Setup

Ultimately, accessing the astral realm requires a comfortable place to meditate and sleep.

You will learn what works best for you over time, but you can get started immediately with what you already have.

That said, investing some time and money into making a comfortable space can help train your mind by creating a “ritual” around your practice.

Having a dedicated quiet place like a guest bedroom is ideal, because you can store your meditation supplies in there, and you will associate the space with leaving your body over time.

Meditation

Sitting peacefully in a safe place with an open heart is the cornerstone of the inner work that makes deeper experiences possible.

Making yourself physically comfortable helps to remove some distractions in this process.

There are no “right” or “wrong” ways to sit peacefully. You can use a chair, couch, recliner, or stool.

For about a year, I used a meditation bench on a carpeted floor. This worked great for me because I didn’t have the flexibility to sit on the floor directly.

Now I use a meditation cushion with both feet resting on the floor (Burmese-style). I use a second cushion under my left leg and a pillow behind me as a backrest.

The point is to be in a stable comfortable position. You don’t have to impress anyone – just do what you want!

Woman meditating on bench

Equipment:

Sensory Isolation

It’s important to limit sensory input. If you are waking up in the middle of the night to meditate, you probably don’t want to turn on lights and browse social media before sitting down. And once you’re seated, you don’t want random sounds or the rising sun to distract your focus.

I used to use my phone as an alarm and flashlight, but found myself habitually checking my notifications and emails. Instead, I now use a battery-powered alarm clock and low-powered flashlight.

Man meditating with eyemask

Equipment:

Next: Terminology →