a regular basis. There are more pleasant, autonomous techniques that only require natural willpower and healthy desire.
Out of all of the substances used for practicing the phase, only coffee is readily obtainable. However, it should only be taken by novices who sleep too hard. For everyone else, there's no sense in using it, as one's practice should be natural.
The essence of the this tactic is to use the deferred method in conjunction with taking coffee. For example: a practitioner sleeps for 6 hours, gets up, drinks coffee, and goes back to sleep with the intention of catching the next awakening in order to use indirect techniques or in expectation of becoming consciousness while dreaming. Thanks to coffee's invigorating properties, one will be at a higher state of awareness during subsequent awakenings, and awakenings themselves will be more frequent. There will also be a high likelihood of becoming consciousness while dreaming.
While some hold it's best to take a double dose of the drink, such things are purely individual, and everyone has to find what works for them. Some enjoy the same level of success when drinking black tea instead of coffee.
Since the beginning, the history of advances in phase entrance methodologies has included a direct link to the use of consumable supplements, starting with plants and mushrooms in ancient times. The use of specialized herbs, mushrooms, and cacti is still practiced in isolated cultures: Siberian shamans and North American Indians, for example. Amid the hunger for altered states of awareness, these chemical supplements have reached every corner of the developed world. However, the proliferation of these substances has caused a marked degradation in the progress of modern phase practice.
The names and descriptions of these various chemical concoctions, herbs and plants included, are not worthy of inclusion in this text. They are officially considered illegal in some countries while still available in the pharmacies of others; nevertheless, they are all dangerous.
There are two primary problems with using such supplements. First, practicing the phase through the consumption of chemical substances and various herbal supplements is not a path to development, but to ruin. Drug abuse and personal development are polar opposites, in no way compatible. Cheap thrills are consistently followed by chemical dependencies and health problems.
Second, although a user may experience phase sensations under the influence of such substances, the quality of experience is completely different. It is not only the stability or depth of the phase that are affected by these supplements, but also a user's consciousness and awareness. The use of substances and the resultant alteration of mental processes negatively impact self-awareness. The phase must be accompanied by two things: out-of-body sensations and a complete, conscious awareness. If one of these is missing, then the state experienced, by definition, is not the phase. When descriptions of these chemically "enhanced" experiences are studied, the hallmark of every one is a complete lack of control.
Using any type of chemical or herbal substance to reach the phase must be ruled out. Summarily, these make it impossible to experience the phase and ultimately destroy physical and mental health.
Even though no beneficial non-autonomous technologies currently exist, the future is wide open for them.
With the development of effective technologies, the phase will cease to be the exclusive domain of the initiated and become a widespread practice. Only then will the (sometimes justified) stereotypes and prejudices connected to the mystical nature of the phenomenon be dispelled, and only then will the phase gain the necessary attention from researchers needed to ably develop the science of phase practice.
When externally applied methods that cause phase entrance are discovered, the human experience will drastically change. Those technologies for inducing and monitoring phase experiences will open up incredible possibilities. For example, it will be possible to participate in a movie instead of just watching it; people will be able to try and evaluate products without leaving home; travel throughout designed worlds will take place; computer games will be substituted with analogous experiences including real physical sensations.
The ultimate step would be the unification of phase experiences into a collective, parallel world integrated to existent digital networks: the Matrix (the Mindnet). Using this Matrix, it will be possible to communicate with someone on the other side of the planet - not just through a broadband video link, but literally tête à tête.
This vision of the future is a drop in the ocean of possibilities that will open with phase entrance technologies. The first step toward the future is a thorough, pragmatic, and correct application of the techniques now available.
The belief that devices are able to cause phase entrance if autonomous techniques fail, even though it is much easier to enter the phase through strictly individual efforts.
Wasting a large amount of time and effort on various technologies to create a phase state.
Using cueing technologies on a daily basis, even though they aren't supposed to be used more than twice a week.
Using cueing technologies all night long, when it is much better to use these in conjunction with the deferred method.
Using cueing technologies without affirming a personal intention of appropriate reaction to the signals: this is crucial to cue effectiveness.
Working in pairs during the first hours of nighttime sleep, even though REM sleep occurs infrequently during them, and at that for only short periods of time.
While working in pairs, the helper giving an active practitioner too strong a signal. Signals should be kept discreet to prevent waking the sleeper.
Employing an amateur hypnotist to increase the frequency of dream consciousness.
The use of hypnotic suggestion on a practitioner who is not susceptible to hypnosis.
Using physiological signals on a daily basis and thus causing physical discomfort versus getting enjoyment out of the practice.
The belief that chemical substances are the normal path to dissociative experiences. Acting on this belief is equivalent to drug abuse.
Are techniques based on breathing be considered non-autonomous methods of entering the phase?
Which non-autonomous and non-chemical means allow phase entrance after the first attempts?
Why is it still not possible to create a device that causes phase entry?
Are cueing technologies beneficial to overcoming difficulties with conscious awakening?
What happens if a practitioner uses cueing technologies for seven days in a row?
Can cueing technologies make use of light signals?
Can feasting on peanuts before sleep help the process of phase entry?
Will putting a tight rubber band around an ankle promote phase entry?
While working in a pair, are both practitioners required to enter the phase?
Can the helper be compared to a cueing device while working in a pair?
When should the helper give the signal that the active practitioner is dreaming?
Would a hypnotist making suggestions about entering the phase be helpful to every practitioner?
Why do phase-inducing technologies sometimes work, even though these are based on flawed theories?
What is absent in a phase induced by chemical substances?
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Deepening refers to techniques that induce realistic perception and awareness in the phase state.
