~Speaking of Seth~

Given this forum is much about different levels/focuses etc. of consciousness it got me wondering.  Waaaaay before i was ever laid on to Seth or Eastern thought I have been experimenting with consciousness. I remember being a boy in the 60s and us neighborhood kids would play a game where you breathed in and out really fast,  then had the biggest kid squeeze your chest with a bear hug as hard as he could,  until you passed out. It was extreme hyperventilation in retrospect. Then the late 60s early 70s brought reefer and drugs into my life that i partook in generously. Then for some reason i read Raymond Moodys seminal book-Life after Life- on NDEs at 16yrs old and then i took classes in yoga and TM the same year (1974). A few years later i got into the new age movement and eastern thought etc. All the while i was having these strange vibrations at night time that i thought were some odd sleeping disorder which ive since discovered are an avenue to having OBEs, which are beyond a blast! My point being: It seems ive been seeking to alter consciousness my entire life without really even thinking about it. My latest plan is to install a float tank in my home and experiment hopefully with the theta state of consciousness which is where these energy vibrations seem to occur. My girlfriend-an atheist-recently discovered her own energy vibrations during her sleep cycle in which she is very excited about. She had "vibrations" last night- yet they continue to slightly frighten her so she has a difficult time of relaxing which is an absolute must. They can be very frightening when you first experience them because you her voices and all types of strange noises/electricity-all the while your body feels as if it is being electrocuted.   We all have these energy vibrations. Im very surprised that more people dont explore them.  I digress. So after realizing my entire life has been one of experimenting with different focuses of consciousness-even (especially!?) during the drug years it got me to wondering if the same thing is happening to any forum members? I never had a dire need to explore consciousness. It seemed to naturally unfold all on its own that way. It is such a beautiful existence we all share!  Have a great day!

Quote from: WindWalker
I digress. So after realizing my entire life has been one of experimenting with different focuses of consciousness-even (especially!?) during the drug years it got me to wondering if the same thing is happening to any forum members? I never had a dire need to explore consciousness. It seemed to naturally unfold all on its own that way. It is such a beautiful existence we all share!

I envy all of you who got into this stuff early on. I guess better late than never. While I've long questioned why we're here, I never got that deep into exploring consciousness when I was young. It never crossed my mind. Plus I had a rather rough childhood and impoverished adulthood and my focus was more on just survival. I didn't experiment with drugs, tried marijuana a few times and didn't enjoy it. Judging by everyone else here in Colorado, I feel like I'm missing out on something special.

But since I found Seth et al. and now that I'm older, an empty nester with less to worry about, I am interested in exploring different types of consciousness and have even been curious about the safer recreational drugs out there. My spouse has become rather conservative over the years, and not interested in Seth or metaphysics or anything else along those lines, so I'm curious how I can work that out.

Hi Windwalker,

I've never experienced the "vibrations" that you're talking about. I have heard voices while I was meditating and twice while I was meditating, I've had the sensation of sensing my consciousness returning to my physical body just at the very end of my meditating session.

I've also heard voices while going to sleep at night, just in that stage where you're in between a fully awake state and the sleep state.

Every time, I've heard these voices, it seems that there is a conversation going on between 2 or more people and the conversation actually makes sense; something like, "Hey, tell Charlie not to forget the groceries." or something like that.

I've never had a conscious OBE but I have had some interesting dream experiences and on 2 or 3 occasions, I had lucid dreams.

I think the floatation tank sounds like an awesome idea. 

For me it doesn't seem like my life has been one of experimenting with different focuses of consciousness, instead, for me, it seems like my entire life has been one of exploring different philosophical ideas and concepts (Raymond Moody, Robert Monroe, Seth, Psychics, New Age, Eastern Philosophies, etc.).

jbseth

Hey JBseth!
When you state "I've also heard voices while going to sleep at night, just in that stage where you're in between a fully awake state and the sleep state" you are "right there." What you want to do is get to that "sleep wake" line by relaxing normally as you would when you are falling asleep but force yourself to remain awake. Do that over and over until sleep eventually wins out. Thats when the vibrations or other energy senstations occur. Its much easier upon waking up,  ie you are coming OUT of the sleep/wake line from the sleep end, instead of trying to go into the sleep state from the wake end. Upon awakening, immediately relax as if going back to sleep but remain conscious. The hardest part of the "upon awakening" obe is remembering that you are attempting an obe before you have awakened "to much." Thats why you must do it every single time you awaken until it becomes second nature. Most people give up after a month or so. Once you have your first obe, the thrill of it is enough to make you want to continually try to do so. Ive had several obes upon awakening by simply "standing up" as soon as i became conscious. Ive never experienced anything as bizzare then my entire "inner self" vibrating and then actually experience the shift in consciousness into a different reality without falling asleep.  Many people dont experience the vibrations and essentially "walk into" hypnagogic imagery. It really is a trip. Here is a free pdf by Michael Raduga that gets into techniques quickly. When he states "Direct method" that simply means "hovering" at the sleep/wake line before falling asleep. When he says "indirect method" that simply means "hovering" at the sleep/wake line upon awakening. Exploring the obe phenomenon has added richness to my life and literally makes Seth material come alive because they bare each other out. You can actually experience for yourself, while in the flesh the multidimensional realities that Seth speaks about. Its the coolest thing ive ever experienced, even compared to all the drugs i ingested when younger. I highly warn against the use of any psychotropic drugs to shift consciousness because they can damage your brain. I have three friends who are now schizophrenic because they did to much acid years ago. They have suffered tremendously. But that was LSD. Maybe you should give weed another go Deb. I smoked weed at a very early age but then it started making me paranoid. Weed can definitely give one "deep thoughts!" I would still smoke it today had it not made me so paranoid because it is very enjoyable and seemingly harmless.  Maybe talk your sig. other into smoking a joint with you as a new experience. It may add a new dimension to your lives. Why not? Anyway-here is Radugas book. Its a quick read. Skip all the obe stories and get right into the techniques etc. Raduga calls it "The Phase".

https://www.obe4u.com/files/the_phase.pdf

Hi Windwalker,

Thanks for the information. I seem to do much better at trying to remain conscious while falling asleep, than I do at trying to become awake, when I'm first waking up.

