In astral projection the conscious mind leaves the physical body and moves into the astral plane (grids) to experience. The subject allegedly remains attached to their physical body by a 'silver umbilical cord' which some people report seeing during their experience.

Some people astral project spontaneously, others with practice, yet others I'm not programmed to remove their consciousness from the physical body and never learn to astral project. It's all in the way one's brain is programmed.

Experience is all about programming in the simulation of reality.

Astral projecting while sleeping is called a dream - especially lucid dreaming.

Everyday physical life is the fully rendered, 3D sensory environment designed for human interaction and emotional experience. Here, time feels linear, matter feels solid, and the brain acts as a biological receiver translating complex data into familiar sights and sounds.

Moving into the astral plane is like entering a dynamic, responsive layer of the program shaped heavily by emotion, memory, and imagination. While free from physical gravity, you are still navigating simulated landscapes, symbols, and dream-like environments.

The traveler finds him or herself in an apparently real domain, analogous to the "other worlds" experienced by traditional peoples, which have no parallel to any physical setting or to consensus reality, described by New Agers and occultists as the astral plane or "the astral". Environments here may range from populated to unpopulated, artificial to natural to completely abstract environments.

Here, normal physical laws often do not apply and humans can often, for example, float or fly. Quality of physical detail ranges from crude, non-detailed and depressing to bright, vivid and fascinating as detailed, among other writers, by Robert Bruce in his Astral Dynamics.

Travelers may travel from one realm to the other. Projectors may find access to visions of the past or future and to the Akashic Records accessible from here. It has been said that space and time do not exist on the astral plane nor the higher planes, but no explanation is given as to how forms and entire environments can exist without spatial dimensions, nor why there can be a sequence of events and yet no such thing as time.

Many travelers have theorized that people having dreams actually travel to the astral realms, unaware, and, again as reported in Astral Dynamics, travelers have reported seeing dreamers enact dream scenarios on the astral plane, unaware of the more extensive and varied non-physical environment surrounding them. Some also claim common movements in dreams, such as falling or feeling like you are walking through quicksand, is the astral body in action.

Astral projection is the conscious act of shifting your awareness out of the physical body and into your energetic double, allowing you to explore non-physical realms beyond the limits of time and space. In the context of simulation theory, it is like logging out of the dense, three-dimensional physical interface while keeping your consciousness wide awake. Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to initiating the experience.

Step 1: Set Your Intention and Environment

Choose a quiet, dimly lit space where you will not be disturbed, and lie flat on your back in a comfortable position. Before closing your eyes, state a clear, calm intention in your mind - such as "I am aware as my body falls asleep" - to anchor your focus so you do not drift into ordinary unconscious dreaming.

Step 2: Deep Physical Relaxation

Close your eyes and take slow, rhythmic breaths, releasing tension from your toes all the way up to the crown of your head. The goal is to allow your physical vehicle to fall completely asleep while keeping your mind alert and observant, entering that liminal threshold between waking and sleep.

Step 3: Recognize the Vibrational State

As your body powers down, you will likely notice subtle energetic shifts - such as a gentle humming, tingling sensations, heavy stillness, or the sound of rushing wind. Stay calm and welcome these vibrations rather than reacting with fear or excitement, as they signal that your energetic frequency is detaching from physical matter.

Step 4: Initiate Separation

Once the vibrations peak or settle into a quiet floating sensation, use gentle mental imagery to lift out of your physical form without moving a muscle. You might imagine yourself rolling sideways out of bed, floating upward toward the ceiling, or climbing an invisible rope hand-over-hand until you feel your perspective shift.

Step 5: Stabilize and Explore

When you feel yourself separate, move a few feet away from your physical body to prevent snapping back in, and focus on your surroundings to sharpen your astral senses. From here, you can travel by pure thought - simply focusing on a destination, a question, or a higher frequency - and when you are ready to return, simply think of your physical body to reconnect instantly.