301 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
301 lines
14 KiB
Plaintext
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** MAGICK 9 -- ASTRAL PROJECTION **
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Astral projection (OOBE, out of the body experience)
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is a popular area of occult literature; for traveling to see
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other worlds and places while the physical body sleeps or is
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entranced is an exciting notion. Astral projection is not
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dangerous. It is as safe as sleeping. Most dreams are probably
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unconscious astral projections, anyway. Although there has
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been quite a bit written on the subject, astral projection
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is difficult for many people. The main difficulty is the
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tendency to forget dream consciousness upon awakening.
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Accordingly, the successful practice of astral projection
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requires work.
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Modern psychology discounts the idea of actual OOBE
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(that the spirit temporarily vacates the physical body).
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However, the idea is very ancient. The Tibetans have an
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entire system of yoga (dream yoga) based upon astral
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projection. And here we have an important assumption: you are
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involved in an OOBE (at least to a degree) whenever you
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dream. What sets it apart from a full OOBE is your hazy
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consciousness during the experience and poor recall
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afterwards. Many people forget most of their dreams
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completely. Learning astral projection requires a kind of
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inner mental clarity and alertness.
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Dreams are a door to the subconscious which can be
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used for psychological and spiritual insight, and sometimes
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for precognition. Dream content is influenced by external
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sounds and sensations. For example, a loud external noise
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(such as a train) will likely appear in your dream (if it
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doesn't wake you up!). Dreams are also influenced by events
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of the previous day, by your moods, and by suggestion.
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Everyone normally dreams 4 or 5 times a night (about every 2
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hours). The longest dreams occur in the morning. Everyone
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dreams. You are more likely to remember the details of your
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dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dream diary you
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will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or a tape
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recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a light
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which isn't too bright. Suggest to yourself several times
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before you go to sleep, "I will awaken with the knowledge of
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a dream." Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes
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just turning over drives the idea away). Remember first,
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then write the dream down, and then add as many details as
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possible. The next day check for objective facts and expand
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if you can (by remembering 'what happened before that'). Once
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you start remembering your dreams in this way, it will
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become easier to do so. (If you are unsuccessful at this,
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and *really* want to remember your dreams, you could
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arrange for someone to sit by your bedside all night long
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with a dim light on. Then when he sees your eyes moving back
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and forth -- rapid eye movements, a sign you are dreaming --
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he can wake you and ask for a dream report.)
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FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION
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Astral projection may be subdivided into three basic
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types: mental projection, astral projection (proper) and
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etheric projection. And your OOBE may shift between them.
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Mental projection is really simple clairvoyance ('remote
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viewing'), and 'traveling in your mind'. Imagination plays
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a key role. The experience of mental projection is not
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particularly vivid, and you will more likely be an observer
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than a participant. Nevertheless, mental projection is an
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important 'way in' to astral projection proper.
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During mental projection and astral projection you
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are able to travel through solid objects, but are not able
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to act directly upon them or to move them (if they are in
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the physical world). This is not true during etheric
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projection. Whether it is simply subconscious expectation,
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or whether it is a true etheric projection which in theory
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means that part of your physical body has been relocated
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with your projection (the etheric or vital part) may be
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difficult to determine. Etheric projections generally travel
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at or very near the physical world. There are even cases
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reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entire physical
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body is transferred to another location (teleportation), or
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cases in which the physical body exists and acts in two
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separate places at once (bilocation)!
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But our primary interest is astral projection
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proper, and mental projection to a lesser extent. Astral and
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mental projection are not confined to the physical world.
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Travel in the mental and astral realms is feasible, and
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often preferred. Nor are astral and mental projection
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restricted to the realm of the earth (you could even go to
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the moon and planets).
