Personal MAP journal & buddy request

[Mica]

Hello

This xmas, I received Robert Bruce's Mastering Astral Projection as a gift. I was ecstatic, since I had read Astral Dynamics, and knew it to be the best book on the subject ever published. I had also experimented with the NEW energy body ways, and was blown away by how quickly and vividly I felt the effects. However, I felt overwhelmed by the vast immensity of information in that tome, and didn't know how to organize it into system I could practice daily. Until now...

However, that being said, I know enough about myself to admit I have a discipline problem. It is very difficult for me to stick with something on a daily basis, like learning to play an instrument or practicing a skill. I have also found that the best way for me to maintain a discipline is if I feel obligated to communicate and interact with another person who oversees my progress, such as a teacher or coach. It is sad indeed that it is way easier to let myself down than another person, but that's the way it is. As long as that coach is there, I am consistent.

I have been wanting to learn how to astral project at will since I was in grade school. It was and has remained a life-long dream. Now, I know it is in my grasp, as long as I have the fortitude to stick with this.

Therefore, I have chosen to use this forum as a daily journal for the MAP program. There is a vibrant community here, and many people aspiring together on the spiritual path. It is my hope that the obligation to post a short, daily report of my progress will fulfill my need for a coach. On that note, if anyone wishes to be my MAP course buddy - sort of like a casual gym coach, who will get on my case if they see any aspect of my work slipping - I would be absolutely thrilled! As that would multiply the effect I'm trying get with this journal.

Anyway, I will begin tonight by doing the suggestions, and write any dreams down in the morning. While I won't post my actual dreams here, I will post how much I remember, and wrote down.

In L.V.X.
Mica

[demsy11]

i recommend you CFtraveler.... she will be your best guide ...
:D

[CFTraveler]

Anyway, I will begin tonight by doing the suggestions, and write any dreams down in the morning. While I won't post my actual dreams here, I will post how much I remember, and wrote down. Don't forget keywords. I can't say how those helped me.


i recommend you CFtraveler.... she will be your best guide ...
:D I think Mica wants someone who is doing it at the same time (aren't you?) but I will always help when asked.

[Mica]

Hey CFTraveler

Actually, someone who had already succeeded with the program would be ideal, but it would be excellent to interact with someone going through it as well. Anyone into it really. All I really need is another fellow enthusiast on the other end of the screen, following my progress, someone to whom I can hold myself accountable for on a daily basis. You into hanging in there with me, CFT? I can here the Eye of the Tiger playing already! :) Actually, I'm listening to White Stripes, but that'll do.

About the keywords, I don't quite get that. Can you please explain how that has helped? I've done a bit of dream-journalling before, and I feel that I had to really write it out in full sentences to get the dream down. I can't imagine how just a few words can help remember a whole dream.

Okay Day 1:
I woke up, and at first I had forgotten about dream journalling, but the I remembered, and wrote down a few flashes here and there of a few different dreams. As I got out of bed and got dressed, I recited the morning suggestion a number of times.

Later in the day, I I did the leg relaxation exercise. I didn't feel any deep relaxation in my Iegs, but that exercise might take some time to get. I can see how it can also help with body awareness, too.

Then the breathing exercise. I love this. I did a 10-day meditation retreat once where I just focused on my breath for 10 hours a day. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life! But a few minutes of breathing only got me nicely relaxed. Hours of meditation is a whole other ball game. But then I haven't been meditating daily since then, so this is good.

Finally the body awareness. This is a real challenge, and takes a lot of focus. My mind wanders a lot, so it is difficult to hold my awareness on the spot, and maintain the sensation. But then a moment will come when I can feel a slight tingling, and then I feel good, and know I am making progress.

And that is all for today. I will recite the evening suggestion before going to sleep. Goodnight all, and may the divine shine its Light on you!

In L.V.X,
Micah

[CFTraveler]

About the keywords, I don't quite get that. Can you please explain how that has helped? I've done a bit of dream-journalling before, and I feel that I had to really write it out in full sentences to get the dream down. I can't imagine how just a few words can help remember a whole dream.
You just answered your own question.

Okay Day 1:
I woke up, and at first I had forgotten about dream journalling, but the I remembered, and wrote down a few flashes here and there of a few different dreams. If you write down the keywords as soon as you wake up, you can get back more details when you finally sit down to write your dreams. Unless you write them down as soon as you open your eyes, which most people don't.