The phase is not an exact, fixed state where a practitioner is either present or not. It is a realm of states characterized by a transition from the usual perception of the physical body to a complete alienation from it, while maintaining consciousness and reality of perception, albeit in a different frame of space. The transition begins with perception of the natural, physical body followed by a moment of ambiguity where a clear experience of body is intermingled with a sense of the perceived body. Afterward, the perceived body enters the phase space, while the physical body becomes a memory. At this point, the perceived senses may be quite dull; for example, vision may be blurred or completely absent. Deepening techniques solve the problem of diminished or absent sensory perception in the phase.
Sensory experiences within a fully realized phase experience are as realistic as those in everyday reality. In almost one-half of all cases, practitioners observe that reality-based surroundings pale in comparison to the vibrant detail and color of the phase space. To this end, after entering the phase, a practitioner must perform deepening techniques to enhance and solidify the degree and quality of phase reality.
Full spatial perception in the phase only occurs after deepening techniques have been applied. There would be no point to remaining in the phase without deepening. For example, what is the point in finding a person in phase, if it is not even possible to discern his or her eyes there?
In a considerable number of cases, deepening is not necessary, since the phase experience is completely realistic, if not hyper-realistic. In cases like these, deepening may be bypassed.
Deepening is also related to the length of time a practitioner may remain in the phase. If an action is taken without a deep, realistic phase, the experience will always be several times shorter in duration than a phase where deepening techniques had been applied. The properties of the phase space very much depend on its depth. When surroundings are blurry and unclear, the stability of objects is very weak.
There is a direct correlation between the realism of a phase and a practitioner's level of awareness, so it is extremely important to ensure a deep phase in order to promote maximum awareness.
Interesting Fact!
The realism of a deep phase space is often so great that it causes uncontrollable fear or shock.
Deepening should only be performed following complete separation from the body. If initiated before separation, the phase may end prematurely. If complete separation does not occur, primary deepening should be used. As regards the deepening techniques themselves, there is one main one and there are several subsidiary ones. The main technique, which does not present any difficulties, is sufficient for having a successful practice.
Interesting Fact!
Ignorance of deepening techniques has led to a great number of baseless theories and superstitions. Some practices treat differing phase depths as various states and even worlds. In reality, there are simple actions that ensure a singular phase experience.
The goal of primary deepening is to achieve complete separation from the body, allowing further actions within the phase. Primary deepening entails achieving two principal objectives: complete separation from the physical body and anchoring the perceived body within the phase space.
When separation from the body occurs through the use of a separation technique, a posture must be assumed that is completely different from the posture of the real, physical body. The greater the degree of postural similarity between the physical and perceived bodies, the more shallow and brief the phase will be. For example, in the case of horizontal levitation, a 90 degrees turn must immediately be performed, arms and legs spread, adopting a vertical posture. Under no circumstances should a practitioner in the phase remain in a posture identical to that of the physical body.
If a practitioner is pulled back toward the body after separation, anchoring should be initiated that facilitates standing or sitting in the phase. Resisting the gravity of the physical body is paramount to remaining in the phase. The result of willful resistance is directly proportional to the degree of applied effort. It will help to grab hold of surrounding objects and hold on to them; any means of anchoring the perceived body within the phase are appropriate. It is possible to start rotating around an axis; not simply imagining the rotation, but performing it with the perceived body as well.
The more a phase is experienced by the sensory faculties, the deeper and longer the phase will be. Sensory amplification in the phase is the most effective deepening technique precisely because it allows the activation of primary internal sensations during the transition from reality to the phase. There are several ways to perform sensory amplification.
Palpation is the first deepening technique that should be recalled when entering the phase.
Vision may be absent at the beginning of a phase experience, but the sensation of occupying a defined space is almost always present. In the case of a completely absent sense of sight, only tactile-kinesthetic perception is possible. That is, movement throughout a space and touching objects there is the only option when vision is absent. The sense of touch plays a key role in the perception of everyday reality. This is eloquently demonstrated by Penfield's cortical homunculus featuring the parts of the body that correspond to cortices of the brain responsible for their operation. It demonstrates how our actual self-perception is completely disproportional to the size of parts of the body. Accordingly, if the sense of touch is actively used in the phase space, it is only natural that the phase will deepen and reach its maximum potential.
Palpation is performed by fleetingly touching anything that may be found in the immediate surroundings. This should be done by quickly but carefully perceiving the feel of surfaces and shapes. Hands should not remain on a particular place for more than one second, remaining constantly in motion to locate new objects. The goal of palpation is to touch and also to learn something about encountered objects or shapes. For example, if one feels a mug, one may touch it not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Once a practitioner has rolled out of the body, the bed may be touched, as well as the floor, the carpet, nearby walls, or a bedside table.
Another palpation technique is performed by rubbing the palms against each other as if trying to warm them on a cold day. Blowing on the palms also produces sensations that will help deepen the phase. Since tactile perception of the world is not limited to the palms, the hands should be moved over the entire body while in the phase to excite and fully activate the sense of touch.
As soon as palpation begins, the feeling that the phase is deepening and becoming fixed soon follows. Usually, it takes five to 10 seconds of palpation exercises to reach the maximum level of deepening. After performing this technique, the pseudo-physical sensations will be indistinguishable from those of everyday reality. If vision is absent on phase entry, it quickly emerges during palpation.
Peering is the primary technical variation of sensory amplification. However, it is not always initially accessible since it requires vision, which may begin as absent in the phase. Once vision appears or has been created using special techniques (see Chapter 8), peering may begin. The effectiveness of this technique originates in the fact that vision is the human's primary instrument of perception. Therefore, by exciting vision to its maximum potential within the phase, it is possible to attain a fully immersive phase state that is completely apart from normal reality.
