Astral Projection.... what the HELL?, *coughharrypottercough* Options

[Retrogressive]

My friend just got into astral projection. I'm not sure what your religious stand point may be, but as I was raised a Christian I was also taught that even though there are other worlds and spirits that I shouldn't open myself up to them. My friend (who is Christian) has gotten my interest piqued in astral projection. Personally it scares the hell out of me.


Things you probably should know if you have no idea what I'm talking about:

Astral projection is a type of out-of-body experience (OBE) in which the astral body leaves its other six bodies and journeys far and wide to anywhere in the universe. The notion that we have seven bodies (one for each of the seven planes of reality) is a teaching of theosophist Madame Blavatsky. On its trips, the astral body perceives other astral bodies rather than their physical, etheric, emotional, spiritual, etc. bodies. In an ordinary OBE, such as remote viewing or the out-of-body near-death experience, there is a separation of a person's consciousness from his or her body. In the near-death out-of-body experience, there may be the experience of hovering above and perceiving one's body and environs,and hearing conversations of surgeons or rescue workers tinkering with one's body. In astral projection, it is the astral body, not the soul or consciousness, that leaves the body. The astral body, according to Madame Blavatsky, is the one that has an aura. It is also the seat of feeling and desire, and is generally described as being connected to the physical body during astral projection by an infinitely elastic and very fine silver cord, a kind of cosmic umbilical cord or Ariadne's thread.

There is scant evidence to support the claim that anyone can project their mind, soul, psyche, spirit, astral body, etheric body, or any other entity to somewhere else on this or any other planet. The main evidence is in the form of testimonials.

Other links:

http://skepdic.com/astralpr.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astral_projection

What are your thoughts?

[*salcha*]

Holy smack
What if something goes wrong?

[Retrogressive]

Well apparently nothing really can go wrong. Here is what I'm hearing:

Okay you have this silver cord that connections your "astral" body (which is the one the dreams and moves on different planes) and your "physical" body (yeah duh). So you never really cut this cord until death at which point your astral (or your subconscious) moves elsewhere.

From what I've read you supposedly have had encounters with your astral self beforehand. When you wake up with a sudden jolt it's because your astral self (which detaches from your body when you dream) is suddenly rushed into your body. Which would explain the sudden rush or falling sensation you feel (supposedly your astral floats above you while sleeping.) As someone who is interested in dreams I've heard this sensation explained as a matter of your body reacting to a particularly stressful day.)

I have actually tried this (only last night) because I didn't believe my friend's results at all. I'm sure there is an explanation for my own personal results (if I had none I wouldn't be posting). You see I had REAL results, which is very very scary. When I heard her describing them I thought she was probably dreaming because you're supposed to relax as much as possible. But my experience (and yes it sounds like bullshit) is my heart started pacing very fast and hard as I concentrated on moving out of my body. I also began to tingle all over my body, not in a "my leg fell asleep" tingle, but in a way where I could feel energy. I was also aware of something floating out of me. I'm sure it's just a meditative state, because besides sounding completely bonkers I was NOT asleep.

So, based on my experience I'm willing to believe it. Until I get on these freaky message boards where they're talking about ghosts and demons et cetera. And then they begin talking about guides. Guides who appear when you need them and help you on your journey. Yes, the idea would be pretty cool... if not altogether scare the HELL out of me. Not to mention the fact that a lot of them practically worship this Dr. Jane of some sorts who has channeled a dead man named Seth (SETH as in CULT) who writes books about projection through her.

So on one hand there are normal people who believe in this stuff and on the other hand there is this huge collective of really scary freaky people/beliefs.

[*salcha*]

I don't know, I was pretty speechless when I read that.
Is it actually possible to move out of your body, is this actually proven that people can actually "travel"?

[Retrogressive]

I don't know, I was pretty speechless when I read that.
Is it actually possible to move out of your body, is this actually proven that people can actually "travel"?

After what just recently happened to me, I think so. I really, really do.


I mean, I really wish a skeptic could come along a prove my experience just now wrong. It's the most incredible thing ever. Seriously, someone please talk about what they know on this subject.

[*salcha*]

Bump.

This is interesting...
so what happened?

[..:loveee.NuTTii]

I really don't know what to make of this. I've read about this, though. The Reader's Digest told the story of a woman undergoing heart treatment and having an OBE. She saw exactly what the doctors were doing and then saw dead relatives. It scares the hell out of me, too. Really gets you thinking...

[voguelove]

Holy smack
What if something goes wrong?

then you die.

ive seen astral projection in that one show, "ghost whisperer."
i dont believe in god so i dont believe in this.

[Ington]

I got so pissed off at the title.

