Robert Monroe - Journeys out of the body, Practical Guidebook

Under no circumstances should the physical eyelids be opened.

Vision will appear on its own and will not differ from that of reality and the physical sensation of opened eyes will emerge. It is possible to shut the eyes in the phase an infinite number of times, even without having opened them at all, since the latter is not needed for creating vision. The physical eyelids may be open only while experiencing a very deep phase. In a shallow phase, opening the eyes will cause a return to wakefulness.

The practitioner must also keep in mind that vision should only be created after a complete separation from the body and a subsequent translocation has been achieved. Attempting to view the hands during flight or while hovering in an unidentified space leads to arbitrary translocation.

CONTACT WITH LIVING OBJECTS

Two problems may surface while conversing with animate objects in the phase: silence or a return to the body. In view of the fact that many phase applications are based on contact with people for one purpose or another, it is necessary to understand how to correctly manage contact with living objects.

In order to avoid a foul (ejection from the phase into reality), the elementary rules of “maintaining” must be observed. Actively observing the facial features or clothing of a person you want to communicate with. While communicating, the practitioner should constantly rub the hands together or maintain strong vibrations by straining the brain. Remember to perform the techniques to avoid becoming absorbed in communication.

A more complex problem is overcoming the communicative unresponsiveness of objects in the phase. In many cases, the speech of an object is blocked by the internal stress of the practitioner.

Sometimes the problem stems from an expectation that an object will not be able to communicate in the phase.

It is important to treat the objects in a calm manner. There is no use trying to shout or beat the object to force communication. On the contrary, it is much more effective to treat the object gently, without applying pressure. Do not peer at an object’s mouth, expecting sounds to emerge. It is better to look elsewhere; taking a passive interest in communication generally yields the best results.

As a rule, the first time that communication with a living object is successful, future attempts go unhindered.

Communication methods in the phase are should be no different than those used in ordinary life: talking, facial expressions, gesturing with the hands, body language. Telepathy is not necessary.

READING

Reading text in the phase may be accompanied by a number of difficulties. First, small print becomes illegible because the affects of hyper-concentration may distort text. This problem is solved by using large-font textual sources of information. For example, the text of a normal book blurs when observed too attentively, but the large font on the cover of a book is easily read since its size is sufficient for rapid reading without detailed scrutiny.

The second problem encountered while reading in the phase is when text is legible but is completely meaningless in composition; gibberish. This problem is solved by turning over the pages, looking for a readable message. It is also possible to find another copy or create it anew using the object-finding techniques. The same applies to cases where the text is seen as a set of incomprehensible symbols or signs.

While reading in the phase, the practitioner should not forget about performing “maintaining” techniques to prevent a foul by becoming too relaxed.

VIBRATIONS

The phase is often accompanied by an unforgettably unusual sensation that may be used successfully to enter, deepen or maintain the phase. It is difficult to describe it better than the sensation of a heavy current passing through the entire body without causing any pain. It may also feel like the whole body is contracting, or a tingling sensation similar to numbness. Most often, the sensations are similar to high-frequency vibrations of the body, which explains the origin of the term “vibration”.

If the practitioner is not sure whether or not he experienced vibrations, then there is a good method to solve his problem: if he really did, he will not have any doubts about it. In all other cases, when there are doubts and uncertainty, the practitioner is definitely not dealing with vibrations, or is dealing with another form thereof.

If you have experienced vibrations at least once, the recollection of these sensations helps greatly during the simultaneous application of indirect techniques. They are created, supported and strengthened by straining the brain or tensing the body without using the muscles. For vibrations to appear, it often suffices merely to think about them.

During the first experience, one should experiment with them for a while by rolling them around the body and its parts, as well as strengthening and weakening them.

However, one should not think that the presence of vibrations is a necessary condition for being in the phase. Many novices often strive not for the phase but for vibrations, after which the former must supposedly follow. That should not be the case. There are indeed specific techniques that make it possible to get into the phase by creating vibrations, but in all other cases they are not necessary and some practitioners may never have them at all.

TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSLOCATING

THROUGH OBJECTS

In a deep phase, the properties of the surrounding environment become very similar to the physical world. However, it may sometimes be necessary to pass through a wall or translocate to avoid a physical barrier in the phase. There are two basic options for passing through barriers like walls. Usually, mastering these requires several attempts.

Interesting fact!

If a practitioner concentrates on the physical sensations associated with passing through a wall, it is possible to get stuck. A practitioner may even experience the feeling of obstructed breathing when this happens. At such a time it is necessary to return to the body.

Rapid Defocused Penetration

Run or jump at a wall with a burning desire to penetrate it. Don’t focus on the wall; instead concentrate on the immediate surroundings. Do not try to take anything from the current location since this may impede a successful passage through the wall.

The Closed Eyes Technique

When approaching a wall, the practitioner must close his eyes and completely focus on a desire to pass through it while imagining that the wall does not exist, or that it is transparent and penetrable.

Surface resistance should be pressed through, continuing on with the aggressive desire and concentration.

FLIGHT

Taking flight in the phase is a simple matter of remembering past dreams of flight. Nothing needs to be tensed, no word need to be said. Attempting flight with closed eyes produces a high rate of success, but presents an increased probability of inadvertent translocation.

If a flight attempt is unsuccessful, a practitioner may try jumping from a high elevation or from a window. The natural instinct of dream flight takes over and the fall becomes a controlled flight.

However, jumping from windows or other elevations is advisable only to practitioners with experience, since novices may not always be able to determine whether they are in the phase or in reality.

Another way to fly is to try to suspend oneself in the air when jumping up.

SUPER-ABILITIES

The realism of the phase space does not impose limits on the ability to perform actions that cannot be performed in the physical world. It is important to remember that only a practitioner’s apprehension places limits on what may be done in the phase.