Names Throughout History
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Out-Of-Body Experience (OBE)
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Astral Projection
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Astral Travel
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ESP Projection
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Traveling Clairvoyance
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Mental Projection
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Spirit Walking
Expert Definitions
“The apparent separation from the physical body of a center of consciousness that, after its return to the physical body, remembers places, events, or people observed while out-of-body.” — The Encyclopedia of Parapsychology & Psychical Research (p. 127)
“The out-of-body state involves projection of a major portion of the energy pattern that represents human consciousness so that it may move either freely throughout the terrestrial sphere for purposes of information acquisition or into other dimensions outside of time-space, perhaps to interact with other forms of consciousness within the universe.” — Declassified CIA Document (“Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process”)
The Full Definition
An out-of-body experience (OBE), is the temporary experience of seemingly leaving your physical body, and often experiencing reality from the point of view of a floating copy of your physical body—which can fly, go through solid objects, and travel anywhere instantly—sometimes called the “astral body.”
In this other body, many report being able to fly anywhere in the world, to outer space, and even travel to what appear to be other planes of reality altogether (e.g., different after-life realms, and even alternate timelines).
They also report interacting with other forms of consciousness—other astral travelers, deceased loved ones, their “spirit guides” or “guardian angels,” and even “aliens” on other planets.
If this sounds too “woo-woo” recall the definition from the declassified document with more scientific and rigorously sounding terms. It’s still just as baffling:
“The out-of-body state involves projection of a major portion of the energy pattern that represents human consciousness so that it may move either freely throughout the terrestrial sphere for purposes of information acquisition or into other dimensions outside of time-space, perhaps to interact with other forms of consciousness within the universe.” —Declassified CIA Doc (“Analysis and Assessment of the Gateway Process”)
So, all of this means that using AP or OBEs, you can gain an incredible amount of information:
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Information about the physical world, which you could not get with your ordinary senses—like what’s in outer space, other planets, deep inside the ocean, or even beneath the Giza pyramids.
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Information about apparent after-life realms—like how family and pets who have died are doing, what after-life realm they’re in, and even what realms you might go to after you “die.”
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Information across time and alternate timelines—like what one of your potential futures looks like, or of another “you” in an alternate timeline.
And as the argument goes—when multiple people report the same experience, it gives you good reason to believe it isn’t “all inside their head.” In other words, it’s reason to believe it isn’t a hallucination—but an experience of something objective. This is the same reason why you ask someone “did you hear that?” after you hear a noise inside your house. You are verifying that you’re not imagining things, that it’s not just “in your head,” by checking if someone else also experienced it. The same principle applies to OBEs or AP—as odd as the experiences might seem.
Characteristics or Traits of OBEs
This part is still in writing, as I recently learned a lot more on OBEs in my Near Death Experience (NDE) research.
OBEs in Near Death Experiences (NDEs)
The common theme of an “OBE” in Near Death Experiences (NDE) were first reported in a collection of 150 experincers by philosopher and psychiatrist Raymond Moody, in his book, “Life After Life.” They were also refined expanded in the first scientific study of NDEs by the psychologist, Kenneth Ring, in his 1980 book, “Life At Death,” where he found themes in 49 near death experiencers. This is a brief summary of the themes they both discovered among those near death experiencers…
After clinical death (no pule or breathing) or being close to death from a life-threatining accident or illness, many experience “leaving their physical body,” with a sense of “floating,” or being “higher up,” then seeing their physical body from an external point of view, often “looking down at it.”
They may feel like they are an “observing awareness,” “just their mind,” or even a “second body” (with a human-like or circular form, which is inaudible and invisible to others, moves through solid objects, and travels fast).
Their sight may be heightened — seeing far, seeing everywhere, and surroundings also appearing more “bright” and “colorful.” And even have heightened hearing. Thoughts might also be “clearer,” “sharper.”
Through all of this, there’s also a sense of just observing what’s happening to the physical body.
At some point during this experience, they may gain information they could have not known of their physical body’s surroundings, while it was unconscious (like doctor’s conversations, or hidden objects).
In Kenneth's study on near death experiences, out of 49 experiencers, 37% reported this theme (Ring, 1980, p. 45.).
Generally, people who experience OBEs often report (THIS IS MY OLD THEMES, IGNORE FOR NOW)
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A buzzing or ringing sound and vibration throughout the body before leaving their body.
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A feeling of leaving their physical body.
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Copy of body.
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Being able to view their physical body from the point of view of some copy of their body that can fly, go through walls, and travel anywhere instantly simply by thinking it.
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Seeing a bluish-white cord (“silver cord”) connecting their physical body to their astral body (sometimes at the navel or belly-button).
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The experience feeling more real, vivid, or vibrant than normal life—as sensory experience (like colors) are greatly enhanced.
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Obtaining knowledge they could not have known through their normal senses (eg., what your friend was doing on the other side of town, what your deceased loved one forgot to do before they died).
Types or Classes of OBEs
Sources
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OBE reports from friends and family.