Introduction to Astral Projection

Introduction to Astral Projection

Let’s start defining some expressions which are used by IPPB:

PROJECTION

Consciousness Projection is the ability that every human being has for projecting his/her consciousness out-of-the-body. This experience has received several different names, depending on the doctrine or line of thought: Astral Journey (Esoterism), Astral Projection (Theosophy), Out-of-the-Body Experiences (Parapsychology), Spiritual Unfoldment or Soul Travel (Eckancar), Projection of the Psychic or Emotional Body (Rosicrucianism), Consciousness Projection (Projectiology), etc.

It has been known since the most ancient times that the “Out-of-the-Body Experience” is a true fact, involving techniques of distinct scientific feature. However, due to the ignorance on the matter, uninformed groups created fantasies regarding the “dangers” involved in the process, which in fact do not exist. Restrictions and erroneous ideas followed from this ignorance, and the subject remained restricted to a minority which was likely to control and master its techniques and consequences.

Nowadays, "Projectiology" is a part of Parapsychology as a restricted science, highly trustworthy, with renowned researchers such as Wagner Borges, Waldo Vieira, Sylvan Muldoon, Hereward Carrington, Robert A. Monroe, among so many others, within an extensive bibliography.

PSYCHOSOMA

Psychosoma can be defined as an extraphysical counterpart of the physical body, which it resembles and with which it coincides to the last detail, part by part. It is an exact replica of the physical body in its total structure.

The psychosoma is formed of astral matter that vibrates in a more subtle frequency and is infinitely more refined than the physical matter that constitutes the physical body. It is normally invisible and intangible to the physical eyesight and touch.

The psychosoma coincides with the physical body when the conscience is totally awake. However, during sleep, the ties that maintain the manifestation vehicles linked loosen and the psychosoma detaches from the physical body. This separation constitutes the phenomenon of astral projection.

Normally, when the psychosoma is projected out of the physical body, it maintains the same form of that body, and therefore the projector is easily recognized by those who know or have known him/her physically. It is also called astral body, perispirit, astral double, fluidic body, etc. The psychosoma is linked to the physical body by an energetic thread known as the silver cord.

THE SILVER CORD

The psychosoma is linked to the physical body by an energetic thread known as the silver cord, through which the vital energy is transmitted to the physical body, abandoned during the projection. On the other hand, the silver cord also conducts energies from the physical body to the psychosoma, creating an energetic circuit of two ways. This energetic interflow maintains the two manifestation vehicles in a direct relation, notwithstanding the distance at which the psychosoma may be projected. While the two bodies are close, the cord is like a thick cable. As the psychosoma withdraws from the place where the physical body is, the cord becomes thinner and more subtle.

The silver cord has also been called by several names: astral cord, fluidic cord, silver thread, silver web, luminous cord, vital cord, energetic cord, etc.

One of the basic fears of the initiate is that the energetic cord might be broken during projection, thus bringing upon the physical body’s death. This fear is baseless, as this does not happen. As far away as the projector may be, the silver cord will always bring him/her back to his physical body. It is also possible for the projector to lose himself outside of the body or not to want to return. To return, it is only necessary for the projector to think very firmly of his physical body and the coming back will be automatic. It is at this moment that many projectors have the sensation of falling and wake up frightened in their physical body.

The silver cord is a bundle of energies, an entanglement of energetic filaments interlinked. When the projection occurs, these energetic filaments, which were inlaid all over the physical body, project simultaneously from all of its parts and unite, forming the silver cord. The main energetic filaments are those that come from the head.

HOW IT HAPPENS

PROJECTION MAY BE VOLUNTARY OR INVOLUNTARY

In the involuntary projection, the person leaves the body without wanting this and cannot understand how this happened. Usually, the person lies down and falls asleep naturally. When he/she wakes up, discovers that he/she is floating out of the physical body, close to it or at a distance, in known or unknown places. In some cases, projection occurs even before the person fall asleep. In most of the involuntary projections, the projected person observes his/her physical body lying on the bed and becomes frightened, imagining that he/she is discarnate. Some projectors get so desperate that they dive back violently into the physical body, anxious to escape from that unusual situation. Others think they are having a nightmare and desperately try to awaken their physical body.

In the meanwhile, other persons that project involuntarily feel so well in such situation that don’t even question what happened, how it happened or why. The sensation of freedom and floating is so pleasant that nothing more matters to them. When they wake up in the physical body, some even imagine that the experience was a pleasant dream. Many dreams of flying or falling are directly related to the movements of the psychosoma during the projection.

