I am new to lucid dreaming and have never tried astral projection. I recently read some interesting blog entries by a woman named Erin Pavlina (www.erinpavlina.com). She discusses many topics, but has a number of entries on astral projection and claims to have been very proficient lucid dreamer & astral projecter (during her teen years I believe). Very interesting entries . . . she discusses encountering a number of entities on the astral plane and other fascinating details.