Peering should be done at a distance of four to six inches from objects within the phase. A practitioner should glance over the minute details of objects and surfaces to bring definition to the phase space while increasing the quality of vision. When looking at hands, the lines of the palm or the fingernail and cuticles should be examined. If observing a wall, study the texture of its wallpaper. When looking at a mug, one should look carefully at its handle, the curve of its rim, or any inscriptions. Attention should not remain on one area of an object for more than half a second. Active observation should constantly move to new objects and their minute details, approaching objects or picking them up to draw them nearer. It's best when objects are near one another; otherwise, too much time is spent moving around.
Peering brings quick and clear results. Usually, if vision is blurry and there is a yearning to return into the physical body, with just 3-10 seconds of peering all of this will be gone without a trace. After peering, vision adjusts as quickly and clearly as if a camera lens was correctly installed in front of the eyes, capturing the image in the sharpest of focus.
Simultaneous peering and palpation provide the maximum possible deepening effect in the phase. This method of sensory amplification engages the two most important perceptions, thus the effect is twice greater than when the two actions are separately performed. If vision is present in the phase, simultaneous peering and palpation is an absolute necessity because it facilitates good phase depth in the quickest and simplest manner.
The combination of palpation and peering must not only be performed simultaneously, but also upon the same objects. For example, a practitioner may look at his hands and simultaneously rub them against each other; or while looking at a coffee mug, all of its parts may be observed and touched at the same time. It is necessary to maintain dynamism of action, remembering that feelings should be experienced not half-heartedly, and remembering that full concentration on sensory amplification is an excellent means to a deep, quality phase.
Sensory amplification comes intuitively when you remember a simple rule: if some sensations are lacking or if one of the five senses is dull and vague, then that sense needs to be heightened as much as possible using the phase space. The previously lacking sensation will become intense and highly-charged. In case of dim vision, for example, one ought to scrutinize something more and more fixedly from a close distance. When experiencing weak bodily perception, palpate your body and move it in as many different ways as you can.
Diving Headfirst
Diving headfirst is used if sensory amplification techniques do not work, or when the practitioner in the phase is located in an undefined space where there is nothing to touch or look at. This technique works thanks to the unusual vestibular sensations that it causes, which help to enhance perception. This technique is performed with the eyes shut if vision is available and the practitioner literally dives headfirst into the floor or space at the feet. A feeling of movement away from the physical body will immediately arise during the flight down, and the dive itself will be experienced as if it is really happening. Simultaneously, the surrounding space may darken and become colder. Agitation or fear may also appear. After 5 to 15 seconds of flight, the practitioner either arrives in an undetermined place in the phase or hits a dead end, like a wall. In the case of a dead end, a translocation technique should be used. Translocation may also be attempted if deepening does not occur during the flight, if sense perception stops improving, or if a good degree of realism has already been achieved. An alternative to the translocation technique: hold the hands about four to six inches in front of the face and try to observe them without opening the eyes; this will move the practitioner to another random location.
When falling headfirst, do not think about the floor; assume that it will be penetrated. This very effective if the phase has not reached a fullness of depth.
A desire to not simply fall down observing one's perceptions, but instead race swiftly downward while trying to move away from the body is extremely important. In case of failure to do so, instead of deepening, such a fall may lead to a return to the state of being awake, i.e. to a foul.
Like falling headfirst, the vibration technique should be used if sensory amplification techniques do not work, or when the practitioner in the phase is located in an undefined space where there is nothing to touch or look at. This technique works thanks to the unusual vestibular sensations that it causes, which help to enhance perception.
After separating from the body, it is normally quite easy to create vibrations by thinking about them, by straining the brain, or by straining the body without using muscles. The occurrence of vibrations provides a significant opportunity to deepen the phase. An advantage of this technique is that it does not require any preliminary actions and thus may be practiced at any moment.
The brain is strained to the maximum extent possible, which causes vibrations that may be intensified and managed through spasmodic or prolonged straining.
If this technique does not produce deepening after 5 to 10 seconds, the technique has to be changed or action should be taken at the practitioner's current depth in the phase.
Aggressive Action
This technique may be used as an alternative to any other deepening technique since it can be used at any moment. Practicing this technique only requires aggressive action of the perceived body. A practitioner may run, roll on the floor, perform gymnastics, or move the arms and legs. Maximum activity and aggression are paramount to the successful use of this technique.
If the practitioner is stuck in a dark space, waving the arms and legs from side to side is appropriate. If the practitioner is in water, swimming with determined, powerful strokes would be suitable recourse. The type of action very much depends on the specific situation along with an aggressive desire on the part of the practitioner.
As a rule, the effect of such movements and relocations comes quite quickly, especially if attention is focused on all the accompanying sensations.
Imagining Reality
This interesting technique should be used by experienced practitioners, or if all other deepening techniques fail.
A practitioner aggressively imagines being located in the physical world, experiencing its intrinsic reality of perception, and not in the phase. This should be done while in a state of separation from the body with a sense of vision present. If successful, the surrounding phase space will immediately brighten and sensory perception of the phase will exceed the normal experience of reality.
If this technique produces no clear results after a few seconds, another technique should be used.
All deepening techniques should be practiced with a high level of aggression, and with no pauses, only continuous, deliberate action. If techniques are practiced in a calm, relaxed manner, then deepening attempts will most often result in falling asleep or returning to the body.
Any deepening technique should be performed quite intensely. The entire process should be somewhat hurried and aggressive. There should be no pause, but only active, fluid, and concentrated effort, preferably coupled with constant maneuver and movement around the space one is in.
