Astral Journey: What It Is, How to Do It, and What You Can Discover
An astral journey is a fascinating practice in which consciousness detaches from the physical body to explore the astral plane, a dimension of existence beyond the tangible world. In this article, we will delve into how an astral journey can be consciously induced, explore the transformative benefits it offers, and demystify the risks commonly associated with this ancient experience.
Table of Contents
- What Is an Astral Journey and What Is It For?
- Differences Between an Astral Journey and a Lucid Dream
- Step-by-Step Guide for a Safe Astral Journey
- How to Return from an Astral Journey
- Benefits of Astral Travel
- Dangers of Astral Travel
- Advancing in Astral Travel Practice
- Integrating Astral Travel into Daily Life
What Is an Astral Journey and What Is It For?
An astral journey is an experience in which consciousness separates from the physical body and moves through the astral plane, a non-material dimension that coexists with the physical world. Although many people experience it unconsciously while sleeping, it is possible to learn how to consciously and voluntarily induce these journeys through specific techniques of relaxation, meditation, and visualization.
This practice allows individuals to explore realities beyond the physical senses. Those who have had conscious astral journey experiences often describe an expansion of perception, encounters with other forms of consciousness, and access to information that is not available in the usual waking state.
The astral journey can be a tool for spiritual development and self-knowledge. By transcending the limits of the physical body, the practitioner can gain a deeper understanding of the nature of being, overcome the fear of death, and strengthen the connection with their spiritual essence.
In the third season of Mystery Teachings, available on Gaia, an entire episode is dedicated to astral journeys. There, Theresa Bullard shares effective techniques for initiating in the astral plane, addressing what should and should not be done, and demystifying several myths associated with the journey through the astral realms.
Differences Between an Astral Journey and a Lucid Dream
Although they may seem similar, an astral journey and a lucid dream are distinct experiences. In a lucid dream, the person becomes aware that they are dreaming and can control certain elements of the dream, but remains within the dream plane generated by the mind. In contrast, an astral journey involves the separation of consciousness from the physical body to explore a real and external plane, different from the internal world of dreams.
Additionally, the purpose and experience also differ. While lucid dreaming often has a recreational or symbolic component, the astral journey has a more experiential and spiritual nature. The level of clarity, intensity, and perception of reality in the astral plane is notably higher than in dreams, and the experiences obtained can have a profound impact on the practitioner’s daily life.
Step-by-Step Guide for a Safe Astral Journey
To have a safe astral journey, it is essential to follow a structured practice that combines mental preparation, physical relaxation, and visualization techniques. In Mystery Teachings, Theresa Bullard presents a progressive method that can be integrated into the daily routine as training. This step-by-step guide helps to induce astral projection gradually, consciously, and safely, allowing the practitioner to explore the astral plane with greater clarity and confidence.
- Preparatory meditation: Dedicate 15 minutes a day to meditate with your back straight. This posture favors the energy flow through the chakras and allows you to reach a receptive mental state.
- Initial visualization: Observe a white dot on a black background or vice versa. Then close your eyes and try to keep a clear mental image of the dot.
- Daily visual training: Practice this visualization every day for a week. This strengthens concentration and trains the mind to sustain images in deep relaxation states.
- Expansion of the dot: In the second week, mentally expand the visualized dot until it transforms into a large space. This space represents the threshold between the physical and the astral plane.
- Tunnel formation: Imagine that this space turns into a tunnel connecting both planes. Visualize yourself entering this transitional tunnel with your consciousness.
- Visualized destination: At the end of the tunnel, mentally create a specific place you want to reach. Keep your intention clear and use that goal as an anchor for the astral experience.
- Conscious movement: Move through the astral plane using the speed of thought. This form of movement allows you to explore the environment fluidly and without physical effort.
How to Return from an Astral Journey
The return to the physical body after an astral journey usually occurs naturally, as consciousness is permanently connected to the body through what many practitioners describe as the “silver cord.” In most cases, it is enough to direct attention toward the physical body or internally express the intention to return for the process to occur immediately. This reconnection is usually smooth, although some people may experience sensations of vibration or a slight jolt upon returning.
