The Mysteries of Astral Travel (Part I)
Episode 23 - Can you go out of body? I've tried it.
Greetings,
Hope you’re doing well. Welcome back to another woo-woo take on the human condition.
Stay close to the fire.
But not too close.
What is this?
Astral Projection, also known as ‘Out-of-body Experience’ (OBE) is a well known and recorded phenomenon throughout human history, though very poorly understood. This is not because of lack of proof, but likely because the paradigm under which we conduct our daily existence precludes certain experiences and allows others, quite selectively.
I discuss Paradigms and physicality more in depth HERE, should you be courageous enough.
Now, what is all this nonsense? Basically, it’s the idea that one could, either spontaneously or through conscious practice and intention, exit one’s physical body and travel away from it in a non-physical form. In occult science, this form is usually known as the ‘subtle body’. To put it simply, you may be tempted to think of this as your spirit exiting your body and journeying around, flying and going everywhere with no limitation, the need for sustenance or breath.
Again, in occult practices they describe how this subtle body is connected to your physical body through a sort of ethereal chord, known as an ‘astral chord’.
In popular culture this phenomenon was represented in the Marvel movie Doctor Strange (2016), where the protagonist is shown how to journey outside his body. It’s all quite well done, and they include some psychedelic special effects which I appreciated. I remember I was quite excited when I first saw that scene because, some years earlier, I was working on figuring out how to try this for myself.
Now, IS THIS REAL?
Well, I guess that depends what you mean by Real, huh?
Is it? Hmmm - I’m tempted to say Yes. But no amount of books or stories could (or should) convince you of this. You have to try it for yourself.
And I did.
Astral Projection was actually one of the first few things I encountered over 10 years ago, when I first began on this path of which I talked more in the previous episode. It sounded so crazy, but its implications were so deep: if Astral Projection was real, then what did it mean? That we can verify the existence of the soul for ourselves? And if that’s real, then what else is? True life after death and the presence of infinite dimensions?
Maybe?
The thing is, I was tempted to try it out and so I began researching techniques to make this happen. It all had to do with the idea of vibration. Essentially, they say, if you increase your vibration to a high enough frequency your ‘subtle body’ exits the physical body automatically - it simply floats away.
Crazy, right? What the hell does any of this mean anyway? What vibrations?
But actually it is experientially true. Through intention one may experience what can only be termed ‘vibratory frequencies’ which you directly feel in your body. If you never have, it's easy to dismiss this. Does this, however, lead to one exiting the body?
Again, my own experiments only got me so far before I actually freaked out. Because you will. Because this is such an alien experience that the mind will simply recoil from it automatically. However: I did experience the rising out and the floating sensation with full consciousness.
No, it was not a dream. And no, it was not a lucid dream either.
I’ve experienced it about a dozen times and each time it was very distinct: a sensation of rising away from the thick, heavy physical bonds of flesh and into something extremely light and ‘above’. It was pretty much exactly as described. But no matter how much I wanted to experience this, when it was actually happening I remember being so terrified that I immediately recoiled and was promptly brought right back.
This is very distinct from dreaming and even lucid dreaming, both experiences which include some kind of existence in a different ‘world’, be it conscious or not. What I’m describing contained: consciousness, location, sense of self, memory, intentionality, awareness.
There are many, many more things to say about this. In America there is an Institute dedicated to exploring precisely this phenomenon. Founded in 1974, the Monroe Institute is probably the most famous organisations in this field. It was built by Robert Monroe, author of various books detailing out-of-body experiences. This guy pretty much popularised this idea in the West, though it has been known since, like, forever.
Then there hundreds of books published on this phenomenon. I’ve read some which have profoundly transformed my understanding of reality and life. But more on that soon.
Have you ever experienced something like this? I’d love to know.
Art Spotlight: The Music of Jesper Kyd
I’ll probably have a lot more to say about this incredible musician. Jesper Kyd is a Danish composer and sound designer, famous for his work on many classic videogames, from Assassin’s Creed, Hitman to Darksiders and many others. His music is simply incredible and has a very unique style.
Recently I’ve been listening to a few songs which really get me in ‘the zone’ if you know what I mean. These are extensions done by fans by mixing some of his tracks from the fairly old Hitman OSTs.
Check this one out. It’s called ‘Winter Night’ from Hitman: Contracts (2004) - it’s incredibly slow and atmospheric, inviting what the title says. It’s dark but calming and has a distinct style that is so… him.
Another one I’ve been dancing to is the Harbor Theme Extended Mix, from the very first Hitman game. This is an ancient relic that nobody plays nowadays, but Jesper’s soundtrack is pure genius and has aged like fine wine.
Concluding
Though Astral travel is a topic that has fascinated me for years, and it has also changed my perception of reality, it still has to be said that an Ego who travels inside or outside the body is still the same Ego. In other words: that’s not the point.
Many would advise against wasting time with this and other occult practices, such as channelling spirits, summoning demons/angels, communing with aliens, performing magick or other things of similar nature. Not because it’s not real but because it won’t get you anywhere closer to a deeper understanding of yourself.
At least, that’s what some say. I don’t agree necessarily and I don’t disagree either.
I think I’d like to share an interesting tale on this topic next time. One that has, frankly, had a profound impact on me.
More to come,
Blessings,
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