What is the difference between projection and reality? The phenomenon was featured in the 2016 blockbuster Doctor Strange and the sequel Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where the superhero has the ability to separate his physical body from his spiritual one.

The technique was used in the series "Behind her Eyes", where multiple characters have mastered the art.

According to surveys, between 8 and 20 percent of people claim to have had an out-of-body experience at some point in their lives. Some people claim to do it while relaxing.

It's fun and fascinating, but is it real?

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History of astral projection

Helena Blatavsky, the founder of Theosophy

Helena Blatavsky, the founder of Theosophy (Image credit: Getty/ Bettmann / Contributor)

Humans can leave their bodies during dream states. Many people, from New Agers to shamans around the world, believe that it is possible to experience visions and dreams through out-of-body experiences. The spiritual boom of the 19th century and early 20th century was the root of the most recent resurgence.

The idea comes from a 19th century mystical system called theosophy, which claims that we have seven bodies from the lowest physical to the highest spiritual and mental bodies, according to Dr Susan Blackmore.

The Theosophical Society was founded in New York in 1875, according to John L Crow. According to Susan Blackmore in Psychology Today, she claimed to have traveled the world, studied with Tibetan guru, contacted the dead, and learned to reach higher planes with Hindus and Buddhists.

The third of the seven bodies of man is the astral body. According to Blackmore, the physical and etheric bodies can leave behind the astral body and travel on the planes. Theosophy had a profound effect on artists and scientists in the 19th and early 20th century. As a subject of popular fiction, we can see the beginnings of the use of Astral Projection in films such as Doctor Strange. The hero of Dennis Wheatley's 1941 novel Strange Conflict uses it to travel the globe in his sleep.

Like many New Age beliefs, it has been commercial. There are many books, seminars, DVDs and other materials that promise to teach students how to leave their physical bodies and access other dimensions. Does projection work?

Is astral projection real?

If Astral Projection is real, why has science not been able to prove it?

If Astral Projection is real, why has science not been able to prove it? (Image credit: Getty/ Spectral-Design)

The experience must be real because it seems so vivid, and because some of the experiences are similar, even for people from different cultures. It is not surprising that many people who try to see the stars have the same experiences.guided imagery is when an authority tells you something.

It may be a profound experience, but the fundamental problem is 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 888-353-1299 The best explanation for out-of-body experiences is that the person is just imagining. There is no evidence that consciousness can exist outside of the brain.

Why hasn't it been proven? Mainstream scientists refuse to even look at evidence that doesn't fit their view of the world. In science, those who disprove dominant theories are rewarded. If the scientists were to prove the existence of psychic powers, they would get a place in the history books.

If you want to test the validity of astral travel, you can hide ten unknown objects at different locations and then ask a person to project their consciousness to each place. Either the descriptions match or they don't.

According to researcher Susan Blackmore, author of Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-of-the-Body Experiences, people who experience astral travel have been found to score higher on measures of hypnotizability.

The Cureus journal published a paper titled "Astral Projection: A Strange Out-of-Body Experience in Dissociative Disorder" in 2021. There are many possible causes of out of body experiences, such as epileptic seizures and migraines, deficient visual, and multisensory processing, near-death experiences, and drug use.

These peculiar experiences have been described as secondary to the psychopathology of psychiatric disorders. The authors stated that the patient had frequently run away from home, as well as having had a decrease in social interest and sadness for the past two to three months, according to the report.

The patient would often assume the identity of an 18 year-old electrician when he ran away, and one time he had an out of body experience. They concluded that due to his circumstances the patient was most likely in a dissociative state and that astral projection can be construed as a part of that experience.

There are other possible causes of out-of-body experiences. The Atlantic reported on a study that analysed patients who had suffered with dizziness. Issues with the inner ear can result in a sense of floating, as it is responsible for providing the body with its sense of balance. Out of body experiences were reported by some 14% of the patients compared to 5% who did not have any.

The real world provides countless opportunities for projection, so we don't need to resort to artificial tests. It would be useful to the world if it were proven. It would not be necessary to send humans into very dangerous conditions to determine what the situation is.

During natural disasters such as earthquakes, people with consciousnesses that can fly and move through walls would save lives. During mass shooting and hostage situations, the police would benefit from the use of steles, which would describe exactly how many suspects there are, where in the building they can be found, and other crucial details. The absence of these individuals is revealing.

A person who takes peyote or LSD may be able to say that they interacted with God, dead people, or angels while in their altered state, even though they insist their experiences are real. It can seem profound and even life-changing when one considers the entertainment and harmless pastime of sardonic projection. There is no evidence that out-of-body experiences happen outside the body. There are always continuing adventures of the Sorcerer Supreme until the existence of an astral plane is proven.

Additional resources

The study assessed an attempt at voluntary out of body experiences. Some of the possible causes of out of body experiences are explored by Healthline. In this piece for the Ringer, Jodi Walker attempts to project her soul across the universe.

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Bibliography