Start Astral Projecting Tonight (No Meditation Required)

By Marcus Aurelius, Founder of the Modern Astral Academy

There is an ancient truth that modern seekers tend to overlook: astral projection does not require hours of meditation before it can begin. What you need instead is intention, a willingness to release what you are now, and a small amount of patience.

When I first attempted projection myself—years ago, in a small apartment with thin walls—I found that the process had far more to do with shifting attention than with entering trance. The meditating crowd would spend twenty minutes or longer trying to clear their minds completely. I would simply lie down and observe what was already happening inside my mind, without trying to force anything particular.

The Body Remains; Consciousness Travels

Here is the simple truth that I discovered for myself: when you are projecting, your physical body continues breathing on the floor or bed before you lie upon it while the part of you that feels most alive moves outward through whatever space surrounds you. This separation creates a sensation like stepping out of yourself—sometimes with wonder, sometimes with small surprise, but always with clarity.

I have found that projection is much easier when done in darkness, which is why I recommend doing it at night before sleep, not as an alternative to sleep, but as a bridge between sleeping and dreaming. The room should be warm enough for comfort; the pillow should feel natural under your head; the eyes may close gently or remain half-open if you prefer to watch.

How To Begin Tonight

Simply lie down now on whatever surface feels most comfortable. Close your eyes if you wish, or leave them open and soft. Notice that your body is resting completely beneath you—no tension in the shoulders, no tightness in the lower back, nothing demanding attention. Now bring awareness to your breath—not changing it, simply noticing it moving through your nose or mouth as air enters and exits naturally.

Watch this movement several times. Feel how it feels inside you while breathing continues on its own without effort. Then shift your focus gently downward into the bed itself—feel the surface beneath you as if looking down from above rather than lying within it. This is where projection begins: not in meditation but simply in attention moving away from what you are and toward what surrounds you.

The Separation

What I call the “separation” happens when consciousness moves away from bodily awareness. You may feel your body growing lighter, or perhaps nothing at all—there is no single sensation that must occur. What matters instead is this: somewhere between the breathing and the stillness, notice something shifting inside you toward observation rather than participation.

This shift does not require practice; it requires only willingness to observe yourself as if from outside your own body. Try imagining yourself standing above where your body lies—perhaps for a moment or two—just long enough to feel the distinction between being in and being around. Then return gently, whether keeping this awareness or returning fully to sleep.

Why No Meditation Is Required

Meditators often spend considerable time clearing their minds before attempting projection—I have watched them sit cross-legged while breathing slowly for ten minutes or longer, trying everything to prepare. I have done this myself and found it unnecessary. Projection is not about reaching a particular mental state but rather recognizing that consciousness can travel regardless of what thoughts may pass through your mind.

The key insight I discovered is simple: you do not need silence; you do not need perfect posture; you do not need hours before beginning. You only need to be willing to notice something shifting between being inside yourself and moving beyond yourself—and this noticing requires no preparation at all.

What To Expect

Your first projections may last only moments, though I have observed others remain in projection for considerable time when they simply continue observing without returning too quickly. Dreams and visions will appear naturally; sometimes you will see rooms passing through them as if walking through doors—always moving outward, never inward.

I recommend beginning each night before sleep—not as an alternative to sleeping but as a bridge between the two states. Try this method every few nights until something clicks inside you. When it does, you may find yourself suddenly aware that you are standing above your own body while breathing continues on below—exactly as described by those who have done it for centuries before you.

Start Tonight

Lie down now and simply observe what is happening beneath your awareness. Notice breathing; notice stillness; notice the space around you becoming larger than your body’s boundaries. Something inside you already knows how to do this—it only needs recognition, not instruction. The rest happens naturally once attention moves away from participation and toward observation.

About Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius (born 1982) is founder of the Modern Astral Academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he has taught projection techniques since 2015. He serves as a regular contributor to The Journal of Astral Studies and author of “On Being Both Body and Traveler,” published by Celestial Press in 2023.

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