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Hi Aaron, I have some questions, if you don't mind. What are the benefits of practicing this form of meditation? I've read in so many places that just sitting in emptiness is not a good thing to do as it does not cultivate insight. How is this practice different from that? Do you go through the four form jhanas (bliss, joy, happiness, equanimity) and the four formless jhanas: infinity of space, infinity of consciousness, No-thingness, Neither perception nor non-perception and finally Cessation? I'm thinking that your definition of 'emptiness' is not the classic interpretation of Buddhist Emptiness. Stillness is not the realization of emptiness. In my interpretation of the realization of the Buddhist 'emptiness', the realization of emptiness is the same as when you realize that you are in a dream, that you can fly, walk through walls, create objects or do anything you can think of or desire. The realization of emptiness in real-life is exactly the same. What are the effects on your regular daily life? Do you have satori moments afterwards? Have you gained any siddhis or powers? After you discovered that emptiness is not true emptiness because there is the "I" that is watching, have you ever turned your attention around and tried to dwell in the "I"? For that is the only way to not have an "I". If 'you' are watching something, then it is still dualistic. And if you did reverse the flow of attention backwards to the "I", does the journey which brings you closer to the "I" bring you through the heat sheath, the bliss layer, the golden light, the nonconceptual stage and finally the infinite expanse that is the "I" which seems solid as a rock? Just curious.. TI

I think of Neo (matrix) - once you begin to understand the true nature of reality things become a lot more flexible. The waking up from the dream...type of thing In my dreams I can fly I can't see why this should be any different haha I think It takes imagination + clarity/focus + 100% faith

You are welcome, resonant111. I do not want you to become obsessed with this issue. Just watch carefully your reactions after an Orgasm. Stress is one things that can cause a worsening of POIS symptoms. I used to have POIS symptoms for more than a week after an O. My mind was literally crippled by after-orgasms effects. I tried to ignore those feelings, but they were overwhelming, so I could not. At the end, The only possibility was total abstinence, and it was not a 100 per cent solution, because a wet dream wreaked havoc on my system again. If you are very sure that you have POIS, then let me know about it. Best regards and cheers up!

In many traditional systems it is believed that the deceased loved ones only show up in one's dreams for important reasons. In many cultures the names of the deceased family members became taboo, the belief being that the souls should not be kept tied to the places where they lived and people they loved because this can interfere with their departure to where they need to go. One was supposed to honor them at allocated times (e.g., taoists create an altar with the tablets bearing the deceased relatives' names and offer food, drink and incense at some regular intervals) but not think too much of them and not name them aloud (until much later after their departure) so they don't take it as being "called." Finally, if someone's health was poor, a deceased close relative in a dream was thought of as "coming for them" and calling them. So, if you want a traditional approach to such dreams (and, no, they are not related to any energy practices whatsoever and happen to non-practitioners and practitioners of anything alike), there's a few things I would suggest: think of following the taoist custom of feeding the ancestors. It is thought of as safeguarding their well-being in the other world and their help to their living posterity. If it's not done, they may be disturbed and are thought of as being able to cause their posterity some trouble; make sure your health is fine -- a check-up maybe? if these dreams persist, there may be a feng shui problem with the graves, which can interfere with the peaceful rest of the deceased. The worst kind is where any water after the rain, or (worse still) ground waters are flowing into the burial site. But there can be many other problems too. If an altar does not help, try finding a yin feng shui practitioner to assess the situation with the graves. Good luck!

Disease, Health. You see a difference. Keep dreaming and you will only be healthy in a dream. Running from pain, chasing pleasure. Yawn.... I though this was a Taoist forum?

