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An out-of-body experience refers to exploring a realm outside of your physical body. Some individuals even share stories of observing their own body from above while floating! Many out-of-body experiences occur unexpectedly in altered states of consciousness – for example, you might experience this while falling asleep, near death, or under the influence of certain drugs or stimulants. However, if you're curious about having an out-of-body experience, there are simple and safe techniques you can try to embark on this journey. Keep an open mind and focus on exploration rather than the result!
Steps
Try the 'Early Morning Method'
Set a positive and determined intention. Before attempting an out-of-body experience, you must consciously decide that you will have this experience! Remind yourself of your goal often, especially as the moment for the experience approaches. This is especially important in the last few hours before the designated time.
- You can try repeating a phrase or mantra, such as 'Today, I will consciously leave my body and then return to it.'
Did you know? Many people believe that out-of-body experiences are either mystical or spiritual phenomena, while others think of them as a physical occurrence.
Set a time and place for your out-of-body experience. Choose a specific time and find a comfortable, familiar space outside of your regular bed where you will experience the out-of-body journey. This space should be quiet and peaceful, allowing you to concentrate without distractions.
- For example, you could decide, 'I will have an out-of-body experience tomorrow night after going to sleep,' and designate your sofa as the place where you intend to leave your body.
- It is important to select a location that is not your regular bed, as this could result in simply falling asleep instead of achieving an out-of-body experience!
- Think of this space as a self-exploration zone. You can even decorate it to enhance the experience. For instance, hanging crystal balls could create a vibe that feels like it belongs to another realm.
Set an alarm to ring 4 hours after you fall asleep. Sleep in your regular bed and follow your usual routine. Before going to bed, set an alarm on your clock or phone to wake you up after 4 hours of sleep.
- Depending on how quickly you fall asleep, you may need to adjust the alarm time. It’s essential that the alarm rings after you’ve entered a deep REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep.
Fall asleep in your familiar bed and focus on your goal. As you begin to drift off, concentrate entirely on your intention to have an out-of-body experience. This should be the last thought you consciously have before slipping into sleep.
- If you notice your mind wandering, gently redirect your thoughts back to your goal.
- You can repeat the phrase or mantra you’ve chosen to reinforce your intention.
Move to your 'practice area' after the alarm rings. Once you wake up from the alarm, get out of bed. Sit quietly for about 15 minutes, then move to the sofa or the place you designated for the out-of-body experience. Try to clear your mind of all other thoughts and focus solely on your goal of leaving your body.
- Turn off your phone and ensure that no pets or family members will disturb you during this practice session.
Lie down and continue focusing on your goal of having an out-of-body experience. Once you’ve moved to your chosen spot, lie down in a comfortable, relaxed position. You can place your arms by your sides or rest your hands together on your chest, whichever feels most comfortable. Quietly repeat your goal to yourself.
- For example, you might say to yourself, 'Now, I am leaving my body,' or 'I am about to have an out-of-body experience.'
Visualize leaving your body and exploring your home. Once you feel at ease, close your eyes and imagine yourself leaving the place where you're lying. Walk through different rooms of your home, observe familiar objects, and explore each one. Keep a calm and open mindset during this experience.
- For example, you might imagine walking to admire a painting on the wall or picking a decorative item you love from a shelf.
- Avoid thinking about or focusing on your physical body.
- As you become more comfortable with this visualization, you can try exploring outside your home. For instance, imagine walking down the road outside or even envision yourself floating above the neighborhood.
Continue focusing on your out-of-body experience as you drift back to sleep. While visualizing yourself exploring your home, remind yourself of your goal of having an out-of-body experience. Stay consciously focused on these thoughts as you drift off to sleep.
- The ideal scenario is that you'll enter the out-of-body state during the transition back to sleep. The out-of-body experience that occurs as you fall asleep may be a form of lucid dreaming. The aim here is to maintain awareness and control over the experience as you enter REM sleep.
Be patient and record your experiences in a journal. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t succeed the first time! You may need to practice this technique multiple times before achieving the desired result. Treat the process as a relaxing meditation session, and don’t focus solely on the outcome. After each session, make sure to jot down every detail, no matter how small, in a dedicated journal for your out-of-body experiences.
- Your journal will help you track and better understand your experiences. It will also make it easier to monitor your progress!
Use the visualization technique
Lie down in a comfortable position. Find a quiet, peaceful spot where you can lay still and be free from distractions. You may lie on your bed, sofa, yoga mat, or even on the grass if you find a warm outdoor location where you won’t be disturbed. Aim to clear your mind and stay calm.
- You can place your hands on your chest or by your sides – whatever feels most comfortable.
Imagine you are floating above your bed or the floor. Once you feel comfortable, close your eyes. Try to envision your body gently rising above the surface you’re lying on.
- Focus entirely on the image and sensation of floating. If your concentration falters, gently bring it back to the image of floating.
Tip: This technique is a form of visualization meditation. Explore basic guided visualization techniques to develop the skills needed for this type of out-of-body experience.
Maintain the position until you no longer feel the bed or floor beneath you. While visualizing yourself floating, try to both feel and imagine. Picture an empty space below you. Continue to focus on these sensations until the sensation of the hard surface beneath you disappears.
- You may need to continue imagining yourself 'floating' for a while to reach this state of sensation loss. If you lose focus, take a few deep breaths and try again.
Visualize moving around to explore the room. Once you truly feel detached from the surface below, imagine yourself slowly rising into a standing position. Visualize walking or floating around the room, observing different objects and details around you. Try not to analyze what you see or do – let the experience unfold naturally.
- You might be tempted to look back at your own body, but resist this urge until you are more familiar with other stages of the process! Doing so could disrupt the out-of-body experience – thoughts of the body might pull you back into it.
Practice this technique daily until you can perform each step with ease. This out-of-body technique, based on visualization, may take a while to master, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t succeed at first. Practice each stage repeatedly until you can do it comfortably and effortlessly.
- You might need several months of practice to master each stage of this technique. For example, you’ll first need to focus on visualizing yourself floating above your body, gradually reaching the point where you no longer feel the surface beneath you, and continue this way.
Advice
- You may find that the easiest way to begin is by exploring your immediate surroundings, like the house or room you’re in. As you become more skilled at entering and controlling the out-of-body state, you can start exploring wider areas. Some believe that they can transcend their physical domain and explore other realms during their out-of-body experience.
- Be patient. Achieving a conscious out-of-body experience requires a lot of practice.
- There’s no way to know for certain whether you’ve “truly” experienced leaving your body – it depends on your own feelings and perceptions during the event. Ideally, you’ll have a strong sensation of detachment from your body. You may or may not see your body during the experience.
- To end the out-of-body experience, simply focus on the thought of returning to your body. You may also return to your body if interrupted by physical needs (such as hunger or needing to use the bathroom) or external factors like loud noises.
- There are many techniques to induce an out-of-body experience. If one method doesn’t work for you, search online for other methods that you can experiment with.
