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.Physical relaxation can assist one in attaining the
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 yourdreams. 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.