I am a skeptic, please answer my questions

[Tisha]

1.  The "soul" means different things to different people, so I'll preface things by telling you what soul means to me . . . i.e., the part that remains after death, the part forever connected to God/dess.  It actually lives outside of the body, slightly above the head, or so I've heard many times by people who can see this sort of thing.  It explains the "halo effect" of so many enlightened people (i.e., Jesus, etc.)  The soul is NOT the intellect or the personality (which belong to the body), but something much bigger/better/beyond.

2.  I believe God created itself to evolve.  Problem solved!  When I ask my cats if they have souls, they just look at me funny.

3. When the soul is detached from the body it is roundish, or egg-shaped.  The souls of deformed babies/miscarriages are also round/egg-shaped.  I'm pro-choice, but won't give the "politically correct pro-choice" argument that the soul comes into the body at birth . . . because it doesn't, the soul is there throughout most of the pregnancy, if not all of it!   I've never seen a Siamese Twin and have no opinons on them.  They could be one soul or two.

4.  Dreams are your mental projections, you can learn a lot by observing them and being an active (lucid) participant in them.  Some dreams are "deeper" than others.

5.  Yes, much advantage (Frank, I'll leave it to you to answer this one!) It's nice to make all your Astral mistakes while alive, because you get to wake up.  If you're dead and get into a pickle you might stay that way for aeons.

regards,

[aikeena]

hello ken, I'm new here but I'll give your replies a shot purely from my own perspective.

1) As far as I can determine everything leaves an information imprint at a basic level. An example would be the phenomena of repeater-ghosts that have been reported around the world - the apparition repeating a set of actions. In OOBE/Astral theory this would be called perhaps a remnant ethereal body devoid of astral consciousness. The repeater-ghost could be considered analagous to a standing wave. Environmental and causal circumstances would contribute to the localized standing wave formations. Most scientific investigations into these phenomena have focused on discrediting specific mediums of interaction. For instance, 'cold spots' are measured and shown to have a normal thermal distribution. However, this misses the point as the information seems to be passed to the human nervous system directly. This would be corroborated by the reports of animals reacting to ghosts. The "cold spot" phenomena would then be interpreted as a nervous system "chill" in reaction to such a formation rather than an objectively lower temperature location. This could be confirmed scientifically by taking a nervous system culture/organic filament structure and attaching it to measuring devices. If they show perbutation at the location, that would be an empirical evidence of such a phenomena. The technology currently exists to perform this experiment.

2) Most spiritual systems of belief do not include a biological theory of evolution as a component. Most uses of the word evolution are synonmous in the lingo with emotional and personality development and maturity.

However, my personal investigations indicate that there is a strong biological component to the functioning of OOBE with the possibility of rudimentary specialized brain structures, analagous to the brain structures specialized for language and mathematics and other neural operations. In that case, darwinian evolution and natural selection could be invoked in order to explain this if there were some differential reproductive advantage in the usual manner.

There are many species or genus with relatively rare physical adaptations. Ceteceans for instance have interesting sleep patterns. Dolphins alternative sleep cycles in each half of the brain.
Just as humans are unique in whole language capability, it's not that inconceivable that they have some other rare evoled mental functions.

3) In my experience from working with mothers who have had abortions or miscarriages, the equivilent ethereal and astral bodies are relatively not-robust and are reasorbed into the mother's system or are discharged and quickly disintegrate. If there are higher planar bodies corresponding to immortal souls, etc. they don't seem to be highly active in most instances. Some babies seem more "there" and fight harder to live however in canvassing pregnant women. However, since these babies are more likely to survive anyway one would rarely see them terminated. Bio-volition or the "will to live" is still a real but unquantified part of the practice of medicine, and while recognized by medical science as being potent is unpredictable or classifiable by current scientific models. It could be argued this comes from a more intense early connection with higher planar soul aspects.

4) Dreams are mostly the randomized refreshment of neural patterns. Synaptic patterns that are too strongly reinforced, become unalterable. Others which aren't utilized die away. Use it or lose it. Dreams perform the admirable primary purpose of dreams is that they are the byproduct of neurons firing in the brain to refresh certain pathways, and aid learning.

As a secondary function, the random firing can trigger neural patterns which have been inactive or repressed leading to dreams symbolic of personal issues. There is significant evidence of a tertiary function where the greater freedom of neural adapation during dreams leads to occasional problem solving dreams - if the problem is deeply entrenched enough that the brain continues to solve it even while asleep. This produces problem solving dreams.