However, there are simple techniques that can facilitate a more conscious and gradual return. Slightly moving the fingers of the hands or feet, taking a deep breath, or visualizing the physical body as an anchoring point are effective methods to reintegrate without abruptness. With practice, the return to the body becomes increasingly natural, allowing the experience to be concluded in a balanced way and wakefulness to be resumed with clarity and stability.
Benefits of Astral Travel
Astral travel offers a wide range of spiritual and personal benefits, allowing practitioners to explore beyond physical limitations and gain new perspectives on life and existence. Reaching these states of consciousness can result in a profound sense of liberation and knowledge, alleviating fears such as the fear of death and strengthening the connection with the higher self and spiritual dimensions.
- Expansion of consciousness: Astral travel allows one to experience a broader reality beyond daily life, promoting greater mental openness and flexibility in thinking.
- Understanding life after death: Practicing astral projection can provide comfort and insight into what might exist beyond physical life, reducing the fear of death.
- Development of psychic abilities: Through astral travel, some people report an increase in their intuitive and psychic abilities, such as clairvoyance or extrasensory perception.
- Emotional healing: Consciously revisiting past experiences from an astral perspective can provide new understanding that helps in the emotional healing process.
- Increased creativity: Astral travel can inspire individuals by giving them access to visions and ideas beyond the reach of conventional thought.
Dangers of Astral Travel
Although astral travel is safe, there are certain myths that may cause concern among practitioners. It is important to clarify these myths to ensure that participants feel comfortable and secure during their astral experiences. Understanding that these “dangers” are largely unfounded can help practitioners approach astral travel with confidence and peace of mind.
- Fear of not returning to the physical body: A common myth is the fear of getting stuck in the astral plane and not being able to return to the physical body. However, the so-called “silver cord,” which connects the astral body to the physical body, is not something that can be broken. Instead, it is a metaphorical connection that always ensures the return to the body.
- Encounters with negative entities: Some practitioners express concern about encountering malicious entities during their travels. Protecting oneself with light visualizations and setting clear and firm intentions for safety before the journey can help avoid these experiences and ensure a positive astral environment.
- Disorientation and fear: For beginners, it is common to feel some disorientation or fear when exploring astral experiences for the first time. These feelings are usually mild and can be easily managed with practice and preparation. Learning control techniques and cultivating a positive mental environment before starting the journey can help overcome these moments and improve the overall experience.
Advancing in Astral Travel Practice
For those interested in deepening their astral travel practice, it is essential to develop a consistent routine and employ advanced meditation and visualization techniques. As practitioners gain more experience, they can begin to explore various aspects of the astral plane with greater control and purpose. This includes learning to navigate to specific locations, interact with different spiritual entities, and receive teachings or guidance.
Additionally, sharing experiences with a community of practitioners can be invaluable. Joining groups or workshops where techniques and personal experiences are discussed helps validate and enrich one’s journey in astral travel. The guidance of an experienced mentor can also be a great advantage, offering the opportunity to learn through direct teaching and receive feedback that is crucial for personal and spiritual growth in this practice.
Integrating Astral Travel into Daily Life
Integrating astral travel into daily life means more than just having out-of-body experiences; it involves applying the perceptions and teachings obtained during these journeys to everyday physical existence. For example, insights gained about personal challenges or behavioral patterns can be used to improve relationships, make more informed decisions, and cultivate greater inner peace.
On the other hand, regularly practicing astral travel can foster a sense of spiritual connection and purpose that transcends mundane activities. This may manifest as greater empathy toward others, a commitment to service or community, and an interest in additional spiritual practices that complement personal growth. For those who deeply integrate these practices, astral travel becomes a way of life that fully embraces the multidimensional nature of human existence.
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Remote Viewing in Sidereal Time Can Enhance Telepathy
There appears to be evidence that psychic phenomena can be affected by external factors, including geomagnetic forces and our alignment with the cosmos. As strange as this may sound, researcher James Spottiswoode discovered significant data showing that remote viewing in sidereal time is directly correlated with success, or lack thereof, based on our orientation to the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. Though, he doesn’t know exactly why.
How One Researcher Knew to Calculate Sidereal Time
Sidereal time is a method used by astronomers to keep track of celestial objects. It is based on a time scale of Earth’s rotation in relation to fixed stars in the sky and was used to discover the mysterious nature of pulsars, the highly-magnetized, rotating neutron stars – a source of gravitational waves. But Spottiswoode’s use of sidereal time could point to something more intriguing than gravitational waves; possibly a source emitting or influencing our consciousness.