[demsy11]

2 days ago i dreamed about a dog healing me by leaking my knee with his tongue. In normal life my knee is very saw sometime...
the dog was helping me feel better in the dream i don't know what that mean ...lol

another dream a day before i witness a murder in my country, actualy in my country ivory coast there is lot of clash between political groups ... maybe subconscious stuff.

another one i found myself beating a big fella... i wanted to stop it but i couldnt in the dream i was upset but myself i didnt want to hit the guy...

these are my dreams this week... lol
i don't write them down i remember them pretty easy most of the time, even when a dream happen in life 3-6 months later somethime years i automaticaly recognise it

[Mica]

If you write down the keywords as soon as you wake up, you can get back more details when you finally sit down to write your dreams. Unless you write them down as soon as you open your eyes, which most people don't.
ahhhhh, for some reason I didn't get that from the book :oops: Ok, thanks. I feel awfully silly. I'll do that from now on.

Day 2:
I woke up in the early morning and wrote down a few flashes from a few dreams again, and then went back asleep a while later. I tried to remember the morning suggestion before going back to sleep, but I couldn't (and didn't want to risk waking up my wife by reaching for the book), and so had to do it when I got up later. I couldn't remember any dreams at first upon waking up the 2nd time, but when I went outside, I saw my cat, which triggered the memory of a dream. This dream was interesting, since it was one of those dreams that *could* have been out-of-body. I was flying around the dark streets of a nearby neighborhood (I fly A LOT in my dreams, almost as much as I walk or talk in them...it's weird) and I saw this cat which greeted me. As I pet the cat, I was marveling at my flying ability (which never ceases to amaze me, not matter how much I do it), when I began to lose it a bit and lightly touched the ground with only part of my body, while the rest slowly sank closer.

Ok, back to today -
Began with the legs and buttocks relaxation. My lower body definitely felt like it released pressure, and felt lighter after.

Then the breathing. My mind was very busy, and it is difficult to hold my awareness on it for long. My head is like being in downtown New York city on New Year's eve. But the more I just rested my mind on the breath, the more calm and relaxed I felt. It is difficult though to limit that exercise to only 5 minutes. I feel the need to continue with it for hours, slowly peeling my awareness away from my busy, busy mind.

Then the body awareness. I did both Day 1 and Day 2 exercises, since I feel the need and desire to really master this practice. I didn't notice this time any definite tingling sensations, only an increased body awareness on the target locations. This is in itself I find interesting. We feel the aliveness of our whole bodies all the time, and yet we don't notice it or pay any attention, we are so distracted by outer stimulus. But just to really feel the sense of life and feeling on your knee or on your toe is incredible!

demsy11, even if you easily remember your dreams, it is important to write them down and have a daily dream journal. I found that this sends a signal to the subconscious that you are serious, and the wall between the conscious and subconscious will begin to thin and become more transparent. This doesn't just improve your astral memory, it is the beginning of becoming a more whole, integrated human being.

[CFTraveler]

I agree. And it lets you, days, weeks or years later, see trends that you may have missed if you only relied on your memory. Trends that sometimes tell you where you are in your development and point to what's next.

[Mica]

And it lets you, days, weeks or years later, see trends that you may have missed if you only relied on your memory. Trends that sometimes tell you where you are in your development and point to what's next.

Thanks, CFT, that's something I hadn't realized. I'll keep that in mind.

Day 3:
This morning, upon waking, both the thought to remember my dreams, and my dream recall itself was minimal. It took me a while upon waking to remember that I had to recall my dreams, and when I did I only got snapshots, both when I woke up at 6am and when I went back to sleep and woke up later. Still, I see it as progress because before, if I had a morning like that, I just would not have bothered or tried, and just shrugged it off.

Later in the day, I began the series of exercises. First the tension/relaxation exercises: the lower body and then the lower back and stomach, and the upper chest and back. After, when I intended to release all tension, I felt very relaxed in a way I hadn't quite felt before. I think I'm going to really like the relaxation exercise once I master it :)

Doing the breathing exercises after the relaxation exercise helped; it's a natural sequence. While I still found myself carried away by mind, and my mind filled with chatter, images, etc. I was able to detach somewhat from it. It's like the thoughts are a gross imitation of real awareness, and the real awareness, which is without thought and is totally in the moment, and is intimately bound up with the body and body awareness is the real, true mind, sharper and more clear. Only for split seconds was I able to let go of being the thought-awareness, and just sit with the true, thoughtless, silent body awareness.

