What is Astral Projection?
Call it what you like — dream body, astral body, energy body, Buddhist light body, Taoist diamond body, Egyptian ka, Tantric subtle body, Hindu body of bliss — and in Christianity, the experience of different “heavens,” i.e. “I know a man who was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in our out of body, I do not know,” from Corinthians 12:1-4. The subtle body is a universal human experience, and apparently part of our standard human design like toenails and kidneys. It is this subtle body that projects astrally and is active during unconscious and lucid dreaming; astral projection and dreaming often go hand-in-hand as “out-of-body” experiences, or OBEs.
The subtle body, when cultivated, can survive the physical body as a matrix for consciousness, and astral projection and lucid dreaming are part of spiritual training paths for subtle body cultivation. Neophytes confuse the subtle body with the soul or spirit, two additional aspects of multi-dimensional humans.
Out of Body Experiences and Astral Projection
The OBE can be intentional or involuntary, as with near-death events when people report finding themselves floating near the ceiling of their hospital rooms, perhaps observing medical staff attempting to revive them. Trauma, illness, or water and food deprivation, as with Native American vision quests, can trigger OBEs. Lucid dream states are opportunities for intentional OBEs. For the purposes of this article, OBEs may be spontaneous, and astral projection a conscious choice, though some would argue otherwise.
Essentially, the OBE begins with an experience of leaving the body and consciously observing it from a detached perspective. With practice and lucidity, awareness can be directed to locations or activities like flight. Yes, flight. If you’ve had flying dreams — literal flying, no 747 required — or being in the sky, you’ve had OBEs. Some say that we have regular OBEs during sleep, often hovering a few inches over our physical bodies.
Neuroscientists are puzzled — while the experience is no longer dismissed out of hand by medical professionals, science holds the view that OBEs involve neurological or brain dysfunction. After his own experience, Dr. Raymond Moody MD became interested in near death OBEs, and for decades interviewed hundreds of experiencers and collected data, defining common qualities of OBEs. Moody identified nine common elements of a near-death OBE — some experiencing all, some, only two or three.
Benefits of OBE
The tantrics mastered lucid OBE and dream states to overcome the fear of death by learning that we are not our “bodies.” They also discovered that the physical body can experience deep healing during OBEs — the mind can be tough on the body. And rather than losing time to practice meditation during sleep, yogis continued working through the night while the body rested.
Some athletes learn lucid dreaming to practice and visualize their game. By working in a dream or out-of-body, not only do they visualize, they have a “felt sense” of their practice, and can actually acquire the muscle memory for winning habits. Others benefit from the opportunity to explore past lives as well as accelerated personal development.
It is our energy, or subtle body that comes and goes from our physical form.
Astral Projection Methods
There are dozens of methods to learn conscious OBE and astral projection. There are two approaches — one is to keep the mind awake while the body falls asleep. It’s tricky — the mind wants to do what the body is doing. The goal is to take the body into deeper and deeper states of relaxation without drifting into unconsciousness. Yoga Nidra is one method. Once the body enters sleep state, practitioners simply “roll” out of their physical form.
Ancient yogis would tie two frogs together before sleep. Once tied, the frogs would continuously croak— a yogi would use the sound to anchor awareness as the body drifted into sleep, and either leave the body, or enter lucid dream states. If, during a dream, the yogi could no longer hear the frogs, he/she knew lucidity had been lost, and could “wake” again within the dream.
How to Astral Project/Travel
Monroe Institute Steps
Bob Monroe, founder of the leading research organization in the field of human consciousness called The Monroe Institute, penned a body of work titled “Journeys Out of the Body” in 1971 in which he provides a detailed outline for how to astrally project one’s self in seven steps:
- Step 1: Relax, both physically and mentally.
- Step 2: Enter a hypnagogic state, or half-sleep.
- Step 3: Deepen the state by prioritizing mental sensation over physical sensation.
- Step 4: Pay attention to the presence of vibration in your environment, which becomes apparent in a state of deep attention.
- Step 5: Incur the vibration in your physical body, and relax into its presence. The purpose of this is to gently jiggle the subtle body out of the physical body.
- Step 6: Focus your thoughts on leaving the limbs and the torso, and try to do so one at a time.
- Step 7: Known as “lifting out,” focus on effortlessly drifting out of your physical body.
