OBE Frequently Asked Questions

OBE Frequently Asked Questions

OBE Frequently Asked Questions

by Bob Peterson

This article is a compilation of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about astral projection and out-of-body experience (OBE). It includes the Questions and Answers chapter from my first book, the Questions and Answers chapter from my second book, and other questions I've seen since. I tried to put newbie questions near the top, but the rest appear in no particular order.

Can anyone please teach me how to astral project?

That's a lot like asking, "Can anyone please teach me how to ride a bicycle?" The answer is yes, but there's a big difference between describing the mechanics and actually doing it yourself. Like any skill, you need to learn the techniques, then do a lot of trial and error before you become any good at it.

There are tons of online resources for learning OBEs.

• There are lots of Facebook groups related to OBE and Astral Projection where you can find help.
• There are lots of full-length books about OBEs in the "Files" section of the "Astral Projection" group page on Facebook.
• There are also videos available on youtube.
• I've got tons of free information on my website, including the entire text of my first book and much of the second, plus helpful articles: http://www.robertpeterson.org.
• Michael Raduga has free information, including the entire text of his primary book, "The Phase": https://obe4u.com/

The information is out there. You just need to do some research, then try some of the techniques.

What's the easiest method or technique to achieve astral projection?

It varies from person to person. What works for one person may not work for another, which is why I don't recommend any one in particular. You've got to try different approaches and techniques and see which one(s) work best for you. There are many to choose from.

What's the best book on astral projection?

It depends on what you're looking for. If you're looking for OBE techniques, my favorite is The Phase by Michael Raduga. I've broken it down into several categories and listed the best books from each category in a blog article titled "Bob's Best of Breed OBE Books": Click here to read it.

Not all OBE books are created equal. If you're thinking about buying a particular OBE book, you might be able to read a book review of it. I have book reviews for many OBE books: Click this link for a list.

Does anyone teach AP? Are there classes I can take?

Yes. The best is probably William Buhlman's class, offered by The Monroe Institute, but it's often full, and it's not cheap. There are also classes offered by other organizations, like the International Academy of Consciousness. Again, do some research.

I've been trying to achieve astral projection for years; nothing works. What should I do?

The biggest mistake people make is trying the same thing over and over. You need to change it up and try different techniques until you find one that works for you. I wrote a blog article about this. Click on this link to read it.

I can get the vibrations, but they just fade away and nothing happens. What should I do?

I always recommend that you wait until the vibrations reach their peak intensity, then try to physically stand up, sit up, roll out, or whatever, just like you would in the physical body. If you've got the genuine OBE vibrations, your physical body won't move, but your non-physical body will, and thus you escape the body.

I can get out of my body, but then I can't see. Totally blind. What should I do?

You're probably within what author Sylvan Muldoon called "Cord Activity Range" which is about 15 feet (5 meters). My best advice is to (1) close your eyes, (2) try to get at least 15 feet (5 meters) away from your body, then make an effort to open your eyes.

What position should my body be in when I practice?

I've had OBEs in all positions. There's no problem with lying on your back, stomach, or either side. However, research tells us that people are more likely to have OBEs when they lie on their back.

When I practice I need to swallow, have problems with saliva or itching. How can I get past that?

My usual response to that is: When you fall asleep at night, you don't have any of these problems, do you? You just fall asleep. When you have one of these problems, it probably means your physical body is too wide-awake. You need to do the same thing when your body falls asleep, but retain conscious awareness.

When I practice, I see and hear weird things. Is that normal?

Yes. Everyone has similar hallucinations when they fall asleep--known as "hypnagogic" imagery--but the vast majority of people are no longer conscious when they occur. When you start to practice OBE, you learn to retain conscious awareness deeper into these states, so this is normal and expected.

Do certain foods affect my ability to have OBEs?

I wrote a blog article about dietary considerations. Click on this link to read it.

Are there any supplements that will help me achieve OBEs?

