(ebook) - Hansford, Ebooks, pobierz pdf

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
TL: Magick, Astral Projection** MAGICK 9 -- ASTRAL PROJECTION **Astral projection (OOBE, out of the body experience) is apopular area of occult literature; for traveling to see otherworlds and places while the physical body sleeps or is entrancedis an exciting notion. Astral projection is not dangerous. It isas safe as sleeping. Most dreams are probably unconscious astralprojections, anyway. Although there has been quite a bit writtenon the subject, astral projection is difficult for many people.The main difficulty is the tendency to forget dream consciousnessupon awakening. Accordingly, the successful practice of astralprojection requires work.Modern psychology discounts the idea of actual OOBE (thatthe spirit temporarily vacates the physical body). However, theidea is very ancient. The Tibetans have an entire system of yoga(dream yoga) based upon astral projection. And here we have animportant assumption: you are involved in an OOBE (at least to adegree) whenever you dream. What sets it apart from a full OOBEis your hazy consciousness during the experience and poor recallafterwards. Many people forget most of their dreams completely.Learning astral projection requires a kind of inner mentalclarity and alertness.Dreams are a door to the subconscious which can be used forpsychological and spiritual insight, and sometimes forprecognition. Dream content is influenced by external sounds andsensations. For example, a loud external noise (such as a train)will likely appear in your dream (if it doesn't wake you up!).Dreams are also influenced by events of the previous day, by yourmoods, and by suggestion. Everyone normally dreams 4 or 5 times anight (about every 2 hours). The longest dreams occur in themorning. Everyone dreams. You are more likely to remember thedetails of your dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dreamdiary you will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or atape recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a lightwhich isn't too bright. Suggest to yourself several times beforeyou go to sleep, "I will awaken with the knowledge of a dream."Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes just turningover drives the idea away). Remember first, then write the dreamdown, and then add as many details as possible. The next daycheck for objective facts and expand if you can (by remembering'what happened before that'). Once you start remembering yourdreams in this way, it will become easier to do so. (If you areunsuccessful at this, and *really* want to remember your dreams,you could arrange for someone to sit by your bedside all nightlong with a dim light on. Then when he sees your eyes moving backand forth -- rapid eye movements, a sign you are dreaming --hecan wake you and ask for a dream report.)FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTIONAstral projection may be subdivided into three basic types:mental projection, astral projection (proper) and ethericprojection. And your OOBE may shift between them. Mentalprojection is really simple clairvoyance ('remote viewing'), and'traveling in your mind'. Imagination plays a key role. Theexperience of mental projection is not particularly vivid, andyou will more likely be an observer than a participant.Nevertheless, mental projection is an important 'way in' toastral projection proper.During mental projection and astral projection you are ableto travel through solid objects, but are not able to act directlyupon them or to move them (if they are in the physical world).This is not true during etheric projection. Whether it is simplysubconscious expectation, or whether it is a true ethericprojection which in theory means that part of your physical bodyhas been relocated with your projection (the etheric or vitalpart) may be difficult to determine. Etheric projectionsgenerally travel at or very near the physical world. There areeven cases reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entirephysical body is transferred to another location (teleportation),or cases in which the physical body exists and acts in twoseparate places at once (bilocation)!But our primary interest is astral projection proper, andmental projection to a lesser extent. Astral and mentalprojection are not confined to the physical world. Travel in themental and astral realms is feasible, and often preferred. Norare astral and mental projection restricted to the realm of theearth (you could even go to the moon and planets).STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESSThe electrical activity of the brain has been observed andclassified with EEG (electroencephalograph) equipment; signalspicked up from the scalp by electrodes, then