Emptiness of phenomena

Hi guys,
I tend not to speak about my 'lucid' or 'astral' experiences to anyone...they tend to freak people out, but this conversation seems like the perfect place to share. I used to meditate eyes open in the dark where, among other things, I came upon very nasty 3-d demons which would emerge every session for about six weeks. At first it was a bit spooky, particularly when they are behind you or look at you right in your face and then of course attempt to eat you and tear you apart which I allowed also. It helped with overcoming fear but did not damage the body!! I've never really understood what people mean by 'astral' travel so I kind of get it now, thank you Kenneth and Alex. The most intriguing event for me was this: I used to suffer laryngal spasms for over twenty years, crippling enough to cause extreme panic and black out and they would occur spontaneously without any forewarning. So one session I emerge out onto a lucid plane in 3-d and a Gandalph like figure approached me. I didn't move, allowed him closer and closer. He reached out is forefinger and touched my throat releasing huge blissful energy from there into the body and then he vanished. I haven't had a layrngal spasm since the event, over two years ago. Never quite knew what to make of the event...I just accepted it as it was and left it alone. My practice used to be highly visual, energetic and lucid and I remember Kenneth advising me to leave it be and get down to the nuts and bolts, get the the essentials. So I did. Best advice I ever took. And now that what needs to be done is done, it's kind of fun to begin revisiting these phenomena again. My heartfelt gratitude to Kenneth.
Paul

My meditation teacher (Alan Chapman) was very good at keeping my meditation practice focused and "clean" - but I did separate practices of vision work and spirit work and found that like your experiences they often worked to bring up unconscious fears, desires or beliefs through symbolic imagery or energetic phenomena. Sometimes it took a vision (for me) to whack me over the head and show me I was barking up the wrong tree or seeing something in the wrong light. I think if this kind of stuff arises, it can be utilized productively as a support. If you get too sidetracked by it then it just bogs down the practice.

hey guys
i have a herbal therapist who claims she has been out of her body for about 3 months. it sounds really strange but i don't think she was lying to me. anyway she said it was real bad. now she keeps a steady practice of daily Vipassana but never goes on retreat because she says it makes her go out of her body. is anyone here heard ofsuch a phenomenon? or have some kind of advice i can give her?