Hurray! Like the upgrade thus far... SO you posted that it took a bit longer than expected ... when in fact it took what it took and nothing more nor nothing less... I used to say "Expect the best and be prepared for the rest"... now days I sort of state "be it a dream be if for real always choose the better way"... this upgrade seems to be along the ways of the better ways... thank you for all your efforts

I've been practicing Kunlun now for a little over 2 months. I couldn't wait for the book so I drove 3 hours to meet an apprentice. I barely knew anything about the practice and literally had just heard about it, but felt deeply this is for ME. During the first few minutes I felt nothing and thought the practice was mumbo jumbo. Then my legs began to convulse. After a few minutes of that my body began winding. It has been a beautiful and powerful experience for me. The night of my first day practicing at home I had a beautiful dream with Max. Some nights after I was in pain. I woke up in the middle of the night still in sort of a trance. A voice told me to move my head in a very specific way. I did and the pain immediately went away. Instinctively I responded to the voice, "thank you Kan." A few weeks ago I called Max for help using "Kunlun AT&T" when someone brought something into my home with negative attachments. I had children visiting for the week, so I was more concerned for them than I was for myself. After calling him, I felt at peace. I woke up in the middle of the night with a being in my room. It was a feminine energy. She told me she was protecting the children. Additionally, my visions and dreams all around have become far more vivid and meaningful. I say this to say that MY experiences were all beautiful. After reading many of the fear-based comments herein, that could change if I've allowed my mind to weaken to others' perceptions of things. I will not allow that to happen though. I have the opportunity to practice regularly in a group with other Kunluners, as well as access to an apprentice. Solo practice is great, but I gain much more in a group. I am looking forward to the seminar in September. I can only imagine the energy level. Regarding the book, my brother managed to get a hold of an old book (red cover) on Amazon. I purchased the new book almost the moment it became available. There seems to be information that is in the old book, that has not made it into the new book. And much valuable information in the new book that is not in the old. Even if one already knows Kunlun it is an excellent read. I think it far better written than the older book. As I was reading it I couldn't help but to think, "wow, this guy is REALLY smart!" I say buy it if even just for the jewels than practical knowledge of Kunlun. And yes, the holding the ball pose is a bit different in the book than I learned from my apprentice and in the older Kunlun book. I can agree that this path may not be for everyone. I would recommend anyone who is in a state of fear to first address those fears before delving into any practice that will take you to the next level... especially with something that will catapult you to the next level like Kunlun.

Your writing is good! Interesting post! Shamanism is fascinating We have much to learn from animals I believe. I was moving earth the other day and my dog had the strangest expression...like... what the hell is he doing? hahah I have found in the dream state..becoming lucid - taking an animal form... seems to be easier to travel in that reality..that way? why I don't know. PS: love the Princess Mononoke avatar!

From the transcendental place of infinite possibilities and realities, its is quite evident to me, that some unenlightened do not believe the enlightened have attained enlightenment nor will the unenlightened give their tacit accord of the truth that all enlighten recognize. Hope can and does exists within time-space bounds and outside of limiting constraints just as truth, peace, love, understanding, enlightenment and many many more 'stuff'. Some realize that some possibilities will remain as possibilities forevermore just as some realities will always be realities. Only if you know the truth and accept it will you understand the truth and accept it. I hope you do ... whether you do or not, that's your business, I would prefer you did but if you didn't as I said thats your business... NOW the perfect world goes on to become a perfect reality without you or with you depending on wether you accept or reject to partake and entertain hope, love, truth, understanding, enlightenment... and everything good... Even though you WILL go along you may or may not realize it... as I just said I hope you do ... whether you do or not, that's your business, I would prefer you did but if you didn't as stated thats your business... When are you going to actually realize that zero limits and infinite limits still talks about limits while attempting to point to the transcendental place of infinite possibilities and realities. BTW some possibilities are meant to remain as possibilities forevermore... the fact that something is possible hardly makes it be a viable alternative to manifest. Why would a self awareness seek to negate self awareness ? Why would anyone want to completely annihilates time, hope, craving, outcomes? seems to me the enlightened know what outcomes to cultivate, what cravings to indulge and which to keep as just possibilities. Hope in love, truth, understanding, enlightenment, for enlightenment understanding truth and love sake... 'End-Gaming already has tacit accord with the real within the false" What has tacit accord with the real within, the truth! Each talks and reflects with what they state,think, feel, do what they have within... look at the words and see for yourself what each cultivates... faith, clarity, thinking there is actually something to be sought and cherished in terms of abundance... rather than in terms of lacking... makes evidently how some will invite you to their side while others invite you to a different side... moralistic judgements of right and wrong enables each to choose what be right... though its much better to simply do the right thing always... "the life, art and dream of an empty, open, ruthless realm of the Mysterious Female's heart" pales in comparison to the life art and dreams of a full, open, caring realm of divinely mysterious loving family. beware of taking misery for pleasure, rather than what be for what be...

