Dr. Raymond Moody's Method
to Induce ADCs |
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1. |
Food: |
Get into a serene state of mind
by eliminating caffeine and
dairy products the day before
your encounter. Eat simply,
such as only fruit and vegetables. |
2. |
Location: |
Go to the quietest part of your
home. It is important to find
a comfortable place where you
can truly relax. Unplug clocks
and phones in that room so as
not to be disturbed. |
3. |
Clothing: |
Leave your wristwatch and all
jewelry off. Wear only loose,
comfortable clothing. |
4. |
Mirror: |
Place a large mirror in front
of comfortable chair and arrange
it so that you can gaze into
it without having to hold your
eyes at an uncomfortable angle. |
5. |
Chair: |
Sit in your chair. Be sure that
it supports the back of your
head, even if you are deeply
relaxed. |
6. |
Awareness: |
The goal is to ease the transition
into an altered state of awareness. |
7. |
Posture: |
A relaxed posture is important. |
8. |
Mood: |
Create a mood by soothing yourself
with beauty for about 15 minutes
by looking or listening to works
of art. Art alone is enough
to induce altered states in
many people. Soft music can
go far to stimulate awareness. |
9. |
Memories: |
Gather photographs and personal
items of your departed loved
one around you. Touch them and
remember your loved ones fondly.
It is important to imprint that
person firmly in your mind.
Doing so shouldn't be too difficult.
A family album filled with great
memories stirs up the conscious
as well as the unconscious mind.
Family films and videos do the
same thing. Some people use
articles of clothing associated
with the person. Such items
include fishing poles, woodworking
tools, chess sets, pipes, glasses,
old letters, and so on. Anything
associated with that person
is an effective way of bringing
up memories and feelings. |
10. |
Light: |
In the twilight of the day,
light a candle and place it
behind you. Dim light from behind
usually works the best, although
you will have to experiment
until you get the lighting just
right. The twilight hours is
a time that seems to better
inspire altered states in many
people. Later, when you become
more proficient, you will find
that mirror gazing is possible
even in bright lights. |
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The technique of
mirror gazing itself is remarkably easy. Seated
comfortably, relax and gaze into the clear depth
of the mirror without trying to see anything.
Some compare this to looking off into the distance.
Properly relaxed, your arms will feel very heavy
and the tips of your fingers will tingle as
though charged slightly by electricity. This
tingling feeling almost always signals the beginning
of the
hypnagogic
state (altered consciousness).
The
mirror will most likely become cloudy now. Some
people report an image that resembles the sky
on a cloudy day. Others say that the mirror
becomes darker. Whatever the case, this change
in the clarity of the mirror signals you that
the visions are about to appear.
Do not
direct the experience at first or pose particular
questions when the visions appear. It is best
to first watch them unfold passively. Just let
the images flow. Attempting to guide the images
decrease the likelihood that one will see images
in the mirror. After you have become more adept
at mirror gazing, putting specific questions
into your mind before entering the trance state
can be very helpful, especially if your object
is self-exploration or self-understanding. Attempting
to direct images after they have begun will
usually cause them to fade away. Why this happens
Dr. Moody is not sure, but his guess is that
conscious thought brings you out of the hypnagogic
state of mind where these images occur.
How long do the images
last? Usually less than a minute, especially
for those unable to stay relaxed. Some of Dr.
Moody's subjects have been able to maintain
images for as long as ten minutes on their first
attempt. The more proficient you become at mirror
gazing, the longer you will see images in the
mirror.
Sometimes you may
see nothing yet hear the departed person talk
or feel his or her touch. Some may experience
all the sensations of a given person, or location,
without actually seeing anything. Sometimes,
like Nostradamus, you may have the sensation
of passing into the mirror, or the images may
actually come out to be with you. Whatever the
case, it will be obvious when the visionary
experience starts and when it is over.
Dr. Moody recommends
that you record the experience immediately after
the session as you would a dream. Write it down
in as much detail as possible. Careful record
keeping will help you know what to expect the
next time you mirror gaze. It will also show
differences between sessions and will eventually
let you know how to get the most out of your
mirror-gazing experience. Recording your experiences
will also help you remember them as they really
were.
If the visions do
not occur during a session, then it is necessary
to consider some of the possible factors involved.
The most common reason for failing to see anything
is trying too hard. People sometimes report
that the visions miraculously begin after they
give up, or at least after they entertain thoughts
of doing so. Distractions are another common
reason that visions fail to take place. These
can include outside noise and physical discomfort.
Perhaps the room is too hot or too cold, or
maybe it is just too noisy. Distractions also
take place in the form of diet. Some people
simply cannot have visionary experiences after
eating a heavy meal, though a light one is recommended
since it elevates your blood sugar and keeps
you from focusing on your hunger.
Dr. Moody also emphasizes
that exercise is an important component of relaxation.
Most people are far more relaxed after even
gentle exercise and have lower blood pressure
and a slower heart rate to prove it. If you
are having difficulty relaxing, or letting your
mind wander while mirror gazing, it might be
due to a lack of exercise
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