The Essential Keys To Happiness

Many people pretty much have it all: money, possessions, friends, and yet find it challenging to live a truly happy life. And then there are people who barely skate by: live from paycheck to paycheck, only have pets and the barest of essentials, a small circle of allies, and yet are some of the happiest people on Earth. How is this possible? How can something so counterintuitive, based on societal norms, be possible? It’s simple: being happy depends on so much more.

The Keys To Happiness

The thing about happiness is that it’s both simple to achieve, and yet not, because some of the keys run contrary to what we may know and have been raised to believe. But when done right, in the right doses, based on what one is capable of doing, these keys to happiness will truly increase your happiness levels to new heights.

The keys to happiness are divided into two parts: the keys for the outward, and the keys for the inward.

The Outward Keys
These are the things that involve our daily activities, things we do to our physical self, do outside to other people, to the world, our expression of self to everyone and everything else.

1.)    Give and Relate – when you care about others and give and extend help, gifts, or assistance. In addition to this, building relationships by relating to others, engaging in their joys, supporting them through their sorrows, and strengthening bonds through love and care, it makes us happy. Both of these keys also increase and widen our own social networks (no, I’m not talking about social media ones!) and give a sense of belonging that many people may find difficulty searching.

Suggested ways – volunteer in shelters and soup kitchens, budget a reasonable amount for regular gift giving, reconnect with old friends.

2.)    Be Active and Try Things – exercising and getting fit not only have physical benefits, they also have emotional and mental benefits as well. Getting an endorphin and adrenaline high can not only improve the mood at that moment, but also strengthen the body which in turn will also improve mental well-being. And you don’t need to be a triathlete or a gymrat to do this. Just be active in your own realistic ways! And once you’re active, try out new things. Learning skills and achieving milestones also brings us happiness and a sense of discovery, and in some cases, it is the key to discovering one’s true passions that can lead to an even happier life.

Suggested ways – get a gym membership, go on regular walks with the dog, attend workshops, go back to school, go on hikes, enjoy nature.

3.)    Increase Awareness and Appreciation – there is more to life than what your eyes glance at as time whizzes by. The proverbial “stop and smell the roses” saying applies here! Increase your awareness through meditation, slow down your day to appreciate the many different things that are present in our world. When was the last time you paused and simply listened to birds chirping over breakfast? The last time you walked to work and smelled the different aromas of the city? Things like this. And once you appreciate what you have, what you experience everyday, it can make you a lot happier.

Suggested ways – walk to work sometimes, go to a park and read a book, find hidden places, engage in your hobby.

The Inward Keys

These are the things we do inward towards us, our mind and soul.

1.)    Accept Yourself, Find Meaning – we have to accept the fact that all of us are made, raised, and live differently, with even the slightest of nuances that differ us from the rest, despite what societal norms try to dictate. We should not compare who we are on the inside with what we see from other people outside. Accept who you truly are, what your heart really tells you, and it is the very powerful thing. And it is in accepting who we really are can we start to find meaning in our lives, what we are meant to do and give back to this world.

Suggested ways – meditate regularly, find like-minded peers and engage them, take time off and go on vacation, unleash your spirit to the universe.

2.)    Be In Touch With Ups And Downs – our lives will be an emotional rollercoaster ride. It won’t always be good, and it won’t always be bad, unless we choose to do nothing about it. Having the right attitude in experiencing the ups and downs, being grateful and sharing the positive emotions, and being strong and reaching out when needed during the negative emotions, trains our mind and soul to be stronger, bounce back better, and be happier in the long run.

Suggested ways – reflect, meditate, recall past experiences

3.)    Plan Your Path – having a compass for your life goal can be a daunting task, but once written down, or planned ahead, you will find that when you achieve milestones that adhere to this compass, each one will bring you happiness and joy. So have that plan ahead!
One more thing is to regularly enjoy life’s small joys, like listening to good music. This binaural beats track for happiness can help give you a nice full dose of happiness every day!

Start giving those bouts of depression a shove out the door and feel freedom from the negative state of mind and emotions that are brought about. Using binaural beats and isochronic tones found in the Alpha Range, we have created a music therapy track to provide you with feelings of unity, balance, harmony with self, positive thinking, mood elevation, stress reduction, and promotes mental resourcefulness. Feel at ease and feel good as you let your mind relax and focus on the tones and the music. This track also contains the Earth's Resonance of 3.5Hz, which is a remedy tone for depression and anxiety.

