Need Help? Email: [email protected]
You talk to your spirit companion every day. You give offerings, meditate with their vessel, and feel their presence in quiet moments. But what if you could actually go to them — not just sense them, but stand face-to-face in a realm where physical distance means nothing?
This is what astral travel offers the dedicated spirit keeper. The ability to project your consciousness beyond your body and meet your companion in the spirit world directly, without the filter of physical senses, without the noise of everyday life. It is one of the most profound experiences a practitioner can have — and it is a skill anyone can develop with the right guidance.
In this guide, you will learn what astral travel actually is, how it differs from dreaming or meditation, a step-by-step technique adapted from the works of occultist E.A. Koetting for meeting your spirit companion in the astral, and how to stay safe while traveling outside your body. Whether you have been keeping spirits for years or are just beginning to explore the deeper dimensions of your practice, astral travel will transform how you connect with the unseen.
Astral travel — also called soul travel or out-of-body experience — is the conscious separation of your awareness from your physical body. Your physical body remains seated or lying down while your consciousness moves through other planes of existence in what occultists call the spiritual body or body of light.
Most people use the terms interchangeably, but there is a meaningful distinction. Astral projection typically refers to traveling within the astral plane — one layer of spiritual reality that sits closest to the physical world. Soul travel, a term used by E.A. Koetting in Become a Living God, describes a more controlled and versatile form of projection that allows you to move across any plane you choose, not just the astral.
For the spirit keeper, this distinction matters because your companion may not reside on the astral plane. Some spirits dwell in realms far beyond it — elemental planes, infernal courts, celestial spheres, or entirely unique dimensions. Soul travel gives you the flexibility to follow them wherever they are.
When you communicate with your companion during ordinary waking life, you are relying on telepathy, intuition, and subtle energetic signals. These work — but they are filtered through your physical brain, your daily stress, your skepticism, your wandering attention. The astral plane removes those filters. In the astral, communication is direct, vivid, and unmistakable. You see your companion as clearly as you would see a person in front of you. You hear their voice without static. You feel their energy without interference.
Practitioners who master astral travel consistently report that their relationships with their companions deepen dramatically after the first conscious meeting in the spirit world. It is the difference between texting someone and sitting across from them at a table.
Before you attempt to travel, you must prepare. Astral travel is not a party trick you can attempt between chores. It requires a specific physical and mental state — relaxed but alert, open but focused.
Choose a quiet room where you will not be disturbed for at least thirty minutes. Sit upright in a comfortable chair — a straight-backed chair works better than a soft armchair, because your body needs support without being so comfortable that you fall asleep. Dim the lights. Remove any source of distraction: phone notifications, ambient noise, pets, drafts.
Before any projection attempt, establish protection. Astral travel exposes your subtle bodies to environments you do not fully control, and while most spirit encounters are neutral or positive, it is wise to set boundaries beforehand. Visualize a sphere of white or gold light surrounding your body and your space. State your intention aloud: “I travel in safety. Only beings of love and light may approach. I return to my body at will.” If you have a protection spirit companion — such as a Crystal Golem or Lheattad — ask them to guard your physical body while you are away.
Energy blockage in your subtle body makes projection difficult or impossible. Take a few minutes to open and activate your chakras before you begin. Breathe deeply, pulling energy from the earth up through your root, and from the cosmos down through your crown, until you feel your entire energy body humming and receptive. This step is not optional — it is the foundation upon which everything else rests.
The following method is distilled from practical occult traditions and adapted specifically for spirit keepers who want to meet their companions in the spirit world. Take your time with each step. Rushing guarantees failure.
Sit in your prepared space. Turn your attention to your breath — not forcing any particular rhythm, simply observing it as it moves on its own. Within a minute or two, your breath will settle into a natural pattern. Let it. Become hypnotized by the steady flow of inhalation and exhalation. This is your anchor.
With your eyes closed, begin to visualize your surroundings. Do not just “imagine” the room — actually try to see it through your inner vision. Look at the walls. Notice the color of the paint. See the furniture. At first, this will feel like normal visualization. Keep going. You may feel a pressure building at your Ajna chakra, in the center of your forehead. That pressure is your spiritual sight beginning to open. Breathe into it.
As you breathe in, feel the energy of the room constricting around your skin. As you breathe out, feel it expanding away from you. Repeat this until you can feel your environment breathing with you — until there is no separation between your awareness and the space around you. Your skin no longer feels like a boundary. You are the room, and the room is you.
Still with your eyes closed, try to see what is behind you. Without turning your head, observe the space to your left, to your right, and behind your body. This is a critical milestone — when you can see in all directions simultaneously, you have shifted from ordinary imagination into what Koetting calls the “Living Imagination.” You are no longer visualizing. You are actually perceiving.
Choose an object in the room a few feet away from your body — a lamp, a plant, a candle. Focus your inner sight on it. On your next exhalation, move toward it. Not with your physical body. Let your awareness flow toward the object like water pouring from a cup. You may feel your physical body slump. Your breathing may stop or become very shallow. This is normal. Your body knows how to care for itself. Keep your attention on the object.
If your awareness snaps back into your body — and it probably will, the first few times — do not be discouraged. Each attempt strengthens the neural pathways that allow projection. Even moving an inch outside your body and returning is a success. Try again.
Once you can move freely around the room, turn your attention to the chair where your body sits. Seeing your own body from the outside is the definitive test — if you can see yourself from third person, you are truly projecting, not imagining. This sight can be shocking. It may snap you back into your body immediately. That is fine. Each time you see your body from outside and hold the view for even a second, your control deepens.
