Understanding What An Out of Body Experience Is


For countless centuries, an untold number of men and women have experienced a condition during which their spiritual selves are separated from their physical bodies, allowing them to then travel through different time and space dimensions. This remarkable phenomenon is known as the out of body experience, often 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.

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 different than dreams in that they are conscious states of awareness, often very vivid and unfolding in real time, whereas dreams are simply manifestations of the subconscious mind that may or may not seem real. Those who have had out of body experiences report feeling their senses heightened, and often that they possess other depths of awareness in addition to their physical senses.

Those who report having out of body experiences say they feel as though their spirits or souls assume a form that is separate from their physical bodies. This separate spirit or soul, sometimes called the astral body, is then able to travel to different dimensions, including different regions and different times. Sometimes they even encounter the spirits of loved ones who have passed away and are now on the other side.

This makes it easy to see why many men and women actively strive for an out of body experience. These people may be looking for answers to overarching questions like 'what happens when we die?' or 'how large is the universe?' Others may simply want to reconnect with friends or relatives whom they miss or with whom they have business that is as yet unfinished.

It's important to also note out of body experiences happen to people from all walks of life, all cultures, and all ages. Some are hesitant to say that they've had an out of body experience for fear of religious repercussions, but evidence of such experiences has been documented in religious scriptures throughout history, from various ancient Native American oral traditions to the Christian 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.

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.

Common to many reports of out of body experience is the feeling of vibration, or the physical self suddenly becoming very heavy. Many believe this feeling is actually the separation of the spiritual self from the physical self in order for the former to then pursue its travels along 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.

Having an out of body experience is more common that one might think, and has been a part of human life across the cultural spectrum for centuries. It has long been considered a method for gaining personal understanding and enlightenment for the world and universe that surrounds 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.




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