How to Perform Astral Projection

Co-authored by Tracey McKee

Last Updated: November 4, 2024 Fact Checked

Astral projection refers to an out-of-body experience (OBE) during which the astral body leaves the physical body and travels to the astral plane. People often experience this state during illness or when involved in a near-death experience, but it is also possible to practice astral projection at will. This article contains instructions on how to get started.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Preparing

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Learn about astral projection. It’s better to understand astral projection before you start, so you have a better understanding of it, and know what to expect. Try reading or watching other people’s astral projection experiences.
Rather than practicing astral projection at night, right before you go to sleep, start in the early morning hours when you're still feeling drowsy.^{[1]
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Research source} Some say that it's easier to reach the necessary state of relaxation and heightened awareness around dawn. Yet it is possible to astral travel at any time so there are no hard and fast rules. It is a personal preference or simply astral traveling when we feel empowered to do it.

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Create the right atmosphere. Astral projection requires a state of deep relaxation, so it should be performed in a part of your home where you're completely comfortable. Lie on your bed or sofa and relax your mind and body.
- It's easier to perform astral projection alone than it is with someone else in the room. If you usually sleep with a partner, choose a room other than the bedroom to practice astral projection. A good time to do it is when no one else is in and make sure no one is going to walk into the room when you're in astral flight.
- Draw the shades or curtains and rid the room of distracting noises. Any type of interruption could disrupt the state of relaxation you need to achieve.
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Lie down and relax. Position yourself on your back in your chosen room. Close your eyes and try to clear your mind of distracting thoughts.^{[2]
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Research source} Concentrate on your body and how it feels. The goal is to achieve a state of complete mind and body relaxation.
- Flex your muscles and then loosen them. Start with your toes and work your way up your body, gradually making your way to your head. Make sure every muscle is completely relaxed when you are through.
- Breathe deeply and exhale completely. Don't hold tension in your chest and shoulders, just relax.
- Focus your mind on your breathing. Don't get carried away with thoughts of outside worries, and don't get preoccupied yet with the idea of your soul projecting from your body. Just let yourself sink into relaxation.
- It can be helpful to use a quartz crystal to raise and speed up your vibrations as preparation. Gently hold the crystal on your third eye slightly above the center of your eyebrows with closed eyes and breathe deeply. Feel the vibrations and your head clearing; you can envision golden, white, purple, or any colour light if you like. During the meditation and astral travelling, you can hold the crystal in your hand or place it on your chest or abdomen. The crystal will empower and protect you because of its high vibrations; negative energies have lower vibrations.^{[3]
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Part 2

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Moving the Soul From the Body

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Reach a hypnotic state. This hypnotic state is normally known as the hypnagogic state. Let your body and mind approach sleep, but don't completely lose consciousness.^{[4]
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Research source} Being at the edge of wakefulness and sleep, a hypnotic state, is necessary for astral projection to occur. Reach this state using the following method:
- Keeping your eyes closed, let your mind wander to a part of your body, such as your hand, foot, or a single toe.
- Focus on the body part until you can visualize it perfectly, even with your eyes closed. Continue focusing until all other thoughts fall away.^{[5]
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- Use your mind to flex your body part, but do not physically move it. Visualize your toes curling and uncurling, or your fingers clenching and unclenching, until it seems as though they are physically moving.
- Broaden your focus on the rest of your body. Move your legs, your arms, and your head using only your mind. Keep your focus steady until you're able to move your whole body in your mind alone.^{[6]
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Many report feeling vibrations, which come in waves at different frequencies, as the soul prepares to leave the body. Don't be afraid of the vibrations, since the presence of fear might cause you to leave your meditative state; instead, succumb to the vibrations as your soul prepares to leave your body.
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Use your mind to move your soul from your body. Imagine in your mind the room in which you are lying. Move your body in your mind to stand up. Look around yourself. Get up off the bed and walk across the room, then turn around and look at your body on the bed.^{[7]
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- Your OBE is successful if you feel as though you are gazing upon your body from across the room, and that your conscious self is now separate from your body.
- It takes a lot of practice to get to this point for some people, though for others it comes as naturally as breathing. Either way, it is possible for everyone if it is desired and practiced enough! If you have trouble completely lifting your soul from your body, try lifting just a hand or a leg at first. Keep practicing until you're able to move across the room.^{[8]
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Your soul always remains connected to your body with an invisible force, sometimes referred to as a "silver cord." Let the force guide your soul back to your body. Re-enter your body. Move your fingers and toes - physically, not just in your mind - and let yourself regain full consciousness.