There are voluntary projections in which the person tries to leave the body through his/her own will and succeeds. In this case, the projector commands the development of the experience and is totally conscious out of his body; he/she can calmly observe his/her physical body, travel freely to different places on the physical or extraphysical planes; meet with other projectors or discarnate entities. The projector can fly and go through physical objects, returning to his/her physical body whenever he/she wishes.

In the voluntary projection, the person has complete knowledge of what is occurring and tries to develop the process at his/her own will. In the involuntary projection, the person does not know what is occurring and, therefore, feels afraid with the experience. This fear is directly connected to the person’s lack of knowledge on the subject.

SYMPTOMS

Occasionally, the projector may feel paralyzed in his/her manifestation vehicles, especially within the activity range of the silver cord. This paralysis is called projective or astral catalepsy. It should not be taken as pathological catalepsy, which is a rare disease.

Projective catalepsy may occur before or after the projection. Usually, it happens as follows: the person wakes up during the night and discovers that he/she cannot move. It seems as if an invisible force is holding back all his/her movements. Desperate, he/she will try to scream, but this is useless. Tries to open the eyes, but this too is impossible. Some even create subconscious fantasies, imagining that some spirit has taken possession of all his/her movements. This catalepsy is benign and may lead to a projection if the person remains calm and imagines himself/herself floating above the physical body. Do not be afraid or anxious, and the projection will take place. It presents no danger whatsoever, on the contrary, it is totally harmless.

Therefore, if you should find yourself in this situation during any night, do not try to move. Remain calm and think very firmly of leaving your body and floating above it. Do not be afraid or anxious and the projection will happen.

In case you do not want to take the risk and wish to regain the control of your physical body, all you have to do is to try to move one finger or an eyelid, and immediately you will recuperate all movement.

Besides projective catalepsy, other small physical repercussions may occur at the beginning of a projection, mainly on the limbs. Many people, when they are just beginning to fall asleep, have the sensation of “sliding” or falling through a hole and wake up scared. This happens due to a small movement of the psychosoma within the physical body.

VIBRATIONAL STATE – These are intense vibrations that rub through the psychosoma and the physical body just before projection. Sometimes these vibrations intensify and form energetic ringlets that envelope both bodies. Occasionally, the vibrational state may produce a sort of buzzing or shrill sound that bothers the projector. In fact, these vibrations are caused due to the acceleration of the psychosoma’s energetic particles, thus creating a closed circuit of energies. These energies are completely harmless and are intended to separate both bodies.

TYPES OF PROJECTIONS

CONSCIOUS PROJECTION: - It is the one whereby the projector leaves the body and maintains his/her conscious lucid during the entire out-of-the-body experience.

SEMICONSCIOUS PROJECTION – It is the one whereby consciousness lucidity is irregular and the projector remains dreaming out-of-the-body, totally deceived by dreamlike ideas.

UNCONSCIOUS PROJECTION – It is the one whereby the projector leaves the body totally unconscious. He/she is an extraphysical sleepwalker. Unfortunately, most of the incarnates are in this situation.

In every projection, the spiritual mentors are present, assisting and orienting the projector, even though he/she does not sense them. The projection in which the spiritual guide helps the projector to leave the body is called an Assisted Projection.

PROJECTION AND DREAM

Many people mix up projection with dreaming. Others confound dream with projection. The differences between dream and projection are very obvious:

• In dreams, the consciousness does not have the hold over what is being experienced. It is totally dominated by oneirism.
  
• In projection, the consciousness has complete hold over itself.
  
• In dreams, there is no coherence.
  
• In projection, the consciousness maintains its normal coherence pattern, or even more enlarged.
  
• In dreams, the mental ability is reduced.
  
• In projection, the mental ability is amplified.

THE BENEFITS OF PROJECTION

• The projector, out-of-the-body, observes physical and extraphysical events apart from any assistance from his/her physical senses.
  
• During the hours while his/her physical body is sleeping, the projector observes, works, participates and learns out-of-the-body.
  
• The projector certifies through his/her own personal experience the reality of the spiritual world.
  
• He/she may meet with discarnate spirits, thus certifying to his/her own self, “in loco”, the survival of consciousness beyond death.
  
• He/she may substitute creeds by direct knowledge through personal experience.
  
• May have extraphysical retrocognition, i.e., remembrance of past lives and truly certifying, for him/herself, the existence of reincarnation.
  
• May lend extraphysical assistance through exteriorization of out-of-the-body energies to sick discarnates and incarnates.
  
• May make extraphysical desobsession.
  
• May meet with loved ones out-of-the-body.
  
• May obtain knowledge directly from the spiritual mentors out-of-the-body.