Related Articles:

What Is Qi? What Are The Benefits Of Controlling Qi?

How To Be Part Of Your Favorite Movies, TV Shows, And Books With Lucid Dreaming

How To Unlock Time Travel Lucid Dreams With Binaural Beats

Using Lucid Dreaming To Solve Problems

Set Your Lucid Dream Intentions: Why And How

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Lucid dreaming guide to the inner self

The Beginner’s Guide To Astral Projection (Part 2)

Last time, we discussed the general info about astral projection, from belief to the desire to the relaxation and to the separation. Here in Part 2, we’re going to discuss the step by step process of astral projection, leading up to the separation phase. There are many various methods to do this, but the list below is a basic set of movements that anyone can try. Let’s get right to it!


The set-up

Just like lucid dreaming, it is important to have the right set-up for astral projection. This starts with your room. Our guide to setting up the room for lucid dreaming is virtually the same as setting up the room for astral projection, so you can read more about the details there.  (insert in-link here)
One thing that can truly help in this part is playing a binaural beats track for astral projection. This is an element that can make the separation phase much easier to perform, so make sure a track is ready to be played once you’re ready to begin.


Preparing the body

Once your room is ready, it is time to prepare your body. Here are the steps:
1.)    Lie down on your bed, make sure you’re on your back. Close your eyes, empty the mind, and concentrate on being aware of your body and the sensations it feels. If you are using a binaural beats track for astral projection, play it at this point.
2.)    Take long deep breaths, and exhale all the way. No need to hold your breath, just breathe naturally and have a good flow. Relax. Focus on your breathing and nothing else.
3.)    Gently stimulate your body’s sensations by flexing your muscles and then relaxing, until physical relaxation is reached. What this does is help loosen the body and not have any tension that can cause you to be distracted.
Stay at this stage until you feel the queues for the next steps below.

Preparing the astral body
Performing the above steps will soon make the person reach the hypnagogic state, a hypnotic state that the mind and body experiences. It is the threshold of being awake and being asleep, and it is at this crucial moment that the astral body gets ready to separate, and the astral projection can begin.
1.)    Focus on a body part, and concentrate on it. Any body part will do, although the common ones are a hand, a foot, even just a finger. The goal is to see this body part in your mind, and to have full awareness of this body part, without being distracted by anything else. It is important to keep this focus.
2.)    Will this body part to flex or move, but only in your mind. Resist the temptation to simply move it physically. Remember, we are trying to control the astral body, not the physical one, so it is important to focus on it. If you feel your body moving when you will the body part to move, return to step one and keep visualizing.
3.)    Once you are able to will that first body part to move in your mind but not physically, begin making your visualization wider to include the body parts that are surrounding it, willing them to move, until you can see your legs, arms, and head beginning to respond until the whole body can be moved. Remember, focus on the mind, and not the body.

Keep at this stage until you feel you are fully aware of your astral body getting ready to separate, and when you are, finish the process by following the last steps.



Separating the astral body from the physical body
Once you are fully aware of your astral body, it is time to take the final steps.
1.)    Eventually, you will feel a tingling or vibrating sensation, which often comes in waves that radiate all over the body. This is an indication of your astral body being ready to separate and move on its own. Do not be afraid of these vibrations, embrace and feel it; fear will influence your experience so don’t let it control you, control your fear.
2.)    Step out of your physical body, by willing, in your mind, your body to sit or stand up. If you are able to turn around and see yourself still lying down in bed, then you have just performed astral projection!

Now remember, these steps are very easy to follow, but as with all things, it takes practice to get it right. A binaural beats track for astral projection can help you out, just like this one:

This track was reated with multiple binaural beat frequencies that range from 3Hz to 22Hz; these Theta and Alpha waves are associated specifically to deep relaxation, meditation, creativity, lucid dreaming, access to subconscious images, conducive to inner peace, mystical truths, physical and emotional healing, and taps our ESP (extrasensory perception) as it assists for astral projection or an out of body experience. These frequencies also hold sleep spindles that will help you gain a good night's sleep after you travel the astral planes.

Don't forget to subscribe to our #YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/BrainwavePowerMusic for all the #binauralbeats tracks you'll need to unlock your #luciddreams 

Related articles:

What Is Astral Projection? Introduction And Basic Information

The Astral Plane And The Silver Cord

Is Lucid Dreaming Dangerous?

The Beginner's Guide To Astral Projection (Part 1)

 

Check out these items that will help with your lucid dreaming!