This is a complex topic. I wrote two blog articles (part 1 and 2) about it. Click on this link for part 1 and this link for part 2.

What are the dangers of astral projection?

This is another complex topic, and one that should not be short-changed. Most people believe there are no dangers: your physical body cannot be harmed while you're out of it, and your non-physical body is immortal. Just remember this: The only thing you have to fear is fear itself, and your best self-defense is to be fearless. If you do have a scary encounter, just remember that it's better to be angry than afraid in an encounter. I devoted a chapter of my second book to this topic. You can read it by clicking on this link.

How do you get past the fear?

You just need to endure it, and as you have more OBEs, you should gain confidence. Just tell yourself you'll just watch a little longer and see what happens, and rest assured that you can always end the OBE. If things get too rough, you'll automatically be pulled back inside.

Can someone proficient pull me out of my body?

I honestly don't know if this is possible, but if it is, it's extremely difficult. I've tried it many times, and always failed. William Buhlman, author of Adventures Beyond the Body, has also tried it several times and failed.

Are OBEs "real," i.e., can you observe verifiable real-world proof? 

There's a really good book devoted to this topic called "Consciousness Beyond the Body" edited by Alexander De Foe. Full disclosure: I contributed a chapter to it. The good news is that it's free and can be downloaded from amazon.com. The bad news is that it's e-book (kindle reader, etc.); there's no printed copy. Here's a link to where you can download it.

Will you travel to my house and tell me what's on my nightstand?

No. Every astral projector goes through a phase of needing to obtain proof. Once satisfied, they often have no interest in doing this. In my second book, I wrote a chapter about how difficult this is to do.

What do you do during an OBE?

Mostly, I explore. I experiment. I have an insatiable curiosity, so I just go out and try things. I also love to fly.

Can you lose your body or get lost?

If anyone has lost their body, they obviously hadn't lived to tell about it. But all indications are that you can't lose your body for good. I believe that your "Higher Self" has invested a great deal of time and energy in creating and maintaining a physical body for a purpose. It's not going to give up your body until your purpose has been fulfilled. Thousands of people have experienced OBEs, and wandered thousands of miles away from their body. After a certain period, they usually just lose consciousness and find themselves back in their body again.

What about possession?

Perhaps if you're a spirit medium (IOW, your etheric body isn't bound as tightly to the physical body as most other people) spirits can temporarily inhabit your body while you are out. However, spirits cannot possess your body long-term unless you give them permission to do so. My clairvoyant friend, LD, told me of an OBE where a spirit of a woman entered her body without permission. The woman was trying to animate LD's body, but couldn't. LD returned to her body to find it occupied. She was so angry that she yelled at the spirit to get out "or else." The spirit said no, but LD got furious and yelled "Now!" The unhappy spirit quickly left the body, and LD entered it again. The point is, even when you are out of your body, your oversoul has a "claim" on that body. Other spirits do not have the power to animate your body.

Can you encounter something evil like a demon?

I don't believe in evil. There are only two kinds of demon. The first kind is the demon we create from our own fears. If you don't believe in evil, you cannot encounter these demons. If you understand and face your fears, you can face these demons and destroy them with an act of will. The only thing you have to fear is fear itself.

The second kind is the spirit of a dead person who is playing the role of a demon to make him/herself appear more intimidating. But that's different from evil. Remember this: They are just a spirit like you and me. They have no more power than you do, despite how they look or act. If you are a gentle soul, just visualize a white light around the spirit and send feelings of love to the poor misguided spirit. If you're ornery, tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine, and walk away. If you're playful, make yourself into a big demon and give them their own treatment. They can't harm you, and they can't possess your body unless you give them power over you by being afraid.

What are the psychological effects? Can you go insane? Is it a disorder?