In addition, it should be kept in mind that no deepening technique should be performed "as a chore", but with the intense desire and intention of deepening. If this is done, the techniques will be start to be performed in an ideal way. The phaser must try no matter what to merge into the phase world with all of his senses- it will become all the more realistic.
Interesting Fact!
There are known cases of certain swear words being used as a deepening technique to help express out one's intention to deepen. Such an approach may be used during phase entrance in order to maintain and control the phase space.
Forgetting to perform deepening techniques when necessary.
Halting deepening techniques before reaching maximum realism in the phase.
Carrying out unnecessary deepening while at a sufficient depth.
Carrying out main deepening techniques prior to having become completely separated from the body, although at this time only primary deepening should be used.
Continuing deepening techniques when results have already been achieved.
Alternating too quickly between deepening techniques instead of concentrating on each of them for at least 5 to 10 seconds.
Performing the techniques slowly and calmly instead of aggressively.
Observing objects located too far from the eyes during visual sensory amplification instead of the required four to five inches.
When peering, scrutinizing a single detail of an object for too long when it is necessary to quickly switch from one detail to another.
Taking in a whole object when peering while only parts of it should be observed.
Concentrating too long on the details of a single object instead of focusing on different objects in quick succession.
Long palpation of a single object during sensory amplification instead of rapidly switching from one object to another.
Deepening while standing in place when it is important to maintain constant motion.
Falling headfirst with the eyes open, although the eyes must be shut to avoid crashing into the floor.
Falling headfirst without the desire or intention of falling far and quickly.
Forgetting to use translocation techniques after hitting a dead end.
Forgetting to alternate deepening techniques if some of them are not working.
Fear of the hyperrealism of the experience and halting deepening instead of calmly continuing with the technique.
After which phase entrance techniques is deepening necessary?
Why is phase deepening necessary?
Are there cases where phase deepening is unnecessary?
What level of reality should be achieved by deepening?
When should deepening begin after entering the phase?
Does deepening influence the length of a phase experience?
Why is primary deepening necessary?
May one touch one's head when the performing sensory amplification?
Should a practitioner look at curtains while peering?
Is it effective to apply peering at phase objects from a distance of 1 to 1.5 yards?
Can peering be used during palpation?
When should the eyes be closed while falling headfirst?
Would throwing punches like a boxer help a practitioner to deepen?
How calmly should the deepening techniques be performed?
Devote the next three successful phases to perfecting deepening techniques, using all of the methods described in this chapter.
Try judging which technique suits you best from personal experience.
Phase maintenance or "maintaining" refers to techniques that allow a practitioner to remain in the phase for the maximum amount of time possible. Without knowledge of "maintaining" techniques, the duration of the phase will be several times shorter than it could otherwise be. The shortest phases last just a few seconds. Beginning practitioners usually fear not being able to exit a phase; this shouldn't ever be a concern because the real challenge is being able to maintain the phase state, which is easily lost unless phase maintenance techniques are used.
Phase maintenance consists of three primary principles: resisting a return to the wakeful state (known as a foul), resisting falling asleep, and resisting a false exit from the phase.
Resistance to returning to the body is self-explanatory, whereas resistance to falling asleep is unclear to many. Not everyone knows that almost half of phase experiences usually end in a quite trivial way - falling asleep. A person usually loses attentiveness, his or her awareness dissipates, and everything around gradually loses clarity and turns into what is for all intents and purposes a usual dream.
Resisting a false exit from the phase (false awakenings) is a lot more surprising and dramatic. Sometimes a practitioner detects an impending exit from the phase and subsequent deepening techniques fail to work, resulting in what seems to be a return to the body and physical reality. Sure that the phase has ended, a practitioner may stand up and then fall asleep after perceiving a few steps. In such cases, falling asleep most often happens without any movement, but while still lying in bed. The problem is that the difference between the phase and reality can be so subtle that in terms of internal or external indicators, the phase practically can't be distinguished from reality. Therefore, one must know the necessary actions to take in the event that the phase ceases, since the end of a phase could actually be a trick and purely imagined.
There are specific solutions for the three problems described in addition to general rules that apply to any phase experience. Studying these rules should be given just as high a priority as studying the specific solutions, since only some of them, when applied separately, may help one to remain in the phase several times longer than usual.
In some cases, techniques for maintaining are not applicable. However, knowledge of how to maintain is useful for the majority of experiences. Also, there might be situations when someone need only resist a foul, while someone else may need to resist falling asleep. All of this is very specific to each case and can be determined only in practice.
With perfect knowledge of all the techniques for maintaining, a phase may last two to four minutes, which doesn't sound like an extended duration, but really is. A particularity of the phase space is that achieving something and moving around in it takes a minimum amount of time, mere seconds. Thus, so much can be done during 3 minutes in the phase that one literally needs a list, so as not to waste any time.
There are theories that have neither been proven nor disproven claiming that time in the phase contracts and expands relative to real time. Thus, one minute of real time while in the phase may feel much longer in terms of phase time.
Perception of time varies from practitioner to practitioner. Novices especially perceive a real minute as more like 5 to 10 minutes in the phase. This is determined by the particularities of individual psychology, state of mind, and the type of events that occur in the phase.
In order to understand how long a phase really lasted, one does not need to try using a stopwatch in the real world. It is better to count how many actions took place in it and how much time each of them could have taken. The result will differ from one's first rough estimate several times over.
The maximum duration of the phase depends heavily on the ability to apply phase maintenance techniques. Some practitioners have difficulty breaking the two-minute barrier while some find it easy to remain in the phase for 10 minutes or longer. It is physically impossible to remain in the phase forever because even a 20-minute phase is unheard of.
