I think a simple test while in this dream-state should prove whether these occurrences are strictly an intense manifestation of the mind or a literal leaving of the physical body. While roaming this alleged "astral plane", seek to find another person. Someone who like you is journeying through the astral world. Tell them you'll meet them in real life or online for whatever. If they show up, you've proven (at least to yourself) in the existence of an astral plane. That's the proof I would want to know that my experience was literal astral travel.
I can't imagine there wouldn't be others roaming about as its a fairly common (at least relatively) phenomenon.

Having experienced mostly all the major hallucinogens that purported catalyze trips to "astral planes" or alternative dimensions, I can safely say that I do not in any way endorse the belief that we as conscious beings can travel to different realities. Hallucinogens, with the notable exceptions of psilocybin and LSD, aren't really something that the average person can use to navigate their consciousness without either a guide, or previous experience with controlled dreaming/the substances themselves. It's more of a "I'm going to take A and it will more than likely cause X, Y, and Z effects on me." which lends one to interpret their experience while under these effects in relation to their lives, the universe, and reality as they perceive it. However, in reality, hallucinogens, meditation, and most all forms of introspective reflection aimed at achieving an out-of-body experience do not have any significance unless the you personally assign some sort of value to the experience. If you take it for what it really is; a dilution/alteration of your perception of what is concrete reality through physical and chemical changes in your body, then you may as well disregard the whole spiritual side to it as a byproduct.

Basically what I'm trying to say is that IMO any "astral planes" or out-of-body experiences we have are merely illusory episodes that reflect the unique and often unexplainable interplay of hormones and neurotransimtters that make our brains work.

I've heard of some NDE's where someone was technically dead on the operating table, and when they were revived they were able to tell doctors where certain items were placed around the room and they were able to recall what the doctors were doing to their bodies.

Good post, anticipation!

I fully agree :)

Anyone seen this?


Spirit Science 9 - Astral Projection - YouTube

Skepticism. Even if I experienced this first hand I'd have difficulty believing what that video said is true.

Having experienced both drug induced altered states of mind and deep meditation, I can tell you there is definitely a difference between the perceived alternate realities of hallucinatory drugs and entheogens and the clear headed experiences that occur while deep in meditation. It's worth noting the principle difference between these two altered states of consciousness. No matter the drug used, impaired rational thought almost always occurs in some way during any kind of perceived travel or experience. Meditation, on the other hand, takes such mental discipline and willpower to control and eventually eliminate inner dialog that, I believe, thinking on the most complete level can occur.

The difference between drug induced astral travels and out of body experiences and "sober" ones which occur at random or during deep meditation, is the ability to think rationally during the experience. Even during lucid dreaming, the dreamer is aware of a "haze", or a fogginess about the experience, and all of their usual cognitive faculties are not present. From all reports, this isn't so with astral projection/out of body experiences.

I'm not taking sides on any kind of spiritual vs. scientific debate. I don't think spirituality and hard science have to be incompatible, nor do I rule anything out just because there isn't an explanation for it yet.

The only out of body experiences I have had have been a weird dissociative sensation when under extreme stress. A feeling that I am outside myself watching my body on auto-pilot. Not that I felt like I had actually left my body but I didn't feel like I was really there. Hard to explain unless you've experienced it.