Some teachers teach in dreams, and check out prospective students. Apparently sometimes the teacher can't remember the dream, but what their student remembers is correct, sometimes even secret, knowledge and part of the transmission process. Theirs a mention in Terry Dunn's Flying phoenix chi gong from someone who only just started practicing and saw GM Doo Wai in his dreams, and Sifu Terry and Sifu Garry talked about its significance.

Congrats, you finally lost it ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US! But anyway, some of my dreams have plot lines and they only make sense years after they happened It's kinda funny like that in my case You might get another dream before you figure out what that one meant

I have only meditated no more than ten times over the past few weeks. I am new, but I seem to be learning quickly. Since I started, two events have occurred, which I cannot for the life of me explain. I am uncertain whether or not I should even be sharing this information, though my anonymity puts my mind at ease (somewhat). The first happened the night of my first (what I would call proper) meditation. It was a powerful breathing exercise in which I would hold my breath and push my stomach in and out 12 times before exhaling. Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact meditation as it was a guided meditation I stumbled across on Youtube. After the meditation I felt a grand sense of peace throughout my entirety. Later this day, I went to a friends house as I sometimes do. Nothing was out of the ordinary, until I went outside to pee (I had my reasons). After I had done the business, I gazed upwards to enjoy the night's sky. This is where it happened. As I looked up, I did not see stars, no, but pieces of a bigger object. I will try to explain in as much detail as I can recall. The sky was the clearest I have EVER seen, and there were five, maybe ten times the amount of stars usually visible in this area. But instead of seeing many stars, I instead saw a shape, what I can only recall to look something like a tunnel, and I felt part of this ginormous entity. Our Earth, and so my perspective, lay somewhere within the tunnel shape, but towards the side a little. My interpretation of this ordeal was that I became one with the universe, if it be only for a short duration. I literally felt as if I WAS the universe, or whatever it was I was observing. Is it possible that this is indeed what I experienced? For if (according to many religion and philosophy) we are essentially the same thing, perhaps incarnations of God (I am an athiest, I might add), was I maybe experiencing the ultimate empathy? Or is there a simpler explanation? I would love to hear any and all ideas concerning this, or even better: anyone else with similar experience? The second event is a little more odd, or perhaps not. Interestingly, it occurred at the same friend's house, only inside this time. We were in the room which we usually reside. A friend had finished a cigarette and left the butt in the ash tray. At this stage we were all just sitting down, 'chilling out' watching tv. I cannot remember how it began, I have no recollection of the beginning (such as in a dream), but at some point I was literally communicating with the smoke tendrils that were rising off the butt. The smoke would rise and dance, as usual. But somehow I had influence. In my head, I would talk to the smoke, much similar to my own thoughts, but I would think the words in a directional sense at the smoke, as if I were making it read my mind. I asked it if it could hear me. The smoke rose and drifted and I made out a "yes" from the curls. Am I imagining this or what? So I ask it, are you something else, or are you me? The smoke rose in a straight line, then all of a sudden drifted over towards me (I was sitting a couple of feet away, slightly above the butt) suggesting I am the influence here. Hmm, perhaps still coincidence. Then I think/say to it, do something fantastic, something so extraordinary I will have no doubt that this is not coincidence. It then curled and danced towards me, and one tiny piece of smoke separated from the tendril and I made out what looked like a heart. The smoke was fading, as the cigarette was almost out, I decided to farewell it. It waved, or perhaps I imagined it did. Then, just before it went out, for some reason I channelled my attention at the butt, trying to keep it alight as if desperate to bring back my new friend, and it started to hiss and crackle as if the temperature of the ember became far hotter than previous. Then it died. This I have no idea what to make of. My only theory is perhaps my aura or life-essence or chi or something of the sort was manipulating it, or even manifesting itself in the smoke. But why the smoke? And how did I communicate with it? It told me it was myself, but I was talking to something else, other than my own mind. Perhaps my higher self or something similar? I am pleased such things have happened, and they have only made me more interested in the spiritual world. I hope more events of this calibre happen. What's more important is that I hope I haven't broken any rule that I should not be sharing this. But how can I break a rule I was not told to follow. Anyways, if anyone has had similar experience or knows anything about what happened to me on both occasions, please do not hesitate to comment.

