I did an informal survey of OBE internet reports a couple of years ago.  I found that out of over 4,300 OBE reports only 180 OBE reports (4.1%) included a violent or dangerous encounter with a spirit/discarnate while out of body.
I therefore concluded that there is a minimal chance of danger during an OBE (I have had 3 or 4 vilolent encounters when OOB btw). It is possible yet unlikely (an acceptable risk).

Also I have yet to read a credible report of anybody being possessed while they were  having an OBE. Maybe this is possible (I don't entirely dismiss it out of hand) but I have just never read an account of it happening.

Grey

["Human Personality And Its Survival Of Bodily Death".]

Here I would like to add a few of my personal observations and opinions to this top-rate discussion..
Everyone here has probably heard of Robert Monroe yet few know much, if anything, about Frederick Myers.

Frederick W Myers was IMHO a genius. Anyone who is Seriously interested in OBEs and survival of physical death really Should Read Myers "Human Personality And Its Survival Of Bodily Death". This is a Classic (if very long ) book. Myers collected hundreds of OBE reports from the period 1860 through 1895 and published them here. Myers is indeed a gigantic pioneer in the OBE and afterlife field of endeavor.

My view of Theosophy is that it was an attempt to westernize Hindu and Bhuddist esoteric knowledge and make it understandable to the average European and American. Back during the height of the Theosophy movement few westerners had heard of tantras, upanischads, chakras and mantras and only a few dozen people really understood them. So the theosophists tried to 'dummy down' these complex concepts for westerners to 'consume'.

Finally about Myers structure of the Beyond (astral planes, ethereal realms, etc). As human perception is never perfect so it follows that nobody can be expected to completely map ALL the superphysical realms. At least Myers had the courage and foresight to put his discoveries out in published form for others to read. Myers' "Stages" are best viewed as an early mapping of the Great Unknown. Much like early  seafarers brought back incomplete and often faulty charts of their explorations so Myers "stages" can be seen as a starting point to map an atlas of the astral and ethereal realms.

Grey

Actually there HAS been a successful experiment to record the voice of a person who was out of body at the time.
Unfortunately I cannot remember where and when that experiment took place. I believe it was done at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) a few years ago. I seem (vaguely) to recall that someone discussed that experiment in an online article or e-book by or about the psychic researcher Charles Tart.
I'll post a weblink if I can find it.

Grey

Pick a familiar spot in the town.
The next time that you OBE concentrate on that specific location. Try to WILL yourself there. If it works then you will teleport/transport directly to that lcoation in town.
This method does work for many people, especially when they are trying to travel to the home of a family member or close friend.
It is not 100% foolproof (you might transport someplace entirely different  -- even unfamiliar  ) but it is the best way to travel without having to fly.

grey

Slipknot

Fear of the unknown is always a factor. Don't be too concerned about that. Anyway a little caution is usually a good thing.
The velcro feeling is common. Not all OBEs are easy, sometimes it takes a lot of effort to make the separation to go OOB.
Most people Do Not see a silver cord. The silver cord is only seen in about 3% or 4% of all OBEs.
The more OBEs that you have the easier it should be to go farther and stay out longer. That is generally true, (it was for me anyhow) and probably will be for you as well.
You are learning the paradox of OBEs -- the more that you OBE the more questions that need to be answered. Eventually though, he should learn answers to some of the big questions.

Grey 

Thanx for sharing those experiences Alan.
Your first OBE was rather typical of first experiences. It "fit the mold' so to speak of what many other people experience the first time they go out of their physical bodies.

Your other experiences are unusual and rather exceptional. Apparently you have a natural ability to OBE.
Your Christian friends were, unfortunately, narrow minded. Their reaction to your experiences is all too typical in that many religious people are scared of the OBE phenomena yet know little or nothing about it.
You are to be commended with continuing on the path of OBE and personal experiences. Try not to let the dogma of Christianity hinder you from discovery of the Truth.

regards
Grey

A quantum metaphysical gedanken (mind experiment) ((and a pretty good Zen Buddhist Koan)) ---

How can you be sure that there is no Nothing just because there is obviously a Something??? 

