104a) Comments - discussion

I thought I'd post a copy of the comment section that added some discussion about the experience. Please feel free to add anything via comments or email. The more we share, the more we learn! Thanks Jurgen, Dave, & Phil!

Hi Karen, this is really fascinating. In my own experience blindness occurs, when I haven’t quite moved out of the physical energy field, which means you are in an in-between state. You can’t see either the physical nor the non-physical, as you are not quite in the next dimension close to the physical. Once I make the transition into to next dimensional counterpart, the sight returns, but I don’t see any longer the physical. Have you noticed that sometimes it may look like your physical room, but things are slightly different such as a carpet where there isn’t one in the physical? This is generally a good indication that one has made the transition into the next dimensional counterpart of the physical.

Interesting concept, however, how does this explain that sometimes I am totally 'blind', yet by affirming 'awareness now!' or 'clarity now!' I am then able to see?! Maybe this affirmation just moves me more fully into the proper 'vibrational' status to see. I also think there are times I just am not meant to see, as it is more important that I develop my 'other senses' by not relying on vision as much.

I think you are right, affirmation puts you clearly into the right mode. I noticed this also applies to other things, if there are barriers or such. In my case vision seems to be the primary focus although I have experienced taste and smell.

Yes, also, I understand what you mean by things are never fully the same as in physical, This is an observation I made lots of times and led me to conclude that we are then in a higher dimensional counterpart which is partly influenced by our thought or those of other people, here in physical or over there. I wonder whether you have noticed when you went higher up that you thought you knew the place, identifying it solely by its atmosphere, perhaps as a certain place such a a specific town, although it was unrecognisable, looking different etc, but still "feeling" like the place you knew.
only a vague similarity, enough to 'remind' you that you are out! I use the differences I find as another 'signal' that helps me remain in full awareness of the fact that I am definitely out of body, as I still have many times when I question that possiblity! A big learning for me occurred when I made the realization that if I ever 'question' my OOB status, that would definitely be a signal that I was!! When you are 'in physical', there is NO question that you are!! lol This is a really obvious and good trick and quite frankly it has never really occurred to me.

Interesting too that you could feel the “arms of the chair”. You most definitely felt the arms of the astral counterpart of the physical chair. It’s impossible to physically feel the physical chair when out of the body although one can still get a sensation of the physical in very much the same way as “psychics” get a sensation of non-physical things. So when you “physically” felt something its a good indication that you felt the astral counterpart of the chair. I just assume that its an indication that I am not 'fully' into the higher vibrational status, because I am able to 'retain' my memory of physical touch yet also move through things! IMO, there are many 'levels' of vibrational existence, I refer to these as dimensions, but I am sure its the same thing and (what is memory anyway?)
and we can go through multiple levels each time we exit. I never know until I'm out if I'm going to be in the lower, heavier state, or the much fun, lighter, free-er realm! Sometimes I get a mix of many!

The other thing that was very interesting was that you were aware of a beautiful summer day, which could have been the scenery on the next dimension, but the “blindness” which I think is caused by etheric matter still clinging to you after separation, prevented you from breaking through. I really wonder whether it is also this “etheric” matter causing the difficulty in moving about when separating from the body. It seems to be a gluey substance which needs to be broken to enter the next dimension freely. Now this is an interesting concept, and perhaps another 'reason' for the different levels as described above. Not only are there multiple vibrational realms of existence, but it woud also depend upon the level of 'etheric matter' you bring with you. IMO, this level of 'etheric matter' may depend upon your physical state upon exit, your current 'belief system', or any other subconscious/conscious thoughts you have at that time! I agree with you. Curiously I only experienced those things when I first started out thirty odd years ago, I seem to snap through these and wonder whether meditation has something to do with it.

