Professor Tart said, “Because dreams are scientifically acceptable, while out-of-the-body experiences are not, the sceptic is tempted to say that they are ‘just’ dreams. It is of interest to consider the converse of the position—held by many occultists (Carrington, 1919, Fox, 1962, Muldoon and Carrington, 1956, Ophiel, 1961, Yram, 1965)—that dreams are ‘just’ out-of-the-body experiences in which consciousness is poorly developed!” (Crookall 19)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Charles Tart: “We can formally define an OOBE as an event in which the experiencer (1) seems to perceive some portion of some environment which could not possibly be perceived from where his physical body is known to be at the time; and (2) knows at the time that he is not dreaming or fantasizing. The experiencer seems to possess his normal consciousness at the time. . . . He will feel all his normal critical faculties to be present.” (Monroe 7)JOotBOBEr • modern • Monroe

There is nothing to prevent you from viewing your body from a standpoint outside of it, except that you have been taught that consciousness is imprisoned within the flesh.

The body is a sending and receiving organism; your home station . . . and the focus for your activity. You can, however, quite consciously leap from it—and you do often, when for a while, particularly in the dream state, you view the world from another perspective. (Roberts 66-67)URchanneled • modern • Seth

I was floating against the ceiling, bouncing gently with any movement I made. . . .

I couldn’t tell where wakefulness stopped and dreaming began. (Monroe 28, 30)JOotBOBEr • modern • Monroe

First, as to withdrawal from the body, it happens thus. Man is brought into a certain state that is midway between sleeping and waking, and when in that state he seems to himself to be wide awake; all the senses are as perfectly awake as in the completest bodily wakefulness, not only the sight and the hearing, but what is wonderful, the sense of touch also, which is then more exquisite than is ever possible when the body is awake. (Swedenborg 339)H&HOBEr • Christianity • Swedenborg

In the 1960s, Dr. Eugene E. Bernard, professor of psychology at North Carolina State University, conducted an extensive study of out-of-body experience [OBE] and suggested that one out of every one hundred persons has experienced out-of-body projection.

The psychologist found out that OBE most often occurs during time of stress, during natural childbirth, during minor surgery, at times of extreme fear, and, of course, during instances of near-death. (Steiger 157)OwtLNDErs • modern • Steiger

Dr. Jules Eisenbud, Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Medical School . . . said that a fairly high percentage of people—up to 25 per cent, according to some authorities have had the experience of leaving their bodies, after which, they claimed, they saw their bodies and other objects from a higher position in space. . . .

Dr. A. Puharich: “I plunged into renewed studies of this phenomenon from a historical point of view. . . . I can say that from the beginning of recorded history, in every one of the great ancient classical cultures, this experience [of projection] has been recounted again and again.” (Crookall 98)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

In one very interesting experiment in the early 1970s, two psychics, Ingo Swann and Harold Sherman, were asked to leave their bodies (astral project) and travel to Mercury and Jupiter to observe the atmospheres of those two planets. Researchers hoped that the information the two psychics brought back would be corroborated by NASA’s deep space probes, which had been sent to those planets and were due to orbit back within days. The intention of the experiment was to demonstrate “remote-viewing” capabilities. . . .

The data from the probes showed that both Swann and Sherman accurately described certain previously unknown characteristics of the planet Mercury. These findings certainly seem to verify remote-viewing capabilities. Even more important, however, is that the information was received “instantaneously.” NASA’s photos, which were broadcast over electromagnetic frequencies, took approximately 6.5 minutes to get from point A to point B. (Ryerson and Harolde 71)SCchanneled • modern • Ryerson & Harolde

Out-of-body experiences, or OBEs, have been reported throughout history by individuals from all walks of life. . . .

The typical OBE is usually spontaneous and occurs most often during sleep, meditation, anesthesia, illness, and instances of traumatic pain . . . 85 percent described the experience as pleasant and over half of them said it was joyful. . . .

Gabbard, Twemlow, and Jones also studied the psychological profile of OBEers and found that there were psychologically normal and were on the whole extremely well adjusted. (Talbot 230-231)HUscientific, researcher • modern • Talbot

Charles Tart: The OOBE is generally a once-in-a-lifetime experience, seemingly experienced by “accident”. Illnesses sometimes bring it about, especially illnesses which are almost fatal. Great emotional stress sometimes brings it about. In many cases, it simply happens during sleep without our having any idea of what might have caused it. (Monroe 8)JOotBOBEr • modern • Monroe

Significantly, an out-of-body experience occurs in the absence of any prompting by the therapist after the regression persona “dies.” (Wade 33)JoNDE-JWresearcher • modern • Wade

Stuart Twemlow, Glen Gabbard, and Fowler Jones: “Of the 339 subjects who reported an experience . . . an overwhelming majority of the sample were in a relaxed and calm state of mind (79%), and the variety of emotionally stressful conditions (23% of the sample), and states of physical pain, drug and alcohol intoxication, childbirth, and general anesthetic accounted for much smaller percentages of the sample.” (Monroe 279-280)FJOBEr • modern • Monroe

Although the OBEs experienced by such patients are spontaneous, some people have mastered the ability well enough to leave their body at will. (Talbot 233)HUscientific, researcher • modern • Talbot

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are reported in association with G-LOC NOTE: gravitational loss of consciousness episodes. These OBEs have been associated with longer G-LOC episodes and multiple, closely-spaced G-LOC episodes, as many as five within a 15 minute period. . . . One associated OBE, for example, occurred following multiple G-LOC episodes. The individual walking down a hallway immediately after a centrifuge exposure became aware not only that he was walking down the hallway, but also that he was above and behind himself, watching his own body walking. The duality persisted for approximately three minutes before the experience ended with what was described as a reintegration process with his body. (Whinnery 242-243)JoNDE-JWhresearcher • modern • Whinnery

A violent blow, especially upon the head, or any extreme shock, wherein unconsciousness ensues as a consequence, is another common cause of instantaneous astral projection. . . .

The more prolonged the unconsciousness, the longer-lived could be the exteriorization NOTE: projection. (Muldoon 61-62)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

When a person is in the depth of despair and life is at risk physically or mentally, an ejection seat seems to be activated in the mind that lets the conscious self escape or seem to escape, like the pilot from a damaged plane. (Roll 61)BMSresearchers • modern • Tart

First, the little girl who is being repeatedly sexually abused has an out-of-body experience: detached from her body and what is going on, she may float up to the ceiling and imagine that she is watching another little girl being abused. . . . The abuse is not so terrifying and overwhelming because it is happening to someone else. . . . Not only is the abuse not happening to the original little girl, she doesn’t even remember it. (Ross vii-viii)OCresearcher • modern • Ross

In times of sickness—especially that sort of sickness which is staid or sedative—astral projection can and often does take place. . . .