The Astral Projection Rope Technique
From the work of Robert Bruce, founder of the Astral Dynamics movement, the rope technique is regarded one of the most accessible astral projection methods.
Step 1: Relax the physical body by visualizing each muscle.
Step 2: From your space of relaxation, enter a vibrational states; this should feel like an amplified version of a cell phone’s vibration mode pulsations coursing through the body.
Step 3: Imagine a rope hanging above you.
Step 4: Using the astral, or subtle, body, attempt to hold on to the rope with both hands. The physical body remains completely relaxed.
Step 5: Begin to climb the rope, hand over hand, all the while visualizing reaching the ceiling above you.
Step 6: Once you are aware of your full exit of the physical body, you are able to explore the astral plane.
Lucid Dreaming Techniques
Again, there are numerous lucid dreaming techniques. Some are designed to train the sleeper to wake within the dream, others offer methods of staying lucid while letting the body fall asleep.
A Nootropic Approach
Yes, it’s sounds weird. Nicotine has specific actions on brain chemistry — but no, it’s not about smoking. Considered a cognitive enhancer, nicotine is gaining fans among biochemical brain hackers.
Many, using nicotine patches to quit smoking, have inadvertently discovered what happens when they forget to remove a patch before sleep. Nicotine can induce hyper-realistic, but bizarre dreams that are so outrageous that many simply say to themselves, “Omg. This MUST be a dream. It’s too nuts to be anything else.” And voila — lucidity is attained. This is not an endorsement of the method, as many report nightmares when using nicotine.
Lucid Dreaming With Habit and Repetition
We attain lucidity the instant we recognize we’re in a dream state. Some people train by asking themselves, several times a day for days or weeks, “is this a dream?” The question eventually gets stuck in the place songs and jingles get stuck and are hard to unstick — things like “Afternoon Delight” by the Starlight Vocal Band. You know what we’re talking about.
The premise is that the question begins to habitually repeat by itself, and that eventually the mind will ask during a dream. When the dreamer answers, “why yes, this IS a dream!” they achieve lucidity.
The best opportunities for becoming lucid within a dream are during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This stage happens in the first two hours after we fall asleep and before we wake up. By waking and going back to sleep during the night we increase REM sleep time. Some use the sleep/wake method by setting interval alarms during the night, getting up for a few minutes, and going back to sleep with an intention of keeping the mind awake. If awakened during a dream, immediately go back to sleep — if possible, re-enter the dream with lucidity.
About the Author
What Is Automatic Writing and How to Use It for Channeling
Automatic writing is a technique used to access information from the unconscious or the spiritual plane through spontaneous writing. This practice allows for receiving messages that do not come from conscious thought, but instead manifest through the free flow of words onto paper. In this article, we explore what automatic writing is, its connection with spiritual channeling, and how you can begin practicing it step by step.
Table of Contents
- What Is Automatic Writing?
- Automatic Writing and Spiritual Channeling
- How to Practice Automatic Writing Step by Step
- Where Do Channeled Messages Come From?
- Spiritual Benefits of Automatic Writing
What Is Automatic Writing?
Automatic writing is a method of expression that allows the hand to write without the conscious intervention of rational thought. In this state, words emerge spontaneously, as if guided by an external source or an inner wisdom that manifests without mental filters. This technique has been used for centuries as a way to access content from the deep unconscious or as a tool for spiritual connection.
Many people who practice automatic writing report feeling that the messages do not come from themselves, but from other entities, energies, or planes of consciousness. The experience can vary: some people receive short phrases, others write entire pages, but in all cases, it’s about letting the body express itself without rational control. For this reason, the practice requires a state of relaxation and openness, without expectations or judgment about what appears on the page.
Automatic Writing and Spiritual Channeling
Automatic writing can also become a direct channel of communication with spiritual guides, interdimensional beings, or the higher self. In these cases, the person acts as a bridge between realms, allowing the message to be captured in words without the ego interfering in the process. This practice is considered a form of channeling when the message comes from a clear and coherent spiritual source.
In the series Channeling: A Bridge to the Beyond, available on Gaia, the various ways in which channelers access non-physical information are explored, including automatic writing as a tool to transmit messages from beyond. The series presents real experiences and testimonials from experts who explain how these practices help open consciousness and access transformative information.
