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on the local temperature, of course. An oversized tracksuit is ideal. If the room is cold, it is better to use a heater than to pile on heavy covers. If insects are a potential problem, spray the room thoroughly first or use mosquito netting and insect repellent. If you cannot use an armchair, you might use a folding pool-side recliner with arms and a fulllength foam mattress. Use pillows to increase the comfort of your arms, legs, and neck. Probably the easiest and most convenient method is to prop yourself up as if you were about to have breakfast in bed. You don't want to be too upright, as this can be uncomfortable. Neither do you want to lie too flat. I suggest that you try an angle of approximately 45 degrees, and then vary to suit yourself. A hospital bed with an adjustable back would be perfect, if you could acquire one. Bedcovers should not be so heavy as to cause discomfort. Use several pillows to prop yourself up in bed, or use a dense foam bolster and a few pillows. Cut a foam wedge-shaped bolster to size (quite cheap from most foam suppliers), or use a bean bag. It is important that your body be well supported and not tend to sag or slide or cramp up while deeply relaxing. Bad posture causes tension and will eventually lead to distracting pain or may require movement to ease cramps and circulation problems, either of which will break the deeply relaxed state. Disconnect your telephone or turn down the volume, or take it off the hook or set an answering machine to take calls in silence. Most background noise can be overcome by using "white noise". Simply mm on a radio or TV and tune it to an off station. Turn up the volume until the hiss of white noise covers background noises. I do not recommend that music be played during projection attempts, as music is generally distracting and can cause emotional responses and tension, which can ruin a projection attempt. But long-play recordings of rain or surf sounds, etc., are an acceptable alternative to white noise. Comfortable earplugs or headphones also help eliminate noise. Practicing trance exercises in fairly noisy places — say while watching TV — will, with practice, enable you to totally ignore any distracting noises, making projection possible even when total quiet cannot be achieved. Finally, since fear caused by the lack of suitable lighting is a major contributing factor to projection failure, I suggest that you use a night-light or lamp with a low-wattage bulb. Many people find themselves in gloomy darkness once they get out, and abort their OBE soon after the exit, simply because darkness makes everything appear sinister. Even a mild fear of the dark, added to the natural trepidation caused by being in the experientially unknown out-of-body environment, is a recipe for anxiety, fear, and a failed OBE. The very best way to overcome it is to project during daylight hours. Early morning, just after dawn, is probably the most suitable time for most busy or working people. By the way, the physical body's eyes must be kept closed at all times during OBE exercises and projection attempts. This may sound obvious to most people, but I've had a large number of queries over the years on this point. The projected double will gain real-time sight just before or during the exit. There is no need to open the projected double's eyes or do anything else after leaving the physical body. OBE or Lucid Dream The resting position of the physical body can affect not only the ease but the type of experience that will occur. This does not affect everyone, but it is definitely worth a mention. Many people, including myself, have difficulty projecting while lying curled up on their side. I must be either lying on my back or sitting in a chair, or any variation between these. For projection, I much prefer a recliner laid back about twenty-five degrees from the vertical. If I curl up on my side, in bed or on a recliner, I either fall asleep or have a lucid dream. For some reason, my body needs to be flat or upright for easy projection, although it does not seem to matter if my head rests straight or slightly to either side. I suspect the physical position needed for lucid dreams and OBEs may vary from person to person. This may play a significant part in early projection attempts, especially if the strength of this effect is unknown. If the resting position affects you as it does me, this could stop you from projecting. I suggest that you vary your projection position slightly after repeated failed attempts, or if falling asleep is a problem, just to see if this has any effect. 100