Mysticism
A Beginner’s Guide To Astral Projection
Every spiritual tradition speaks of a world beyond our own — an ethereal realm that exists just beyond the veil of the physical senses. Whether it’s Nirvana in Buddhism, Asgard in Norse mythology, or the Elysian Fields of the ancient Greeks, these higher dimensions are seen as places of transcendence and divinity.
Traditionally, such realms are associated with the afterlife, but that’s only part of the story. The truth is that we don’t have to die to access them. These higher planes of existence can be explored while we are still very much alive.
While mystics, shamans, and seers have spoken of these realms for millennia, modern science, particularly in the fields of quantum theory and consciousness studies, is beginning to acknowledge the possibility of multiple dimensions, parallel realities, and alternate timelines. Phenomena such as déjà vu or lucid dreaming, for example, may be brief collisions between timelines or conscious overlaps with other dimensions where versions of ourselves already exist.
So how do we consciously access these mystical realms? The practice of astral projection — also known as astral travel, out-of-body experiences, or lucid voyaging — is one way to do just that.
The idea of consciously traveling beyond the physical body has appeared in various cultures and spiritual traditions throughout history. Although interpretations vary, many civilizations have incorporated the concept into their myths, religious practices, and mystical philosophies.
Living Your Truth Beyond The Veils Of Illusion
When you awaken to who you really are — beyond your physical body, thoughts, and emotions — you become fully conscious. You begin to live your life beyond the veils of illusion.
This is enlightenment: a state of being in which you have a clear inner realization that you are more than just your body, mind, or personality. It is the recognition of your soul, your divine essence, your true place within the greater fabric of all creation.
Enlightenment is not reserved for saints, sages, or spiritual teachers. It is a living potential within each of us. Nor is it merely a poetic or mystical concept. Enlightenment is a profound existential truth rooted in inner transformation and spiritual transcendence. It is freedom from illusion — the veil of appearances that clouds our perception and keeps us bound to fear, ego, and limitation.
Enlightenment is a return to clarity, authenticity, and the radiant awareness of the light within.
When you are enlightened, you see life clearly. You no longer blindly respond to external expectations, conditioned behaviors, or unresolved wounds. Instead, you live from a place of inner truth and spiritual sovereignty. You recognize your connection to all that is, and your choices begin to reflect this deeper awareness.
However, enlightenment is not an escape from the material world. You still live in it, but you are no longer deceived or controlled by it. You remain grounded, present, and fully engaged in life — but now with a heart full of peace and a mind aligned with higher wisdom.
Finding Peace and Joy In The ‘No-thingness’
Like Neo in the movie The Matrix (1999) our minds occasionally slip into luminous moments of complete stillness and clarity — tiny mental pauses where all thinking stops just long enough for us to glimpse the truth of all existence.
In these fleeting spaces between our thoughts, it becomes clear that the comings and goings of life are just that… temporary ‘blips’ of experience that arise and pass through our awareness.
I have come to know these moments as realizations of ‘no-thingness.’
In these brief pauses, something quietly opens up within us. We notice the obvious — what has always been there — hidden behind the busy waking mind and its constant commentary. Our awareness shifts from being consumed by temporary events to seeing what’s always there: the background, the container, the eternal.
These silent mental breaks reveal something much deeper and greater than our own existence and awareness.
There’s a word for this in ancient Sanskrit: svabhāva. It means one’s true nature — the essence of who we are beneath the roles, stories, and conditioning. The term is used in many yogic and Vedantic texts to describe the innate reality or unconditioned self beyond our human ego and thoughts.
Our true authentic self is not something we become. It’s something we remember. When we glimpse the silence between thoughts, we’re not discovering something new — we’re reconnecting with our original divine self. Not the self that reacts and worries, but the self that simply is. Svabhāva is the part of us that doesn’t come and go. It’s the constant presence behind every changing moment. It is the essence of living a truly conscious life.
What You Should Know About Spiritual Awakening
We live in a world that worships results. We proudly proclaim them: “I lost twenty pounds,” or “I was voted employee of the month.”
Tangible achievements deserve recognition. But in the spiritual realm, such milestones don’t exist in the same way. The universe does not operate according to human rules. The metaphysical realms cannot be measured by physical standards.
This is why when it comes time for us to experience a spiritual awakening — also known as an epiphany, illumination or inner shift — there is no outward certificate of success. It’s not something that can be counted or checked off a list. It happens organically, quietly, often unpredictably. And when it comes, it is only the beginning.
