Hello Thundar, I will add some ideas and perspectives to consider to the good ideas already offered.
OBE and Astral Projection are essentially the same thing- A re-focusing of your conscious awareness somewhere else and beyond its usual location inside your head and within this present Physical Reality. There are multiple ways and methods for getting 'beyond', and a multitude of perspectives available to us; it is not just 'here' or 'there'. The 'classic' OBE you experienced in your youth is the most often reported first and early form of this separation of consciousness; but it is just the beginning. As we progress, we realize there is a vast complexity to this idea we call consciousness and just what we can do with it and where it can travel.
When considering consciousness perspectives, you already have at least several by now- Your present awareness centered within your head and this Physical Reality. Another perspective was your OBE in your youth. Also, your nightly dreams are an obvious form of unconscious re-focusing of consciousness/awareness, both non-lucid and lucid, the lucid being a form of dreaming bringing almost complete awareness into the picture. And, like the other forms of focusing, your lucid dreaming focus can be improved with knowledge and practice.
So, a lot of this begins with a more clear understanding of where we are and what we are trying to accomplish.
And here lies a dichotomy that we shouldn't get lost in too early. Much of the literature of OBE speaks to the idea of floating out of one's body and floating around your apartment/dwelling...and this is what happened in my case as it does with many others. You will also find in some of the literature a complete repudiation that this is what is actually happening, that it is actually a form of understandable misinterpretation on the part of the experiencer based in a physical body perspective. Personally, I am still undecided on the matter; having had dozens of my own 'etheric' OBEs, it certainly seems to be what it appears...but I remain open to changing my opinion at some future date. My point is to make you aware of this but also to strongly advise just go with whatever experience you are getting, be open to differing experiences but just always go with them and go with the flow as best you can; don't fight the experience. This is an ongoing learning environment.
Nonetheless, for the majority of us who do start out with these 'classic' OBEs, they do change at some point...and this is where the next concept comes into play, which is Phasing or instantly shifting from this Physical Reality to another Non-Physical Reality. It can happen through your normal dreams, a lucid dream or an opportunistic moment early in the morning or during an afternoon nap...you are relaxed and tired in just the right way...and you shift. You can learn to do this by becoming more aware in your dreams by expressing an Intent, even better when you find yourself in a Lucid Dream (LD)...just express an Intent to go somewhere or find somebody.
So, my point in this post is to help you become aware of the wider context of consciousness that you are already operating within. Write your dreams down, keep a dream journal...ten years from now it will prove invaluable if you keep up the practice, you will see patterns and clues to unlock. Pursue the standard OBE, but be open to the Phasing exit, as well.
As LB mentioned, up in the Stickies on the first three Boards are good reads- Xanth's free Primer, Personalreality's How I Got Out For The First Time, Lumaza's Doorway thread, Symptoms/Signposts...
Have fun and feel free to ask!
EV
OBE and Astral Projection are essentially the same thing- A re-focusing of your conscious awareness somewhere else and beyond its usual location inside your head and within this present Physical Reality. There are multiple ways and methods for getting 'beyond', and a multitude of perspectives available to us; it is not just 'here' or 'there'. The 'classic' OBE you experienced in your youth is the most often reported first and early form of this separation of consciousness; but it is just the beginning. As we progress, we realize there is a vast complexity to this idea we call consciousness and just what we can do with it and where it can travel.
When considering consciousness perspectives, you already have at least several by now- Your present awareness centered within your head and this Physical Reality. Another perspective was your OBE in your youth. Also, your nightly dreams are an obvious form of unconscious re-focusing of consciousness/awareness, both non-lucid and lucid, the lucid being a form of dreaming bringing almost complete awareness into the picture. And, like the other forms of focusing, your lucid dreaming focus can be improved with knowledge and practice.
So, a lot of this begins with a more clear understanding of where we are and what we are trying to accomplish.
And here lies a dichotomy that we shouldn't get lost in too early. Much of the literature of OBE speaks to the idea of floating out of one's body and floating around your apartment/dwelling...and this is what happened in my case as it does with many others. You will also find in some of the literature a complete repudiation that this is what is actually happening, that it is actually a form of understandable misinterpretation on the part of the experiencer based in a physical body perspective. Personally, I am still undecided on the matter; having had dozens of my own 'etheric' OBEs, it certainly seems to be what it appears...but I remain open to changing my opinion at some future date. My point is to make you aware of this but also to strongly advise just go with whatever experience you are getting, be open to differing experiences but just always go with them and go with the flow as best you can; don't fight the experience. This is an ongoing learning environment.
Nonetheless, for the majority of us who do start out with these 'classic' OBEs, they do change at some point...and this is where the next concept comes into play, which is Phasing or instantly shifting from this Physical Reality to another Non-Physical Reality. It can happen through your normal dreams, a lucid dream or an opportunistic moment early in the morning or during an afternoon nap...you are relaxed and tired in just the right way...and you shift. You can learn to do this by becoming more aware in your dreams by expressing an Intent, even better when you find yourself in a Lucid Dream (LD)...just express an Intent to go somewhere or find somebody.
So, my point in this post is to help you become aware of the wider context of consciousness that you are already operating within. Write your dreams down, keep a dream journal...ten years from now it will prove invaluable if you keep up the practice, you will see patterns and clues to unlock. Pursue the standard OBE, but be open to the Phasing exit, as well.
As LB mentioned, up in the Stickies on the first three Boards are good reads- Xanth's free Primer, Personalreality's How I Got Out For The First Time, Lumaza's Doorway thread, Symptoms/Signposts...
Have fun and feel free to ask!
EV