Dangers of Astral Projection
Posted by dr3amh3rbs on Oct 24th, 2011 in Helpful Articles | 6 commentsMuch like lucid dreaming, gaining the ability to astral project can open up opportunities for adventure, personal insight and mental exploration. However, if you’re new to the idea of astral travel, it’s good to seek out more information on the dangers of astral projection. While most astral projections I’ve read about were positive experiences, there are also anecdotes from people who have had frightening astral projection experiences. In the article below, I’ll try to describe some of the potential dangers of astral projection and the different methods of astral projection protection that you can take to deal with these dangers if you decide to try astral projection.
One of the first things people ask is, can you die from astral projection? People who practice astral projection claim that a “silver cord” connects the astral body to the physical one, which has given rise to the idea that the physical body will die if this silver cord is severed. First of all, astral travel practitioners generally agree that it is not possible to sever the silver cord. Generally speaking, nothing you can do while astral will harm your physical body, and because the astral body is immaterial, it can’t be physically harmed. That said, your body can still experience physical harm while you’re astral, so it’s always important to choose a safe, private space like your bedroom for your astral projection experiments. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable going to sleep in a park at night, don’t use it as a space for astral projection As long as you are sleeping in a safe space, though, the known astral projection dangers do not include death.
Another danger of astral projection is that people have reported having difficulty breathing at the onset of astral projection, especially as they’re starting to float upwards or just after they’ve left their bodies. This might be a side effect of sleep paralysis, as your brain tries to process the sensations of leaving your body. Breathing through your nose can speed up the process of separation, and so can maintaining a calm intention to complete your astral projection. Especially the first time you manage it, such astral projection side effects can be alarming. Fear can interfere with your breathing and make it that much harder to separate from your body. It’s a lot easier to fall back into your body from a projected state than to leave it; if your body is in any physical distress or danger, most likely you’ll reenter it immediately.
However, what if something has gotten there before you? The fear of possession is one of the perceived dangers of astral projection that is most likely to make people leery to try it. If you astral project, you’ll probably emerge on one of the lower planes: many practitioners claim this plane is home to what have been variously called demons or malevolent spirits, which can take over your body when you’re away. While I’ve never heard or read about an instance of actual possession, it’s probably prudent to take steps to protect yourself against any hostile-seeming entities you may encounter in the astral state. Some precautions include imagining a white or golden light around your astral body, calling on protective spirits, angels or guides to help you,or even saying a prayer to banish hostile entities. You can usually tell if a presence or spirit is malevolent by its aura, which may be dark, muddled, or simply give you a ‘bad vibe’. It’s up to you to interact with these entities or not; according to astral projection lore, they can’t harm or possess you unless you invite them to do so.
For astral projection newbies, another of the dangers of astral travel that can be of concern is not being able to return to your body after an astral journey. All the accounts I’ve read agree that it is not possible to become permanently lost from your body. While astral, it usually takes no more effort than thinking about your physical body for you to rush back into it. This is because you are highly suggestive to mental suggestion while in an astral state: if you want to travel somewhere, it usually takes no more effort than imagining where you want to go. If you think about your physical body, you’ll find yourself back in it. Keeping separate from your physical body is what takes mental focus and concentration. So, I wouldn’t include ‘losing’ your body among potential astral travel dangers.
Like the phenomenon of astral projection itself, I’m not going to debate whether astral projection involves actual travel to a different plane or if, instead, it is a type of lucid dream. The reality is that some people have had frightening experiences during astral projection and have explained them as encounters with malevolent entities or troubles associated with leaving or getting back to their physical bodies. Whether astral projection is a mental or a metaphysical journey, making your mind a calm and safe place is a good way to mitigate or avoid a scary astral projection experience. Remember that you have the ability to shape your astral journey and surround yourself with protective and nurturing energy, and you will be able to have an experience that is enriching rather than frightening.
[...] and demons, or good and evil spirits, and recommend that anyone who wants to astral project take steps to protect the astral body against malevolent influences. I’ll leave the question of whether astral projection really [...]
So if i wanted to i could go across the world in astral form by just thinking about it?? And if i feel like im in danger just think of my body and i will pop back in it? Also i feel like ive encountered astral form as a young child *around 7-9 years old* however these journeys/ dreams were never fun at all. Especially they always took place in the area where i fell asleep. Like i remember as a kid falling asleep and what seemed like i had to use the bathroom got up and went to pee but as i entered the hallway where the bathroom was i saw a “demonic figure” atleast it was like some black being with razer like fingers and red eyes, and was immediatly frightened and then it called my name and as i tryed to run back to my bed the hallway seemed like it stretched out and i was moving very slowly and darkness was creeping around me in the hallway and i closed my eyes then woke up in my bed, heart racing, and sweating like if it was 300 degrees in the room but it was during the winter in new york!!! And if i remember correctly it was around 3:00AM!! I didnt fall asleep for the rest of that night. And its happened recently again except now i live in georgia and am 16 but i guess it hasnt happened much since ive grown it out?? Ive always believed that a demon is fed by ones fear. If you are afraid then you only give it power. Quote me on anything if im wrong.
Hi Marcos!
Thank you for the comment. I’ve not had the experience myself, but many people who work with astral travel report being able to travel to other parts of the world and return to their body at will.
It sounds like your nightmares were not exactly astral travel – in an astral experience, you are fully aware that you are dreaming and have control over the dream state. In a nightmare like that one, it sounds like you aren’t aware that your dreaming and you don’t have any control – so maybe learning to astral travel will actually help you manage nightmares like that one! And yes, I also believe that demons are fed by fear. If you don’t fear that demon, and are able to recognize that he is just a dream and that you have control over him, he will have no power at all!
You should really watch insidious if you havent. the main “entity”, the one called insidious has actually been said to exist in the astral plain. not just in the movie. but it feeds off of fear like you said, has red eyes, a black body, fed face, and literally razorlike fingers(even as seen sharpening in the movie) i think i also hear or read somewhere that young children were more likely to encounter this particular entity.
Thanks
Think I’m going to put that one in my queue!
I can naturally astral project but I fear doing so because entities and spirits are often drawn to me. I’ve heard of crystals and blessed symbols from churches can help protect your physical body while projecting. There’s a negative entity in my house my friend has recognized as a demon who has a special interest in me increasing my fear of astral projection. Are there any good books to help protect myself and my room from these entities? Preferably traditional instead of new age. I am planning a native american sage cleansing to try to rid this thing from my home.
Dear Katie,
Amethyst and some other gem stones will definitely protect your physical body when you are astral projecting. If you have faith in a particular religion, then items or relics from a church will definitely assist as well. Sage is also a great way to go about removing negative energies, but it’s best to follow with burning some sweetgrass to bring positive spirits in to replace the old negative ones.
I haven’t read any books on removing entities, and I’m uncomfortable recommending books I haven’t read, but I know it can help to do a ‘ransom’ ritual with negative entities. Create a bit of dough made from flour and water, and make the imprint of your right hand in it. Then offer this to the spirit, and if you can feel the spirit attaching to it, take it and throw it as far away from the house as you can. This is a very ancient Tibetan method that I have found effective. It is usually best to let the spirit know that you want only the best for it, but that it will be better of if it leaves.
Best of luck! Come back and let me know if you have any more questions!