The "Porn-meditation" had equivalents in certain forms of tantric yoga because it increases general vitality. But you are considered free from lust and attachment to such things only if your practice does not lead to erotic dreams (even without ej). If you watch porn, practice retention... and start to dream sexy women, then the mind is not clean.

Michael, Funny you should bring that practice to mind--I had a dream about my childhood dog, Toby, and his death last night. I loved him dearly and that practice that you just described carried me through all that. That happened before I believed in a non-physical realm so the dream revisited his death with me being much more calm about the whole thing, knowing that we'd be pals forever. I did the practice for several months and it was very fortifying and strengthening and I was quite fanatical about it too. Felt like a samurai gathering strength to avenge his death even though enemy was old age. I knew what I was doing didn't make sense. When forgetfulness drifted in, I ditched the practice. -Yoda

When you think you know everything and theres nothing left to learn and you lose the curiosity, you are far too attached to beliefs. That state is in opposition to "spiritual progress" A lot of people want the title of master or teacher or guru, but that title gives you arragance and as don juan the possibly ficitious shaman of carlos castenadas works says the second obstacle to becoming a man of knowledge is clarity. If you have too much clarity you become very arragant, pompous, all knowing and unquestioning of belief systems. If someone says I have done tai chi, bagua, qigong, dream work etc etc that doesnt really mean much. If someone says they have spent 30 years in meditation that doesnt really mean much either. If someone says they never really meditate and think that meditation is new age rubbish imo that doesnt mean all that much either there are plenty of people who naturally dont over analyse and are pretty happy in fact much more happy than someone who does. Also a lot of people get off on "helping others" when really there helping themselves there putting themselves above others in an egoic sense, "let me teach you" is a pretty egoic thing to say. One might say Im being hypocritical and saying that now and if I wanted to put myself down for approval i might agree but this is not really the case Im just expressing. A lot of people think that saying something with 100% belief is more clever than saying something with a perhaps or possibly or in one perspective kind of attitude. I don't think this is correct. Also if you manage to become very aware, blissful, have correct thoughts, high energies etc. Who is it whos is aware, there is just awareness. Who is it who is blissful? there is just bliss. Who is it with high energy or a correct thought? there is just high energy or correct thoughts. Who did it, who made it happen, a ficitious character of the imagination or everything the universe, thoughts from other people which managed to get absorbed into "your" brain. Some people may have heard the saying everyone is your teacher. It might sound like a cliche but really it is true. The way someone doesn't over analyse, the way someone else refrains from speaking what he may possibly feel like in order to avoid hurting someones feelings, the way someone acts illogically, the way nature is the way it is, the way a dog is so friendly and not empty etc

Sleep time for me is around 5 - 6 hours each night. Very seldom feel a need to take naps during the day, maybe once every couple of months may experience a dip in energy, feel lethargic for about half a day, which means body hinting to get an early night (bed by 10, up at 5). Work involves a lot of mental and physical output, which actually boost my alertness during the day. 99 percent abstinence from alcohol, which helps (in my case). Maybe one beer, or a liqueur, once a blue moon, that kind of way. Diet-wise, plenty of fruits and greens. Most meat consumed will have been 'softened' by hours of stewing, which my system finds very agreeable indeed. Once a week workout at the local spa, where i swim, have a sauna, and relax in the bubbly pool some call jacuzzi. Every day do at least a hundred prostrations in the mornings. Always wanted to live close to the sea, and realized this dream only this year, so this body is very happy to chill by the ocean's fringes. Loves fast cars... recently rewarded myself with a BMW coupe to cruise the wind/rain-swept country roads on days off. Its red, btw. Like these ones... http://www.google.ie/search?q=red+bmw+e46&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=OfMRUN_rEYqWhQfDpIHYDg&ved=0CFgQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=599 I'm 52, and loving it.

I guess it's kind of pretentious to assume this exists just because I had a dream about it, but I figured if anybody would know if there's an 8th chakra, y'all would. I took a journey through the chakras yoga class probably about five or six years ago, and I ripped out the pictures of the seven chakras (with the sanskrit) from the manual, and they are up on my wall in order. In my dream I saw those seven chakra sheets of mine, but on top there was a new one, which was this beautiful pink flower with a million petals. It looked rose-like, only bigger and with more petals...

Being a master or in a position of power isnt that easy every decision you make has many different ramifications. To simply give away all of the secrets to taoist immortality is reckless for this reason. If it someones unbelievable good karma to have all of the secrets of taoist immortaltiy handed to them for free and that person does reckonize that gift for what it is. Then this will waste that manifestation of that good karma and a master can see this and doesnt want to ruin things for you by giving you something that your not ready for when your karma could have manifested in getting your dream job or meeting your future wife. The gift is of taoist immortality is not just the good karma of this life but of many and it may not come back around again for a very long time.

My experience/insight is that consciousness is indeed not eternal, consciousness is ever-changing, momentary, manifestations. Though there was a time when I treated Consciousness as the supreme Self, unchanging and ultimate. Just a few moments ago I was re-visiting something Thusness wrote 2 year ago shortly after my realization of anatta. (btw, there are some teachers, some of those following Nisargadatta (and Nis himself), and recently Bentinho Massaro, who had new experiences recently and moved on from awareness teachings and treated this 'non-experience black hole' as Absolute and treated non-dual consciousness as another passing dream. Thusness's message is not this: as he clearly states, even this 'non-experience black hole' is absolutely empty and passing, nothing ultimate as well) Thusness: "Yes, all PCEs, all NDNCDIMOP, all these will pass (not into some great void). The article Death, Reincarnation, Nonduality, and other dreams ( http://awakeningtoreality.blogspot.com/2010/10/death-reincarnation-nonduality-and.html ) in your blog by Jeff Foster talking about deep dreamless sleep as a form of psuedo death. He is talking about this ‘psuedo death’ that is a direct opposite of the NDNCDIMOP much like an absolute 'no experience' black-hole that even non-dual presence cannot escape. He urges practitioners to see it with an unbiased mind and not be overly attached to non-dual presence. Yet this 'pseudo death' too will pass. Similarly if we were to turn micro and practice vipassana, there are body sensations, fluctuation thoughts, beliefs, heart beats, sound, scent...no permanent agent that is owner of these arising and passing phenomena can be found. A ‘permanent unchanging witness’ is just simply 'a thought that claims ownership along this arising and passing stream. :-) The insight of no-self must not only realize the illusionary division of subject-object duality and turns non-dual experience implicit; it must also allow practitioner to clearly see the stream of ever becoming. When there is no permanent agent,there is just seeing, thinking, hearing; there is simply scenery, thoughts, sounds; there are still fear, emotion, anger…there is action, there is karma…just no self. What is the implication? The mind upon seeing anatta must not continue to live in a fantasy land and clearly see the workings of these arising and passing phenomena. There is no escape for there is just this and practitioners are always dealing with attachments, deeper dispositions, latent tendencies, supporting conditions, action, karma. Can you stop an arising thought from subsiding? Is the present moment of thought the same as the previous moment of thought? Can this moment of thought not affect the next moment of thought? Stabilizing the insight of anatta requires the realization of dependent origination. With the absence of ‘dualistic and inherent’ tendencies as the supporting conditions, experience turns non-dual and liberating; so do not mistake the ‘effect’ for ‘cause’ and focus too much on PCEs. :-)"

Visualize eating a lemon...your body 'chemistry' reacts Your mind can be fooled In dreams - your dormant body 'jumps' as 'it' watches 'yourself' fall... This is a technique in various occult schools - some call it Path-working... [it can be done via Qabala --Tree of Life] There's a whole sub-culture of extraordinary modes to attain unlimited heights I will share just one: This practice will appeal to some, and enable spontaneous Astral Travel/Projection/Remote Viewing Some are naturally more adept at this than others, either way, practice makes perfect Begin: This is a simple example: Standing QiGong... take your stance 'feel your body'... the weight against the floor - how every muscle is supported - what the mind holds, and how the Qi flow interacts with it watch yourself in a mirror- at all angles - keep this to memory --Now, go lie down, or sit in a chair... Visualize yourself, getting up (make it real) and walking to your familiar place of usual practice Assume your position, and recall how it felt prior, and how it looked it the mirror Important- Do not watch yourself in your mind's eye-- rather, 'be in the position', and see what your standing practice body would see, feel Utilize all your senses This is your Astral/Etheric/Doppleganger/Bio-Location Body As you are Practicing your Gong, bounce slightly, sway - feel how 'this body' reacts to the physical setting To your surprise, you will feel the Qi moving This will incorporate quick links to Shen, because it is not the physical body being used (or is it?) [Much debate ] Once you 'notice' your dormant, physical body is also feeling the Qi flow- your consciousness starts to click back and forth to 'both bodies' It gets tricky figuring out where these feelings are stemming from Eventually, the consciousness transcends to 'one unified body' [we have many bodies, our consciousness visits them, individually or collectively] Taking this exercise to it's 'projected' natural conclusion, one comes to understand the sky is the limit Long Range Attainments & Goals: You can be sitting down, riding a train - & practice this, standing up... next to you, eyes open, [Alpha State/Level] and perform an 'Astral Horse Stance'.. This "Body" you are training- like any muscle - gets stronger through practice and Time. -- Diamond, Gold Body, Immortal Body - the Body that lives on after physical death With practice- long distant healing can be attained Giving Shaktipat to someone at a distance Chakra work is enhanced- and many hidden conduits and ganglion of 'energy plexus' reveal themselves (there are more than 7 chakras- the ancients knew of 7 planets, and liked keeping things in patterns of 7) Telepathy, melding your thoughts with another... Shapeshifting...Assuming transferred consciousness to organic life forms... [many more...] Spirit World visitation, Inter-Dimensional Bleed-throughs, Time-Lock 'play'... [Each one of these 'sub-categories' would be taught on a 'Merit system' -- not all of my students would be taught everything, due to the simple fact, that some can easily abuse/misuse these systems -- i.e.,: getting into another's dream world, and/or Vampyrism(s)... Seminal Retention and keeping your seed: 'not feeding "Lurkers"... gets it's roots, here ] Your mind can be fooled

LETS MEET FOR A GLASS O SANGIOVESI IN MINE DREAM BAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MAKE SURE YA BRING YER DREAM BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BYE NOW PRINCESS!!! YER DEVOUT, RONNIEBOY

