Unless you're one of the lucky ones reading this in the South, winter is here again—blanketing the land with snow, sending cold air whistling through even the tiniest crack in a window frame, and generally making most of us want to spend most of our time in a nice, warm, artificially heated environment. Polar bears are designed for this; humans just aren't.

Winter makes even the simplest of tasks difficult. You can risk breaking your hip just walking out to the mailbox. And that simple five-minute drive to the grocery store? It can turn into a hair-raising, death-defying, sideways-sliding, ultimate driving contest with just a few inches of snow (especially if it's laid down over a nice fresh coat of freezing rain and ice).

Winter is also a contemplative time for many of us. The cold, brutal weather outside encourages us to retreat inside, both literally and metaphorically. Winter can be a time of assessing what you've accomplished in the past year, and planning ahead for what you'd like to accomplish in the next.

But sometimes, when your face and lips are too chapped from skiing, and you've made your New Year's Resolutions, and the storm outside makes it hard to even get to the video store, you might get a little bit, well, sick of winter. You might wish that you were on a cruise in the Bahamas, or snorkeling in Mexico, or visiting the Great Pyramids at Giza. Anywhere that it's warm and sunny.

Wouldn't it be great if you could visit those places almost instantly, and better yet, for free? And imagine that you didn't even have to make any reservations, visit any airports or pack any luggage?

You can travel anywhere in the world without ever leaving your home by learning astral projection. By putting yourself into a light trance state, you can train your consciousness to separate itself from your physical body and visit anywhere in this world—or other worlds.

Astral Travel for Beginners by Richard Webster is the perfect place to start if you're interested in learning this technique. Written for people who have never done astral projection before, it takes you step by step through the process, from the beginning. You'll learn how to prepare for a session, including what foods or substances to avoid for a few hours prior to your trip, what physical environments and positions to use, and what relaxation techniques work best. You'll also learn about the astral world and how it operates, including what to expect once you get there. One technique does not always work equally well for every person, so the author gives you several options to experiment with until you find the method or methods that work best for you. Finally, you'll even discover how you can learn how to astral travel with more than one person. If cabin fever is starting to get to you, this book has everything you need to take your dream vacation without ever really leaving home!

Astral projection is a wonderful way to visit faraway places on Earth, but it's also a doorway to other realms. The Practical Guide to Astral Projection is essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the astral realm—the home of elementals, fairies, and other beings who cannot usually be seen on the physical plane. This book answers some of the most commonly asked questions about out-of-body experiences and presents detailed exercises that build the skills necessary for safe and successful astral projection. The authors, both experienced magicians and astral projectors, also give examples of real experiences and let you know exactly how to avoid any mishaps. Instructions for finding an astral lover and healing from the astral plane are also included for those who want to do more than just look around on their trips to the astral. In print for over twenty years, this revised and updated edition is a modern classic and one of the best books available for anyone interested in learning the ability to have a controlled out-of-body experience.

If the long, dark, cold nights and short, blustery, snowy days are starting to get to you (or perhaps if you live in a tropical climate and would like to escape the heat for just a little while), these books can teach you how to travel beyond your body, beyond your home, and even beyond the boundaries of time and space. Have a safe trip!