Astral projection is one of the central elements in magic and in religion, because it impressively shows that man does not only consist of the physical body. This experience gave birth to shamanism, which is the original form of religion. There are many different methods of arriving at an astral projection experience - from relaxation exercises to near-death to initiations into the Mysteries. There are also a variety of methods by which one can bring about astral projection. However, all of these methods can be listed on a large map that shows what steps there are on the way from the normal state to the out of body experience. The map is the same for each way to astral projection - it is just that for each method different steps of this path are brought into the center of the procedure.