Again, I can only speak from personal experience. One common definition of "sane" is when a person is an integrated person functioning normally in society. I can say this much: I haven't had any problems holding a job or functioning in society. As a computer programmer and analyst, stress levels are high and my brain functions are constantly taxed. My OBEs haven't done any noticeable harm, and I've been doing this since 1979; nearly forty years.

There is an excellent book called With the Eyes of the Mind by professional psychiatrists Glen Gabbard and Stuart Twemlow that contains an in-depth study of the psychology of OBEs. It compares the OBE to other psychological phenomena. In short, they found that the OBE shouldn't be grouped with psychological disorders such as dissociation, schizophrenia, autoscopy, and other body boundary disturbances. OBE falls into a category of its own.

When is the best time to practice?

The best time to practice is in the morning, when you are awake, refreshed, and not likely to fall asleep. I mostly practice Saturday and Sunday mornings because I can sleep in late, wake up refreshed and then have plenty of time to practice. I also recommend you take a nap sometime during the day, and use that time to attempt to leave your body. Naps are better than bedtime, because you're usually not as tired. You can relax and really get into it, without being so tired that you just fall asleep right away. If you only practice before bedtime, make sure to go to bed early so you won't fall asleep immediately.

What's the difference between an OBE and a lucid dream?

There are a lot of differences. I cover that in a separate article. Click here.

What's the difference between meditation and OBE?

In some forms of meditation, the goal is to clear your mind of all thoughts, which is very similar to quiescing your mind for an OBE. Some people report accidentally leaving their body during meditation. Others go into a state of meditation when trying to induce an OBE, but never leave their body.

When I meditate, my mind becomes empty, and I go into a kind of trance that I can't explain. In this trance of meditation, I don't have any perception. I don't have dreams or hypnagogic images. It is as if the world has completely stopped, and my consciousness has been extinguished. When I come back from meditation, I have no memories.

When I induce an OBE, I don't induce nearly as deep a trance. I retain a thread of alert consciousness the whole time. Once I reach the OBE state, my consciousness becomes normal again. After the experience, I have complete memories of the experience.

How do I know if my experience was real or just a dream?

My general rule of thumb is: If you're not sure, it was probably not a real OBE. A true OBE should leave you with little-to-no doubt in your mind. In a genuine OBE, you should literally feel as if you are separate from your body. It won't seem like a dream, a daydream, a visualization, or a fantasy. It will feel absolutely real.

Is consciousness as clear during an OBE?

In an OBE, as in life, consciousness can be crystal clear or muddy. I've had OBEs where my consciousness was more intense than normal waking life. I've also had OBEs where my thinking was more "muddy."

What's the difference between OBE and Near Death Experience?

This is how I think of it: The out-of-body experience is one typical feature of a Near Death Experience (NDE). Typical NDEs have some other common features that aren't usually found in an OBE (although that doesn't mean they can't happen). Some of these features are: Gliding down a tunnel, having your life flash before your eyes, seeing a bright light, meeting dead relatives or friends, and being told it is "not your time."

Also, NDEs usually happen during times of bodily trauma. OBEs often happen from a state of perfect health.

Has anyone seen God, Jesus, etc., during an OBE?

Yes, but it is more common to see deities during NDEs rather than during OBEs. It's interesting to note that when this happens it seems to be based on the person's religious convictions. Christians tend to see Christ. Buddhists tend to see The Buddha. Hindus tend to see their deities. I believe there is only one God. Perhaps certain powerful spiritual entities on the other side can appear in a form makes the participant most comfortable. Personally, I've never seen a deity during an OBE, except the childhood experience in chapter 2 of my first book.

Some people, including me, have reported seeing Jesus in an OBE. For an article I wrote on the subject, click here.

When you leave your body, aren't you technically dead?

No.

Why doesn't brain damage or rigor mortis occur?

Your body does not die during an OBE. It goes into a deeply relaxed state.

Is OBE related to UFO phenomena or alien abductions?

