Astral Travel
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Sure, anybody who has completed the A.'.A.'. 1=10 work has had success in this.
But your question is very broad. It might be helpful if you'd first give some background on your efforts. What approch have you been following? What are the technical methods you've been attempting and under what conditions? How many times have you tried? Have you had any success at all? If so, then what have the differences been on the times it worked better vs. the times it didn't work? What results have you gotten and what results are you expecting that you haven't gotten?
As I think about how I would answer this question if I were going to write a long essay on it, I find (a bit to my surprise) that the training method in Liber O is very close to exctly what I'd say. I'd emphasize that the conditions for success and general approach for this are very similar (in my experience) to those for meditation, and that my own condition and state and inner preparation and readiness have far more to do with quality of success than any more technical approach. Therefore, it might also be useful to hear about your experience in meditation.
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@Her said
"Is it an actual "out of body experience", in the most literal sense? Or is it purely an act of creative imagination?"
Whenever I have asked this question, I have received the answer, "does it really matter?" ...I am curious whether or not the answer here will be the same.
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@Her said
"This may sound a little dumb, but what exactly is "astral travel"?
Is it an actual "out of body experience", in the most literal sense? Or is it purely an act of creative imagination?"
The term is used differently in different contexts. That's one of the reasons I'm wanting to hear more from the poster before jumping in with anything too concrete. Most of what I could say would terribly bias the question.
It isn't just an act of creative imagination (or, at least, no more so than the experience of physical reality is). Beyond that, all I'd like to say at this point is that the answer entirely depends on the exact meanings of the words you used above.
I'm going to back off until we hear some more from the original poster. (PS - You won't hear "does it really matter" from me. <g>)
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@Andie said
"Whenever I have asked this question, I have received the answer, "does it really matter?""
Well I think it does matter that I be able differentiate between an authentic astral travel experience and a day dream.
From Magick Without Tears. (emphasis added)
"Most people in my experience either cook up a hell-broth of self-induced obstacles to success in Astral traveling, or else shoot forth on the wings of romantic imagination and fool themselves for the rest of their lives in the manner of the Village Idiot. "
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I have been visiting a wonderful website called "The Lucid Crossroads". I think anyone seriously persuing true "experience" vs "make-beleive" might find some success after studying the page.
I have Astral Traveled all my life, since I was 8 yrs old. (and possibly or "probably" before)
My trouble is in a lack of focus or direction. I also have trouble with my level of lucidity.
I realise after only a few short discourses with you who have persued study and experience in the Order of Thelema or O.T.O, that my curiosity warrants more than a "hobby-like" approach, and that if I am to reach my full potential Hermetically, I must first attack my Goals with a fervor unmatched at any point previously in my studies.
In the future I will not ask a question unless I have first done my very best to answer it.
Thank you for your referral to Liber O. I will look forward to hearing what you have to say in the future.* -
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Professionally, I do computer support in a corporate environment. I find that about 70% of my job is getting the question right. Once we understand the question, providing the answer is easy.
I find that this applies in most other Q&A areas, too - at least, those centered on substantial topics. Often the best service we can provide is to help clarify the question!
Queries that ultimately boil down to "here's a topic, talk to me about it," are generally unsatisfying to the asker and answerer alike.
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Can't get to the right question without asking a lot of the wrong questions, I think.
In L.V.X.,
chrys333