Astral Projection - time travel or parallel worlds?

[Zanriel]

Hey all!

I've been having lucid dreams and OBE's since I was 18... 15 years now. Well, from 18 to 22 I had them a lot, then I went all left-brained and buckled down into a computer career from 23 to 32, but over the past year since I've had a second spiritual renaissance, it's all coming back to me.

Every week I'll tend to have about 2-4 OBE's or lucid dreams. It's tough for me to tell the difference, and that's why I'm writing this. Here's what usually happens.

Sometimes when I go into a lucid dream, it just happens. I'll be having a dream and then I suddenly realize I'm dreaming. That's simple. Where it gets weird is when I'm not sure whether it's a lucid dream or an OBE.

The beginning usually involves what they call the "vibrational stage". I'll wake up from a dream, I'll be lying in bed, and I'll feel a tingling energy all over my body. Sometimes it will be real strong and my head will feel like it's buzzing. Other times it will be more subtle, where it's just a gentle tingling buzz all over my body, usually concentrated in the upper body.

If I allow myself to fall asleep in that state, I can usually retain some level of consciousness. My "etheric body" or "astral body" (I don't really know the difference) will feel rather flexible, like it's not solidly attached anymore. Sometimes I can move my arm, but my physical arm won't move. That's when I know I'm about to cut loose. To get into a full OBE, I'll start twisting my astral body around, like I'll roll over but my physical body stays put. Once I do that, I just pop out and find myself flying around the room.

What's really strange about this though is that I'll be able to see my own body, but it'll be in a different position than I know it's in. For example, last night I was laying on my back, but after I popped out of my body and looked, I was laying on my side. Once the experience was over and I was back in my body, I was on my back again, so I know I wasn't looking at present reality.

Another example: One time I popped out of my body, went to the kitchen, and looked out the back window. Our back yard is lined with privacy trees that were planted about 3 years ago, but this time when I looked out there, the trees weren't there. There was also a white car parked at the neighbor's house, which I'd never seen before or since.

I have a feeling that what's happening is I'm either time traveling, I'm going to some type of parallel dimension, or it's all just my imagination and just a lucid dream. It doesn't feel like a lucid dream though, at all. Especially because of the way it starts and the very distinct sensation of leaving my body.

Here are a couple other factors at play that may be of interest: For one thing, usually right before I have an OBE, I'll sense some other spirit in the room. Sometimes it's a little scary because I never get a good look at it, it's just a sense of another presence. I don't know if the fear is because the spirit is bad or if it's just the shock of having someone else in your room. I get that sense maybe 50-75% of the time right before having an OBE.

Another thing that's interesting is that the last couple times I've had an OBE, right after I leave my body, I can feel my physical body going into some kind of panic. I'll be breathing really heavy. I have to hang on for a moment to calm myself down "Calm down, you're okay... calm down," and then my breathing will return to normal. It's a feeling similar to a roller coaster cresting a hill, or jumping off a tall diving board. It's a real rush.

Also, when I first start out, I usually have very little control over my astral body, its direction of travel, or anything. The past two times I found myself tumbling through the air almost like being out in space with no rocket pack or tow cable to stabilize yourself.

Last night I finally just told myself "Hold still." and then I settled down and found myself standing on the floor. I walked up to myself on the bed and reached out, passing my hand through my physical arms to see if I could feel anything as I was laying there. I didn't. Then I went up the hall. My wife was already up - she usually gets up around 5am and goes to the living room to watch TV. I could see the blue glow of the TV but everything else was still dark. Before I could get to the living room though, something pushed me or I ran into some type of field and found myself being forced to the left into the bathroom. Then my daughter coughed and it woke me up.

That's another thing - I'm so distractable, so shocked, so overwhelmed. It's really hard for me to keep it going. The slightest little thing seems to snap me out of it.

So my question is: What's happening? Time travel? Alternate dimension? Or lucid dream?

And then - how can I astral project into the present? I'd like for once to be able to have an experience and see something that I could confirm the next day to know that I was actually having a bonafide OBE.

I know, I just need to go through Robert Bruce and/or Robert Monroe's books and practice practice practice. I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything similar and what you did, or if anyone has any tips.

[Erin Pavlina]

I remember one time being astral and as I flew out of my house some wind came up and I started rolling down the street, like a tumbleweed. I looked into it and read about astral wind. Who knew? That only happened to me one time.

I also recall a time I seemed to go back in time. I flew to my friend's house and once there it was like the Time Machine, I watched everything go backward spanning years and then it stopped and I was walking through her house from 20 years prior. That was trippy.

And yes, if you're not careful you can initiate an astral separation and then fall into a dream. But likewise, you can be astral and see some strange stuff in your room or house. I rememeber once going astral and I was unable to see my water glass on my nightstand, yet I saw everything else as it was. I have no cogent explanation for why that happens.

Next time you're astral ask your spirit guides to come help you. SEe what happens.

[SimonaRich]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

I remember one time being astral and as I flew out of my house some wind came up and I started rolling down the street, like a tumbleweed. I looked into it and read about astral wind. Who knew? That only happened to me one time.

I also recall a time I seemed to go back in time. I flew to my friend's house and once there it was like the Time Machine, I watched everything go backward spanning years and then it stopped and I was walking through her house from 20 years prior. That was trippy.

And yes, if you're not careful you can initiate an astral separation and then fall into a dream. But likewise, you can be astral and see some strange stuff in your room or house. I rememeber once going astral and I was unable to see my water glass on my nightstand, yet I saw everything else as it was. I have no cogent explanation for why that happens.

Next time you're astral ask your spirit guides to come help you. SEe what happens.

Reading about such interesting experiences really makes me want to try astral projection, but I am still not ready. I hope I will be some day

[codenamesmiley]

Erin,

Why do you keep a water glass on the nightstand? Is it because you wake up thirsty? or is it because you keep it there to absorb negative energies while you sleep?

I ask this, because I am just curious. Is it possible that while astral traveling and not seeing things that you are used to having there, that maybe you time traveled as well? Going to a time before you carried that glass of water to bed with you every night?

If you keep it there to absorb negative energies, maybe that is something divine telling you that it either isn't working, or isn't necessary. The absence of items, definitely piques my interest toward finding explainations. I always was the "why" kid in the family.

I can understand that things that shouldn't be there may appear, because you are seeing things in the etheric layer within the realm where you are. The absence of things that you know were physically there when you started, has to have a meaning of a sort. Why did you notice the water missing? Were you thirsty?

I am not sure I have answers...I am just real curious.

Blessings,
Rebecca

[Erin Pavlina]

This was years ago and I kept the water there in case of thirst, yeah.

I have a feeling that when you are astral you shoudln't expect to see everything as it is when you are fully corporeal. It's all energy, and our minds form it into matter. I think I may well have seen the water glass on another night.

when you are astral, you're lucky to be able to see anything since your eyes aren't even really with you either.

[codenamesmiley]

Wow, I never considered the whole eyes thing.

Thanks for the answers.

Blessings,
Rebecca