| What is the difference between lucid dreaming and | | | | choosing our experience. In one sense, when we are |
| astral projection? Some people - including some astral | | | | Lucid Dreaming weare within the 'creative state', and |
| travelers themselves - say they are the same thing. | | | | it is easier to consciously create what we desire. And |
| Others say they are completely separate; the astral | | | | in Astral Projection it is probably moreproductive to |
| world overlays the dreamworld just like it overlays | | | | explore the other realities that already exist, relatively |
| the physical world. | | | | unhampered by specific desires for self-fulfillment. |
| With Astral Projection you get into the Astral Plane | | | | There is some contention between defining the |
| direct from your physical body. When you have a | | | | difference between Lucid Dreaming and Projection. It |
| Lucid Dream, you havesimply 'missed' the initial | | | | is not a matter of clarity orvividness as some people |
| projection. They are just two different ways of | | | | suggest, though typically Lucid Dreams will seem |
| entering the Astral Realm. In either case you are | | | | more substantial and realistic at least to begin with. |
| stillconscious in the Astral, however, as there are | | | | But either experience can be poorly or highly |
| degrees of lucidity in dreaming, you may or may not | | | | developed. Having already distinguished Etheric |
| be fully in control of yourexperience. But this is highly | | | | Projection and Astral Projection,there remains a |
| unlikely in an Astral Projection. There is still a | | | | factor that does provide a feasible distinction. |
| difference, whether more slight or obvious. | | | | Here is an experiment you can try for yourself. Next |
| The difference arises mostly because of the | | | | time you are lucid dreaming, climb into your dream |
| framework you are entering from. If you project | | | | bed and visualize yourself floating out of body. It will |
| from the waking state, you mayencounter some | | | | be much easier than practicing astral projection in real |
| difficulties due to restrictive ideas carried with you | | | | life. Observe your new surroundings - are you in the |
| that don't apply to the Astral, and require some | | | | astral world? Or are you just dreaming of being in the |
| practice toadjust to the new environment. On the | | | | astral world? What is the difference? |
| other hand, in a Lucid Dream, having accustomed to | | | | Practicing how to astral travel in a lucid dream can |
| the expansiveness of the dreamstate, you can | | | | help you achieve an out of body experience in real |
| sometimes have the opposite problem, finding it hard | | | | life. In doing so, you can recreate the exact |
| to retain a conscious focus, and thus 'losing lucidity'. | | | | circumstances of an OBE and discover what it feels |
| Withpractice of course, both of these will be | | | | like to transfer your awareness out of body. Lucid |
| overcome. | | | | dreaming is useful for many things! |
| However, knowing this distinction can be helpful when | | | | |