Astral projection, a phenomenon popularized in movies like “Doctor Strange” and TV series such as “Behind Her Eyes,” involves the separation of one’s consciousness from the physical body. But What Does Astral Travel Mean in reality? Is it simply a plot device for science fiction, or a genuine spiritual practice? Surveys suggest that a significant portion of the population, ranging from 8 to 20 percent, report having experienced something akin to an out-of-body experience (OBE) at some point in their lives. These experiences involve a sensation of the consciousness, spirit, or “astral body” detaching from the physical form. While these experiences often occur during sleep or under hypnosis, some individuals claim to achieve this state through mere relaxation.
A Brief History of Astral Projection
Helena Blatavsky, founder of Theosophy, promoting spiritual concepts.
The concept of humans separating from their bodies during dream states has ancient roots. Across cultures, from New Age practitioners to shamans, many believe in the possibility of connecting with cosmic intelligence through visions and vivid dreams during astral projection, also known as out-of-body experiences. However, the modern resurgence of interest in astral projection can be traced back to the spiritual revival of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Dr. Susan Blackmore explained to HowStuffWorks that the idea originates from theosophy, a 19th-century mystical system that posits the existence of seven bodies, ranging from the physical to the spiritual and mental. The Theosophical Society, founded in New York in 1875 by Helena Blatavsky, played a pivotal role in popularizing these ideas. Blatavsky claimed to have traveled extensively, studied with Tibetan gurus, communicated with the deceased, and mastered accessing higher planes with Hindu and Buddhist teachers.
Theosophy teaches the concept of ‘Seven Bodies of Man’, with the astral body as the third. Blackmore notes that the astral body can supposedly leave the physical and etheric bodies behind, traversing astral planes. Engelberg Ideas highlights Theosophy’s profound influence on artists and scientists during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Astral projection has since infiltrated popular fiction, influencing its use in films like “Doctor Strange.” Dennis Wheatley’s 1941 novel, “Strange Conflict,” features the hero Duc De Richleau using astral projection to travel the world in his sleep.
What started as a private, quasi-religious meditative practice has, like many New Age beliefs, been commercialized. Astral travel has become a lucrative industry, with numerous books, seminars, DVDs, and other resources promising to teach individuals how to detach from their physical bodies and access other dimensions. But the central question remains: Is astral projection real?
Is Astral Projection a Genuine Phenomenon?
Conceptual depiction of the challenges in scientifically verifying astral projection.
Practitioners assert that astral travel is real due to the vividness of the experience and the commonalities shared among individuals from different cultural backgrounds. It’s important to consider the concept of “guided imagery,” where an authority figure, like a psychologist or astral travel instructor, shapes the participant’s expectations.
While astral projection can be a profound experience, the fundamental issue lies in the lack of scientific methods to measure the “departure” or “entry” of a person’s spirit into the body. The simplest explanation for out-of-body experiences is that the person is fantasizing and dreaming. Given the absence of scientific evidence supporting consciousness outside the brain, astral projection is generally rejected by the scientific community.
Some proponents suggest that mainstream scientists are unwilling to examine evidence that challenges their existing worldview. However, in science, disproving dominant theories is rewarded, not punished. Demonstrating the existence of psychic powers, astral projection, or alternative dimensions would grant dissenting scientists significant recognition, potentially including a Nobel Prize.
Scientifically validating astral travel should be relatively straightforward. For example, unknown objects could be hidden at various locations, and a person could project their consciousness to each location and describe what they observe. The accuracy of the descriptions would then determine the validity of the experience.
Researcher Susan Blackmore, author of “Beyond the Body: An Investigation of Out-of-the-Body Experiences,” found that individuals who experience astral travel tend to score higher in hypnotizability and absorption, which measures the ability to become fully immersed in something, even if it is not real. These individuals are often more imaginative, suggestible, and prone to fantasy, but they typically exhibit low rates of drug and alcohol use and lack obvious signs of psychopathology or mental illness.
A 2021 paper published in the Medical Science journal Cureus, titled “Astral Projection: A Strange Out-of-Body Experience in Dissociative Disorder,” examined a case of alleged astral projection in a 15-year-old boy. The paper discussed potential causes of out-of-body experiences, including neurological conditions like epileptic seizures and migraines, visual, vestibular, and multisensory processing deficits, near-death experiences, and psychedelic drug use. The authors also noted that such experiences can be linked to psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia, personality disorders, depersonalization, anxiety, dissociative disorders, and depression.
In the specific case, the patient frequently ran away from home and assumed a false identity. During one such incident, he reported an out-of-body experience. The authors concluded that the patient was likely in a dissociative state and that, in this instance, “astral projection can be construed as a part of the dissociative experience.”
Vestibular disorders may also play a role in out-of-body experiences and astral projection. A 2017 study reported by The Atlantic examined 210 patients with vestibular disorders, which affect the inner ear’s balance system. The study found that 14% of these patients reported out-of-body experiences, compared to 5% of individuals without vestibular issues.
The absence of scientifically validated instances of astral projection during real-world scenarios further fuels skepticism. For example, the ability to project consciousness into dangerous environments such as nuclear disaster sites or collapsed buildings following natural disasters would be invaluable. Astral projectors could potentially locate survivors and provide crucial information to rescue workers. Similarly, they could assist law enforcement during mass shootings and hostage situations by providing details about suspects and their locations.
While astral projection practitioners maintain that their experiences are genuine, their evidence remains anecdotal. Just as individuals under the influence of substances like peyote or LSD may believe they have interacted with divine beings, astral projection, while possibly entertaining and profound, lacks concrete evidence of occurring outside the brain. Until the existence of an astral plane can be proven and made accessible, the adventures of characters like Doctor Strange remain firmly in the realm of fiction.
Additional Resources
- This study from Frontiers in NeuroScience assesses an attempt at voluntary out of body experiences.
- Healthline explores some of the possible causes of out of body experiences.
- Jodi Walker attempts to project her soul across the universe in this piece for the Ringer.