Many victims of "alien abductions" describe symptoms similar to OBE phenomena. They describe tunnels, vibrations, weird sounds and sights, and total paralysis. They describe how aliens appear out of thin air beside their beds or walk through walls. Victims are levitated out of bed and are pulled outside through the wall. I believe many such victims are merely misinterpreting symptoms of typical OBEs. I think a lot of "abductees" would be relieved to know the true nature of their experiences!

I must also add that not all claims of alien abduction can be dismissed as OBEs. Some UFO cases have compelling physical evidence that wouldn't be left after an OBE. OBE's don't leave burn marks on your front lawn!

I devoted an entire chapter of my second book to this subject. You can read it by clicking on this link.

Can you inhabit the body of a spirit medium during an OBE?

Around 1903, a disabled (bed-ridden) guy by the name of Vincent Turvey learned how to induce OBEs to free himself from his disabled body. Spiritualism was very popular then, so Turvey started visiting seances during his OBEs. A few times he actually sent messages through the medium during the seance. In his book, The Beginnings of Seership, Turvey has signed testimonials from people who were present at these seances. I believe him because he had witnesses and because he was too physically ill to stage such elaborate hoaxes. I've never tried it, and I don't know of anyone who has, other than Turvey. But I believe it can be done.

Is there a such thing as astral sex?

Yes. Only a few books in the genre have references to astral sex. Astral sex is very different qualitatively than physical sex. It's more "spacey," or "etheric;" more like an exchange of energy or an electrical discharge. Lucid dream sex is convincingly real, just like physical sex because your body schema is a replica of your physical body. In an OBE, your body is more "on demand." Here's an entry from my journal:

03/08/83 Thu

Last night I had an interesting experience that I'd like to share. Last night before I went to sleep at midnight, I prayed to God. I asked to have an experience where I would reach my soulmate through a dream...Some time in the middle of the night I found myself in a dreamlike state and was semiconscious. I was not in a recognizable place. I was with a woman with light hair, and I don't know if she was my soulmate or not. We got very close to each other, and just before we embraced I became conscious. The intensity of the experience is what caused me to be conscious. We embraced and at first I thought we were hugging. Then her body became less defined and started melting into mine. I was surprised and my body started melting too! As we melted into each other, energy started shooting out in all directions with the intensity of the sun.

I can't remember any more.

What do you see when you look in a mirror?

The following is an OBE where I looked into a mirror. What I saw was surprising.

12/25/85 - OBE #121

...I stayed in bed, practicing OBE. I used the rock-my-consciousness method to loosen myself from the body, but I felt somewhat attached to it, even as I was swinging away. On one outward swing, I twisted to my left, reached out with my astral arms, grabbed onto the bed and pulled myself completely out of my body. I paused there, crouched down on my bed, looking at the drapes on the bedroom window. Everything looked normal from that point of view.

I had been planning to try to visit Cherie, and I paused to think about visiting her. I thought, "There's plenty of time for that. First, I want to experiment a little bit." My eyes were closed because of the previous two OBEs.

I paused, trying to think of a good experiment. "I know," I thought to myself, "I'll try looking into a mirror!" As soon as I thought that, I felt a strange shift of consciousness and I opened my eyes.

I found myself in a strange room with a mirror. I walked over to the mirror and looked at it. At first I saw my own image, but without a beard--I only had a mustache. I thought to myself how much I looked like Brad (Cherie's husband). My image slowly turned into Brad's image and I thought, "Hmm. Maybe I'm a counterpart of Brad. But I have a beard and a mustache, and my image doesn't reflect that." I looked into the mirror again, trying to fix the image. I noticed the image wasn't smiling; it had a very serious look on. So I smiled into the mirror and watched my image change.

My image changed slowly into the image of a woman I've never seen before, and then slowly turned into an image of DS, smiling! (DS is a member of our discussion group). I thought, "Whoa! That's not me. I wonder if DS is a counterpart too!" I bid DS's image farewell, and looked into the mirror and saw myself. This time I looked normal in all respects. I was smiling, and I noticed I was wearing the same clothes my body had on in bed. I thought, "Good."

