{"id":56665,"date":"2025-03-10T22:24:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T14:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mindvalley.com\/?p=56665"},"modified":"2025-04-01T23:29:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:29:13","slug":"out-of-body-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mindvalley.com\/blog\/out-of-body-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Out-of-body experience: The science and spirituality of leaving your body\u2014plus 7 expert-backed steps to activate it"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever had a moment when you\u2019re floating outside your body, watching yourself from above? That\u2019s an out-of-body experience<\/strong> (OBE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People have reported OBEs for centuries, often experiencing them during meditation, near-death experiences (NDEs), or at the precipice of sleep. Spiritual tribes would call it \u201cthe soul leaving the body,\u201d while many scientific communities tend to call it \u201ca trick of the brain.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, which is it? And more importantly, can you have one on purpose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, according to astral projection expert Jade Shaw<\/strong>, who has experienced it herself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen I saw myself separate from my physical body, I realized I\u2019m not limited to it,\u201d <\/em>she describes her first OBE. \u201cAnd if I\u2019m not limited to my physical body, maybe there are other areas of my life that I\u2019m not limited to either.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OBEs, as she points out, will change how you think about reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is an out-of-body experience?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cout-of-body experience\u201d meaning is exactly what it sounds like: the feeling of floating outside your physical body, often with heightened awareness<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people report watching themselves from above, moving through walls, or even traveling to other locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what\u2019s really happening during an experience?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her exclusive Mindvalley program, The Art of Astral Projection<\/em><\/strong>, Jade explains that OBEs don\u2019t just happen\u2014they emerge from altered states of consciousness. And, she adds, \u201cYou can springboard from a dream, a shamanic journey, or any kind of meditation into an out-of-body experience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The science and spirituality of OBE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Science classifies OBEs as neurological events, while spiritual traditions see them as the doorway to spiritual transcendence<\/a> and higher consciousness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, they\u2019ve been happening for centuries, to skeptics and believers alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scientific perspective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Neuroscience tends to chalk OBEs up to how the brain processes sensory input. Instead of the body \u201cglitching,\u201d many would describe it as more about the brain interpreting sensory information in unusual ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one study, researchers zapped the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) of a patient\u2019s brain and\u2014boom\u2014instant out-of-body sensation was detected<\/a>. The person later reported floating and watching themselves from above during the experience, proving the role that the TPJ plays during an OBE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, another study recorded a surge of brain activity right before a person\u2019s death<\/a>, similar to what happens in dreams and memory recall. That might paint a closer picture of why so many NDEs come with full-blown OBEs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, there\u2019s no way of knowing what the experience looks like to the people undergoing it. But one thing\u2019s for sure: the experience of stepping out of your body leaves a measurable footprint in the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual approach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you ask most pursuers of spirituality<\/a>, an OBE isn\u2019t just some weird brain blip. It\u2019s a doorway to something bigger and quite often the bedrock of spiritual growth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tibetan Buddhists and shamans have practiced techniques for intentionally leaving the body to access higher wisdom for centuries. And the ancient Egyptians? \u201cThey would carve instructions of out-of-body experiences into the rock faces of temple walls,\u201d<\/em> says Jade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And these traditions aren\u2019t the only ones to believe that OBEs are real and normal. Ninety percent of 60 cultures worldwide recognize them as real<\/a>, with nearly half actually practicing them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether a brain phenomenon or a portal to another dimension, one thing\u2019s for certain: OBEs are a shared human experience across cultures and history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps there\u2019s solace in Professor Dumbledore\u2019s words to Harry Potter during the latter\u2019s own OBE: \u201cJust because it\u2019s in your head doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not real.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

OBE vs. astral projection: Key differences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OBEs and astral projection get lumped together all the time, but they\u2019re not exactly the same thing. Think of them as cousins instead of twins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An OBE is typically spontaneous<\/strong>. When it happens, you\u2019re suddenly hovering above yourself. It\u2019s often unexpected, and the person experiencing it usually has little control over what happens next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

[An OBE] is not a dreamy experience at all. It feels so real that even seasoned practitioners can get startled when it happens.<\/p>\n\u2014 Jade Shaw, trainer of Mindvalley\u2019s The Art of Astral Projection program<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Astral projection, on the other hand, is intentional<\/strong>.<\/em> It\u2019s the practice of consciously leaving the body to explore other realms, dimensions, or even different points in time. It\u2019s been used in spiritual initiations for centuries. And today, plenty of people learn how to do it on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The biggest difference between the two? OBEs happen to you, while astral projection is something you train yourself to do<\/strong>. One is like an accidental road trip\u2014you wake up, and you\u2019re already there. While the other is a planned adventure with a map and a destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a fuller view of the two experiences, side by side:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feature<\/strong><\/td>Out-of-body experience (OBE)<\/strong><\/td>Astral projection<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Control<\/td>Usually spontaneous, with little control of the experience<\/td>Intentional, requires practice<\/td><\/tr>
Trigger<\/td>Near-death experiences, sleep paralysis, meditation<\/td>Visualization, an astral projection meditation<\/a> session, deep focus<\/td><\/tr>
Destination<\/td>Often local (hovering above the body, around the home, and other familiar places)<\/td>Can be new places beyond the physical world, in different eras in time<\/td><\/tr>
Awareness<\/td>Occasional confusion and disorientation<\/td>Fully conscious and aware<\/td><\/tr>
Cultural roots<\/td>Reported across many experiences<\/td>Practiced in spiritual traditions<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So, whether you accidentally slip into an OBE or intentionally navigate one through conscious projection, both experiences peel back the curtain on something bigger than the physical world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mindvalley's
Mindvalley’s The Art of Astral Projection trainer Jade Shaw<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How to have an out-of-body experience in 7 expert steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

OBEs aren\u2019t some mystical, once-in-a-lifetime fluke. And you don\u2019t need to be a monk, a psychic, or on the brink of death to experience one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Jade, any human being can learn to tap into it. \u201cIf you\u2019re sitting there thinking, \u2018this is only for shamans,\u2019 it\u2019s not,\u201d<\/em> she reassures. \u201cIt\u2019s a natural human experience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you want to tap into an OBE while awake or let it happen naturally in your sleep, here\u2019s the Jade-approved playbook on stepping beyond the physical plane on purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Out-of-body experience while awake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most spontaneous OBEs happen when you\u2019re in a relaxed, altered state\u2014that is, halfway between wakefulness and sleep. But if you want to induce one while fully conscious, you\u2019ll need to train your mind to shift into that state on demand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Get into the zone<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

You need to be physically relaxed but mentally alert. This can be done through deep meditation<\/a>, mindful breathing<\/a> techniques, or the body scan method\u2014where you slowly relax every part of your body while keeping your mind focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure where to start? Follow these steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n