Astral projection is in fact a natural ability which everyone possesses, with many people actually doing it without being aware of it. However, the aim should be to do it while you?re conscious thereby being able to control what your astral body is doing.

While this article is an attempt to help people learn about astral projection using different techniques, you should keep in mind that astral projection is a personal experience so ideally, you need to apply a technique that works best for yourself. Furthermore, we?re taking the liberty of assuming that you are already familiar with the meaning of astral projection.

The first technique is one that you can do when you've gone to bed for the night. Let's break it down into five steps.

*Your first goal is to initiate a state of adequate relaxation by relaxing your entire body. In order to reach this state of relaxation you need to be lying down and then, starting at the lowest point which is your toes, tense each muscle and then relax it again. Once you?ve finished doing this with your toes, you do it with you feet, then your lower legs, then your thighs and so you continue upwards until you eventually finish with the muscles in your face. If at this point you feel your body is becoming heavy, do be alarmed at all as this is exactly what should be happening.

*Now that you?ve managed to achieve a state of deep relaxation, you need to bring your breathing under control and the best way to do this, is by following a technique often taught in meditation. Take deep breath and allow yourself to actually feel the movement of air as it makes its way into your lungs. Now exhale slowly, once again paying attention to the feeling of the air leaving your body. Many people find this difficult as they become so relaxed, they simply fall asleep which of course, is something you need to avoid. Mentally trying to focus on the centre of your forehead will however help you remain conscious.

*After several of these breathes, begin thinking of how your body feels, which should be like a heavy slab of clay and difficult to move. Once you sense that you feel this way, shift your attention into your astral body, which is weightless and free, nothing like your physical body. Close your eyes and envision your astral Self, a feather in the wind, or a luminous bird.

*It?s now in this fourth stage that many people tend to see the room they?re in filled with a soft purple light. Likewise, they tens to see the entire room even though their physical body is lying on the bed with eyes closed. It?s hardly surprising then that so many people report that this is where the thrill of astral projection starts.

*This is the stage that you?ve been aiming for so you need to go through with it and whatever you do, don?t fall asleep. As you focus on the ceiling light, imagine trying to pull it down onto the bed. As you mentally pull the light towards you, you?ll more than likely experience a floating feeling. Staying conscious, continue pulling the light until you become aware of yourself actually floating and then go ahead, look down and in most cases, you?ll be able to see yourself lying on the bed.

This means you're now able to astral project and are prepared to move on to astral travel. But, if that one doesn't work for you, try the next technique, which is also to be used when you're going to bed for the night.

Known as the gazing technique, this second method is also best done when going to bed. However, with the gazing method, all you require is something on which you can focus such as a picture or even the moon outside if it?s within view.

Simply begin focusing all your attention on the object you?ve chosen for the occasion while you are lying down on your bed. Inevitably your eyes will soon start to feel increasingly heavy and irrespective of how hard you try, your eyes will eventually close. This is a perfectly normal part of the process so don?t feel disheartened but instead, you must make sure that you continue staring at the object through your closed eyes. Providing you do this, you will soon start to sense an irresistible urge to sit up or to stand up. Don?t fight this urge as the feeling is coming from your astral body rather than your physical body. You?ll soon realize this though as because when you turn around, you?ll be able to see your physical body lying on the bed.

If you?re really serious about learning to astral project, you need to understand that these methods aren?t always successful on your first attempt. In all likelihood you may not even be successful with your second or third attempt either but if after that they still don?t work, don?t give up because there are still other techniques so simply try again using a new method.

Astral projection is often hindered or even prevented simply because your subconscious mind refuses to allow it and until such time that your subconscious accepts the fact that its okay for your astral body to leave your physical body you may not be successful. An effective tool for getting past this obstacle is through affirmations which will enable your subconscious to come to terms with the aspect of astral projection.

Being able to astral project after the on the first attempt is simply not possible for some people as their mind needs to be conditioned. Fortunately there are some very powerful tools which can do this for you in a very short space of time.

For those who experience difficulty astral projecting, hypnosis may well prove to be an invaluable tool. Not only does it get you into an ideal state of relaxation, but a quality session will also prepare you for your first astral projection experience.

Recent developments in sound technology known as ?binaural beats? are also proving to be very effective in getting people into a state of relaxation suitable for successful astral projection.

Remember, everyone is born with the ability to astral project. All the various techniques and tools such as hypnosis simply offer a little help for those who are experiencing difficulty.