Quote Originally Posted by citizennumber3 View Post
I was in my body, seeing only black, knowing that I’d have to wait a bit before my eyes would open to the waking world. They finally did. It only took about, what I’d estimate to be, literally two seconds. But it seems like so much longer when you feel helpless and don’t have control. I couldn’t have opened my eyes any sooner..."

So, my question is: what happened between my dream and waking up?

Did I have an OBE? Did I come out of some sort of sleep paralysis? Is that just how one normally wakes from a lucid dream?

I'm very interested in the paranormal--anything supernatural, out of the ordinary, or unusual...so I was quite fascinated by the experience. But if I weren't so into weird things, I think it might have really frightened me.

~Citizen Number 3 (aka Laura.)
[/b]
Hey Laura,

My name's Rob and I'm a Newbie too (to the site). I have experienced both of the things you described in your experience. Firstly the rising feeling with the accompanying sounds (although I didn't get so much in the way of colours- that sounds nice&#33 and also the paralysis preceding waking up.

My interpretation of what you experienced is what you already intuited; an out of body experience. I have had a few of these and the adjustment to the "process" is definitely a shock/unusual, even if you (like me) have wanted it to happen for years! I think you said this was your first and only experience... if this is the case then you have many more, wonderful, amazing adventures to look forward to. Most people start with a brief awakening in the dream and then wake up... you've started with the big guns, Astral Projection.

While Astrally Projecting your every thought creates reality, in exactly the same way they do in a dream. The key difference between the two is where the "thoughts" (direction) originate. In a dream your subconscious creates the wild experiences, scenes, conversations &c. but in an Astral Projection your conscious mind (whatever that is) does. So when you become conscious in a dream, 'you' get to interact with your subconscious' design.

It has been postulated that dreams occur in the same realm as Astral Projections. Picture the subconscious (with its weird and wonderful agenda) loose on the Astral Plane (and others); creating 'reality' with its "thoughts"... all of a sudden the two seem no different. Bring awareness to the dream and you gain more control... bring ultimate awareness (something I have not done) and you may find yourself in the Astral or the bigger, ultimate reality- collective unconscious if you will. So there is a HUGE amount to be gained from Lucid Dreaming but also (more so?) from bypassing the 'illusion' and entering the Astral.

About 4 months ago I severed three pairs of tendons in my first, second and third fingers of my right hand. A week later while lying on my back in recovery (at home) I drifted off to sleep. At some point I opened my eyes, they were pointed at the spare bed beside me. In my peripheral vision was everything else in the daylight of my room. When I tried to move I could not for the life of me! I couldn't even move my eyes! So there I was staring at this bed and I thought, "holy shit! This is what it's like to be paralysed" and I thought that this is how it was going to be forever! I was terrified and panicking (in my head?) but try as I might, I could not make a sound. "Help," I desperately wheezed at a subliminal level.

Then after some time (two minutes&#33 something happened. Although my body didn't move, "I" went somewhere. It was not very clear but I feel that it was to a school hall. I was looking for someone to help me... but no one could see me. I was really worried now so I decided to throw all of my energy into breaking this horrid inertia. I shut my eyes (my physical eyes were never open&#33 and on the count of three I absolutely REEFED them open. I was awake!!!

"Thank God," I uttered. And then I laughed. I loved everything around me. I noticed that everything was EXACTLY as it looked in my 'dream' except- interestingly- the colour of the sheet on my spare bed was a lighter shade.

I vowed that next time that happened I would relax and go with it, as I was sure that it was the precursor to an astral projection. It has not happened since but I have had the experience of being separate from my body (floating, rising, falling &c) a few times. I love it. I feel that I am almost ready... and it sounds like you are too!

Dae,

Rob.