I kept trying to astral project for a few months now, every time i have been "close to successful" I seem to only enter darkness, my energy just aches, and i feel the same pain as i do in my physical body. Did i end up crossing into the underworld? Or could it possibly be my stress/negitive energy holding me back? Any advice would be lovely, thank you.
It could be any number of things, from fear to doubts, and more. If you're having a fully immersive experience, try again when your mood is excellently happy, and see what sort of difference it makes.
I've only been at it a few days so I'm no expert but I'm already in the same stages in my practice. Last night I entered the near sleep hypnagogic stage where everything went black and my body was vibrating crazily.
Before I try when I do, I try to meditate sitting up. I meditate and occasionally say to myself that I will leave my body. And during this I breath in positive and exhale negative. This helps me clear myself of negativity. To me it's like a pre-meditative meditation. After I'm cleansed I shield myself, lay down, and then I try to "sleep" and hope an OBE happens.
Maybe you can meditate before meditating for an OBE with the intent to rid negativity.
Good luck to you. Maybe we'll meet each other in the astral plane sometime because I'm trying hard too.
Other helpful options would be to ask for the assistance of your guides or patron deity. ...Even if you believe in guides but have not gained a personal contact, ask for help as if the guide was already there. Chances are he/she/it/they are around whether you recognise their presence or not.
You could also try modifying your method for going astral a bit. Once you hit the vibration stage, instead of trying to lift out of your body you could try using a dream-intent. I.E. repeating a mental thought, question, or in this case a goal to yourself before falling asleep. This has worked for me. Though it can take some additional time to work out how to tell the differences from dreaming and being astral, so it could take an extra bit of practice and Self-awareness.
I used to use a mindful statement like "Tonight I will raise my awareness to the astral planes through the dreamscape."