The more weakened, languid, and enervated the physical becomes, the more easily the astral member detaches itself from it; for at such times less material resistance is brought to bear against the inner workings which prompt the separation. (Muldoon 60)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Spontaneous OBEs have occurred under anesthesia. (Monroe 7)UJOBEr • modern • Monroe

There is some support to the concept that anesthetics are no more than chemical triggers to produce deep OOB states. . . . Experimental slow administration of these under nonthreatening conditions as well as the medical descriptions of the various “planes” of anesthesia are the basis for this premise. (Monroe 266)FJOBEr • modern • Monroe

NOTE: TO DO: Look up these various planes of anesthesia

Certain differences are observed between “doubles” that were released naturally and those whose release was enforced (by anaesthetics, etc.). For instance, whereas about one in five naturally released “doubles” exhibited “super-normal” consciousness (with telepathy, clairvoyance, the sight of the dead, etc.) only about one in twenty of those whose release was due to anaesthetics, etc., reached that level of consciousness. (On our objective hypothesis, the former “doubles” consisted of the Soul Body NOTE: astral body only, while the latter “doubles” were composite—the Soul Body was more or less enshrouded by substance from the vehicle of vitality NOTE: etheric body) . . .

Those that were formed naturally (and therefore gradually) were often horizontal at first and became erect later. Those that were formed artificially, for example, by anaesthetics (and therefore suddenly) never exhibited an initial horizontal position. . . .

Many people whose “doubles” left their bodies naturally were aware of the process, whereas those whose “doubles” were forced out of their bodies were unaware of it. . . . When “doubles” are released naturally, their space-range is unlimited. When they are forced out by anaesthetics, they remain near the body. “Doubles” that were formed in a natural manner typically have a higher level of consciousness (which was often “super-normal”) than those whose release was enforced (which was restricted and often included dream elements). “Doubles” that were released naturally tended to contact either earth or “Paradise” NOTE: upper astral conditions. Those released forcibly contacted either earth or “Hades” NOTE: lower astral conditions. (Crookall 102-103)

NOTE: I’ve seen this elsewhere. If you’re not ready to leave, you have issues and don’t naturally leave.

A very rapid reentry into the body in cases of natural projections caused shock (“repercussion”), and this could be partially controlled; the phenomenon was not observed in enforced cases. (Crookall 104)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

By far, the most difficult and impressive part of projection is the moment of lucid takeoff from the waking state. There is no . . . psychic phenomenon that provides a greater impact. It is the one event able to provoke modification of scientific, moral and religious points of view, and has deep, far reaching effects on anyone’s knowledge, opinions, education, customs and beliefs. . . . Generations of teachings are humbled, centuries of civilization are reduced to dust in the mind of the projector, and mountains of prejudice lose their meaning. Through personal experimentation, one dismisses all tiresome arguments. The result is peaceful certainty. (Vieira 119)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

While out of your body, you can’t be harmed.

And what about the body while you’re gone? . . . [Your subconscious] constantly monitors your body. If anything happens, you’ll be pulled back in instantly. FOBELOBEr • modern • Peterson

Nothing can hurt you when you are out of body. You are literally indestructible. APCOBEr, LDer • modern • DeGracia

At first we are tempted to leave our room in order to take stock of other places in this strange dimension. This is what happens: The substance which we are using to give form to our double NOTE: etheric body returns to the physical body and it is with a far more ethereal body NOTE: the astral body that we soar into space. . . . It is possible to exteriorize a third body NOTE: the mental body into an ether of even finer nature. (Yram 45)PAPOBEr • Yram

I had more than one nonphysical body. . . . My physical body appeared to be not one, but two—much as when your vision is slightly impaired by astigmatism. They seemed very close together, no more than three or four inches apart, one slightly behind and fainter than the other. . . .

I did indeed reenter a second form just prior to the physical body. . . .

Both separation and return contained these elements—leaving the second body NOTE: etheric body in “orbit” close to the physical, moving and being entirely apart and separate from the physical in a “third” body NOTE: astral body. (Monroe 78-79)FJOBEr • modern • Monroe

The following list may help you identify the inner signals associated with the initial phases of an out-of-body experience.

• Buzzing, humming, or roaring sounds.
• Unusual tingling or energy sensations.
• Voices, laughter, or your name being called out.
• Heaviness or sinking. NOTE: from the physical perspective
• Numbness or paralysis in any part of your body. NOTE: physical perspective
• Weightlessness or spreading lightness . . . NOTE: from consciousness’ perspective
• Internal rocking, spinning, or movement of any kind. (Buhlman 157)

As the years went on, the experiences became sleep paralysis. Just about everything then on was just paralysis and nothing else until I decided to try to let the experience of being paralized (sic) run its course just to see what would happen. . . . You suddenly become aware that you seem awake except you can’t move at all no matter how hard you try. Its usually accompianied (sic) by the sensation of electrical shock or a loud ringing noise or tone. EwOOBEr • modern • Briggs

As the paralysis begins to creep over you, a feeling of falling backwards may accompany it. (Taylor 126)STOBEr • modern • Taylor

It is only when consciousness is still in play that [people] ever experience the paralysis or catalepsy. . . .

Catalepsy with consciousness is more apt to occur in passing from sleeping to waking than the reverse. (Muldoon 70)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Some degree of physical paralysis is a sure sign an OOBE is IN PROGRESS. It shows the mind split, in some form, has already occurred. ToPOBEr • modern • Bruce

Mr. Prescott Hall, in his work on Astral Projection, summarizes his own experiences. . . .

“The principal sounds heard were the following: a hissing or whistling, as of escaping steam; single musical notes; musical phrases, generally new to the hearer. Hymn tunes and other tunes, which were known. Harmonics—often very beautiful. Two or more notes, alternating in regular sequence. The sound of a bell or bells, sometimes in harmony. Metallic noises like the striking of an anvil.” (Muldoon 75-76)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

You may become aware of a variety of sounds at a deafening volume—sounds such as buzzing, roaring wind, electrical sizzling, crackling, and even a musical tone or instrument. . . .

If you transition this stage you may hear voices or see shapes and images. Having circumvented these distractions you may also become aware of a floating or upward movement. This sometimes occurs without asking. (Taylor 127)STOBEr • modern • Taylor

In many cases, various unusual auditory sensations are reported to occur at or near death. . . . A man who “died” for twenty minutes during an abdominal operation describes “a really bad buzzing noise coming from inside my head. . . . ” Another woman tells how as she lost consciousness she heard “a loud ringing. It could also be described as a buzzing. . . . ” I have also heard this . . . described as a loud click, a roaring, a banging, and as a “whistling sound, like the wind.”

