Lucid dreams and astral projection are two different things however they can seem very similar. A dream is contained inside your head/brain (the tangible one) and astral projection happens in your mind/consciousnesses (the none tangible one) on the astral planes. In a lucid dream you are aware that you are dreaming and can move and change all things as you wish. In astral projection you are aware that you moving and can move about but you can not change everything that is around you.
I have found that when I am astral projecting and I try to tell myself "wait this is just a dream" and try to change what I do not like I "fall". This is when you suddenly come back to your body and it is because your mind realizes that you need a break from the astral. This happens when you fall asleep and then your subconscious goes to the astral. If you can not tell the difference try and change something and see what happens. Sometimes you have to change a few things before you hit something you can not and you "fall". When it happens you will wake up because the fast return jolts you.
Although there may be those that disagree with me, I believe that there are three forms of astral division;
1- The astral light is the dream state wherein which clairevoyance is manifested. For instance a person may perceive via dreams that their spouse is cheating on them, or dream of dogs trying to attack them which symbolizes enemies at hand.
2- The astral world is the place where one may be attacked by enemies via witchcraft or enflamed hate. If I curse you, I am sending a "thought form" of demonic origin in an attempt to infiltrate your subconscious mind which regulates the health of your body; if I penetrate your "shield" of faith and will, the cancer or whatever I sent will manifest. It is best to win such fights.
3- Astral projection is the actual departure of your Temple (Ie.., your body) of your sidereal or astral body ( ie..., your soul) which departs permanently at death. If you perform this, you will not be in the astral world, you will see your body lying where you left it, and will reenter it by "laying down into it."
you guys are driving me craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy! All of you fight about astral projection and lucer dreaming! Can't We All Just Agree That Both Are The Same?
Yes Faust the "subtle bodies".
I can't remember the list word for word but there are 5 I believe and they each have to do wtih a type of astral projection.
Kts is indeed right, Astral Projection and Lucid dreaming are 2 very different things.
Astral Projection is a state of which your mind and spirit leave your body in a temporary seperation. Your body does not move during astral projection, this is because your conscience has literally left your body.
In Lucid Dreaming, you are indeed merely dreaming. Mental images play in your mind as you sleep. The difference between lucid dreaming and regular dreaming is as suggested by someone else earlier, that in lucid dreaming you realise that you're dreaming in which dream control then becomes possible.
Lucid Dreaming is often associated with Astral Projection because:
A. They are very easily confused when either is happening.
B. Lucid Dreaming is often confused with Mental Projection (a type or varient of astral projection).
C. Lucid Dreaming is a technique normally used to prepare for Astral Projection mainly because of Dream Control being an aspect rather helpful while projecting.
To answer the original question of the thread I suggest regular meditation and working with Lucid Dreaming and Dream Control. You get those down and Astral Projection will be much, much easier for you.
why is it when i astral project (which comes naturally for me), my astral body still holds the laws of gravity... i mean when i get out of my body i simply crawl to the edge of the bed and stand up... i can see my body lie still. although for some reason i snap back into my body (What a rush! it's like free falling.) after ten hours (Depending what i'm doing. if i'm in Spirit Side, it seems like weeks [although my perception of time stays constant as it would if i was in my body] )...
Balance you have no room to speak because you haven't relized that good and evil are a point of view. Second Faust said "often" not always. Third there are many differant titles for astral travel, its like getting mad at someone for calling a male a dude or a guy.