Tom Campbell NYC MBT Master Workshop 5/5

For those that have any desire to explore (or to continue to explore) consciousness (via lucid dreams, meditation, OBE, astral projection, et all). This video should be a prerequisite and should be re-watched along the way. 

Another World

This particular dream is from a few years ago. It is what I would consider to be a guided experience. In these cases, the level of awareness is more than that of a typical dream, but not as clear as in a full blown lucid dream or out-of-body experience. It has stuck with me and my memory of the experience is very clear. 

I suddenly found myself in a strange world. I had the immediate thought that I was there to see that world. The beings were somewhat human like, but had slightly different features. They very closely resembled the characters in the movie Avatar. I began wondering around the area that I was in. It was a very clear and clean environment. There were various organic shaped buildings that blended nicely into the landscape. The majority of the structures faced the ocean. It was clear that the ocean and beach were an integral part of the culture. There was a sense of respect for the ocean similar to what many Native Americans have displayed toward the earth. 

The water seemed more viscous that one might normally see. The waves rose extremely high (30ft at times). These large waves were no more than 30ft from the shoreline, but they always settled gently before hitting the shore. 

At one point, there was a sense of some daily ritual approaching. The people were making the various, routine arrangements. I realized that this ritual had to do with the rising of the tide. I quickly noticed that I was walking in a dry channel that would soon be full of water. Others in the channel were exiting for higher ground. There was no sense of rush or hurry; It was just a daily routine. I, on the other hand was slightly rushed to find a way out. As I was making my way out, one of the people/beings spotted me from the upper edge of the channel. He was a younger male (comparable to a 21 year old man perhaps). He somehow knew that I was an outsider. I did not get the impression that he was any type of security or police, but more like a rebel with strong opinions about outsiders. He was saying something along the lines of, “you are not welcome! You cannot be here!” etc. I tried to show him that I meant no harm and wasn't even sure where I was or why I was there. He did not budge and eventually shot some sort of dart at me. It missed and stuck in the sand near my foot. As I bent down to pick it up, he jumped from the ledge onto my back. He started trying to get the dart from me. As we were struggling for the dart, I noticed some drips of blood on my hand. Apparently the dart had stuck him in one of his fingers. He slumped to his knees in the sand. I got away and started backing down the channel. I wondered what the dart was... poison? Would he die? I looked back at him; he seemed hazy and blurry now. I could tell that the water was coming and I had to leave the channel. I was concerned for him, but at the same time, there was a sense that no harm was actually done. 

I made my way out of the channel and back to where the people were. Most of the people were sitting in various locations looking out toward the ocean - similar to how people might gather to watch the sunset at the beach. They were not watching a sunset though. Swimming in the giant waves and throughout the water were 100's of dolphins. At times they looked like dolphins, sometimes like whales, and other times like sharks. The more I tried to focus on the details of one of the animals the more it was apt to change. At one point, as I tried to make out the details of one of the animals, it turned into a giant inflatable Shamu toy. At that point, I had the thought that I was goofing up the interpretation of what the animals actually were. I noticed an older man/being sitting on a small sandy hill. It was clear that he was enjoying the event and that he had seen it many times in his life. I sat next to him and watched with him. I remembered being amazed by both the size of the waves and the motion of the animals swimming through the thick, blue water. I wanted to know what the animals were called. In an attempt to remain inconspicuous, I asked the man, "what are they called again?" He responded politely with a name that I did not recognize (and can't remember). 

Later in the experience I was inside of a large room. It seemed to be some sort of lobby for a dining or gathering area. Apparently, I was too early. A security guard approached me asking me who I was and why I was there. He was not threatening, but very intent on finding out who I was. I tried to play it off to some degree while still maintaining honesty. "I'm very confused, I'm not sure why I am here or what is going on". Several people came over by us. They seemed to understand how to help me. They took me to a courtyard outside of the lobby (none of the buildings had any doors or windows. They were all very organic looking and open to the outside). They said something along the lines of, "you need something to eat." They stood me in front of what looked like a honeysuckle bush. Unsure of what to do, I stood there for a moment. Then I noticed a little girl standing at a nearby bush. She started going from flower to flower sucking on them. I looked at the people as if to say, "I should do that?" They nodded. I sucked on one of the flowers. Out came a small bit of a sweet tasting juice (similar to honey). I sampled several different flowers. I was getting very excited to try more, but realized that I did not want to be rude and take more than I needed. 

The experience ended and I found myself back in bed, waking up.

Getting to Know Myself

I have been focusing a bit more on utilizing phasing techniques during meditation to explore consciousness. The results have been interesting. 

Consciousness Exploration Journal

7/25/2012

I intentionally woke up at 5:30am to attempt to do some exploring. I read for a bit and then began meditating at 6:15am. I slipped into a typical dream until around 7:30am.  After waking, I again began to meditate with the hopes of utilizing a phasing technique. I slipped into a deep meditative state easily since my body was already very relaxed. I lost awareness of my physical senses and began to get the typical sensations related to sleep paralysis. Though I was fully aware, my thought process was a bit sluggish and it took some effort to remember what my plan was. After a few moments, I recalled that I had simply wanted to experiment with that state. I began to use the “noticing” technique. This approach involves getting into a deep meditative state (point consciousness, focus 12, etc) and then gently noticing anything that begins to occur (without being attached to it). It is to be a calm and objective observer of the experience. After a short time, I began to feel vibrations and to hear various sounds. Eventually however, I “clicked out” or fell asleep.  

At some point later, I became fully aware and present. I found myself flying low over a street. I was traveling very fast - too fast to take in any details of my surroundings. I got the impression that I was being led to something. I understood that I could stop the process at any time, but otherwise, I should just let things unfold. I passed over a beach and continued out over the ocean. I briefly started to travel in the water, but I did not like the darkness very much, and so came back out. I began flying straight up. The sky was covered with storm clouds. In the clouds, I could see a round pattern of lights. My first thought was that it looked like a UFO. I wondered if I was being led to the lights, which at first had me feeling a bit uneasy. I decided to let go of any fear and just allow the experience to unfold. I zoomed past the location of the lights and was pulled up until the clouds were no longer visible and I was surrounded by a thick darkness. I had the sensation of being very far away - comparable to floating in outer space. What happened next is too foggy to recall.

Later, I became slightly aware of my body laying in bed and could hear my wife getting ready in the bathroom. As I picked up on these morning noises, my body was violently vibrating and I could hear what sounded like a voice trying to get through a radio with poor reception. I mentally sent out a “hello?” To my surprise, I immediately heard a reply back, “hello.” There was so much input going on that I found it difficult to focus on the voice. I was taking in the input from the actual room that I was in - complete with the sounds of my wife getting ready and my dog’s nails tapping along the wood floor. At the same time, I was experiencing intense vibrations. There was an almost unbearable buzzing and shrieking sound coming through with the voice. The more I focused on one element, the more intense that element seemed to become. 

The voice continued to come through, though it was very difficult to make out. However, at one point it came through very clearly. I got the impression that this one thing was important for me to remember. Like many other experiences, the information came through in a chunk - yet at the same time, there was an actual voice. It is not easy to describe. The information that came through was something very close to this: “Get to know your true self.”  

I tried to focus on the voice more, but the experience eventually faded. I have an idea of where to explore next - my “true self.” 

Good Vibrations

Consciousness Exploration Journal

6/26/2012

I woke up at 3:30am to let my dog outside. I read until 4:30am. After getting tired, I set my intent to do some exploring. I repeated my affirmation several times and sent out a general request to have an experience that would help support my growth. I repeated this several times until my sleepy mind began to mix it up. I re-focused and stated my intent and request again. I held my intent and focus by means of a mantra and by repeating a simple visualization. I began to feel the swaying motion -  like paper on waves or grass in the wind. I eventually slipped into a vibrational state. I moved in and out of the state several times. I was surprised at how easy it seemed to get the vibrations to restart. I caught my thoughts starting to drift toward fear - fear of the unknown, of sleep paralysis, etc. I let it go and just tried to enjoy the vibrations. I had just re-read in Far Journeys how Bob Monroe had experienced the vibrational state as a child and how moving it was for him. I realized that I might as well enjoy it too. So I just tried to relax and experience it. When I focused on the sensations, I realized that it did feel pretty amazing - like being surged with energy. It crossed my mind that the lesson was that I can move in and out of the state at will - with the right frame of mind. 

A Little Girl and a Wolfpack

Consciousness Exploration Journal

6/24/2012

I became lucid in a dream. I was in a bustling hallway of a school. I began trying to ask if there was anybody around that could provide some guidance. Several of the people faded in and out as I tried to speak to them. Eventually, a woman led me into a room and to a round table. 7 - 8 people were already sitting around it. I said out loud to the table, “I am looking for some help with my spiritual growth.” I began to get the impression that nobody at the table was really all that interested. It was a group meeting for some other purpose. One girl across from me began to carry on about something. I could not make out the details, but I got the impression that she was becoming aggressive toward me. Soon she was leaning closer and yelling in my face. I had the idea that she was like a bomb that was about to explode. I decided that it was a little too threatening. I puffed up with a deep rumbling voice and said, “be gone!” She instantly vanished from the table. I started to realize that I wasn’t going to get much direct guidance from the group. The person to the left of me suddenly took on the appearance of a small girl. She looked at me and said, “I’m scared.” Hearing her say that made me realize that I was being pretty selfish - always zipping around and asking everybody for guidance and help. I had never stopped to think that I could possibly be helpful to somebody. I focused my attention on helping the girl. The scene shifted. The girl and I were sitting in a car behind some building. It was night. She was sitting in the passenger seat and still a bit unsettled. I was doing my best to put her at ease and assure her that I would keep her safe. I got out of the driver seat to get some snacks out of the back for her. As I got back in, I caught myself feeling a bit nervous because it was so dark outside. I realized that it didn’t make much sense to lock the doors, but I did anyway. As I continued to try and keep her at ease, I felt myself shifting back to my sleeping body. 