At a certain point during the day, our zenith, or the point in the sky directly above us, aligns with a particular point in the galaxy. Rather than measuring time based on the Earth’s orientation with the sun, one can measure time based on Earth’s orientation to this galactic point. Days measured in this sense are shorter than solar days by about four minutes, lagging by a little more than one day per year.
So, what does this have to do with remote viewing and psychic phenomena? It turns out that there are peak times during the day when our orientation to the galactic center can enhance success with remote viewing and psychic ability, what Spottiswoode refers to as anomalous cognition. There are also times during the day when psychic ability can be adversely affected by our orientation with the galaxy.
Spottiswoode came to this conclusion by examining a dataset of 20 years worth of psychic research, containing 1,524 trials, between 22 different studies. He found a 400 percent spike in the success rate of tests from remote viewing sessions and wondered what could be causing it. Upon initially examining the time of day when the sessions were being conducted, based on solar time, he kept finding discrepancies. But when organizing the data based on sidereal time, Spottiswoode found a correlation.
At 13:30 h local sidereal time (LST), the data showed that one would have 400 percent greater success with remote viewing. At this time, our planet is oriented with the Milky Way so that the galactic center is located directly on the horizon. This daily period of peak psychic cognition lasts for about three and a half hours, from 12:45 to 14:15 h LST. When the center of the galaxy is directly overhead, or at our zenith, psychic cognition drops to its lowest point, between 17.5 and 20 h.
This Spottiswoode Peak, as it came to be known, had to be connected with something outside of our solar system because sidereal time is based on right ascension, or a longitudinal line to a fixed point in the sky, which rules out anything local due to planetary movement.
But what exactly was this data that Spottiswoode was analyzing and who was he exactly?
Is Remote Viewing Real?
James Spottiswoode is a parapsychologist who has worked on an array of government-funded projects investigating psychokinesis and ESP. He also worked with the Stanford Research Institute during its CIA-funded remote viewing program, known as the Star Gate Project. During his time studying telepathy, Spottiswoode ran experiments testing quantum optics and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic waves on psychic functions.
In addition to discovering the sidereal effect, Spottiswoode found correlations between solar wind and geomagnetic activity in his measurements of anomalous cognition.
During times of low geomagnetic activity, he found that there was an increase in telepathic experiences. This he says, is the only known physical variable that affects anomalous cognition. Geomagnetism is due to interactions between solar wind and the ionosphere, when ionized plasma from solar storms hits the Earth, causing fluctuations in our geomagnetic field. So, if you want to optimize your remote viewing session, make sure you fall within the right sidereal window and plan to view when the solar forecast is clear.
But with all of this evidence, is remote viewing actually real? What did Spottiswoode make of all of this? While his goal was to look empirically at the data and not attempt to measure the quality of the successful sessions, he concluded that the effect sidereal time had on remote viewing was indeed real. He collected data from a new sample of 1015 trials to verify his findings on the original set, reaching the same conclusion. But could there have been a more mundane explanation?
He said that had he found it to correlate with our solar day, he would have associated the phenomenon with circadian rhythms or our scheduled work days, but this wasn’t the case. “…I’ve checked my data carefully and those kinds of effects could not mimic the sidereal correlation I found. Don’t ask me what it is, but it’s real,” he said.
Further research has found the same effect to occur on precognition in animals. One study found a correlation with the 13.5 h sidereal time on Zebra Finches’ precognitive reaction to a stimulus. A correlation was also found on a precognitive test run by Rupert Sheldrake, another researcher who studies psychic phenomena. During this experiment, subjects were tested to see if they could tell who was calling them on the phone before answering. They found subjects were significantly more likely to predict their caller during the peak, 13.5 h sidereal time, compared to the 19 h sidereal time.
If Spottiswoode’s discovery is real it warrants further research into the phenomenon and what could possibly be causing it. Unfortunately, government funding in projects relating to psychic phenomena and remote viewing was cut years ago, at least as far as we know. But for those who meditate, remote view, or astral project, sidereal time should be taken into consideration during your practice. It’s relatively easy to calculate, with websites that let you know what your LST is. Have you ever experienced enhanced psychic cognition due to sidereal time?
