Struggling with the temptation to practice Astral Projection, please help

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stanczyk said:
This is not an idea that should be humored. Astral projection is false. There is no evidence for it. It is an absurd, false occult practice that is no different from horoscopes or any of that nonsense.

All that stuff has been consistently debunked. It’s a sin because when you practice divination you are rejecting God in your heart, because you are looking for some other truth besides the Truth that God is offering. It’s not about demons possessing you or whatever superstitious nonsense, that’s absurd. It’s about the sin of pride. You are turning your nose up at God, that’s the sin.

And you’re doing it over something that isn’t even real! What a tragic irony.

Just cut it out. Quench your spiritual thirst with God, it’s what He’s there for.
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Pssst. There’s no evidence for God, either.
 
Gem02 said:
Recently I’ve had an intense temptation to practice astral projection.
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Can one ever be “tempted” to heal the sick, or raise the dead, or cast out demons, or cleanse lepers? Likewise, one cannot really be “tempted” to astral project. One can hunger for truth, and the hunger will project oneself forward. Seek and ye shall find.
 
Stylites said:
Can one ever be “tempted” to heal the sick, or raise the dead, or cast out demons, or cleanse lepers? Likewise, one cannot really be “tempted” to astral project. One can hunger for truth, and the hunger will project oneself forward. Seek and ye shall find.
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Temptation generally comes in the form of tempting one to commit a sin. Doing astral projection is a sin. Therefore you can be tempted to do it. I have been tempted in the past do Occult activities that I practiced in the past and so I know its a real temptation. One simply must try to resist the temptation.
 
Gem02 said:
Cider,

I have never had any strange or weird experiences (lucid dreams, floating over my body, premonitions, etc…) but I have heard accounts of people like you and from books I have read of stuff like this and in the past have sought out more info and finally found info and purposefully acheiving what comes to you naturally. That is, I sought out those experiences but you didn’t. The reason I say I’m being tempted is because unlike you I started to associate myself with a variety of new age beliefs surrounding such phenomenon. Such things have become a temptation for me to leave the Catholicism in pursue of the new age or at least something other than belief in Jesus.
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I recommend leaving the new age beliefs, seek a Catholic understanding of spirituality and pray to have a greater faith in Jesus… because since you are being tempted to leave Catholicism, and to have a belief in something other than Jesus, that’s a very clear sign. There’s a reason we’re warned about the new age. We should seek Christian interpretations of things because Christianity was revealed by God.

For example, new age beliefs teach that a person can achieve leaving thier body through certain techniques, and learn new knowledge through this, and travel among other spirits. What really happens is we can’t achieve anything like this, and we can receive knowledge in safer ways that we can be sure about, and travelling among other spirits might not be so fun if you remember that not spirits are the good Angels. Also these people assume that we CAN “make” ourselves leave our body. We can’t. See how the new age ideas give us a power we don’t have. Be careful about a desire for power or knowledge. God knows how He made us, He knows He gave us a body, which would be raised on the last day. When He communicates with us, the body does not need to disappear. Even with the Saints, it did not disappear even when they were only aware of Him and not of their senses - the state of ecstasy is a great example of how God can inhibit the use of the senses or any other things that might be distracting, without actually taking away the body from the person. (we shoudln’t seek ecstasy either though, and we can’t achieve it no matter how much we try, cause it’s a gift). I recommend just not thinking about any spiritual experiences at all right now 🙂 focus instead of growing in faith and learning more about the Church. And try to seek humility so you can resist these temptations better. We start out proud… it’s good to realize this about ourselves. 🙂 it helps us to grow.
 
Stylites said:
Can one ever be “tempted” to heal the sick, or raise the dead, or cast out demons, or cleanse lepers? Likewise, one cannot really be “tempted” to astral project. One can hunger for truth, and the hunger will project oneself forward. Seek and ye shall find.
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I’m not really understanding what you mean… I just wanted to say though, that if we seek truth, we should seek it in Christ, not in any experience. We shouldn’t be attracted to such things. Saints who healed the sick, etc, did so by the power of the Holy Spirit and they didn’t want glory for themselves or any experiences, they just wanted to help their neighbour, out of charity. They just wanted to serve God, and did not expect to be so chosen. They even got confused when others saw these miracles, because they considered themselves so sinful, and they were worried that others would think they are holy. They just wanted this glory for God. But people can begin to want things for the wrong reason, or in the wrong way, or something else, - for example, someone might really want to have visions, just to feel special. Visions from God are good. But wanting them to feel special is the wrong reason. This person would need to humble themselves. I don’t think it’s so black and white, like the enemy only tempts to horrible things like murder or blasphemy. He often tempts to things that are not bad in themselves, so most people are attracted to them, but - the temptation is to take them away from what is best, - God. They leave God, who is their best, to something created, which may be good but they are approaching it in the wrong way, and idolizing it. The thing doesn’t cease being good in itself. But the person’s desires are based on the wrong intention. If we make God our everything, we would not place other things above Him, it would be harder to tempt us. If we seek truth, we know that truth can be found in Jesus who IS the Truth. 🙂 He is Truth and gave His teachings to the Church.

