What is the difference between lucid dreaming and astral projection? Some people – including some astral travelers themselves – say they are the same thing. Others say they are completely separate; the astral world overlays the dreamworld just like it overlays the physical world.

With Astral Projection you get into the Astral Plane direct from your physical body. When you have a Lucid Dream, you have

simply ‘missed’ the initial projection. They are just two different ways of entering the Astral Realm. In either case you are still

conscious in the Astral, however, as there are degrees of lucidity in dreaming, you may or may not be fully in control of your

experience. But this is highly unlikely in an Astral Projection. There is still a difference, whether more slight or obvious.

The difference arises mostly because of the framework you are entering from. If you project from the waking state, you may

encounter some difficulties due to restrictive ideas carried with you that don’t apply to the Astral, and require some practice to

adjust to the new environment. On the other hand, in a Lucid Dream, having accustomed to the expansiveness of the dream

state, you can sometimes have the opposite problem, finding it hard to retain a conscious focus, and thus ‘losing lucidity’. With

practice of course, both of these will be overcome.

However, knowing this distinction can be helpful when choosing our experience. In one sense, when we are Lucid Dreaming we

are within the ‘creative state’, and it is easier to consciously create what we desire. And in Astral Projection it is probably more

productive to explore the other realities that already exist, relatively unhampered by specific desires for self-fulfillment.

There is some contention between defining the difference between Lucid Dreaming and Projection. It is not a matter of clarity or

vividness as some people suggest, though typically Lucid Dreams will seem more substantial and realistic at least to begin with.

But either experience can be poorly or highly developed. Having already distinguished Etheric Projection and Astral Projection,

there remains a factor that does provide a feasible distinction.

Here is an experiment you can try for yourself. Next time you are lucid dreaming, climb into your dream bed and visualize yourself floating out of body. It will be much easier than practicing astral projection in real life. Observe your new surroundings – are you in the astral world? Or are you just dreaming of being in the astral world? What is the difference?

Practicing how to astral travel in a lucid dream can help you achieve an out of body experience in real life. In doing so, you can recreate the exact circumstances of an OBE and discover what it feels like to transfer your awareness out of body. Lucid dreaming is useful for many things!



By: Harry Wilhelm

About the Author:

Becca asked:


I want to try Astral Projection, is it dangerous? I was reading about someone’s experiences, and she said that when she was on the astral plane, someone started chocking her. And she said that when she looked back at her bed, (where she Astrally Projected) there was a lump under the blankets, then she got chocked. She couldn’t move to get back to her physical body, and she had to force her Astral body back into her physical body. So is there anything bad that can happen to you when you Astrally project??

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There are several ways you can learn how to astral project. There are different types of techniques and the one that works for you will depend on the type of person you are, your environment and simply which one your body accepts over the other.

To achieve astral projection you can study various techniques or simply try one at a time until you find the perfect method of astral projection. Experimentation is the way that everyone finds their true astral projection niche. The techniques mentioned here are the most common ones as well as the ones considered the easiest to achieve.

1. Rope Technique
This astral projection technique is without a doubt the most recommended and most talked about of all the techniques. Developed by Robert Bruce, this technique can work fast and you don’t have to visualize which makes this a unique method of achieving astral projection. You will achieve an etheric projection with the rope technique. You will need to get some string or ropy and attach it to the ceiling, low enough that you can reach it. Now start touching it so you know where it is. This is an imaginary rope into the astral plane.

2. Lift/Roll Technique
Another popular technique, you will also experience an etheric projection with the lift/roll technique. You will need a deep level of relaxation, moving into a trance like state. This will require you to visualize and imagine your astral body floating above your physical body. You can imagine birds or butterflies flying up and you flying with them. You will eventually feel yourself moving out of your physical body, this is when you roll out of your body. So you are lifting up and rolling out into the astral plane.

3. Anchor Technique
For this technique you have to focus on an anchor point. You do this after reaching a trance state. Focus on the anchor point in your mind and feel it as a solid point that can’t move. It is a fixed anchor. No grab hold of the anchor in your mind and try to pull it towards you. You will feel yourself moving towards this point and outside your physical body.

The Rope Technique, Life/Roll and Anchor Technique all have proven to work. These techniques will help you learn how to astral project and you can experience this wondrous phenomenon in a variety of different ways. It is simply up to you to find the one best technique that best works for you.

By: Karl Sewon

A conscious astral projection experience is truly an amazing and an enlightening experience. We see that our consciousness exists quite naturally even when entirely separate from our sometimes frail and mortal shells, but most of us have thought that mastering astral projection is an unachievable goal without many years of training, dedication and practice. However there are now tools available which will get you there in a mere fraction of the time, and without extensive practice.

In the astral plane we are whole, vibrant and full of energy and we control our movements through thought and belief. Many people will experience this freedom when asleep, and some have mastered the art of Astral Projection Meditation whilst conscious which allows them to control their astral body. The following method is ideal for beginners:

1) Get yourself comfortable with your headphones on, and your binaural beats astral projection recording ready to play. This is usually in a lying position on your bed where you will have peace and quiet and you can tense and relax all your major muscle groups individually from your toes upwards. Feel the tension in each group as you tense, and then the lovely relaxed feeling when you release the tension. Your body starts to feel relaxed and heavy, so be careful not to fall asleep.

2) Turn on your Astral Projection recording, and the gentle sounds will guide your mind quickly safely and easily to the deep meditative state required for the process.

3) Your body should now be feeling relaxed and heavy, so in contrast, turn your attention to your light and weightless Astral body and start to feel free and easy. Focus now on the ceiling and gently in your mind, pull yourself towards it. Your Astral body should now detach, and you may be able to look down on yourself sleeping peacefully.

4) You can now begin your journey, notice your thoughts, if you wish to fly, just think it, believe it, and you will! Enjoy your journey and when you are ready to return, just apply the thought and you will return to your physical body. Previously, with traditional meditation techniques you would perhaps need to practice for months or even years, but now with binaural beats we can achieve the required state much more quickly. Your subconscious mind is the main impediment to the Astral projection process, but with binaural beats you will by pass this blockage, and master the art of successful Astral travel in a fraction of the time.

Enjoy your journey now, explore the dimensions of your mind, and the more you practice the more confident and proficient you will become.

We are all so much more than our frail physical form, so enjoy the knowledge of all that you are!

Wishing you much peace and happiness.

By: Jonathan Roach