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STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
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The electrical activity of the brain has been
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observed and classified with EEG (electroencephalograph)
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equipment; signals picked up from the scalp by electrodes,
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then filtered and amplified, drive a graph recorder. Brain
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activity has been found to produce specific ranges for
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certain basic states of consciousness, as indicated in 'hz'
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(hertz, or cycles/vibrations per second):
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delta -- 0.2 to 3.5 hz (deep sleep, trance state),
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theta -- 3.5 to 7.5 hz (day dreaming, memory),
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alpha -- 7.5 to 13 hz (tranquility, heightened
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awareness, meditation),
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beta -- 13 to 28 hz (tension, 'normal'
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consciousness).
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As you can see, some form of physical relaxation is implied
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in the alpha, theta, and delta consciousness. These states
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are in fact reached through deep breathing, hypnosis, and
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other relaxation techniques. OOBE occurs during these
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states, and delta is probably the most important for it.
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The problem is really, as we have said, one of maintaining
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mental awareness and alertness while experienceing these
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altered states. Experimental subjects hooked to an EEG do
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not show a discrete change from drowsy to sleep; it is very
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gradual.
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At the threshold between sleep and waking
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consciousness is a drowsy condition known as the hypnogogic
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state. OOBE seems to occur during this state, or a
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variant of it. By careful control of the hypnogogic state
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(not going beyond it) it is possible to enter OOBE directly.
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BASIC TECHNIQUES
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Most methods of astral projection are methods of
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conditioning. Some form of trance or altered consciousness
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is always involved. No one ever projects consciously while
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fully awake (some may think that they do). Although there
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are many techniques used to produce an astral projection,
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they boil down to nine of them. They all sort of overlap.
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1) Diet -- Certain dietary practices may aid in OOBE,
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especially at first. These include fasting, vegitarianism,
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and in general the eating of 'light' foods as discussed in a
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a previous lesson. Carrots and raw eggs are thought to be
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especially beneficial, but all nuts are to be avoided.
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Over-eating should be avoided. And no food should be eaten
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just before an OOBE attempt. If you intend to practice
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during sleep, for example, allow 2 to 4 hours of no food or
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drink (except water) before bedtime. In general, we see here
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the same kind of dietary restrictions advocated for
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kundalini yoga.
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2) Progressive muscular relaxation -- This is one
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of the basic methods used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis.
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Physical relaxation can assist one in attaining the
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requisite trance state. These techniques involve beginning
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at the toes and tensing, then relaxing the muscles,
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progressively up the entire body.
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3) Yoga and breath -- Yoga, mantra, and breathing
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exercises similarly aim at physical relaxation. The practice
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of kundalini yoga is particularly relevant, since it is
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concerned with altered consciousness. In fact the arousal
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of kundalini requires a similar state of consciousness to
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OOBE.
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4) Visualization -- This involves a type of extended
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clairvoyance or picturing of remote surroundings. If you can
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experience the feeling of being there, so much the better.
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Although this technique is essentially mental projection, it
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is possible to deepen mental projection into astral
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projection through (you guessed it!) visualization. Crowley
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taught a similar technique: a) visualize a closed door on a
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blank wall, b) imagine a meditation symbol on
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the door, c) visualize the door opening and yourself
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entering through it. And J.H. Brennan describes similar
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techniques wherein the door is shaped and colored like a
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tattva, or alternately, a chosen tarrot card is visualized
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and the student visualizes entering into it.
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5) Guided imagery -- In many respects similar to
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visualization. Except in this case, there is a guide (or
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perhaps a voice on tape) directing you by means of
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descriptions. As with visualization, mental rather than
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astral projection is most likely.
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6) Body of Light -- The old Golden Dawn technique.
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Imagine a duplicate (mirror image) of yourself in front of
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you. Then transfer your consciousness and sensation to the
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duplicate ('body of light').
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7) Strong willing -- Sort of like creative
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visualization experienced in the present. That is you
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express your strong desire to project through your willpower
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while you visualize yourself doing it.
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8) The Monroe techniques -- These are a series of
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steps developed by Robert Monroe: a) relax the body,
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b) enter the hypnogogic state, c) deepen the state,
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d) develope the senstation of 'vibration', e) separate from
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the body. The Monroe Institute has developed some cassete
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tapes which are claimed to help in this.
