Astral Projection: An out-of-body experience is achieved either awake, via lucid dreaming, or deep meditation. You remove your consciousness from your physical body and decide to go wherever you want. Some say you are attached to your body by a silver chord.
Dangers: Your body is unprotected. While you are out and about, someone can come in and murder your body. Then you’re trapped on the outside forever or you pass on into the afterlife, for better or worse. There is also the concern a powerful being like a demon or your dead Ex from another dimension can attack you while astral projecting.
Salem's Daughters: I use astral projection as a power one of the witches possess in my upcoming book Salem’s Daughters. She has to hide her cat body while she astral projects so someone at the bed and breakfast does not happen upon it and bury it in the yard.
Honorable Mention: Orb, Occult, Ouija Board, Old Hag Syndrome
Honorable Mention: Orb, Occult, Ouija Board, Old Hag Syndrome
Tomorrow: P is for Paranormal vs. Supernatural
Scary stuff! Think I'll stay safely grounded in my own body even though the thought of being liberated by astral projection sounds very enticing. Love your blog, by the way!
ReplyDeleteFrightening. I've enver had an out of body experience. I've heard of people who feel this way on certain drugs. I've also heard countless criminal defendants describe this out of body experience when attempting to avoid responsibility for their crime. Cool topic.
ReplyDeleteWow! Now that's a desperate defense strategy.
DeleteI think I've experienced this at least twice, but there was no silver chord. I sleep strangely, and at times, lucidly. I'm unsure if I travelled far from my bed but I do recall the creepy sensation of looking down at my own sleeping body. The second time it happened, I watched my eyes open just before I experienced that stomach flipping, feeling of falling (excuse the alliteration!). Hate the idea of being locked outside of myself though. Stuff of nightmares!
ReplyDeleteshahwharton.com
Shah, long time no see. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI do this regularly and no harm is involved most of the time. There are even scientists and physicists talking about this as well.
DeleteYou really shouldn't worry as long as you don't have fear inside of yourself when doing that Shah. If you have no fear, no demon can be able to hurt you. Lots of consciousness explorers talks about this same thing about fear and consciousness.
DeleteI have had thoughts the two times I had passed out, where I could see what was happening... but not how I got there when I fell to the ground. I don't think that is the same thing, things were hazy and had a slight echo.
ReplyDeleteJeremy [Retro]
AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]
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Never had an out of body experience. Wonder if I could get back?
ReplyDeleteI remember a long time ago having an out of body experience. I pulled myself back as I thought my soul would fly through the open window. I'm glad I did ...
ReplyDeleteSusan, that would be my fear.
DeleteI think I will try and stay within my body thank you Stephen. Still it was interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
It would be unfortunate if someone were to bury you while you were astral projecting - I can see the problem ;)
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
I think the only time you leave your body is when you die.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I feel like I'm falling right before I fall asleep or right when I wake up. I imagine an out-of-body experience might feel like that.
ReplyDeleteTamara, that stage between consciousness and sleep is called hypnagogia where you're not fully awake or asleep. In this state very realistic images and sounds can be experienced. Although visual and auditory hallucinations are most common, experiences can range from hearing your name whispered to ones involving all the senses, including touch.
DeleteSo the moral to that story is not to leave your body until it's for good. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I left my body once. I was flying in the upper corner of my bedroom. Strangely, I did not see my body in the bed. I heard noise coming from the kitchen and was curious to see if my mom could see me. I "flew" down and walked (reallt strange as i still felt like I was floating). I tried to grab the door handle but had a hard time grasping it. I did open it part way and managed to walk down the hall. I heard the birds chirping and I heard my mom stirring her coffee. I suddenly realized this was her "Time" and she never wanted to be interrupted. I felt a pull back towards my bedroom and I woke up. All the sounds and sights I had, was like what occurred a few moments before. I remember feeling utter contentment
ReplyDeleteBirgit, thanks for sharing. That's quite an experience.
DeleteI've never had an experience like this. Don;t think I'd want to. What if I just kept floating away?
ReplyDeleteI have never done this and I would never want to because I'd be too afraid of something going wrong. I once saw an Episode of So Weird were a girl got stuck outside while astral projecting and couldn't find her way back home to her body. Scary stuff!
ReplyDeleteI love this kind of stuff in fiction. In real life, I'd like to stay firmly rooted in my own flesh, please.
ReplyDeleteI know someone who claimed to have this happen to them. Creepy the stuff they recounted outside of their room. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Silver Cord thing, didn't Shirley Maclaine talk about these some years back? I seem to remember people being up in arms because it was so conntroversial and some thought she was crazy.
ReplyDeleteSandy at Bridge and Beyond
Sandy, yes she did. But she's not the only one to say that. Many people claim to have experienced something similar.
DeleteLOL. Bury the seemingly dead cat in the yard.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it happens in times of peril - a surge of energy or something?
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
Hi Stephen .. my mother had an out of body experience ... but decided to stay put ... I was surprised at the time .. but interested thereafter, and pleased she decided to stick around.
ReplyDeleteI've finally answered your Cornish Hen question in today's O post .. cheers Hilary
Did you ever read any Dennis Wheatley books? He first introduced me to many of these concepts.
ReplyDeleteThere's a really good Lois Duncan book about astral projection. I can't remember the name though… A Stranger with my Face???? Something like that….
ReplyDeleteDid you say Old Hag Syndrome?! I'm curious about that one. I've heard about out-of-body experiences, but I've never really understood the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteYou are rocking this A-Z! You have great topics, keep them short and sweet, and get a bunch of commenters that enjoy them. Go you! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic I love in fiction--like your other O word options, too. I didn't even think of heading that direction, even though I love it all from a story perspective. Sadly, I am solidly grounded in this realm, so fiction is the only route I get to experience it...
ReplyDeleteHonestly can say I've never experienced this or knew anyone that did. It is a scary thing I would think.
ReplyDeletebetty
I am loving your A-Z! I would love to learn how to Astral Project - an Out of body experience is on my bucket list :) x
ReplyDeleteSounds like a scary thing to do! Bet it makes for a great story line though.
ReplyDelete