The most advanced lucid dreaming supplement today. Join the lucid dream revolution!

Lucid dreaming guide to the inner self

Group Meditation Is The Untapped Team Building Activity To Increase Productivity

It has been shown that meditation can improve business productivity, as we discussed in a previous blog post. This is done by decreasing stress, improving focus, and relaxing the mind and body so they can be rejuvenated. But what is done individually, by business owners, executives, managers, and employees, to improve their productivity, can also be done in a group, which will have a different dynamic, but increase the benefits even more.

Why a group?

There is a saying. “Surround yourself with people with the same goals as you.” This is because any activity done in a group that is able to support one another, through their actions and energies, yields more results. Just like an ant trying to lift a rock alone, versus a group of ants working in unison to lift the same rock.

But you might be asking: meditation is not a physical activity, so how will doing it in a group give better results?

Have you ever gone to a concert, or a sporting event, and every time the band plays a really good song, or your home team scores a critical shot, you feel uplifted by the sheer energy of the crowd? Many people refer to this as the “electricity” of the crowd, or the “vibe” of the crowd, just making the experience all the more amplified, versus watching the concert or the game at home alone.

The same principles apply with group meditation. When you're with the group, with the same goals, the same purpose, you will feel the vibrations from the crowd amplify your own, and improving the experience. Not only that, doing it with the group let's you share the experience with them, which results in a better bond forming with the people involved. And it is this that can improve your business and take it to the next level.

How to set a group meditation session

The first thing that needs to be done is to determine a suitable size for the group, and the right venue for them. If the group is too small, then the meditation session might not be amplified enough. Too big, and it can be difficult to conduct and control, especially if there are members who might not be there for the right reasons.

A good way is this: if you or the company you work for is small, around 15-20 people, include everyone. If it is big, meditation groups can be the employee teams themselves, with the team leader or manager being the meditation conductor.

A small business, like a cafe or a restaurant, can use the main floor venue as the meditation area by pushing aside the chairs and tables and making enough space. Not only does this save money and time, it also gives the staff the idea that their own place of work is not just for work, but can be a place of sanctuary and peace, a place to call home if need be. If it is a big company, a conference room can be used. In fact, it is highly advisable for businesses that will regularly use meditation to devote a room specifically for meditation, where individuals or groups can go to and just meditate.

Next step is to decide on a goal. Is the meditation to simply provide relaxation? Is it to focus on a particular goal? Is it to promote inter-personal dynamics? Is it to be introspective in order to be a better employee and team member? This will also determine which kind of meditation for business you can use for your session.

Once the goal is set up, determine who will lead the meditation session. As a business owner, manager, or team leader, it is good if you know how to meditate, as this will help in leading a group meditation session. As an employee, you can volunteer to take the lead and show initiative even if your position is not the highest in the team or company. Just be sure that whoever will lead the group meditation has experience in meditation.

Finally, invite the people who will be involved ahead of time, explaining the details of the meditation session, and to make sure they arrive prepared (perhaps they will need their own cushion or have not done meditation before; include a primer in the email, like a short description of what it is.) This will make sure that they enter the venue with the right idea in mind, and not be surprised or taken aback by what they will see.

From there, conducting the meditation is very similar to the steps of the different kinds of meditation for business, or any meditation method you choose. Set up each employee's space, give a brief and solemn talk about the purpose of the session, and then begin. One is leading the actions, like calling for proper inhales and exhales at the properly timed cues, or leading the mantra for the group to follow.

Meditation in a quiet place is good, but adding a speaker system to play a binaural beats track for meditation can also increase the meditation's potency. Listen to this binaural beats meditation track for motivation and success and give it a try on your next meditation session! 

Check out these items that will help with your lucid dreaming!

The most advanced lucid dreaming supplement today.
Join the lucid dream revolution!

Lucid dreaming guide to the inner self

4 Kinds Of Meditation That Will Bring Your Business To The Next Level

Meditation has many different benefits for business and work, as we have discussed in a previous blog post: it trains the mind to be focused and clear of distractions, makes it more goal oriented, and so on. Meditation benefits businesses so much that giants like Google have made it part of their operations. But what kind of meditation should you use for yourself, for your work, your employees, or your business? Below are 4 of the best kinds of meditation for businesses that you can choose from.

