Every human has dreams. There is nothing new about dreams. Every culture throughout recorded history has made reference to dreams. Dreams have a wide variety of characteristics. To the dreamer everything is accepted as real. When awake we may recall absurd images or time distortions. Some dreams are mundane and some are astounding but  ALL DREAMS ARE FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION.

        When awake the consciousness is normally under control. Actions are desired and carried out at will. For instance if thirst is felt the consciousness directs the body to quench the thirst. During a dream it is not as simple. Because there is no control of consciousness the experience of dreaming happens like swimming in a swift stream that bends, twists and changes color and form without warning or sense.

        Basic understanding of "being" in another plane of existence (the Astral) is inherent in all humans because of dreaming yet "control" while being in another plane is usually a talent which must be learned.

        There is no simple definition of "control" of dream consciousness. Often during a dream the feeling occurs that the dream is not real or that the dream is understood as being "just" a dream while dreaming. When such feelings occur the dreamer has experienced a form of control of the Astral consciousness.

        Some people refer to Astral projection as "lucid" dreaming. This term defines the Astral as mentally created and denies the reality of other planes of existence.

        For those who have some recall of dreams and especially for those who border on dream control there is a simple way to increase dream awareness. The method is easy yet time consuming. It involves an intense preoccupation with anything and everything concerning dreams. Most people will dream at night about a very remarkable experience that happened during the day. A dream is rarely an exact duplicate of a waking experience but close enough to be recognized as similar to the same experience. In the same manner if there is sufficient preoccupation with dreaming while awake there will occur a dream where the dreamer is thinking about dreaming. Quite often it is at this point in the dream when a form of awakening occurs to the dreamer. As the dream fades, the dreamer becomes a person standing in a very fantastic place and all the while a body rests somewhere awaiting the return of consciousness.

        There are many facets of dreams with which to be preoccupied. Some facets are more profitable to consider when trying to develop dream control. Quite often a typical dream will have elements of the absurd or illogical when it is recalled but to the dreamer as the experience occurs all seems as though it should. By dwelling on the dream as a place where bizarre things happen it is possible to be "awakened" in the dream when something unusual occurs. When an "awakening" occurs while dreaming there is no opening of the physical eyes but instead a great clarity of vision occurs to the dreamer accompanied by the knowledge that the person is in another world - the Astral.

        There is another time consuming yet functional approach to developing dream awareness. If a person is constantly looking around while awake and asking their mind if they are awake or dreaming eventually there will occur a dream where that person will look around in a dream and ask if it is a dream. When this happens often an "awakening" occurs and control of consciousness is obtained. Many different methods of learning to Astral project have been given in a variety of books and essays published recently. Some may seem slightly bizarre but an understanding of the basic nature of the Astral is usually necessary before controlled projection occurs.

        The terms ASTRAL PROJECTION, DREAM CONTROL, DREAM AWAKENING, CONTROL OF CONSCIOUSNESS, OUT OF THE BODY EXPERIENCE and combinations of these terms are used interchangeably throughout this essay. They all relate to a reality which is truly a wonder to experience.

Dreams  Are  A  Key  To  The  Astral