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Astral projection is a spiritual, almost trance-like, state of meditation where you guide your astral body (sort of in between your physical body and your spiritual self) lifts out of your physical body. It allows you to travel through space and time, see spirits, meet up with other projectors, and even enter into people’s dreams to contact them. 

It can also be dangerous if you don’t ask your guide to help protect you, or you don’t shield yourself. Here is a post I’ve made on shielding. 

Below is one possible and usually effective way to projecting. It takes practice, like all meditation, so just keep trying if it doesn’t work! Or intuitively modify the method.

Choose the time best for you: Usually the morning or after a nap is the most effective, because you can wake up your mind, but your body has less sensation and is therefore easier to leave. This is something that will be different for everyone, so figure out what works for you!

Lie down in a quiet space: Make sure no one with interrupt you (such interruption will ground you right back to the physical plane). Darken the room so your eyes aren’t distracted with bright lights. Be relaxed and comfortable, trying to minimize physical sensation. Also, have a blanket over yourself so you don’t get cold. Even on a warm day this might be needed.

Shield yourself: The link is above in the description on how to. I would ward your astral body and physical body with a white light, perhaps using the blanket and imagining that it is protecting your body with light. Worst case scenario would be for a negative spirit to use your body when you leave it to project. Also ask your guide(s), even if you don’t know their names, to protect you with pure intentions and from all negativity. 

Relax your body: Start by focusing on your breathing, then move through your muscle groups and imagine each place of tension disappearing. Sometime a healing light, and imagining that, will help. You can work up or down on  your body. Just relax as best you know how. Breathe away any thoughts too. Notice them, then just let them go with an exhale. A few minutes of this will clear your mind. But, it is natural for some thoughts to stay, and that’s okay! It won’t stop you from projecting, it just means that you’re human.

Let your mind wander and focus on a single points in your body: A small point, like your hand, heart, a toe, etc. Focus on this one point and let the rest of your body naturally fall into a sleep like state. 

Start to visualize your body and feel it’s presence: It’s possible to see or imagine yourself looking different than your physical self at this point. Just accept what you feel and look like.

Flex your body parts mentally: This means that you don’t move any part of your body, but you image it moving until you can feel it vividly. This is your astral body moving. Slowly “move” more parts of your body.

Enter your resonation/vibrational state: All spirits, atoms, particles, energies, etc vibrate with certain frequencies. Start to pay attention to your astral self and you’ll probably, by this point, be feeling a subtle vibration. Let it build until it’s incredibly powerful. If you don’t feel the vibration yet, then continue the above step until you do. Audio and visual hallucinations are common here, like extremely loud sounds or patterns that your eyes are seeing. These aren’t harmful in any way. The most difficult part of the vibration is combating fear. It is overwhelming, especially the first time, because you are transcending the physical plane. Just relax into it and let it flow over you. It will not harm you.

Leave your body: Use your mind to lift out of your body, using the vibration to increase the ability to do so. Anyone can do this, but you need to trust yourself. Don’t allow yourself to doubt your ability, just have faith even for a few moments that you can leave your body, visualize it, then look back at your physical body once you are out of it. You can practice by just lifting a leg or arm out of your body first. Don’t expect a full projection on your first try! Just practice what it feels like until you understand your own astral self and how to have it leave your body, even if just in parts. 

Explore: Be careful and take a guide with you. You can go anywhere now, besides some “restricted sections” (like “Heaven,” other people’s Akashic records, the Tree of Life, etc). If you ever feel threatened then just follow a silver cord back to your body. It should be connected to you around stomach. It is always there as soon as you focus on it. You can access your Akashic records, meet up with spirits or other projectors, go back in time (like literally see historical or future events), or interact in a plane you design for yourself, like a sanctum or astral altar. 

Return to your body: Just imagine yourself going back and you will. You can also let the silver cord pull you or your guides guide you back into your body. If you see your physical self, then just align yourself and fall back into your body. Then slowly wiggle toes and fingers until sensation comes back. Don’t get up until you feel fully present, because you could be dizzy or lightheaded. 

🖤Colors: Black, Red, Dark Green, and Silver

Black- chaos, renewal, transformation, instint, self-indulgence, beginnings, endings, relaxation, and opportunity.

Red- death, passion, lust, anger, action, and impulsiveness

Dark Green- preservation, protection, prosperity, stagnation, longevity, stamina, and perseverance.

Silver- isolation, introspection, privacy, banishment, purification, quiet, and cold

🌱Herbs and spices: mint, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and nutmeg

Mint- purification

Ginger- stimulation, impulsiveness and excitement

Cinnamon- passion, excitement, and lust

Cloves- comfort, maturity, and domesticity

Cardamom- action and forcefulness

Nutmeg- patience and strong familial bonds

🍪Food and beverages: cranberries, black tea, desserts, fruit cake, oranges, cookies, ham, hot chocolate, eggnog, nuts, and gingerbread

🎄 Crystals: Malachite, Fancy Jasper, Snowflake Obsidian, Onyx, and Red Jasper

Malachite- protection, and longevity

Fancy Jasper- death, chaos, and cursing

Snowflake Obsidian- introspection, solitude, focus, meditation, and mental balance

Onyx- chaos, instinct, and transformation

Red Jasper- lust, action, and passion

🌲Plants: Holly, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Evergreen trees and Juniper

Holly- prosperity, death, passion, and consumption

Mistletoe- banishment, and perseverance.

Poinsettia- passion

Evergreen- Preservation, Protection, and Perseverance. (There might be slightly different properties for each different type of Evergreen)

Juniper- fresh perspectives, renewal, new beginnings, cleansing

Pine Cone- protection and perseverance

🌨Weather Associations: Snow, Ice, Frost, and Icicles

Snow- isolation, and banishing

Ice -detachment, and purification

Frost- privacy

Icicles- direction, and introspection

🦌Animal Associations: Deer, and snowy owls

Deer: Deer shed their antlers in winter, making them great to collect as a symbol of winter. It doesn’t harm the deer because antler shedding is a natural thing deer do. However, make sure collecting the shed antlers is legal in your state. Shed antlers have properties of new beginnings and renewal, perfect for the coming new year.  

Snowy Owls- Snowy owls migrate to the northern US in winter. Using some images of snowy owls is a great way to decorate. If your a birdwatcher look up when and where snowy owl populations migrate and try to spot one. Snowy Owls represent observation, introspection, and preservation.

For this list, I used animals, plants and weather that are found where I live, but if you live in a place that doesn’t experience winter, use whatever plant animals or symbols that are available to you. Do certain plants and animals only exist in your area during November and December? You can use those for magic. Eat whatever fruits and vegetables are in season where you live. Even if it is always warm where you live, the local flora and fauna probably go through cycles and migration patterns just like the rest of the world does. Maybe a flower only blooms during this time of year. Add your own flavor to Yule using what is available to you. Witchcraft is all about using what you have for magic, so do what you can if you want to celebrate. Celebrate in your own special way!