I wondered whether I should visit Cherie, or do another experiment. I tried to think of other experiments I could do, but I lost consciousness and immediately came to in my body.

This story had an interesting aftermath. The next day, I narrated the OBE to the discussion group and Brad was there. As nearly as we could tell, Brad was just getting up and dressing during my OBE. He most likely was in the bathroom looking at a mirror! Was the image I saw of him real? I'd like to think so, but I guess there's no way to tell for sure.

How long does it take to learn OBE?

This varies from person to person. Some books claim to be able to teach you to leave your body in thirty days or less. That depends on a lot of factors, like the reader's belief system, how often they practice, the methods they try, and their attitudes during practice.

Some people have tried for ten years or more before having their first OBE. Others have done it on their first try. Don't be discouraged if you don't get results for several months. Everyone can learn this skill with practice and patience.

What's a typical OBE practice session like?

On a typical practice session, I wake up naturally around 6:30 a.m.. I'll get up, visit the bathroom, then drink something with caffeine. I'll stay up for about a half hour to clear my mind. I'm usually too tired at that hour, so I'll go back to bed and sleep for another sleep cycle. Around 7:30 a.m., I'll wake up naturally, stretch and start my first OBE attempt. After about twenty minutes of trying, I will give up, roll over and go back to sleep.

When I wake up from that sleep cycle, I'll make my second attempt. Again, I'll keep at it for about twenty minutes before giving up. I'm usually successful on my second or third attempt. If I'm not successful by the third try, I give up for the day.

How long does it take to induce an OBE?

Typically, it takes around fifteen to twenty minutes to induce an OBE. My fastest induction took around thirty seconds. My longest induction took more than an hour.

What's the most common mistake during practice?

The most common mistake people make is trying too hard. Many people try so hard to induce an OBE that they never reach that totally passive state of mind I mentioned in chapter 24, step 2. If you "try hard" instead of letting go, you'll never be able to quiesce your mind enough to induce an OBE.

Why do it? What is it good for?

I wrote a blog article on this topic. You can read it by clicking on this link.

How many OBEs have you had?

Hundreds, possibly thousands.  It depends on how you count them.  In many of my early OBEs, I would exit and reenter my body several times over the course of a morning.  In my journals, I only counted it as one OBE when, in fact, there were several.

There were several years in the 1990s where I neglected my OBE journals and didn't write any down, even though I still had them. It's no coincidence that I began dating my wife around 1989 and was married in 1992. Wives can be such a distraction!

The number keeps increasing too, so it's a moving target.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how many OBEs you have.  What’s important is what you learn from them.

Can average people have OBEs?

Yes.  In fact, most OBEs happen to normal, ordinary, average people.

Can average people learn to induce OBEs?

Yes.  I wasn’t born with any special gifts.  I learned everything the hard way.  So can you.

Are some people more likely to have OBEs than others?

I don't think that certain people are more likely to have OBEs than others. OBEs happen to people of all ages, religions, races, cultures and sexes.  It happens to spiritual and unspiritual people alike.

If people can leave their bodies, why isn't it more common?

Actually, it is common. Conservative estimates indicate that OBEs happen to 20 - 25% of the population.

Can you die during an OBE or because of an OBE?

Nobody can possibly rule out the possibility of dying during an OBE, because obviously if anyone has died during an OBE, they haven't been around to warn us; therefore, all we can do is speculate.  I think we all chose to come to this Earth for a purpose, and we're not going to die until that purpose is fulfilled; therefore, I don't think it's possible to die before our appointed time.  If you die during an OBE, it would only be because it was your time to die, and the OBE would not have changed the time-table of your death.

In my experience, no matter how long you want to stay “out,” your body will automatically suck you back in when it needs attention.  So I don’t even think you can commit suicide by trying to remain outside your body.

