An "Unsavoury" place
I want to start out by saying I am not accountable for anyone who tries the following methods..but what I saw has made me NEVER want to do it again.

I read that by inducing a trance and achieving a state that is comparable to REM stasis, we can view/tap into the ethereal plain. By opening our "third eye" in the centre of our foreheads..apparently.

WARNING - You are only an observer, and should never at any time interact. You must also protect yourself and your home by imagining wrapping everything in light.

Lie on a bed, or in a comfy chair, arms by your side. Empty your mind of all thoughts.. Close your eyes and concentrate on slowing your breathing right down..counting slowly to 7. Keep repeating the process until you begin to feel your soul lift from your body.

When you achieve this state, picture in your minds eye a field, with a stream, and as you look, you see a bridge. Walk onto the bridge, and over to the other side.. this is when you will see the other plain.

I tried this, and achieved the state, saw the bridge and walked over it..everywhere was dark, and I began to wonder why I had wasted my time.. then in the distance I could see something coming towards me, it wasn't clear at first, but as it came closer I could see it was a snake of sorts, moving through the air? (there wasn't a floor, it was kind of like an immense void) Then it began swallowing its tail, until there was nothing left.

Then I saw a mirror, moving through the void towards me. It was a full length one with ornate gilded framing, but the mirror itself was like water.

Out of the mirror stepped an old man, in clothing that an old man wouldn't wear, almost like black leather/pvc. His head turned and looked me directly in the eye. My body was frozen with fear, and I couldn't move or scream out..

His smile was more a depraved grin as he reached out to grab me.

Somehow I snapped myself back to reality and quickly wrapped myself in light. It was as if, they were not aware of me before.. but now they were, and I didn't feel safe for a long while, and consequently have not done it again for fear of drawing their attention.
(TheRiddler Hmmmmm... I concur., Fri 4 Jul 2008, 14:48, 4 replies)

Kundalini
I've heard of the snake/third eye thing before alright; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini
(bazmorningstar efil4nat3b, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 14:53, closed)

Fascinating. =) I never heard of kundalini before
All I know is that I have never felt fear like that before, and I never want to again. It would be interesting if anyone does decide to give it a try, what they experience.
(TheRiddler Hmmmmm... I concur., Fri 4 Jul 2008, 15:31, closed)

One step is giving me trouble.
I could try this, but one step would give me a lot of difficulty:

"Keep repeating the process until you begin to feel your soul lift from your body."

Souls don't exist.
(Rotten_Cointreau is a proper scientician, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 16:07, closed)

I wouldn't even get as far as Rotten_Cointreau;
I can't empty my mind of all thoughts. I've tried to, many times, but my mind just doesn't work like that. I'm always thinking about at least 5 things at once, in layers sliding in an out of existence and importance. I can't clear my mind. I'm always seeing and hearing things in my mind's ear and eye superimposed on the real world, and I can pay attention to them all. It's a busy place, my mind.
( Bob Todd whee, Fri 4 Jul 2008, 17:37, closed)