The subconscious

The subconscious mind is an important ally not only in the practice of astral projection but also in everyday life. Knowing its role and how to use it will be a major tool in preparing for out of body experiences and managing our lives. Far removed from Freudian considerations, for Milton Erikson the subconscious is wise, protective, and the holder of all our resources and knowledge.

"The unconscious:  it’s everything that is not yet conscious.”

The subconscious regulates and coordinates biological functions such as body temperature, blood circulation, heart rate, breathing, etc. It acts as a reservoir of knowledge. It stores all the memories, learning, resources, and know-how we've experienced consciously or unconsciously. This is where information enters and exits after passing through our ego's filters. It protects us by removing traumatic events and information that is obsolete and useless or has become so in the conscious mind.

The subconscious is distinct from the conscious and has its own modes of operation. It perceives, feels, thinks, and reacts autonomously. It is under no obligation to the conscious mind. It protects it and helps it to operate with patience and indulgence. It has its strengths and weaknesses and it can be happy or unhappy, just like you. The subconscious is a facet of yourself that you are simply unaware of.

It is capable of processing far more information than the conscious mind; it automatically takes charge of many complex and varied tasks, it manages our memory and can store forgotten experiences, it is hyper-creative and abhors a vacuum, and it has a simple yet complex mode of operation.

The subconscious is separated from the conscious by the barrier of thoughts and inattention. Repetitive gestures or thoughts, imagination, and autosuggestion break through this barrier with the help of one element: habit.

The subconscious mind controls gestures and physiological functions, enabling us to work, walk, breathe, and drive—for example—while thinking about other things. Thanks to the subconscious mind, all of our physical mechanisms work without conscious volition.

Those who use autosuggestion, the repetition of a gesture, or their imagination during their daily activities will be trying to inculcate notions in their subconscious in the midst of all these unconscious functions. It's a bit like talking to a friend in the middle of a crowd singing at the top of their lungs. With patience and perseverance, you will succeed.

Let's take the example of driving a car: at first, you have to learn gestures such as shifting gears, braking, etc. You apply yourself to performing them with great attention so as not to make a mistake and after a while—through repetition—you're able to drive while thinking about something else since the driving technique has become unconscious.

However, if we don't move or think and if we reduce organic functions, we can access a much more available subconscious. The crowd is no longer singing, your friend can hear you. It's a bit like taking him aside and talking to him eye-to-eye so that he doesn't miss a single word of what you're about to tell him.

It's important to know that the subconscious doesn't differentiate between reality and imagination, so whatever you imagine will be considered. On the other hand, mental images are the means of expression of the subconscious, so we'll need to observe our dreams during our practice session to see if the subconscious really understands our wishes.

Here are a few examples of dreams that indicate that our subconscious has heard our desire for an out-of-body experience. This list is based on the book "Adventures Beyond the Body" by William Buhlman and my own personal experience:

- Feeling or seeing yourself in or near any vehicle.

- Recognizing a change in your everyday environment.

- Feeling numbness or paralysis, waves of energy, or unusual sounds.

- Recognizing any unusual event, situation, or ability (such as flying).

- Feeling yourself falling or sinking; feeling sensations of upward or downward movement (elevator, stairs).

- Being in a rapidly changing environment.

- Being in an environment you can easily manipulate or control.

- Recognizing a problem or conflict.

- Recognizing a bridge, tunnel, or any kind of passageway.

- Being instructed or guided.

- Finding yourself in a small group of people in a classroom or conference atmosphere.

- Encountering multiple levels or floors of any kind.

- Reading a book or computer program containing unusual or advanced information.