I had my first significant experience through out-of-body travel, but that is not the case for everyone. It is typical for someone to continue using the method that is the most successful for them. That could be meditation, yoga, chanting, automatic writing, or spending time in a sweat lodge. We have unlimited choices. Everyone is different and should follow the path that leads them to personal spiritual growth.

Important Note: The questions and responses that follow are generally applicable to any practice of inner exploration that you choose.

What is an OBE?

We are nonphysical consciousness temporarily using a biological body for experience and expression. Since the physical body is but a temporary vehicle, it is only natural for us to be able to separate from it and experience our true nonphysical self. This biological vehicle is provided to explore, interact, and learn within the physical dimension.

Out-of-body experiences are the shift or transfer of awareness from our physical to our higher-frequency nonphysical body. We are simultaneously using and controlling multiple energy (frequency) vehicles. Each of these energy vehicles exist at a distinctly different density and vibrational frequency. Ideally, all our energy vehicles work in harmony to assist in our personal development.

What is the difference between an out-of-body experience and astral projection?

These terms are interchangeable. It is a matter of personal preference, background of study, or how you define your own experience. Both are descriptions of separating your conscious awareness from your physical body. Technically, an astral projection is an astral body experience.

Here are a few benefits that have been reported by those who have out-of-body experiences.

1. Personal verification of our immortality – This can be a powerful, life-changing event experienced by millions every year. Without a doubt, out-of-body experiences provide firsthand, verifiable evidence of our ability to exist independent of our physical body.

2. Accelerated personal growth – The recognition and experience that we are more than physical beings opens entire new levels of personal development. I strongly believe that self-initiated and controlled experiences are the cutting edge of accelerated personal development. Once we consciously access and control our nonphysical self, we can unlock the unlimited knowledge of our subconscious mind and harness our ability to explore the universe.

3. Developing knowledge of human evolution – True evolution of our species is not the biological change around us but the evolution of consciousness. As our world becomes progressively more complex, there is an inner need to discover the unseen reason behind the rapid physical changes we perceive around us. This is the stimulus that will take our species into the next level of human evolution. When we look back at human history, we see a noticeable transition from physical-labor-based societies agricultural) to increasingly intellectual-based (technology) societies. Eventually our species will be ready for the next major step of evolution—the recognition and experience of our spiritual self and the exploration of the nonphysical dimensions.

4. Increased self-knowledge and spirituality – Many tell of profound insights into their spiritual nature that lead to a stronger connection with their spiritual essence. They have found a definite sense of being bonded to something far greater than themselves. Whether we call it spirit or the universal mind of God, there are consistent reports of a life-changing inner connection and the profound expansion of self-knowledge.

5. Obtaining personal answers – Each of us has questions relating to our existence: What are we? What is our purpose? Do we continue? What is the meaning of life? These questions and many more can only be answered through personal experience. Out-of-body and other explorations provide a powerful method for all of us to obtain the answers we seek. Why settle for beliefs when the answers are available?

6. Encountering a being of light or nonphysical resident of some kind – In my workshops, I repeatedly hear about face-to-face meetings with some form of nonphysical inhabitant. This can be the presence of guides or helpers.

7. Empowering self-knowledge and liberation from all beliefs – Self-knowledge is empowering for we no longer need to rely upon the many belief systems that dominate our world. Question everything, and seek the truth of your existence from your own explorations of consciousness.

The benefits of self-initiated out-of-body experiences or other explorations of consciousness are a reality that each of us can experience. This includes opportunity for healing, reducing fears, preparing for our transition, and personal answers to our questions about our place in the universe. All we need is an open mind and the proper guidance to access our unlimited personal potential. The ability to explore unseen areas of the universe is now available, but it is up to us to take the step from being a curious observer to being an active explorer. As for your personal explorations—perception and insights are unlimited.

Can’t I just read about these topics and learn the same thing?

How do you truly know something unless you experience it? OBEs provide a powerful “wake-up experience” that we are more than our physical bodies. This is a powerful confirmation of our immortality; aiding in the removal of fear and teaching us about the nature of our multidimensional spiritual selves. The following is an inspiring account from one of my workshop participants.

