Hi there! So I recently rewatched How to train your dragon and was wondering whether or not I could find real species of dragons in the astral realm (I'm a curious person and once a question as interesting as this one finds me, it won't let go). So I tried astral projecting. I'm not sure, but I think this is the closest I've gotten to coming out of the body.
Basically, I imagined my astral body moving. Like each body part moving without the physical body moving alongside it. I'm guessing this is probably to create a disconnect between the physical and spiritual bodies.
So basically I kept on moving each body and slowly, it felt like I was somehow actually moving my body (and I wasn't physically moving anything). I also got a head-ache or something, which, if the method actually worked, is because I was either half-way through the process, or because I was practically banging my head onto the bed-head (I was imagining my head bobbing up and down, and may or may not have forgotten that there was a wooden board behind me).
It felt quite vivid and real, and I had to deal with a pounding head-ache afterwards while re-connecting my physical body back with the astral (cause I had to do that too).
So, did I manage to somewhat leave my body?Bare in mind that my eyes were closed for most of the while, so I didn't see anything)
It does indeed sound like you have gotten some success, though it is a little odd you would be feeling pain as a result. The act is a release, think of it as letting go of your physical perceptions. So it shouldn't generate the sorts of tension or strain that usually cause headaches or other physical issues.
Just by point of good practice, begin with the mundane possibilities. Did you lay in a good position, on a proper surface? Did you have good head and neck support? Were you indeed bonking your head against your headboard? Could it have been a function of fatigue, or the results of a stressful day? Did you begin with a few minutes of centering and mindful release of tension? Or did you spend any time mentally clearing your energy/aura/chakras?
Speaking of support, another hurdle some people have experienced is that once they start feeling deeply relaxed they might start to feel a tension or weight around the throat, as if they were suddenly in a too-snug collar. I learned this means as you relax, your head shoulders and neck settle so your airway stops being nice and open. The cure is to adjust the pillow you use, or maybe get rid of the pillow all together or change up to more of a small padded cylinder to tuck just under your neck. Something that adjusts your neck alignment so your airway stays open.
In some rare people, I suppose that the focus on energy and aura could stimulate old blockages or Karmic memories/events though. For example, when my great-aunt was first learning her healing practice, her jaw would inexplicably hurt. Sometimes enough to bring tears to her eyes. A friend of hers led her through some shadow work, and she ended up re-visiting a past life memory where she wasn't able to cure some nobleman son of a sickness, and her reward was a steel-gauntleted backhand that broke her jaw. The trauma in that past life made her subconsciously afraid to re-learn healing in this one, and that fear manifested as basically an extreme version of sympathy pain.
If you try many times and start experiencing the same symptoms whenever you reach the same state, then it might become a good idea to start exploring the discomfort. The easiest way is to ask yourself questions. "What exactly does this feel like?" "Does this pain have an emotion?" (If yes) "What is it and where does it come from, what thoughts does it stir up?" And so on.
I agree with Spirit76 about checking for any physical factors first. Those are always the most likely causes of anything like that, so ruling them out is indeed a very important step.
Personally, when I was working with astral projection, I was working on a way to get there through my dreams. First, by lucid dreaming, and then, by looking for a way consciously into the astral plane. I faced several problems by that method, but pain was actually never one of them.
Generally, if I failed, I just fell back into subconscious dreams or full unconsciousness. If I succeeded, I felt relaxed and free.
My advice would be to make sure you're not concentrating too hard, if that makes sense. Astral projection in the method you're describing is a form of meditation, so it's very similar in respect to your mindset. For example, if you are meditating to empty your mind, but you're focusing too hard on clearing your mind, you are not really accomplishing your goal, and you probably will end up with a headache. There is an element of focus involved, of course, just try to look for that moment where you are supposed to find release also. Maintaining heavy concentration on your physical form while detached from it in a state where you are meant to be experiencing things in your astral form could definitely cause the kind of strain and split in concentration that may result in a headache.
Other than that, it sounds like you're making a lot of progress with the practice, andwere at least somewhat successful, even if inhibited a little. Best of luck to you as you continue working.
Thanks everyone. Sadly, I'm not really able to get or improve the results I got the first time, though I don't think I need it right now. As said before, the main reason why I did this was to find if any dragons realLy existed, and I used a meditation I found on the sitealongside a simple trance inducing method to reach inside and meet dragons. I found two (one of which claimed he was a sprit guardian while the other was a dragon guardian, which, according to D.J Conway's Dancing with Dragons, is supposed to be a dragon which communes with humans to increase their own powers).
Another option is to try a dream-intent. I learned about it as a way to focus your thoughts towards a specific goal while you sleep and dream. ...Like trying to make a decision when you are torn between two options. Or wanting to connect with parts of your subconscious like the proverbial 'inner child'.
My perspective has equated sleep and dreaming to having one foot into the spiritual already, so if I planted a subconscious nudge towards going a bit further it would be more achievable than when I was awake. Normal meditation is a challenge becausr my conscious brain likes to go all A.D.D. and break my concentration. I can only be still a few minutes at a time before my body develops tensions and itchy spots or phantom pokes etc.
It takes a bit of practice, and careful evaluation/critical thinking on whatever experiences you have. But it might be worth a shot.
In a nutshell, you prepare for sleep like usual. But as you settle in, take a few minutes to be consciously aware of the present and the Self. Count, measure breathing, willful relaxation, however you like to get centered and focused on yourself and the present moment. Once you are at that slightly disconnected, 'observing my own thoughts' stage repeat in your mind a specific question or task. Three or four meaningful times should do.
As you do, imagine that statement as a physical thing. A written letter or sound on the wind and send it into yourself. Like a message sinking into the blackness of your subconscious. Or dropped into the figurative ocean of your thoughts to sink to the deepest levels below.
For example as-per your goal, "My consciousness will rise to a safe place in the astral, where I may peacefully meet with a dragon."
Or more simply, "I wish to gain the experience of meeting with a dragon in peace."
Then, of course, let yourself fall asleep and see what happens. And, of course like anything give it a few tries as it might take an attempt or three.
