Astral projection - the idea that every living organism consists of several layers of being that exist in parallel on different vibrational levels - is present in numerous ancient texts and cultures.

The oldest evidence of humanity’s comprehension of the body’s plurality is found in records created by the priests of Ancient Egypt - dating back 3,000 to 5,000 years. Later, the same concept reemerged through various sacred scripts such as the Bible, the Kur'an, and Hindu and Shamanic scriptures.

Alongside this understanding of the multi-layered nature of existence, the question arose – ‘is it possible to separate different vibrational layers and detach from the physical body, in order to enter different dimensions?’.

The term astral projection refers exactly to that - intentionally detaching the astral body from the physical one so that the person can gain access to different realms of existence, which enable better understanding, wider perception and greater clarity. The lessons learned during astral travel remain stored in the memory and can be of great benefit to the practitioner if properly integrated upon their return to the physical realm.

Although the practice of astral projection existed for a long time under different names, it was around the 1970s that it was introduced into popular culture by Robert Monroe. Monroe is noted for having many astral projections, which he documented in three of his books: Journeys Out of the Body (1971), Far Journeys (1985), and Ultimate Journey (1994).

It is important to keep in mind that every experience of astral projection is different and unique, but all of them occur on the same astral plane, which is frequently called the 4th dimension. Through entering a higher vibrational dimension from the one in which we live, we get the chance to experience different realms, travel around the world effortlessly if we wish to do so, meet other entities and gain a deeper understanding of certain phenomena or events that we’ve been struggling with in our day-to-day life. As our consciousness temporarily leaves our physical vessel, we enter the realm in which different rules apply, where all senses are increased and magnified, manifestations occur instantly and there’s no gravity or at least we are not bound by it.

When astral projecting, people often get the chance to visit their past lives, meet deceased members of their family or friends, recall their true purpose of coming to this lifetime on Earth, meet their spirit guides and guardians and understand life after death. The real benefit of astral projection is that we remain completely awake during the whole process and remember everything, even once we re-enter our physical body.

There are various methods and techniques that enable the experience of astral projection. Here we are going to present the most popular and accessible one, called "The Rope Technique" that was made known by Robert Bruce, founder of the Astral Dynamics movement and author of the book - Astral Dynamics: The Complete Book of Out-Of-Body Experiences.

The Rope Technique

Note: It is best to try this method after a full night of sleep, when you are well-rested and not running the risk of falling asleep during the process. Find a dark, quiet and comfortable place that you are familiar with and follow the steps below:

1. Relax your physical body - focusing on each of its parts, starting with the toes and slowly moving up to the crown of the head.
2. Once fully relaxed, you need to enter a hypnotic state where your mind is at the edge of sleep and no further. You can attain that state through focused breathing and visualising, in detail, an object that you are familiar with.
3. With your eyes still closed, move the sight from your chosen object and look around. Gaze into the darkness and stay open and aware of the images that emerge.
4. This is the most vital step and it may take longer, especially at the beginning. Tune into the subtle vibrations and acknowledge your astral body rising slowly above your physical body.
5. Focus on those vibrations and try to control them with your mind using your willpower. Notice that you have the power to control the frequency of the waves as well as stopping and starting them. Once this step is mastered, proceed to the next one.
6. Imagine a rope hanging right above you. Without opening your eyes or moving your physical body, visualise your astral body reaching for the rope and grabbing it. Start pulling yourself up, leaving the physical body behind, still and deeply relaxed. Be patient as this step can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
7. Right before fully detaching from your physical body you may feel your body starting to shake and then experience what is known as "THE POP" – the instance in which your astral body leaves your physical body and you can start your journey through the astral plane.
8. Try to stay lucid and awake during your travel and set the intention to remember everything when you come back. Some people tend to get hazy and confused which makes it more difficult to fully remember the experience and travel intentionally - gathering the information that may serve them in some way.
9. Explore this beautiful experience to the fullest - travel, fly, and visit places you are less familiar with, ask questions you want answers to, manifest whatever your heart desires. As fun and amazing as the astral journey may be by itself, make sure to set your intentions before heading to the higher realms, in order to enrich your everyday life once you come back or progress on your spiritual journey.
10. "How do I return to my physical body?", you may wonder. As your astral body is connected to your physical body by a silver cord, you can simply follow the cord and merge back. If you are more grounded and not so deeply immersed in the astral realm, it is as easy as opening the eyes of your physical body and becoming aware of your surroundings in the 3D plane.