Of the following techniques, constant sensory amplification and as-needed sensory amplification are applied the most often while performing phase maintenance. However, unlike with other technical elements of phase exploration, secondary techniques of maintaining often become the most used and the most appropriate for certain individuals. Thus, all the techniques should be studied, but the first two should be considered very carefully.
Constant Sensory Amplification
The same sensory amplification described in the chapter on deepening (Chapter 6) also applies to "maintaining". In essence, having achieved the necessary depth of phase, one should not stop to actively agitate his or her perception, but should keep on doing this all the while, albeit not as actively as during deepening.
The idea is that during the entire duration of the phase, all action should be focused on experiencing the maximum possible amount of tactile-kinesthetic and visual perceptions. This entails constantly touching and examining everything in minute detail. For example, if passing by a bookcase, touch and examine some of the books in it, including their pages and corners. Tactile observation should be performed on every encountered object.
Palpation may be applied separately as a background sensation. This is done in order not to overload the sense of sight. The hands should be touching something all the time, or better still, rubbing each other.
As-Needed Sensory Amplification
Applying the as-needed sensory amplification technique is no different than constant sensory amplification. It is used only when a foul (a return to a wakeful state) is imminent or when phase vision starts to blur and fade. For example, while traveling in the phase everything may start to blur, signaling a weakening of the phase. At this moment, the practitioner should touch every available object and observe everything in fine detail. As soon as everything returns to a clear and realistic state, actions may be continued without needing to perform amplification.
Constant Vibration
This technique is used to maintain constant, strong vibrations in the phase. As previously noted, vibrations are generated by straining the brain or tensing the body without using muscles. Maintaining strong vibrations will have a positive effect on the length of the phase.
Strengthening Vibrations as Needed
In this case, vibrations are created and strengthened only if signs of a foul become apparent. Examples of foul indicators include duality of perception or blurred vision. Strengthening vibrations will help to deepen the phase, allowing a practitioner to stay and continue within the phase.
Diving Headfirst
This technique is the same as the deepening technique of the same name. If a phase is about to dissolve, dive headfirst with the eyes shut and a desire to dive as quickly and deeply as possible. As soon as phase depth returns, translocation techniques may be used to keep from arriving at a dead end.
Forced Falling Asleep
As soon as indicators of a foul appear, immediately lie down on the floor and attempt forced falling asleep; the same as the phase entry technique. After successfully performing the technique (3-10sec.) , a practitioner may get up and continue to travel through the phase since the perception of reality and its depth will most likely be restored. Resist actually fall asleep.
If indicators of a foul appear, the practitioner should start rotating around the head-to-feet axis. Unlike the phase entry technique of the same name, the movement does not have to be imagined. This is an absolutely real rotation in the phase. After several revolutions, depth will be restored and actions may be continued. If indicators of a foul persist, rotation should continue until proper depth is achieved.
During the entire phase, count to as large a number possible - not just for the sake of counting, but with a strong desire to reach the highest number possible. Counting may be performed silently or out loud.
This technique works by creating a strong determination to remain in the phase by providing a goal that requires action in the phase.
Listening in
If there are any background sounds similar to those heard while entering the phase - rumbling, whistling, ringing, buzzing, or sizzling – these sounds may be used to prolong duration of the phase by aggressive attempts at listening in, hearing the entire range of internal sounds. The forced listening in technique may also be used for phase maintenance.
Hooking onto the phase
Another interesting method of "maintaining" is hooking onto the phase. In the event of an impending foul, grab onto an object in the phase actively palpate or squeeze it. Even if a return to the body occurs during this technique, the hands will continue to hold the phase object and the physical hands will not be perceived. Beginning with these phantom feelings in the hands, separation from the body is possible. Any nearby object may be hooked: the leg of a chair, a drinking glass, a doorknob, a stone, or a stick. If there is nothing to grab hold of, clasp the hands together or bite down on a lip or the tongue.
Two rules apply to using the techniques that help to resist a phase exit. First of all, never think that the phase might end and result in a return to the body; thoughts like this are like programming that immediately send the practitioner to a wakened physical state. Secondly, do not think about the physical body. Doing so will also instantly return the practitioner to the body, every time.
Constant Understanding of the Possibility of Falling Asleep
Most of the time, falling asleep while in the phase can be overcome by a constant awareness that sleep is possible and detrimental to a continued phase. A practitioner must always consider the probability of falling asleep and actions must be carefully analyzed to ensure that they are based on real desires and not on the paradoxical notions common to dreams.
Periodic Analysis of Awareness
Periodically asking the question, "Am I dreaming?" while in the phase helps appraise situations and the quality of the actions being performed at any moment. If everything meets the standards of full phase awareness, actions may be continued. Asked on a regular basis, this question becomes habit automatically used while transitioning to the phase state. If you keep asking this question regularly, sooner or later it will arise automatically at the moment when you are actually transitioning into a dream. This will then help one to "wake up", after which it is possible to continue to remain in a full-fledged phase.
The frequency of the question should be based on a practitioner's ability to consistently remain in the phase. If a phase usually lasts five to 10 minutes or more, it is not necessary to ask the question more than once every 2 minutes; otherwise, this question has to be asked frequently, literally once a minute, or just a little less often.
Be Observer
There is another important rule related to resisting falling asleep: no practitioner should engage or participate in spontaneous events occurring in the phase. Events that are not planned or deliberate lead to a high probability of being immersed in the side action, which results in a loss of concentrated awareness.
