March 1, 2010

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Out Of Body Experiences And The Universe

Astral projection is also known as an out-of-body experience and it is a phenomenon that can occur virtually any time to any individual on earth. However, it is during a major trauma that an out-of-body experience is most commonly known to occur. Yet, there are also those that have experienced such a process solely through the presence of absolute will power.

It would be this will power manifestation that would be the most commonly known form of astral projection. A number of people have claimed to have had out of body experiences while others make claims about being able to directly perform such astral projection powers. While the basics of these techniques are the same, the power levels can differ from person to person. Of course, there are those that question the validity of such claims.

For centuries, there have been people who have experienced the phenomenon of out of body experiences. Some of them have experienced them during sleep and ignored it, believing that what they saw was a dream. However, most out-of-body experiences are experienced during major trauma such as surgeries.

There have been many accounts of out-of-body experiences occurring during the unfortunate instance of near-death situations. In all of these cases of out-of-body experiences, the individual that has gone through the experience will state he/she was able to see and hear everything that occurred in the room at the time. Such individuals have the ability to describe events that may have occurred while in this state and otherwise would not have realized what had occurred.

Out-of-body experiences also seem to occur as a result of the use of psychedelic, or dissociative, drugs. However, there have been some techniques to induce an out-of-body experience developed. One example is the use of visualization during a relaxed, or meditative, state. There have been studies, recently, that show that similar experiences to out-of-body experiences are able to be induced by directly stimulating the brain, as well.

Probably the most common type of out-of-body experience is dubbed an astral projection. During astral projection, a person may be able to leave the bodies and visit other places on earth. The individual may even be able to explore astral planes or even higher planes of human existence.

In the renaissance Neoplatonist and Rosicrucian philosophy, there is the belief that an astral body in body is created by light that links the “rational soul” and the physical body together. Such philosophy also professes the notion that the astral plane is a world created of the exact light and exists between Heaven and Earth. This metaphysical light is comprised of the spheres of stars and planets that are commonly believed to be the home of angels, demons, and spirits.

According to many ancient Egyptian beliefs, the soul presents the common ability to hover, or float, outside the body in the “Ka” which is also referred to the subtle body. This has also been known as the astral body. In most common beliefs in astral projection, the astral body is associated with a “silver cord” of psychic energy that is linked to the physical body.

The Chinese Taoists developed an alchemical practice that involved creating a body of energy through breathing meditations, pulling energy into what they called a “pearl” and then circulating that pearl throughout the body to create the body of energy.

While an out-of-body experience occurs, many individuals have noted that they willed themselves to leave their physical body. Other people have made reports that they discovered themselves venturing out of their bodies as if they were being pulled. Then, there are others that stated that they did not realize they exited their bodies until long after they were already out of it. Many people even stated that they wished to get out of bed and when they sought to venture to their door, they found out they could not touch the door. Upon realizing this, they looked towards their bed and saw their physical body lying down.

Neurologists have long tried to explain such events as being triggered by an errant mismatch of the visual and tactile signals. The great majority of out-of-body experiences have taken place during the duration that exists between REM sleep and the point prior to waking up. Among the many points of time where out-of-body experiences occur, the subject will go into a state commonly known as sleep paralysis. During this time between being asleep and awake, sleep paralysis might potentially continue and dream-like imagery will become mingled with sensations that reach the senses.

However, a great many scientific studies in the field of astral projection and out-of-body experiences have been undertaken over the years. There are many studies showing that out of body experiences do really happen. There are several top research facilities found in many different countries, including the Monroe Institute in Virginia, as well as the Projectarium at the International Academy of Consciousness in Portugal and the Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience in Switzerland.

February 26, 2010

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The Out Of Body Experience

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 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.

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 try to have an out of body experience are new age thinkers, the practice actually is an ancient way to strive for personal enlightenment and betterment.

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.

Opportunities for growth not only in personal insight, but technological advancement lie beyond our physical consciousness as well if only we will quiet our minds long enough to allow our true inner selves the freedom they so fundamentally crave. Through personal study and practice, one can begin the process of unlocking his or her own personal potential and spiritual awakening — the path is there, and we have only to take the first step.

July 11, 2009

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Can I Do Astral Travel?

If you’ve ever drifted off into a pleasant daydream and imagined yourself floating somewhere high over the roof tops, then you may have been exercising astral travel! Have you ever dreamt about going to different places and seeing different people? That too could be a sign of astral travel. Astral travel is a state of mind that allows you to journey outside of your physical body, going to places you’ve literally only dreamed of.

A lot of people confuse astral travel with dreaming. When we dream, what happens is that our minds try to process the happenings of the day that could not be resolved in our waking lives. This is a normal process which is essential to maintaining our mental health. However, we don’t usually remember these dreams, except in disjointed fragments.

Those times where your dreams are vividly remembered are the times when you are experiencing astral travel. It is good practice to write down these dreams on paper or in a computer journal of some sort. You may not understand the dreams now, but later you can browse over the lot of them and likely make some sort of sense for you.

Just like regular dreams help you work out the stresses of your life, astral travel dreams also have extreme benefits. The types of astral travel experiences you have will be unique to you, as will be the benefits. This is why it is important for you to keep track of them rather than try to compare them with someone else’s.

Astral travel, when practiced regularly will lead to a deeper sense of your connection to the larger universe. This in turn will fill you with inner peace and a sense of well being. You will also find that astral travel can improve your memory and make you more creative. Why does astral travel produce these results? It is because astral travel uses parts of your brain which are not often used while you are awake – astral travel can help you to reach your full mental potential.

You’ll also find your psychic abilities sharpened. Regular astral travelers have said that their precognition,telepathy and ability to sense the presence of spirits all become heightened.

This is due to the fact that when you astral project and astral travel you are tapping into spiritual energies that you ignored before.

Those who are skeptical of astral travel soon come to their senses after working on their astral travel skills. Even they have been able to read the auras of other people quite easily.

This can also be a thrilling, fun experience which can give you a new found sense of empowerment. When you astral travel, you have the ability to go anywhere you want and do things far beyond the limitations imposed by your physical body.

With all of these benefits to improve one’s life, why aren’t more people practicing astral travel. The answer is that most people are under the false assumption that astral travel and astral projection are only for a gifted few. When the fact is that every person that is alive today has the ability to astral project.

Everyone has, at one time, taken some sort of astral travel experience. Whether it is through remembered dreams or daydreams, everyone has done it! Flying out of your body is quite common even if you don’t realize it as that.

Now that you know something about astral travel, you can allow yourself to experience these events openly. The next time you have an astral travel experience, try to control some aspects of it. A little practice at this and you will see your mental strength increase each day.

There plenty of resources out there, including books and videos developed by people who astral travel regularly. You already have this ability – it’s up to you to use it and reap the rewards.