Technique

Floating

You imagine your body light, as if floating on water, until the feeling of rising becomes real.

Easy Duration: 15–25 minutes When: After a few hours of sleep

Why it works

It's the gentlest technique, which makes it the best one to start with. It doesn't ask you to imagine complicated movements: it works on a sensation the body already knows, water holding you up. As the body falls asleep, the imagined lightness can become a real feeling of rising.

Step by step

Relax completelyLie on your back, breathe slowly and relax your body from feet to head. Stay still: no itch to scratch, no position to change.
Feel the waterImagine lying on calm, lukewarm water. Feel it holding up your back, your arms, your head. Let the body grow lighter and lighter.
Let it riseImagine the water slowly rising and carrying you with it. Don't push: feel the body lifting by itself, a few centimetres at a time.
Hold the feelingIf a feeling of rocking, lightness or vibration comes, change nothing. Keep feeling yourself rise, calmly.
SeparateWhen the floating feeling is strong, imagine carrying on up towards the ceiling while the physical body stays below. No hurry.

What you might feel

Rocking, lightness, the feeling that the bed is tilting or that the body is «peeling off» the mattress.

Astra's tip

Don't try to see anything: in this technique what counts is feeling. Sight, if it comes, comes later.

If it doesn't work

I fall asleep: Practise after a few hours of sleep rather than in the evening, or keep a forearm slightly raised: if you nod off, it drops and wakes you.
I rise with my physical body: If you feel your muscles tense, you're moving the real body. Go back to feeling the water and let it do the lifting.

Log how it went

In the Dream diary every session has its own card: technique, duration, how far you got, vibrations, lucidity. After a few nights you'll see which technique, time and Moon bring you closest.

The diary is for subscribers

The techniques are free for everyone. The diary, with your session statistics, is included in the subscription.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take?

Usually 15–25 minutes of practice per session. The first results, like the feeling of lightness, may take several nights: that's normal.

Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes, it's the best one to start with: gentle, relaxing, and even when it doesn't lead to an exit it helps you recognise the state between waking and sleep.

These pages describe practices; they are not medical advice. With care

Astra

Astral travel

Hi, I'm Astra. This section is free: it tells you what an out-of-body experience is and gives you five techniques to try.

Where to startRead «Before you start»: timing, position, relaxation and attitude matter more than the technique.
The ladder«What it usually feels like» isn't clickable: it's the stages practitioners describe most often, from nothing to the exit.
The techniquesStart with floating, the gentlest. Each technique has its steps, what you might feel and what to do if it doesn't work.
The diaryAfter each attempt, log how it went in the Dream diary: over time you'll see which technique, time and Moon bring you closest.

Try the same technique for a few nights before switching, and don't cut your sleep short to do it.