Since the techniques for testing the realness of the end of the phase are a little awkward and demand additional attention to actions, they should only be used in those cases when they are indeed required. Until then, one should simply bear them in mind and use them only in moments of doubt. The same methods may be used to safely determine whether or not the practitioner is in the phase when using techniques for entering it.
Since the cessation of the phase experience may be simulated and no different in terms of perception from a real exit, differences between the physical world and the phase world must be actively discerned. In other words, a practitioner must know how to determine whether a genuine phase exit has occurred.
At present, only one experiment is known almost to guarantee an accurate result. The phase space cannot withstand prolonged close visual attention to the minute details of objects. Within several seconds of acute examination, shapes begin to distort, objects change color, produce smoke, melt, or morph in other ways.
After exiting the phase, look at a small object from a distance of four to six inches, and remain focused on it for 10 seconds. If the object does not change, a practitioner can be assured that the surroundings are reality. If an object is somehow distorted or askew, a practitioner knows that the phase is intact. The simplest option is to look at the tip of the finger since it is always close at hand. It is also possible to take a book and examine its text. Text in the phase will either blur or appear as alphabetical gibberish, or be full of incomprehensible symbols.
Auxiliary Techniques
There are a variety of other procedures to test for the occurrence of a foul. However, since any situation, any quality, or any function can be simulated in the phase, these procedures are not always applicable. For example, some suggest that it is sufficient to attempt doing something that is realistically impossible, and, if a practitioner is in the phase, the impossible action will be possible. The problem with this suggestion is that the laws of the physical world may be simulated in the phase, and so flying, passing through walls or telekinesis may not be possible in even the deepest phase. It has also been suggested that looking at a clock twice in a row may help a practitioner determine whether or not the phase is intact; allegedly, the clock will display a different time each time it is observed. Here again, the clock's display may not change in the phase.
One of the most undeservedly popular reality checks consists of trying to breathe out through a pinched nose. If you are able to do so, consider yourself in the phase. However, if there is serious doubt regarding the nature of the space you are in, this method may yield a false positive over one-third of the time. That is, you may be unable to breathe out through a pinched nose even when in the phase.
Of all the auxiliary procedures, one deserves mention and works in the majority of cases: searching for inconsistencies with reality in the surroundings. Although the usual surroundings of a practitioner may be 100% accurately simulated in the phase, it is very rare. Therefore, it is possible to figure out whether a phase is intact by carefully examining the room where everything is taking place. In the phase, there will be something extra or something will be missing; the time of day or even the season will be inconsistent with reality, and so on. For example, when verifying whether a foul occurred, a room may be missing the table supporting a television set, or the table may be there, but be a different color.
There is also a quite logical method for determining whether or not a practitioner is in the phase. If an experienced practitioner experiences doubt as to whether the phase has really ended, then that one doubt is nearly always sufficient to conclude that everything around is still the phase.
The rules for maintaining the phase deal with resisting all or most of the problems which cause a phase to end. Some of these rules are capable of increasing the length of stay in the phase by many times and must be followed.
The practitioner should not look into the distance. If faraway objects are observed for a long period of time, a foul may occur, or one may be translocated towards these objects. In order to look at distant objects without problems, a practitioner has to employ techniques for maintaining. For example, from time to time the practitioner should look at his hands, rub them against each other, or maintain strong vibrations.
Constant activity. Under no circumstances should a practitioner remain passive and calm in the phase. The more actions performed, the longer the phase is. The fewer actions – the shorter the phase. It is enough to pause for thought, and everything stops.
Plan of action. There should be a clear plan of action consisting of at least 2-3 tasks to be carried out in the phase at the earliest opportunity. This is necessary for several important reasons. First, the practitioner must not pause in the phase to think about "what to do next", which frequently results in a foul. Second, having a plan, the practitioner will subconsciously perform all of the actions necessary for staying in and maintaining the phase to carry out all the tasks that have been planned. Third, intelligent and pre-planned actions permit focused advancement of purposeful actions versus wasting phase experiences on whatever comes to mind at a given moment. Fourth, a plan of action creates necessary motivation and, consequently, pronounced intent to perform the techniques to enter the phase. In other words, having a clear and very interesting plan of action can substantially increase odds of landing in the phase, sometimes manyfold. Meanwhile, the plan itself should be actually interesting, curious, or extremely important, as well as - and this is vital - specific.
Interesting Fact!
Upon three-day School of Out-of-Body Travel seminars achieving consistently high effectiveness (a 60 - 70% success rate), group success began being evaluated not only by the fact of phase entrance, but also completion of the group's shared plan of action. Up to a third of participants usually achieve both. Such emphasis during training sessions has been able to double the average duration, quality, and frequency of novices' initial attempts.
Stopping the ID. The less internal dialogue (ID) and reflection that occurs in the phase, the longer it lasts. All thinking must be concentrated on what is being achieved and perceived. Talking to oneself is completely prohibited. The reason for this is that many thoughts may act as programming in the phase and even announcing them internally may introduce alterations, including negative ones. For example, thinking about the body cause a return to it. The practitioner may also get lost in thought, which will lead to a foul. Also, sporadic thoughts usually and quite easily cause the practitioner to simply fall asleep.
Intention. Any technique or method for maintaining the phase must be accompanied by fixed and clear intent to stay in the phase for as long as possible. Sometimes the mere intention of having a long-lasting phase is enough, and no maintaining procedures are necessary.
A practitioner must try to re-enter the phase after experiencing a foul. Always remember that a typical phase experience consists of several repeated entries and exits. Essentially, in most cases it is possible to re-enter the phase through the use of separation or phase state creation techniques immediately after returning to the body. If the practitioner has just left the phase, the brain is still close to it and appropriate techniques may be applied in order to continue the journey.
