An out-of-body experience is when a person feels detached from their physical body but not completely disconnected from their surroundings. It can occur during periods of unconsciousness, sleep, or meditation. It is often associated with other paranormal phenomena and has a strong religious overtone. Some believe it is self-generated, while others believe the spirit can detach from the physical body.
An out-of-body experience or OBE is one of the most commonly reported psychic or paranormal events by believers and skeptics alike. During an out-of-body experience, a person often feels detached from their physical body but not completely disconnected from their surroundings. A patient lying on an operating table, for example, may feel as if she is hovering over the scene observing doctors and nurses. Some who have had OBEs during medical emergencies can even recall specific conversations, such as a doctor stating the time of death or asking for life-saving medication.
While an out-of-body experience can occur at any time and under any circumstances, it is most commonly reported during periods of physical or mental unconsciousness, during sleep, under medical sedation, or in a meditative state. The person may not even be aware of the sudden detachment from their physical body, or the eventual return. A driver may be aware that he is driving a car, then suddenly find himself watching events from a distance. There are also reports of a person appearing in a distant location during a known out-of-body experience, with witnesses confirming the appearance of an apparition.
An out-of-body experience is often associated with other paranormal phenomena, such as lucid dreams or a near-death experience. Some people claim that they can enter a lucid dream state and then project their inner selves outside the confines of their physical bodies. Many people have had dreams in which they have the ability to fly, which sometimes seems more realistic than the usual dream events. This may be considered an out-of-body experience, especially if the dreamer is somehow able to control the outcome of the dream or becomes actively aware of the experience.
A near-death experience can also trigger an out-of-body experience. Survivors commonly report a sensation of leaving their physical bodies and hovering above the scene of their “death.” Some report feeling a pull towards their bodies as they are revived, while others report traveling to a peaceful and welcoming destination. There may be a sensation of a second physical body free from pain and fear, or a formless entity with no restrictions in movement. This type of out-of-body experience often has a strong religious overtone, as if the person’s spiritual essence is no longer in their natural body.
There are those who suggest that an out-of-body experience is little more than wish fulfillment. While it might be satisfying to believe that one can psychically visit a distant relative or observe events from another vantage point outside one’s body, in reality the OBE is completely self-generated. Others believe it is possible for one’s spirit or soul to detach from the physical body for short periods of time under the right conditions. The person’s spirit may enter an unknown second body with the first body’s consciousness intact, or use a different set of senses during the journey to relay information to the person’s mind. It is not uncommon for people who have had significant out-of-body experiences to report a tangible connection between their original bodies and the spiritual entity capable of making the journey.
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