Astral Projection is a type of out-of-body experience (OBE) in which the astral body leaves its other bodies and journeys far and wide to anywhere in the Universe. The notion that we have seven bodies (one for each of the seven planes of reality) is a teaching of theosophist Madame Blavatsky. On its trips, the astral body perceives other astral bodies rather than their physical, etheric, emotional, spiritual, etc. bodies.

The astral body, according to Madame Blavatsky, is the one that has an aura. It is also the seat of feeling and desire, and is genreally described as being connected to the physical body during astral projection by an infinitely elastic and very fine silver cord, a kind of cosmic umbilical cord or Ariadne's thread.

Atral projectiion ( or etheric projection) is the ability to separate one's consciousness from the confines of the physical body enabling one to travel vast distances through time and space and then return safely.

Once separated, the possibilities in this spirit-like form are endless, as there are no restrictions in the means of locomotion as are present in the physical body. You may choose to walk, glide, fly or even think yourself to a location simply by imagining the place you want to be.

Each night, as we sleep, our astral bodies rise out of line from the physical body as soon as we lose consciousness, and stay in this position until we wake. This is a form of recharging and regaining energy lost during the hours we are awake.

The concept of astral projection assumes the existence of another body, separate from the physical body and capable of traveling to non physical planes of existence. These planes are most commonly called astral, etheric or spiritual.

During projection, the traveler finds himself or herself in what is apparently a real domain but one that does not have a physical parallel. New agers and occultists have termed this the "astral plane." Here you may find environments that are either populated or unpopulated, from beautiful to horrific, and anywhere from natural, to artificial to abstract. Our physical laws do not apply on the astral plane. Travelers have reported scenes that were vivid and fascinating and some have seen visions of the future of Earth or the Akashic records.

This experience often involves the feeling of floating outside of the body. There are cases where astral projection has occured spontaneously. It has also been associated with the use of drugs, or mental or physical trauma. It is also possible to induce projection deliberately.

Astral projection is just a tool and how it is used is the decision of the user. To know that there is something beyond the physical body allows us to experience freedom from the fear of the afterlife and enables us to more fully live our present lives. We are not limited to this pursuit because it is only a very small expression of our spiritual journey towards awareness and enlightenment.

During an OBE, you may explore and experiment, and let your curiosity go freely.

It has alluded the attention of the main stram scientific community because it is most difficult to duplicate it in a controlled environment or experiment.

Astral projection is known and accepted in many eastern cultures and not encouraged and even condemned in others such as Christianity.

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, Or the golden bowl be broken, Or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the cistern." Ecclesiastes 12:6

"It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." Corinthians 15:44

It is natural and healthy to pursue who we really are and safe to assume that we are more than just a physical body. Astral projection was part of the Egyptian culture as well as many Eastern religions. It is my belief that astral projection is a vehicle in attaining a higher state of consciousness and is not in conflict with spitirual attainment through religion. The belief system a person has seems to dictate what they will experience in astral projection. Christians tend to see Christ, Buddhists tend to see Buddha and Hindu's tend to see their deities. It is quite possible that spiritual beings will appear in a form that makes the participant most comfortable. This has also been similarly reported in Near Death experiences. Many people have felt that their religious beliefs have been strenthened and confirmed by their Out-of-body experiences.

The Buddha said that "Enlightenment is to be Awake." To be awake means to be aware that our physical perception is one of the narrowist perceptions there are and we are seeing a very small part of reality.

To be in the Astral does not automatically bring enlightenment. The soul is always independent of ego and is already enlightened and perfect. Each of us has the ability to tap into the spirit within and allow ourselves to be where we already are. Although this can happen on any plane of existence, it is more likely in the astral than on the physical plane. Astral projection is a part of the process of enlightenment and realization of our own perfection.

Those who practice OBE's will begin to have more psychic experiences even if they do not consider themselves psychic.