How to Practice Automatic Writing Step by Step
Practicing automatic writing requires creating an adequate space, relaxing the mind, and allowing the words to flow without conscious control. It is not about writing from logical thought, but rather about opening up to a receptive state where information arrives effortlessly. With regular practice, this process becomes more fluid and clear.
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Energetic Preparation and Inner Disposition
Before starting, it is essential to prepare the space and personal energy. Find a quiet place, turn off distractions, and create a harmonious atmosphere with soft lighting, incense, or gentle music if you prefer. Breathe deeply for a few minutes and set your intention to open yourself to receiving information with clarity and respect.
It is also important to check your internal state. Automatic writing is not just a technique—it is an act of receptivity. That is why it is necessary to be calm and with a neutral attitude. If you are anxious, rushed, or have rigid expectations about what “should” appear, you are likely to interfere with the process. The key is to release mental control and trust whatever arises.
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Techniques to Facilitate the Writing Flow
One very useful technique is to start by writing repetitive phrases, such as “I am ready to receive” or “I open myself to whatever comes.” This initial writing acts as a bridge between the conscious and receptive states, helping calm the mind and activate the flow. Often, after a few lines, the tone of the message shifts and begins to flow on its own.
Another technique is to write without lifting the pen from the paper for several minutes, without worrying about the meaning of the words. This helps overcome initial blockages and gives way to a more natural rhythm. It doesn’t matter if at first only random words or meaningless sentences appear. What matters is to keep the movement going and observe whether the content starts to become coherent without rational intervention.
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Practical Exercises to Start Channeling
One initial exercise consists of formulating a clear question before writing. Then, take a deep breath, relax your body, and begin to write anything that comes up, without correcting or thinking about structure. When finished, read what you wrote without judgment. Over time, you’ll notice the answers start to show more coherence and depth.
Another useful exercise is to write after a brief guided meditation. Spend a few minutes calming your mind, focusing on your breath, and visualizing a soft light enveloping your hands. Then, begin writing without a defined topic and allow the words to emerge freely. This practice helps you enter a deeper receptive state and facilitates connection with subtle realms.
Where Do Channeled Messages Come From?
The messages received during automatic writing can have different origins, depending on the level of connection and the intention of the channeler. These sources usually belong to higher planes of consciousness and act as guides for personal and spiritual growth. Identifying their origin helps better understand the type of information received and its purpose.
- Spiritual Guides: These are beings of elevated consciousness who accompany the soul’s path. Messages from them often offer clear guidance, protection, and support in important decisions.
- Akashic Records: They contain the energetic memory of the soul and its journey through time. Through automatic writing, it is possible to access fragments of this information to gain guidance on life processes and spiritual evolution.
- Ascended Masters: These are beings who have reached a high level of consciousness and wisdom. Their messages provide deep teachings and tools for personal and spiritual transformation.
- Higher Self: This represents the highest and wisest aspect of one’s own being. This connection allows for receiving messages aligned with life purpose and a deeper understanding of one’s path.
- Angels or Archangels: These are light energies that transmit peace, guidance, and assistance during times of change or difficulty. Often, channeled messages from these planes carry a loving, protective, and compassionate tone.
- Deceased Loved Ones: In some cases, the messages come from family members or close individuals who have passed on. These communications usually hold significant emotional value and can bring comfort or closure to unresolved matters.
Spiritual Benefits of Automatic Writing
Automatic writing is not only a tool for channeling information—it also supports spiritual growth by deepening inner connection, expanding perception, and cultivating greater emotional and energetic clarity. Its regular practice transforms the relationship with oneself and with what lies beyond the visible.
- Inner clarity: Helps identify thoughts and emotions that were hidden. This allows for more conscious and aligned decision-making.
- Connection with subtle planes: Facilitates access to higher levels of consciousness. This openness strengthens intuition and spiritual confidence.
- Emotional healing: Writing without filters allows the release of blockages and retained emotions. The process acts as a form of energetic cleansing and self-exploration.
- Development of intuition: Enhances the ability to perceive internal and external signals. This strengthens spiritual discernment in everyday life.
- Deep self-knowledge: When channeling messages, unconscious aspects of the self often emerge. This supports processes of personal transformation and expansion of consciousness.
