For many people, astral projection is just a horror movie trope that has no basis in reality. Leaving your physical body behind and moving through astral planes sounds unbelievable — but so does lucid dreaming, which almost everyone experiences at least once. Thus, it’s best not to judge too quickly.
Whether you’re a believer or a curious skeptic, the best way to learn about astral projection is to try it for yourself. The problem is that it’s not an exact science — there’s a lot of conflicting and confusing information out there.
Instead of letting you find your way on your own, I’ve come up with this guide on astral projection to make it all a bit easier for you. Let’s start the journey into the astral plane together!
What Astral Projection Is
Before you start to astrally project, you need to understand what it actually means. In short, astral projection is an intentional out-of-body experience, during which you can move freely through both the physical and the astral realm. Since your astral body isn’t bound by physical limitations, it can travel far and wide — some claim even across the universe!
Much like lucid dreaming, astral projection can happen spontaneously to some people. Typically, these people are asleep in one moment, and in the next one, they’re watching themselves sleep.
However, in most cases, inducing astral projection requires practice and dedication. You can’t simply expect to learn how to do it in a single try.
Are There Any Dangers Related to Astral Projection?
Leaving your physical body behind may seem quite dangerous — and a part of those fears can be attributed to movies. Here is a common plotline: due to demonic forces or their own inability to return, a person gets stuck outside of their body forever. It’s no wonder you feel wary when you think of astral projection — no one wants to meet that fate.
Luckily, some movie tropes exist only in movies. There is no danger whatsoever to your physical body, nor is the scenario of getting stuck outside of it possible.
There are, however, certain experiences that may be harmful to your psyche. That’s why I don’t recommend astral projection to anyone suffering from a mental illness or disorder. Even if you’re mentally perfectly healthy, it’s best to know what you might experience so that you can prepare in advance.
1. Exhaustion
When you return to your physical body, you might feel exhausted. If you think about it, that’s no surprise; after all, you traveled through planes and realms!
Keep in mind that the exhaustion you may feel won’t necessarily be physical. On the contrary, you’ll most likely feel mentally drained. Particularly long astral projections can even lead to depressive moods. Therefore, make sure to stay in tune with your feelings and take a break from projecting if it’s affecting you too much.
2. Obsession
Once you get the hang of astral projection, you might find yourself wanting to do it all the time. After all, it’s so cool! Whenever you feel that you could use a rest from your boring daily life, you can just jump into another realm. And you don’t even have to leave your bedroom!
I’m not saying you shouldn’t use astral projection as a form of escapism. But don’t let it become the only thing you look forward to. Astral projection is there to add another dimension to your life, not replace the existing aspects of it.
3. Scary Experiences
Unfortunately, you won’t have a pleasant experience every time you head out to explore astral planes. Sometimes, you might see disturbing images and have sleep paralysis. Even worse, to your astral body, these visuals may seem entirely real. That could drive you away from astral projecting forever.
So if horror movies leave you sleepless for nights or you simply can’t handle disturbing visuals, it’s best not to try astral projection. Put your mental health first, even if exploring other realms sounds rather exciting.
Is It Possible to Die During Astral Projection?
Astral projection doesn’t put you in any special danger of dying, nor does it protect you from this possibility. Simply put, you’re just as likely to die during projection as you are in any other moment of your life.
Of course, if you have a heart attack and die while having an out-of-body experience, it would be impossible to determine whether the two are in any way connected. However, as far as I’m aware, no, astral projection doesn’t affect the physical body in any way.
How to Perform Astral Projection
If you’ve read about the dangers and still think that astral projection is for you, then it’s time to learn exactly how to do it. Remember — even if it takes you a long time to succeed, don’t give up. It takes a couple of days for some and a few months for others, but ultimately, anyone can learn to astrally project.
1. Preparation
A popular school of thought claims that you should start preparing for astral projection early in the morning rather than before going to sleep. The reason might be that you’re still drowsy when you wake up, and therefore might find it easier to relax. However, there are no strict rules — you can do it whenever you feel ready.
Find yourself a comfortable spot. It can be your bed or your sofa — what really matters is that you can relax completely. Also, draw on the curtains and close the windows and doors to drown out any noises and distractions. You’ll have an easier time projecting if there is no one else in the room, so make sure to be alone while you do it too.
2. Lie Down and Relax
Close your eyes and clear your mind of any distracting thoughts. This can be quite tricky, so try to focus on your breath as if you were meditating. Don’t think too much about astral projection or when it’s going to happen. Just let yourself exist in the moment.
At this stage, you can flex and loosen your muscles. Start from your toes and move up, muscle by muscle. When you’re done, every muscle in your body should be completely relaxed.
3. Start Moving Parts of Your Astral Body
Once you fully relax, you’ll enter something called the hypnagogic state. To put it simply, you’ll be on the verge between wakefulness and falling asleep. Stay right there — don’t let yourself fall to either side. The hypnagogic state is necessary for successful astral projection.
Visualize one part of your body now — for instance, a hand — and try to flex it without actually moving it. This may sound difficult, but it boils down to your imagination. Picture moving and flexing your fingers until you feel like you’re doing it. But don’t move them really — the movement will pull you out of the hypnagogic state.
Once you successfully move one body part with your mind, spread your focus on the whole body. It would be best to start with individual parts — your feet, arms, or legs. But the ultimate goal is, of course, to move all parts at once using just your mind.
4. State of Vibrations
As your astral body prepares to leave your physical one, you might feel strange vibrations. This stage is critical — vibrations can distract or frighten you enough to fall right back into your body.
Obviously, you don’t want that. So instead, let yourself feel them and allow them to carry you away, knowing that you’re on the right track.
