Psychedelics...

[nickhohn]

I've been interested in OBE's and Astral Projection for about a year now.

I don't really have any questions about either one of them...I just figured I'd come here to ask this question.

About two years ago, I smoked salvia (powerful psychedelic) and had an experience that was hard to describe. My physical body was walking around my house, but I (meaning my consciousness) had gone somwhere else. It was really hard to explain where I was, but I was just floating somewhere looking at, what I perceived, all of reality as a whole. It was weird.

My question is: What this experience a form of OBE or Astral Projection?

I just don't normally hear about psychedelics causing complete dissociation from your physical body. Normally people 'tripping' can still sense objects and the 'real world'.

I dunno just a question!

[Lighten]

Sounds similar to a DMT trip. People describe being able to see this reality from a different one. Like, they understand what this reality is. What you are describing sounds similar.

As far as that being an OBE. Definitely not. But that is just my opinion.

[smooth]

I've smoked salvia many, many times and have never had an experience like that. I actually just signed up in a salvia forum and asked about how they are linked. Many people go into it with the hopes of having some type of spiritual experience so I believe their conscience applies that to the trip.

I am in no way doubting you, but i've heard of people achieving an OBE though salvia. But I believe it would be way to hard to keep focused.

[radiospirit]

I have heard that psychedelics can be gateways to genuine OBEs.  However, I've also heard from the same sources that it's not a recommended route.  Going the "slow" route, learning about it and experiencing it naturally is the best way to learn to control it and learn about these aspects of yourself and the universe.  Using psychedelics to do this is like climbing into a rocket without learning to fly it first.  Chances are, nothing will happen worthwhile.  At worst, it could be absolutely disastrous, as you do take off, but don't have the training and experience necessary for the journey.

[Stookie]

From my years of research and reading and experience on both OBE's and psychedelics:

Psychedelics can definitely provide a non-physical experience, but it's never going to be the same as a natural OBE. Profound, visionary, even life-changing, but psychonauts tend not to become controlled AP'ers until they decide to stop using psychedelics. However, I've known a lot of psychonauts in my lifetime and very very few had any kind of life-changing profound experience. It seems a person is destined for it or not.

I've never read an account of any accomplished OBE'er using psychedelics before or after becoming proficient. Never once read about a Buhlman or Monroe or Bruce or Moen talk about the use of psychedelics to produce results. Read a book by McKenna and one by an OBE author and it's a completely different thing. The only commonality is both can be non-physical.

I believe that McKenna and other psychedelic travelers have their place, it's just I don't believe it to be related to willful, conscious astral projection.

I'm not trying to give an anti-drug speech, I just wanted to point out the differences for those thinking salvia or acid will help you become proficient at OBE's.

[dingo]

I've been an astral projector for nearly seven years and I tried salvia for the first time last month. The experiences are nothing alike. I know exactly what you mean about viewing reality from another, 'foreign' perspective (I think I'd probably call this an out of reality experience). I experienced a total loss of long-term memory, so for me, it was like seeing reality for the first time, yet still being aware there were other realities I'd been stuck in for eternities, though not able to fully remember them. It literally blew my mind when I realised I was made of meat and my whole self was the sum total of the actions of little neurons buzzing in my brain...

Anyway, I guess to someone who's experienced with salvia, an out of body experience will seem less dramatic. You're still anchored to the same reality, still looking at it from roughly the same angle, but maybe with a position outside your physical body. To me, OBEs seem less introspective and more about exploring "out there".

Hope that helps.

[nickhohn]

Thanks for the replies.

I've always been looking for a natural alternative to 'expanding the mind', and I think I've found it with Astral Projection/OBE/Lucid Dreams.