If you've read about astral projection for any length of time, you've encountered warnings about possession. The idea goes something like this: when you leave your body unoccupied during an OBE, something else could enter it. Spirits, entities, or other consciousnesses could slip into your vacant body while you're off exploring the astral, and you'd return to find yourself displaced or sharing your own mind with an unwanted tenant.
It's a frightening idea — and it's worth examining honestly.
Where This Idea Comes From
The fear of possession during astral projection appears in several places in the literature. Robert Monroe mentions it in Journeys Out of the Body, noting that some of his early research subjects expressed concern about their bodies being "taken over." Some traditional cultures have stories about soul loss or spirit replacement during trance states. Certain occult traditions warn about the dangers of leaving the body unguarded.
It's also a staple of horror fiction, which has done far more than any esoteric text to popularize the idea. When people fear possession during astral projection, they're often responding to a cultural image — The Exorcist, Paranormal Activity, urban legends — rather than anything grounded in the actual reported experiences of people who project regularly.
My Experience and That of Projectors I Know
I have never had an experience of possession, nor do I know anyone personally who has. I have been projecting on and off for years, have spoken with dozens of other practitioners, and have never encountered a firsthand account of someone returning to their body to find it occupied. Among the serious projector community, possession is widely regarded as a theoretical concern that practically never happens.
This doesn't mean the books that mention it are wrong or lying. But it's important to distinguish between something that can theoretically happen and something that regularly does. The same books that mention possession also describe astral entities, other planes of existence, and phenomena that clearly operate on symbolic rather than physical rules. Some of what they describe as "possession risk" may be a symbolic way of talking about energetic attachment or psychic noise — real phenomena, but not the dramatic body-snatching scenario most people imagine.
Practical Protection Measures
That said, feeling safe is important. Even if the objective risk is minimal, fear is real and needs to be addressed. Here are practical, grounded approaches to protection that address the concern without feeding unnecessary fear:
1. Set Clear Intentions Before Projecting
Before you attempt projection, state clearly: "I intend to return to my body safely. My body remains under my sovereignty. Any being that approaches during my absence is met with my protection." Intention is the most powerful tool you have. The astral responds to your state of mind, and a clear, confident intention establishes a strong boundary.
2. Use a Banishing Ritual
Performing a banishing before projection clears the energetic space and establishes a protective field. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) is the classic choice — it centers the practitioner, clears unwanted energies, and invokes protective presences. The Sword Banishing from the Gallery of Magic is a faster, simpler alternative that achieves the same goal through pure visualization. Either one, done sincerely before attempting projection, addresses the protection concern thoroughly.
3. The Light Shield
Before projecting, visualize your body surrounded by a sphere of white, golden, or violet light. This is not a barrier in the physical sense — it's a statement of your energetic boundaries. See the light as both protecting your body while you're away and serving as a beacon for your return. This simple visualization is used by many experienced projectors as a matter of course.
4. Don't Project in a Fearful State
This is the most practical advice I can give. If you're feeling afraid — of possession, of entities, of anything — don't attempt projection that night. The astral reflects your emotional state. Projecting from fear tends to produce fear-shaped experiences, which then confirm the fear. Wait until you feel grounded and confident. The astral will still be there tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
The fear of possession during astral projection is understandable but not supported by the actual experience of projectors. Books mention it as a theoretical possibility, not as a common occurrence. I have never experienced it or met anyone who has. The real danger is not possession — it's fear itself, which blocks projection and creates negative experiences.
Use protection measures if they give you peace of mind (they're good practice anyway). But don't let the fear of something that almost never happens stop you from exploring. The astral is your own consciousness extended — you're far safer there than you might think.