Yes, I believe in astral projection. And NO. It has nothing to do with religion whatsoever. It has to do with psionics, the study of psi energy. Religion and psionics compliment eachother, but are not in the same topic at all. My friends have had OBE's, and I have almost had one.

An OBE is nothing like a dream, you feel just like you do when you are awake. It is a bit like your metaphysical self leaving your physical body. To Retrogressive: For further results, you should try to block out all thoughts when going into an OBE. Even concentrating on leaving your body will bring you back. When you have a full OBE, you will feel a strong, pulsing vibration all over your body. Then you will sort of be thrown out of your body.

And no. You don't die. Thats because it doesn't go wrong. Ever. If anything happens, you go back to your body and wake up instantly. Its a self defense mechanism.

People are known to have OBEs in life threatening situations.

[*tweeak*]

There was an episode of "So Weird" on these ones. Damn, I really miss that show.

[Anielka]

I know all about Astral Projection, and personally I think it's pretty cool. I'd like to have an experience like that one day...I mean, as long as it's not after a fatal car accident or something. It'd be like learning about a whole new world, a "me" on a whole other level. Which is pretty much my life's meaning right now.

[*islandgirl4eva*]

I've heard of this a long time ago. It was on a show called "So Weird". I'm not sure whether I believe in it or not. I've yet to see or hear from anyone I know that they've experienced it.

I've not experienced it, either.

[KrunkMuzik]

DAMN. This is one of the craziest things I've heard about. I'm gonna say I believe it. not due to personal experiences, but I've heard of other things like it, which I've exprienced.

[jnukes]

There was an episode of "So Weird" on these ones. Damn, I really miss that show.

lol i used to watch that, some of it scared me though .








astral projection btw .. sounds unreal ..

[Retrogressive]

I got so pissed off at the title.

Yes, I believe in astral projection. And NO. It has nothing to do with religion whatsoever. It has to do with psionics, the study of psi energy. Religion and psionics compliment eachother, but are not in the same topic at all. My friends have had OBE's, and I have almost had one.

An OBE is nothing like a dream, you feel just like you do when you are awake. It is a bit like your metaphysical self leaving your physical body. To Retrogressive: For further results, you should try to block out all thoughts when going into an OBE. Even concentrating on leaving your body will bring you back. When you have a full OBE, you will feel a strong, pulsing vibration all over your body. Then you will sort of be thrown out of your body.

And no. You don't die. Thats because it doesn't go wrong. Ever. If anything happens, you go back to your body and wake up instantly. Its a self defense mechanism.

People are known to have OBEs in life threatening situations.

Well that's usually the reaction you get when you talk to people about it. Also, it's so closely linked to religion (I think it's buddist based and connected with wicca [yeah, wicca?]). It also gives some sort of proof that we do leave our bodies. I think it has more to do with spirituality that with religion, and yes of course science.

I'm really interested in your experience. And could you explain more on psionics?

Bump.

This is interesting...
so what happened?

I had the most unnerving sensation that my head was coming out of my head.

Which brings me to last night. I focused continually on bringing my inside self out. I felt this light body floating over me and was sure I was projecting when my heart began to race. My only problem was I wanted to open my eyes, and so as though I was opening my astral eyes, I opened my physical eyes as well. This led me to believe that it wasn't a bunch of mumbo jumbo so I called my friend about it and we discussed it. Later she sent me an astral projection MP3 of sorts for me to listen to. For 3-4 hours I was looking into astral projection online.

As I listened to the MP3 on my computer I let all things go. I could feel my body floating above me, I was being instructed on what to do. The first try was unsuccessful on getting out, but I think it was very useful. When the instructor told me to get up I was very frusterated that I hadn't had the same results as last night. So I turned over in bed (got myself very comfortable) and began wondering as I drifted. But I hadn't realized that my computer was on repeat.

Soon the same voice began again. Since I was already very comfortable I began following the instructions. Soon enough I was extremely relaxed and I could definitly feel chakra activity in my "base" chakra. I began to let go further and also feeling the most distinct feeling of becoming heavy above myself and VERY large (which my friend had told me was normal and that she had felt). I explored the feeling and tried to move above. I slowly drifted and the feeling faded a bit. When finally I began to feel things actually MOVE withing me. I could feel arms under neat my arms, moving. I tried to concentrate on getting out, but this too seemed to pass.

And ALL of the sudden I felt my head rising and my heart began beating very fast. I was very aware that my heart didn't begin beating fast when I was just laying in bed and that my breathing didn't just automatically start quickening. My head began to rise. I COULD FEEL MY HEAD RISING OUT OF MY BODY. And so I tried to concentrate on the feeling. In the very middle somehow I opened my physical eyes and believed that it was my astral eyes, but at the same time I know I could dimly see when they were closed. I begin breathing VERY VERY hard and I could sense my eyes blinking and blinking and blinking as I gulped for breath. And at some point in time I began recommanding my physical body.

