I read a book about “astral projection,” or out-of-body experiences (OBE’s) when I was 15. The whole concept of being able to project your spirit out of your body and explore the universe without having to die first captivated me. I spent hours lying on the couch willing myself to separate from my body, and was always too scared to let it happen.
You might wonder why anyone would want to have such an experience, because it can be quite jarring if you’re not used to it, but the benefit is simply this: to know with complete certainty that your personality, mind, and spirit exist outside the body, and because of this, death can never destroy you. In fact, you are eternal. You may already know this, but knowledge is not the same thing as experience. Having an OBE is joyful and exhilarating, because it provides you with a direct experience of your power and freedom outside the body.
I’m overjoyed every time I have an OBE, because it reminds me how unlimited we truly are. You are so much more than your physical body, which is a beloved instrument you created to help you express yourself physically.
OBEs and Safety
Rest assured, having an OBE is the most natural thing in the world, and you do it every night when you’re dreaming. What stops most people from doing it consciously is fear of the unknown. The universe is a vast place, and it can feel scary to explore places that you’re unfamiliar with, but just know that you are completely safe. You never go where you’re not ready to go, and in fact, your Higher Self acts as a guardian during these experiences. It will not bring you to a place you’re not ready to explore. If at any point you feel afraid or out of control, you will instantly snap back to your body. You can never lose your way, or forget how to get back. It happens automatically.
There is a difference between lucid dreaming (knowing that you’re dreaming) and having an out-of-body experience. You have an OBE when you consciously stop the dream you’re having and make conscious decisions about where you’re going to go and what you’re going to do.
Two Ways to Have an Out-Of-Body Experience:
There are two ways to have an out-of-body experience (aside from near death experiences and trauma):
The easiest way to have an out-of-body experience is through dream conversion. You become aware that you’re dreaming and use that awareness to take control of your surroundings and create what you want to experience.
The second way to have an OBE is by trying to remain conscious as you fall asleep and float out of your body without entering the dream state first. You can use a mantra or affirmation as you drift to sleep, such as, “I now have a conscious out-of-body experience.”
This method is usually more challenging for people because it takes courage to consciously separate from your body. It’s far easier to find yourself already outside your body in a dream, but as I have done both, I can give you the key to success:
When you feel afraid of what you’re experiencing, don’t fight it. Have compassion for the fear, relax into it, and send yourself love. Surrender to everything you feel, and you’ll be successful.
What to Expect
If you find yourself on the cusp of floating out of your body when you are first falling asleep, you will feel some intense sensations as your astral body prepares to separate from your physical body. You might hear a loud buzzing, and feel that your entire body is humming or vibrating. This is totally normal. The feelings will subside as soon as you drift out. Just relax deeply into the sounds and feelings, and know that you’re safe. When you relax deeply enough, it will happen and you’ll suddenly find yourself outside the body.
In the beginning, you may have trouble maintaining the experience for more than a few moments, but that is okay. You are developing a new skill!
Dream conversion is easier for most people, so here are some tips that can help you “wake up” inside your dreams and use them as a platform to create an out-of-body experience.
Tips that You’re Dreaming
- In my experience, technology doesn’t work in dreams, so if you are trying without success to operate a phone, look something up on a computer, or even open an umbrella, you’re probably dreaming.
- If you have recurring dreams, or recurring themes in your dreams, try to use these as triggers to become aware. For many years I dreamed about volcano eruptions, tornadoes and tidal waves — usually when I was feeling out of control in some aspect of my life. Now, if I see a tidal wave or a tornado, it’s a giant clue that I’m dreaming, especially since I have never seen any of those things when awake.
- If you see certain people in your dreams that you haven’t seen for many years, such as deceased loved ones or friends from childhood, you can safely assume that you’re dreaming.
- If you see anything out of the ordinary, you’re probably dreaming. I once became aware that I was dreaming because I was staring at a cat with one eye. It was like a Picasso cat — and I got so excited that I was dreaming that I sadly woke myself up.
What happens once you know you’re dreaming?
This is the fun part! You can create whatever kind of experience you want, but as with any new skill, it takes practice. The first time I had an OBE, I was floating around my home. I was only able to maintain the experience for about 10 seconds, and when it ended I realized that although I knew where I was during the experience, I could barely see the details of my house. A command like, “Clarity Now!” will make your surroundings snap into focus.
You have complete control over your experience.
The astral realms where you travel are extremely thought responsive, so your thoughts manifest instantly. If you want to fly, you’re flying before you’re finished having the thought. If you wish to access a higher vibration, you can say, “Next level now,” or “I go within,” and then hold on for the ride. Going to a higher plane requires that your vibration speed up. It feels like being in a huge washing machine for a minute or so, and you feel like you’re traveling faster than the speed of light, but instead of traveling through space, you are actually traveling within yourself.
That’s the real esoteric secret here: everything exists inside of you. The deeper you travel, the closer you perceive your true self, which is formless and without body at all. You are The Light!
A great book for learning more about how to have OBEs is Adventures Beyond the Body by William Buhlman. He has been experimenting with out-of-body exploration for 40 years now, and his book helped me understand how to navigate through these experiences.
Meditation & OBEs
Another powerful tool that I use to induce out-of-body experience’s is meditation. Connecting with the vastness within during meditation helps me do it inside my dreams. You can also talk to yourself before you fall asleep: “I easily become aware that I am dreaming.” I asked my spirit guides to help me wake up inside my dreams each night for over 6 months before I had my first out-of-body experience. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away.
Being able to explore the universe and all of its dimensions, within and without, is a glorious human experience that will give you evidence of the miraculous and unlimited being you really are. I hope you will discover this evidence for yourself, and have fun doing it!
