bemyself,
The best thing you can do for yourself is study, study, study! Read everything you can get your hands on. Decide what information "feels" right to you and disregard the rest. Keep an open mind and be willing to shift your perspective and and change your mind when the need arises.
Our intentions play an increadable part in our experiences. If you go into this thinking you will see or open the door to bad things, you will. If I was you I would try to adjust my thinking a bit before you try practicing the things you are learning.
I think if you do some research on astral projection you will find answers regarding the menacing presence and the man with dark eyes.
Another thing to remember is our latent psychic abilities seem to come out all on their own in the state between sleep and awake. The more experience you get in noticing the things you see, the more you will be able to determine what is a dream and what is not.
And lastly, relax. This is actually a lot of fun.
