Has anyone here experienced OBE (out of body experience)? Or astral projection?

[kentauros]

17. I started having spontaneous OBEs at age 16.

I would like to state, first, that as far as my definitions of the two terms, OBE and Astral Projection, are concerned, that there's no difference between the two. You're experiencing being out of body and it's all astral. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be out of body

For me it started when I discovered some books in the library about them (old, turn of the century and earlier accounts of OBE, then only called "Astral Projection&quot and began having them as if I'd triggered something by reading about them. I probably had more experiences in those first few years than most of the decades later on. But I think I had more profound experiences in my 20s and 30s. I still never got to those places you define as "astral" or the higher "Focus Levels" Robert Monroe describes in his books, yet it was still fun!

The fear that comes with going OBE is pervasive, and for me has only gone away slowly and with age. One technique I learned along the way is that if you are having trouble either getting out of your body or out of your home, that you "ask for help", and you will more than likely get it. It can come in any form, and one time my fear was too much for the "help" to handle. That is, I asked for help, and a 'portal' of golden light appeared in my bedroom ceiling and a hand that looked like the golden tanned hand and arm of Doc Savage reached out to take mine. Had I been able to let the help continue, I'd likely have had a different story to tell now. However, in recent years, I've surmised and had confirmed in personal meditations that the one that had been helping me was one of my spirit-guides. I think I say something about that on my blog, but you'll just have to go and look for it. You might like what you read anyway

Two authors of books on this subject are recommended reading for those wanting to get out or are having trouble with their OBEs. I've mentioned Robert Monroe, and his first is "Journeys Out of Body". It's a rather clinical retelling of his beginning experiences, but it's worth slogging through them all as his writing and storytelling does get better. The other author to look for is Bob Peterson. I can't see my copy of his book from here, but I think it's titled simply "Out of Body Experiences" or something like that. I'm sure it's on Amazon, and he might have more books. Robert Monroe is deceased though he started an institute to study and help people have OBEs among other spiritual talents, and is also worth investigating.

Also, there are several sites out there that are good places to start, such as Astral Dynamics, Astral Pulse (forums), and Near-Death.com. While NDEs are not OBEs, the experiences are similar. Plus that site has some information on OBEs.