Think of it as a small ball of snow set in motion at the top of a hill. As it rolls down, it grows larger and more powerful, accumulating mass and momentum. That’s what spiritual awakening does: it starts with a whisper and becomes a roar. The journey that follows isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
But what exactly is a spiritual awakening? At its core, spiritual awakening is the moment when you begin to perceive reality through a higher, expanded lens. It is a fundamental shift in consciousness — a sudden or gradual realization that there is more to life than what meets the eye.
A sudden awakening is known as “satori” in Zen Buddhism — a sudden moment of awakening or enlightenment. Satori is a flash of insight into the true nature of reality—an experience where the ego momentarily drops away, and one perceives life with profound clarity and unity.
The Fascinating Phenomenon Of Table Turning
Table turning, also known as “table tipping” or “table tilting,” is a fascinating form of spirit communication that occurs during séances.
It involves participants sitting around a table and placing their hands lightly on its surface to communicate with spirit. The table then moves or tilts, or in exceptional cases floats or rotates, in response to questions posed to spirit.
Table turning became popular in the mid-1800s, a time when Spiritualism was quickly gaining popularity in Europe and North America. People were intrigued by the idea of communicating with the afterlife, and séances became a common social activity.
People in those days didn’t have the resources or easy access to mediums and channelers that we have today. So, small groups of family and friends would gather and communicate with the spirit realm.
Table turning was also considered a wonderful way to entertain guests at social gatherings and was even considered a parlor game. Even President Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, is said to have attended and even hosted séances at the White House.
Other well-known spiritualists of the time, such as the Laurie family and Nettie Colburn Maynard, reportedly attended séances with the Lincolns. Mrs. Lincoln was deeply interested in spiritualism and mediumship, especially after the deaths of her sons, Edward and later Willie.
Practical Techniques For Psychic Protection
Psychic protection, also known as spiritual or energetic protection, is a practice I hold dear because it helps shield me from negative energies, psychic attacks, and unwanted influences.
The concept is not new. Mystical protection practices can be traced back to various ancient civilizations, indigenous traditions, Eastern philosophies, and Western esoteric practices.
In ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome, amulets and talismans were worn and protective deities invoked to ward off negative energies and evil spirits. Indigenous cultures in the Americas and Africa used smudging and rituals to summon ancestral spirits for protection.
Eastern religious traditions such as Hinduism and Buddhism use mantras, yantras, and meditation for spiritual protection. Kabbalistic traditions emphasize the use of specific prayers and rituals to create spiritual shields. These practices reflect a deep-rooted belief in the power of divine intervention and sacred symbols to provide protection.
In Catholicism, believers recite prayers such as the Lord’s Prayer or the prayer to St. Michael for protection from evil. They may also use holy water, crucifixes, or medals of saints as protective symbols. In Judaism, the recitation of Psalms and the use of amulets inscribed with Hebrew verses are common practices for protection against negative influences.
Contemporary spiritual communities have adapted these ancient practices to include the use of crystals, energy healing, and visualization techniques. Workshops, books, and teachings offer a wealth of methods for psychic protection, all aimed at maintaining a balanced, protected, and positive state of being. These diverse traditions and modern adaptations underscore the universal spiritual need to protect ourselves from unseen negative energies and dark influences.
Decoding The Mysteries Of Your Dreams
One thing we all have in common is our dreams. Even if we don’t remember them, we all dream every night.
Our dreams take us to strange, surreal landscapes and scenarios — unusual places and odd situations that don’t follow the rules of the waking world. That’s because dreams don’t speak in logic or reason. They communicate through symbols, metaphors, and abstractions.
For centuries, people have sought to decipher the mysteries of dreams, from the dream interpretations recorded on ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls to the psychoanalytical theories of Carl Jung. Jung believed that dreams speak through archetypes — universal symbols woven into the fabric of our collective unconscious.
Just as no two people are exactly alike, no two dreams are alike. Certain symbols — such as water for emotion or flying for freedom-appear across cultures, but their meaning is personal, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and emotions.
Some dreams uplift us, while others leave us puzzled or even shaken. But what do they really mean?
Psychologists see dreams as a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind, a way to process emotions, work through inner conflicts, and make sense of life. But beyond their psychological role, dreams also have a deeper, more mystical significance — one that is often overlooked.