Forced or Involuntary?

[Pandora]

I have read about astral projection as a regular, intentional, and spiritual practice; but my one experience with it was quite frightening and it is not something I intend to do on purpose ever again.

When it happened, I was asleep and having a frightening dream pertaining to something that was extremely stressful in my life at the time. Suddenly, I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I knew I was asleep at that point and that I had to wake myself up. I couldn't breathe at all. I attempted to wake myself; my body felt as heavy as lead, but I managed to drag myself to the door. Then I woke up in my bed.

I know that sometimes people have dreams that they wake up when they actually don't, but something about this was much different. I am absolutely sure that I was there and did make it to the door, only to be sucked back into my body. Since this was such a terrifying experience for me, I was wondering why it is that people do it as a practice. It seems very dangerous to leave one's body unattended at any time.

There was a film recently made, called Insidious, in which a little boy, unaware, performs astral projection while he is sleeping. In doing so, he attracts dark spirits that pursue him, waiting for him to leave his body so they can get in. It seems that every portrayal I have seen of astral projection has been a negative one. Is there anyone who cares to shed some light on the subject and clear up some of what I am sure are my misconceptions?

[habibidancer]

Well, I myself would not intentionally try astral projection without setting up protection for myself, both physically and astrally. Perhaps that is why you found it so difficult to get to the door and then snapped back so quickly... your body was trying to protect you by making it so difficult to leave.

However, I have often thought that I would like to do some astral travel because I suspect that I may not actually be able to physically travel to Egypt. The political unrest and the financial cost are prohibitive. But I desperately want to visit there, and astral travel may end up being the only means. But like I said, if I do that, it would be with several layers of protection and some practice traveling "locally" first to make sure I have the knack down for getting back quickly and safely.

[Pandora]

^ I am definitely glad my body was trying to protect me. I don't even want to think about what might have happened had it not had that natural instinct.
It seems a little less intimidating with the thought of setting up protection beforehand, but I don't think it's going to become something I would ever do on purpose.
Thank you for the info

[lorifiya]

i don't know what it was but when i was in jr high. I would be sleeping and then suddenly i would wake up with the jolt feeling that I fell onto the bed. Im not sure if i was unknowingly astral projecting, levitating in my sleep, or if it was just a full body spasm. It was strange to wake up to. it hasn't happened for awhile though, not sure why or what?

[Lady Motevia]

Astral projection can be a little scary if you're doing it for the first time. I tell people who ask me to teach them that it's best to do a guided projection with a teacher before venturing out by yourself. I remember this one time I was in massage therapy school. Now, I've been astrally projecting for many years of my young life. For some reason, it's just come naturally to me and when I was little I used to do it all the time without ever learning what astral projection was. But this was different. We were meditating like we sometimes did in class when I went into a sort of trance. I wasn't asleep because I could still hear the teacher talking. We were doing a guided meditation practice where we were picturing our bodies becoming like trees- our feet becoming roots deep in the Earth and our arms becoming branches reaching out to the sky. When my arms became branches, something pulled my arms and yanked me out of my body. I found myself in nothing. What I mean to say is... there was nothing. I was nothing. Nothing was around me, nothing was in me, yet I was one with this nothing and yet one with everything at the same time. It was very strange. I know that something pulled me out of my body for me to experience this, this... union of nothing. I could hear the instructor telling us to come out of meditation, but I couldn't. I wasn't in my body. I wasn't anywhere near my body. Eventually whatever pulled me out put me back in and I woke up with a start. I was sick for the next 30 minutes at least. I literally felt like I was going to hurl.

So, yes, astral projection can be scary. But that experience I had was definitely worth the uncomfortable feelings that came afterwards. I agree with Habibidancer that your body was trying to protect you. Astral projection is not something to be feared if you do it properly. Sometimes there's a reason that we leave our bodies without really intending to because there is something that we need to learn- either about ourselves or about our world. Has this ever happened to you before or since then? Before doing astral projection on purpose, it's a good idea to first learn proper meditation and energy work so that you can protect yourself and your body once you leave it. If you have any questions about it, you are more than welcome to send me a message. I could even help you if you want to learn.

[Pandora]

^ No, it hasn't happened to me since. I've always had trouble with meditation as well; chaotic or frightening or emotionally-upsetting thoughts. But then I read somewhere that when you first begin meditating, this is bound to happen, and once you get past it, there is a place of peace and calm and oneness. I've just been to afraid to let all of that in and face it.

[habibidancer]

something I often don't see mentioned is that it might be a good idea to ground and center before meditating and/or astral travel.
Pandora, meditating never has come easy to me either. Even once I get past the upsetting thoughts I have a "busy" brain, always thinking or imagining things. Very hard for me to be "quiet" in my head. I do exceptionally well with guided visualization type meditations though. I have always grounded/centered before starting any of these though, and that has always helped me. so if I were going to try astral travel, in addition to setting up protection, I would also ground/center.

[Lady Motevia]

Yes, Habibidancer. This is why I said "proper" meditation. A lot of people have problems with meditation or astral projection because they do not first know how to center or ground themselves. I think another good workshop for all of us would be a guided meditation that can give everyone the groundwork for doing meditation on their own. From there, we can begin astral projection as a group.

[lorifiya]

That would be neat to do.

when I meditate I have to listen to some kind of music 'cause it's the easiest way to get my mind to shut up.

[darlingstrawberry]

That would be pretty neat. I find astral projection really interesting, and meditating is never a bad thing

[Lady Motevia]

Very true, darlingstrawberry. One day I plan to open my own herbal store/Reiki shop and hold meditation classes. I just think it would be so neat!

[lorifiya]

That would be great, and I'm sure all of us would probably be some of your first customers.

[Lady Motevia]

That would be awesome! If I can get up enough consumer interest between now and when I finish my apprenticeship in a year or two, maybe I'll be able to get a small business loan. The QCA is severely lacking a magickal touch.

[lorifiya]

Most deffinately, though it doesn't help that most of the midwest are church fanatics

[Lady Motevia]

So very true.