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.
Characteristic of this experience are feelings of weightlessness and freedom from all physical limitations, as well as being able to see one’s physical body from a multi-dimensional outside point of view. This is also known as astral projection.
Individuals who discuss their out of body experiences typically indicate that these occasions occur immediately after a traumatic event (physical, emotional, mental or a combination of the three), after having an experience with drugs, or after self-inducing the state through meditation followed by undertaking a series of specific steps in the proper sequence.
Out of body experiences are distinctly not dream events; they differ in that they are conscious states of awareness, often quite vivid, that unfold in real time. Dreams are the concoctions of the subconscious mind and may or may not appear to be real. Individuals who have had out of body experiences typically say that during the state, their senses are heightened and they possess additional levels of awareness beyond their usual physical senses.
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.
It is easy to understand why so many people actively seek out an OBE. They may be searching for otherwise unknowable answers to questions such as ‘what will happen after I die?’ or ‘what is the size of the universe?’ Alternatively, they may simply want to reconnect with family or friends with whom they have unfinished business.
People from all stations in life, from all cultures and of all ages, have out of body experiences. It is important to note this, because some people hesitate for religious reasons to say they have had an OBE. Their fears of religious repercussions are unfounded: tales of these experiences exist throughout history and are are included in various religious scriptures, from old Native American oral traditions to and including the 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.
It is somewhat surprising to learn just how frequently people report having out of body experiences: approximately one out of every 15 individuals experiences some type of OBE. People have out of body experiences under almost any circumstances, from something as relaxing as sleeping to being in the middle of stressful or violent situations such as accidents or imminent accidents. The explanation for this wide range of situations is simply that people are different and respond differently under various circumstances.
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 who are new to the concept of out of body experience may fear that if the spiritual self separates in this way, it then runs the risk of not being able to reenter. Experts suggest that the physical and the spiritual selves are permanently linked, however, and that this is especially the case for those self-aware enough to purposefully induce a state of separation in the first place. For this reason, it is not believed that one can become trapped outside his or her physical body, and therefore there is no reason to fear exploring.
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.