“During an OBE, I noticed this bright light through like a doorway on the opposite side of the room. I went into it and found myself in a world of ABSOLUTE beauty. I cannot describe in words just how beautiful it was. I had a close friend that passed away the 2nd of this month. I've since been quite down and depressed over his death. Well, while I was just admiring the beautiful world that I stepped in I heard a voice say, Hi Joe. It was my deceased friend's voice. I turned around to see him standing right in front of me smiling at me. He was dressed all in white. It took me a minute or two before I could speak from surprise. We talked for about 10 mins. He then told me that I better get back to my body and to not think of his passing as goodbye, but "Till we meet again." I went and retreated to my body. I woke up in tears. I am so thankful for that experience and getting to see my friend again. I've since been coping with his death so much better and with a different point of view over it. I feel like a ton has been lifted off my shoulders.”

This was so valuable to the writer of this experience because it brought a sense of absolute knowing that our lives as consciousness will continue. He could have read about this in a number of books, articles and web posts; but to have actually had the sights and sounds presented to him during an OBE created an undeniable reality for him.

What OBE method is best?

Everyone is different, so select a technique that matches your personal abilities and mindset; one that will focus your attention and support your ability to relax. Enjoy the process for 30 continuous days. Example, if you have good visualization skills, focus on a visualization method like the Target Technique. If you’re tactile-inclined, do the Rope method. Some do motion techniques such as rocking or spinning, or inner-energy expansion like the Christos method. Some like personal mantras such as “OBE Now!” as a silent chant. Another method that has become popular is the Wake/Back to Bed approach.

The bottom line: there is no best or ideal OBE technique, only approaches that are more in line with your mindset. This is the reason I offer a variety of methods in my online OBE workshops. See some sample types listed below. Also, remember that perseverance is always the unspoken key; it took me 24 days of dedicated daily practice to have my first self-initiated OBE in 1972.

Adventures Beyond the Body Workshop
Sample Technique Review

Carving your OBE Intention: This is a meditation that visually and mentally focuses your clear intention to have an OBE NOW. You send a powerful message of your intention to your subconscious and conscious mind. Now you are ready and open to explore beyond your physical body in full awareness.

Target Technique: Select multiple physical targets that focus and maintain your complete attention away from your body as you let go and flow.

Balloon Method: A fear reduction and OBE method combined. Visualize that you are in a hot-air balloon drifting up and away from your body. You can then release any blocks or fears and allow them to drop away. Allow your limits to fall away from you forever.

OBE Simulation: You are creating a simulated run-through as you imagine all the sensations of a classic OBE.

Shamanic OBE Method: Become the bird and feel yourself flying away from your body and enjoying the freedom of flight.

Affirmations Guided Practice: Using affirmations before or during your exploration will help you to focus on the goal of leaving the physical to explore the other levels. This makes for an effective sleep programming method as well.

Energy Portals Exercise: Surrender and allow the exercise to guide you through five energy portals taking you deeper into an altered state and away from your body.

Bridge to Your Higher Self Meditation: In this visualization you will create a clear and usable bridge (connection) from your physical body to your nonphysical bodies and potentially to your Higher Self.

The Ladder Method: This is a tactile technique that provides another method move your consciousness to a higher level. Also used as a separation strategy during the vibrational state for some people.

Vortex: This is a motion technique. You begin this visualization by relaxing in a pond of vibrant energy. You focus on your solar plexus and begin to move by spinning and activating your energy body and then moving away from all physical realities.

This list contains just a few types of OBE techniques. I have many scripts listed on my web site: www.astralinfo.org.

Should I use the same technique repeatedly until it works or should I use all of them?

This is a time for you to experiment with different options. Some people are good at visualization, others find success with something more tactile. Find what works for you and use it. If you want to see different results, then changing your technique may work for you.

Are there some common strategies I should use for these techniques?

After you have selected your technique, these are the basics.

• Remain completely relaxed and never think about your body during OBE methods or during the vibrational state.

• If one technique does not resonate with you, move on to another. It is not the intent to master them all but to find what works best for you.

• If you fall asleep consistently, then change your position or the time of day that you practice the technique. Example: changing your OBE practice location from your sofa to recliner.

• If you have a physical need (an itch, need to use the restroom or to cough) take care of that first and then return to your technique.

• Plan for one technique per day, so that you are not overwhelmed. Middle of the night and early morning are reported by many to be effective.

• Remain calm and surrender to the vibrational state, but do not obsess or focus on it. You may not even need to experience vibrations to have an OBE.

• Remember to use your control affirmations and commands while exploring the nonphysical.

• Write down your experiences, no matter how insignificant they may seem. You may find a connection later.