God bless 🙂
 
Gem02 said:
Yes, I agree Monica. I think at this point it is irrelevant whether or not AP is real. The question is whether or not I trust in Jesus and willing to abandon any other belief in favor of him. Do I trust the catholic church is it, the truth? This has been the issue all along and I didn’t even see it.
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that is what I felt also as I read your post. About AP itself (I really hesitate calling it that because the term is so new agey…) - I mean about the whole concept of a person leaving their body - I suggest just not even thinking about it. Ask God to give you a greater understanding, ask for wisdom. Look how much the Saints knew, and in their experiences it seems they stayed in their bodies, so you don’t need this to know anything. All we need to know for salvation was given to us already, - because God offers it to all, it doesn’t take visions and spiritual experiences to find it out, (although God can and does sometimes convert people with this, when in His wisdom He sees that’s what is needed) - it takes only hearing His truth. But I recommend just right now, to try and just forget about this whole AP idea, and only think of it if this would help you, for example if God gives you wisdom regarding it. But I wouldn’t seek any sort of experiences at all, just faith. Ask Him for faith… like how you said, are you willing to trust Jesus enough to abandon all else for Him. Look the new age… it’s all relativism. They don’t even believe they’ve got the objective truth. It’s all what seems good or true “to you”. But truth is not like that… it’s something we need to conform to. You might say, it’s hard as nails. It’s not something we can change just because we feel like believing something one day. Our faith is something that we stick to regardless of how we feel, because it is a choice 🙂 try to will this choice, simply by wanting to will it: then ask God to take you the rest of the way. Don’t do it on your own strength, we need grace for this. Try your best then ask for His help. Then keep going and keep asking for His help. Don’t stop and don’t look back, - like Lot’s wife… if we don’t go forward in our faith, we’ll start going backward. It might be hard at first cause you might have to battle more temptation. Be ready for this but don’t be afraid, but trust in God… and eventually, it would get better. No trials or temptations last forever! sometimes the enemy wants us to feel like we should give in cause the temptation would not ever end. That’s NOT true. It will. God often intervenes and stops it and give the person a break. Temptation is the battle… we can’t just follow our feelings. We need to choose our side (of course, this would be God) and stick with this decision regardless of anything, because temptation is like a test: does our faith go beyond our feelings or does it not. But the more you overcome it, the better your faith will get. Things like faith and love only get better when they are tested, if you choose them. And this will glorify God and win more merit for you in Heaven.

One thing: the general advice I’ve received or read is that when we are tempted against faith or purity, we shouldn’t battle the temptation directly. For some reason, this makes it worse. Don’t focus on, don’t think of it, just run. The more we entertain these thoughts, the more they will happen. Try to forget about them, and if they come up again, forget again, and repeat this until it gets better. Start praying right at the very moment they start, and ask Jesus’ Blood to cover you, and for Mother Mary to cover you with her mantle of protection. These are very powerful prayers. Ask your Guardian Angel and St Michael to help you.
I really do want to find a spiritual director. But I’m not sure how to find a good one. Do I just call up a church and ask “Hello, are there any smart, dedicated Catholics here who can handle questions on doubt, the occult and is willing to talk one on one on a relatively frequent basis?”
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Thank you everyone for your (name removed by moderator)ut.
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hmm well for this sort of thing, I’d recommend a priest… do you have any Catholic churches near you that have the Latin Mass like the FSSP, or diocesan Latin Mass? The reason I say this is because they tend to be very orthodox and knowledgeable, and the holy water in these parishes is also exorcized, and whenever I received blessings there it helped me a lot. i don’t know why, I just found it helpful. But ask God to guide you to the right priest, ask Mary to find him for you. If you know a parish that seems good and orthodox, maybe just make an appointment with a priest there, and talk to him… tell him that you are thinking of becoming Catholic, but you are tempted not to, but to believe new age beliefs.

