How do I protect myself in the astral?
We should first address the question "Why do I need protection?" If we agree that the astral is a duplicate of the physical realm, then we also agree that there are good and bad places there as well. Some places can be scary, like vivid nightmares. These suggestions will help you avoid avoid having bad astral experiences.When preparing to project, it is wise to have magickal protection in your surroundings. Items such as stones, jewelry, sage, incense, candles, Guardians, and totems are great to have in your surroundings and on the body.
When I say 'Guardians', I am speaking of all the creatures that exist in the astral that you can befriend. You can call on a dragon, a unicorn, or a sea monster and ask for their help. These creatures will come to you when you need protection, you can ride one and get some place faster, and they will also guide you to pleasant realms.
All of this takes practice and requires a lot of imagery work.
You can also choose to protect yourself by imagining a sword that appears in your hand when you project. Take time creating a mental picture of what that sword looks like. Every time you astral, the image of that sword will become more powerful to you.
You can also become one of the beings in the astral realm. To be honest, I've only heard of this practice and have yet to reach it myself. The belief is that by becoming a creature in the astral, you obtain the knowledge and respect of one.
Be creative when protecting yourself in the astral. This is a personal experience and should be treated accordingly.
It isn't a good idea to project after having a bad day. If you choose to do this, ground out the negativity first.
The soul is a ball of energy; if it reaches the astral with negative energy, it will travel to negative places.
Be sure to protect yourself in the astral.