Astral Projection - Techniques

Astral Projection

Techniques for Astral Projection?

Here is a brief and by no means complete, digest of some of the most popular techniques for attaining the Out of Body Experience. Before attempting any of them, I would recommend reading as many of the books on the subject as you can find. There will be a new type of technique discussed in the 'book' elsewhere on the site.

  The Projection of the Astral Body.   S. Muldoon and H. Carrington.

  Muldoon's technique was firmly based upon the idea that, each night during sleep we undergo a subconsciously controlled 'projection'. From this premise, he decided that the most effective method of inducing the experience was to 'stress' what he called the passive will, the subconscious. By habitually thinking about the experience, and imagining it actually happening, he believed the subconscious would eventually get the idea.

  He also recommended the use of imagery as you are falling asleep, such as an elevator or rocket, however staying conscious at that stage of sleep is clearly not the easiest thing to achieve.

  The book also contains biofeedback techniques by which Muldoon would achieve relaxation and the 'subconscious will' that he believed to be necessary to project.

  This is the most important work in the literature on the subject.

  Leaving the Body   D. Scott Rogo.

  Rogo, believed that his diet was crucial to his successes in the field. He also stressed the idea of controlling the hypnagogic state, (the period of random imagery just before sleep), and would write down all the images he saw, in the end controlling the experience till he could prolong it.

  Once again, Rogo found that at this stage his subconscious would present him with ways to initiate an Out of Body state if he wanted. These 'cues' would take the form of more imagery, (but this time recognizable symbols), such as being at the top of a great building with the choice of whether to jump off or not left up to him. Once the conscious (and lucid) decision was made, the proper experience would begin.

  The book is the best summary of all the various techniques and in my opinion the most accessible/readable.

  The Art and Practice of Astral Projection.   Ophiel.

  Again, the subconscious is used, this time, in relation to habitual movements. Ophiel suggested that a path should be set out within your home, and that you should periodically progress along it, noting various stages and asking yourself if you are conscious. The path should be followed physically, and mentally in free moments during the day.

  The idea was that once the subconscious has firmly got the idea, it will follow the path in your dreams and present you with chances to become conscious or, Lucid, within the dream. It is then a simple matter to change the dream into an OBE. (This last fact is my own experience but I am almost certain that others will find the same thing to be true for them too).

  The Techniques of Astral Projection.   Dr Douglas Baker

  Relaxation = Projection is a reoccurring theme, and the total relaxation which comes with sleep is often the easiest method for attaining the experience. Baker, too, puts forward the suggestion that you should keep a target in mind for your projections and that that visualisation of your target should fill your subconscious mind until you find yourself projecting to it from your dreams.

  Baker also believes that the breath is an important factor for projection, in the same sense that it is used within yoga.

  Journeys Out of the Body.   Robert A. Monroe

  Monroe relies on a more difficult starting point, in that he believes that the total relaxation of both mind and body required for projection, should be attained from total consciousness, with no help from the natural sleep pattern. This makes his technique quite demanding, but none the less possible for a disciplined mind.

  Again, like the others, visualisation is the key to his techniques.

  Astral Projection   Oliver Fox

  Fox, started projections from within lucid dreams, (dreams in which the dreamer knows that he is dreaming but is just going along with it). Once Fox realised he was dreaming, he would instantly 'ask' his subconscious for an OBE, which would respond, when in this relaxed state. Like many of the 'projectors' he believed that projections happen every single night to all of us as we sleep.

  His second method, was a little more dramatic. He would summon all his conscious self to a point between his eyes, imagine a doorway there, and hurl himself at it with all his might!

  The latter method gave Fox his most vivid experiences but would not seem to be the easiest of techniques to master without the understanding of and feeling for the experience gained by attempts with the other methods.

When reading the literature, and deciding which set of techniques might suit you, my advice is to try to strip away the pseudo-religion and conjecture from the actual methods.

Sleep is a good starting point for launching the Out of Body experience and is probably the easiest way to get out. The only catch being that you never quite know when it is that you will succeed. Good luck!

What is AP? Astral Library Techniques If you're 'out' Book OOBE Links

A page from James David Chapman's website. Located at: http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~jchap/ Site mirrored here at: http://www.j.chap.btinternet.co.uk
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