For countless centuries, an untold number of men and women have experienced a condition during which their spiritual selves are separated from their physical bodies, allowing them to then travel through different time and space dimensions. This remarkable phenomenon is known as the out of body experience, often abbreviated as OBE.
Sometimes known as astral projection; feelings of weightlessness, freedom from physical limitations and a sense of being able to see one’s own physical body from a multi-dimensional, external perspective are typical of these experiences.
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.
People who report out of body experiences feel as if their spirits or souls take on another form in addition to their physical bodies, and that this spirit – also called the astral body – is then free to visit different dimensions, different times, and to even encounter loved ones who have passed on to 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 is important to know that people of all ages and from all cultures and professions have out of body experiences. Some people are reluctant to report that they have had an OBE because they fear religious repercussions, but various scriptures throughout history document the occurrence of out of body experiences, including ancient Native American oral histories and 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.
Surprisingly, individuals report traveling outside of their physical bodies with some degree of frequency: about one out of every 15 people has experienced some sort of out of body experience. Such experiences happen to people in almost any situation as well, from sleeping or relaxing to being in the midst of a violent situation such as an accident or a pending accident. The rationale for such a wide spectrum of causality is simply, people are different, and thus respond differently to various situations.
Reports indicate that a vibrating feeling is common in out of body experiences, as is the feeling that the physical body suddenly becomes extremely heavy. Many think that these feelings indicate the separation of the soul or spiritual self from the physical body, thereby enabling the spirit to travel throughout 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.
Out of body experiences are more common than you might think. They have been a part of the human experience for hundreds of years and in a variety of different cultures. Having an out of body experience has long been thought to be a way to achieve self-understanding and a means of achieving greater enlightenment for the world around us.
If only we can calm our minds long enough to give our inner selves the freedom they strive for, we can enjoy opportunities for increased personal insight and advances in technology that otherwise lie beyond our physical consciousness. Through study and practice, anyone can begin to unlock his or her personal potential by starting down the path that leads to spiritual awakening. The path is before us, we have only to take the first step.
