Ok great! Let's try and see what we get.
I spoke with Bruce on the phone today and asked him to walk me through how we (two inexperienced folks) would attempt a PE. I was going to send you a PM, but I'll just put the notes here in case they might benefit someone else too.
1. He said options for starting a PE attempt is to pick a place to meet, like a physical-world location or landmark. The point isn't to focus on that spot or get verification that you're actually there...the only intent is to meet there in order to make contact with the other person. He said that if we're both familiar with this physical place, it helps, but isn't necessary. I asked, "What if we just picked a concept like, meeting at the beach?" He said that would work perfectly fine except that there'd be little to "do" once we're there. He said in that case, "You'd better set intent to be wearing something specific that he could later report back to you, like wearing a big deputy badge on your shirt."
Another way to start would be if we both had an interest in experiencing or learning something. I asked, "Like if we both wanted to imagine being in Japan and doing a retrieval?" He said yes, and that we'd intend to meet up together, then once we feel the other's presence, intend to go do a retrieval together and just observe whatever happens. This is more effective than my beach scenario because there'd be verification in the purpose of doing a retrieval. We'd both be observing something that we both didn't create (like me creating wearing a deputy badge), so we'd both not know what to expect out of the retrieval. Any hits would be really impressive.
The third suggestion he gave me for meeting up would be if we planned to meet someone deceased that either of us know, like my deceased dad for instance. That's another great way to get verification. Since you don't know my dad, you wouldn't know what to expect and wouldn't know a thing about him. And it would be a way for us to both observe each other interacting with someone else at the same time. There would be hits in ways neither of us could expect.
2. He said we didn't have to do it the same date and time, but since we're both inexperienced it would be a good idea to focus our intent and expectation that on such-and-such a specific date and time, that's when we each attempt it. The reason being is that we'll both each prep ourselves for it in the time leading up to it...a way to let the intent sink in.
3. Ways to prepare...set intent to do the PE. Practice deep relaxing breaths and energy-gathering techniques. You can use hemi-sync or just get yourself in a relaxed state of mind. The main goal is to be relaxed and in a receptive state. No jitters or doubt, just pure intention that the PE is what you want and will be doing.
4. When you're ready to do the actual PE, then have the intent in mind to make contact with the other person. That's all you need to remember. Whatever the planned meetup intent is, just get in your relaxed state, let yourself know that's where you're going and that you're going to meet the other person.
5. Then just see what you notice in your awareness. Whatever it is, it will be directly related to your intent.
He said to remember that whatever it is that first comes into your awareness, it could be something you aren't sure of or misinterpret or it could have interpreter overlay. If you don't feel you're perceiving anything at all, then re-state your intent. See what you notice...any thought, feeling, memory, hearing, seeing, anything at all.
Whatever you get, just observe. If you notice something but it goes away, just think to yourself, "I got that. Is there anything else?" It's a simple yet effective way to keep your focus on observing whatever is coming into your awareness, without allowing your Interpreter to run on and on.
6. Remember, you can analyze later. Right now, just observe. Just keep observing whatever else comes into your awareness, even if the things you notice don't seem to make sense, don't seem connected to one another, or don't seem to be about the PE intent. Just observe. Afterward, write down everything you remember, absolutely everything, even if it seems to be unnecessary or "junk".
7. Send an email to the other person, with the understanding that you won't read what the other person sent you until you have made and emailed your own notes to them.
Ok, I think I covered just about everything! We can PM each other with the date and time we decide to start, and which suggestion we want to start with.
Good luck!