Astral Projection And Outer Body Experiences?

[stump]

Thoughts on this?

[dead_lemons]

only thing ive heard of about astral projection is what ive heard on Coast to Coast, but it seems as if it exists from what ive heard.

-DL

[gaia.plateau]

Apart from hallucinations, I haven't seen or heard any evidence to support it.

But it's galaxies more feasible than intelligent design, and millions of people believe in that. Edited October 5, 2008 by gaia.plateau

[AKammenzind]

Very interesting topic, and I would say that they are both believable to some extent. This would be a somewhat tricky topic to fully discuss while avoiding NHT references, sadly.

[liquidglass]

Apart from hallucinations, I haven't seen or heard any evidence to support it.

But it's galaxies more feasible than intelligent design, and millions of people believe in that.

I'm not going got get all up in your face you're wrong type thing but I do disagree with you, and to be close minded to one thing and not another is very odd and interesting, but since you brought it'd up I'd love to discuss your point of views on this elsewhere (aka not in this thread)


But to keep things on topic, I completely believe in Astral Projection as well as other "unusual" experiences and 'abilities' I've attempted it before myself but I have never been able to achieve certain things that others have, just a little bit here and there, I guess it's not my thing.

[gaia.plateau]

Apart from hallucinations, I haven't seen or heard any evidence to support it.

But it's galaxies more feasible than intelligent design, and millions of people believe in that.

I'm not going got get all up in your face you're wrong type thing but I do disagree with you, and to be close minded to one thing and not another is very odd and interesting

It's not about being close minded, it's about being rational as opposed to irrational.

It's theoretically within the realm of possibility that whatever energy we're made up of is capable of detaching from its physical anchorage whilst retaining consciousness. I've not read, seen nor heard anything to make me believe this, but it's a possibility.

Dinosaurs living at the same time as the ancient Greeks on the other hand, is not within the realm of possibility, and there exists overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The difference that you may wish to try grasping, is between open mindedness and magical thinking.

[Giant Ninja Robot]

And how is having the power to journey to an astral plane of existence not magical?!?!?! LMFAO! That's the same magic super power that Dr. Strange has dude lol.

I think that you may be a bit bias on the topic. Edited October 6, 2008 by giant ninja robot

[LycanLovesthePipe]

Nah you dont need NHT refrences
I hear there are ways of doing it without the use of that but it takes alotta practice and patience...Too much for me
Tried it before and couldn't do it but I wouldn't say its not real
It does sound awesome though

[r1v3th3ad]

My father used to do it often, mind you he is now 68 and has studied the worlds religions in and out and is a member of the Rosecruxian Order(ancient mysticism society)...I know stories about how one of his co-workers was a real dick to him. He went about astral projecting himself over him whilst he sleeps....the guy lost soooo much sleep and when he could he had horrible dreams.

I myself have only been successful a few times on our world. Other times I have been successful in the "spirit world"...where I met with Sirchade.

[gaia.plateau]

And how is having the power to journey to an astral plane of existence not magical?!?!?! LMFAO! That's the same magic super power that Dr. Strange has dude lol.

I think that you may be a bit bias on the topic.

It's not magical because it makes rational, logical sense and can be explained in rational, logical, and factual terms. There's no specific evidence against it, which puts it in the realm of possibility. We know that we're made of matter and energy, and we have no idea where that energy goes when we die. That's a lot of uncertainty, it's not like the case of Unicorns wherein we've been all over the world and categorized all land mammals and we've never seen one; it's more like the notion of a giant squid- something like 75% of the ocean floor is completely unknown to us, anything could be down there.

I'm still disinclined believe in the idea of astral projection, and that won't change with anecdotes.

Other times I have been successful in the "spirit world"...where I met with Sirchade.

o.O

? Edited October 6, 2008 by gaia.plateau

[Victim026]

I've always been highly interested in these sorts of occurrences and from the ages of 13-18 worked hard at staying relaxed and attempting a few times a week to enter the astral realm. I was successful to a certain extent although I could never get any farther then pulling myself up and out and hovering above myself for more then a minute. Ever since everything with my parents happened I haven't had the calm mind to even think about attempting to further these abilities but I hope to someday get back to this. I'd say that anything is believable, it's all dependent on circumstances, and unfortunately for most beliefs be it God or Astral Projection or ghosts we will probably never have hard concrete answers.

[Victim026]

It\'s not magical because it makes rational, logical sense and can be explained in rational, logical, and factual terms. There\'s no specific evidence against it, which puts it in the realm of possibility. We know that we\'re made of matter and energy, and we have no idea where that energy goes when we die. That\'s a lot of uncertainty, it\'s not like the case of Unicorns wherein we\'ve been all over the world and categorized all land mammals and we\'ve never seen one; it\'s more like the notion of a giant squid- something like 75% of the ocean floor is completely unknown to us, anything could be down there.

I\'m still disinclined believe in the idea of astral projection, and that won\'t change with anecdotes.







