Curious...

[Quiet Dojo]

I'm a bit scared of going astral, mainly because of a weird experience I had in high school. Could someone shed some light on what I saw?

Boiled down, I got into a meditative trance, and...well...I felt like I was being shot straight up in the air. I could *see* myself sitting cross-legged in my room, but I was going up so high...
I'm pretty sure I floated for a second, then I was standing in the middle of this busy street (maybe London? I saw a double-decker bus or two)...
After that I shot up again and I must've gone straight through the atmosphere...then this "being" in white clothes and white wings appeared out of nowhere and said, "Hey, what are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. C'mon, let's get you back."
Then I started falling, I saw myself again, and I "woke up".

You can call me a liar if you like, but I felt like I was hurtling along on some crazy roller coaster...  

[dark-wolf14]

hmmm...to me it sounds like an out of body exspereans. From what i know it can be weard the first few times but after a wile you can get used to it. You can also find serten things that need to be answer that way.

but that is just what i think

Wolfwalker  

[Quiet Dojo]

*Nods* I haven't known what to think of the whole thing, especially with the "angel" (?)....  

[Quiet Dojo]

....? Um, guys? I'm still confused... sad  

[A Scarecrow]

If you want to enter Astral remember this:
Nothing there can physically hurt you, and you can always head back to your body with something as simple as a thought. So there's nothing to be afraid of.  

[Quiet Dojo]

But what was the angel there for? Was it some kind of safety net? Something my mind made?
...Nobody's answered my question yet... cry  

[A Scarecrow]

Quiet Dojo

But what was the angel there for? Was it some kind of safety net? Something my mind made?
...Nobody's answered my question yet... cry

From what I know, things that happen in Astral or in OBE tend to be symbolic.
That question can only really be answered by you.  

[Sanguina Cruenta]

Socially Inept Butterfly

If you want to enter Astral remember this:
Nothing there can physically hurt you, and you can always head back to your body with something as simple as a thought. So there's nothing to be afraid of.

Wait, why is "nothing there can physically hurt you" reassuring? There's a lot to a person that isn't physical. wink

Dojo:
There are many dangers when you walk the hedge. You can actually get lost (that's why shamans learn soul-retrievals). You can leave a part of yourself behind (so try not to snap back if you can possibly avoid it). If you trespass or piss something off, they can actually harm you.

So wherever you go, be respectful. Learn how to shield so you can try to protect yourself if you have to. Never expect that people you meet will help you or what to help you; many will, but others are going about their own business.

Find a guide. Guides are good. They'll help protect you if something bad does happen (it's fairly uncommon but nevertheless), they'll help you understand the etiquette involved, and wherever they lead will be a place you're allowed to go. The person you ran into may have been a guide, or may not. Either way, they were helpful and took you back. I'd interpret that as you being in a particular place that perhaps you shouldn't have gone rather than being between worlds in general.

I mean, you can't turn up at the gates of Asgard, for example, and expect to get in. Invites only, etc etc. The Underworld is much easier to access and much safer in general, but still you should be aware that not everyone there wants to interact with you.

If you're interested in this sort of thing I highly recommend "Exploring Shamanism" by Hillary S. Webb. A very intelligent book. It's directed at beginners but goes surprisingly in-depth and is one of my favourite books on Paganism.  

[Quiet Dojo]

Hmm...that books sounds great, I'll be sure to check it out.
I do wonder though...what worlds are out there? I mean, there must be some sort of heavenly plane that we aren't supposed to "know about" while we're alive...
Tonight I'll fight my fears and try again...perhaps I'll have some better luck this time around.  

[dark-wolf14]

Well with that part i dont know  

[Quiet Dojo]

dark-wolf14

Well with that part i dont know

Nobody knows for sure except for the people who live in those places.
And thank you, everyone, for the help and advice you provided. ^_^