Astral projection is often thought of as “mystical”, but in fact just about everyone has the ability. In fact, lots of people experience astral projection unaware. So the trick sit is to have control over it and do with it what you want to do.

While this article is an attempt to help people learn how to astral project using different techniques, you should keep in mind that astral projection is a personal experience so ideally, you need to apply a technique that works best for yourself. Furthermore, we?re taking the liberty of assuming that you are already familiar with the meaning of astral projection.

The following technique to help you understand how to astral project is a five-step process which can be done as you’re lying in bed before you fall asleep.

*Your first goal is to initiate a state of adequate relaxation by relaxing your entire body. In order to reach this state of relaxation you need to be lying down and then, starting at the lowest point which is your toes, tense each muscle and then relax it again. Once you?ve finished doing this with your toes, you do it with you feet, then your lower legs, then your thighs and so you continue upwards until you eventually finish with the muscles in your face. If at this point you feel your body is becoming heavy, do be alarmed at all as this is exactly what should be happening.

*Second ? Focus on your breathing. Take deep, slow breaths and concentrate on the feeling of the air filling your lungs. Exhale slowly, visualizing your tension and stress leaving your body each time you exhale.

*Third ? Focus on the relaxed, heavy way your physical body feels. It probably feels like a heavy lump of clay or a slab of stone. Now turn your focus to the way that your astral body feels weightless and able to float free of your physical body. Imagine your astral body drifting upwards from the bed.

*A large percentage of people attempting to astral project claim that in this stage, they see the whole room they?re lying in, in spite of the fact that their eyes are closed. Additionally, in most cases it seems, people claim that there appears to be purple light, or at least, a purple glow filling the room. If you?ve reached this point then the next thing you need to focus on the light fitting in the centre of the ceiling.

*Envision yourself pulling the drawing imagine that you are pulling the ceiling light into you. As you’re doing this you might well get the sensation that you’re floating. If you feel this, you can likely look “down” at your own physical body lying still on the bed.

At this point you are now astral projecting and your astral body is free to begin traveling the astral plane. If you aren’t able to successfully astral project using this technique, you can try the following method.

You can do this one, known as the Gazing Method, when you’re hitting the hay for night as well. You’ll need an object to focus on: the moon through your window or skylight, a lava lamp, even just a nightlight; whatever can hold your attention.

Of course, you must make sure you can gaze at the object as you lie in bed. Now, essentially you’re going to stare at this object. If you feel your attention wandering, bring it back to the object. You should soon begin to feel your eyelids getting heavy. Just keep staring; eventually your eyes will close but you should still be able to see the object as if your eyes are still open. Don’t turn your head; keep “staring”. You’ll come to a point where you want to sit up or stand up, and if you feel yourself do this don’t be alarmed if you can see your own physical body lying asleep on the bed.

If you?re really serious about learning to astral project, you need to understand that these methods aren?t always successful on your first attempt. In all likelihood you may not even be successful with your second or third attempt either but if after that they still don?t work, don?t give up because there are still other techniques so simply try again using a new method.

You see, no matter what methodologies you attempt with astral projection or any new spiritual discipline, it’s your own subconscious mind which is the main obstacle. Your subconscious mind must feel like it’s perfectly alright for the astral body to temporarily depart from the physical body. To this end you can do some affirmations for several minutes every day to re-program the subconscious mind. Remember that all affirmations must be stated in the positive and they cannot be lies. (I.E. do not talk as if you have already astral projected; talk as if you have made the decision to astral project and you know it’s perfectly natural to do so).

Plenty of techniques can help you learn how to astral travel; you’ll find the right one for you with a little practice and possibly some trial and error.

One of the shortcuts is hypnosis. A good hypnotist can tell you what you are experiencing as you enter into the right state of mind, so you don’t have to worry about what you “should” be experiencing.

New audio technologies called binaural beats can also help you learn to astral project. These specially designed recordings consist of slightly different frequencies played into each ear. The effect of these recordings is to place the listener into the meditative, deeply relaxed state where astral projection comes naturally.

Everybody is born with the natural ability to astral project. Techniques and tools such as affirmations and hypnosis simply offer a little assistance to those who struggling to learn.