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
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.
REVIEW
QUESTIONS
1) What
is the relationship between astral projection and
dreams.
2) What
is mental projection?
3) List
the nine basic methods of astral projection.
BOOK LIST
H.P. Battersby,
Man Outside Himself.
J.H. Brennan,
Astral Doorways.
Robert
Crookall, The Techniques of Astral Projection.
Denning
and Phillips, The Llewellyn Practical Guide to Astral
Projection.
Oliver
Fox, Astral Projection.
Gavin
& Yvonne Frost, Astral Travel.
Celia
Green, Out-of-the-body Experiences.
Richard
A. Greene, The Handbook of Astral Projection.
Herbert
Greenhouse, The Astral Journey.
Jack London,
Star Rover (historical occult novel).
Janet
Mitchell, Out of Body Experiences.
Robert
Monroe, Journeys Out of the Body.
Robert
E. Moser, Mental and Astral Projection.
Muldoon
and Carrington, The Projection of the Astral Body.
Ophiel,
The Art and Practice of Astral Projection.
A.E. Powell,
The Astral Body.
D. Scott
Rogo, Leaving the Body.
J.M. Shay,
Out of the Body Consciousness.
Susy Smith,
The Enigma of Out-of-the-body Travel.
Brad Steiger,
The Mind Travelers.
Yram,
Practical Astral Projection.
========
Phil Hansford,
4/88 Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem)
P.O. Box
83 Tujunga, CA 91042
Pt 9 Pt 10 
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