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9) Dream control -- This is one of the most
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important techniques. It involves becoming aware that you
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are dreaming. There are several ways to do this. Oliver Fox
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says to look for descrepancies in the dream to realize you
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are dreaming. One occult student I know of visualized a
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white horse which he could ride wherever he wished to go.
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After a time, when the horse appeared in his dreams it was
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his cue that he was actually dreaming/projecting. Don Juan
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tells Castaneda to look at his hands while he is dreaming.
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And even the tarot and Cabala may also be used as dream
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signals. Another method is to tell yourself each night as
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you go to sleep, "I can fly"; then when you do, you will
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know you are dreaming. Once you know you are dreaming you
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can control your dream/OOBE and go anywhere you want.
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Repetitive activities will also likely influence your
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dreams. For example, if you are on an automobile trip and
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spend most of the day driving, you will probably dream about
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driving. You can condition yourself to be aware you are
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dreaming by doing a repetitive activity many times (walking
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across the room or a particular magick ritual, for
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example). Then when you dream about it, you will know you
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are dreaming.
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Although all these techniques may appear
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straightforward, they all require effort. Astral projection
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is generally learned.
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The astral world is the "ghostland" into which one
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passes after death. It is sometimes possible to visit with
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the dead, or you might be called upon to reassure and assist
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those who have just passed over (died) or those who are
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consciously projecting for the first time. Many spirits,
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elementals and ghosts exist in the astral world. The
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magician should feel comfortable there. Tibetan belief is
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that through proficiency in OOBE, you no longer need
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reincarnate after death. The astral world is extremely
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changeable and subject to your thoughts. Your will can
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control your movements in the astral world, and if you seem
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to be going somewhere non-volitionally ('astral current') it
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is probably your true will causing it anyway. You might also
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experience heightened magical ability while in the astral realm.
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[This is a popular subject, and there may be other files online
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about it. Check the PARANET file area for files such as --
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OOBE.THR.
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MIAS.DOC.
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MONROE.DOC.]
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REVIEW QUESTIONS
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1) What is the relationship between astral projection and
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dreams.
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2) What is mental projection?
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3) List the nine basic methods of astral projection.
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BOOK LIST
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H.P. Battersby, Man Outside Himself.
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J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways.
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Robert Crookall, The Techniques of Astral Projection.
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Denning and Phillips, The Llewellyn Practical Guide to Astral
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Projection.
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Oliver Fox, Astral Projection.
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Gavin & Yvonne Frost, Astral Travel.
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Celia Green, Out-of-the-body Experiences.
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Richard A. Greene, The Handbook of Astral Projection.
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Herbert Greenhouse, The Astral Journey.
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Jack London, Star Rover (historical occult novel).
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Janet Mitchell, Out of Body Experiences.
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Robert Monroe, Journeys Out of the Body.
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Robert E. Moser, Mental and Astral Projection.
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Muldoon and Carrington, The Projection of the Astral Body.
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Ophiel, The Art and Practice of Astral Projection.
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A.E. Powell, The Astral Body.
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D. Scott Rogo, Leaving the Body.
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J.M. Shay, Out of the Body Consciousness.
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Susy Smith, The Enigma of Out-of-the-body Travel.
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Brad Steiger, The Mind Travelers.
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Yram, Practical Astral Projection.
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========
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Phil Hansford, 2/87
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THE OUTPOST ROS
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(818) 353-8891 (modem)
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P.O. Box 83
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Tujunga, CA 91042
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Distributed in part by:
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Skeleton Crue 415-376-8060 located out of Moraga, California.
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!!Get on the band wagon before it RUNS YOU DOWN!!
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Headquarters for Computer Hackers and Anarchists to Overthrow the State
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(CH&AOS)
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Another file downloaded from: NIRVANAnet(tm)
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& the Temple of the Screaming Electron 415-935-5845
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Just Say Yes 415-922-1613
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Rat Head 415-524-3649
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Cheez Whiz 408-363-9766
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Reality Check 415-474-2602
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Specializing in conversations, obscure information, high explosives,
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