In other cases, the auditory effects seem to take a more pleasant musical form. (Moody 37)LALresearcher • modern • Moody

Some subjects tell me they hear humming or buzzing sounds right after leaving their physical bodies. This is similar to the noise one hears standing near telephone wires. . . . People have said they hear these same sounds when under general anesthesia. These flat ringing sounds become more musical when we leave the tunnel. This music has been appropriately called energy of the universe because it revitalizes the soul. (Newton 22)JoShypnosis • modern • Newton

The vibrational sensory effect was the single consistent symptom throughout the Beginning Stage. . . . The early vibrations seemed to be rough, sometimes accompanied by a visual image of a localized ring of electrical “sparks.” The frequency was on the order of ten cycles per second. . . . At the conclusion of the Beginning Stage, the frequency had increased to approximately eighteen c.p.s., with much less discomfort to the physical body. . . .

The second effect was the awareness of a high-pitched “hiss” heard softly yet constantly in the aural centers. Once established, it continued uninterrupted throughout the period. . . .

At this stage infrequent subsequent physical effects of excitement and stimulation were evident, but not to an extreme degree. These included accelerated pulse rate, perspiration, and sexual response. . . .

The vibrational state evolved until it was manifested only as a sense of warmth in latter portions of period. This change resulted from a gradual “speeding up” of frequency until single pulsations were not perceptible. The auditory “air hiss” phenomenon continued unchanged throughout the period. (Monroe 235-237)

[The paralysis] is usually accompianied (sic) by the sensation of electrical shock or a loud ringing noise or tone. . . . I usually get the loud ringing in the ears. In one paticular (sic) instance of sleep paralysis that happened about five times one after another, I could have swore someone was grabbing my bedroom door and just slamming it as hard as they could. This was probably my heartbeat magnified way out of proportion. EwOOBEr • modern • Briggs

[The vibrations] feel very electrical, just like getting electrocuted, but they also are accompanied by a rough vibrational sound which can seem very loud. FOBELOBEr • modern • Peterson

The vibrational state is characterized by the movement of internal pulsating waves similar to electrical vibrations whose occurrence, frequency and intensity can be controlled at will to be fast or slow, strong or weak. These waves sweep the immobilized soma NOTE: physical body from head to hands and feet, returning to the brain in a steady cycle of a few seconds. The occurrence, at times, seems like a burning torch, surging and ebbing, or a ball of tolerable electricity guided at will. Not uncommonly, the vibrations produce a sensation of inflation. . . . The complete installation of the vibrational state is what permits a lucid takeoff. (Vieira 17)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

Although described less often, the energy could result in flashing lights, waves of pulsating colors, etc. I find that at a certain pitch and intensity of sound, the light kicks in. ASOBEr • modern • Goodin

Another strange sensation while trying to leave my body: a ringing noise in my ears. . . . Sometimes I heard very loud rushing or roaring noises in my head. Usually when this happened, I also felt as if my consciousness was being crushed in on all sides. It’s as if the very boundaries of my awareness were forced down to a tiny infinitesimal pinpoint in the center of my head. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

For me, out-of-bodies usually start from a half-awake state, in which I can feel myself “sliding” out of my physical body. This is often accompanied by a loud buzzing noise that seems to come at me across the room, ending with a snap! Behind my right ear and an immediate whoosh! as I’m propelled out. (Watkins 423)CWSchanneled • modern • Seth

The buzzing noise and vibrations immediately subside after complete separation. The sound and vibrations are replaced by a serene feeling of calm. (Buhlman 13)ABtBOBEr • modern • Buhlman

Finally, all of a sudden, it feels like your body is slipping backwards, or that you are falling, or that your body is slipping forward, or that your body is floating gently downwards. . . . YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR BODY. APCOBEr, LDer • modern • DeGracia

When the sense of hearing first begins to manifest, the sounds seem far away. When the eyes first begin to see, everything seems blurred and whitish. Just as the sounds become more distinct, so does the sense of sight become clearer and clearer. There is a spot, just out of coincidence, in which, as the phantom NOTE: astral body passes upward through it, the consciousness seems to fade out to some extent; then radiate back to normal again.

I have noticed this every time. Just as the astral body leaves the physical, the consciousness grows dim for an instant; then comes back again—like an electric bulb growing dim for an interval, then again becoming bright. This spot is the place where it is most difficult to hold consciousness; and, remember, it is very close to coincidence. (Muldoon 233-234)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

John closed my CHEC Unit door. . . . Then sound overrode my other senses as marvelous tones began to pour into both ears through my headphones. . . . [Bob] asked me if I could hear the tone in my right ear.

“Yes, I can, Bob,” I replied. . . .

I felt as if my voice were trailing off in the distance. . . .

I found myself getting more and more relaxed. . . . Then everything began to feel weird in my head. I was going through what I later referred to as a “thick state of consciousness”. . . . My energy felt thick and heavy. When Bob asked me how I was doing, my voice even sounded thick and heavy to me as I slowly answered, “I’m doing fine.”

Then I went into what seemed to be a black-out period, which I later interpreted as my consciousness changing gears. When I came out of this blackout state, I experienced a new level of awareness. I felt a sense of detachment from my physical body. My physical heaviness had disappeared. . . .

I was intensely aware of feeling more free than I had ever felt in the physical body. My mind also was very clear. (McKnight 34-35)CJOBEr • modern • McKnight

I have had OBEs where there was no break in consciousness between normal waking consciousness and the out-of-body state. I have also had many OBEs where I have returned to normal waking consciousness without any break in consciousness. It’s more typical, however, for me to have a tiny ‘blackout’ right before reentry. OBEOOBEr • modern • Peterson

We experience the first two of these falls in our falling dreams. This one we undergo every night during sleep, and is the normal method of interiorization NOTE: return to the physical.

In the slow, vibratory drop, there is a balance of factors, and the controlling power has everything perfectly under control. It is this balance of forces which causes the slight trembling of the phantom NOTE: astral body in an upward and downward direction, for it is almost as inclined to move upward as downward—the balance is so delicate. (Muldoon 96)

When the body is in a lying-down position . . . the astral advances from the body in an upward direction. . . . As a rule, all parts of the two bodies separate simultaneously. . . .

Usually the progress upward in this manner is slow, the astral body advancing only an inch or so at a time, and many times falling back again. (Muldoon 73)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

The straight fall results in a violent repercussion NOTE: jolt, for the astral body drops straight down into the physical mechanism. . . .

When the astral cable begins to draw down the floating astral body, if the latter . . . be suddenly thrown into a condition where it is pulled by gravity also—a straight drop results with a violent repercussion. . . .

