Out of Body Experiences

[naomi24]

Have you ever had an out-of-body experience, and if so, can you describe it , and how do you think it happened?

[luna-tic]

I find it difficult to define an OBE. I know from reading a few books on the subject that astral projection could be considered as dreams but there are people that can induce them at will and have control over their actions while in the altered state.
A near death experience would also fit the description but once again there is little control in those circumstances.
A friend of mine said she had been successful in achieving a voluntary OBE and said it felt like a strange warm glow around her body and then moving away from the physical to be able to look back on herself but it should be a conscious decision to return.
I've had flying dreams but can never focus on the surroundings enough to manipulate where I land.
What about you naomi ?

[Marvelman]

Following a heart attack, i had a cardiac arrest, i did'nt have any out of body experience, others in the ward i was in who had also suffered a cardiac arrest did'nt either, i dont think that shuch a thing exsists, unless only certain people have them,

[Fingerprint]

I had one as a teenager whilst praying, I wrote about it in the question below about speaking in tongues. 80% of me thought it was a gift from God but the other 20% worried that it may have been demonic.

[wizard69]

Finger...it may not have been god or demonic influences. It could have been psychological.From my own studies on these things I would have to say that it couldnt have been anything BUT psychological.
A good book to read about O.B.E.s and N.D.E.s is "Dying to Live" by Susan Blackmore. She started out as a believer in the paranormal (after having an O.B.E.) but became dissilusioned by the lack of evidence. She presents a very good case why these things are caused by psychological phenomona rather than anything paranormal.
Personaly I have tried many times to induce an O.B.E but to no avail.

[naomi24]

Even though I've tried once or twice, I've never experienced it personally, but I know people who have. One said it happened unexpectedly - she suddenly found herself up near the ceiling in the corner of the room looking down on her body lying in bed. Her first reaction was one of excitement and amazement, but then she said she panicked because it occurred to her that she might not be able to re-enter her body - and instantly she was back. I asked her the obvious question - whether she might have been half asleep at the time - but she said definitely not - she'd only just gone to bed - and it was real. She said she wouldn't want it to happen again because after her initial reaction of excitement, it scared her.

Another can do it at will, and says he can decide where his 'spirit' will go when he's experiencing this. He thinks it's incredible - and the last time he 'travelled' he says he saw space from space! Sounds pretty fantastic, but they're both level headed people and I've no reason to disbelieve either of them.

It does seem to be similar to Near Death Experience, in that the 'soul' leaves the body and returns, but I agree with wizard that it's not a religious experience. Some of these experiences are no doubt psychological, but to conclude that they're all psychological would be taking rather a narrow view. There's so much we don't understand about the human mind, the soul, the universe and about nature - and I think this has more to do with the laws of nature than anything else. It would be marvellous if some day science could explain it.

[naomi24]

Luna, in a similar vein, I spoke to a psychic (and a very good one at that!) and he said when we sleep our soul travels out of our body in order to learn and to accumulate knowledge. According to him, people who are fairly 'tuned in' spiritually dream during this process because otherwise they would remember where their soul had travelled during the hours of sleep. Those who don't dream wouldn't remember anyway, so there is no need for them to dream.

I asked him if our dreams ever include 'snippets' of our soul's travels - are we ever aware of any of it at all - and he thinks that for those who are very conscious their own spirituality, often a very vivid dream that seems very real, can include memories of the soul's experiences.

[luna-tic]

That may explain that sudden jolt you get when in a deep sleep. Maybe it's the soul going back into alignment with the physical body then usually you wake up.

[chakka35]

naomi, what is a 'very good' psychic?

[naomi24]

Chakka, one who is accurate.

[chakka35]

Accurate in what way? There are so many people who claim to be psychics: tea-leaf readers, palmists, crystal-gazers, telepathists, faith-healers, spiritualists... Please give an example of accuracy.

[naomi24]

Chakka, are we being just a teensy bit awkward here? You're an intelligent person and you know what accurate means. I gather you're doubting this person's ability, but I am not a fool, neither am I gullible - I know the difference between a genuine psychic and a fraud.

[mibn2cweus]

A "genuine" psychic is one who doesn't realise they're a fraud.

[naomi24]

How do you work that one out?

[mibn2cweus]

D'oh! I bet a psychic would have advised me not to say that . . . or this:

The future is not available for observation. What will be can only be partially inferred by understanding the cause and effect relationships of events as observed through experience with and an understanding of how those past relationships contributed to subsequent events. Acquired wisdom can aid in preparing for what is most likely to take place in the future but in the end only time will tell . . .

. . . this probably (as usual) has nothing at all to do with what you're talking about but of this I'm confident that I will soon find out . . .

[naomi24]

mibn2cweus - Don't be too confident. You clearly know it all anyway and I'm amazed that science hasn't called upon your unsurpassed expertise in the field to teach it a thing or two.

Just one thing - why assume I was talking about the future? That really tells me you know it all!

[mibn2cweus]

How's that for accuracy!

[Theland]

Mibn etc - There you go. Cause and effect, except for the universe, which just happened, didn't it. Oh! I forgot! Science WILL find the answer ........ one day. And faith is hogwash isn't it?

[Theland]

naomi24 - forgive me, but I am confused reading your posts. You have said that you are a spiritual person. Fine. Then you say your spirituality is within you. Fine. Then you talk about ghosts, that are independent of you, and psychics that perform wondrous signs that are also independent of you. But, you don't believe in a spiritual dimension .... or do you?

[naomi24]

mibn2cweus - not good at all. You must be a fraud. Mmmm ....... best not leave your brain to medical science then.