Dreams… That space that is so difficult to decipher, in which rest sometimes turns into the most peculiar and strange images, memories and situations. The world of dreams presents us with a space in which, although much has been studied, many mysteries still remain alive. The answer to why do we dream What we dream of, and why there are typical dreams that are repeated, can have endless explanations, which each person will believe according to their own philosophy of life. But among dreams, there is one in particular that captures the attention and curiosity of everyone who lives it: the out-of-body experience. Today in Supercurioso we have encouraged ourselves to navigate in the depths of the human unconscious, to reveal the meaning of the dream with an out-of-body trip.
What we understand as an out-of-body trip can be associated with two basic sensations: the first refers to a moment in which one floats in the air, being projected outside the body. The second and most intense sensation is the one that refers to the autoscopy, which is understood as the possibility of seeing one’s own body, from the point of view of an external observer. Projection to other places is even contemplated. It is a subjective experience that we will investigate below.
There are many people who claim to have had an experience of these characteristics: that of being asleep and suddenly feeling how a part of them leaves the body. It is common for those who narrate this experience to see themselves from above, feel a sensation of weightlessness and observe the room and oneself in perfect detail. This is what is known as an out-of-body experience and, although there is no scientific agreement that explains why it happens, the testimonies of many people are there.
Out-of-body travel then emerges as one of the many mysteries that are woven around sleep, and since we currently do not have any theoretical-scientific corpus that offers us an answer, It has been the field of the paranormal that collects these facts to try to give truth to one aspect: the existence of the soul, of that energy independent of our body.
Join us to analyze the two main trends that address the issue of out-of-body experiences: the scientific and the supernatural. By the end of this article, you will be able to come to your own conclusions.
Why does the human being dream or experience that a part of him leaves his body? There are several investigations that have been carried out to analyze this sensation, a priority in what we define as out-of-body experiences. The curious thing about this phenomenon is that it usually occurs in reality in several very specific situations:
- when we sleep in a deep way
- When we are under the effects of anesthesia. During a surgical intervention, for example.
- During near death experiences.
For scientific corporations such as the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), in SwissFor example, these out-of-body experiences are just the result of brain confusion. To testify to his statement, a series of experiments were carried out in 2007. During the conferences, a brain region associated with visual and tactile circuits was electrically stimulated: the temporoparietal zone.
The results of the experiment
The people who were part of the experiment they claimed to feel as if they were suddenly expelled from their body, in something they defined as an out-of-body trip, and that it was always preceded by a sensation of bodily paralysis. The research was led by Professor Olaf Blanke, a member of the University of Geneva, and was later published in The Telegraph. The conclusions they reached were the following and it is worth taking them into account:
- The sensation of detachment, or of leaving our body while we sleep, It would actually be due to a small alteration of our brain and not to any spiritual dimension.
- The researchers believe these results demonstrate that the out-of-body experience or detachment from one’s own body occurs when the brain is confused and there is neuronal overexcitation. It would then be a contradiction between the visual and corporeal systems.
- This phenomenon would be related to sleep paralysis. Sometimes, especially when we are going through moments of certain stress or anxiety, we fall asleep in which our brain is still overexcited. It is so active that it continues to stimulate many of our brain regions in a very intense way. However, our body is relaxed. In other words, we sleep, but we do not rest. This imbalance causes the nightmares be very vivid: we can see, feel, smell… the senses are heightened because the brain has these regions activated and, therefore, everything is incredibly real.
- If the brain also stimulates this temporoparietal area, then the out-of-body experience will occur. The same that many people suffer in the middle of an operation or even when they are on the verge of death.
2. The non-scientific spiritualist trend
Although it is not a sleeping sickness, Out-of-body travel can be a disturbing and shocking experience for those who live it. Many of those who have gone through it or have studied it express their disagreement with the scientific vision that justifies it. They support their somewhat more spiritual theory, in arguments such as the following:
- Sometimes when they experience the sensation of being out of the body, they are not asleep.
- When they leave their bodies they are able to see very precise details as if to associate it with a dream or a nightmare.
- This out-of-body experience is not associated only with the bed, with seeing themselves from above, in that place where they are sleeping, at all. There are people who claim to go further, advance through the house and even out of it.
- Those who accept the concept of soul associate this phenomenon with astral travel, which consist of detaching our soul from that physical envelope called the body, to access an astral dimension, often associated with the concept of the fourth dimension.
These are complex aspects that undoubtedly require further analysis. but for now we will stay with the essentials, with this “unfolding” that many people experience -sometimes by chance- and that, despite their initial fear, they decide to delve deeper into their understanding and develop it. That’s when they kick in relaxation and meditation techniques to propitiate this phenomenon again and enjoy it. Something that very old religions have been practicing since ancient times.
We cannot conclude with any definitive answer as to why an out-of-body experience occurs, nor can we clearly discern whether it is due to small alterations in our brain or to dimensions that involve more mystical or spiritual elements. What is undoubtedly a reality is that people who have gone through the sensation of an out-of-body trip remember it with special symbolism, and analyze the dream according to their own beliefs.
And you, Have you had any out of body experience? Do you have memories about her? What exactly did you feel? Go ahead and leave us in a comment the narration about your experience, and let’s learn together about this interesting topic.
And if the mysteries of dreams seduce you, don’t miss this article in which we tell you the best methods to have lucid dreams, and remember them clearly when you wake up. Don’t stop reading these either. phrases about dreamswill take you to discover the best of the dream world.