Where there is a straight rise, we have a steady push in the cable, while the body is not affected by gravitation. (Muldoon 95-96)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Another thing I’ve experienced during practice is sudden falling sensations. I would be quietly attempting OBE, and suddenly it would feel as if a trap door had sprung open, and I would panic-fall about three feet. After three feet, I would be startled back to full consciousness with a slight jump, as if my astral body was slapped back into the physical body. This had a simple variation that was more common: sometimes it seemed as if my consciousness was thrown three to five feet forward or backward. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

My subtle body seemed to be tied by many elastic cords to the physical body as if being attached by gluelike stringy material. By rocking I enlarged my swinging motions, and at last I was able to rupture these cords (at least that was what I sensed). CordOBEr • modern • Ballabene

I simply began to think about projecting myself, without undertaking any other exercises, and closed my eyes. Soon an image came clearly before my sight. I made the necessary effort and experienced a feeling as if I were wriggling through a tight opening. At last, in my second body, I rose. . . . As soon as I left my body I felt an instinctive fear. I mastered myself, but . . . the suggestion of fear had done its work. It seemed as if thousands of invisible threads were trying to pull me back into my physical body. (Yram 69-70)PAPOBEr • Yram

The separation . . . takes place under a strange impulse in this third category giving the impression of being lifted up by a whirlwind. The sensation of being sucked up violently by a sort of huge vortex is felt, and there is an immediate and conscious contact with the other worlds. This extraction . . . is never painful. . . .

In order to keep better control, I made it a habit to project myself into my room before soaring to other dimensions. However, this whirlwind is not always obedient and often it sucks up a more ethereal body, which it carries away. . . . This is undoubtedly the most agreeable of all forms of projection. . . . Generally the sensory reactions which follow this type of projection are more delicate and refined. . . . The faculties are more alert. Thought is far quicker. A far more homogeneous unity of life is experienced. (Yram 60-61)PAPOBEr • Yram

Both groups—temporary and permanent [releases from the body]—stated that they left the body chiefly via the head. (Crookall 112)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Case 2:

S: I’m ejected out the top of my head. . . .

Dr. N: What does the thing that is you look like? . . .

S: Like a . . . pinpoint of light . . . radiating. . . . I look sort of transparent white. . . .

Dr. N: And what does the process of moving out of your body actually feel like to you?

S: Well, it’s as if I shed my skin . . . peeling a banana. I just lose my body in one swoosh! (Newton 10-11)JoShypnosis • modern • Newton

A loud popping sound may indicate a separation occurring at or near the pinael gland. (Buhlman 26)ABtBOBEr • modern • Buhlman

It has happened at times that I have found myself projected, standing beside my body, at the same instant as I closed my eyes. . . . The practice of projection becomes such a habit that there have been times when I have come back to my body in order to make sure that I was really projected and not sleep-walking. (Yram 48)PAPOBEr • Yram

When feeling accompanies an instantaneous projection it seems as if we were being hurled through space. (Yram 55)PAPOBEr • Yram

An Instantaneous Projection is the name I have given to the kind where separation is effected by more or less forcibly ejecting the subtle vehicle from the physical body by a strong effort of will. In these cases, the apparent speed is so great, that one passes through the walls of the room in a flash, and thus there is no time for the sensation of dual consciousness. Often, too, in this method, breaks in consciousness will occur, so that the experimenter may not be fully aware of his conditions, identity, etc., until he comes to rest, perhaps seemingly many miles away from his body. (Fox 72)APrOBEr • modern • Fox

Exteriorization NOTE: projection and interiorization NOTE: return of the astral body can take place with such speed that the subject does not even realize that he was “out” of his physical body at all, having only felt dazed for an instant, and, perhaps, during that instant, he believed that he had advanced about a foot beyond the spot where he was actually standing. . . .

1. A sudden force unexpectedly exerted against the body, while it is moving in a given direction, will not instantly interrupt the astral, and the latter will continue for an instant to move in the given direction, bringing itself momentarily out of coincidence.
2. A material body, moving in a given direction, if suddenly and unexpectedly colliding with the inert body, will cause the physical member to move slightly out of coincidence in the given direction (The astral, an instant later, moves ahead into the physical).

This . . . takes place with lightning speed. . . .

When the automobile stops quickly . . . it is the ephemeral disharmony of the two bodies which causes the breath-taking sensation. (Muldoon 62-64)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Picture someone, perhaps a soldier, walking straight ahead. . . . If, as he hastens along, something should instantly rend him asunder, the astral body would keep right on walking, ignorant of the fact, for the moment, that he was physically “dead”. (Muldoon 74)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

What is dizziness? It is a condition of looseness of the astral body. . . . Dizziness indicates that the astral body is not bound tightly to the physical. When dizzy, we stagger because the astral body is loose and half inclined to withdraw from the physical. . . . Fakirs often resort to “whirling” to accomplish astral exteriorization NOTE: projection. (Muldoon 75)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Emotions like stress, anger, envy or negative thoughts hamper if not sever the chain of events leading up to an OBE. (Taylor 120)STOBEr • modern • Taylor

Whilst lying in bed, dozing off, I had the sinking feeling and got scared. Realising this, I calmed myself down and tried to relax. A few minutes later, I got the vibrations, suppressed any fears and slipped out of my body and onto the floor. JoATOBEr • modern • Moon

Being awake, as I thought by error, I tried to make the best of it and continued exercising with forced concentration. But just in these tricky moments I usually heard (my eyes are closed for exercise) some people entering the room, speaking loudly in an obviously very reckless way, switching on radio and lamp (my visual field was brightened by the light passing the eyelids). I often got angry and protested.

NOTE: This is from picking up nearby telepathic conversations.

There are two possible ways of further development, I found out: If I ignore all the noise and continue exercising I slowly get aware of the situation and there is a great chance for me to have a successful OBE. Otherwise, if I open the eyes and leave the easy-chair to complain about the noise, and follow the imaginary people, my level of consciousness will drop even more and I fall into a dreamlike state. OMBoMOBEr • modern • Ballabene

With Arista’s help, it was possible to pick [my son Arthur] up in his psychosoma NOTE: astral body. . . .

The little one became conscious and I asked him if he wished to see how the sky rocket, that we had talked about before going to sleep, flies. He expressed the desire to try. I made a quick ascent into the open night air holding Arthur in my arms . . . flying up and down and back and forth in all directions over the ocean all the way to Two Brothers hill with the boy radiant with joy. (Vieira 80)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

I telephoned Monroe and told him that we would try to guide him across the country to our home at some unspecified time during the night of the experiment. . . . The time turned out to be 11:00 PM California time, 2:00 AM where Monroe lived in Virginia. At 11:00, my wife and I began our concentration; but at 11:05, the telephone rang. . . .