God bless! 🙂
 
I also recommend, try to use sacramentals, ask the Saints to pray for you, etc. The enemy hates and fears all these things. St Padre Pio, St John Vianney, St Therese, St Philomena, St Gemma, St Rita: are all great intercessors, I’ve found. There are so many other Saints like St Francis, St Dominic, St Anthony - you can research them 🙂 I’ve found the St Philomena cord and the St Anthony Brief very very helpful in terms of spiritual attacks, especially if it was touched by a relic and I’m hoping to get the objects blessed by a priest as well. Remember that it’s not the objects themselves, but the Saint’s intercession, the blessing, God’s grace, etc. rosescapular.net/StAnthony-Scapular-Brief-88888.htm
saintphilomena.com/thesaint.htm

and don’t forget holy water and the St Benedict medal, they’re great.
 
Monica4316 said:
I’m not really understanding what you mean… I just wanted to say though, that if we seek truth, we should seek it in Christ, not in any experience. We shouldn’t be attracted to such things. Saints who healed the sick, etc, did so by the power of the Holy Spirit and they didn’t want glory for themselves or any experiences, they just wanted to help their neighbour, out of charity. They just wanted to serve God, and did not expect to be so chosen. They even got confused when others saw these miracles, because they considered themselves so sinful, and they were worried that others would think they are holy. They just wanted this glory for God. But people can begin to want things for the wrong reason, or in the wrong way, or something else, - for example, someone might really want to have visions, just to feel special. Visions from God are good. But wanting them to feel special is the wrong reason. This person would need to humble themselves. I don’t think it’s so black and white, like the enemy only tempts to horrible things like murder or blasphemy. He often tempts to things that are not bad in themselves, so most people are attracted to them, but - the temptation is to take them away from what is best, - God. They leave God, who is their best, to something created, which may be good but they are approaching it in the wrong way, and idolizing it. The thing doesn’t cease being good in itself. But the person’s desires are based on the wrong intention. If we make God our everything, we would not place other things above Him, it would be harder to tempt us. If we seek truth, we know that truth can be found in Jesus who IS the Truth. 🙂 He is Truth and gave His teachings to the Church.

God bless 🙂
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People can go to Church and receive the Sacraments with all the wrong intentions, but we don’t say that people are being “tempted” to go to Church or receive the Sacraments on that account.

The so-called ‘astral projection’ is not a sin, although seeking anything for the wrong reasons can be a sin, which is defined as using a good in a wrong way. The so-called ‘astral projection’ is a reality and a truth and is one way of God intervening in the lives of humankind. The OP’s words do not point to anything wrongly-intended or sinful in thinking about it. He or she is seeking truth, and there’s nothing wrong in that at all. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
 
Gem,
I tend not to get involved in these sorts of threads as I’m usually not taken seriously, but I feel strongly that I do need to tell you this.
I used to practice Astral Projection prior to becoming a Catholic. PLEASE DO NOT PUT YOURSELF THROUGH IT. I don’t want to go into detail as this is an area of my life I am not proud of and do not like to dwell on, but please, do not try AP. No matter what people say about it, it IS DANGEROUS.
 
Stylites said:
People can go to Church and receive the Sacraments with all the wrong intentions, but we don’t say that people are being “tempted” to go to Church or receive the Sacraments on that account.

The so-called ‘astral projection’ is not a sin, although seeking anything for the wrong reasons can be a sin, which is defined as using a good in a wrong way. The so-called ‘astral projection’ is a reality and a truth and is one way of God intervening in the lives of humankind. The OP’s words do not point to anything wrongly-intended or sinful in thinking about it. He or she is seeking truth, and there’s nothing wrong in that at all. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
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Monica, iirc, was correct when she said an experience like this, and other extra-ordinary experiences were granted to certain saints but that these types of experiences are not what we should *seek. *We need to seek to love God and follow His will for us. We need to ask for His peace rather than fancy manifestations.

It’s kind of like saying you need a car to get back and forth to work, and someone is willing to *give *you a great car, but you keep going and looking at a race car which is not even street legal.

