Astral Projection and You: This Requires Work

Astral projection is the willed projection of your consciousness from your body. I knew a girl in High School who was able to astral project at will. I tested her, twice, by placing items on my bedside table, and asking her to identify them for me the next day. Both times, she did so without problem.

Astral projection is a talent that comes naturally to a few people, like an innate musical ability. Just like musical ability, though, astral projection can be learned by just about anyone, with time and effort. Here's how.

First, understand that for some people this will come quickly, and for others, it's gonna take a while, several weeks, or even months of regular, consistent practice. Keep in mind as you work, though, that everyone astral projects with some frequency and these exercises are as much for remembering the experience as they are for actually getting out of your body.

Things you'll need:
As I said, astral projection is a natural occurrence, and can be mastered with no equipment or preparation. There are ways, though, to aid in the focus of your energies. The most effective aids I know of will require the following items:

- A glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
- A knife or scissors made with real silver
- 4 crystals, regular quartz is fine
- Any red wine
- Access to a live juniper tree

Again, just because you don't have access to these items doesn't mean that you won't be successful, but they can help. Maybe I can give some guidance for finding the tougher ones. Any mineral store or new-age store should be able to sell you the crystals. You might also try the gift shop of a natural history museum of some sort. Silver knives or scissors aren't as common today as they were in days past - try antique stores.

As for juniper, you're on your own, though. Cultivated plants aren't as effective as those growing wild, but it doesn't really make a huge difference. Once you've gathered these items, it's time to get started.

First you'll want to place one of your crystals at each of the 4 corners of your bed. Pillow height is ideal, so placing them on bedside tables or hanging them from bedposts is ideal. You can hang them in cloth bags (avoid plastic) if you want. Don't place the stones directly on the floor - always put something underneath them.

We'll practice for at least 1 week without using the other items. Before going to sleep each night, lie on your back and focus intently on projecting your essence from your body. Try to "float" up into the air. You're unlikely to project while awake for quite some time, but this gets your mind in the right place before going to sleep. Focus for 5 or 10 minutes, and then get into comfortable sleeping position.

As you fall asleep, try to think about remembering your 'dreams.' Now would be a good time to start a dream-journal, as well. Writing your dreams as soon as you wake every morning will also help you to remember and astral experiences you have.

At the next new moon, go out to your juniper tree. You want to go on the actual night of the new moon, between dusk and midnight - don't go after midnight. Cut several sprigs of juniper from the tree with your silver implement. Go for small sprigs with no woody parts, three or four are plenty, a few inches long. Take the sprigs straight home and place them in the jar.

Pour about a pint of the red wine over the juniper, close the jar tightly, and leave this mix to steep for about a week in a cool, dark place. Between one and two weeks later, set aside a night when you can be left undisturbed. At dusk, remove the juniper from the jar and close the lid again. Remove the juniper with your fingers, and dispose of it outdoors, somewhere where it will be able to decompose undisturbed. If you want, you can bury it near the surface of the soil.

At bedtime, drink the wine, and use the same focusing practices you've been using all along. The juniper in the wine will help to focus you, and the wine itself is going to help your mind and body to relax and work in tandem. You're much more likely to have a successful projection on this night, and if you've been keeping your dream journal daily, you have a good chance of total recall.

If this doesn't work, don't be discouraged - the path to success can be a long one, and every practice session is a good one. Wait until the new moon, and repeat. Within a number of months, if you remain vigilant, you will absolutely meet with success.