Magick
1 - Why Magick?
Magick
2 - Subjective Experience
Magick
3 - The Four Worlds
Magick
4 - The Four Elements
Magick
5 - Chakras Meditation
Magick
6 - Thought Forms & Spirits
Magick
7 - Basic Ritual
Magick
8 - Healing & Banishing Rituals
Magick
9 - Astral Projection
Magick
10 - Cabala
Magick
11 - Psychic Energy
Astral projection
(OBE, out of the body experience) is a popular area of occult
literature; for traveling to see other worlds and places while
the physical body sleeps or is entranced is an exciting notion.
Astral projection is not dangerous. It is as safe as sleeping.
Most dreams are probably unconscious astral projections, anyway.
Although there has been quite a bit written on the subject,
astral projection is difficult for many people. The main difficulty
is the tendency to forget dream consciousness upon awakening.
Accordingly, the successful practice of astral projection
requires work.
Modern psychology discounts
the idea of actual OBE (that the spirit temporarily vacates
the physical body). However, the idea is very ancient. The
Tibetans have an entire system of yoga (dream yoga) based
upon astral projection. And here we have an important assumption:
you are involved in an OBE (at least to a degree) whenever
you dream. What sets it apart from a full OBE is your hazy
consciousness during the experience and poor recall afterwards.
Many people forget most of their dreams completely. Learning
astral projection requires a kind of inner mental clarity
and alertness.
Dreams are a door to the
subconscious which can be used for psychological and spiritual
insight, and sometimes for precognition. Dream content is
influenced by external sounds and sensations. For example,
a loud external noise (such as a train) will likely appear
in your dream (if it doesn't wake you up!). Dreams are also
influenced by events of the previous day, by your moods, and
by suggestion. Everyone normally dreams 4 or 5 times a night
(about every 2 hours). The longest dreams occur in the morning.
Everyone dreams. You are more likely to remember the details
of your dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dream diary
you will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or a
tape recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a light
which isn't too bright. Suggest to yourself several times
before you go to sleep, "I will awaken with the knowledge
of a dream." Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes
just turning over drives the idea away). Remember first, then
write the dream down, and then add as many details as possible.
The next day check for objective facts and expand if you can
(by remembering 'what happened before that'). Once you start
remembering your dreams in this way, it will become easier
to do so. (If you are unsuccessful at this, and *really* want
to remember your dreams, you could arrange for someone to
sit by your bedside all night long with a dim light on. Then
when he sees your eyes moving back and forth -- rapid eye
movements, a sign you are dreaming -- he can wake you and
ask for a dream report.)
FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION
Astral projection may be subdivided into three basic types:
mental projection, astral projection (proper) and etheric
projection. And your OBE may shift between them. Mental projection
is really simple clairvoyance ('remote viewing'), and 'traveling
in your mind'. Imagination plays a key role. The experience
of mental projection is not particularly vivid, and you will
more likely be an observer than a participant. Nevertheless,
mental projection is an important 'way in' to astral projection
proper.
During mental projection
and astral projection you are able to travel through solid
objects, but are not able to act directly upon them or to
move them (if they are in the physical world). This is not
true during etheric projection. Whether it is simply subconscious
expectation, or whether it is a true etheric projection which
in theory means that part of your physical body has been relocated
with your projection (the etheric or vital part) may be difficult
to determine. Etheric projections generally travel at or very
near the physical world. There are even cases
reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entire physical
body is transferred to another location (teleportation), or
cases in which the physical body exists and acts in two separate
places at once (bilocation)!
But our primary interest
is astral projection proper, and mental projection to a lesser
extent. Astral and mental projection are not confined to the
physical world. Travel in the mental and astral realms is
feasible, and often preferred. Nor are astral and mental projection
restricted to the realm of the earth (you could even go to
the moon and planets).
STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
The electrical activity of the brain has been observed and
classified with EEG (electroencephalograph) equipment; signals
picked up from the scalp by electrodes, then filtered and
amplified, drive a graph recorder. Brain activity has been
found to produce specific ranges for certain basic states
of consciousness, as indicated in 'hz' (hertz, or cycles/vibrations
per second):
delta -- 0.2 to 3.5 hz (deep
sleep, trance state),
theta -- 3.5 to 7.5 hz (day dreaming, memory),
alpha -- 7.5 to 13 hz (tranquility, heightened
awareness, meditation),
beta -- 13 to 28 hz (tension, 'normal'
consciousness).
As you can see, some form
of physical relaxation is implied in the alpha, theta, and
delta consciousness. These states are in fact reached through
deep breathing, hypnosis, and other relaxation techniques.
OOBE occurs during these states, and delta is probably the
most important for it. The problem is really, as we have said,
one of maintaining mental awareness and alertness while experienceing
these altered states. Experimental subjects hooked to an EEG
do not show a discrete change from drowsy to sleep; it is
very gradual.
At the threshold between
sleep and waking consciousness is a drowsy condition known
as the hypnogogic state. OOBE seems to occur during this state,
or a variant of it. By careful control of the hypnogogic state
(not going beyond it) it is possible to enter OOBE directly.
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 OBE, 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 OBE 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 OBE.
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 OBE, 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.
| Authors Details: Phil Hansford, 4/88
Mysteria (818) 353-8891 (modem) P.O. Box 83 Tujunga, CA
91042 |
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