When Monroe finished his brief OBE he got out of bed to telephone me: it was 11:05 PM, our time. (Tart 88)JoNDE-CTresearcher • modern • Tart

It would be to your advantage if the two of you traveled together, however. You could help each other retain proper consciousness and purpose during projection. If Ruburt is projecting, he should try to rouse you astrally. (Roberts 362)SD&Pchanneled • modern • Seth

[Bob] explained that everyone who traveled to levels outside the physical realm ran into some type of guiding force. One Explorer might interpret the guiding force as a presence. Another might be guided by a voice. Still another Explorer might see an energy form. (McKnight 42)CJOBEr • modern • McKnight

In order to help her get out of the body, four of these beings would position themselves, two on each side, and simply “lift her out.” (Monroe 47)FJOBEr • modern • Monroe

In order to function, in real time, close to the physical dimension; [the astral body] must contain etheric matter. Without etheric matter, nonphysical entities fade back into their dimension of origin. Etheric matter can only be obtained from living inhabitants of the physical world. ToPOBEr • modern • Bruce

The body which projects . . . is, to some extent, material. It is made up of sensory matter from our physical being and cannot go further than a few yards away. . . . Time and again I have tried to pass through walls in this state and have only managed to give myself a headache, just as if I had banged my physical head against a wall. Much later on I was successful. At first the walls felt soft, and then I went through them as if they were not there at all. But that was only because I exteriorized NOTE: projected a less material double. (Yram 68-69)PAPOBEr • Yram

The vehicle of vitality NOTE: etheric body, which properly belongs to the physical body and not to the Soul Body NOTE: astral body, enshrouds or enveils the Soul Body, so that the person concerned does not contact the fine “Paradise” aura of the earth NOTE: mid to upper astral but the dense “Hades” aura of the earth NOTE: the etheric and lower astral. (Crookall 49)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

The movements of “doubles” are sometimes identical with those of the corresponding physical body—but the two sets of movements do not occur simultaneously. On the contrary, there is an intriguing interval between the two. (Crookall 102)

“Doubles” that are interpreted as composed of the “semi-physical” vehicle of vitality NOTE: etheric body made movements that were identical to those of the body. “Doubles” that consisted of the “super-physical” Soul Body NOTE: astral body made movements that differed from those of the body. (Crookall 103)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Regardless of the apparent deadness or laxity of the cord, there is necessarily an intrinsic flow of cosmic energy from the astral . . . to the physical . . . but this flow of force by no means compares, in quality, with what it was before the advancement [beyond cord-activity range]. (Muldoon 129)

From immediate separation to the distance when the astral cord assumes its minimum calibre there is always much activity present in it. This (distance) is called the “range of cord-activity”. (Muldoon 77)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

From coincidence to the end of cord-activity range there is always a double action taking place in the cord. . . .

One is a regular pulsating action. The other appears to be a slight expansion and contraction of the outstretched organ. Ostensibly they are merged. . . .

The purpose of the astral “line of force” [is] to deliver the “breath of life” to the physical body, while the finer body is projected.

Throughout exteriorization NOTE: projection, the breathing and heart-beat of the material counterpart NOTE: physical body must be sustained, and when the phantom NOTE: astral body is within cord-activity range, an outward manifestation of this action can actually be seen throughout the entire length of the cable. . . . Regular pulsations can be felt in the back of the head . . . in the medulla oblongata region of the exteriorized phantom . . . at every beat of the heart.

Each throb of the heart can be felt in the astral; each throb is expressed throughout the cable, each throb produces a beat in the physical heart. All three are simultaneous. One can not only feel the heart’s pulsations in his astral head, but he can feel them by touching the cable with his astral hand. . . .

Each breath taken in the astral can be seen pulsing over the astral cord and causes a duplicate breath to be taken in the insensible body. When consciously exteriorized, one can suspend his breath at will just as he can while in coincidence. . . .

The instant [breath] is suspended the before-mentioned action of slight expansion and contraction ceases. . . . A deep breath in the astral will produce an identical breath in the physical; a short one will produce a short one. You breathe in the astral and your heart beats in the astral, just as it does when you are in coincidence. (Muldoon 78-80)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

I took the tape and measured the range of cord-activity, and found it to be fifteen feet. . . . When I again tried the experiment. . . . I met with a different result. This time it was but eight feet.

The range of cord-activity was variable. . . . When I was not feeling as well as usual, the range of resistance, or cord-activity, was less than when I was in better physical condition. . . .

The more healthy the subject, the more energy is stored in the condenser (astral body), the stronger will be the flow of energy through the astral cable . . . and the longer will be the cord-activity range. (Muldoon 77-78)

Within cord-activity range, the phantom is apart from the physical, yet not free from the physical. (Muldoon 102)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

After the physical body has fallen asleep, the astral body always projects into the physical world. Once the energy body has expanded, the astral body floats free and hovers just above the physical body, but within the expanded energy body’s field of influence. Within this field, known as cord activity range, the astral body is held close to the physical world as it is within a field of etheric matter. ToPOBEr • modern • Bruce

[The astral cord’s] erratic action always made a very profound impression upon me. (Muldoon 77)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

The double NOTE: the astral body is the more tied to the physical body the more crude, or material, its composition. . . .

As we penetrate into the upper regions the easier it becomes to separate the conscious form from the physical body. (Yram 76)PAPOBEr • Yram

As before mentioned, it is in [the astral body] that the ego is functioning during sleep. . . . In the case of the entirely uncultured and undeveloped person it is . . . receptive only of the coarser and more violent vibrations of desire, and unable to move more than a few yards away from its physical body; but as evolution progresses . . . its power of locomotion also becomes much greater; it can travel without discomfort to considerable distances from its physical encasement, and can bring back more or less definite impressions as to places which it may have visited and people whom it may have met. (Leadbeater 28-29)Dclairvoyant • Theosophy • Leadbeater

Acharya: This etheric matter, gossamer in texture and extremely elastic . . . has another function. It acts as a liaison or link between the physical and the astral bodies during sleep. When you, the ego, disconnect yourself from your physical body, lying on the bed, a cord of etheric matter attached to your astral body, with its main bulk remaining in and around the physical body, stretches out as you travel to any part of the world that you wish. . . . When the time comes for the body to awaken, an SOS is sent out along this etheric cord to you, wherever you are, and you must return to your physical body and re-enter it. (Richelieu 16)ASJOBEr • modern (Theosophy) • Richelieu

The cord . . . connects the astral body to the physical and will pull you back inside in case of danger. I soon found out the cord doesn’t play fair. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

This cord-pressure varies according to the distance of separation; the nearer the bodies are to coincidence the greater the pressure. (Muldoon 80)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

The nearer we come to our physical body the more we feel those ties which draw us back . . . and it seems as if we were irresistibly melting into our body. The stronger this feeling becomes the more we feel the material sensation of the physical being. First of all these sensations seem far away, then they become stronger and stronger until we are reabsorbed completely into the physical body. (Yram 75)PAPOBEr • Yram

The more calm the breathing, the less will be the cable-pull. If conscious, strong, deep breaths are taken by the phantom NOTE: astral body, when within cord-activity range, the pull on the cord will increase—often even to the point of drawing the astral entity toward, or even into, the physical. . . . The speedier and stronger the heart-beat, the greater the cord-resistance NOTE: pull. . . .

