Congratulations on beginning this new part of your life, Ryuuko!   

I find I'm referring to college, but I should also be thinking of the Guidebook, of course.
A great aspect of college is that many more people there will be tuned in to the love of learning new ideas. Having next to you books such as Bruce's might invite the curiosity or shared interest of other new friends-to-be.
A study carrel at the library might be the most privacy you can find. Or--If you found some time to explore the library or dorm, perhaps you'll discover a special place rarely visited (not too isolated) where you would feel free to sink into your subjects. (I found a large landing on a back stairway, little used; it had a window and space enough to sit on my backpack against the wall.  Ahh---fond memories.  )

What if you read the book this year and saved the CD-led exercises for holiday breaks at home in your own room? Then you'll already be primed for and focused on the explorations so that they might happen more easily.

Some college newspapers have an intro period when they offer free classifieds to students to help get things rolling. If your school does that, you could put in a notice for fellow Afterlife explorers to meet together.

College life takes some time to get schedules, faces, and places established. You have four years to devote to new ideas, so don't worry if you can't get it all in the first month.  Enjoy all the offerings!

Bets

Greetings Ryuuko,

I read the books first and later listened to the tapes. I was already having some random surprise explorations after the 3rd book so I can't say if read-first/play CD later is the most effective way, but it works for me.  Some people try the tapes, then go back to just the AKGbook because they like to be able to time the intervals themselves rather than wait for the tape to speak up again.
(There are pros and cons to both ways.)
The tapes are very similiar to the exercises in the book, with the added benefit of Bruce's calm and caring tones, and the lack of anxiety that a reader-only faces in trying to get back to the right paragraph, which sort of breaks the mood.

Don't be concerned about the differences between phasing and OB and directed imagination. Phasing usually happens as a short cut to the other two after you get a sense of what feeling ('energy signature') will take you into afterlife levels.  Directed imagination is the safest, surest, most effective way to get there.

  I've seen people in libraries with 'do not disturb' signs taped to their backs, but I suppose that custom varies from area to area. Will you have access to a music or AV library with listening rooms/carrels? Those might be more private.
Uninterrupted seated meditation will take you to the Afterlife, but experience is usually required for 'on-the-hoof' experiences such as Recoverer describes, where he's called to do retrievals while washing dishes, etc. (You go, Recover-guy!    )

The vibes you've felt are loosening the connections so they are a sign of progressing--congratulations !
Have you asked for Helpers to aid you? Whether you consder them your own undiscovered higher powers or slightly separate entitites, they like to be involved and appreciated. Trust helps over-come any bits of fear of the unknown and their assistance is helpful in establishing this trust.  You will not be alone but they like to know that you acknowledge them. It helps puts you in synch with a whole assortment of helpers you'll be meeting as you go and gets you used to sensing energy signatures, another skill that grows more useful the more active you get with this.

Perhaps you'll even find a way to relate consciouness Studies/ Afterlife to some field of study offered at school. More and more people are doing so.
Enjoy your new beginnings!

Bets

Hi
ryuuko welcome. just wanted you to know I'm rooting for ya!   this may have been suggested already but I was thinking you may be able to put aside a couple of hours on Saturday morning for the tapes and reading. at least its a sort of disapline you might be able to keep despite all the distractions. assuming you can go to a favorite spot where you're pretty sure you won't be disturbed.

concentration is real important when doing this stuff. love, alysia

Hi!

Bruce's CD's do not contain Hemi-Sync.  

I would suggest you do the CDs and book in your own private time so you are not disturbed, then when you have to be in public, i.e. the library or whatever, just practice what you've learned.  Even if someone interrupts you, think of it as good practice in the sense that the more you want something, the more you de-focus from distractions.  (Or maybe that's just me since I'm such a stubborn person!)  

And if someone does ask you what the heck you are doing, it will be a great conversation starter to tell them you are practicing retrieval!  You might just start a new college trend.  You could start a retrieval group.

PS--Bets, I agree with you that it can be hard to go along with the CDs with Bruce's prompting rather than doing it without the CDs so you can move at your own pace.  I do much better "free hand".  Also, Bruce has such a soothing voice he's like my own personal euphoriaphone.  (Nudge, nudge, any Vonnegut fans out there?)  

thats true Ryan, folks shouldn't worry when doing this work if they don't feel the vibes, its ok, one should just keep studying. I've found the vibes I used to have  mellowed down to like a soft wind on the neck area or crown chakra, so its gotta be different for everyone, what we do here. love, alysia