Forgetting to try to re-enter the phase after it is over, although doing so greatly helps to increase the number of experiences.
Staying focused on techniques for "maintaining" instead of performing them as background tasks.
Getting distracted by events and dropping phase maintenance techniques instead of continually performing what's needed to maintain the phase.
Succumbing to the idea that maintaining is not necessary when the phase appears very deep and stable, even though these could be false sensations.
Using the necessary techniques too late.
Stopping due to uncertainty about further actions, while there must always be a plan.
Forgetting that it is possible to fall asleep in the phase without realizing it. Recognizing the risk of falling asleep must be a primary focus.
Getting pulled into events occurring in the phase instead of observing and controlling them from the outside.
Forgetting that techniques for "maintaining" must always be used to remain in as deep a phase as possible, and not just for maintaining any odd state.
Stopping the use of techniques for "maintaining" during contact with living objects, when the techniques must be used constantly.
Counting without the desire to count as high as possible.
Performing imagined rotation instead of real rotation.
Passiveness and calmness instead of constant activity.
Excessive thinking and internal dialogue when these should be kept to an absolute minimum.
What is a foul?
What is the minimum duration of the phase?
What do phase maintenance ("maintaining") techniques counteract besides fouls and falling asleep?
Why might a practitioner think that the phase has ended when it actually is still in progress?
Should "maintaining" techniques always be used?
What primary techniques work against the occurrence of fouls?
How can a practitioner hook onto the phase?
While in the phase, what do thoughts about the body lead to?
What question should be asked in the phase in order to reduce the probability of falling asleep?
What happens to an object during hyper-concentration?
How else, apart from hyper-concentration, might a practitioner effectively recognize a false foul?
While in the phase, is it permitted to look into the distance for a long time?
What is ID and how does the degree of it affect the duration of a phase experience?
What should a practitioner always do after an inadvertent return into the body?
During the next few phases, dedicate yourself to the single goal of maintaining as long as possible, using as many maintaining techniques as you can.
Figure out which techniques have proven the most effective and comfortable for you, so that you may use these later.
Increase the duration of your average phase to at least 2 minutes (evaluated objectively).
When dealing with a fully-realized phase, requisite knowledge is not limited to entry techniques, deepening and maintenance of the state, translocation, or finding and interacting with objects. In order to feel comfortable, a practitioner has to master or at least acclimate himself to a whole series of techniques to correctly react in any number of situations. For example, a practitioner needs to know how to create vision, if it is absent. Actions including passage through a wall or taking flight in a deep phase do not happen easily, although these actions may be assumed natural occurrences, since the phase exists apart from the physical world. In addition to techniques that allow interaction with the physical setting and surroundings of the phase, methods must learned and applied to counteract fear if it forces a practitioner to consciously and consistently leave the phase.
A practitioner does not have to know all the primary skills by heart, but it is necessary to pay close attention to some of them: emergency return, creation of vision, translocation through objects, and contact with animate objects. For many, skills dedicated to fighting fear will also prove extremely relevant.
The final choice of methods that require added focus on the part of the practitioner must be made on the basis of personal experiences and problems faced while in the phase, since different practitioners often have completely different types of problems.
Problems with phase identification during entry often arise at the initial stages of studying the phase. A practitioner simply cannot understand whether or not he or she is already in the phase. This uncertainty can manifest while lying down or while practicing in other postures.
If a practitioner is simply lying down, physically perceiving his own body, and doing nothing, then it is indeed difficult to determine whether or not he is present in the phase. It is sufficient to note that there might be no signs of a phase state. On the contrary, there may be a host of signs and unusual sensations, but they by no means necessarily indicate the onset of the phase.
The problem of the uncertainty of a phase state is always solved through actions. If the practitioner is lying down, then standard separation techniques may produce indication of phase achievement - in the majority of cases – since such techniques may often be incorrectly performed.
It is possible to perform techniques that are only achievable in the phase state. If a practitioner stands up and does not recognize his surroundings, then it can be assumed that the practitioner is standing up in the phase. However, often based on the observation that "everything is as in reality", a practitioner may stand up and note that everything is in fact "as in reality" simply because the practitioner is still in "reality". In answer to this dilemma, the phenomenon of hyper-concentration has been previously mentioned in relation to maintaining phase. By using hyper-concentration, it is always possible to ascertain whether the practitioner is in the phase. However, as a rule, hyper-concentration is rarely necessary. Most often, the following signs indicate that separation has occurred in the phase: unusual sensations in the body during movement, extreme tightness during movement, a strong physical urge to lie back down, disjointedness of surroundings, and blurred or complete absence of vision.
Often, the problem resides in the use of direct techniques where the practitioner expects fast results and attempts to determine whether the phase has been achieved. As a principle this should not be done. When using direct techniques, the phase manifests itself clearly; therefore, if an attempt to determine its presence is made, it is an indicator that the phase is quite likely still far off.
Statistics show that in one-third of initial phase experiences, a practitioner is faced with a degree of fear that forces a return to the body. Periodically, even experienced practitioners face situations that require an abrupt return to wakefulness. This presents a number of concerns.
In and of itself, returning to the body is almost always unproblematic; remembering and thinking about the body often suffices and within moments the practitioner is returned to the body from whatever location in the phase. Admittedly, it is advisable during this type of situation to shut the eyes and abstain from touching anything. As a rule, when these actions are performed, simply standing up in the physical world is all that is required to complete a return; however, this is not always simply achieved.
