February 25, 2010
For hundreds of years, individuals have experienced a state in which their spiritual self, or soul, is freed from their physical body, allowing their spirit to then explore regions of time and space that differ from the plane their physical body is inhabiting. This state is called the out of body experience, sometimes abbreviated as OBE.
Some of the characteristics of this experience, sometimes called astral projection, include feelings of weightlessness, a sense of being free from physical limitations, and being able to look at one’s own physical body from a multi-dimensional, external point of view.
Those who report having out of body experiences usually do so immediately after going through a traumatic event (either physical, mental, emotional, or a combination of the three), an interaction with drugs, or after intentionally-inducing one through meditation and then a series of specific sequential steps.
Out of body experiences are not dreams; these experiences are conscious states of awareness that unfold in real time and often are very vivid. Dreams are merely manifestations created by the subconscious mind and may or may not seem real to the person experiencing them. People who have had out of body experiences often report that they have heightened senses as well as other levels of awareness in addition to the physical senses they normally possess.
Those who report having out of body experiences say they feel as though their spirits or souls assume a form that is separate from their physical bodies. This separate spirit or soul, sometimes called the astral body, is then able to travel to different dimensions, including different regions and different times. Sometimes they even encounter the spirits of loved ones who have passed away and are now on the other side.
This makes it easy to see why many men and women actively strive for an out of body experience. These people may be looking for answers to overarching questions like ‘what happens when we die?’ or ‘how large is the universe?’ Others may simply want to reconnect with friends or relatives whom they miss or with whom they have business that is as yet unfinished.
It’s important to also note out of body experiences happen to people from all walks of life, all cultures, and all ages. Some are hesitant to say that they’ve had an out of body experience for fear of religious repercussions, but evidence of such experiences has been documented in religious scriptures throughout history, from various ancient Native American oral traditions to the Christian Bible.
Although most people who actively seek an OBE are at least somewhat open to new age thinking, the practice is actually a very old method used to find personal enlightenment and enrichment.
Individuals report that out of body experiences occur with a surprising frequency: approximately one out of every 15 individuals has some type of OBE. These experiences occur in almost every set of circumstances, ranging from sleeping or relaxing to being in the midst of a stressful or violent situation such as an accident. The explanation for this wide spectrum of causality is very simple: every person is different, and each responds differently to given situations.
Many people report a feeling of vibration, or the physical body suddenly feeling very heavy, during an out of body experience. Many believe that these feelings are signals that the spiritual self is separating from the physical body, after which the spirit or astral body is free to travel in the astral plane.
Some people who are not familiar with the concept of the out of body experience fear that if their spiritual self separates from their physical body, it may not be able to re-unite. Experts suggest, however, that a permanent link exists between the spiritual and physical selves, and that this is particularly the case with people who are sufficiently self-aware to induce the state on purpose. Because it is not believed that the spirit can somehow become trapped outside the physical body, there is very little reason to fear having an out of body experience.
Having an out of body experience is more common that one might think, and has been a part of human life across the cultural spectrum for centuries. It has long been considered a method for gaining personal understanding and enlightenment for the world and universe that surrounds us.
Opportunities for growth are before us. If only we can quiet our minds long enough to permit our spiritual selves the freedom they crave, we can grow in personal insight and advance technology in areas that are far beyond our physical consciousness. Personal study and practice is the path that leads us through the process of unlocking our personal potential and spiritual awakening. That path is before us. We need only take the first step.