Re: my first real experience with astral projection
I think when you've been up all day and then lay down to go to sleep it takes a while after you've already fallen asleep to reach REM Rapid Eye Movement which is what you're going for.
So like what Ape was doing, setting your alarm would work but I wouldn't if you wake up at that time already. Try and find something you can listen to, if you have music playing in the background just listen to that, use it to stay aware. If you can't sleep with any background noise then this obviously won't work. You have to be completely relaxed, I guess it's probably the same as meditating. Eventually you'll feel really heavy and you will most likely hear your heart beat very clearly like how cursis said he did.
I think most people will feel vibrations or buzzing as they enter sleep paralysis aware but if you try moving or struggling you're going to ruin it and you'll probably hallucinate before you can move again. So no matter what happens, just lay there and listen, don't really think or use your brain but just listen and enjoy the experience and eventually you'll fall asleep.
Have you tried it anymore Ape?
Oh yeah I wanted to add one more way I've kept myself aware. If you can get to the real heavy feeling stage, you'll know what it is right away, maybe visualize a ball of light in front of your eyes. Don't think to hard about it but just visualize it there. As you enter sleep paralysis you should be able to move it around like directly above your head but still see it or maybe it will begin to move on its own. I'm sure the experience is different for everyone, every experience being unique but that's just another way that has helped me stay aware.