I popped up in bed and began shaking all over. My heart was pounding. I went to the lamp and I could barely walk I was shaking so hard. And I kept feeling this horrid shock and waves of some sort of energy re-entering my body. It was absolutly starteling. I looked in the mirror and my face was sheet white and my mouth completely open. And I was very cold. I couldn't help thinking "Must eat".

And seriously I don't expect anyone to believe me. If they do or don't I just suggest TRYING it. It's very unreal.

http://www.angelfire.com/realm2/amethystbt/astralatwill.html

[EddieV]

My brain hurts.

[Retrogressive]

My brain hurts.

AHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHHA

>=)





what?

[*disco infiltrator*]

I have a friend that's done it. I think it's pretty neat. I've never tried it myself, but I might get into it in the future.

[illumineering]

When I lived in Arizona, I spent 3 years visiting the Havasupai. They're a Native American tribe that lives in the Grand Canyon. While participating in hundreds of Sweat Lodge ceremonies, astral projection became a regular occurence.

There were several physical conditions that established the enviornment that enabled astral projection to take place:

1. oxygen deprivation - In the 3rd and 4th rounds, the oxygen supply is lessened as a Lodge is a relatively closed environment.

2. extreme heat - The nature of the ceremony, in part, is to move beyond the mind. This is accomplished by "pushing" beyond the initial sensation of pain and releasing the notion of suffering.

3. intent - A primary purpose of the logde is rebirth. In this experience, there is a reconnection to "All that is."


Initially, the experience is somewhat overwhelming as it redefines reality far beyond the context of our physical world. For me, learning about astral projection with the Havasupai not only freed me from the confines of my thought processes, it created a sense of wonderment about the universe that inspires me every day.

[*islandgirl4eva*]

Wow, Bill. That sounds intense. It's something I think I might actually be frightened to witness, not to mention partake in. However, the benefits that are reaped of the activity are intriguing. How many times have you done this? How did the invitation come to be extended to you?

[Retrogressive]

Bill, I'd really like to hear some of your accounts.


Anyway, it's very difficult to astral project. And it takes a lot on concentration and meditation. At the same time, people say that many people astral project naturally when they are dreaming. Also astral projection is very connected to Remote Viewing:

Remote viewing (RV) is a procedure developed by parapsychologists at the Stanford Research Institute to perform clairvoyance under controlled conditions. Somewhat similar to astral projection, the phenomenon involves a belief in the projection of consciousness to remote locations, and is considered a pseudoscience by mainstream scientists.

Remote viewing allegedly allows a viewer to use his or her clairvoyant abilities to "view", i.e. gather information on a target consisting of an object, place, person, etc., which is hidden from physical view of the viewer and typically separated from the viewer in space by some distance, and sometimes separated in time (future or past) as well. Supporters claim that the existing experimental evidence supports the validity of these techniques, and claim that remote viewing is a method of clairvoyance which is better suited to experimental testing.

Proponents argue that remote viewing is distinguished from other forms of clairvoyance in that it follows a specific experimental protocol (or some variant of it). The critical aspect common to these protocols, proponents contend, is that the viewer is blind to the target in the sense of being given no (or negligible) information regarding the target being viewed.

Some critics of remote viewing claim that it is a pseudoscience, and that the experimental evidence is inadequate. Some critics liken remote viewing to dowsing, and accord remote viewing just as much validity as that procedure.[1] And some say that remote viewing is just clairvoyance under a new name, made to seem more credible.

While proponents call the remote viewing technique "scientific", it has only a minority acceptance among scientists. Skeptics contend that an incorrect description of an object by a remote viewer is often considered a "hit" due to small similarities, and that visual cues and extraneous evidence under poorly designed testing protocols account for the more accurate descriptions. Positive results have only been achieved in tests designed and run by remote viewing proponents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_viewing

Dowsing:

Dowsing is a controversial practice which proponents claim empowers them to find water, metals, gem stones, and hidden objects by carrying or waving a stick or other apparatus over a piece of land and watching for any movement. Repeated tests under controlled conditions have not supported this claim. Dowsers (sometimes known as diviners) may also use a forked branch of a tree, bent pieces of metal or plastic wire, or a small pendulum. Some people use no pointing device at all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowsing

[aubbob]

i think its cool. i wouldnt wanna try it though.

[*ranniel*]

^ wt hell are you talking about, it's freaky.

[voguelove]

so..how do you do it? i wanna try.

[*ranniel*]

^ you're crazy!