In this short guide, I'll talk about things that can raise your success rate in meditation, whether you're on a quest for self-discovery, astral projection, dreamwalking, or on an adventure that might require this.  If you can do this enough times, I promise that interesting things will begin to happen. *What happens,* now that's up to you. 

<center>![large.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmbG1JF3CUVPws2Kfg9fAovVVzPqdXcpQdoqTxjtFAdB9x/large.jpg)<br>[☆｡ThisismyWørld｡☆ | We❤️It](https://weheartit.com/entry/125551089)</center>

I meditated for half an hour this evening, but upon completing this short session, I realized that many of the techniques and thoughts behind them come mainly from my own experience, and not from what I've read online. The reason for this being that I've searched and have read many vague tutorials and mindsets in the past that didn't get me anywhere closer to my goal.

<center>![Makise_kurisu_sleeping.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmekNHuoUAWNJzPfZxo82z9jsGXveUxrEKQybub7Wmodc4/Makise_kurisu_sleeping.jpg)<br>[Makise Kurisu—Stein's Gate | Ayakashi Ghost Guild](http://ayakashi-ghost-guild.wikia.com/wiki/File:Makise_kurisu_sleeping.jpg)</center>

# The Setup
**1- Laying down.** Sitting up straight makes it difficult for me to relax. (Many texts advise against confusing a meditative and sleeping environment as to create a distinction between the two.)
**2- Ear plugs** to prevent sleep paralysis auditory hallucinations. (Sounds in waking reality become louder and distorted during sleep paralysis)
**3- Pillows** under legs for proper elevation. The correct location is behind the knees. (Relaxing position.)
**4- Arms to the side** with palms up.

# What to do about your eyes?
People like to take different approaches to covering your vision when meditation or lucid dreaming. My eyes are trained to not strain while they're closed. When aiming for a trance, it becomes natural to want to/ try to force yourself to see things. Even with your eyes closed, you can still hurt them by focusing on stimuli that isn't there. Visuals/visions do appear on their own. Your best bet, is to pretend that eyes don't exist. 

# Name of the game
It appears that the goal (mine at least), is to slow your brain's activity enough to place yourself into an altered state/ hypnosis, accessing other areas of your subconscious that you don't normally have access to. 

<center>![dreams.metroeve_slow-motion-dreams-meaning.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNhAEjAFV8fzgLHLaHymNpnLMsQmUWBzZ6ZU8doLZmuka/dreams.metroeve_slow-motion-dreams-meaning.jpg)[Dream Dictionary](http://www.dreams.metroeve.com/2330-2/)</center>

# How slow are we talking?
When awake, our thoughts are perpetually switching between 4 places. 

* The Past (Remembering, can cause depression with over focus)
* Right now (Actions in the present moment. It's said that all of our power exists here)
* The Future (Imagination and visualization of events yet to take place, can cause anxiety with over focus)
* Potential (Imagination and visualization of realities that could exist, can cause delusions with over focus)
 
Each place, uses a different part of our brain... to access and process their information. To slow your brain's overall activity, stay in the "right now". Everytime you catch yourself wandering, bring it back into mental focus by observing your breath. 

# The goal again
is to *"slow your brain's activity overall."* Common misconceptions when starting this activity is to NOT THINK AT ALL—this is untrue. Using one part of your brain is still significantly less than using small parts of your entire brain and swapping back and forth continuously.

# Body Numbing and Sensation of Touch
Remove focus from your body, and place it on your forehead where your *third eye* should be—on the actual skin surface. Remember, your eyes don't exist. Placing the physical attention on your third eye removes attention from your limbs and other areas of your body. No body. 

# Breathing
The moment you start trying to distinguish between what is mind, body, and who's breathing, that's already too much thinking. The main objective is to observe the breath. Not *your* breath, not *your* eyes. There is no **you,** and no body. This, I feel is why many find meditation difficult. The ego gets in the way. 

<center>![stages-of-spiritual-awakening.jpg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcNAWVfoMimFQx836NF6bz9mf7rvbwkzbCNfEdBicneom/stages-of-spiritual-awakening.jpg)[Dreamcatcher Reality](http://dreamcatcherreality.com/spiritual-ascension/)</center>

# External Thoughts
Not a conspiracy, external thoughts coming from "nowhere" are normal. They come and go naturally, try not to cause friction by holding addtional thoughts. Believe it or not,  **it's a choice to focus on a thought and entertain it further.** If this happens, return your focus to your breath and observe. 

Just because other thoughts are entering your awareness, it doesn't mean you're messing up! I used to frustrate myself to no end when I thought this was the case. If you begin to "see" images and scenes on your mental screen, observe but don't interact with them. Placing any judgement—adding thoughts like "Oh where is this?" or "I like this color" is enough to break your focus. Everything that appears is *just there*, anything more is a distraction. 

<h1>Remember!</h1>
1- Eyes don't exist
2- The only physical reference is the "third eye"
3- The only time reference is right now
4- The only goal is to **observe the breath**

# Some of My Other Meditation/ Dream Posts:
* [Learn Lucid Dreaming For Real: My First Successful Wake Induced Lucid Dream 4-23-18 Concrete Library](https://steemit.com/how-to/@shello/learn-lucid-dreaming-for-real-my-first-successful-wake-induced-lucid-dream-4-23-18-concrete-library)

* [Meditation: Detaching from Thoughts to Dreaming and Visual Hallucinations](https://steemit.com/meditation/@shello/meditation-detaching-from-thoughts-to-dreaming-and-visual-hallucinations)

* [Meditation and Thinking of Nothing—Do We Think of "Nothing" or Not Think?](https://steemit.com/meditation/@shello/meditation-detaching-from-thoughts-to-dreaming-and-visual-hallucinations)

* [Learn Lucid Dreaming For Real: Dream Diary 4-9-18 Missed Breakfast Graduation](https://steemit.com/how-to/@shello/learn-lucid-dreaming-for-real-dream-diary-4-9-18-missed-breakfast-graduation)

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmR694e8spXrNmzcibAR5G4oLiuDYjuvmNqDFQMU7h1nVq/skyleap%20is%20the%20best.jpg<br><br>https://steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/0x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmdDHYbj2ZJasXzjsghkZqrkhg9zPSdbfangGMr5GDzA4b/SHELLO.jpg<br>Thank you @bollutech for this art!<br><br>https://steemitimages.com/DQmcSUVfnBPBDoBHB62DqFrptknnbKjVBJuxRu2VPicXCDc/shello-steemit.gif<br>*See you in a dream~*</center>