Sometimes after reentering the body, the practitioner suddenly realizes that physical functionality has ceased due to the onset of sleep paralysis, or the sensation that the body has been switched off. During sleep paralysis, it is impossible to scream, call for help, or even move a finger. In the majority of cases, it is also impossible to open the eyes. From a scientific point of view, this is a case of an abrupt, unnatural interruption of the rapid eye movement (REM) phase of sleep, during which this paralysis is always present, and it can persist for some time after the phase is interrupted.
This is where it gets interesting. People in the physical world are accustomed to an important rule: if you wish to achieve something, then do it, and do it as actively as possible. This rule, though good, is not always applicable to certain conditions linked to the phase, and applies least of all to exiting the phase. Sometimes extreme effort makes it possible to break through sleep paralysis and resume movement, though most of these efforts tend to exacerbate immobility.
Due to the unusual nature of a negative situation following a deliberate, fear-induced return to the body, the depth of the phase may greatly increase because of the body's natural, protective inhibition of functions originating in the cerebral cortex; this results in even greater agitation and greater fear. The paralysis grows stronger. This is a vicious circle that leads to unpleasant feelings and emotions, which may evaporate any desire to practice the phase.
Ignorance of correct procedures has led to the widespread opinion that such adverse situations may make it impossible to come back from the phase at all. These opinions suppose that it is, therefore, dangerous to get involved with the practice. However, the solution to this problem rests in very simple actions and procedures that can prevent a large number of negative experiences:
Complete Relaxation
In the section on deepening and maintaining, it was noted that the more active a practitioner is while in the phase, the better. Conversely, if there is less activity, the quality of the phase declines, allowing for an easy exit. Thus, in order to leave the phase, the practitioner only needs to completely relax and ignore any perceived sensations, actions, or thoughts. A practitioner may also recite a prayer, mantra, or rhyme, since that helps the consciousness to be distracted from the situation more quickly. Of course, one needs to calm down and try to get rid of the fear, which in and of itself is capable of keeping such a state going. Periodically, the practitioner should try to move a finger in order to check whether attempts at relaxation have had an effect.
Concentration on a Finger
A practitioner experiencing sleep paralysis should try moving a finger or a toe. At first this won't work, but the practitioner has to concentrate precise thought and effort on the action. After a little while, the physical finger will begin to move. The problem with this technique is that the practitioner may accidentally start making phantom motions instead of physical movements, which is why an understanding of the difference between the two sensations is necessary, since it is often not very obvious.
Concentration on Possible Movements
The physiology of sleep paralysis, the phase state, and dreams are such that when the practitioner is in one of these states, some actions are always associated with movements made in the real body. This is true when moving the eyeballs, the tongue, or while breathing. If the practitioner concentrates attention on these processes, it is possible counteract inhibitions to physical movement; as a result, a sleep-paralyzed practitioner will become able to move in reality.
Reevaluating the Situation
Under normal circumstances, deliberate exit from the phase is not the norm. Deliberate exit is commonly caused by certain fears and prejudices. If a practitioner is not able to activate the body using other emergency return techniques, a careful consideration of the possibilities offered by the phase is recommended. There are many interesting and useful things that can be experienced in the phase. Why ruin the possibility of great opportunity because of a baseless fear?
To be fair, it must be noted that emergency exit techniques do not always work. As a rule, after a long period of sleep deprivation, or at the beginning of or in the middle of a night's sleep, the urge to sleep is so great that it is difficult to resist the sleep paralysis phenomenon. In this respect, reevaluating the situation is highly recommended so that a practitioner is able to take advantage of the situation versus suffering by it. Sleep paralysis is easily transmuted into a phase state by means of indirect techniques.
By the way, knowing how to exit paralysis is important not only for practitioners of the phase, since such paralysis occurs even without the phase for approximately one-third of the human population at least once in a lifetime. It usually happens before or after sleep.
Fear in the phase is a very common occurrence. The practitioner may experience fear at any stage, although it is expressed much more clearly during initial practice. The causes of fear are very diverse: a feeling that returning to the body is impossible; a fear of death; worrying that something bad is going to happen to the body; encountering something scary and terrible in the phase; painful sensations; overly sharp, hyper-realistic sensations.
Interesting Fact!
Fear is often specific in the phase and depends on the practitioner's current life situation. For example, young mothers often begin to fear entering the phase just as they're entering it out of a sense that they would risk leaving their children behind. It often worry that they simply might not return or undergo an unsafe situation.
One fear dominates all others: the instinct of self-preservation, which, without any apparent reason, can induce a feeling of absolute horror – a feeling that cannot be explained or controlled.
For a novice stricken by insurmountable fear that causes paralysis, there is only one way to gradually overcome it. Each time a novice enters the phase, an attempt should be made to go a step further than the previous time. For example, in spite of feeling terrified, the practitioner should try to raise the hands and then move them back to the initial position. The second time, the practitioner should attempt to sit down. The third time, standing up should be attempted. The fourth time, walking around in the phase is advised. Then, after incremental steps toward experiencing the harmlessness of the phase state, productive, calm action may ensue.
Interesting Fact!
Fear itself can be used to enter the phase and remain there for a long time. Once the phase is entered, fear should be allayed if it begins to cause problems for the practitioner.
For a practitioner who faces periodical fears, realizing that there is no real danger encourages progress in practice. Urges to rapidly return to the body are then made baseless. Sooner or later, calmer thought dominates events in the phase, and fear happens less often.
When dealing with momentary fear caused by events in the phase, the simplest solution is to tackle it head-on and follow through to the end in order to avoid a fear-driven precedent. If a practitioner always runs away from undesirable events, the events will occur more and more frequently. If a practitioner is incapable of facing fear in the phase, it is best to use the translocation technique to travel elsewhere, although this solution only produces temporary relief.