The last function is that the random firing can trigger regions and coordination in the brain that are rarely utilized. One of these would produce the OOBE phenomena.

5) Yes. By being able to astral project, one can purposely tap into virtual experiences that closely resemble the problem solving and repression-exploration dreams. Behavior and cognitive patterns are more easily modified in this environment because it by definition occurs when the brain is attempting to change set patterns. This can lead to accelerated learning. Finally, the alteration of brain activity can activate what many people would call ESP or synchronicity related brain functions. This can lead to premonitary or clairovoyant experiences that gather valuable information. All of these are possible reasons why the trait may have some selection value in evolutionary terms.

Robert Bruce in his book Astral Dyanmics is the only author that I know of that discusses what I call the virtual-reality input-output model of OOBE though he doesn't do so in such terminology. He discusses how OOBE can be viewed as a reflection produced by the altered consciousness that can include objective perceptions of real time distant information mixed in with symbolic renderings of internal inputs or subejctive perceptions.

[DOA]

HI I am no expert or anything but I have experienced astral travel a few times.  

Fist  Where in this body is our soul/astral body/higher self located?
Well there are alot of differant views on this but if you take there are differant planes or dimensions we being on the physical there are several nonphysical dimensions.  Some say the soul is same as higher self which resides on a much higher frequency plane.  The astral body is a duplicate of your own body which surrounds your physcial body it is just at a slightly higher frequency.

Is our personality part of the soul or the body?

I believe our personality is part of the soul not the body but your personality is influenced by your physical lifetime.

How does evolution fit into the picture? Do you believe in it?

Evolution of the body?  or soul?  I belive that is why we come here to incarnate into a physcial body to spiritually grow.  Going through many lifetimes gives you more experience and you learn what is truly important.

Maybe we all evolved from animals first or plants?  Our souls are those before we graduate to being human.  Not sure about that one havnt thought much about it.  I believe they have a consciousness tho.

) What do still-born babies and miscarriages look like in the astral(assuming that they had souls)? Siamese twins(perhaps two souls in one body)?

If you belive in reincarnation then maybe the lesson learned was not for the baby but for the parents or loved ones.  When someone dies according to Robert Bruce the eventually lose there etheric energy which sustains the nonphysical body.  Once that happens the soul or consciousness goes to where its was suppose to go.

What is the purpose of dreams for those of us who do not have OBEs?  

Dreams are the subconsciouss way of helping the conscious mind through its problems.  As far a Deja Vu the out of body state is a no time state which means you are out side of time.  Deja Vus are probably just your partial conscious memory of experienceing that again.

Does being able to astral project in the present life give you any sort of advantage?  

I belive it does.  You can evolve faster by exploring nonphysical reality.  When you reincarnate you go back to school so to speak.  You lose all memory of your previous lives.  Through out of body you can learn about those past lives and any number of things.  Which helps your soul evolve faster.  When you die you go to a place.  You dont really have a choice you just go where like minded peaple go.  It could be one of the belief system territories or where ever.  You die a relative comes to get you and you go.  When you explore out of body while still alive you understand where differant people go.  Yuo then will have a choice.  You wont be locked into one belief system..  

DOA

[beav31is]

1) Many people have compared the human body to a vessel or vehicle which is simply here as a tool to help us survive on earth. Where in this body is our soul/astral body/higher self located? Is it in our brain? Is our personality part of the soul or the body?

It is not located in spacetime. I think the connection is peoples aura, which covers the whole volume of the body. Or it could be the chakras. The connection seems stronger there.

2) How does evolution fit into the picture? Do you believe in it? What about non-human animals and plant life? Are they just decoration?

Everything has DNA. Lots of things have eyes, stomachs, any many other similar organs. Thats too much evidence to be ignored.

4) What is the purpose of dreams for those of us who do not have OBEs? Why do we dream in 90 minute cycles? Why not continuously throughout the night? Do you have an explanation for deja vus?

Earth, dreams, lucid dreams, and OBEs are all connected. They are different distances into the same astral. Earth isnt far in at all. OBE is the farthest of the 4. 90 minutes is probably for biology reasons only. Deja vus are time travel. I have time traveled in astral.

