Journeying beyond: My first “voluntary” travel to other realms through Astral Projection
I am an avid traveller. Since I was young I had that clear drive to explore the world and beyond. I left home when I was 21 and explored the world. From North America, to Central and South America, then South East Asia, Europe, India, and finally Oceania where I now live.
There is no better feeling to me that arriving to an unknown location. Somewhere I have never been. It is a rush, a feeling of freedom, excitement, like an explorer arriving to a new continent. Excited to witness and experience a new culture, language, way of living and thinking and immerse myself in completely new lanscapes! Exhilirating.
So when COVID hit, our movements were restricted, and I felt somewhat stuck. The confinement, coupled with the tension and conflicts among people, amplified my desire to escape reality. As a (highly) sensitive individual, I found it overwhelming to witness the fear and constant tension that prevailed. I yearned to be somewhere else, somewhere lighter, away from the judgment and misunderstanding.
What is Astral Projection?
Astral Projection can be viewed from both spiritual and scientific perspectives. In certain yogic traditions, Astral projection, also called Out-Of-Body-Experience (OBE) is often depicted as the energy or astral body leaving the physical body and traveling to some sort of new plane of consciousness. It is considered a supernatural ability achieved through practices such as meditation, breathing exercises, chanting, and postures. From a scientific standpoint, it involves the brain entering an altered state where it disconnects from the physical body, creating a sense of detachment between the mind and the physical form.
While I appreciate both the spiritual and scientific viewpoints, what truly matters to me is my personal experience and how it enriches my life. I had a few involuntary OBEs in the past, which left a lasting impression. One memorable instance was when I had a mole removed at 17, and I felt my energy body leaving my physical body, observing it from above while seeing relatives who weren’t physically present. Another profound experience occurred when my mother passed away, and I sensed her presence through a white light that entered my bedroom.
Learning how to Astral Project
Keen to learn more, I enrolled in an Astral Projection class. I shed a lot of fear and learned a lot in those few months! While I experienced the precursor or transitional state to astral project, state called hypnagogic state, I struggled to achieve a full OBE. Despite persisting for a year, my OBE attempts were unsuccessful.
The hypnagogic state is the stage between wakefulness and sleep , when alpha waves are decreasing but you haven’t yet reached the first stage of sleep. I had some deeply profound visualisations in the hypnagogic state (usually amazingly vivid animals or people looking at me or talking to me). I did manage to experience some lucid dreams (dreams where you know you are dreaming and you can control where the dream is going), which was a good step forward. But no OBE. I persevered for a year… still no OBE.
My first OBE
Well it happened on my birthday this year (2023).
I went to celebrate the day of my birth with my family and friends at our favorite Indian restaurant. I had some nice vegetarian (and of course a bit spicy food) and a glass of red wine. I usually don’t drink. At all. So a glass of wine usually makes me pretty relaxed.
We came home, I put one of my children to bed, and I settled in bed, with my headphones on, like every night and my astral projection meditation.
I managed to enter a very relaxed state. I had very deep awareness both of my physical body and my energy body. I heard the ringing in my ears that potentially are related to me hearing the astral world. I got deeper and deeper and found the hypnagogic stage. Nothing unusual until then. At the stage in the meditation where I was supposed to use my astral hands to grab an imaginary cord to lift my astral body out of my physical body, I did so — like every night. But this time, I felt 2 hands (wearing white sleeves — that’s all I could see) behind my shoulders, pushing my astral body and helping me to get out of my physical body… I felt a slight resistance from a (rightfully) fearful part of me… but I told myself: “Let’s do this!” And I flew out of my body!!
I was overjoyed, ecstatic! Energised. OMG I was out of my body. I could see my physical body lying in bed.
I said thank you to my helper. A few times!! Who and whatever this being was, I am not sure! But I know it was a benevolent energy!
I was very aware of everything and I knew the cautious part of myself (who maybe and thankfully tonight was a bit inhibited by the glass of wine) would take me back to my physical body as soon as she could. So I ordered firmly and with strong intention “Fly away!”. In the astral plane, you can instantaneously manifest a strong intention… So I did! I flew through my bedroom window! I landed in another place, that looked like the real world, there were buildings, roads and people. It was day light. I walked in amazement. At some point I met 2 men. Their presence felt familiar. I couldn’t recognise them from their faces but their energy felt like home. Their faces seemed to change from young faces to old faces, like they were ageless beings.
One of them asked me: “So, what did you learn?” I was blank. I thought: “What have learned from this astral journey or from life in general?”. Confused, I reply: “I am not sure yet.”
I asked one of them: “ Who are you?” He answered: “Everyone is happy you are back!”. I asked again: “ Who are you? I want to know!” A deep desire to know and understand who those beings were… He said: “ it’s time to go back.” I yelled: “who are you?”, I could feel my heart racing, I had such an urge to know. I was quite upset and I started crying.
I felt a deep vaccum-like sensation that took me back to my body.
I was back in bed, my heart still racing, I was still upset, my husband sleeping next to me. I couldn’t wait to tell him about my experience. I was so ecstatic about having been able to get out of my body. Even though, it was still a bit freaky to me and I was still wondering who those beings were.
What’s next?
Well, from this first experience I managed to get out of my body a few more times.
I am in awe with the experience and the possibility that there would be other roams than the one we know. The explorer in me finds it fascinating.
Am I actually travelling to different realms? Am I “just” going to an alternate state and imagining all this? Who knows? I am not too worry of knowing the answer.
Astral projection has enriched my life by allowing me to experience a deeper, more expansive understanding of existence. I connect with my energy body on a profound level, enabling me to better manage my state of being throughout the day. In those realms, I confront shadows and fears that aid my healing and growth. Additionally, astral projection provides solace by aligning with my belief in the continuation of consciousness beyond the physical, preparing me for the eventual transition of death.
Gone are the days when I only relied on my rational mind. I now enjoy a balanced integration of the rational and the intuitive, the analytical and the emotional, the physical and the non-physical. Astral projection may not be for everyone, and I am by no means an expert. I remain an eager beginner, humbly venturing into this personal journey. Should you have an interest in exploring astral projection, I recommend seeking guidance from experienced practitioners or experts, prioritizing your well-being, and consulting healthcare professionals when necessary.
Dorothee is a conscious and compassionate empowerment coach who is redefining what women were conditioned to believe success, beauty, and life ought to be and who is sharing her love for life to the world.
Dorothee supports women who are struggling with a harsh inner critic, a sense of misalignment and lack of clarity in their life, to reconnect to their inner-power, rediscover self-love, self-esteem, presence and more importantly joy.
Download her FREE ebooklet “The 10 secrets to un-flickering self-esteem” here.
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References:
- Remote viewing, a practice gathering information about distant targets using heightened consciousness, has been documented in the CIA’s Stargate Project. More information is available in this report: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00791R000200180005-5.pdf
- The Monroe Institute in Virginia, USA, founded by Robert Monroe, offers experiential expanded consciousness meditation programs and research. For more information, visit: www.monroeinstitute.org
- For further exploration, Robert Monroe’s book “Journeys Out of the Body” provides detailed accounts of his personal experiences with astral projection and OBEs. Available on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com.au/Journeys-Out-Body-Robert-Monroe/dp/0285627538
- The class I took on astral projection was through Mindvalley, taught by Jade Shaw. You can follow Jade Shaw’s work at: https://jadeshaw.com
- The astral projection meditation I used on the night of my first experience can be found on The Reality Revolution Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DqIHhiwi6AGOHcb39uSzj?si=l3PqZR3iRByf8Yy3KM3Tmw
