I think I had my first OBE last night

[Ape11]

I'd first of all like to say hello as I'm new to the forums, so hi everyone! Down to myself, I've been interested in the concept of astral projection for a while now and have read a number of books and web articles on the subject but was unsure whether to dismiss it as fantasy or actual fact. After trying for a long time to induce a projection I had been unsuccessful and the idea of it had actually slipped from my mind for a number of months. Last night changed everything for me.

Having been feeling unwell all day, I went to bed earlier than I would usually go to sleep but was pretty restless for some reason and ended up basically lying in bed for a number of hours before approaching anything resembling sleep. Around 4am i managed to nod off slightly but seemed to slip into a sort of semi-consciousness which was like been between sleep and been awake. At some point during this I was suprised to find I could hear breathing that didnt seem to be coming from myself and was aware that behind me was what appeared to be someone elses body over mine. I was vaguely aware of my position on the bed which seemed to be like I had sank slightly into the matress which was highly unusual. I instinctively panicked when I realised It was'nt just me in the bed and snapped back into full consciousness and woke up on my front in bed.

I would usually just dismiss this as a dream but it was the lucidity of the experience that was strange as well as the similarity to accounts in "journeys out of the body" as well as astral projection sites, that leads me to believe that I may well have experienced an OBE. Of course it may have just been an incredibly lucid dream but I can say that I've never experienced anything like it before.

I'd like to know what the members of this forum think could explain what happened. As I said, I would like to believe that astral projection does exist as well as OBE's and this was just the start of something, but I'm still unsure as to decide what actually happened.

Do you think I had an OBE or was it just an increibly lucid dream?

[avocado]

Hello!

Often a state restlessness during sleep can invoke the ideal conditions for having an out of body experience. When you are awake for so many hours this will often lead you to become concsious during a hypogognic state. That is why sometimes, when we have a fever during the night, we can experience a number of strange sensations, attributed to hypnogognic hallucinations. If your body continues to fall asleep from this state, it is very likely your mind can muster enough concsiousnous to have a projection.

Sickness can also promote out of body experiences because it can awake you DURING a deep sleep state. Similarily to the 'sleep intrupt' method.

It is very likely what you experiences was an early faze of an out of body experience. However, some aspects could be attibuted to the hypnogognic state. I think you know the answer. Was in an out of body experience?

[kosmos]

i had very fimillar experience, and i think you are in good way to have an obe. In fact i think that you had an obe, because you saw your own body, and heard your body breathing (just like I was). Next time just don't panic and get yourself moving all around your room, house, town,...

[Eloquence]

Welcome to the forums Ape11 

As for your question, there's no way to be sure really. Some people will argue that lucid dreaming *is* astral projecting, I personally think that they are seperate things. Though from what you described, I'd say it was an OOBE. But, congratulations, you experienced... something lol. I hope you have more success in the future.

[Leary Herring]

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