The Mystery of Astral Travel Explained

And How to Do It

mystery-of-astral-travel

 

Approx. reading time 7 minutes.

Astral projection, also known as an “out-of-body experience” (OBE), is the phenomenon in which a person believes that their consciousness or soul separates from their physical body and travels in a non-physical or “astral” form. While the concept has been explored in various cultures, spiritual traditions, and metaphysical practices, the scientific understanding of astral projection remains limited. There are a few perspectives on what happens to people during astral projection, depending on whether you’re looking at it from a spiritual, psychological, or scientific point of view.

Flying Dreams 

Have you ever had flying dreams? Well, you are not alone. Flying dreams are typically linked to astral traveling. While the astral body serves as the focal point of consciousness during these experiences, it is not directed by the conscious mind; instead, it is guided by the subconscious. Flying dreams aren’t the only instances of astral experiences—your entire dream could potentially take place in the astral realm. 

Spiritual and Metaphysical Perspective: 

In spiritual and metaphysical circles, astral projection is often considered a journey of the soul or consciousness. Here are some common beliefs:

Separation of the Soul or Consciousness: Many people who practice astral projection believe that their consciousness temporarily separates from their physical body, entering the astral plane or realm. In this state, they may perceive and interact with different realms, which can be either a reflection of the physical world or a completely different dimension.

Exploration of Other Realms: Some people believe that during astral projection, individuals can visit distant places on Earth, other planes of existence (such as spiritual realms or parallel universes), or even communicate with other beings, including deceased individuals, angels, or spirits.

Personal Transformation: Astral projection is sometimes seen as a way to gain insight, personal growth, and spiritual development. Some practitioners use it to work through emotional issues, obtain guidance from spiritual entities, or gain a higher understanding of the universe.

Energy Interaction: In certain spiritual practices, it’s believed that the astral body interacts with energies that are not perceivable in the physical realm. This could include the energy of other people, places, or beings.

Psychological Perspective: 

Lucid Dreaming or Hypnagogia: Some researchers suggest that astral projection could be related to lucid dreaming (the ability to control one’s dreams) or the hypnagogic state (the transitional phase between wakefulness and sleep). During these states, people might experience vivid sensations of floating, traveling, or disconnection from their bodies, which may feel similar to the experience of astral projection.
 
Dissociation:  In some cases, the experience might be linked to dissociation, a mental state where a person feels detached from their body or surroundings. This can happen during times of intense stress or trauma, or it may be induced through certain practices such as deep meditation or relaxation techniques.
 
Sensory Deprivation:  The use of techniques such as deep relaxation, meditation, or sensory deprivation can sometimes lead to altered states of consciousness where a person feels as though they are no longer grounded in their physical body, which may be interpreted as astral projection.
 

Scientific Perspective: 

 From a scientific standpoint, astral projection is often considered a subjective experience, without evidence for the existence of an actual separation of the consciousness from the body.
 
Neurological Explanation: Some neuroscientists believe that astral projection could be the result of unusual brain activity. For example, disruptions in the brain’s spatial awareness centers, or a malfunction in the vestibular system (which helps maintain balance), might produce sensations of floating or out-of-body experiences.
 
Hallucinations and Sensory Experiences: When people undergo deep states of relaxation, meditation, or sleep, they might experience vivid visual or auditory hallucinations. These can feel very real and lead to sensations of leaving the body, even though the experience is entirely in the mind.
 
Sleep Paralysis and Out-of-Body Experiences: Some out-of-body experiences are linked to sleep paralysis, a condition where a person temporarily cannot move or speak when falling asleep or waking up, sometimes accompanied by a vivid sense of “floating” or being outside of their body. This phenomenon can lead people to interpret their experiences as astral projection.
 

The Subtle Bodies
Other than the physical body, you are a spirit that holds control over several different “bodies,” each with its own function across various dimensional planes. While these invisible bodies cannot be seen with the physical eyes, they can be sensed. These bodies are layered, with the denser physical body at the lowest level and the more subtle, spiritual bodies at higher levels. 

The interactions between these bodies influence our overall health, emotional well-being, mental clarity, and spiritual growth. Understanding and working with these etheric bodies is a core concept in many esoteric practices, such as energy healing, meditation, and spiritual development.

‘The astral body should not be confused with the etheric body, which interpenetrates the physical body, contains the chakras, and generates our auric energy field. The astral body, on the other hand, is more complex and constantly in a state of flux.

Have you ever heard the term, “silver cord?” This invisible cord is real and is connected to the physical body The silver cord allows one to travel anywhere in the universe while still being tethered to the physical body and enables us to return after our out-of-body travels. Imagine being able to visit friends and relatives or observe events happening around the world. 

Interestingly,  the U.S. government was so convinced of the reality of this phenomenon that it established a program in the 1970s and 1980s to train individuals in this ability. The Program was called “Remote Viewing.” But eventually this program was terminated as congress deemed it too outlandish and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

 How to Astral Travel Safely

  1. Meditation is the doorway to doing astral travel when one wishes to try it. So just sit back, close your eyes, and relax. Let your mind go free and, then progressively relax your body (that is, relax all the muscles of your body one at a time until you are totally tension free and loose with breathing deep and natural.) The idea is to feel very limp and fluid.
  2.  Once physically relaxed, you will need to quiet your mind and allow your consciousness to be still and empty.  Sensations that you could feel will include a soft breeze around you, a high buzzing sound like bees humming in your ears. That’s how it happened to me the first time it occurred in my life when awake.  
  3. Now wait patiently. Forcing anything won’t work.  Your head may begin to feel larger, and you may vibrate all over (Don’t worry if this happens. It’s normal.)  Some folks vibrate quite rigorously so don’t let that scare you. This just means that your other body is close to leaving your physical body. This is what you’ll want. You may even feel a popping sensation and actually be aware you are out of your physical body and see yourself lying or sitting where you started the exercise. Please don’t panic! You will always return to your physical body no matter what.

How To Return to Consciousness

If you are successful, just let your thoughts take you anywhere you wish to go. Just flow with it. When you are ready to return, just think that thought to yourself and you are back. Then pause, wait a few moments to get your bearings, and count from 1 to 10. Open your eyes and touch something to ground yourself. That’s it.

Conclusion:

In summary, astral projection is a complex phenomenon that is experienced and interpreted in different ways depending on one’s cultural, spiritual, or psychological lens. While some view it as a real separation of the consciousness from the body, others see it as a form of vivid dream, dissociation, or brain-induced phenomenon. The experiences can feel very real to those who have them, but the objective reality of astral projection remains unproven from a scientific standpoint.

Whether it is an authentic spiritual experience, a psychological phenomenon, or a neurological event, the feeling of astral projection has been documented by many across cultures and is often seen as an opportunity for self-exploration, personal insight, or spiritual growth.

Another post you might be interested in:   »Astral Projection  

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Carol Nicholson is thirty-five years a professional Psychic Medium and author of numerous Psychic and Spiritual courses since 2001. 

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