I tried to muster up the energy to turn on my light and write down the experience, but began slipping into a vibrational state. I braced for sleep paralysis. The sensations began to build. As the intensity grew, I heard my wife’s voice. With mild confusion and slight concern, she said, “what is going on?” I was doubtful that she actually said anything, but brought myself out of the state to check. She was sound asleep next to me, so I encouraged the state to return. I began to gently float upward. I felt as though I was floating slightly above my body and swaying in the breeze. I felt a bit stuck - unable to get any further. I tried several things to keep the process going, but nothing seemed to be working. I was just stuck. I caught myself actually whimpering as the state progressed. I realized how silly I was being. I decided that whatever was going to happen - no matter how scary or bad - was fine. I would accept it. At that, I transitioned to standing in my bedroom. I jumped up with excitement and flew through the ceiling. I got slightly hung up as I tried to pass through the roof. knowing that I was not actually stuck in the roof and that the room itself was likely a projection of my expectations, I let go of it all. I found myself in a black void. Not wasting any time, I set my intent to create and appear within my grassy field (one that I have used in various visualization techniques). Slowly, the field appeared below me and I floated down into it. It was night time and the field was not exactly right, but it seemed to be a good first try. I did my best to make it daytime and for the scene to look more accurate. It helped only slightly, so I eventually gave up my efforts. Still feeling fairly excited to have had a successful transition, I began running at full speed in a large circle around the field. After several laps, I remembered that I did not want to waste the experience. I circled a few more times and then gathered my focus. I expressed my intent to receive some form of guidance. The scene slightly shifted and I noticed another being entering the field. It was difficult to make out fully. My awareness shifted off to the side of the field near a dirt driveway and several small barns. A shadowy, animal-like figure passed by. Then a few more. And then more. 40 or more of these animal beings must have ran by. As more passed, I began to see them as very large black dogs or wolves. I was not overly frightened, though they did have a intimidating and beastly appearance. I was not sure what to make of it all and could not understand the purpose of the event (if any). I did not have the gumption left to tackle whatever this experience had in store for me, so I decided to call it quits and wake up. 

Consciousness Art - "Conscious"

This painting was inspired by a series of tests that I carried out in the lucid dream/out-of-body state to test the "realness" of the experience.

Conscious
Oil on Canvas
4' X 6'

The Help Needs Help

Consciousness Exploration Journal

4/13/12

I was having an extensive dream about being in a yoga class. After the class, I walked out to my car to leave. It was a very small parking lot, but I could not seem to find my car. I pushed the alarm button on the keychain. Several cars (that were not mine) beeped and chirped. After some confusion, I eventually realized that I was dreaming. The first thought that entered my mind was that I wanted to go explore someplace where I could learn something. At that thought, I immediately began to float. I traveled higher and higher until everything began to get dark. I had the impression that I was now lying down in a dark void. With little control, and unsure of what was going to happen, I expressed a simple request to whoever might be there: “keep me safe please.” In hindsight, it was a bit silly; but at that moment, it felt valid. After a short bit, I decided to say (express) a request, “could I receive some guidance please?”. I began to hear what sounded like a broken radio transmission. It slowly became more clear and I heard a female voice reply, “yes”. A few seconds passed and then the voice came through again and said, “yes, but we are not very good at it right now”. Thinking that the voice was referring to a lack of experience in providing guidance, I playfully said, “well that’s not a good thing!” It could of course have meant that “they” are not good at communicating in that specific way. 

I should note... if I would have come across some of these stories years ago, I would have thought that the person who wrote them should probably seek some professional help, or that they had an over-active imagination. However, experience trumps intellectual analysis. Thinking about what is really going on in these experiences is of course much different than actually experiencing them first hand. It would be a mistake for me to take the experience and try to fit it into some pre-existing category. There would be no point. There is a great deal of uncertainty around such things. Each small step forward might bring some bit of understanding or clarity, but uncertainty will still prevail. The best we can do is to move forward based on what we find to be most probable. Of course, what we find to be most probable is often tainted by our fears, ego, and beliefs. So, in-line with the advice of Tom Campbell, we must remain open-minded about everything as well as skeptical about everything... and live gracefully with uncertainty along the way.