Fascinating to read about another entity near you. I always refer to it as my “silent companion”. They never seem to say much, but generally there seems to be a feeling that one is in good hands. No doubt they’re having fun watching us. Yes, many times I 'sense' the silent companion with me, or perhaps even with the others who come to me. It's an understanding you have while out and moving about that they are there for assistance should you need it, and many times I have if you read the blog! (I'll never forget the words, 'Shields up!' that were firmly stated when I met that negativity in one experience! -- #59 June 2008) Have you ever seen him or her and if so did you recognize them as your "silent companion". Are the always the same person or people? For many experiences, the male silent companion has been the same one and I finally did learn his name in another OBE (see # 78). There has also been a familiar female companion many times, however, her identity is not known.

Interesting your conversation with the woman. I once listened (out-of-body)to my brother having a conversation with his college at his work 1200 miles away. It was as if I was right next to them and listened attentively to every word of the very technical conversation. I even wondered whether it would have been fun to memorize it and tell my brother, but decided in the end that it wasn’t worth the hassle as my brother doesn’t believe in this “mambo-jumbo”.It is easy to tune into the general thought content of the atmosphere which sounds like talking or listening to several radio stations at once. Like Dave, I wonder whether you tuned into an incarnate woman’s mind or whether you made contact with a discarnate person? That 'radio' voice, or voices, is a common occurence many times and I have just learned to use it as a signal that I am about to exit. Initialy I used to think it was just the TV that was left on, but now I assume it is just the 'noise' of the universe as I can tell it's not directed at me or talking to me. Some people say its tuning into global thought frequency just before exit.

From Dave - Any idea who this woman is? A living person? A past person? A currently non-living person? I have no idea who this particular woman was, only that she needed help in some way. I am assuming it is one who may not even be aware she is 'passed on' and is living in a world of her own creation, similar to her life on Earth, in which all her desires and thoughts are realized.

It is a type of 'belief system' realm that keeps some souls from moving on, due to their inability to be 'open' to other possibilities. I had no 'visual' information, only 'sense' and touch. I just felt she needed to be guided to look for help in order to unlock her 'beliefs' that kept her there.

For my own benefit: what would you say was your sense of awareness during most of this? Like it is in a dream? Like a lucid dream? Like normal life? More awake then normal life? Honestly, it depends on the type of OBE it is!! You will see lately it's been 'near-physical' and very heavy sensations, where the degree of lucidity, control, and clear thoughts are limited. The higher experiences, where I am in a higher vibrational state and feel lighter and free-er, then the awareness level and thought processes are so clear!

What is interesting that is that my awareness is much like it is while fully awake! That's what people don't realize when they believe it's a 'dream' or get OOB. It is dismissed as not 'real' because there is little difference in their 'thinking' while awake, and those while OOB!

How do you distinguish an actual OBE from a dream? Or do you consider them both potentially equally real, yet different than waking reality? Tough to describe the difference, but you just KNOW there is one. Many times, however, there is little difference as well!! Honestly? It's easier if you don't try to analyze what's going on...if you find yourself in what you think is a dream, then it'll be a dream. If you take that dream, and become aware within it, then you can convert it to an OBE if you so wish! Again, it's your perceptions and beliefs that guide what you feel and do...the best I can say is to just 'let go', don't analyze so much, and believe in what you are doing!

104) Help by Holding a Hand

Hi everyone! I finally have another OBE to share with you and its interesting how the fact that my other 'near-physical' OBE's were just a prelude to why I needed to learn how to use this state of awareness.

5.7.09 Holding Hand Retrieval

I moved to the couch and intended to get OOB, as it has been long stressful few weeks for me, and my physical life needs would always override my ability or strong intention to get OOB.

This time, however, as life is beginning to settle a bit (or I’m just dealing with it better! lol) I wanted to try once again. Soon after getting into the hypnagogic state, and possibly even falling asleep, I became aware of hearing voices.

It feels as though I’m listening to a radio station, with voices and conversations that do not have anything to do with me. This slight awareness allows me to focus a bit more on my ‘physical’ sensations, and I realize there is the vibrational tingling and my legs begin to float.