(Meaning, of course, that the Something (Multiverse, Reality, whatever name you give it) must exist Everywhere or else wherever Something does Not exist then there Must be Nothing  )

Answers should be specific with lots of scientific proofs and scholarly references. lol     

Grey

Intention may be as important as pure raw power when out of body.
Meaning that if you have no prior intentions of disrupting Astral Pulse Island or of causing it any harm then the power that you control Zaiken will most probably have no ill effects on API.
Anyways you seem to exercise fairly good control of that power and that is an ability which is always benficial.

Grey

A study that was done about people who had a Near Death Experience found that a person's religious beliefs Can influence their NDE. It does not always happen this way. However, the study found a high correlation between those people who were very religious and their descriptions of visiting religious locations (Heaven, Hell, Purgatory, Nirvana, etc) and of meeting religious figures (Mostly christian and especially Jesus).

There is no absolute good or bad in this study's findings. It does show that profound experiences like a NDE (or OBE) very often reinforces a person's beliefs of religion, a higher power and an afterlife.

btw an exceptional website devoted to the study of NDE is www.NDERF.org

Grey

[HAS]

Psan
The lack of energy while out of body is a problem that I also suffer with.
There just HAS to be some way to renew energy during an OBE.
I practice pranayma and yoga on a regular basis. Both seem to provide energy during the normal day. But neither seem to be of much help when I am out of body and about to run out of energy.
The usual result is (like you) that the OBE abruptly ends. Frustrating indeed. 

 
Grey

Hi Vibra
You are actually Not doing anything wrong. It appears that you just need to give yourself more time to become acquainted and comfortable with the various sensations that preceed an OBE. Various sensations and phenomena will come and go from time to time. So do not put too much emphasis on any particular sensation.
Some fear is natural too so don't be worried about that.

btw I had my first conscious deliberate OBE at age 36 and that took me several months from the time I began trying to induce an OBE. Just say with, keep at it and it will happen.

Good luck
Grey

Vitruvian
You posted

You're talking apples and oranges - astral projecting and lucid dreaming are two different things totally. This is my opinion and a bit different from what rezaf has posted: deciding to project out of a lucid dream, impressive multitasking, there, rezaf. The definition of a lucid dream is a dream in which you become aware you are in a dream state, within the dream. At this point you can then control the content of your dream. It is recommended that you do NOT do this; rather, you should take the opportunity to observe (as a learning experience). Of course it is very difficult to stop yourself from playing God. 

I agree with you 100 percent. I used to think that lucid dreams were the best thing that could happen. Yet after having dozens, maybe hundreds, of lucid dreams I realized that it Was basically like playing a video game. I wasn't really learning or experiencing anything new during a lucid dream. Now I try to use the awareness of being in a lucid dream as a springboard for projecting into an OBE.

Grey

[YOUNG WOMAN]

The first part of this post is somewhat vague as I cannot remember many pertinent details. but anyways -

I seem to remember someone starting a thread (most probably on another website AstralSociety or AstralDynamics ?? ) about being haunted be a living person who regularly projected into her (?) house.
Also I clearly recall an old Fox "Beyond Belief - Fact or Fiction' tv show from the 1990s. It depicted the true story of a young married woman who 'dreamed' of finding the perfect house. One day while looking at houses she and her husband saw a very pricey large house that was supposedly haunted. The couple went inside that house to meet the owner.  The owner of the house  - a women - immediately claimed that the ghost who was haunting her house was the YOUNG WOMAN. Apparently the young woman not only dreamed of that house but had consistently been OBEing/projecting into the house as well and was seen on many occasions by the owner.

So I would say that the answer to your question Zorgblar is definately YES.

Regards
Grey

ancksunamun
Many people believe that sometimes during dreams the dreamer is actually out of their physical body yet is unaware of it. In these events the dreamer either remembers their experience as a dream and never realizes that he or she has had an OBE or they completely forget about the experience altogether.
This May have been what happened you as you might have been both dreaming and out of body at the same time but failed to remember anything about it later when awake.

Grey

A very impressive and emotional experience Alan.
Thanx for sharing it in this forum.

What you experienced (probably an OBE btw) is one possible future for an individual consciousness after physical death. Many people who have undergone a Near Death Experience (NDE) report experiences very similar to yours, including the all pervading light, the feelings of wonder, awe and love and the cosmic knowledge they learn when 'there'.

However, this is not only the only possible future for an astral/ethereal being (soul) that has permanently left the physical body (died).
IMO there are other possible destinations after this life. Many will prefer the destination that you described while some will not. It is a choice left to each individual when the time arrives.

 :-DGrey