Can two people switch bodies during mutual OBEs?

If both people agree, it might be possible.  We can only speculate until it's been tried.  My guess is that, even if it were possible, it wouldn't be a permanent switch.  You probably couldn't control the other person's body for very long.  It would probably be like traditional mediumship.

Outside of fictional books, movies and television, I’ve only heard of two accounts of people who may have actually switched bodies.  The first case was Vincent Turvey’s account of his controlling a spirit medium’s body during a seance.1  Turvey supposedly had signed testimonials to this feat.

The second account was from Robert Monroe who may have temporarily entered the body of a strange man.  In an OBE account dated March 11, 1961, he wrote, “...and I thought I had made a normal return to the physical.  I opened my eyes, and I was in a strange bed.  A strange woman was beside the bed, and she smiled as she saw me awaken.  An older woman stood behind her...They helped me get out of bed...and I knew for sure I wasn’t the person they thought I was.  I tried to tell them this, but they only humored me and seemed to think I was still in some form of delirium...”2

What are the factors that encourage OBEs?

The most important factor is the amount of time and energy you spend studying and practicing the techniques and how much time you dedicate to it.

What am I doing wrong during OBE practice?

Since I can't be inside your head during practice, I can't tell you what you're doing wrong.  Most beginners make the same mistakes: They try too hard, and don’t let go enough.  In other words, they don’t let themselves slip close enough to the unconscious state; they remain too “awake.”

Should I attempt OBE with my eyes open or closed?

Your eyes should be closed when practicing OBE.

How important is chakra development to OBE?

When I developed my ability, I did not do any chakra work directly.  At the time, I didn't much believe in chakras.  However, these days I've decided that chakras are real, since mine have been noticeably very active.  Chakra development is probably time well spent, but I learned to leave the body without it, so it's not mandatory.

Why am I suddenly jolted awake when falling asleep?  Does it have anything to do with OBE?

This happens to a lot of people.  I believe that we leave our bodies every night during sleep.  I believe that this jolt is caused when we enter the dream state before we are ready for it.  I think that this happens because our subconscious or superconscious self realizes that it's mistakenly allowed too much of our conscious personality into that dream state, so it aborts the dream sequence and causes us to awaken with a jolt.

So in a way, yes, this has something to do with OBE, but it's not abnormal or paranormal.  My theory is that if you can teach/convince your subconscious “it's okay to take me with when you go out of body” then this might lead to conscious OBEs instead of jolts.

Has it gotten any easier to travel by thought since my first book?

Most OBE books claim it’s easy to travel during an OBE simply by thinking about a person or place.  During my early OBEs, I tried everything I could to travel by thought, but nothing worked.  I'm happy to report that eventually I figured out how to travel with a thought.  It took a lot of trial and error, and it's not always accurate.  Also, it's virtually impossible to explain.  I just pull myself to a location.

Do your OBEs happen in real-time or is time distorted?

As far as I can tell, the OBE seems to happen in real time.  Although some people report experiences where they seem to be in touch with events of the past or future, it has never happened to me.

Have you ever experienced time travel during an OBE?

Once. I wrote a blog article about it. Click here to read it.

Should I worry about hitting power lines during OBE?

I haven't hit any power lines, so I'm not sure.

Have you ever seen extraterrestrials during an OBE?

No, but others have. It's very uncommon in the OBE literature. One notable exception is Darryl Berry's book "Travel Far".

Sometimes I wake up and can't move.  Is this related to OBE?

This is a well-known phenomenon called “Awareness during Sleep Paralysis.”  Many people have it, and most people are afraid of it until they understand what is happening.  Basically, your mind wakes up before your body wakes up.  Your mind is awake, but your body is still in the middle of the natural sleep paralysis that occurs when we all sleep.  It's very difficult to break free of this paralysis, but if you do break free, either your body becomes active and you wake up or else your body stays there, and you have an OBE.  It has happened to me many times, and it's nothing to be concerned about.