5) Does being able to astral project in the present life give you any sort of advantage? If we all end up there when we die anyway, is there any point in investing the limited time we have here into visiting a place that we will eventually end up in, regardless of what we do?

Depends what you mean by advantage. I think its an advantage to know what I am, and its not just a human body. I dont like faith. Its also more fun than most things you can do on earth. I like the new ways I think since I started it. If you dont learn about astral while you're here, you will be confused when you get there. Would you move to a strange country without knowing about it first?

[bomohwkl]

Pheeew.....If I give my opnion, kzato may end up having even more questions.
Let's us assume that the purposes of human existence are
1. to develop our individual intellect to the highest extent
possible
2. to develop our ability to experience the Highest
Feelings that we can imagine
(for more information on how this purposes derived, check the book on www.thefreedomofchoice.com)

1. Physical body is a tool used for evolution of astral body.Our astral body is located within our body during awake period.Where exactly in our body? Then I think it is througout your body. I think our intrinsic personality is part of our astral body. A person behaviour could change due to external environment. If you look within yourself, you will find out that certain characteristic of you has been carried from your babyhood to adulthood and it deson't seem to come from external environment. That might be you intrinsic personality. I don't know where does higher-self located but during your sleep very often, your astral body joins with your higher-self.

2.Physical evolution is only beneficial if it encourage the evolution of consciousness and intellect. However, cats cannot be evolved into dogs and bacteria cannot evolved into human. Lots of specis are by designed but physical evolution makes them more adapatable for certain environment. Life is a lesson. Non-human animals and plants are put there for purpose of observation, studying and interacting for conscious evolution.. and also food! It is another 'toy' given by the creator for us to learn. Learning without 'toy' is difficult.

3.Miscarrage can be a spiritual lesson for the mother. It could be the astral body of the miscarrage baby decided to change his reincarnation plan for some personal purposes.

4. Dreams..oh dear..... Complex. It could be images from your mind and subconsciouness, it could be information from external sources and it could be test set up by the higher-self to test our spiritual maturity without physically doing it. Dreams are personal and you are the one who know the meaning of it. Keep dreaming throught the day will certainly tired the mind. The mind need to rest at least!! I don't know why it is 90 minutes cycle. Deja vu, is the fragment of preview you have seen before u are being reincarnated here. The preview isn't erased completely and u can hear some of the 'noise' When I mean deja vu, I mean, you not only feel u have experienced it but you can immediately predict what happen next and it happens.

5. Hmmm....astral project or OBE gives you a personal proof that you are a spirit living in a physical body. We are living in the physical body for a purpose. There are lots of things u can do with OBE or astral body. I have used this method to see the structure of an atom and I was soo shocked of the discovery.

Scientists in Russsia have conclusively showed the thinking shows changes in kirlian picture before it is detected as electrical signals in the brain!! Interesting!

[beav31is]

bomohwkl "I have used this method to see the structure of an atom and I was soo shocked of the discovery."

Can you describe it? I dont think the current science on it is completely accurate.

[kzato]

Hello all, I have taken the time recently to browse many astral sites, this one being the most recent and most informative.  I have read the many posts on this site regarding proof and belief in OBEs(AP)and do not intend to stir up that kind of controversy again.  Instead, I would like to pose a few questions to those who have experienced the astral first hand to see if you can clear up some of the cloudiness in my mind.

1) Many people have compared the human body to a vessel or vehicle which is simply here as a tool to help us survive on earth.  Where in this body is our soul/astral body/higher self located? Is it in our brain? Is our personality part of the soul or the body?

2) How does evolution fit into the picture?  Do you believe in it? What about non-human animals and plant life? Are they just decoration?

3) What do still-born babies and miscarriages look like in the astral(assuming that they had souls)? Siamese twins(perhaps two souls in one body)?

4) What is the purpose of dreams for those of us who do not have OBEs? Why do we dream in 90 minute cycles? Why not continuously throughout the night? Do you have an explanation for deja vus?

5) Does being able to astral project in the present life give you any sort of advantage?  If we all end up there when we die anyway, is there any point in investing the limited time we have here into visiting a place that we will eventually end up in, regardless of what we do?

Sorry about the length of the post. I have many more questions, but I will leave it at this right now.  Again, I am a curious skeptic who will appreciate any insight provided regarding the astral. Please feel free to answer any or all of the questions.  Thanks.

Ken