1.) Zen Meditation - tracing its roots in the Chinese Zen Buddhist tradition and all the way back to Indian monk Bodhidharma, Zen Meditation is a very deep, somber kind of meditation whose aim is to keep the mind empty of thought. It relies heavily on keeping a proper posture as a way of helping the person concentrate, and not be distracted by many different things.

Steps:

•  Find a place where you can sit, either on the floor over a mat, pillow, or some other cushion in a crossed-leg position, or on a nice comfortable chair with an upright backrest. Those who want to do this in the more traditional manner can go in a lotus or half lotus position, although this can be quite a challenge for beginners. 
• It is important that the back is kept upright and straight, with the eyes focused on the ground in front of you (around 3-4 feet on the floor) and the mouth completely closed, breathing mostly through the nose. 
• Focus on the breathing, slow, steady inhales and exhales that are of the same pace all the way. If this is difficult to do without any distractions, find a point on the floor where your eyes can focus, and keep looking at it as you breathe. Try to drown out everything else, be as empty and steady as you can, and just “be”.

2.) Mantra Meditation – Often used in Hindu tradition, a mantra may be a syllable, word, or in some cases, phrase, although phrases are only often used when trying to use the mantra as a form of affirmation. The mantra is then the focus of the meditation, feeling the vibration of the syllable or word when pronounced, and absorbing its meaning in the process.

This kind of meditation is especially useful for minds that are full of random thoughts, doubts, or full of high speed activity. This is because consistently pronouncing the mantra takes  effort, and in doing so, pulls the mind away from whatever is bothering it.

Steps:

• Like Zen, find a spot where you can sit comfortably, usually on the floor in a crossed-leg position. Make sure that your spine is erect from the hips to the nape of the head.
• Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and pronounce the mantra. The pronunciation is usually as long as your slow exhale (in fact the mantra is often a substitute for an exhale) and can be done consistently over a set period of time. 
• The pronunciation of the mantra is from deep inside the body, and will cause mental and physical vibrations. Be aware and absorb the vibrations as they happen.

3.) Qigong (Chi kung) Meditation – defined literally as “life energy cultivation”, Qigong meditation is one that integrates mind and body. Qigong as a whole can be used for a number of things, from martial arts to simple exercises, but is also used in meditation, and focuses on a variety of breathing and muscle control techniques. We will discuss the exact details of Qigong Meditation in a future discussion, but in general, Qigong focuses on the “Qi”, or “chi” as it is known in the West, the vital energy.

Qigong Meditation is perfect for those who seek both a mental and physical kind of meditation, as it can be integrated in different movements should the need arise.

Steps:

• Sit in any comfortable position, although the traditional meditative position is the best.
• Relax and calm not just your mind, but your body. Feel your muscles relax, your internal organs slow down, and your nerves be less tense. Regulate the breathing to make it slower, deeper, longer, and softer. 
• Internalize and focus on the body’s center of gravity, called the “lower dantien”, and is located around 2 inches below the navel. Keep focusing to gather vital qi into it. The dantien is the natural gathering place of vital energy, and focusing on it is the key to build qi there.
• Visualize and then feel the qi coursing through your body, rejuvenating it along with your mind.

4.) Self-investigative Meditation – A form of meditation tracing its roots in old Hindu traditions, Self-Investigative or Self-Enquiry meditation seeks to uncover who a person truly is, from the inside. The goal is to learn the “True Self”, which can only be found by internalizing and getting answers from the inner self.

This is a good form of meditation for professionals who are at an impasse with their careers, whether due to self-doubt, or due to a desire that they are not sure of, as it answers the very fundamental question, “Who Am I?”

Steps:

• Start by following the basic setup from the previous meditation styles: sitting properly, controlled breathing, and emptying the mind.
• But instead of a mantra, or breathing, or qi, focus on internally asking the question, “Who Am I?” or the phrase “I Am…” This will be your focal point.
• Ignore any impulse to verbally answer or affirm these. Simply use the phrases as an anchor deep within, and repeatedly ask or say it until the True Self answers back.
• If there is even a slight feeling of bias from the answer, discard it, and ask again. You will know when the answers are revealed by the True Self when it feels unconnected to any concept or bias, when it is beyond any intellectual, financial, practical, and emotional pursuits, and is simply a pure feeling of being one with the True Self. This may take a  lot of tries, as it seeks to answer a very introspective question, but the process itself already yields the benefits of meditation.

