What are out of body experiences?

Out of body experiences (OOBE) is a paranormal phenomena that has gained substantial attention in Paranormal Psychology. It is normally characterized by a floating sensation accompanied by the separation of the one’s consciousness from his physical body. In many instances, the individual in an OOBE may find himself observing his own physical self from outside that body.

There have been a sufficient number of documented cases of OOBE to consider the phenomena as a well-established fact. In previous documentations of these experiences, they were noted to occur frequently with near-death experiences. Other earlier cases have also been mostly spontaneous experiences lasting only for a brief period.

The previous belief that these experiences occur involuntarily, however, has been disproved by more recent documentation. Case studies now show that these experiences can be intentionally induced or initiated. The use of certain psychedelic drugs, for instance, has been found to effectively induce the occurrence of OOBE. Other studies have also shown that a specific part of the brain is usually active during such experiences, and that these experiences can also be induced by stimulating that specific part of the brain.

An even more interesting discovery has also been made with respect to inducing out of body experiences. Not only can they be chemically or mechanically induced, they can also be mentally induced through the use of lucid dreaming techniques. The method of mentally inducing oneself to enter into an out of body experience is believed to actually be an old practice of Buddhist monks and North American natives. For centuries, these groups have made use of meditation techniques to control and maintain their consciousness as their bodies fell asleep. Many well-known people in history, including Thomas Edison and Salvador Dali, are also believed to have been adept at inducing out of body experiences.