Priorities… what does one put *first? *
 
Can someone tell me if the Saints ever had it happen to them that their souls left the body?? I can’t seem to find anything… of course I DON’T mean the new age understanding of this, or using certain meditation techniques to make this happen, and what is understood by “astral projection”. I am referring to whether they ever left their body and went to Heaven?

what I meant before is that the technique of “astral projection” where one TRIES to leave one’s body, is dangerous, it is also a new age idea to think that we make ourselves get such experiences, and there are safe ways to find truth, - and there are no guarantees that we would find anything if we left our bodies. I mean - we can be in contact with God while in our body… we don’t need to leave it to receive His grace or wisdom. There are Saints who reached a union with God and sometimes they didn’t have the use of their senses or memory etc, but this is a gift and it doesn’t happen continuously, - most of the time, the Saints were not in this state and they had union with God.

If we can pray to God while being in our body (since He gave it to us and it’s not something evil in itself) - if we leave our bodies, it’s not like we would go to Heaven and meet God just like that, - if this were to happen, this would NOT be something that we could achieve. If leaving our body and staying on earth is possible, we would be around other spirits which includes BAD spirits.

Honestly I don’t understand the attraction, why not just simply pray the Rosary, go to Mass, and not seek any experiences, if God sends something for our good, that’s great, if not, great. Trying to achieve it, can lead to disastrous consequences, because then we are focusing on feelings, not on love, and putting an experience over God’s will, and also trusting in our own power to have a spiriutal experience - and we have none.
 
There is no such thing as astral projection, it is entirely bogus.
 
stanczyk said:
There is no such thing as astral projection, it is entirely bogus.
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I assume you believe that your soul (including memories, personality and consciousness) will survive the death of your body. If that’s true, how can anyone with such beliefs then categorically state that astral projection is impossible? It seems to me that if the former is possible, then so is the latter.
 
cornbread_r2 said:
I assume you believe that your soul (including memories, personality and consciousness) will survive the death of your body. If that’s true, how can anyone with such beliefs then categorically state that astral projection is impossible? It seems to me that if the former is possible, then so is the latter.
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I’m not going to get drawn into a silly debate comparing the ludicrous idea of astral projection with the teachings of the Church, the truth of which are above reproach and beyond all doubt.

To do so would be to dignify the patently false and absurd notion of astral projection, and any such comparison is an insult the dignity and veracity of the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Superstitious garbage like astral projection should simply not be humored.
 
I have read all your posts, thank you everyone. I am taking the advice in your various posts. As of now, I’ve decided to give up astral projection and any new age practices. I’ve decided to stay with Catholicism and I plan on calling a church about RCIA on monday.

Its been terribly difficult to get over this issue but I have realized the great importance and meaning that Jesus and his church have to me, as well as the truth that I have come to realized contained therein. I can’t say that this issue is over forever but I have managed to get rid of the rest of my new age books today. (I had gotten rid of most of them a few days ago and sort of broke down in the middle of it).

I don’t quite understand what role AP has in God’s plan, assuming it is real, but now I can live without knowing. I won’t dwell on the feelings of temptation because I know why the New Age is the wrong road to go down. I will also definitely be praying more and reading more Catholic material. I find that constant reminder really helps. I think over time I’ll forget about it because I know intellectually how pointless the New Age is. I do think most of it is just nonsense and the rest doesn’t lead to truth, only relativism. I don’t want to lose Jesus for nonsense.

Thank you all again for your advice and prayers.🙂
 
stanczyk said:
I’m not going to get drawn into a silly debate comparing the ludicrous idea of astral projection with the teachings of the Church, the truth of which are above reproach and beyond all doubt.

To do so would be to dignify the patently false and absurd notion of astral projection, and any such comparison is an insult the dignity and veracity of the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Superstitious garbage like astral projection should simply not be humored.
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It’s regrettable you chose to characterize my question in that way – particularly since the RCC itself would seem to teach that astral projection is possible – by teaching that it is to be avoided. If someone could point me towards a definitive Church teaching on the subject, I’d appreciate it.
 
Okay. We’ve bashed AP quite a bit now, but what about lucid dreaming?
 
stanczyk said:
I’m not going to get drawn into a silly debate comparing the ludicrous idea of astral projection with the teachings of the Church, the truth of which are above reproach and beyond all doubt.

To do so would be to dignify the patently false and absurd notion of astral projection, and any such comparison is an insult the dignity and veracity of the One True Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Superstitious garbage like astral projection should simply not be humored.
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This is a complete non answer of the type that is often given when someone has no better reply. Her question is understandable. If you want someone to take your opinion seriously it helps if you can actually articulate it better than, I’m not wasting my time answering it.
 
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