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In the same way, factors and techniques that facilitate the recall Types of out-of-body experiences of the period spent outside the human body have been identified. There are innumerable types of OOBEs. These vary according to For example, applying oneself to the improvement of one's will and _ the way in which they occur, in their nature and in their purpose. memory and to one's capacity for attention and concentration can For example, the most common type of out-of-body experience is all contribute to the recollection of the extraphysical experiences. the "spontaneous" (or accidental) experience, in which the projector As it is easier to provoke an OOBE from some altered states of did not intend to leave the body (and often does not even know consciousness than from the ordinary physical waking state, then about the phenomenon). By contrast, an intentional OOBE is one those interested in producing lucid OOBEs should take advantage that has been purposefully provoked by the application of a whilst experiencing such a condition (if positive or sound) such as: projective technique. physical tiredness, lucid dreaming, the hypnogogic (alpha) state or Among the many other types of OOBEs, we can also cite the deep relaxation. "confirmed" experience, which is when the individual attains However, the most important qualities, essential to producing enough lucidity outside the body to perform a practical task that lucid OOBEs, are strong desire, enables him to confirm his mental concentration and extraphysical state; for example, determination. The effectiveness seeing something in the physical of these personal qualities should dimension that can be confirme not be underestimated. later. It is this type of experience Beyond these, there exist count- that allows scientists to conduct less other techniques for provok- experimental research on the OOBE ing lucid OOBEs. One of the phenomenon. most comprehensive lists, describ- Another very common type of ing 37 techniques in detail, can be experience is the "leisure" OOBE found in a_ book entitled that is typified by feelings of liberty Projectiology, by Waldo Vieira, and well-being and often includes MD. extraphysical flights. The degree of success of one Some also claim to have ha technique over another is purely experiences in which they encoun- personal, so practice and trial and tered a friend, family member or error will determine which other acquaintance who has passed techniques work best for each away. Others have had encounters individual. with friends who were also con- scious outside their bodies and were able to communicate with them dur- ing the experience. One of the most interesting types of OOBEs, however, is the continu- ously conscious OOBE, during which the individual maintains awareness through all stages of the experience; in other words, during the period of their normal waking state, their relaxation, the separation Levels of lucidity experienced outside the body Considering that every human eing without exception can tem- orarily project the consciousness from the physical body, and that this seems as natural a process as reathing and sleeping, then why is it that practically 99 per cent of humans do not remember having any extraphysical experiences? of the nonphysical body, the period spent outside the body, the The answer to this is simple. It's because the majority of people return of the extraphysical body to the physical body and, finally, eave their bodies with no lucidity or awareness at all. Many the return to normal waking state (waking up upon returning). actors, common to the average person, prompt this condition. These include: a lack of interest in everything that is nonphysical; Projective phenomena an all-consuming fixation on all things physical; an inability, Paranormal phenomena are very much a part of our ordinary through ignorance, to distinguish the experience outside the body physical day-to-day lives. We may benefit from a series of rom a dream of no consequence; and scientific and/or religious synchronicities—for example, receive a signal that we feel conditioning. compelled to act upon in some way, or play the role of a But this is not an all-or-nothing scenario. Individuals can (secondary) messenger to someone we know, passing them a experience different levels of awareness outside the body. Ina state | message that we don't understand but that has clear implications for of semi-awareness, for example, the individual will typically be | them. Yet without a perspective that includes extraphysical confused as to his condition and be open to interference from dimensions and beings, we assign the resulting fortune (good or dreamlike images or nightmares. otherwise) to chance, luck or fate, failing to recognise that we are in Ona scale of 0-100% of extraphysical lucidity, itis ata level of fact experiencing a paranormal phenomenon such as clairvoyance, about 60% that the projected individual gains certainty as to his clairaudience, channelling or intuition. extraphysical state. This is another reason why research, both personal and formal, is During a lucid out-of-body experience, the individual is able to important, as it allows us to identify and study nonphysical dimen- access and employ all of the capacities he enjoys in the waking sions and beings and therefore better understand the true nature of state, such as memory, rationality, decision-making and critical our reality. judgement. The nonphysical dimension, however, is so different to the Projective phenomena Paranormal phenomena are very much a part of our ordinary physical day-to-day lives. We may benefit from a series of synchronicities—for example, receive a signal that we feel compelled to act upon in some way, or play the role of a (secondary) messenger to someone we know, passing them a message that we don't understand but that has clear implications for them. Yet without a perspective that includes extraphysical dimensions and beings, we assign the resulting fortune (good or otherwise) to chance, luck or fate, failing to recognise that we are in fact experiencing a paranormal phenomenon such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, channelling or intuition. This is another reason why research, both personal and formal, is important, as it allows us to identify and study nonphysical dimen- sions and beings and therefore better understand the true nature of our reality. The nonphysical dimension, however, is so different to the APRIL — MAY 2004 NEXUS 57 www.nexusmagazine.com