ASTRAL PROJECTION

As writers, we want to make our characters as unique and interesting as possible. One way to do this is to give your character a special skill or talent that sets him apart from other people. This might be something small, like having a green thumb or being good with animals, to a larger and more competitive talent like stock car racing or being an award-winning film producer. 

When choosing a talent or skill, think about the personality of your character, his range of experiences and who his role models might have been. Some talents might be genetically imparted while others are created through exposure (such as a character talented at fixing watches from growing up in his father’s watch shop) or grow out of interest (archery, wake boarding, or magic). Don’t be afraid to be creative and make sure the skill or talent is something that works with the scope of the story. 

Description: using one’s astral body (a spirit form) to travel in an out-of-body experience to the astral plane. It is believed that astral projection occurs naturally during sleep, where one’s spirit body goes to another plane of existence to have actual experiences that create the basis for our dreams. If one becomes aware of being in a dream state, this is called lucid dreaming…

Beneficial Strengths or Abilities: being able to relax easily, concentration that forces distractions to fall away, having a thirst for knowledge…

Character Traits Suited for this Skill or Talent: peacefulness, curiosity, focus, wisdom, open-mindedness…

Required Resources and Training: practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation, honing one’s dream recall, learning to find the point just before sleep and balance in that state to slowly and willfully encourage the astral body (soul) to leave the…

Associated Stereotypes and Perceptions:

There are many who disbelieve in astral projection and instead feel the experiences people have are merely due to vivid dreams. Because science cannot prove that people believing they are having an out of body experience are actually traveling anywhere, many believe…

Scenarios Where this Skill Might be Useful:

• For communicating in a safe plane beyond the reach of one’s enemies
• Using AP to travel to dangerous places and assess what is happening, and then to report back
• to gain a higher understanding of spirituality and what everything means…

 

Talents and skills not only make our characters stand out, they often help them attain their goals. So choosing them strategically can greatly enhance both the character and the story.

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