The Strange Pre-sleep tunnel, lights etc

[bobbydiva]

As I've mentioned in other threads I'm becoming more lucid in my dreams. I can now remember most night's dreams, and try to keep a journal. I've experienced sleep paralysis, and the a strange static, loud noise thing, but I'm still a noob really and have never had an OBE or fully aware dream that I can control, other than from a sort of 3rd party perspective.

Anyway when you are falling asleep, do you just go to sleep and hope something happens or do you REALLY concentrate.

It's hard to explain, but you know when you've got your eyes closed, but you are still looking, sort of through your eyelids and you see speckly lights, balls of light, and sometimes an almost wavey tunnel like sensation, do you concentrate on those, and does that lead you in to a lucid dream? Or are those just distractions from the visible light etc that still occurs with you eyes closed?

I hope that makes sense LOL

[nimlyn]

I merely go to sleep and whatever happens (regarding OBE etc) happens… :)

[kurupted_flesh]

I find things like that work better when you just set the intention and then take your mind off it, allowing your subconscious to do the rest. Similar to your in-built alarm clock when you want to wake up at a certain time, you don't need to spend all night thinking about it.

Of course, sufficient amounts of alcohol usually helps in kicking the whole REM thing...

[eternalwheel]

This is pasted from a book I recently downloaded called 'Adventures beyond the body' by William Buhlman.
Sorry its a big chunk of info but worth the read I think....:)

Recognizing and Responding to the Vibrational State
Internal vibrations and sounds often indicate an approaching nonphysical experience. I refer to the inner sounds and vibrations as the vibrational state. These vibrations commonly begin at the back of the neck
and then spread rapidly through the entire body. They are often accompanied by numbness and a buzzing or humming sound.
According to an extensive national out-of-body study conducted by Dr. Stuart Twemlow in 1979, 55 percent of the 339 participants reported “a sense of energy” during their out-of-body experiences. In addition, 50 percent stated that they felt vibrations in their bodies and 38 percent that they heard noises in the early stages of their experience. The most commonly reported noises were buzzing (29 percent), roaring (19 percent), and music or singing (16 percent). In the beginning it’s helpful to notice any inner signals you experience during sleep or dreams and as you are waking. Pay close attention to any unusual vibratory feelings or sounds, even if they are subtle. Many people routinely experience vibrational sensations and sounds but disregard them as dream-related or as unexplained physical phenomena. Your recognition of and response to these sensations and sounds will, many times, determine how successful your separation process becomes. Some people are so startled by the sensations and sounds
that they think of their physical body. This causes an instant return to the physical.
Your positive reaction to the initial sensations and sounds associated with out-of-body exploration will help you take advantage of every opportunity to separate from your physical body and experience the ultimate adventure, The more knowledgeable and prepared you are, the more
successful you are likely to be. Recognizing and responding to the vibrational state is an important step in your preparation. The following list may help you identify the inner signals associated with the initial phases of an out-of-body experience.
• Buzzing, humming, or roaring sounds.
• Unusual tingling or energy sensations.
• Voices, laughter, or your name being called out.
• Heaviness or sinking.
• Numbness or paralysis in any part of your body.
• Weightlessness or spreading lightness.
• Any internal vibrations out of the norm.
• Electrical-like sense of energy.
• Footsteps or other sounds of a person’s presence.
• Internal rocking, spinning, or movement of any kind.
• Arms or legs lifting while you are asleep.
• Surge of energy flowing through your body.
• Any noise out of the norm: wind, engine, music, bells, and so on.

