results. It’s also a good jumping-off point for learning the other six steps, whether you want to know about them or not.
TEN TO SEVENTEEN
My years from ten to seventeen were probably like yours. I was facing the usual demands that most kids encounter. I handled the pressures. I wasn’t the most popular nor the least. I was just average with an unusual hobby.
My out of body travels were in full force. I traveled occasionally by choice and constantly by whim on an average of at least once a day. The unintentional travels brought me to places I hadn’t planned to go, but later I could rationalize why I had gone there. The intentional travels could be frustrating since a method I used might work one time but not the next. This turned out to be a good learning experience, as I’ll explain on another page when I get there. Another page, I said. Stop looking here for the reason. Stop it. I mean it. I’m just going to move on, then. You can keep looking here if you want but you’re wasting your time.
STEP TWO: RELAXATION
ZZZ
Who are you kidding, laying there in your bed? You’ll never relax. But wait, perhaps I typed too soon. You are feeling kind of relaxed now. Yeah, this might be it. There you go. Relaxing. Relaxing. Alright, you’re really relaxed. Now just stay alert. Relax and stay alert. You can do it, relax but stay... ZZZzzzzzzzz.
Huh, what? Oh, hi again. You were looking so relaxed there you made me fall asleep. But I can’t blame you for all the times I fell asleep during my search for nonphysical answers. It’s not that I was sleepy. I simply went a little too far into my work. Or that’s what I tell myself.
I would try to relax, to let my body sleep, while I would stay alert and focused on traveling. I’m relaxing now. Down and down. I’m relaxing and staying focused on my traveling ‘plan’. Focused on my... ZZZzzzzzzzz.
Dagnabit, I fell asleep again. I’m clearly going to have a hard time finishing this section. But let’s press on anyway and tour the ‘awake/asleep line’ while we’re here.
THE AWAKE/ASLEEP LINE
The ‘awake/asleep line’ is a key element of traveling. It’s the line between losing consciousness and falling into sleep, as your physical body does, or remaining awake, alert and in control while your physical body falls to sleep. To reach the line you simply regulate your movement towards sleep. Simply? Haha, what am I saying? Because, just as you bargain for that last moment of rest before having to get up in the morning, when you are close to the awake/asleep line, it’s all too tempting to just drift over that thin line into sweet sleep. But if you do that you’ll never control a travel. So put that out of your mind this instant. Forget that I brought up that beautiful, tranquil sleep that is just on the other side of the line. There it is. Oh sleep sleep sleep.
Now really, you’ve got to stay awake. The temptation of crossing the line into sleep is great but can be overcome some of the time with ‘controlled relaxation’ methods. Controlled relaxation allows you to stay alert some of the time while your physical body relaxes down into sleep. And why do I keep saying “some of the time”? Because during your search for good relaxation methods, that work for you some of the time, you are going to fall asleep.
To prepare for the awake/asleep line, you choose a relaxation method and a travel ‘plan’. Your relaxation method drops you down near to physical sleep while you remain alert. You then step onto the line, allowing your physical to take the final plunge into sleep. When it does, you maintain your control and transfer your consciousness from your sleeping physical body to your willing nonphysical body. You ‘push’ yourself into your travel plan and off you go. Some of the time.
RELAX ALREADY
As you explore the nature of traveling there will be times when you suddenly ‘awaken’ right on the awake/asleep line in stunned but confident control. It’s what you’ve been training for and—surprise—here it is. Thankfully you’re prepared, because you thought ahead about this happening when you read it in some handbook you bought.
There, on the line, you can feel your nonphysical body. Your nonphysical isn’t sleeping but your physical is. You are fully conscious and in control. And because your physical is slumbering and your nonphysical is willing and your travel plan is ready and your desire is strong, off you go. Some of the time.
More often than not you will have to work your way down to the awake/asleep line, not just find yourself there. So it’s a good thing I have some methods and tricks that help you remain alert while relaxing your physical. Be sure to visit a library, or surf the internet too, for other relaxation methods to keep your traveling fresh and exciting. There is no shortage of relaxation methods designed to calm us all down. We’re all too jumpy! We’ve got to mellow out! Stop climbing around. I mean it—come down from there! That’s it, no more energy drinks for you. You need to calm down so that we can work our way to the awake/asleep line. Then we’ll get you set up with some travel plans and delve into the nifty things that happen when you’re nonphysical. It’ll all be just spectacular, I promise. Some of the time.
RECORDING RELAXATION
Testing. Testing, one, two. This is a test of the Get Out Of Your Body Testing System. If you are hearing this recording within the confines of your physical body it’s because earlier today you recorded some positive and calming thoughts into a recording device and now they are playing back to you while you lay upon your bed. “I am so relaxed and at ease”, the recording of your voice says. “I am relaxed and comfortable. It’s so quiet and peaceful. My body feels so light and relaxed. I am alert and relaxed. I am aware and relaxed. I am relaxed and in control.” This concludes this test of the testing system being tested for this test.
As relaxation methods go, recording your voice and then playing it back is one of the best. Nothing beats hearing your own voice tell you to do things that you want to do anyway. You can customize the words that relax you, while keeping you focused and alert. You can set a traveling plan in your thoughts or inspire a dream you want to have or just talk yourself to sleep. You can make different recordings for what you want on specific nights. It’s the power of your own voice, and the exact nature of your words, that has an effect unmatched by many methods.
I am currently using a twenty-dollar digital recording device I bought from a large chain store. It stores three hundred minutes, which is more than enough for you to record some words to yourself about being relaxed and in control as you travel out of your body. You can borrow it. Or you could wander over to that heap you’re calling a closet and see if you already have a recording device in there. I think it’s in a shoe box. Once you’ve found it go find a piece of paper. I think I saw some in the kitchen. Write a script to record, which includes words you find pleasing and relaxing. Include suggestions to remain alert and aware as your physical drifts towards sleep.
Even at this early point, before I have explained many out of body traveling tricks, you can add a simple traveling plan to your recordings. You can insert a few words throughout your recording with a small ‘action’ involved: “I will take an out of body stroll to the garden”; “I will explore the ceiling in the hallway”; “I will sneak up on the cat, as if I can”. Once your script is complete find a quiet place to hide from everyone who might think you’re talking to yourself and make your recording. If you have the ability to loop the recording, all the better. Try to give yourself at least fifteen minutes of you talking to yourself. Repeating the same script over and over is fine and actually desirable for this method.
An added bonus to this method is the ability to set a timer for the playback of the recording. Set your timer to