Part 3

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Exploring the Astral Plane

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Confirm that you are projecting your soul from your body. Once you have mastered the art of projecting your soul from your body in the same room, you will want to confirm that you were indeed in two separate planes.
- Next time you practice the astral projection, don't turn around to look at your body. Instead, leave the room and walk into another room in the house.
- Examine an object in the other room, something that you had never noticed before in the physical sense. Make a mental note of its color, shape, and size, paying attention to as many details as possible.
- Return to your body. Physically go into the room you previously projected yourself into. Walk to the article you examined during the astral travel. Can you confirm the details you noted when you explored the object with your mind?
During subsequent astral projection sessions, go to locations that are less and less familiar to you. Each time, note details that you had never noticed before. After each session, physically verify the details. After a few trips, you will be experienced enough to travel to locations that are completely unfamiliar with the confidence that you have actually performed astral projection.
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Return to your body. Some say that astral projection is dangerous, especially when one gets enough practice to explore unfamiliar places but it need not be. Those people simply don't understand it or fear it because they don't use enough protection, as long as you ask for protection in your own way it'll be a good experience. Before you astral project it is nice to imagine yourself bathed in a glowing, white light. Imagine it as a cloud around you or inside you; this will protect you from other thought forms or negative energy forms.
- There is so much to get into, but know that no harm will come to you unless you think it will. The thrill of having an OBE keeps some people out of their bodies for long periods, which is said to weaken the silver cord but the silver cord cannot be weakened. It is pure energy and energy can't be eliminated or removed, only moved from one place to another, or one form or another so don't worry about astral travelling; it is natural, powerful, and healing.
- The silver cord can never be broken, but it is said that your soul can be delayed from re-entering your body if you spend too much energy outside of it. Yet your soul and body are so intrinsically entwined that the soul will naturally come back when it's right to.
- Some say that demons can inhabit the body while the soul is being projected. If you fear this may happen, protect your body by blessing the room with a prayer before you perform the projection. It is only hearsay anyway and seeing as you'll have already asked for light protection nothing bad will occur.
- Your soul can also interact with other astral projections. Try it with a friend who has practiced as much as you have. Some say astral sex is mind-blowing. However, remember to always return to your body.
- It is possible to heal others during astral travel; this is a form of distance healing that is very powerful. Envision the sick person, perhaps lying in their bed. It doesn't matter if they're not physically in their bed while you're doing it because time and distance become void when you're in the astral plane. Always ask for protection, healing power, and guidance from whomever you pray to and envision light; you can ask during astral projection as and when you wish. See light in your hands as white and strong as you can, and if you feel ready put one hand on their forehead and another on their abdomen and pour the light into them. Your intentions must be pure and you should be feeling nothing but love for them. Sometimes people will report back to you that something amazing has happened to them, even though you didn't tell them you were the source of it! Enjoy your astral journeys!

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Are there risks to astral projection?

Tracey McKee
Astrologer & Intuitive Healer
Tracey McKee is an Astrologer & Intuitive Healer and the Founder of Mindful Soul Wellness, based in Waleska, Georgia. Tracey offers astrology readings, energy healing sessions, past life regression therapy sessions, and soul coaching sessions to empower people to live a more mindful, balanced, and engaged life. She has certifications as a Reiki Master, Soul Coach, Vibrational Sound Therapist, Past Life Regression Therapist, and Hypnotist. Tracey has a B.A. in Religious Studies and an M.A. in Elementary Education.

Tracey McKee

Astrologer & Intuitive Healer

Expert Answer

Sure. The biggest danger is if you do not ensure that you're grounded in some capacity before you attempt to do an astral projection. There needs to be something that pulls your energy back into your body back into the room where you are.

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Is sleep paralysis the same as astral projection?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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According to people who write about these experiences, they have similar “core experiences.” However, sleep paralysis is often a scary and unpleasant experience, if you realize that this is what you’re experiencing rather than astral projection. It can be made worse by imagining that malevolent beings are around you and threatening to harm you but you cannot get away. So, while sleep paralysis may be a state that aids astral projection for some people, the subjective experience of each is quite different.

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How do you do sleep paralysis?

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It’s not an ideal thing to do to yourself, so think hard about this before attempting it. For help with it, see the wikiHow: How to Induce Sleep Paralysis.

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Interactions while in the Astral Plane are unlimited.

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Visualize a white or yellowish light surrounding you while you Astral Project to protect yourself from bad entities who may suck your energy if you let them. Also, you can try to raise your vibrations.

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Astral Projection can turn into whatever you want it to be. It can also make your growth in anything spiritual raise quickly which is why you should not give up. It's pretty easy for what it can help you do in the future.

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Warnings

Beliefs play the largest part in Astral Projection. If you believe that you are going to be possessed, you may feel like you are possessed. If you feel in any sort of physical danger do not attempt to astral project. If you feel like your "silver cord" is "weak" and that you can't return, you will feel stuck. Feelings and thoughts are instantly manifested in the Astral Plane, anything you think/fear can seem to happen. Keep your thoughts positive. Don't try Astral Project after watching a scary movie.

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