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 many centuries, a great number of people have gone through the mysterious process of having out of body experiences. It is not out of the question or realm of possibility that these experiences have occurred during a deep sleep and were completely ignored. The person that felt the out-of-body experience may have believed that what was seen in the experience was little more than a dream. However, the bulk of out-of-body experiences are experienced while dealing with major trauma such as surgical procedures.
There have also been scores of accounts of out-of-body experiences occurring during frightful near-death situations. In all of these cases of out-of-body experiences, the person experiencing them notes that he/she is able to see and hear everything occurring in the real world even though they were not conscious at the time.
Out-of-body experiences are also known to occur as the result of taking psychedelic drugs or those drugs known to deliver a dissociative effect. Yet, there are also a great many techniques needed to induce an out-of-body experience. A common example of this would be the use of visualization while in a highly relaxed and meditative state. Many studies have shown that there can be similar experiences to out-of-body experience that can be brought about through the direct stimulation of the brain.
One of the most common forms of out-of-body experiences is called astral projection. During astral projection, the person is able to leave their bodies and visit other places, as well as, astral planes, or higher planes of existence.
In the world of renaissance Neoplatonist and Rosicrucian philosophy, in addition to scores of other philosophical thought processes, it is stated that an astral body in body created by light and will link the concept of the “rational soul” and the physical body in the form of an intermediate. Within these theories it is stated that an astral plane is a world and realm devised by the same light and exist in an area between heaven and earth. The composition of this realm will be derived from spheres of stars and exist amidst a 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 tried to explain these events by saying that they are triggered by a mismatch of the visual and tactile signals. Most out-of-body experiences occur during the time between REM sleep and the time before waking. During most occasions of out-of-body experiences, the subject goes into a state called sleep paralysis. During the rime between sleep and awake, sleep paralysis can continue and dream imagery becomes mingled with input from the senses.
However, there have been many scientific studies in the field of astral projection and out-of-body experiences which have shown that out of body experiences are in fact very real.There are also several research facilities in several 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.