Emotion will increase cable-pull, and act detrimentally to the success of projection. Why? Merely because emotion increases the respiration and heart-beat. (Muldoon 81)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

If, during a projection, the projector thinks about breathing, he will. Depending on the circumstances, this may cause an immediate return of the psychosoma NOTE: astral body—especially if it is projected close to the soma NOTE: physical body.

The psychosoma does not need to breathe. (Vieira 178)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

If the body is disturbed, you become afraid, if any number of things happen, you might feel yourself snapping back to your body. You might sense movement at great speed or you might just feel a jerk as you enter your body. This is typical in early experiences and rare with more experience (unless someone touches your body). With a snap back, you might suddenly find your heart and respiration racing. Calm down and . . . don’t move for a few minutes. Let your astral body properly realign itself to the physical. ASOBEr • modern • Goodin

Sounds (like emotions) will increase the tension in the cord, so the need of quiet is obvious. (Muldoon 82)

Sounds, sensations and emotions cause bodily repercussions NOTE: jolts—providing the phantom NOTE: astral body is within cord-activity range. Outside of the range of cord-activity, of course, these influences are nil. (Muldoon 85)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

One can break a falling dream, merely by “letting himself go.” . . .

Several others to whom I told this secret recalled it. . . . Every one of them testified that the repercussion NOTE: jolt was then almost insignificant. . . . Fear speeds up the fall! (Muldoon 96-97)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Many people don’t see any silver cord, even when they look for one and even when they expect to see one. I’ve had OBEs in which I have seen a cord, and ones in which there was apparently no cord. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

[The silver cord] is a true umbilical cord, transmitting information and energy between the physical and subtle bodies. ToPOBEr • modern • Bruce

In certain instances, as already said, some whose “doubles” were composite later described a second separation—that of the vehicle of vitality NOTE: etheric body from a composite “double”. . . . Thus, it is not surprising, but might be expected, that some reported having seen two extensions. Two separations were in progress simultaneously. Both Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Iddon stated that they had two “silver cords.” . . .

French sensitives told Dr. H Durville that a well-developed “double” shows a wave motion that comes from two centres (that is, the solar plexus and the head). Some of his subjects, out of the body in trance, saw a luminous ovoid (the Soul Body NOTE: astral body) above the “double” (vehicle of vitality NOTE: etheric body) and a second “silver cord” between them. . . . [Yogi Ramacharaka] mentioned two such “cords.” One forms when a portion of the “astral body” NOTE: here meaning etheric body separates temporarily from the body; and a second, when the vehicle of vitality separates from the “Mental” Body NOTE: here meaning astral body. . . .

It is not surprising that some astral projectors (those who show evidences of a loose vehicle of vitality) describe a “cord” which went to the solar plexus, while others (those who show no such evidences) describe one that went to the head. (Crookall 125-126)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

The energetic filament does not seem to stop at the skin. It gives the impression of entering the soma NOTE: physical body and establishing a deep connection with one or more vital centers. (Vieira 86-87)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

“Usually [the cord] is cylindrical but can appear to be a sort of ribbon.” — M. Durville, Le Fantôme des Vivants (Muldoon 31)

It is in appearance of a whitish grey colour. (Muldoon 78)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Gerhardi likened his “cord” to “a coil of light” and to “a luminous garden hose”; Fred Rebell, a Latvian described his as “like a luminous ribbon”; Mrs. Boorman, an American, compared hers to “a phosphorescent streak”; Mrs. Hutchinson spoke of “a long cord or streamer of light”; an uneducated French girl, Reine, likened hers to “a ray of sunlight”. (Crookall 5)

Mrs. Clayton, an Englishwoman who had a natural out-of-the-body experience, “looked down” and observed “a pulsating thread of light” that united her released “double” to her vacated body. Lester, an Englishman, also out of his body in a natural manner, stated that he looked “down” his “cord”. . . . C.B. Moss observed, “From the top of my head a long broad ribbon flowed down to my bed and into the head of myself there.” . . .

“T.D.”, an Englishman in the same circumstances, looked back toward his bed and observed that he was connected to his body by “a smoky string.” . . .

An English soldier, blasted out of his body by an explosion, stated, “I came down that silvery cord and returned to the old body.” . . .

Mrs. Hutchinson, an Englishwoman, observed “a kind of pipe line” which, she stated, “guided me back to my body.” (Crookall 114-115, 117)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

The extent to which this cord can stretch seems to be limitless, and it resembles the trail of a rocket as it soars into space. (Yram 75)PAPOBEr • Yram

The vital [astral cable] is composed, so far as I am able to see, of the same material, or essence, as the astral body itself. (Muldoon 77)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

Where the cord joins the double NOTE: astral body it consists of thousands of very fine, elastic threads, which seem to suck the double into them. (Yram 75)PAPOBEr • Yram

When the “double” was distant from the body, the “cord” was very thin; when the “double” drew near to the body it thickened. (Crookall 114)

Dr. Hout, an American medical man, observed the “doubles” of several patients that had been released by anaesthetics. . . . When the magnetic force drew the spirit close to the physical body, the “cord” was more apparent, as though more concentrated. At other times (when the “doubles” were distant from their physical counterparts), it could not be seen. (Crookall 119)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Its elasticity is far beyond the imagination, and is not comparable to any material object in its stretching qualities. . . .

The less space that lies between the two bodies the greater is the thickness of the astral cable, the greater is its magnetic pull, and the more difficult to hold the stability of the phantom NOTE: astral body. (Muldoon 77)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

“Cords” that were not highly elastic either did not permit the release of the “double” or kept it quite close to the body; highly elastic “cords” allowed the “double” unlimited range. (Crookall 114)

Mrs. Keeler’s (sic) described “an elastic cord” and said that, before a man can leave his body to any great extent, it must be rendered very elastic. (Crookall 124)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Another of Dr. Crookall’s subjects, a Mrs. Leonard, noted that as her Soul Body NOTE: astral body neared her physical body, the cord not only became “shorter and thicker,” as would be expected, but also “less elastic.” (Steiger 80)OwtLNDErs • modern • Steiger

The silver cord behaved as though it were made of rubber, alternately stretching and returning to its original form. (Vieira 117)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

The psychosoma NOTE: astral body spins freely and does not become tangled with the silver cord. (Vieira 146)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

During one of the departures, I felt the transition state of double consciousness, seeming to be partly in the soma NOTE: physical body and partly in the psychosoma NOTE: astral body, having some lucidity in both conditions simultaneously, predominating first in one place and then in the other, according to the location of mental focus. . . . One’s perception seems to be double, or in two places at once. (Vieira 116-117)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

Body sight is very annoying. I never read about it happening, nor did I think it was possible until I experienced it. This happens when you try to open your astral eyes and your physical eyes open instead, giving you a completely different and confusing perspective. With this type of sight, you can only see in the direction that the body’s eyes are pointing. It is often out of focus. This resembles split-consciousness, except that your consciousness is still fully within the astral body. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

Jack NOTE: Muldoon’s dog leaped on to the bed. . . . The physical was rocked upward and downward slightly, from the action of the springs, as the dog’s weight landed upon the bed, and the astral, in exactly the same time, rocked upward and downward in the air, in perfect harmony with the movement of the physical, although the astral body was in the vertical and the physical was in the horizontal position. . . .