These are the 4 best kinds of meditation for business, as each one seeks to tackle each of the fundamental issues of business. To aid in your meditation, binaural beats tracks can be used, such as this binaural beats track for meditation and success in attracting money here:

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Lucid dreaming guide to the inner self

Reality Checks And Building Awareness: Triggering Lucid Dreams

In the past we have given some tips on how to start lucid dreaming through preparation of the room and through the use of binaural beats. But ultimately, once inside your dream, it is important that you recognize that you –are- dreaming, and not really awake, in order to start the lucid dream experience. This is important because dreams can be so vivid that you may accept it as reality, only to realize upon –truly- waking up that something was amiss in what you experienced, and that it was a dream instead! This is where reality checks come in.


What are reality checks?

Put simply, a reality check is an action or trigger that will help you distinguish between the dream world and reality. This is because the normal sensory experiences we have in the real world are not enough, because in a vivid dream, they are virtually indistinguishable from the real thing! There is a need for something more for the mind to know whether it is awake or it is dreaming, and that is what a reality check is.

Usually, it is something very simple, something easily recognizable in the real world, but will yield a different experience in the dream world. When your mind realizes that the reality check does not match what happens in reality, this is usually when it accepts that it is dreaming, and triggers the start of the lucid dream experience.


How to do a reality check

The reality check starts, as with everything about lucid dreaming, with the mind. More specifically, the mind doubting whether or not what it is experiencing is real. “Is this a dream? Am I dreaming? Or am I awake?” are very potent questions that, once the mind is trained to ask, can make the act of doing a reality check much easier.

Once your mind begins to “doubt” what it is experiencing, perform a reality check. There are many ways to do a reality check; below is a short list the most common and most effective reality checks

1. Check normal body functions – can you hold your breath without difficulty? Are you having trouble seeing or hearing things, or actually see or hear better? What do your hands and arms look like when checked up close? A common practice is to try to push a finger through the palm of the other hand. Does it go through? If the answers to these questions are not what you’d normally answer when you’re awake, you’re dreaming! 
2. Recognize words/numbers – attempt to read something –a book, a clock, anything you might think are words on numbers-. Try to perform basic arithmetic, or answer very basic questions. If you cannot or are having much difficulty doing so, you are in a dream!
3. Recall common information – try recalling your own mobile number, or home address, or your license plate. If you are awake, this will be easy. But because the part of your brain that controls this is shut off when you’re asleep, if this becomes a near impossible task, you are dreaming.
4. Break the laws of physics – check your feet and see if you can will yourself to hover or fly. If not, jump up and see if you’ll float back down instead of fall normally. Try to lift the first thing you see, and check if there’s weight, or if you need effort to do it. If you feel like you’re starting to turn into a superhero, you’re in a dream!

When to do a reality check and building self-awareness

As a basic rule of thumb, you do a reality check when you feel like it. If you feel like something is wrong or out of place, and have even a small inkling of doubt whether or not you’re awake, perform a reality check. Even if you feel like you’re absolutely positively sure you’re awake, if you feel doubt, perform a reality check.

What this does is it reinforces in our minds what is real, and also makes it second nature for us to doubt and check our reality on a regular basis. Not only does this increase your self-awareness, and awareness in general, in the real world, this habit will also be carried over in your dreams. And this is when it becomes easier and easier to use reality checks as a key to unlock and start lucid dreaming.

To be used to doing reality checks, set triggers that will remind you to do so. A popular and effective way is to do a reality check when you do habitual actions, like when you check your phone, or open your bedroom door, or step out of the house. Any event that you do regularly can be a trigger for you to spend 1-2 seconds of your time on doing a reality check.

If that isn’t enough, you can also remind yourself via notes. Place a note on your door, or your steering wheel, or your laptop or book.

Despite all these things, however, sometimes reality check will fail, and this is not your fault. It simply means either your will to do a reality check isn’t as strong yet, or the dream is so powerful and vivid that it is almost more real than reality itself, which can alter the results of your checks. If this is the case, just go with the flow until something happens that will reveal the dream. And when that happens, do a check again, and keep doing so until you enter the lucid dream state!

To help you strengthen your reality checks, listen to this binaural beats track to increase awareness.

And don't forget to visit our binaural beats music library here!

Set Your Lucid Dream Intentions: Why And How

Lucid dreaming is truly an amazing experience if done correctly. We’ve discussed how to prepare for lucid dreaming, what to expect when lucid dreaming, and how binaural beats can help in lucid dreaming, all of which can pave the way for a better lucid dream experience. But believe it or not, lucid dreams can still be much better! And that is done by having a lucid dream intention.

