Art and Practice of Astral Projection

This book gives straitforward information and techniques on how to train for astral (and other planes) travels. I hardly think you'll ever find another book better. (...)

It is good to see that two of Ophiel's books are in print. There were eight works of Ophiel that I know of: The Art and Practice of Astral Projection, Creative Visualization, Art and Practice of the Occult, Art and Practice of Clairvoyance, Vignette Lessons in Occult Power, Correspondence Course in the Foundations of Occult Knowledge, Correspondence Course in Astral Projection, and the Oracle of Fortuna. Ophiel was a very straight forward writer on these subjects. He really knew what he was writing about. His instructions are clear, simple, right to the point, free of all the fluff so often found in books nowadays days, and very effective. His writing style is also very amusing - very American colloquial, casual and unpretentious. It is hoped that Weiser will eventually reprint all of Ophiel's books. They probably could fill one nice sized volume.

This is a great book! It actually makes it clear that there are different types of "projection" corresponding to the different levels of energy configuration of the body and our perception of other realities. For example, at the "etheric" level, the energy body is very similar in shape, size and senses to the ordinary physical body. This is the only body you can use to "see" things in "everyday" life since the etheric plane is the only plane really close to the physical body.In the astral plane, he talks about lower and higher - the lower astral is more like our normal body with "twisted normal" (why is the door handle on the wrong side of the door?) or angelic scenery, while the higher astral becomes more shapes, lights, symbols - where you might just be a "glow" instead of a well defined "body."Ophiel also gives great techniques - a great system for exploring the nearby, actual geography of your residence, for example; a way of "projecting" into symbols; a way of building a body of light; a way of working with dreams.He is ultra clear and ultra concise. He is sometimes annoying with his occasionally grumpy old man style of writing. Sometimes he is hilarious - a great, down to earth sense of humor.This book was old when I first read it as a teenager in the '60's. There is a reason why this irrascible writer has stayed in print all these years!My one small advice: Ophiel gives a ritual called the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram in this book. This is a well-established technique of "white" magic. It isn't in the book because Ophiel had a religious or ideological axe to grind, but because this ritual really helps to build a body of light.

I looked for any useful information in a lot of books and only found something valuable with this book. Ophiel gives us 4 different methods to achieve projection goal. You can complement its wisdom with his other books.

There is some soliciting, but if you are susceptable to soliciting then that is your own fault - however, Ophiel isn't alive anymore so you may have a problem. Most books I have read on the subject have a mere one or two techniques, and they are often more or less the same thing, making this a very useful title. There is some use of ritual, but it IS useful, to say it is not shows a misunderstanding of what ritual is about. This book is not meant to be the only book you'll ever need, so don't expect that - it even says so in the book. Reviews are just opinions, but I have tried to give one that was free from prejudice. If you really want to you can try Flying Without A Broom (DJ Conway, Llewellyn), or the Llewellyn Astral Projection Kit. I would reccomend this for a beginning student, as an advanced occultist would not get very much out of it.