File name:DIY-OBE.TXT Firda BBS Last revised: 06.04.94 blt5c159 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- WHEN THE SOUL LEAVES THE BODY - A short introduction (by a skeptic!) - and a step by step instruction (written by a true believer) During the last few years so-called OBEs (Out Of Body experiences) have received a lot of publicity in TV and in magazines. The lore has it that many people who have been close to death have perceived "themselves" as separated from their bodies and floating somewhere in the air above themselves, most often close to the ceiling. During such OBEs, they have supposedly been able to see what happened in the room, and to listen in to the conversation between other people who were present during the crisis. Such stories have given rise to the popular conception that the existence of an "after-life" is now more or less proven, and that there is in fact a "soul" that leaves the body at death. In the New-Age culture and in religious and occult litterature, the existence of a "soul" or an "astral body" that leaves the physical body at the moment of death has of course always been taken for granted. But this does not happen only in extreme sickness or death. New-Agers have several ways in which they can "astral project" out of their body. The methods used appear to have much in common with self-hypnosis or "autogenic training" (see the description below). Some say they have been able to leave the room during an OBE, and observe things and actions in other rooms that would otherwise have been hidden from their view. Such stories have not been independantly confirmed. There have been several tests with conceiled targets. During one such test (Tart 1968), a woman who claimed to be able to leave her body, correctly reported a five-digit number that was put on a shelf above her. Since she was able to do this only when Tart did not observe her, it is perhaps not unreasonable to assume that she may have climbed up and peeked at the number during his absence. Apart from this result, such experiments have tended to give equivocal results and no clear signs of any ESP. The most logical explanation then seems to be that OBEs are special kinds of vivid hallucinations or dreams. Ottar Sande HOW TO "ASTRAL-PROJECT", OR HAVE AN "OUT OF BODY EXPERIENCE". This file details just one of several methods used by enthusiasts to produce the feeling that they leave their bodies. If you should find the Monroe-method difficult, you will find a shorter description of several other such methods included in the very comprehensive file OOBE_FAQ.ZIP which is a "Frequently Asked Questions"-file originally downloaded from INTERNET. O.S. MONROE TECHNIQUES FOR ASTRAL PROJECTION (Written by an anonymous author) Note: After having studied many methods of Astral Projection, I have found that this is the easiest to do. Monroe teaches these techniques in a week, but they can be easily done in a day, with proper devotion. I feel that this technique is superior to others because it doe not require intense visualization, which many people cannot do. enjoy! (Taken from Leaving The Body: A Complete Guide to Astral Projection, D. Scott Rogo, Prentice Hall Press) One of the chief barriers people learning to project face is fear. Many are afraid that they may die, or be harmed in some way as a result of their projection. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Cantebury Institute, reknowned for its occult studies, executed an experiment in projection involving over 2,000 people. None of them were hurt in any way by this, and now, three years later, none have complained of any newly arising problems. Once you are aware that you cannot be harmed by projecting, you should begin Monroe's techniques, step by step. Step one: Relax the body. According to Monroe, "the ability to relax is the first prerequisite, perhaps even the first step itself" to having an OBE. (out of body experience) This includes bothe physical and mental relaxation. Monroe does not suggest a method of attaining this relaxation, although Progressive Muscle relaxation, coupled with deep breathing exercises (inhale 1, exhale 2, inhale 3.... until 50 or 100) are known to work well. Step two: Enter the state bordering sleep. This is known as the hypnagogic state. Once again, Monroe doesn't recommend any method of doing this. One way is to hold your forearm up, while keeping your upper arm on the bed, or ground. As you start to fall asleep, your arm will fall, and you will awaken again. With practice, you can learn to control the Hypnagogic state without using your arm. Another method is to concentra-te on an object. When other images start to enter your thoughts, you have entered the Hypnagogic state. Passively watch these images. This will also help you maintain this state of near-slee-p. Monroe calls this Condition A. Step thre-e: Deepen this state. Begin to clear your mind. Observe your field of vision through your closed eyes. Do nothing more for a while. Simply look through your closed eyelids at the blackness in front of you. After a while, you may notice light patterns. These are simply neural discharges. They have no specific effect. Ignore them. When they cease, one has entered what Monroe calls Condition B. From here, one must enter an even deeper state of relaxation which Monroe calls Condition C-- a state of such relaxation that you lose all awareness of the body and sensory stimulation. You are almost in a void