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Astral projection has fascinated mystics, yogis, and spiritual explorers for thousands of years, and in recent times a growing number of teachers on YouTube have begun sharing their personal methods for inducing the experience consciously. One of the clearer voices in that space is Abbey Harries, who has projected hundreds of times through meditation and has put together a refreshingly grounded walkthrough of her process. What sets her approach apart is the emphasis on breathwork that charges the light body and the willingness to demystify some of the scarier folklore around the practice. This article distils her method and goes a step further by offering a structured tutorial on the spinal breathing technique she uses to prepare the body for separation.
Understanding What Astral Projection Actually Is
Astral projection is an out-of-body experience in which you shift your conscious awareness from your physical form into your astral body, allowing you to navigate the fourth dimension known as the astral plane. This realm overlaps with our familiar third-dimensional reality, which is why it tends to be the most accessible non-physical dimension for those beginning conscious exploration.
The astral plane operates entirely through vibration. Whatever frequency you carry into the experience will instantly mirror back as scenery, encounters, and sensations. There is no time buffer here like we have in physical reality, so thoughts become things in a heartbeat. That is exactly what makes the astral plane such a potent training ground for mastering your inner state, because the feedback is immediate and undeniable.
Projection is not a prerequisite for spiritual growth, and not every soul contract calls for it. For those who do feel pulled toward the practice, however, it can become a powerful tool for connecting with guides, exploring alternate timelines, and reminding yourself that you are infinitely more than your physical body.
Preparing the Space and Setting Intentions
Before any breathwork begins, the environment needs to support a deep meditative state. Choose a time when you are alert but settled. Mid to late afternoon often works beautifully because the body is naturally winding down while the mind is still sharp. Avoid attempting projection when you are exhausted, as the most common pitfall reported by beginners is simply falling asleep.
Lie down somewhere quiet, in a dark or dimly lit room, wearing blackout headphones playing a 4 Hz Theta wave binaural beat. Theta frequencies coax the brain into the borderline state between waking and dreaming, which is exactly where the magic happens. You can find dedicated tracks on platforms like YouTube, and it is worth choosing a stable baseline tone rather than something with chimes or guided voiceovers, since those tend to pull you back into surface awareness.
Once settled, set your intention silently. Get specific about why you want to project. Connecting with a guide, exploring a question, or simply experiencing the astral plane for the first time are all valid. The clearer your why, the more focused the energy of the session.
Grounding and Protection Are Not Optional
Because the astral plane reflects vibration so quickly, any fear, doubt, or anxiety you bring with you will shape what you encounter. This is not a reason to avoid the practice, but it is a reason to take preparation seriously. Ground yourself by visualising roots extending from the base of your spine deep into the Earth, surround your body with a sphere of white light, and affirm that you are safe, sovereign, and infinitely supported.
If fear arises and will not settle, do not push through. Your higher self will block separation as a protective measure, and you will simply end up frustrated. Investigate the fear, release it, and try again another day. Resources on energetic hygiene from communities like the Monroe Institute can help build a stronger foundation if you feel you need one.
The Breathwork That Charges the Light Body
This is where Abbey’s method becomes especially interesting. She blends elements of Wim Hof style hyperventilation breathing with a yogic technique of drawing energy upward through the spine during inhale retention. This combination floods the body with oxygen, builds piezoelectric pressure in the pineal gland, and supports the natural release of endogenous DMT, often called the spirit molecule.
Here is a simple version of the technique that you can practise on your own.
Begin by lying flat on your back with your spine long and your arms relaxed at your sides. Take a deep breath in through the nose or mouth, filling the belly first and then the chest. Exhale in a soft, unforced way, letting the breath fall out rather than pushing it. Repeat this thirty to forty times in a steady rhythm, allowing your body to tingle, buzz, or feel pleasantly lightheaded as carbon dioxide levels drop and oxygenation increases.
On the final inhale of each round, draw the breath in fully and hold it. While holding, place your attention at the base of your spine. Imagine a warm current of golden or white light beginning to rise slowly through each vertebra, moving up through the sacrum, the lower back, the middle back, the heart space, the throat, and finally arriving between your eyebrows at the third eye. Hold the breath and the energy at the third eye for as long as is comfortable, anywhere from fifteen to sixty seconds.
When you need to release, exhale slowly and completely, then resume soft, natural breathing for a few moments. Repeat this entire cycle three or four times, or until you feel deeply locked into your body with a strong buzzing or electric sensation moving through your limbs.
This spinal threading practice draws heavily from Taoist microcosmic orbit meditation and Kriya yoga pranayama. Both traditions teach that consciousness follows breath and attention, and that consciously moving subtle energy up the spinal column awakens the faculties responsible for non-ordinary perception. Pairing this with the oxygenation of Wim Hof breathing creates a fast, reliable on-ramp into the projection state.
Reaching the Locked-In State
After several rounds of breathwork, you should feel as though your physical body has been bolted to the mattress. Limbs feel heavy, almost numb, and there may be twitches or muscle micro-spasms as the nervous system shifts gears. This is a self-induced waking sleep paralysis, and it is the gateway state. Soften into it rather than resisting. The deeper you relax while remaining consciously aware, the closer you are to separation.
Creating Separation From the Physical Body
With your physical body locked in place, begin moving your astral limbs while keeping your physical limbs completely still. Visualise wiggling your fingers, rotating your wrists, flexing your toes, lifting your arms. You are not imagining this for entertainment. You are actively animating your subtle body.
Once that movement feels natural, attempt to roll out of your physical form sideways. There is no danger of bumping anything, because nothing physical can obstruct an astral body. Push energetically with everything you have, again and again.
A common sign that projection is imminent is a sudden, extremely loud internal noise, often described as an alarm, a whooshing roar, or a deep rumble. This corresponds to a meaningful pineal gland release. When you hear it, intensify your visualisation. Push, roll, lift, separate.
What to Expect Once You Have Projected
When separation completes, your normal vision often blanks out for a moment before astral sight kicks in. The first projection can feel clumsy and gelatinous, almost like learning to walk in a body made of mist. This is completely normal, and each subsequent attempt becomes smoother as your astral awareness strengthens.
The environment you find yourself in may resemble your bedroom with subtle differences, or it may shift somewhere entirely new depending on your vibration and intention. Higher frequencies produce clearer, more luminous environments. Lower frequencies produce murky or unsettling ones, which is why the inner work always comes first.
A Note on the Silver Cord
Many traditions describe a silver cord connecting the astral body to the physical body. Abbey’s view is that this cord is largely a comforting mental construct rather than a literal energetic tether. Some projectors see it because they expect to. Others never encounter it. Either way, returning to your body is effortless. A single thought of your physical form snaps you back, often before you are ready to leave the experience.
Closing Thoughts
Conscious astral projection is one of the most direct ways to experience yourself as an infinite, non-local being. It is not required for spiritual evolution, but for those who feel the call, it offers a remarkable window into the nature of reality. The breathwork is the engine, intention is the steering wheel, and vibration is the fuel.
For more on building the energetic foundation that makes practices like this safer and richer, explore our companion piece on activating the third eye through the work of Dr Douglas Baker. Approach each session with reverence, curiosity, and self-trust, and the astral plane will open in its own perfect timing.