Movement, in the physical, can duplicate itself in the astral. (Muldoon 109)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

It is by altering its own relationship with the physical universe that consciousness can best understand its own properties, and glimpse from another vantage point that physical universe, where it will be seen in a different light. Operating outside the body, consciousness can better perceive the properties of matter. It cannot experience matter, however, in the same fashion as it can when it is physically oriented. (Roberts 313)UR2channeled • modern • Seth

From “Orientation to the Existence Between” by Padmasambhava:

“Now you can move hither and thither everywhere, through walls, houses, land, rocks, and earth.” (Thurman 169)TBotDwisdom • Tibetan • Padmasambhava

[The mental NOTE: astral body] can go wherever it wishes unobstructedly, just by thinking. Because the mental body has no physical basis, it can pass through solid barriers such as walls or mountains. (Rinpoche 288-289)TBoLDwisdom • Tibetan • Rinpoche

Often during your OOBEs you do not need to use doors to exit from a place, you can pass right through the wall. . . .

However, just like with flying, this only works sometimes. Again, I don’t know why it only works sometimes, but that is what I have discovered. One thing to try to do if you cannot pass through a wall is to turn around and try to pass through backwards. APCOBEr, LDer • modern • DeGracia

I’ve experienced this painless-pain or mock-pain several times. For instance, instead of floating up above my body on one occasion, I decided to float down under my body. . . . What I experienced was the sense of thirty or forty bedsprings piercing through my astral body as I went down beneath my body. The sensation wasn’t painful, but I did feel the dull, throbbing sense of mock-pain. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

Charles explained one of the very important points which must be understood when having an astral meal or drinks in a restaurant which existed in reality at the physical level, as compared with doing the same thing in a restaurant that had been created by ourselves through the medium of imagination or thought. He said that it was always unwise to sit down at a table which actually existed at the physical level, for, as we were invisible, people who came in and saw the vacant table but who did not see us, would naturally take possession of it, which would be slightly inconvenient. . . . It could be avoided, he said, by producing in thought a table for one’s own party in a space where, physically, no table stood. . . .

He told me that, by thought also, he would produce a waiter who would appear to us exactly the same as the other waiters we saw. . . . I was supplied with my drink and Charles with his, and the taste to me was exactly what I had expected it to be. (Richelieu 49)ASJOBEr • modern (Theosophy) • Richelieu

Look closely at the persons passing by you. You notice that each one is surrounded by an egg-shaped aura extending on all sides of him to the distance of about two or three feet. Do you notice the kaleidoscopic play of blending colors in the aura? Notice the difference in the shades and tints of these colors, and also observe the predominance of special colors in each case! . . .

Do you notice those great clouds of semi-luminous substance, which are slowly floating along?—notice how the colors vary in them. Those are clouds of thought vibrations, representing the composite thought of a multitude of people. Also notice how each body of thought is drawing to itself little fragments of similar thought forms and energy. . . .

Do you notice that each shop we pass has it own peculiar thought atmosphere? If you look into the houses on either side of the street, you will see that the same thing is true. The very street itself has its own atmosphere, created by the composite thought of those inhabiting and frequenting it. . . .

Look at those thought forms flying through the atmosphere! What a variety of form and coloring! Some most beautiful, the majority quite neutral in tint, and occasionally a fierce, fiery one tearing its way along toward its mark. (Panchadasi 31-33)AWunknown • New Thought (Theosophy) • Atkinson

I could not see my body when I looked for it upon the bed, and this has been my general experience. . . . It has been suggested to me that if I am functioning in my astral body, I should be able to see only the astral counterparts of the objects in the room. . . .

There was, however, just one occasion on which I was able to see my body. The projection, which was of the instantaneous kind, was made in a very unusual way. . . .

I willed to ascend. Then suddenly I seemed to be wafted out of my body, turned so that I faced it, and borne upwards in a position almost horizontal. In this rapid passage upwards I saw my face as though viewed from only an inch away, strange and monstrous, yet unmistakably mine. (Fox 72, 74)APrOBEr • modern • Fox

I haven’t looked at my physical body much during OBEs, but when I do it usually looks like a blob of gray. However, it hasn’t always appeared as I expect:

He tried to grasp the hand of his physical body, but his spirit hand went through it. (Steiger 256)OwtLNDErs • modern • Steiger

You ask me if I have ever touched the physical body while in the astral body. No! This is difficult to do. I have tried it, and I find that one cannot keep from interiorizing NOTE: entering the physical body, because of the very close range. (Muldoon 39)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

In semi-disengagement of the bodies, this phenomenon can be called self-telekinesis when, for example, the right arm is separated while the consciousness remains awake or semi-awake, and one finger of the hand of the psychosoma NOTE: astral body touches the corresponding physical part without becoming re-aligned. When this occurs, there is a kind of harmless electric shock, quite strong and clearly perceptible, with a repercussion NOTE: jolt to the physical arm. (Vieira 53)PotCOBEr • modern • Vieira

The astral body is vibrating at a higher rate when two feet out of coincidence than it does when six inches out of coincidence. . . .

If the astral body in coincidence vibrated at the same rate as the one out of coincidence, they would collide as the astral being tried to pass through the coinciding bodies of the earthly being. (Muldoon 267-268)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

We actually walked through people in their physical bodies who were travelling in the opposite direction to us. . . . We felt as if we were passing through a small cloud of mist when we did so. . . . The mist did not in any way impede our progress. . . . In the world I have often seen a person shudder and in a joking way say that someone was walking over his grave. I know now that this sensation must have been caused by a physical body coming into contact with an astral entity which . . . leaves a slight impression. (Richelieu 46)ASJOBEr • modern (Theosophy) • Richelieu

Case No. 639—Mark Western

“I longed for home and found myself hurtling through space. I saw snatches of land and sea beneath me, until suddenly I stood in our sitting room at home in London. My mother sat knitting. She was alone except for our Alsatian dog. . . . I called out to my mother, but she simply kept on knitting. The dog woke and came running to where I stood. He barked and bounded about me.” (Crookall 52)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

The astral body contains within it all the other subtle bodies and can, during a projection, project the mental body into the mental dimension and so on. This will sometimes give multiple sets of memories from the one projection. The general rule is, whichever subtle body contains the greatest amount of energy, will have the strongest memories. These dominant memories will be the ones retained by the physical mind upon its return to the waking state. ToPOBEr • modern • Bruce

Think of your physical body. Mentally begin to move some part of your physical body. Move a finger or a toe. Physically take a deep, deliberate breath of air. . . . Any act that must involve physical motion or use of physical energy will work. . . .