5. Leave Your Body
To leave your physical body, you’ll have to rely on your imagination. So, picture the room where you’re lying and then move your astral body in your mind. The goal is to stand up, look around, and see yourself lying unconscious on the bed or sofa. You’ll know that you’re looking at your own body, but your consciousness will be separate from it.
It all sounds simple when it’s written out like this, but it can take a lot of practice to actually lift your astral body. For many people, the pull of the physical body is simply too strong — so much so that they may feel like resisting it is impossible. For others, though, it can be as easy as getting out of bed in the morning.
If you belong to the first group, there is a trick that can help speed up the learning process. Imagine a rope hanging above your body and try reaching up and grabbing it with your mind. Once you manage to do that, slowly pull yourself out of your body by climbing the rope. Alternatively, you can imagine a metal bar and pull yourself while using it as support.
Don’t get discouraged if you fail to fully pull yourself out using the rope or metal bar technique after the first few times. Usually, it can take up to two or three weeks before you notice any improvement, and that still doesn’t mean you’ll be able to perform full astral projection. What’s important is to find the techniques that work for you and relax — stressing over it will only set you up for failure.
6. Start Exploring the Astral Plane
Now here’s the fun part! Once you’ve mastered the art of leaving your body, you can finally start exploring what the astral world has to offer. Before you do that, though, it’s important to confirm that you’re projecting.
Instead of staying in the room where your physical body is, open the door and explore some of the other rooms. Find an object you’ve never really paid much attention to and examine it carefully. Notice its important features — size, shape, color, and any letters or writings on it. Be thorough and try to remember everything you’ve noticed.
When you return to your physical body, go and take a look at that same object. If all the details you noticed while projecting are there, the experience was real.
You should repeat this process a few times, but don’t limit yourself just to your house. Go outside — to a nearby park, or a place you often visit — and take note of as many details as you can. Later, when you’re in your physical body, visit those same places to confirm what you saw.
Eventually, you’ll be able to go to distant places you could never visit in your physical form, and you’ll be confident that you’re projecting. Now you’re free to explore to your heart’s content!
7. Returning to Your Body
Wandering through astral planes sounds great, but only when you know that it isn’t a one-way trip. What if you get stuck in some unfamiliar place, or you never really learn how to get back? These are some of the most common concerns of would-be astral travelers.
Here’s the deal — even when your consciousness is outside of your body, the link between the two exists. It’s an unbreakable energy link that is often referred to as “silver cord.”
No matter how far you go and no matter what you encounter, this link always remains with you, ready to bring you back to where you belong. All you need to do is “tug” on it, or in other words, simply think about going back.
And remember — there is no way to get stuck outside of your body forever. Delays in returning are possible, but as long as the cord is there, you will never get lost.
Once you return, start slowly adjusting to your body by physically moving your toes and fingers. Don’t rush to get up and back into the material realm — take your time to regain full consciousness and understand what you’ve experienced.
What Will You Encounter in Astral Planes?
I’ve mentioned these astral planes quite a few times, so you might be wondering what that’s all about. When you perform astral projection, will you find yourself in a dimension parallel to our own, or one that’s entirely different and beyond any human comprehension?
Think of astral planes as floors of a residential building. On the first floor, you’ll see your own material realm — all the objects, people, and animals that normally inhabit your surroundings. Your projection can move around this plane without restrictions, and no one will see it unless they possess strong psychic powers. Some animals, such as cats, might be able to sense your invisible presence too.
On the upper floors, you may encounter different spirits and energies. Some of these might be positive, some negative — in other words, angels and demons. Keep in mind that your own energy determines what kinds of spirits you’ll meet. That’s why it’s so important to begin the journey with a positive mindset.
While exploring the building, you may come across floors that seem half-finished or unstable. The energy of these planes is not compatible with your own, so it’s best to avoid them entirely. If you do decide to explore them, do so with a guide — otherwise, you risk being drained and exposing yourself to danger.
Can You Bring Other People to Astral Planes?
Maybe you don’t like the idea of exploring the unknown on your own, or perhaps you really want to show the astral world to your friends. Whatever the case, you’re surely wondering — can I bring someone along on my journey or meet other people while I’m there?
The answer to both questions is yes, you can. If you have a friend who likes to astrally project as well, the two of you can meet and explore the planes together. Simply arrange the time and the meeting place on the first astral floor before you start projecting. Then, just go to the designated spot and wait for them.
Similarly, you can meet and talk to other astral projections, just like you can chat with spirits on higher planes. And yes, it’s possible to be intimate with other projections. In fact, those who’ve tried it claim that the experience is out of this world.
Benefits of Astral Projection
Astral projection isn’t only fun — it’s also one of the best ways to develop your spiritual self. No longer will you feel fear of death or uncertainty about what awaits you on the other side of the grave. You’ll see with your own eyes that, though tightly connected, our physical existence is separate from the spiritual one. Thus, you’ll know that life can continue even outside of the mortal body.
This knowledge will, in turn, give you inner peace and stability you’ve never felt before. You’ll feel more hopeful, joyful, more open to new experiences, and ready to take whatever life throws at you. Simply put, you’ll feel much better in your skin, and the things that once intimidated you will no longer hold any power over you.
Since your overall mental state will be much better, you’ll sleep sounder and won’t have trouble with insomnia. In turn, your physical health will improve, as well. Overall, continuous and responsible astral projection can transform you into a new and improved version of yourself.
However, don’t forget that excessive projection can be detrimental to your mental health. Always practice moderation!
Final Thoughts
Whether you’ll successfully perform astral projection or not depends mostly on how determined and open-minded you are. If you go into it expecting you’ll fail, you’re likely to resist every step of the way, which ultimately leads to failure. Instead, relax, and let yourself believe that there is more to this world than meets the eye. Only then will you be able to really embark on an astral journey!
