Learning to astral project can take a very long time and requires persistence, while others can achieve it rather easily. One guy I know succeeded after 13 years, some people have actually made it on the first try. I've only been trying for a few months, I've had some success, but not actually separated.
I guess a lot of people will have a hard time believing that you can actually by will separate your consciousness from your body. Then enter another dimension in an astral body. Yes, it really is another dimension! It's not like lucid dreaming (even though that can be quite a powerful state), the proficient astral projector is actually more aware/awake than in "real life" with some or all senses heightened.
Everything in the physical dimension has a counterpart in the astral. Although sometimes it won't quite make sense what you perceive in the astral. E.g. when you look out your bedroom window you might not see what you see in the physical because you might be seeing what it will look like in the future. Yes, you can see into the future. You can transcend time and space, there are no limits. So you can travel backwards and forwards in time, you can visit dead people, you can travel out in space, maybe at the speed of light or much much faster; by teleportation. E.g. you project and you have decided that you want to go to the moon. Being a very proficient projector you will yourself to the moon instantaneously!!
You can heal people. One girl removed a cancer tumor from a realtive in the astral. You can go back to past lives....there are no limits.
Well, I don't blame you if don't believe me at first; it's hard to grasp that this is for real. (BTW your concept of what reality is will likely change :-)
If this has peaked your curiosity here are some resources for further information:
http://www.astralvoyage.com
make sure you subscribe to the mailing list
http://www.astraldynamics.com
http://www.robertpeterson.org
You get his book for free!
http://www.geocities.com/ddegraci/index.html
Another free book, quite extensive.
http://www.mysticweb.org/awake/topics/1_astral/
You can register for a free 8 week online course!
That's something to start with. If you're interested contact me by email and I'll provide you with more resources.
John