filtered andamplified, drive a graph recorder. Brain activity has been foundto produce specific ranges for certain basic states ofconsciousness, as indicated in 'hz' (hertz, or cycles/vibrationsper second):delta -- 0.2 to 3.5 hz (deep sleep, trance state),theta -- 3.5 to 7.5 hz (day dreaming, memory),alpha -- 7.5 to 13 hz (tranquility, heightenedawareness, meditation),beta -- 13 to 28 hz (tension, 'normal'consciousness).As you can see, some form of physical relaxation is impliedin the alpha, theta, and delta consciousness. These states are infact reached through deep breathing, hypnosis, and otherrelaxation techniques. OOBE occurs during these states, and deltais probably the most important for it. The problem is really, aswe have said, one of maintaining mental awareness and alertnesswhile experienceing these altered states. Experimental subjectshooked to an EEG do not show a discrete change from drowsy tosleep; it is very gradual.At the threshold between sleep and waking consciousness is adrowsy condition known as the hypnogogic state. OOBE seems tooccur during this state, or a variant of it. By careful controlof the hypnogogic state (not going beyond it) it is possible toenter OOBE directly.BASIC TECHNIQUESMost methods of astral projection are methods ofconditioning. Some form of trance or altered consciousness isalways involved. No one ever projects consciously while fullyawake (some may think that they do). Although there are manytechniques used to produce an astral projection, they boil downto nine of them. They all sort of overlap.1) Diet -- Certain dietary practices may aid in OOBE,especially at first. These include fasting, vegitarianism, and ingeneral the eating of 'light' foods as discussed in a a previouslesson. Carrots and raw eggs are thought to be especiallybeneficial, but all nuts are to be avoided. Over-eating should beavoided. And no food should be eaten just before an OOBE attempt.If you intend to practice during sleep, for example, allow 2 to 4hours of no food or drink (except water) before bedtime. Ingeneral, we see here the same kind of dietary restrictionsadvocated for kundalini yoga.2) Progressive muscular relaxation -- This is one of thebasic methods used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Physicalrelaxation can assist one in attaining the requisite trancestate. These techniques involve beginning at the toes andtensing, then relaxing the muscles, progressively up the entirebody.3) Yoga and breath -- Yoga, mantra, and breathing exercisessimilarly aim at physical relaxation. The practice of kundaliniyoga is particularly relevant, since it is concerned with alteredconsciousness. In fact the arousal of kundalini requires asimilar state of consciousness to OOBE.4) Visualization -- This involves a type of extendedclairvoyance or picturing of remote surroundings. If you canexperience the feeling of being there, so much the better.Although this technique is essentially mental projection, it ispossible to deepen mental projection into astral projectionthrough (you guessed it!) visualization. Crowley taught a similartechnique: a) visualize a closed door on a blank wall, b) imaginea meditation symbol on the door, c) visualize the door openingand yourself entering through it. And J.H. Brennan describessimilar techniques wherein the door is shaped and colored like atattva, or alternately, a chosen tarrot card is visualized andthe student visualizes entering into it.5) Guided imagery -- In many respects similar tovisualization. Except in this case, there is a guide (or perhapsa voice on tape) directing you by means of descriptions. As withvisualization, mental rather than astral projection is mostlikely.6) Body of Light -- The old Golden Dawn technique. Imagine aduplicate (mirror image) of yourself in front of you. Thentransfer your consciousness and sensation to the duplicate ('bodyof light').7) Strong willing -- Sort of like creative visualizationexperienced in the present. That is you express your strongdesire to project through your willpower while you visualizeyourself doing it.8) The Monroe techniques -- These are a series of stepsdeveloped by Robert Monroe: a) relax the body, b) enter thehypnogogic state, c) deepen the state, d) develope the senstationof 'vibration', e) separate from the body. The Monroe Institutehas developed some cassete tapes which are claimed to help inthis.9) Dream control -- This is one of the most importanttechniques. It involves becoming aware that you are dreaming.There are several ways to do this. Oliver Fox says to look fordescrepancies in the dream to realize you are dreaming. Oneoccult student I know of visualized a white horse which he couldride wherever he wished to go. Af... [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Tematy