Astral Projection

[autodydact]

I know there are lots of posts here on this subject, but they all seem to be based on very personal experiences and I can't seem to find any 'conclusive' thread on the subject (if I am wrong, please correct me). I was hoping that this thread could be used to compile a set of resources for those attempting astral projection and a more general thread for astral projection experiences which do not require their own thread?

My own story:
My main focus at present is to achieve a full astral projection. I have read books and watched videos which cover the subject alongside my actual attempts at projection, all of which have resulted in varying degrees of success or failure. I have become fairly skilled through regular practice at achieving a state of trance, or sleep paralysis, but the closest I've come to full projection is being able to touch my face (with an astral hand) without moving my physical body. One evening, after a fair amount of wormwood tea I had a vision (which I have addressed in a different thread) after which I felt fully able to project, but unsafe and therefore chose not to. So I am hoping those more experienced can offer advice and resources regarding astral projection. I have watched Robert Bruce's youtube videos on the subject as well as using several guided meditation recordings to aid my attempts (which have helped in reaching the trance state), alongside various books and ebooks of various use (ranging from very informative to completely nonsensical).

TL;DR- Those who have successfully projected: what methods did you find most useful? Those who are attempting: How far have you gotten?

[elderos]

I am curious, why would you say your last experience was unsafe? Of all my experiences, the moment where I realize I can project I can't feel my breath and therefore think I'm dieing. Right before projection, it feels like my entire astral body is vibrating, or trying to "wiggle" out of my physical body. I then get too scared and wake up.

Also I'm kind of curious about the wormwood tea.. what exactly does it do to you when you drink it?

[autodydact]

As I mentioned before, I had a dream/vision (should you be interested the thread is called 'A dream from the gods?'). Upon waking from it, I knew I was able to project, but felt also a sense of dread. I didn't see them, but felt certain that there was a certain malevolence nearby. I can't quite describe it now, but I just felt that if I projected at that moment I would be unsafe. With your experiences, I've never found this. On reaching a state where I am able to 'wiggle' my astral I am excited, but not especially scared. As I said before, I've become quite good at getting to that stage, so now the excitement is more of a feeling of: 'ah. I've gotten this far. Maybe this time I'll manage it.'

Regarding Wormwood tea; wormwood has gained a certain notoriety due to its use in Absinthe and is regarded by many as being helpful in inducing visions (a quality which I can support). It is however, an accumulative poison, so use rarely and with care! To my knowledge it is not associated with aiding astral projection. If you are interested in trying wormwood, I probably used about 20-30 grams of the dried herb to which I added water of about 70 degrees Celsius (boiled water left for five minutes). It is incredibly bitter, so I would recommend adding a large amount of sugar or honey (upwards of 10 tsp) in order to make it just about palatable (I do not exaggerate on this point. I drink a lot of espresso without sugar and that is possible 1/100th as bitter). Even with that much honey I had to force it down and was left with a horrid taste in my mouth. I have also smoked it. It is far more palatable smoked, but in my experience, completely useless. I possibly had slightly more vivid dreams?

[RoseRed]

I thought wormword needed a high alcohol content to extract the thujone.

[autodydact]

I thought wormword needed a high alcohol content to extract the thujone.

I couldn't rightly say. I would say that my vision came while I was asleep and that when I have been drinking wormwood tea I have incredibly vivid dreams, but I wouldn't merit it with any significant psychoactive effect whilst awake. Possibly a feeling of very mild intoxication akin to having had one beer. This wouldn't ring quite true of thujone though, as it is a stimulant no? *shrugs* I don't know why it works, but it seems to for me.

[Nahemah]

On Wormwood.

From my own user experience and what was customary round hereabouts:

Wormwood is a bane and it does have magickal properties relating to the psyche and to projection and such,it's said to stengthen the senses and loosen the hide.It is also used as a warding herb and protects against enchantment when carried about the person.It protects against snakebite too and also can be burned when working with the dead/to call spirits.

Mars rulership traditionally,If I remember rightly.

When mixed with certain other banes and burned,it can be a powerful psychic attack/defense enhancer too.

Medicinally,it's valuable too,but to be utilised carefully,it has a number of beneficial medicinal uses,traditionally speaking.Captain obvious: antihelmintic [intestinal worms] and less obvious maybe,it's antipyretic [reduces fevers] and is also emenagoguic and abortificient,so a female friendly/dangerous herb too,lol.

I use it with mugwort,personally,but I refer the relatively safe method of drinking decent absinthe and smoking the mugwort,mixed in a herbal smoke blend I make myself.

Thujone toxicity is rather dangerous stuff. [shock2]

And I can afford to be safe now in my dotage,as I have already done the experimental 'heroic doses' shit in my youth,lol.But seriously.

And it's true that for absinthe,there does need to be high alcohol level to preserve thujone content.There isn't that much,relatively speaking,in the absinthe available commercially here, but enough for a combination 'kick' alongside other green plant material/s. [greensmile]

The skinny from Erowid:

http://www.erowid.org/plants/wormwood/wormwood.shtml

Magickal stuff:

http://www.alchemy-works.com/herb_wormwood.html

[autodydact]

Thank you for the information! Very useful. I too am partial to good absinthe (I have a special liking for Hapsburg and Suisse). Unfortunately, the days when I had money to fritter about on expensive spirits are passed (although perhaps when my next student finance payment comes in I should invest...). However, I never used it for any ritual purposes (I last had a bottle two years ago, which is before I started experimenting in the occult). I just enjoyed the angle it tilted the world to. Equally, regarding 'heroic doses' I've made mistakes regarding intoxicants (mostly alcohol) in my time, but have always been wise enough to treat absinthe and wormwood with care. As you say, thujone poisoning isn't pretty...

I'm interested in your smoking blend though... Would you care to share the recipe? I've experimented a bit with blending herbs with tobacco (not just illicit ones) and would love to know about any interesting combinations you've found. (if it is not to be shared on the open boards, a pm would be appreciated?)