Nope, you've made your way to the 2nd jhana, the A&P, and quite possibly had a whiff of 3rd too.
Sounds like you've got some skills, your practice sounds good and your descriptions are nicely detailed.
What is it that you're aiming for with your practice?
Btw, welcome to the DhO.
Whoa. Well, thanks for the feedback. Keeping that heavily in mind. Interestingly, the visuals are way less intense now that my brain's not hitting said event all at once, and now that I don't tense against the rapture it just goes and then fades into bliss. So as soon as that fade happens and you are kind of floating and able to look around, is that the transition to 2nd?
The ol kundalini snake got quiet, but weirdly my back is holding ITSELF up now in jhana. Same way the breath is breathing itself. I plan to enjoy that while it lasts and learn to note from inside the bubble.
Also, does this mean I should brace for the Dark Night coming up fast? From what I hear, samatha helps.
It's fascinating getting kicked into insight by tranquility. I think I might seriously never have had the drive to get there without it. Think I'm going to spend some time rereading the anapanasati sutta, and seriously getting my noting nailed for more active practices.
As for goals, I had the blessing of learning the mundane side of the four noble truths the EASY way (lots of calamities happened, I let go, and was surprised to be vastly happier and more equanimous). Then they told me I had ADD, and to watch my unreliable mind. By the time I was sitting, I'd lived THROUGH monkey mind and was powerfully committed to finding a way out of grasping and reactivity, in a far wider sense than just the clinical. Plus, somehow, these last couple years, anatta and sunyata are basically how I see the world in a mundane sense. So I plan to buld my insight and explore the 3 Characteristics as far as they can take me,. Ultimately, I want to reach the state beyond all question of self and dharmas (think early prajna-paramita literature, back when they clearly still worked in the framework of the Pali suttas to tell people with high attainments to let go even of abhidharma). First, though, if this is A&P, I am working on wider mindfulness and insight to get ready to start gunning for stream entry. Anywhere but here, I know that would sound cocky, but that's why I like this place.
Thanks for the welcome and the advice!