I don\'t know that your unicorn reference is even close to being true, just because people have traveled the world over doesn\'t mean they don\'t exist. It just means they haven\'t been seen yet and if we went by your belief that we\'ve categorized all land mammals we wouldn\'t continually be discovering new species which happens almost constantly.
Edited October 6, 2008 by Victim026

[mettalikatt]

yes yes... this is interesting to watch you discuss, i however believe in neither of these phenomenon. We must realize how powerful our minds are, alot of the mind is unexplored by science and has no defining function. I'm aware that some people may believe this is happening, because you are so in touch with your mind that you can make yourself think it does. my two cents -z

[gaia.plateau]

I don\'t know that your unicorn reference is even close to being true, just because people have traveled the world over doesn\'t mean they don\'t exist. It just means they haven\'t been seen yet and

Do you actually believe in the genuine chance that Unicorns might exist? Like, 5 to 1 odds or something like that? Unless they're on the cellular level of sea monkeys and are hiding in a pool of brain matter behind some Papua New Guinean's hut, I think we can decisively conclude that unicorns don't exist. Not with certainty, of course, but with a great deal of confidence.

if we went by your belief that we\'ve categorized all land mammals we wouldn\'t continually be discovering new species which happens almost constantly.

Please enlighten me as to the last time we discovered a new species of mammal, as opposed to a new variety or classification of the ones we already know about. If you can't think of anything in the last 30 years, you have to smoke hookah through your rectum.

It's highly, highly improbable that unicorns exist. We know this because we've looked under every stone and bush and no one has ever seen one. It's almost infinitely improbable that dinosaurs lived with the ancient Greeks and indigenous populations of North and South America, or that the world was created 6,000 years ago, or that every creature upon it was created in one day, or that all species were created as they are now and did not evolve into their current state. We know this because we have fossils and shit.

Conversely, we can't say that it's highly or at least nearly as improbable that giant squids do not exist, or for that matter that Atlantis did not exist, because we're completely clueless about the Ocean floor. Similarly we can't say that it's highly or at least nearly as improbable the possibility that a human can detach their consciousness, and whatever form of energy constitutes it, from their body while living; that is to say that we can't justifiably disregard it out of hand, because we're completely clueless about the human mind and about where our energy goes when we die. But then again as I've said repeatedly we also don't seem to possess any evidence to accept it either (unless you're rivethead and have a purple dragon friend to vouch for you ) Edited October 6, 2008 by gaia.plateau

[Cerritus]

I have had out of body experiences, but I agree that they may simply be a trick of the mind. There's literally no way to know if they happen or if we simply believe that they happen. As far as astral projection the closest I've had is in dreams. Specifically in shared dreams with a few people. (each having an identical dream and realizing this later) I don't disbelieve either, but I can offer no evidence to support them.

[TheScotsman]

<------<<<< Wandering about aimlessly, gazing off into space... seemingly having an out of body experience. (Or was that the 4 martini lunch... {tossing an olive at Gaia.})

[gaia.plateau]

Mmm gin-saturated olive.

[chromecarz00]

Yup.

[TheScotsman]

That was one of the special soylent green olives... sorry.

[Canon]

me wife and i had a similar dream a while back, but we cant remember what it was. as far as projecting yourself from the body, its a fun thing to imagine when your a kid, but like aliens, monsters, flying, breathing under water, and imaginary friends people need to grow out of it.

[Stuie]

not sure if it's true, but a friend of mine did some research into and was telling me about it, if half of what he said was true...that's some crazy crap.

[wpw36]

i truly believe it is possible in fact the other day before an accident i was in i saw myself the instant the accident happened. it has happened like that as well during a different one, it could just be me but it almost seems as if the sudden change in everything(speed, direction, thought process, stress level ETC.) seems to almost jar the "soul" or whatever you want to call it from the body for that brief moment

[melanko]

Here is some literature on the subject:

My Big TOE by Thomas W. Campbell

I read the first book of three. It's a pretty difficult read, but it tries to explain the theories of Astral Projection in a scientific manner. It goes over a lot of other subjects, but it's been a few years since I read it.

One point he brings up in the beginning of the book is you have to be in a state of 'skeptical, open-mindedness.' Do not accept everything you hear, but at the same time look into it and try to experience it, and see if it is something of merit. Like knowing and understanding both sides of a debate, only then can you make the correct answers.

[Hippo_Master]

I think I'm as close as I can get to Astral projection; I regularly Lucid dream, something I have been working on for years now. Someone just relatively recently enlightened me with the best way to go about doing this.

I spend a long time sleeping these nights.

[Bulldog_916]

I've seen a lot of anecdotal stories about it. I'm not inclined to believe it. The mind can do some really crazy things and I dont think we have to look into the super natural to explain something that can be explained as a function of the brain. If you are conceptualizing visions that you've had, both the visions and the concept are functions of the brain.

My college professor wrote an interesting piece on the soul. I think you guys might be interested in it. First I have to get permission to link to it.