BASIC TECHNIQUES

Most methods of astral projection are methods of

conditioning. Some form of trance or altered consciousness

is always involved. No one ever projects consciously while

fully awake (some may think that they do). Although there

are many techniques used to produce an astral projection,

they boil down to nine of them. They all sort of overlap.

1) Diet — Certain dietary practices may aid in OOBE,

especially at first. These include fasting, vegitarianism,

and in general the eating of ‘light’ foods as discussed in a

a previous lesson. Carrots and raw eggs are thought to be

especially beneficial, but all nuts are to be avoided.

Over-eating should be avoided. And no food should be eaten

just before an OOBE attempt. If you intend to practice

during sleep, for example, allow 2 to 4 hours of no food or

drink (except water) before bedtime. In general, we see here

the same kind of dietary restrictions advocated for

kundalini yoga.

2) Progressive muscular relaxation — This is one

of the basic methods used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis.

requisite trance state. These techniques involve beginning

at the toes and tensing, then relaxing the muscles,

progressively up the entire body.

3) Yoga and breath — Yoga, mantra, and breathing

exercises similarly aim at physical relaxation. The practice

of kundalini yoga is particularly relevant, since it is

concerned with altered consciousness. In fact the arousal

of kundalini requires a similar state of consciousness to

OOBE.

4) Visualization — This involves a type of extended

clairvoyance or picturing of remote surroundings. If you can

experience the feeling of being there, so much the better.

Although this technique is essentially mental projection, it

is possible to deepen mental projection into astral

projection through (you guessed it!) visualization. Crowley

taught a similar technique: a) visualize a closed door on a

blank wall, b) imagine a meditation symbol on

the door, c) visualize the door opening and yourself

entering through it. And J.H. Brennan describes similar

techniques wherein the door is shaped and colored like a

tattva, or alternately, a chosen tarrot card is visualized

and the student visualizes entering into it.

5) Guided imagery — In many respects similar to

visualization. Except in this case, there is a guide (or

perhaps a voice on tape) directing you by means of

descriptions. As with visualization, mental rather than

astral projection is most likely.

6) Body of Light — The old Golden Dawn technique.

Imagine a duplicate (mirror image) of yourself in front of

you. Then transfer your consciousness and sensation to the

duplicate (‘body of light’).

7) Strong willing — Sort of like creative

visualization experienced in the present. That is you

express your strong desire to project through your willpower

while you visualize yourself doing it.

8) The Monroe techniques — These are a series of

steps developed by Robert Monroe: a) relax the body,

b) enter the hypnogogic state, c) deepen the state,

d) develope the senstation of ‘vibration’, e) separate from

the body. The Monroe Institute has developed some cassete

tapes which are claimed to help in this.

9) Dream control — This is one of the most

important techniques. It involves becoming aware that you

are dreaming. There are several ways to do this. Oliver Fox

says to look for descrepancies in the dream to realize you

are dreaming. One occult student I know of visualized a

white horse which he could ride wherever he wished to go.

After a time, when the horse appeared in his dreams it was

his cue that he was actually dreaming/projecting. Don Juan

tells Castaneda to look at his hands while he is dreaming.

And even the tarot and Cabala may also be used as dream

signals. Another method is to tell yourself each night as

you go to sleep, “I can fly”; then when you do, you will

know you are dreaming. Once you know you are dreaming you

can control your dream/OOBE and go anywhere you want.

Repetitive activities will also likely influence your

dreams. For example, if you are on an automobile trip and

spend most of the day driving, you will probably dream about

driving. You can condition yourself to be aware you are

dreaming by doing a repetitive activity many times (walking

across the room or a particular magick ritual, for

example). Then when you dream about it, you will know you

are dreaming.

Although all these techniques may appear

straightforward, they all require effort. Astral projection

is generally learned.

The astral world is the “ghostland” into which one

passes after death. It is sometimes possible to visit with

the dead, or you might be called upon to reassure and assist

those who have just passed over (died) or those who are

consciously projecting for the first time. Many spirits,

elementals and ghosts exist in the astral world. The

magician should feel comfortable there. Tibetan belief is

that through proficiency in OOBE, you no longer need

reincarnate after death. The astral world is extremely

changeable and subject to your thoughts. Your will can

control your movements in the astral world, and if you seem

to be going somewhere non-volitionally (‘astral current’) it

is probably your true will causing it anyway. You might also

experience heightened magical ability while in the astral realm.