I wrote a short article about it many years ago titled "What Everyone Should Know About Sleep Paralysis, ASP and OBEs." Click here to read it.

What happens if you pass through a living object such as a tree?

Not much, really.  Usually I get a slight shiver, but other than that, it feels the same as passing through other physical objects.

Can you manipulate matter on the astral plane and what occurs there? If so, how will it impact physical reality?

You can try to manipulate astral matter, but it won't do you much good.  I've never been able to affect physical reality during my OBEs.  Most of the time, your hands just pass right through the objects you see. If you do manage to move a non-physical object, when you go back to your body, it will not have moved.

Can out of body experiences be used for wrong doing?

I suppose OBE can possibly be used for wrong doing, but it would be extremely difficult.  Just thinking about the wrong-doing would either keep you inside your body, or else cause negative experiences.

What about privacy?

There is no such thing as privacy. Privacy is an illusion. You are always surrounded by entities, some in and some out of their body. You can inhibit them to a degree, but that's only temporary. If you are spiritual and have pure thoughts, you will not attract negative entities (they would find you boring) and you would have no secrets from anyone. I've had entities visit me while I was naked in the shower, and so forth, and it can be surprising and unnerving.

What part of us travels in an OBE?

To address this question, we have to define the soul and the mind.  These are all things that can be described, but not as easily defined.  If my OBEs have taught me anything, they've taught me that the soul and consciousness extend way beyond what we experience in everyday life.

I think of the part that travels out-of-body as my consciousness. I think that the astral body only exists because we are so deeply ingrained with our body image.  I think that our Higher Self always transcends our physical body and is probably very amused by how trapped we feel inside our birdcage bodies that have a wide-open door.  As someone astutely pointed out, whoever said you were in your body at all?  We're just so accustomed to carrying the body around with us that we take it for granted.  You can call it spirit, or soul, or whatever makes you feel comfortable, but it's all the same thing; the real you that is independent of your physical body.

Can others see you when you are in an OBE?

People who are dead or otherwise out of their bodies can usually see me.  I can't always see them, but that's another topic.  People who are inside their bodies never seem to see me at all.  I remember one OBE where I stood in front of my wife Kathy, trying to get her attention.  Despite all my efforts, she didn't see me.  Perhaps someone who can see auras could tell when I was visiting them astrally, but I've never been in a position where I could try that.

The bottom line is this: can ordinary people see ghosts?  Under ordinary circumstances, no.  Maybe once in a while something causes someone to see a ghost.  We may be able to see someone having an OBE under those same circumstances.

What should I do if I meet a spirit for the first time? 

Act the same way you would when you meet a stranger off the street: cautiously.  Remember, spirits are just people like you and me. Some are good. Some are not so good.

Can (and should) we contact dead loved ones in an OBE?

Yes.  For example, you can use astral projection to meet with and speak to your dead wife.  However, I caution you that it's extremely difficult.  The problem is, you are likely to be very emotional about your wife's death.  It will be hard to induce the proper OBE state until you can set aside these emotions completely during the process.  That’s easier said than done.  After you're out of your body, if you get too emotional, it can also bring you back to your body.

I wrote a blog article about it contacting the dead: click here.

Are there any drugs that can induce OBEs?

Some people claim that certain drugs can intermittently induce OBEs.  For example, nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or certain hallucinogens. Author and skeptic Susan Blackmore had an intense OBE when she smoked marijuana. Since drugs interfere with the brain’s normal functioning, I don’t trust the reality of drug-induced experiences.  It’s better to induce OBEs the natural way.

Bob Peterson

14 May 2019



If you have ideas for blog articles related to astral projection and out-of-body experiences, send me an email: bob@robertpeterson.org.

If you like my work, visit my website, robertpeterson.org, where you'll find lots of other free OBE advice and links.

Return to the index of my blog articles