The Castaneda Method
Mirrored from Ballabene's OBE and Astral Pages
John B.
1999
One problem I have come across when separated from the physical, is how to sustain the separation. I have experienced at times great difficulty maintaining the separation. This seemed to occur whenever I began to lose attentive focus, in particular, a cause of action to focus on. This does necessarily mean to cease thoughts (though this is very helpful), but to have a definite course of action in mind. You should plan what you want to do before you separate so that you are not without focus but are focused on a direct course of action. This helps immensely. You should often repeat to yourself your intentions (50 repetitions with conscious concentration on the statement seems to be enough to keep this near the conscious surface). For example, I will look at my hand to sustain separation, I will practice leaping into flight. The purpose of repetition is that the hand technique will automatically surface upon separation. If you don't use conscious repetition you may, as I, forget about what is was I was trying to remember and waste the experience due to pull back.
While in the OOBE state, it appears in my experience, not conducive for prolonged contemplation. I say this because the OOBE state of mind is one of knowing and not of thought processing deductions. Indecision and confusion in the OOBE state as any one knows is very easy to do, and unfortunately may cause the very thing you are trying to avoid, namely the magnetic pull back. When this is the case, I would be pulled back to the physical, similar to the effect of being pulled by a strong current while submerged under water.
The key I found was to intermittently focus on an object. I am sure many people are familiar with Carlos Castenada. I realize that many people consider his experiences with phenomena too fantastic to be true. However, I found an interesting technique he referred to in the book " A Fire Within". He (Carlos), mentioned this dilemma which may also be a problem for others. His advice was to focus on the palm of your hand. I have tried this many times and always experience the same unusual reaction. When I look down to the left (where one would look for their hand), I see a hand that glows with dark orange glow around the palm (the experience is the same whenever I have used it). I then feel a very strong rush like a current that borders on a moderate electrocution that passes like a wave through my upper body and head lasting about 1-1 1/2 seconds. This experience is neither unpleasant or pleasant. It is like the proverbial 1960`s term "rush". If you are familiar with that then you know. After this sensation the pull was gone. The pull would return but could be stopped easily by redirecting focus toward what I perceive as my hand. This allows for some interesting sustained exploration.
The only problem (if it is a problem), is that the further I travel, the local environment begins to distort. This unfortunately makes exploration on familiar terrain (as perceived in the physical) difficult. Also, those who get out of the body and are bewildered can use this easily and automatically to prevent reentry for whatever reason.
The good thing about it is you can consider and contemplate your situation and thereby consciously control the entire experience. I have tried focusing on other objects, which also worked, but only for the duration of the focusing effort. The hand technique lasts long enough to ponder your course of action and adjust it according to your encounters.