Currently, several theories address the cause and nature of the vibrations associated with out-of-body experiences. Based on my experience, I believe that the vibrations are the direct result of the higher frequency,
nonphysical body separating from (moving out of phase with) the physical body. I’ve reached this conclusion because the intensity of the vibrations diminishes immediately after complete separation is achieved. The way we respond to these initial vibrations will often determine how effectively we separate from the physical body. The following are some basic guidelines for responding to the vibrational state.
1. Remain calm. The vibrations, sounds, numbness, and catalepsy are a normal experience.
2. Allow and encourage the vibrations to spread through your entire body. Remember not to move or
think about your
physical body; any physical movement will shut down the vibrational process.
3. As you allow the vibrations to expand, visualize yourself
moving away from your physical body toward another area in your home. This visualization can be enhanced by mentally directing yourself with a repeated thought: “Now I move to the door [or any other location away from
your body].”
4. After complete sepatation is obtained, the vibrations will
immediately diminish. At this point, it’s important to focus and maintain your complete attention away
from your physical body.
I have found that being knowledgeable about the vibrational state, recognizing it and responding positively to it, is one of the keys to controlling out-of-body exploration, During the first year of my outof-body experiences, I was often startled and sometimes even scared by the intensity of the vibrational state. As I look back, I realize that I learned the hard way. In the seventies little information was available on this subject, and what was written scarcely mentioned the topic of vibrations and sounds.
After repeatedly experiencing vibrations and buzzing sounds while sleeping, dreaming, and doing out-ofbody techniques, I began to realize that these strange vibrations were a natural prelude to the out-of-body experience. These unusual vibrations and sounds were one of the best early indications that I was ready to separate from my body. After several experiences, I started to enjoy the vibrations and even began looking forward to them. In retrospect, I realize that my attitude toward the vibrational state had a major
impact on my ability to initiate and control my out-of-body experiences, As my anxiety concerning the vibrations and sounds slowly turned to anticipation, my personal abilities increased substantially.
Eventually, I got to the point where the vibrational state was a welcome friend that heralded the beginning of an exciting adventure.
After more than a year of struggle, I finally felt comfortable with the entire process. From that moment, whenever I felt or heard internal sounds, vibrations, voices, or any form of energy sensation out of the
norm, I would immediately encourage the vibrations or sounds to expand. Then I would visualize myself moving away from my physical body and toward the bedroom door. This combination was remarkably successful. I began to recognize vibrations and sounds during sleep, in
dreams, and during meditation. The intensity of the vibrations and sounds varied; sometimes they were subtle, at other times overpowering. I also found that if I experienced mild vibrations, I could focus on them and encourage them to expand and spread throughout my body. For example, on one occasion I woke in the middle of the night with a slight vibration at the back of my neck. I closed my eyes, completely relaxed, and focused on the vibration, encouraging the sensations to grow and move from the
back of my neck to my entire body. Slowly, the vibrations seemed to travel down my spine and then outward, enveloping my trunk and limbs. After what seemed to be several minutes, the vibrations hit their peak and I simply willed myself out-of-body by picturing myself moving to my bedroom door. Within seconds I was standing at the bedroom door and ready to explore.
This process is completely natural and extremely enjoyable when you become accustomed to it. In addition, your newfound control and understanding of the vibrational state give you an expanded ability to take advantage of every possible opportunity to explore out-of-body. Always remember, the sensations and sounds of the vibrational state are an important reference point that can go a long way toward enhancing your abilities to have controlled out-of-body experiences .

[lilloz]

As I've mentioned in other threads I'm becoming more lucid in my dreams. I can now remember most night's dreams, and try to keep a journal. I've experienced sleep paralysis, and the a strange static, loud noise thing, but I'm still a noob really and have never had an OBE or fully aware dream that I can control, other than from a sort of 3rd party perspective.

Anyway when you are falling asleep, do you just go to sleep and hope something happens or do you REALLY concentrate.

It's hard to explain, but you know when you've got your eyes closed, but you are still looking, sort of through your eyelids and you see speckly lights, balls of light, and sometimes an almost wavey tunnel like sensation, do you concentrate on those, and does that lead you in to a lucid dream? Or are those just distractions from the visible light etc that still occurs with you eyes closed?

I hope that makes sense LOL

I think the stage you are referring to is the hypnagogic state, it’s best to view these things without any emotion, just watch without thought, eventually the images stop.
I find after this stage I lose consciousness for a few moments and usually wake up out of body.

Best of luck xx

[bobbydiva]

I think the stage you are referring to is the hypnagogic state, it’s best to view these things without any emotion, just watch without thought, eventually the images stop.
I find after this stage I lose consciousness for a few moments and usually wake up out of body.

Best of luck xx

I shall have to meditate. I normally give up or get bored, but I'll focus this time.

This is what I get a times. It can be a black tunnel. Or almost exactly this but with blue colors:

http://www.davidicke.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=451&pictureid=4221

[cruise4]

It's hard to explain, but you know when you've got your eyes closed, but you are still looking, sort of through your eyelids and you see speckly lights, balls of light, and sometimes an almost wavey tunnel like sensation, do you concentrate on those, and does that lead you in to a lucid dream?

Not Lucid Dreams, although I may have stopped to soon for that, but this is exactly how I saw that fractal star of david dimensional net thing I posted about. Those speckly bits suddenly zoomed into a star of david based rolling tessellation, in red, and further focus produced a warping of this field into a vortex, like a wormhole. I 'could' have travelled down it, but at this time chose not to.