Strange, Strange Things

[AstrologicChaos]

Well, I took a pretty long hiatus from out-of-body experiences and lucid dreams, but recently, my interest has been re-kindled. And, tonight, I decided to try...I mean, REALLY try. See, I had read an article, and it explained that the primary, most vital step was to RELAX. And so, I did. I got in bed, found a comfortable position, and started breathing deeply, just trying to relax. Not too long in, I started to itch. Ignore it I told myself. Soon, it will go away. Just ignore it. Luckily, this mentality got me through the few itches that appeared. They dulled down, and then I noticed tiny things, like the hairs on my body perking up and smoothing down, and the sound that my brain makes--haha, I'm not CRAZY...but sometimes I just hear this calming sound from my mind. It's just like ocean mist. Soon after that, my right foot warmed up and started to progressively go numb, without my interference. I managed to duplicate the feeling in my left foot, and tried to get it farther up, but to no avail. I did, however, get it into my hands, but it was substantially less noticeable than in my feet, where it felt like I was wearing heavy boots. After a while, it started getting REALLY uncomfortable, and then they started to get cold.? I visualized (a rare thing for me to try) a giant blanket coming down on me, numbing me...it kind of worked--it mainly just warmed me up. I tried to imagine it melding around my figure, constricting me. Haha, after THAT failed...I suddenly imagined ripples in cloth...and felt myself going up and down, and a strange sensation rushed through me. However, I couldn't duplicate it again, so I gave up on that. I remembered that crossing my eyes and then looking up helped me feel spinning, dropping, et cetera, and proceeded to do so. When I did this, and then uncrossed them, I felt strange. I felt colder, and another strange sensation went through me. It felt like I couldn't look away, and that I was still crosseyed. My head started spinning, but I tried to stop this...my arms and legs felt REALLY heavy at this point, and I was really warm, and I think I could see glimpses of my room, despite the fact that my eyes were closed. I kept my breathing steady, despite the fact that--okay, look, the more I try to remember it, the more I forget it...xDD. Basically, I felt like I was getting really close...like, I could feel myself moving, and I tried going up and down, and started to feel like I was sinking, but my heart was racing like crazy. I wasn't scared, and I was trying to tell my heart, "Damnit, stop beating so fast! Nothing's wrong!" But, I couldn't--and it felt like it was going to burst, no matter how much I tried to calm down...and eventually, all of the senses faded, and I could only get up out of bed, since I was awake now. My limbs were really heavy, and I was kind of dazed...but it was a thrill ride. Mainly, I just want to know...how close was I, and how can I go further? I mean, this is groundbreaking--the closest I've gotten in a while. And after only trying once, after a long time of trying??

[fishguy]

It sounds like you're getting there for sure. I think the most important thing, aside from relaxing, is getting your breathing in a slow, steady pattern. if you can even out your breathing, and get over the fear of course, i think you're there. i've had my heart speed up like that too when trying for an obe. actually, i've only had two, one being spontaneous, the other coming directly through a lucid dream, but i've felt close like you before. when you feel it coming on it gets hard to hold yourself together, but i think if you keep trying you'll get there.

[AstrologicChaos]

Thanks, fishguy. I don't know why my heart was racing, since I wasn't scared in the least. It might've been primal instinct, or my body just working against me. Sort of like leaving a puppy outside for the first time. You know nothing bad will happen to it, but it wants to stay inside. The first thing that tipped me off that I was getting close, is that my eyes were flicking around all over the place, and I couldn't control them...so I'm thinking, "REM?"

[fishguy]

yeah, definitely have had that happen to me...in the two experiences in which i actually had an obe, i've also had the sensation of electricity running through me, if that makes sense. i also hear a weird, tearing sound very distinctly, and feel vibrations. i've felt similar things in lucid dreams, which leads me to believe there is a definite connection between the two, although i do believe in them as seperate, distinct experiences. it's good you're not scared, i think that is a big obstacle to overcome. for me, it's been the toughest

[QwinsepiaSquared]

I find that that if I count to five when I'm breathing helps keep it slow or slow it down. *breathe in* 1-2-3-4-5 *breathe out* 1-2-3-4-5 etc.

[AstrologicChaos]

I count to seven, but yeah--it definately helps me to get into a rythmn...rythm..rhythm...something like that.

[hydroPWNic]

Thanks, fishguy. I don't know why my heart was racing, since I wasn't scared in the least. It might've been primal instinct, or my body just working against me. Sort of like leaving a puppy outside for the first time. You know nothing bad will happen to it, but it wants to stay inside. The first thing that tipped me off that I was getting close, is that my eyes were flicking around all over the place, and I couldn't control them...so I'm thinking, "REM?" [/b] It happens to me to. BUT- I was worried that i might be straining my heart or something so i had my brother set a stopwatch and come check my pulse after 45 minutes of relaxation. He came in awhile after my heart was beating SUPER fast, and he said my pulse was only 82 beats a second... so i think most of it is simply sensations that you feel before Sleep Paralysis.

[fishguy]

what is sleep paralysis exactly? i'm fairly new to all this so there is a lot of terminology i'm unsure about. this website is awesome by the way.

[HereWeGo]

Well Sleep paralysis is like when you wake up and you are aware, but you cannot move it is like your body is still in sleep mode it's even crazy because you breath like your asleep. It can be crazy sometimes but it can be broken you have to really have the will to move. In a way though SP is good. Once in Sp you can fall back to sleep rather quickly. This can help you have more lucid dreams this way too. I hope that I explained that well enough. Because that is from my experience.

[fishguy]

thanks for the info...i'm learning a lot on this site already. have any of you ever had an obe through a lucid dream? like i've said, it happened to me once before, but every time i have a lucid dream, i know the potential is there...all i have to do is will it. i think what's been holding me back is fear. even in lucid dreaming it holds me back sometimes. any similar experiences, anyone?

[AstrologicChaos]

It happens to me to. BUT- I was worried that i might be straining my heart or something so i had my brother set a stopwatch and come check my pulse after 45 minutes of relaxation. He came in awhile after my heart was beating SUPER fast, and he said my pulse was only 82 beats a second... so i think most of it is simply sensations that you feel before Sleep Paralysis. [/b] Hm...that's very interesting. But, it felt so REAL! I mean, I forced myself to get up, despite how close I was--I gave myself a while to calm down, but I kept speeding up my heart rate. And after I got up, my heart was still pumping--so how could it just be a sensation? xD It scared me, not because I thought I was straining my heart, but because...I don't know, it scares me when my heart beats fifty gazillion beats per second. xD