What is a lucid dream intention?

Simply put, a lucid dream intention is a goal or objective that the dreamer sets prior to dreaming and will aim to achieve once the dream starts. Not only does this make the lucid dream more solid and less prone to ending without any resolution, it also improves the quality of the lucid dream; instead of simply using the lucid dream for self-gratification (which can totally be done), the lucid dream can then be used for a lot more, like self-improvement and being in-touch with one’s inner self.

Think of it this way. A lucid dream without a lucid dream intention is like an improv performance. It can be fun and spontaneous, but the end goal can be blurry and it might not have a clear path to an ending.

A lucid dream with intention is like a show with a basic script. The dreamer already has a story in mind, and there is a clear goal at the end, but the details still have to be filled up, which the dreamer will do so while dreaming.

Having an intention right at the beginning also trains the dreamer to have more control of the lucid dream, and makes them better and better at controlling, and thus fully enjoying the lucid dream experience. Not only that, having a clear intention for the lucid dream greatly reduces the risk of having a lucid nightmare, since the path is clearer; in fact, one can have a lucid dream intention –specifically- to confront nightmares and deal with them, thus using lucid dreaming for a higher purpose: dealing with fear (we will discuss this in a future blog post soon.)

Setting the intent

Believe it or not, setting an intention for a lucid dream is as simple as telling yourself about it and continuously thinking about it as you drift to induce your lucid dream. There are a number of methods that many people employ, such as repeating a mantra over and over (which is also another way of relaxing the mind while repeating the intent; hit two birds with one stone) while others use powerful mental visualization during the lucid dream induction process.

Whether or not the dreamer ends up in a lucid dream immediately, or a non-lucid dream first, the intention will serve as a compass to guide the dream; in non-lucid dreams, the intention can serve as a trigger for the lucid dream, allowing the dreamer to start the lucid dream experience simply by being able to keep the intention strong.

But remember this : the lucid dream intent is a compass. It is meant as a guide, a north star, not a detailed map that will give you every single instruction or step. That is best left as a surprise and part of the experience! If you happen to feel like you’re straying from your intention, keep it in mind, hold on to it, and regardless of whatever twists and turns you experience, and whether or not you achieve your intent in one dream, you will eventually get to it!

Strengthening your intention

There are a couple of ways to strengthen your lucid dream intention to increase your chances at achieving it.

One way is to have a mantra to repeat over and over while you are awake. A mantra can simply be a phrase or a set of small sentences that dictate the intention of the dreamer, and are spoken or thought of repetitively.

Some people do this while they go about their day, constantly setting the intent for the lucid dream to come. But for people who cannot hold their thoughts well, this can lead to a very distracted day. So, others do this instead for a shorter period of time, just before they head to bed.

Another is visualization, where the dreamer uses imagery to instill the intent of the dream. To some
this can be more powerful than the words of a mantra as it sets a clear image of what they want to achieve in a dream, but can be a challenge for people who have a hard time visualizing thoughts into images. Like the mantra, dreamers can do this during the day or just before they drift to sleep.

And finally, using binaural beats is a good way to strengthen the intention, especially when done in conjunction with the two previous methods. This occurs when binaural beats are used to expand the mind and enhance the dream experience by influencing the brainwaves, altering it in such a way that it makes it easier to achieve lucid dreaming and keep to the lucid dreaming intention.

We do not advise listening to binaural beats while going about your day, so this is best reserved when you are relaxing or in a peaceful environment.

Listen to this binaural beats track for visualizing your goals which can help your lucid dream intention, and don't forget to visit our binaural beats music library for other tracks and albums!

What Is Astral Projection? Introduction And Basic Information

We have discussed the basics of lucid dreaming, how to prepare for lucid dreaming, and what to expect from lucid dreaming over the past few blog posts, but there is one subject we have left out so far: astral projection, an advanced phenomena that, when experienced, can truly open one’s mind about the possibilities in our universe. But what is astral projection? Is it dangerous? Is it even real?

What is astral projection?

Astral projection, as defined by Wikipedia, “is an interpretation of an out-of-body experience (OBE) that assumes the existence of an "astral body" separate from the physical body and capable of travelling outside it.” In layman’s terms, astral projection is the phenomenon when one’s astral body, which we all have, actually leaves the body behind and can travel anywhere they wish, even to what is known as the “astral plane,” a plane of existence in the universe accessed only by astral bodies.

