Symbol-Based Projection #

An occult method for accessing symbolic inner landscapes.

🧪 This technique is part of the Fringe Testing Lab.

Overview #

This method was practiced by members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn — an occult society formed in 1888 in London. It shares similarities with several other techniques on this site and can be a fun experiment, especially if you’ve already had some success with related methods.

Step-by-Step Guide #

1. Choose a classic occult symbol — such as an astrological sign.
2. Paint it on a large piece of paper using the opposite of the colour traditionally associated with it.
3. Sit in a dimly lit room and stare at the symbol for as long as you can, until your eyes naturally close.
4. Observe the afterimage behind your closed eyes. It will now appear in the “correct” colours.
5. Project yourself through this symbol and explore the landscape that appears to your inner vision.

You’ll have better success if you’ve regularly practiced Tattwa meditation and developed your visualization skills.

Related Techniques #

Note the similarity to Fire Kasina meditation, which uses the afterimage of a candle flame as the focus of practice.

Using Salvador Dalí’s paranoiac-critical method can help develop creative, surrealist thinking — which in turn may support your ability to “astral project.” These might ultimately be different angles on the same process.

Use this technique to explore the qualities and landscapes of various symbols.

😵‍💫 The use of dissociatives
Crowley and other magicians would use chloroform, nitrous oxide or ether (aptly-named) to loosen the hold of the physical body. The magician Maud Gonne would sometimes invoke the feeling of chlorofom, without even taking it, before astral projection. Modern psychonauts may find small doses of ketamine to work rather well.

Risks & Considerations #

• Symbolic imagery can be powerful and strange — it’s normal to feel overwhelmed
• Avoid using this as your only technique if you haven’t built visualization skill yet
• Don’t stare so long you strain your eyes — blink naturally as needed

Further Exploration #

• Study the elemental Tattwas and their symbolic associations
• Try using planetary or alchemical symbols and compare the results
• Combine with Fire Kasina or dreamwork for deeper insights

Call for Reports #

Did you try projecting through a symbol? What did you see or feel? Did it feel “real,” imaginal, or somewhere in between?