in which your only source of stimulation will be your own thoughts. The ideal state for leaving your body is Condition D. This is Condition C when it is voluntarily induced from a rested and refreshed condition and is not the effect of normal fatigue. To achieve Condition D, Monroe suggests that you practice entering it in the morning or after a short nap. Step Four: Enter a state of Vibration. This is the most important part of the technique, and also the most vague. Many projectors have noted these vibrations at the onset of projection. They can be experienced as a mild tingling, or as is electricity is being shot through the body. Their cause is a mystery. It may actually be the astral body trying to leave the physical one. For entering into the vibrational state, he offers the following directions: 1. Remove all jewelry or other items that might be touching your skin. 2. Darken the room so that no light can be seen through your eyelids, but do not shut out all light. 3. Lie down with your body along a north-south axis, with your head pointed toward magnetic north. 4. Loosen all clothing, but keep covered so that you are slightly warmer than might normally be comfortable. 5. Be sure you are in a location where, and at a time when, there will be absolutely no noise to disturb you. 6. Enter a state of relaxa-tion 7. Give yours-elf the mental sugge-stion that you will remem-ber all that occurs during the upcom-ing sessi-on that will be beneficial to your well--being. Repeat this five times. 8. Proceed to brea-th thro-ugh your half--open mout-h. 9. As you bre-ath, con-cen-tra-te on the void in fro-nt of you. 10. Select a location about a fo-ot aw-ay from your fo-re-he-ad, th-en ch-an-ge your po-int of me-nt-al re-fe-re-nce to six fe-et. 11. T-u-rn t-he p-o-i-nt 90 d-e-g-r-e-es u-p-w-a-rd by ra-w-i-ng an i-m-a-g-i-n-a-ry li-ne p-a-r-a-l-l-el to y-o-ur b-o-dy a-x-is up a-nd a-b-o-ve y-o-ur h-e-a-d. F-o-c-us th-e-re a-nd r-e-a-ch o-ut f-or t-he v-i-b-r-a-t-i-o-ns at t-h-at p-o-i-nt a-nd br-i-ng t-h-em b-a-ck i-n-to y-o-ur b-ody. Even if you don't know what these vibrations are, you will know when you have achieved contact with them. Step five: Learn to control the vibrational state. Practice controlling them by mentally pushing them into your head, down to your toes, making them surge throughout your entire body, and producing vibrational waves from head to foot. To produce this wave effect, concentrate of the vibrations and mentally push a wave out of your head and guide it down your body. Practice this until you can induce these waves on command. Once you have control of the vibrational state, you are ready to leave the body. Step six: Begin with a partial seperation. The key here is thought control. Keep your mind firmly focused on the idea of leaving the body. Do not let it wander. Stray thought might cause you to lose control of the state. Now, having entered the vibrational state, begin exploring the OBE by releasing a hand or a foot of the "second body". Monroe suggests that you extend a limb until it comes in contact with a familiar object, such as a wall near your bed. Then push it through the object. Return the limb by placing it back into coincidence with the physical one, decrease the vibrational rate, and then terminate the experiment. Lie quietly until you have fully returned to normal. This exercise will prepare you for full seperation. Step seven: Dissociate yourself from the body. Monroe suggests two methods for this. One method is to lift out of the body. To do this, think about getting lighter and lighter after entering this vibrational state. Think about how nice it would be to float upward. Keep this thought in mind at all costs and let no extraneous thoughts interrupt it. An OBE will occur naturally at this point. Another method is the "Rotation method" or "roll-out" technique. When you have achieved the vibrational state, try to roll over as if you were turning over in bed. Do not attempt to roll over physically. Try to twist your body from the top and virtually roll over into your second body right out of your physical self. At this point, you will be out of the body but next to it. Think of floating upward, and you should find yourself floating above the body. Monroe suggets you begin with the lift-out method, but argues that both are equally efficacious. If, after all this, you still can't project, I recommend purchasing Leaving The Body, by R. Scott Rogo. It only costs $7.95 and contains another eight or so techniques. Not all techniques work for everyone, but chances are you'll find one that works for you in this book. Good luck! References: This anonymous "how-to" description was downloaded from Skeptic's Board +1 415 572 0359 Also read: Susan Blackmore, "Psychic Vibrations", SI, vol 16 no 1, pp 31-45 Ottar Sande ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This text was made available to you through the services of Firda BBS, Norway's only BBS specializing on popular science and critical thinking. +47 57 86 54 35/ +47 57 86 65 64/ +47 57 86 65 65, all speeds, N,8,0,1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Texts from Firda BBS must not be reproduced for purposes of profit without the written consent of the authors/holders of copyright, and from the SYSOP at Firda BBS. If in doubt, contact Firda BBS, po box 271, 6860 Sandane, Norway, or the SYSOP on tel. +47 57 86 57 78. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Firda BBS blt5c159