Once the astral body leaves the physical body, it will be tethered to it by a silver cord, a “lifeline” if you will, and it is through this silver cord that you will be able to come back. Some people believe that if that cord is cut, you will perish, some believe that the cord can only be tampered with, while others believe the cord is your indestructible connection to your body.

It seems like there’s a lot to take in, but don’t worry. We will have a more in-depth discussion about the astral plane, the silver cord, and even more details about astral projection in a future blog post, so stay tuned!

What is the difference between astral projection/OBE (out of body experience) and lucid dreaming?

With both being very vivid experiences, one can easily deduce astral projection and lucid dreaming to be one and the same. But they can’t be any  more different. To put it simply, lucid dreaming is internal, astral projection is an external experience.

When you lucid dream, everything you experience happens within your mind, influenced by your mind’s control over your dream. In essence, it is an “internal journey” if you will, to worlds and events of our own making.

When you perform astral projection, everything you experience happens outside your mind, whether it’s in our world or the astral plane. The only thing you can control is how your astral body moves, and how it acts, but everything else is simply there for you to experience. It is an “external journey.”

Lucid dreaming -can sometimes- lead to astral projection, however.

As for OBEs (out of body experiences), they are similar in that there is a departure from the physical body that happens, but different because astral projection is a conscious effort we execute, while OBEs are usually associated with times of duress, like being near death or sometimes just being very stressed.

We will be discussing the differences between the three and how lucid dreaming can lead to astral projection in a future blog post.

Basic elements for astral projection

There are many methods that one can employ to perform astral projection, but all of them rely on a few basic elements for the body to project.

1.  A relaxed environment for the person to stay in. Any place where one can lay down or sit down comfortably.
2. Controlled meditative breathing that can allow the mind to relax further and be void of any thoughts until a state of being numb is reached.
3. Exerting the willpower to project the astral body outward. This happens once the body reaches what is known as the vibration phase, a state where the body begins to feel like it’s vibrating and shifting its frequency, like what one feels when there is an electrical current going through, or when holding something that is vibrating fast, like a drill or a massager.

Depending on the method you will use, this process may vary from simply trying to clench your hand into a fist or moving it up and down, to actually trying to do something more complex like reach for a rope or jump out of your body.

    4.       Once you’re out of your body, you can either explore the world, or explore the astral plane!

What to expect from astral projection

This topic has a lot of possible answers, with some needing a lot of explanation to assuage possible fears and apprehensions people might feel. What you need to know however, is that astral projection will open your mind to things and experiences that you may not have expected, and it is important to know the exact steps on how to deal with them.

We will be discussing the various methods of executing astral projection, how to explore the world and the astral plane, and most importantly, what to expect from astral projection in detail in a future blog post soon. For now, practice getting into that relaxed state of mind that is the very first step for astral projection using this binaural beats track for meditation. 

And don’t forget to visit our binaural beats music library to gain access to more tracks and albums for all your needs here. http://brainwavepowermusic.com/the-music-store

How To Prepare Your Room For Lucid Dreaming

Lucid dreaming, being able to be aware of and control your dreams, is a skill that can unlock one’s mind and unleash their brain’s full potential. The best part is, everyone can learn how to lucid dream. But as with all skills, preparation is key to success, and one big factor to be able to succeed in lucid dreaming is preparation. Your bedroom needs to be prepared adequately to be able to improve your chances at, and your quality of lucid dreaming. The more factors you can control, the better your lucid dreaming will be. 

Controlling lights

Lights can be a critical factor in lucid dreaming. Some people can sleep through lights (TV lights, nightlights, hallway lights) but any fluctuation in these sources of illumination can easily interrupt your sleep and your lucid dreaming. Outside lights from windows can also affect your sleep, as well as sudden flashes of light from your mobile device when someone tries to contact you or when a social media notification pops up.

The best way to control lights in your room is to simply turn them off. Even small lights, such as the ones from your PC speakers or your power strip, may seem like it won’t disturb you, but in the darkness of night those lights can easily be like the sun. So turn those off as well, or cover them properly.

If it is critical for your mobile device to always be on, put the brightness at the lowest setting, and place them face down on your table or under a pillow. And if you cannot sleep without a nightlight or a TV on, it is best to have a nightlight with a diffuser, and in the TV’s case, put it on a channel that is calm and soothing.

