My First Astral Projection Experience

I first learned about astral projection through a friend who was attending one of The Gnostic Movement’s centers. At the time, I was more interested in self-discovery and learning about the complex inner world of thoughts and emotions and how to eliminate negative states. I was looking for a radical change.

I decided to attend the Self-Discovery course at the center and there I learned that the astral plane is the place where we can get spiritual information, guidance, and also get shown how we are doing spiritually. There was no question in my mind that astral projection was something I had to try. I was very scared though - I didn’t know what to expect! I took the Dreams and Out-of-Body Experiences course and started to diligently apply the techniques I had learned.

Months went by, and I still wasn’t able to consciously project. I was, however, having very good dream experiences. I even woke up in one where I was in the ocean swimming with humpback whales! It was very peaceful and loving and I could hear their beautiful songs. During that experience I also felt myself come back into my body. I was determined to have a conscious experience though, so I kept trying.

It wasn’t until I attended the North American retreat that I had my first conscious out-of-body experience. I did a 4 a.m. meditation practice and then went back to my room to try and astral project. As I was drifting off, I could hear the birds singing outside. At that moment, I remembered something that Samael Aun Weor had written in one of his books. He wrote in The Mystery of the Golden Blossom that birds are the physical body of an elemental and that they can help us project if we respect them. Before the retreat I was having some interesting experiences with birds, so I decided to ask the birds for help. There is a mantra he gave in that same chapter, but I could not remember it. So, instead I concentrated on the sound of the birds singing beautifully right outside my window. I asked the birds with my heart for help as I sustained my concentration. I could feel my body buzzing and vibrating.

Then before I knew it I was awake again…or was I? I could see, but then I realized that my eyes were shut - I was looking through my closed eyelids! I felt some excitement but quickly brought my concentration back to the birds so I would not lose my experience right away. I could then feel my astral body a bit disconnected from my physical body. At this point, I tried to sit up, but it was like my legs were stuck. I tried again and asked for help. Then I remembered that one of the teachers had mentioned that she has had to roll out of her body before. So, I did just that. I asked for help again, rolled to the side and to my amazement, my astral body was free from my physical body!

I got up and started to jump to see if I really was in the astral. I remember I kept thinking that if I wasn’t that I would wake my roommate up. I jumped and the ceiling kept moving away from me, so then I decided I better get outside before I wake up. I opened the door and headed downstairs. I stopped on the stairs to do another reality check because it felt so real, I was worried that the girls in the house would think I was a crazy person running around the lodge… I pulled my finger, and it stretched! I kept running down the stairs, and I saw the living room and ran outside. I saw something strange outside that I think was a projection of my subconscious, and started to analyze it. As soon as I started to think about it too much, I felt everything fading away and I felt my astral body tingling back into my physical one.

This short but profound experience brought so much to my life. It not only verified that the astral plane is a real place, but it also gave me the strength to keep investigating. It showed me that there is so much more to life and ever since then I have felt a special closeness and fondness for birds.

~ Katie
San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA