WHAT IS ASTRAL PROJECTION?
Astral projection is a more modern term used in esotericism to describe an intentional out-of-body experience that assumes the existence of a soul or consciousness called an "astral body" that is separate from the physical body and capable of traveling outside it throughout the universe.
IS ASTRAL PROJECTION DIFFERENT FROM LUCID DREAMING?
Dreaming is an unconscious astral projection. When in deep sleep or during an astral projection experience, the soul is said to temporarily leave the body, essentially leaving our 3D reality. Astral projection is essentially the midpoint between an out of body experience (OBE) and a lucid dream. When you start to fall asleep but wake up right before it happens, you can literally feel your soul coming back into your body. It takes a couple of seconds to regroup and come back. That is why you sometimes feel like you’re falling.
The ‘head exploding sensation’ (as some people describe it), is one of the ‘classic’ first steps that many often feel when an astral projection journey is kicking in. That is one of the signs you know that you’re doing it right. You feel pressure in your brain, and your body starts to tingle. Then, your whole body goes limp, and if you can control it, your soul will leave your body shortly after.
So, what are Out of Body Experiences (OBE), and how are they different?
An out-of-body experience (OBE) is an experience and sensation of your consciousness leaving the body and you witness yourself as a third person. These episodes are often reported by people who’ve had a near-death experience. During an OBE, you may feel as if you’re outside yourself, looking at your life from another perspective as if witnessing from ‘above’, or from a higher consciousness.
Does your consciousness actually leave the body? Yes.
Does your body enter into another frequency? Yes.
“Our brain consists of 5 different types of brain waves; Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, and Gamma brainwaves. Each of these brain waves has a normal frequency range in which they operate. Each type of brainwave controls a variety of states of #consciousness ranging from sleep to active thinking. While all brain waves work simultaneously, one brainwave can be more predominant and active than the others. The dominant brain wave will determine your current state of mind. So if you are awake and relaxed you would be considered to be in an "alpha state of mind" because your Alpha brain waves would be the strongest with the highest amplitude.” - Dr. Jeffrey Thompson
In this study by HeartMath Institute, there are several accounts and brain scans that demonstrate the participants entering GAMMA brain wave frequency when in these states. A lot of the participants communicate it as a “leaving of the body”, or an “access to higher awareness.”
According to anecdotal accounts, this is what astral projection or OBE’s generally involve:
- A feeling of floating, or hovering outside of the body
- An altered perception of the world, such as looking down from a height
- A feeling that you’re outside of time and space, and observing your life from a different realm
- The feeling that you’re looking down at yourself from above
Something that’s fascinating is when people come back into their body after a near-death experience, astral projection, OBE, profound lucid dream, or something similar, they don’t come back “the same." The potent shift in perception that happens during these states is said to reprogram the subconscious mind in a profound way, and perception of one’s own life is entirely different.
Generally, there is a greater understanding of the nature of reality, and a greater awareness of life in itself.
SUBTLE ANATOMY, ORGANS IN PLAY
The Pineal Gland is a tiny pea-sized gland located in the center of our brain and happens to be one of the master endocrine glands that control many aspects of our everyday life. Although it's not fully understood, one of its main functions is to secrete melatonin, a hormone best known for regulating our circadian rhythm. There are hundreds of accounts written by ancient cultures all over the world on the esoteric and anatomical mysteries of this precious gland. And, although modern scientists have observed how the pineal gland secretes essentials like melatonin, serotonin (our sense of happiness), and DMT (the spirit molecule) many of its roles remain a mystery.
MELATONIN + THE PINEAL
Melatonin is primarily secreted by the pineal gland and it’s the chemical known to dictate our sleep-wake cycle, mood, immune function, and circadian rhythms, and the quality and quantity of our sleep (it’s activated by darkness and inhibited by light). Melatonin is known as an anti-aging and anti-stress agent because it both suppresses cortisol and is a powerful antioxidant. When melatonin levels are disrupted, people can experience mood swings, depression, seasonal disorders, exhaustion, and rapid aging.
SEROTONIN, DMT + PINOLINE
A healthy and activated pineal gland also metabolizes other essential neurochemicals that coordinate physical and emotional processes, like serotonin. The pineal gland, with the assistance of the endocrine system, plays a key role in the production of these neurochemicals because it has one of the highest concentrations of serotonin in the body. These neurochemicals, including the infamous DMT (the spirit molecule) and pinoline, are said to connect the Mind to the Heart. Both pinoline and DMT, are "psychoactive" when experienced first-hand, as they cause changes in perception, mood, and consciousness when secreted. DMT is experienced during extraordinary moments such as in deep meditation, birth, death, lucid dreaming, sexual ecstasy, and near-death experiences.
