this is a neat thread. I'm learning a lot by comparing my methods to Shirley's and Mathews...
what I see my similar method to Shirley is where she wanted to "see what she could see." with Chris. what I call that action is a kind of intention setting, which in comparison I had done a similar thing, through simply becoming curious about a poster I felt close to on the board, curious enough and felt a strong enough bond to actually have an obe visit with that person, without realizing how the obe had come about. it appears from my side affection, and curiosity are working intentions if they are strong enough.
I cannot begin to tell u how often this happened, and also ends up being very instructive to me, the information about that person I bring back.
these days but less often i do something similar to Mathew, but most notably I remember doing something similar to blinking out while reading ACIM in the 80's. it seemed more like assimiliation while blinking out; assimiliation of the material in an energetic way of feelings flowing over the body as waves...then when I blinked back "on" I reread the sentence structure i had at first not understood, and re-reading it I at once understood it.
so cool, very cool thread...i can relate...thanks, enjoying this.