At its simplest, astral projection is the experience of your consciousness separating from your physical body. During these experiences, you can move freely through space, observe your surroundings from new angles and visit distant locations while your body remains still.

This isn’t a modern phenomenon – similar experiences appear in historical records across the world, from ancient Egypt to Tibet. While some people experience astral projection spontaneously, especially in that space between sleep and waking, others develop it as a deliberate skill through meditation and other techniques.

Many people find practical benefits in astral projection. It can offer fresh perspectives on problems, enhance creativity and deepen meditation practice. It’s also just quite remarkable to experience firsthand.

In the following post, I’ll explain a little about the history of astral projection as well as some ways to get started and astral travel methods to try.

Historical Origins: The Roots of Astral Practice

Throughout time, witches and mystics across the world have explored the art of astral projection.

The ancient Egyptians spoke of the ‘Ka’ – their spiritual double that could wander freely during sleep or trance. Meanwhile, across the world, Indigenous shamans developed their own methods of spirit walking, using drums, herbs and meditation to achieve similar states.

Some of our most intriguing records come from the medieval period, when wise women and cunning folk wrote about “night flights” and spiritual journeys. They described using special ointments and chants to help their spirits soar free – though I should mention that many of their herbal ingredients aren’t ones we’d want to use today!

In more recent centuries, spiritual seekers like Emanuel Swedenborg shared detailed accounts of their experiences of astral travel. Their writings give us fascinating insights into how these practices have evolved while keeping their essential nature.

Creating Your Sacred Space for Astral Work

Every witch knows that magic begins with the space we create, and astral work is no exception! Your projection space should feel like a sanctuary – somewhere your spirit feels completely safe to slip free from earthly bounds.

I always begin by clearing any stagnant energy with salt, sound, or smoke. While sage is traditional in may cultures, I find lavender or rosemary work beautifully too. Trust your intuition here – use what resonates with your practice.

For the physical setup, comfort is key. You’ll want:

• A quiet space where you won’t be disturbedA comfortable place to lie such as a bed or couch with cushions or pillow
• A blanket or throw. You may get chilly when you are lying still and relaxing ready to project
• Dimmed lights or candles (blue or purple are especially powerful for astral work)
• Optional: Crystals that support spiritual travel (amethyst, labradorite and selenite are my favourites)

Protection is essential before any astral journey. I always cast a circle and set wards – think of it as creating your spiritual safety net. You might want to place black tourmaline or obsidian at the corners of your space for extra protection.

Some witches like to add extras that speak to their astral projection practice – maybe a special incense blend, favourite tarot cards for focus, or meaningful symbols. The key is creating a space that feels both sacred and safe to you.

Before we begin astral projection here are a few safety steps and some tips to help you achieve success in your astral travel.

• Set a clear intention for return – I like to picture a golden anchor in my sacred space
• Trust your instincts – if something feels wrong, return immediately. You can return to your body by simply thinking about it.

Some tips for successful astral projection

• Try these methods at dawn or dusk when the veil is naturally thinner
• Keep a projection journal to track what works best for you
• Start with short journeys until you build confidence
• Trust your intuition about which method feels right

Meditation Techniques for Astral Projection

Getting started with astral projection works best when you’re calm but alert. The basic techniques begin with simple breathing and relaxation, which gradually develop into deeper states of awareness.

The Starlight Breath

Start with your breath – it’s our most powerful tool for shifting consciousness. I like to begin with what I call the Starlight Breath: Breathe in for four counts imagining silver light filling your body, hold for four while letting it brighten, then release for four as it relaxes you deeper.

Deep relaxation

The next step is designed to deeply relax your body. This makes it easier to project.

Try this step-by-step practice:

• Feel your body becoming heavy, starting at your toes
• With each exhale, let another part of you sink deeper
• Next, visualise your energy body becoming lighter, almost fizzy
• Pay attention to the floaty feeling that starts to develop

You might notice some interesting sensations:

• A gentle buzzing or vibrating
• Sounds like chimes or humming
• Feeling like you’re swaying or floating
• A sensation of lightness or heaviness

Don’t worry if these feelings seem strange at first – they’re all normal signs that your consciousness is beginning to shift!

Learning to Project

Start by focusing on a single toe or finger. Imagine that part of you is gently lifting away from your physical body. Once you can hold that sensation, gradually expand it – perhaps to your whole foot or hand. Some people find it easier to imagine rolling sideways, while others describe it as floating upwards. There’s no single correct method; work with whatever feels most natural.

At first, you might only manage small movements or brief separations. Many people find the experience ends naturally when their attention wavers or if they become too excited. This is completely normal. With practice, you’ll likely find you can move further from your physical body and maintain the experience for longer periods. Some people find it helpful to set a simple goal for their first few attempts, like looking down at themselves from above or moving to another room.

Remember that you can always return to your body by simply thinking about it.

Further Astral Projection Methods

If the first method doesn’t work for you, try one of the following astral projection methods. First prepare with your favourite breathing and relaxation methods.

The Silver Cord Method

• Visualise a shimmering silver cord at your solar plexus
• Feel it gently pulling your spirit body upward
• Let yourself float up, knowing the cord will always guide you home
• Don’t worry – this cord can’t break; it’s your eternal connection

The Mirror Technique

• Place a mirror in your sacred space
• Gaze softly at your reflection until it begins to shift
• Let your consciousness drift toward your reflection
• Step through when it feels right

Sound Working

• Choose a repeated tone or chant
• Let the sound fill your mind completely
• Feel yourself becoming one with the vibration
• As the sound carries you, your spirit will naturally lift

The Star Gate Method

• Visualise a doorway made of starlight
• Fill it with your intention for projection
• See yourself passing through
• Let the starlight guide you to the astral plane

Signs You’re Successfully Projecting

Once you are successfully projection you will experience the following:

• A feeling of peaceful floating
• Seeing your physical body below
• Colours becoming more vivid
• A sense of limitless movement
• Heightened awareness of energy

Grounding After Return

It is very important to ground yourself once you return from your astral projection because your energy body needs to fully realign with your physical form. Plus, proper grounding helps integrate any insights or experiences from your journey while preventing that floaty, disconnected feeling that can leave you feeling spacey for hours. Even if you don’t feel like you were fully projecting, you should still ground yourself after each attempt.

Here are a few ways to ground yourself:

• Eat something! I always keep dark chocolate or nuts nearby
• Hold a grounding stone like hematite or smoky quartz
• Place your palms on the earth if possible
• Drink water with a pinch of salt

Warning Signs to Watch For:

• Feeling scattered or dizzy after return
• Losing track of large amounts of time
• Unusual fatigue lasting more than an hour

Remember, astral projection is natural and safe when approached with respect and preparation. Start slow, stay protected and always honour your own pace. If you experience any of the warning signs, stop attempting to project for a while. You may have done too much too soon. Give yourself a break and then begin again more slowly.

It’s wise not to practice astral travel too often. It is such an amazing experience that it is tempting to do it more and more. This can lead to us losing touch with the material world. I would recommend not traveling any more than once a week.

It’s good idea to make notes as soon as possible after your journey so that you don’t forget any details. Take the time to think about what your experiences might mean. For example, perhaps you being guided in some way to make a change in the material world? Or you might be receiving guidance on a path you should take or a situation you might want to avoid.

I hope you have enjoyed this post. If you have any questions about astral projection, or any other magical topic, let me know in the comments below.

I’d love to hear your experiences of astral projection. Have you tried it? Did it work for you? What was your projection like?

Blessed be

Eva x