Then the body awareness exercises. These are very challenging for me, but I sense progress. I forgot to mention that yesterday, I was glad for Brian Mercer's advice to sweep the fingers over the hand when doing the brushing, as I noticed a tremendous difference. Even if my other hand is nowhere near the target hand, but my fingers of my other hand are moving as if I'm brushing my target thumb (or toe) with them, it still helps to focus my intention. I was able to feel at times, with the sponging and brushing exercise, a kind of dull heaviness in the thumb or toe, combined with a feeling of magnetic force or repulsion; not that I felt a repulsion per se, but a similar kind of energy as when you hold 2 magnets together, with the same poles facing each other.

Anyway, onward and upward. I very much look forward to my continued progress, and am very glad for this forum, and the fact that I started this journal. I know that if I didn't make myself write here every day, I would end up getting impatient and lazy, and not stick with it.

[newfreedom]

I agree. And it lets you, days, weeks or years later, see trends that you may have missed if you only relied on your memory. Trends that sometimes tell you where you are in your development and point to what's next.

This is true, I have noticed much this last week in these ways... a real learning and 'eye-opening' curve

Tis wonderfully helpful, supportive and bringing me more security....thanks

[Mica]

Day 4:

Excellent dream recall this morning. I am beginning to notice the difference now from doing the dream journal. Many different moments, from many different dreams. One thing I notice is that when I am writing in a dream journal (I have done it off and on throughout my life), I always wake up in the early morning, around 6am, automatically, to note down any dreams, and then go back to sleep and wake up again, and recall more dreams. It's strange. Anyway, I believe I even had a dream that explained the meaning of an earlier dream. I feel like sharing it here:
In one dream, I was running on the surface of the ocean. Then I saw that there were these huge beasts swimming in the water, that turned out to be bulls. I was sort of afraid them, running away, but I was also sort of taunting them, like a bull-fighter. I woke up and jotted it down, and then went back to sleep.

Later, I had a dream where there where was a stage show happening, sort of an open mic, with high school kids playing music and singing the blues. I had that horrible feeling that I get in real life when I had the opportunity to be on stage or take part in a show, but didn't take it or missed it, and then when sitting in the audience, feeling like I really should be up there and feeling sick inside that I'm not. Anyway, the show ends and there's this movie screen with all this text going by real fast, so fast I miss most of it. But it's all inspirational words about being creative and artistic. At the end, it says something to the effect that artists have to be artists, they have to create, in the same manner that birds have to fly, and "bulls have to fight". When I read that, in the dream, I said to myself, "Oh, so that's what that dream meant". When I woke up, I understood that the bulls signified my own creative energies that I am just toying with, avoiding, and not really facing.

Anyway, on to the exercises. Today was difficult, on account of me having stayed up late last night, and I felt really tired and resistant. I found it more difficult to focus than usual. I felt a lot of inner resistance to the tension/relaxation exercise (what my wife likes to call my "whiny baby" side :D ) But I really noticed the effects of the exercise. I felt really at peace and relaxed in my body in a unique way, even blissed out a bit, like I'd had a nice massage. The breathing exercises were good. My mind was wandering and unfocused as usual, but there were moments of genuine calm and inner peace, and I felt like I could just sit there forever breathing in and breathing out. However, the body awareness exercise I had a lot of trouble with. I spent an hour with it and I still felt like I rushed it, and should have taken longer. When I read Brian Mercer's comment - that one will feel their toes really tingling and active, and not to worry as it will go away - I felt discouraged, since I felt almost nothing. I had felt some slight tingling as I was doing the exercise at times, but nothing obvious and definite. I feel like I may do the same exercise tomorrow, separately from the usual routine, just to get the practice, and spend more time with it.

Ok, on to Day 5!

[Mica]

So I will not be posting my journal to the forum anymore, since I found a MAP buddy Yay! :D Instead, I'll just be sending him my daily journal entries via email. See you on the other side, fellas :wink: