The indirect method is a method of entering the Phase at the moment you wake from your sleep. It is the quickest and easiest method for experiencing the OBE state.
The moment we wake up is the best moment to enter the Phase because the mind is in between sleeping and waking up. This special state is used in the indirect method, which can be quickly summarized as follows:
– The moment you wake up, try to separate from your physical body.
– If it doesn’t work right away, try several special techniques (see below).
– If nothing works, go back to sleep and try the same thing next time you wake up.
Now, the details.
The Phase Day. To attempt to enter the Phase, you need to select a day (the Phase day) when you do not have to wake up early, so the best time for most of us would be the weekend. Set the day and do not make any attempts to get into the Phase before that day. Try to sleep well for several days in advance so that you are well rested and ready for action.
Practice Techniques. The day before the Phase day, read about separation and indirect techniques. Try them all out when awake. Memorize and practice all separation techniques. Select three of the indirect techniques which make the most sense to you and practice them several times.
Action Plan. Before entering the Phase, you should clearly outline what you are going to do there immediately after separation. This will increase both the quality of the experience and the likelihood of it occurring. To get some ideas for the action plan, you can read some of the Phase stories, which can also serve as motivation helpers. The most common and interesting things for beginners usually include flying up to the ceiling, looking at yourself in the mirror, walking through a wall, becoming an animal or going to the Moon. In general, your imagination is the only limit here. Select 3-5 things and write them down.
On the Phase day:
1. Go to bed early. Have a calm and relaxing evening. Do not watch TV or drink any alcohol.
2. Set your alarm clock to wake you up in 7 hours. Do not try anything at this point, just go to bed and have a sound sleep for 7 hours.
3. When you wake up by the alarm clock, get out of bed, drink some water, use the washroom and re-read this page. Review your plan of action. Turn off the alarm clock.
4. Fall asleep with the intention of trying to get into the Phase the next time you wake up naturally.
Because you interrupted your sleep with the alarm clock, your subsequent sleep will be shallow and you will wake up frequently. The idea is to try to get into the Phase every time you wake naturally by doing the following:
1. When you feel you are waking up, without moving your body or opening your eyes, try one of the separation techniques. Perform it without actually moving your body. It will feel very natural. Your mind projects the intention and you start moving while your physical body is still. Your intention to separate should be strong, you should be determined to get into the Phase no matter what!
2. If you feel like you are separated, do the reality check. Fly up from where you are. If you can do it, you are in the Phase! Continue with your action plan.
3. If you did not separate right away within what feels like 5 seconds, you need to start performing one of the indirect techniques. If you start feeling something with the technique, intensify the feeling and try to separate using one of the separation techniques. If nothing happens within what feels like 5 seconds, move on to another technique. You need to try at least 3 cycles of these 3 techniques before giving up.
4. Regardless of whether the attempt was successful or not, fall asleep after it and try to get into the Phase the next time you wake up.
Several other points that might be useful in your future practice.
Conscious Awakening is a very important concept for the indirect method. Conscious Awakening is an awakening with a specific thought in mind. Since the indirect method involves performing techniques the moment you wake up, learning to wake up with a thought of performing the techniques right away is very important. Here is what will help you to achieve this:
1. Create an overall intention to go into the Phase when awake. During the day, think about getting into the Phase, practice indirect and separation techniques, review your action plan.
2. Create an intention to wake up and start doing the techniques right before bed. It is said that we wake up with the thought we have last before falling asleep. So, if we think about getting into the Phase right before going to bed, it increases the chances of remembering about it when we wake up.
3. Motivate yourself to do something specific in the Phase. The more you want to do something in the Phase, the easier it is to get there. You may want to write something on a piece of paper or do any other tricks that will fuel your desire to do this in the Phase.
Another important point is try not not to move when you wake up. Moving switches our body into awake mode, so learning to wake up without moving is another helpful tool for the indirect method. Not only should you try not to move, but you should not open your eyes or listen to outside sounds. This habit can also be trained. If you wake up and do move, you should still try getting into the Phase. It is just easier if you don’t.
Analyzing unsuccessful attempts is also useful and helps to improve your practice. In the beginning, do not practice more then 2-3 times a week; on the other nights have a good sleep and do not even try to get into the Phase. Every night you practice, you may be able to get into the Phase several times, so even 2-3 nights a week will provide you with many experiences!
Based on The Phase. A Practical Guidebook. by Michael Raduga.
Read more about actual indirect method experiences at OBE Stories.