• Always begin with deep relaxation before your practice begins (5 to 10 minutes depending on your personal need.)

• After deep relaxation, perform an energy work exercise (5 to 10 minutes) and then practice your OBE technique.

• You are the only one who can interpret your experience. Trust your intuition when trying to determine what something means to you.

This is a lifetime adventure. Do not give up because you do not have an experience immediately. It may take time to condition your consciousness.

Most Important—have fun with the process!

Do you recommend any preparation methods before I begin my conscious exploration technique?

At the start of your practice, it is important to prepare your state of consciousness; this includes opening your primary energy centers. It is essential to guide yourself into an ideal, relaxed state of mind. Because a deeply relaxed state is so important, some people customize their own preparation with several minutes of breath work and some form of chakra (energy center) activation. I use “Opening the Central Channel” in my workshops. Ideally, repeat an energy process for five to ten minutes before each OBE method.

Enhance your Experience: Opening the Central Channel

Visualize that your entire spinal column from the top of your head to the bottom of your spine is an open channel or hollow tube filling with vibrant flowing light energy. Now imagine that the top of your head is opening and a stream of powerful white light is pouring into your body and flowing through your central channel. Pulse the moving light from your head to the bottom of your spine repeatedly for five to ten minutes immediately before your OBE practice.

What is the single most important thing I can do to hasten my spiritual development?

Practice an effective method to have your own profound spiritual experience. This does not have to be an out-of-body experience. Lucid dreaming, meditation, visualization, and automatic writing are just a few other options that can support your journey. The important thing is to make this a priority and practice daily.

What can I expect when I first travel beyond the physical?

Conscious exploration of the nonphysical varies from person to person. However, over the past forty years, I have noticed some remarkable similarities. How we react to the initial changes we experience will many times influence our results.

The rapid transfer of your awareness from your physical body to your nonphysical can be a startling leap if you are unprepared. Because of this, your positive and calm response to the sudden change of your personal location, perception, and viewpoint is essential to a successful controlled experience.

To assist your explorations, it will be helpful to have some idea of what to expect. The more prepared you are for the experience, the greater the control you will be able to exercise.

As you focus all your attention upon your out-of-body technique, your physical body will begin to become increasingly relaxed. Eventually your body will begin its transition into an altered state. As this transition occurs, you may experience a dramatic change. This change may occur immediately after your body goes to sleep or during a R.E.M. period. It is often during this transition that the inner signals (any vibrational state phenomena) are reported, so pay attention to any unusual internal sounds or sensations you may experience.

The following are the most reported conditions experienced immediately after an exploration technique.

1. Experiencing your energy self either lying or sitting within your physical body. This may be accompanied by an intense vibration circulating through your entire energy body. You may feel out-of-sync with your physical body and ready to simply "lift out" of the physical. This is completely natural. Just direct yourself to move away from your physical vehicle.

2. Floating, standing, or lying just outside your physical body.

3. Standing or sitting at one of your target areas observing your new environment. This shift of awareness is rapid, so remain calm and enjoy your new perception and vibration rate.

4. Experiencing a lucid dream. (This is a dream in which you become consciously aware of your environment.) During this dream, you may experience one or more of your inner signals. Focus your attention on the vibration or sound and direct yourself away from your body (use a strong command such as Door Now! Roll Now!).

5. Experiencing a nonphysical environment that is different from your daily surroundings. Remain calm and enjoy it.

How should I respond to my shifts of consciousness?

First, remain calm; any sense of panic or thoughts of the body will bring you directly back to physical consciousness. Then, without fear, completely surrender to the inner vibrations, motion, lightness, or sounds and allow them to envelop your entire being. Accept these as natural and positive signs of a potential spiritual experience. These energy sensations are normal and indicate that a trance state is in process.

At this point you may have a sense of separation from your body; this could manifest as floating, sinking, or spinning. During deep trance states you can request to experience your spiritual self with firm affirmations such as, “Spiritual Essence Now,” or “Higher Self Now!” Be completely open to the results and allow a perception of expansion, rapid inner movement, or any shift of consciousness that may follow. Enjoy your amazing journey. Refer to Adventures Beyond the Body for more details and instruction.

What can I do to control my experience?

Stay calm during all inner-dimensional shifts of awareness and if required silently demand, “Stability Now!” to stabilize any oscillating state of consciousness within a specific altered-state experience. The core of spiritual self-empowerment is knowing that you are the creative force of your experience in every dimension.