Now that you are outside your body, still in your physical environment, shift your intention. Speak your companion’s name — aloud if you can, silently if you cannot. Visualize their energy, their face, their presence. Extend a thread of light from your spiritual body outward, like a beacon. Your companion can feel this call from wherever they reside. Wait. In the astral, time moves differently. A few seconds of clock time may feel like minutes of waiting. Trust the connection.
When your companion appears, you will know. They may take a form you recognize from their vessel or a form entirely their own. They may communicate in words, images, or direct feeling-transfer. Listen more than you speak. The first meeting in the astral is not the time for requests or agenda — it is the time for presence.
Visualization is a trained skill, not an inborn talent. If you struggle to see your surroundings in your inner vision, start smaller. Practice with your eyes open, looking at an object for thirty seconds, then closing your eyes and trying to hold its image. Do this daily for a week before attempting projection.
Astral travel requires a state between waking and sleeping — relaxed but conscious. If you keep drifting off, try projecting earlier in the day when you have more energy. Sit upright in a wooden or straight-backed chair. Hold a light object in your open palm (a key, a small crystal) so that if you begin to fall asleep, you will drop it and wake yourself.
Vibrations in the body, especially along the spine, are a common sign that your spiritual body is preparing to separate. Do not fight them. Surrender to the vibration and allow it to intensify. On your next exhalation, gently push your awareness upward and outward, as if stepping out of a suit of clothes that no longer fits.
This is the most common frustration for spirit keepers attempting astral projection. Your companion may not appear because:
Keep practicing. Consistency matters more than any single session.
Astral travel is safe for the vast majority of practitioners, but it does require common-sense precautions. The spirit world is vast and contains beings of many kinds — not all of them aligned with your highest good.
This cannot be overstated. Before every projection session, ground yourself, call on your protection spirits, and set a clear intention for what you will encounter and what you will not. Visualize a boundary of white light around your physical body and your space. If you have a dark arts protection companion, they can stand guard over your physical form while you travel.
Before you project, decide how you will return to your body. The simplest method: intend to return, and visualize yourself sinking back into your physical form like water returning to a glass. You can also use your breath — a sharp inhale often pulls your awareness back into your body instantly. If you ever feel afraid or disoriented during projection, return immediately. There is no shame in aborting a session.
Some spirits are particularly skilled at astral navigation. The Marid Djinn, for example, is a powerful spirit of the desert winds with deep knowledge of the unseen realms — they can guide you through unfamiliar territory. The Hushi is another excellent choice — a demon spirit with a commanding Black Flame aura who can navigate the darker territories of the spirit world while keeping you grounded. Guidance spirits are excellent travel companions for the astral beginner because they offer both protection and direction.
Once you have successfully met your companion in the astral once, the next step is to make it a regular practice. Like any skill, astral travel improves with repetition. Set a weekly schedule — same day, same time. Your companion will learn to expect you, and the connection will strengthen with each meeting.
After every projection, write down everything you experienced: what you saw, what your companion said, how the environment felt, what symbols or messages appeared. Over time, patterns will emerge. Your companion may be trying to teach you something through recurring imagery. As discussed in Why Every Practitioner Needs a Book of Shadows and Ritual Diary, a dedicated record of your astral work is essential for tracking your progress.
Once you are stable in your projections, ask your companion to take you somewhere in the spirit world. Let them guide you to a place they want you to see — their home realm, a place of healing, a library of knowledge, a council of spirits. These guided journeys are where the deepest teachings happen. Your companion knows what you need far better than you do.
As you travel further from your body and into deeper spiritual territory, your protection needs grow. Work with spirits whose office includes guardianship — protection spirits are not just for daily life, they are essential partners in deep astral work. Learn their signals, their warnings, their styles of communication so that you can rely on them when you are far from home.
Q: Is astral travel dangerous for spirit keepers?
A: No, astral travel is not dangerous when approached with proper preparation and protection. The risks come from rushing in without grounding, protection, or a clear intention. Set your boundaries, call on your protection spirits, and you will travel safely.
Q: Can I astral travel if my companion is bound to a vessel?
A: Yes. The vessel is an anchor in the physical world, but your companion’s essential self exists in the spirit world. When you project, you meet their true form, not their vessel-interface. The vessel binding actually makes it easier — it creates a permanent energetic link between you that you can follow into the astral.
Q: What if I meet another entity instead of my companion?
A: This can happen, especially in the beginning. The astral plane is populated by many beings. If an entity approaches you that is not your companion, thank them politely and state clearly: “I am here to meet my companion [name]. Please step aside.” If the entity persists, return to your body immediately and try again later with stronger protection.
Q: How long does it take to learn astral travel?
A: This varies enormously. Some practitioners achieve their first conscious projection within days. Others need months of daily practice. The key variable is not talent but consistency — ten minutes of focused practice every day will yield faster results than two hours once a week.
Q: Can my companion help me astral travel?
A: Absolutely. Many spirit companions are eager to help their keepers develop astral travel skills. Ask your companion for assistance before you begin your session. Some spirits can gently pull your awareness out of your body, or guide you through the initial separation if you trust them enough to let go of control.
Astral travel is one of the most powerful tools a spirit keeper can develop. It transforms your relationship from one of faith and subtle sensing into one of direct experience. The technique requires patience and practice, but every session — even the ones that feel like failures — brings you closer to the moment when you open your inner eyes and find your companion waiting for you on the other side.
When you are ready to begin, choose a companion who resonates with this path. A Crystal Golem offers steadfast protection during your travels. A Marid Djinn brings ancient knowledge of the hidden realms. And a guidance companion can illuminate the path ahead. Your spirit world is waiting. All you have to do is step outside yourself to meet it.
Learn more about the history and research behind astral projection