I've been to two retreats with Chogyal Namkai Norbu and have been reading his works inside the community for a while now, and I must say I am very underwhelmed. His practice is mainly dream practice and much of his knowledge comes down from his lineage through dreams. He seems to simply rest in the state of what is deemed primordial nature as his karmic fruits just fall off, which is great in my opinion, but nothing of what I'd consider masterful knowledge. I've seen him answer questions and deal with daily problems other people come with, and there is nothing that indicates in depth wisdom. I'd consider him more of a scholar than anything else. To me, being in the primordial state or Thusness' spontaneous presence are just paths to untangle karmic ties. They're both mere paths. To take what they say as some ultimate characterization of reality would be faulty since neither has full mastery over their existences, only a glimpse into a pure way of experience. For instance, ask either teacher about karma, or the essences of the human body, or the after-life. Either the answers will be out of a book or they won't know too much besides how to enter into pure and immediate experience. Chogyal Namkai Norbu doesn't even seem that happy to be carrying on and seems to look at this whole affair as a burden laid upon him. But I guess it really depends on what the seeker is looking for.

beyond that, or within it, I recently learned about the hindu ideas of the yama and niyama. I learned about how virtue is such a major part of the hindu/yoga/tantra. I also learned about the 3 supreme deities and how they relate to Generation, Operation and Destruction. And of course, how speech and how potenial moral actions help or hinder the G-O-D trinity. What are your thoughts on this and hinduism? In what other traditions is there tantra? Hindu, taost/esoteric buddhist....very esoteric/potentialy dangerous stuff, this semen retention? Perhaps it is not dangerous if you know how to ground the energy--you will make it. Interesting how Ron mentions Lucid Dreaming is a key. Ron, how much success have you had with this? What are your dreams like? Heaven? I doubt it. We all have lucid dreams we just dont remember it, no? or we are less lucid than we would like to be? this is crazy to think about, no? the energy body is the key to lucid dreaming? no? what do you use as a dream-cue? your hands? how about hands touching face?(that activates sooooo many nerves right? so maybe thats a good way?) Or how about a color like purple? My friend uses a window or door as a dream cue.

Hello, my name is Melanie, I'm 26, a fine arts graduate currently I do mostly drawing and painting, a house wife to a wonderful woman, and a transitioned transgender. Part of why I found Taoism is because of its non discriminatory nature. My jing got very messed up from hrt but I have slowly learned how to restore that, my qi and shen are fine but always a work in progress. I meditate almost daily and alternate the kind of meditation I do based on what feels right that day. My top three books are, Winnie the Pooh (although I associate Pooh bear with Buddha more then a Taoist figure) Tao Te Ching (of course) Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep Other books in my library are Jade Emperor's Mind Seal Classic Seven Taoist Masters Chronicles of Tao and a few other scattered books on Taoism and Buddhism My favorite tea is Magic Moon from a small shop in Michigan but unfortunately I don't have much left to share because I moved to a very small Texas town that doesn't sell loose leaf tea. I also really enjoy Jasmine tea. I unfortunately only speak English and I've never had the chance to study Tai Chi although I always wanted to. Other then that it is my great pleasure to meet you all and be a part of your group. Thank you.

I frequently feel a fear of falling when I steer myself toward action solely through the sense of location. That's something I have to be able to relax and accept, before my sense of location can shift and allow the action that holds me up to occur spontaneously. I do find that sometimes having had a few drinks and being inspired to dance helps me to let go; the hard part is keeping the focus on falling up, so that I don't drink too much and fall down! Robert Monroe said that he finally realized one fail-safe way to return to his body when he was out of body, and that was to feel the movement of his own breath. I listened to "DMT-The Spirit Molecule" the documentary the other day, it's on YouTube, and there was a gentleman describing a technique for lucid dreaming. He said everytime you pass through a doorway, ask yourself whether you are dreaming; he said one day, you will pass through a door in a dream and ask yourself, and then you will realize you are dreaming and can begin lucid dreaming. A friend of mine knew someone who tried it, but in the end the whole experience felt like a hall of mirrors (to that person). Lately in my sober sitting I am struck by the way a freedom to shift in the sense of location is necessary to the turns in my breath, from inhalation to exhalation and particularly from exhalation to inhalation. It is like the freedom of the mind just before dropping off to sleep, that moves now here now there in the body; this freedom permits the turns in the movement of breath.