Our physical concepts have little bearing in the nonphysical dimensions of the universe. To be effective explorers of consciousness we must learn the nonphysical “rules of the road.” To assist your explorations, I have detailed an overview of commonly reported situations, events, and challenges. A comprehensive list outlining the “Keys to Control” can be found on my website.

During trance states and out-of-body adventures, it is essential to remain calm and recognize that we are always the power center of our experiences. This information applies to all inner-exploration methods, including meditation, yoga, trance states, shamanic, and medicine plant journeys.

What is the number one universal block to astral projection, OBEs?

Our fears, both conscious and subconscious!

What we allow to enter and take root in our mind will seriously impact our ability to have conscious exploration beyond the physical. Our fears will also color/distort our perception of our nonphysical experiences. And this can be true for any exploration of consciousness that we pursue.

The bottom line, becoming aware of and purging our fears is a lifetime process if you desire to become an effective explorer of consciousness. It is essential to become highly discriminating what you allow in your mind for we create the blocks and limits we experience. See the chapter “Self-Knowledge Dissolves Fear.”

What is the “click out” and why is it important to OBEs?

Most people doing active techniques from the awake state will briefly lose consciousness (commonly called clicking out). Do not fight the process by attempting to remain awake and aware within your physical body. Instead let go and flow with your completely relaxed but focused personal intention; examples, OBE Now! Astral Now! Embrace the temporary “click out,” for it is normal. Think of this process as a positive and natural opportunity to shift your awareness from the physical body to the nonphysical.

To clarify, I have always briefly clicked out before my self-initiated OBEs from the awake state. I realized long ago that focusing on my physical body sensations in any way was grounding (anchoring) me to the density of the physical. Focusing on your body or the sensations will lock you in your body, allow yourself the freedom to let go and flow away from the body!

Does it help to use crystals, singing bowls, amulets, or other accessories when meditating?

There are personal choices in any spiritual exploration. I always encourage people to try different methods, techniques, timing, locations, and even body position to find what works best. It is likely that your practice will vary from that of your friend or loved one. If holding a crystal moves you to the meditative space that you choose, then yes, you should use it. It is important to remember, though, that the power always lies within you—within your subconscious mind. And for that you do not require anything but your focused intention.

You refer to journaling quite often. Why is this so important?

Always make notes in your journal when you have any dreams, sensations, vibrational state experiences, or other explorations of consciousness. Journaling sends a strong message to your subconscious mind that you are committed to consciously move beyond the physical.

It will also help you to identify the techniques that work best for you, the time of day that is most productive, and even your mindset at the time of the experience.

What may seem like a nonessential event during your dream may become clear as you review a series of experiences. As an example, over the course of several weeks I had three separate dreams that involved a roof. In one I was inspecting some roof beams that were deteriorating in my hands, another one where a UFO had crashed into my roof, and yet another where I was on the roof cleaning some glass panels so that it was easier to see the sky. Any one of those might not be important, but as a series it began to create a personal message to me.

Is it necessary to eliminate meat, alcohol, or other consumables to have an out-of-body experience?

I have found that consuming in moderation will support a productive practice. It is, however, recommended that you do not eat a heavy meal or consume alcohol/depressants or caffeinated beverages immediately prior to beginning your practice because biological functions will likely interrupt your nonphysical journey.

Should grounding be used in my practice?

Never ground yourself before your meditative practice. In fact, you want to have energy flowing when you begin your techniques. I provide some energy work examples in the chapter “The Vibrational State, Recognizing the Precursors to an Out-of-Body Experience.” After any technique, it is important to journal thoughts or experiences that you can remember.

If you desire you can select a method to ground yourself before you resume your normal activity; this especially applies to driving a vehicle immediately after any altered-state experience. When you regain your feelings of physical presence, you can continue to enjoy the stillness with peace of mind. Your state of relaxation can continue, but your mind will be more centered on the physical.

What are some good grounding suggestions?

This will be an individual preference, so I suggest that you try some different actions to see what works in your environment. Here are a few basic methods that are used today:

1. Participate in a physical activity like walking or any type of exercise.

2. Spend time in nature. If possible, walk barefoot, connecting your feet to the ground. Run your hands along a shrub or the bark of a tree. Feel your connection with the earth.

3. Eat a light meal or slowly drink a glass of water.

4. While seated in a comfortable position, imagine that your spinal column is a tree growing or expanding its roots into the ground and securing you to the earth.