This is my usual signal that I’m ready to separate, but once again, it feels so ‘heavy’ I cannot do my usual rollout. I have to push myself upright to a sitting position, still feeling the tingling, so I know I’m separating.

I am unsteady at first, as it’s been a while since I’ve been out! I pull myself to move away from my body, and I’m not very ‘clear’ on my thinking and remember I have to affirm ‘to the door!’ and try to get my thoughts in the right ‘frame’ so I can move.

I affirm ‘to the door!’ a few times, knowing the direction of the front door, but end up having to ‘physically move’ my legs to walk in that direction. As I pass the living room chairs, I reach out and can physically FEEL the arms of the chair, and as I pass between them I know there is a coffee table that I am passing through!!

I can feel the texture change as I pass through the table, yet I can still reach out and ‘physically’ feel the edge of the coffee table! That was most unusual for me!!

As I got to the front door, I opened it as I would have if I was in physical. On the front porch, I could feel the change to ‘cool air’ and then realized I didn’t have to open that door that way! It is pitch black with no vision at all, only an ‘awareness’ of what is out there.

I am suddenly startled to hear the slamming of two car doors, and ‘sense’ two people getting out of car in my driveway. There is only one female talking, and I heard something like ‘What do you think, Alfred?” as if she was talking to the other one who got out of the car with her.

I wonder who is coming, but remained calm enough to ask, ‘Who’s there?’ as they approached. She answered me with her name, but I cannot recall what it was, and I know I asked her at least three times to repeat it because her speech was not clear. (I believe it was similar to Lisette, or Lisa, but I am not sure.)

She continue to talk, loudly and animatedly, and I remember thinking that I’m not understanding a lot of what she is saying and am asking her to repeat many times.

I then took a special note to listen intently at one point, and I clearly heard what is medically termed ‘flight of ideas’, as in her conversation/answer was not appropriate nor understandable in terms of what she was trying to convey. I felt immediately that this was an educated woman in her thirties, with some sort of mental instability, yet very pleasant and easy to get along with.

I engaged her in conversation right where I was, standing on the sidewalk in front of my house. I could still see nothing except darkness, yet I sensed who she was but can give no physical details for a description. The conversation was difficult at first, with the words she spoke that did not appear to have meaning or context.

However, I was guided to take her right hand in my left hand, and I could then PHYSICALLY feel that sensation of holding her hand! Just the same as I did when I physically felt the chairs and table before exiting the house!

Upon holding her hand, I could immediately sense a ‘connection’ and understanding, and I was able to converse with her easily. She was telling me all the different things she like to do, and I remember one question I asked was, “Are you happy here?” in order to get a sense of direction where to go.

She reluctantly answered ‘Yes, but…..’ trailing off and indicating there was some discontent. She then told me she wished it wasn’t ‘summertime’ all the time, indicating to me that I needed to build on this statement. (I recall the sense of a beautiful summer day when we spoke, even though upon fully awakening it was 4am and pouring rain!)

I do not recall the entire conversation, however, I was guided to ask, “Have you ever thought about having a different life? or visiting a different world?”, not really knowing where my words were coming from!! She said, ‘that would be so nice!’ and I ‘felt’ it was rather boring there for her so I continued on by asking, “I have my friend inside the house who would love to tell you all about other lives and worlds, maybe you could come in with me and we’ll talk.” (Again, I knew I had to get her to ‘look’ for the help that was there)

She followed me to the front porch door and as we stepped up, the fading pullback began. I slowly aroused to the sound of pouring rain, and the clock chiming 4am. During the entire experience I was aware someone else was with us, but there was no interaction at all between us.

I would like to think that perhaps my ‘physical’ touch was what was needed to get her to ‘focus’ on our conversation and bring here awareness to the point where she could ‘look for’ additional help.

I never know completely whether I am successful, however, I have the inner knowing that it is because I still remain partly in that ‘physical’ state while OOB, it gives me that added ability to offer assistance to those who remain so closely connected to the lower physical realm.

(See Comments for additional info)