Reintegration seems to be instantaneous when this is used. . . . You will return to the physical without any opportunity to know what is happening, and how it is taking place. Thus it should be thought of as an emergency reserve measure rather than a consistent step in your methodology.

Under ordinary conditions, you should think of or feel the direction and location of your physical body. (Monroe 224-225)JOotBOBEr • modern • Monroe

If the return is voluntary—accomplished by walking home or willing himself back—the approach to the body should be quite gentle. He can walk up to the bed and lie down, and he will feel himself merge into his body and become one with it—a strange sensation. The trance will probably not be broken when the return is gentle. (Fox 130)APrOBEr • modern • Fox

Probably the most common cause of bodily repercussion NOTE: jolt is the awakening of consciousness, during the process of an unconscious projection. . . . Almost before the first scintilla of consciousness comes, the astral repercusses into the physical with unthinkable speed. When thrust back into coincidence in this manner, the entire physical mechanism is jolted throughout—as though every muscle in the body contracted at the same moment, and the body gives a spasmodic jerk—more noticeable in the limbs than elsewhere. . . . Immediately after repercussion, the subject is conscious, in the physical body. . . .

When the condenser, the astral body, is run down, the subconscious moves it out of coincidence as soon as possible. . . . A shimmering of consciousness appears, or a sudden noise, or something excites the emotions—such as fear. The astral body repercusses, shocking the physical—although it might not have been separated more than a few inches from it.

[The phantom] NOTE: astral body forces the relaxed muscles of the physical body into confrontation with its own. . . . The violence of the shock corresponds to the extent of space through which the astral must move before coming into coincidence, and also the speed with which the interiorizing NOTE: return to the physical takes place. (Muldoon 83-84)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

I dreamt that I was lying in the garden before the windows of my study, and saw the eyes of my dog through the glass pane. I was lying on my chest and observing the dog very keenly. At the same time, however, I knew with perfect certainty that I was dreaming and lying on my back in my bed. And then I resolved to wake up slowly and carefully and observe how my sensation of lying on my chest would change into the sensation of lying on my back. And so I did, slowly and deliberately, and the transition—-which I have since undergone many times—-is most wonderful. It is like the feeling of slipping from one body into another, and there is distinctly a double recollection of the two bodies. . . .

In waking up the two sensations blend together. (Van Eeden)aSoDLDer, OBEr • Van Eeden

Coming back to the body is often like the transporters in Star Trek. Bit by bit, you seem to fade out of one existence into another. JoATOBEr • modern • Moon

I rotated, so that my astral head was above my physical feet and vice versa. I started going down into my body the wrong way! Try as I may, I couldn’t stop it. Finally I went into my body and blacked out for a second. When I came to again, I was disoriented, which was like a dizziness; I thought I should be facing East like my astral body was, but woke up facing West in my physical [body]. In one instant I was in my astral body, looking at the West wall of the room. The next instant I opened my eyes and saw the East wall. . . . It seemed as if I were still physically feeling the spinning or reorientation of my astral body. About one minute later, the dizziness went away and I felt normal. OBEHWOBEr • modern • Peterson

Very few actually recalled the return to their physical bodies. . . . Among those who did remember the moment of re-entry most believed their disembodied spirit returned to their physical form through the head, being sucked in through what seemed to be a funnel-like motion. (Viney 206)SDresearcher • modern • Viney

In quite a few instances, persons recall being drawn rapidly back through the dark tunnel through which they went during the initial moments of their experience. . . .

Re-entry is said to occur “through the head.” (Moody 77-78)LALresearcher • modern • Moody

Astral projectors . . . use identical terms: “I seemed to be drawn back down a dark tunnel,” “the journey back to my body is the reverse of what it was when coming.” . . . “I blacked out,” “I lost consciousness and found myself back in bed,” “darkness,” “a moment of darkness,” “a moment of blackness,” “after a blank space I reentered my body,” “a gloomy tunnel,” “I found myself proceeding along a straight black tube.” (Crookall 123-124)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

Repercussions NOTE: jolts . . . will often be accompanied by a peculiar noise which seems close to the ear or inside the head. A very common one is “pop!” as if a toy balloon burst close to the ear.

Another is a loud “sizz”, and sometimes a sound inside the brain. . . . Another is a crackling sound, not unlike the noise made by an electric spark when the positive and negative posts of a battery are touched together. This sound is often heard just at the take-off of a projection, as well as at the moment of re-coincidence, and seems to be in the head, near the back part of the skull.

Still another commonly heard sound, at the time of re-coincidence, is a “zing”, as if a string were tightly drawn through the head and then struck, as one might strike the strings of a guitar. At other times the subject may hear a distinct word. . . .

The striking thing about these sounds is the way in which they can be felt . . . moving about inside one’s head. (Muldoon 202-203)PotABOBEr • Spiritualism • Muldoon

There seems to be a slight, clicklike jerk when you are again in conjunction with the physical. (Monroe 222)JOotBOBEr • modern • Monroe

The attachment between your physical and astral bodies is very weak when you first return. It is often easier to leave the body again during the return paralysis. Sometimes you might be able to go back and forth several times. It feels a little like bouncing or being in two places at the same time. This is a good time to practice your exit and entry techniques. The more times you do it the more you will be able to do it! ASOBEr • modern • Goodin

Those who are temporarily free from the body commonly express a remarkable indifference to its fate, an attitude which is, of course, diametrically opposed to that of all who are in the body. . . .

Some go beyond mere indifference; they actually disparage the bodies from which they have been temporarily freed. . . .

Phrases used include: “To be back in the bondage of flesh was a sore trial”; “returning to physical life was the hardest thing I ever did”; “I reentered my body with ever-growing repulsion”; “I was drawn back—I was intensely annoyed”; “my heart quailed”; “I hated to come back”; “I almost rebelled”; . . . “I returned regretfully”; . . . “it is with regret that one returns”; “I returned to my body with regret”; “acute regret at being called back”; “it was distasteful”; “I had no wish to reenter my body, but was forced to”; “the thought of returning to ‘life’ was repugnant to me”; “I returned with a peevish kind of resentment” (Crookall 106-107)CBAPresearcher • modern • Crookall

“One of my guardian angels pointed to my body and said ‘Enter.’”

The Russian felt as though something were pressing close about him.

There was a sensation of unpleasant cold.

A sensation of ever-increasing tightness continued, and just before he lost consciousness, he felt very sad, “as though [he] had lost something.” (Steiger 258)OwtLNDErs • modern • Steiger