Controlling sounds

Light can easily be controlled and blocked. Sound, on the other hand, is much more difficult. Anyone can knock on your door loudly and just put a damper on your sleep, or a police siren or wailing cats from the outside can jar you from your dreaming. And if you forget to put your mobile on silent and someone calls, it’ll be trouble.

One good item to have to reduce sound from the outside is curtains. Good curtains placed over your windows not only helps reduce lights coming in, it also absorbs the sound waves. The thicker the curtains, the more sound reduction you get. Putting your phone on silent is a no-brainer, but one thing that people usually forget is the humble “do not disturb” sign. Hang one in front of your door if you live with other people, and voila!

And finally, if you really need to drown out the sound, noise cancelling headphones are available and there are some that are shaped well and can be used for sleeping.

Setting the mood

Lastly, mood settings can also play a part in lucid dreaming, and these depend on what can get your relaxed and be at peace. You can have scented candles or incense, which serve both as a way to make the room fragrant, and as mood lighting. You can also have music played, whether through speakers or headphones. Binaural beats are very potent in this regard, which can quickly relax and open your mind for lucid dreaming. One example of a relaxing binaural beats track is in the video below, and you can already use it when you sleep tonight to feel its benefits.

Preparing your room this way also sets the stage for astral projection and OBEs (out of body experiences) which we'll talk about very soon. So stay tuned!

In the meantime, drop by our binaural beats albums collection and where you can find numerous tracks suited to your lucid dreaming needs here: http://brainwavepowermusic.com/albums

How to Stop the Nightmares and Bad Dreams

The conscious mind needs to be "turned off" for sleep and dreams to occur. Dreams contain very important messages, even bad dreams or nightmares. When you understand the hidden messages of the unconscious mind, you understand the mistakes you are making. You also learn how to correct these mistakes and do only what is positive for you. Nightmares can be extremely unpleasant, causing fear and anxiety and affecting quality of your sleep. This can lead to physical tiredness and mental stress.

Dreams occur with specific brain waves and images and thoughts different from the normal waking state, so the dream state is usually thought of as a product of the subconscious mind. Images from the present and past are combined in ways experienced as illogical, and the dreamer is usually unable to move so that the dreams are not converted to motion.

Here are the some tips that aimed at cultivating a healthier sleep and dream life.

1. Learn to relax.

Various techniques, tapes, music and supplements are available to promote relaxation. The hemi-sync tapes or CDs can be very useful in learning relaxation. Medication can provide assistance in difficult cases and then can be phased out as new skills are learned.


2. Inhibit intrusive negative imagery and promote positive imagery. 

Positive imagery techniques include developing and practicing thoughts/images of "special places" which are beautiful, safe and comfortable. After these techniques are learned and practiced they can be used to counter the negative images from trauma dreams.










3. Change dream scenarios into more positive and productive dramas. 

Imagery rehearsal treatment is a type of cognitive therapy which has been found very effective in reducing nightmares in insomnia patients. The individual is encouraged to change the dream story in any way that seems right to them, starting with practice on their less intense bad dreams. Practice during the day is also necessary to learn the skills involved in re-scripting dreams. The middle and end of the dream should be changed to make it more positive or acceptable. Because bad dreams are repetitive it is best to write down the new dream script and practice it for short periods of time daily so it becomes a learned habit stronger than the old dream. Like for an example, if you are dreaming of a typhoon or tornado, the new dream could be that the weatherman announces there are no typhoon in the area and the dreamer looks outside to see the sun shining. A fantasy response could be that the dreamer becomes a superperson who fights the tornado and flings it back into the sky while crowds cheer. Pick a positive ending to a disturbing dream, write it down and then practice the new ending while you are awake.



4. Avoid eating before bed.

Eating before bed can trigger nightmares, as food speeds up your metabolism and sends signals to your brain to become more active. Therefore, it's a good idea to cut out bedtime snacks, particularly those that are high in sugar.

5. Get more physical exercise. 

Tiring yourself out with physical exercise is a great way to improve your sleep. You can choose an activity that you enjoy whether it's running, strength training, dancing, rowing or rock climbing and work out 3 to 5 times a week. Schedule it for the morning if you can. Just don't exercise right before bed. It will leave you too amped up for sleep.


Your dreams will have a totally different meaning. They will reflect your progress, instead of reflecting your mistakes. You will be able to make very important future predictions after seeing meaningful dream warnings. Instead of dreaming about dangerous situations and bad events, you’ll see positive dream symbols, and learn many things you ignore.

Now... are you ready to step into the Dream World?

~

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