Astral projection is not really the mysterious or mystic thing it's usually made out to be–it's a natural human capability. Numerous people have astral projection or astral travel experiences but don't realize it because they aren't in control of where they go or what they do.

Assuming that you already know what astral projection is and what it's basically about, the following techniques may help you assume control over your own astral projection ability so that you can harness the magnificent power of this amazing experience to deepen your awareness of your place in this vast, vast universe.

First I offer you a five step method that works for many people learning to astral project.

*Commencing with your toes, tense up and then relax each muscle. Once you?ve completed doing this with your toes, do the same tense and relax exercise with your feet, followed by the muscles in your lower legs and so on. You need to repeat this exercise on every muscle and part of your body as you work your way up, finally finishing with your facial muscles. It goes without saying that this is best done while lying down on your bed. The fundamental purpose of doing these exercises is to bring about a state of deep and absolute relaxation.

*For many beginners trying to astral project, the most challenging aspect of this stage is staying awake as you find yourself becoming totally relaxed. We now have to deepen and slow down your breathing and to do this we use a technique most often used in meditation. This method requires that you take slow but deep breaths while paying close attention to the feeling of air actually making its way into your lungs. As you begin breathing out, you again focus your attention to the feeling of air leaving your body. It?s important to ensure that you exhale all the air you have. In order to avoid sleeping, attempt to focus on an imaginary spot situated in the centre of your forehead.

*The third phase is to focus on the concept weightlessness regarding your astral body as well as the real weight of your physical body. By this stage your physical body will be feeling heavy so try to picture it as being a huge lump of clay, heavy and difficult to move. Additionally, you need to focus on how light your astral body feels by comparison. Imagine it to be a large bubble starting to float away up into the air, or even some feathers drifting away on a gentle breeze. Still with your eyes closed, visualize your astral body starting to separate from your physical body and drift away, taking in the feeling of complete weightlessness. Acknowledge to yourself, that your physical body is extremely heavy and almost impossible to move; your astral body on the other hand, has absolutely no weight at all, free to drift on the wind.

*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.

*See yourself being pulled up into the ceiling light. It's likely that you'll experience a physical sensation of floating and should be able to look down at your own prone physical body on the bed.

As I mentioned earlier in this article, different techniques work for different people. If this first method has failed you, don?t give up. Simply move on and try the next method mentioned below. Likewise, if this method has worked then you?re on your way to start experimenting astral travelling.

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.

So, having chosen it, just lie in bed and begin gazing fixedly at this object. After a little while your eyelids will grow heavy, but you must keep staring. Next you'll reach a point where your eyes do close but you can still see the object as if they were open. Keep gazing at the object through your closed eyes. You'll come to a point where you want to stand or sit up. Do so, and then don't be surprised when you turn to see your own body lying on the bed!

These methods, like anything else, will probably require you to practice them over and over for a little while until you get results. So don't give up and don't let yourself become frustrated or discouraged as these feelings will just inhibit you from doing astral projection.

Most importantly, it?s essential to understand that one?s subconscious mind is the biggest obstacle in your path to successful astral projection, no matter what tools or techniques you decide to use. Before one can astral project, you need to convince your subconscious mind that it?s acceptable for your astral body to leave your physical body and one effective means of doing this is through affirmations. Once your subconscious has come to terms with the concept, astral projection becomes easy.

For some, conditioning one?s mind to an extent where astral projection becomes easy can take considerable time but the good news is, there are some powerful short cuts which can make it possible even after one attempt.

One of the shortcuts is hypnosis. A good hypnotist can tell you what you are experiencing as you enter into the right state of mind, so you don't have to worry about what you 'should ' be experiencing.

The recently developed sonic technology of 'binaural beats ' can also program your subconscious mind to be deeply relaxed and let down the guard against astral projection.

Everybody is born with the natural ability to astral project. Techniques and tools such as affirmations and hypnosis simply offer a little assistance to those who struggling to learn.