I've been trying to achieve Robert Monroe's "Mind Awake, Body Asleep" state.

Robert Monroe had many OBE's where he travelled to other realities but he also had some, where he found himself right here in this physical world reality and while here, he visited the places of people he knew.

In any of your OBE experiences, have you ever had an experience where in the OBE, you found that you were right here in this physical world reality? I know that Jane talked about being in an OBE and then this "Black thing" attacked her and as a result of this, she rushed back to her body lying in bed, in order to escape it.

I think it would be awesome to be in an OBE and see your body lying actually on the bed.


The book looks very interesting, Thanks for posting this, I'll check it out. 

jbseth

In the '70's, I was using some technique to be able to have an OBE, and after awhile I had that vibration phenomenon moving up and down my body. When this happened, it felt familiar as if I had done this frequently when I was a child. However, I was not aware that the vibration was known to have a relation to OBEs. I then went to a New Age bookstore where they had several books about the topic. The first one I pulled out was Monroe's Journeys out of the Body. I opened it at random (I remember it was page 23) and read a description of the vibration effect. Of course, I bought the book. Later, I had a dream that I was floating in a canoe toward an island of reeds. As I got closer, I saw my face in the reeds. I thought in the dream, "I wonder if this has something to do with an OBE?" I immediately woke up seemingly standing in my bathroom, looking in the mirror - and not seeing my reflection. This startled me, and I had the sensation of rotating sideways and shooting back to my bed like a bullet. I then really woke up. My chest was very warm. That is the only time that I have had an OBE, though I remain interested.

Quote from: LarryH
In the '70's, I was using some technique to be able to have an OBE, and after awhile I had that vibration phenomenon moving up and down my body. When this happened, it felt familiar as if I had done this frequently when I was a child. However, I was not aware that the vibration was known to have a relation to OBEs. I then went to a New Age bookstore where they had several books about the topic. The first one I pulled out was Monroe's Journeys out of the Body. I opened it at random (I remember it was page 23) and read a description of the vibration effect. Of course, I bought the book. Later, I had a dream that I was floating in a canoe toward an island of reeds. As I got closer, I saw my face in the reeds. I thought in the dream, "I wonder if this has something to do with an OBE?" I immediately woke up seemingly standing in my bathroom, looking in the mirror - and not seeing my reflection. This startled me, and I had the sensation of rotating sideways and shooting back to my bed like a bullet. I then really woke up. My chest was very warm. That is the only time that I have had an OBE, though I remain interested.

I so wish i had read Monroes first book in 1978 when i first felt these vibrations. At the time i honestly thought I was being abducted or whatever and it terrified me. I ended up repressing the vibrations best i could all these years until 1.5 years ago. Its a very long story. I never discuss this with anybody except my girlfriend because people think you are crazy. And i guess it does sound crazy until you experience it yourself! Anyway-you neednt have the vibrations to have an obe. The phenomenon lies right at the sleep/wake line and again, it is much easier to experiment with upong waking. I wake up a few times every nite and it is engrained in my mind after months of practice to "hover" at the sleep wake line when i awake. Try to explore that area of consciousness simply by when you first awaken,  lay in bed and remain relaxed as if you intend to go back to sleep but be sure to remain awake. Just the thought "im going to attempt an obe upon awakening" is enough to keep your consciousness occupied so you wont fall back asleep. It may seem like you are wide awake but really you are simply laying on top of your physical body and you can simply "stand up" and you are ob. That Raduga book has some quick and easy techniques. No matter how complicated all the obe books make it seem,  it is literally as easy as falling asleep. You neednt meditate for hours or do any "energy work" or any other esoteric exercises. Its a natural phenomenon that happens when your wakened consciousness hovers at the sleep/wake line and your body falls asleep as you remain conscious. You neednt have "special powers" and everybody can do this with time and practice-which is the most difficult part for many people. They give up after a few unsuccessful attempts. With diligence and practice at exploring that area you will begin to notice "strange goings on" and your own experience will become your best teacher.

I also meant to add a personal technique i use. I set a calendar alarm on my iphone and i set it on the"vibrate" setting. Then i put the iphone under my pillow. The alarm goes off and genly vibrates my pillow three times a night in one hour intervals. The idea is that the vibration will slightly awaken me 3 times during the night without fully awakening me. It has worked a few times where ive had obes.. You need to get creative with ideas on how you can gently awaken and remember to attempt an obe. As i said before, usually when you first awake, by the time you remember you were going to attempt an obe you are fully awake. Thats why it must become second nature. Also-the "vibrating pillow alarm" i use usually only slightly awakens me and many times i will awaken to some type of energy sensations because i am not fully awake. Just thought id throw the idea out there.

Hi Windwalker,

Hey, would you be willing to share with us some of your OBE experiences?
What kinds of things have you experienced or discovered with them?

Thanks.

jbseth