Erin, i'm scared.
No, really.. I think I accidentally astral projected once recently while I was high on caffeine (pills) and diphenhydramine (sleep aid). That was a one-time thing I can't recall why I even took them. I'm no scientist but I'm guessing the combination of the two in such high doses had something to do with it. Before it happened all I remember is being awake/alert but my body absolutely refused to stay awake and eventually fell "asleep". Dreadful feeling by the way, actually it made me sick. Next thing I know I'm floating upwards and out of my closed bedroom window above the road 10-15ft. in the air... looking back at my body through the window. Scared me senseless, then I woke up but couldn't move for a while due to sleep paralysis. Eeek. Besides the obvious terror the experience short as it was felt like nothing i've ever felt before in a positive way, very difficult to put it into words that do it any justice I suppose. I guess I could say I felt more "alive" or conscious than I do normally in my own body, like I am right now typing this post.
So, I've been trying to lucid dream lately using the method you describe in your podcast. For about 3 or 4 nights in a row that I tried this....At the point of falling asleep I felt weird vibrations and heard a mild buzzing sound, then I felt like I started to separate from my body very similar to what happened before... its at that point that my fear kicks in and awaken very suddenly I can't seem to get past it. I don't even know if i'm going to end up projecting or dreaming, although it feels like the former.