Illustration: Robert Frank Hunter
5 TECHNIQUES TO ASTRAL TRAVEL
Before we get into techniques, you should know that there are hundreds if not thousands of different techniques to get your soul out of your body. We are all unique. One technique that works for some people, may not work for others. I recommend you try the one that feels right to you, and narrow in on the technique. And move on to another one if you feel like testing other practices.
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THE ROPE TECHNIQUE
This technique has been formulated by Robert Bruce and is one of the most effective techniques around. A key ingredient to this projection technique is an invisible, imaginary rope hanging from your ceiling. This rope will be used to exert dynamic pressure at a single point on your astral body to force its separation from the physical.
Reach out with your imaginary HANDS and pull yourself, hand over hand, up the strong, invisible, imaginary ROPE hanging above you. You will feel a slight dizzy sensation inside you as you do this. This feeling of vertigo will intensify the more you pull on the rope.
Keep climbing, hand over hand, ever upwards, and you will feel the vibrations start. Your whole body will seem to be vibrating and you will feel paralyzed. Concentrate single-minded, on climbing your rope. Don’t stop. Next, you will feel yourself coming free of your body. You will exit your body in the direction of your imaginary ROPE and will be hovering above your body.
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WATCH YOURSELF GOING TO SLEEP
Lie down comfortably on your back, facing the ceiling. Relax your body and clear your mind of unwanted thoughts. Relax even more. Tell yourself that you are going to watch yourself in the act of going to sleep. You must be very clear about your intent. You’re going to let your body sleep while your mind will remain alert throughout the entire process. Tell yourself you will retain consciousness even while your body is going to be incomplete “trance”.
As you relax completely, you must learn to recognize the rather strange, distinctive sensations you feel as your body moves into the sleep state. You must stay aware as this unfolds. At a certain point, you will feel that your body is feeling heavy and numb.
You may feel yourself swaying or floating. You might even find certain parts of your body tingling. There might be vibrations running from your head to toe. You might even hear a strong buzzing sensation in your ears. Whatever the sensations, do not panic as these are very good signals that you are on the verge of experiencing an OBE.
You have to then visualize that you are rising up from your bed and floating towards the ceiling. How would it feel if you could actually float? Try to make the experience as real as possible. Hold this image for as long as you can. If everything goes on well, you might suddenly find yourself outside the body, floating near the ceiling!
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THE MONROE TECHNIQUE
Dr. Robert Monroe, one of the foremost authorities on Astral Projection devised this method. You have to first relax your body. This is a very important step. Then try to go to sleep, but don’t fall asleep. Maintain your awareness between sleep and wakefulness. This is known as the hypnagogic state. Then deepen this hypnagogic state and start to clear your mind of unwanted thoughts. Simply look through your closed eyelids at the blackness in front of you.
Then you must enter an even deeper state of relaxation. The next step is to induce vibrations throughout your body and intensify them. These vibrations have to be controlled and intensified further. This is the moment when the Astral body will separate from the Physical body. You then simply have to “roll-over” and you will find yourself out of your body.
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OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE FROM LUCID DREAMS
Lucid dreams are dreams in which the dreamer is aware that he is dreaming. In a Lucid Dream, a person is already “out” of his body. In order to achieve Astral Projection from Lucid Dreams, you have to first become obsessed with OBEs and you must really DESIRE it. You must read everything you can about it. You must think about it every free moment that you have.
Once your mind is besotted with the thought of OOBEs we will need triggers and affirmations so that you have a Lucid Dream. During the day keep thinking: ‘Tonight I’m going to have a Lucid Dream’. Remind yourself of this all day long. And – and this is the important part – keep asking yourself during the day “Am I dreaming now?” With a few days of focused practice, you’ll have programmed your subconscious to induce a Lucid Dream.
Once you are in a Lucid Dream and know that you are dreaming, you would also know that you are not in your body. You can then will yourself to see your bedroom. In most cases, when you do this, your dreamland will suddenly disappear and you will find yourself in your bedroom, floating above your body.
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DISPLACED-AWARENESS TECHNIQUE
Close your eyes and get into your usual trance-state. Try to sense the entire room, at once. Feel yourself just above your shoulders and see all around. Be very passive about what is going on. Then imagine that your Astral Body is slowly rotating by 180 degrees. Once you finish your mental rotation, your astral head should be where your physical feet are, and your astral feet would be where your physical head is! With this firmly in your mind, try visualizing the room from this new direction.
The idea is to forget about where you really are and displace your sense of direction. When you do this correctly, you will find yourself getting dizzy. This is normal. When you are comfortable with this, the next step is to imagine floating towards the roof. Try to make it as real as possible. You may suddenly find yourself “popped” out of your physical body!
If you’d like to read more about Lucid Dreaming techniques, to learn the process of awakening in the dream (and a bit less intensive!) read up on them here.
Thank you for reading,
xo Anima Mundi
