Double Vision: Are Non-Visual Dreams Out of Body Experiences?

Many times in my dreams I can't see myself or anything else but I know that I am there. For example, last night I dreamed that I could only feel air. I had a sense of awareness, but nothing more. Is this an out of body experience? Also, there are certain times in my dreams when I see myself in some other body, as another person. I find all of this very confusing. Can you help?
Anamica

Astrea:

For centuries, shamans and mystics of various cultures have sought out of body experiences. You are experiencing the same kind of thing without deliberate effort or control - yet. With practice, you can learn to create the right state of mind for inducing a conscious OBE.

Out-of-body experiences typically involve sensations of floating or perceiving the body from outside of it. The sensation of air that you describe is pretty common in the realm of the OBE. An OBE can occur during sleep or while falling asleep, and often it is associated with near death experiences. Some anti-depressants have also been found to mechanically induce OBEs.

Astral projection and out of body experiences are not exactly the same things. Out of body experiences usually occur spontaneously, without any planning or expectations on our part. Often, as in your case, they go beyond any expectations we may have of being in such a state. During an OBE, we travel to other dimensions where a sense of physicality isn't as natural as it is in awake or dreaming states.

Most times, having an OBE is exciting, mystifying, and a bit frightening because it comes over us without much warning. While it's dream-like, it isn't the same as having a regular dream. During an OBE, we have the overwhelming sense that whatever we're experiencing is REALLY HAPPENING; we're sure we aren't dreaming or in an altered state of consciousness, though in many ways, we are, of course!

During astral projection, many of us are able to visit face to face with our Guides and Angels. If you've been longing to reach a point in your spiritual growth that includes astral projection, you're certainly on the right track now; the OBE's you're having can lead to some amazing Soul Growth.

Recognizing what is happening to you can carry you a long way toward gaining control of what's going on. As usual, with anything spiritual, it takes time according to your own learning curve to be able to use new skills in purposeful ways.

As long as you stay out of the altered states induced by drug or alcohol use (including cigarettes), you can learn to mentally create the right state of consciousness for astral projection once you get a handle on these spontaneous OBEs. The biggest hurdle is to overcome any FEAR involved, but then, that is true for lots of mystical practices.

*****

Susyn:

Dreams often deliver their messages in mysterious ways as the subconscious strives to gain access to the conscious mind. There are different types of dreams, and each has a specific purpose.

Dreaming of flying (being surrounded by air) or being in the body of another person does suggest an astral projection experience. Another common aspect of these types of dreams is when we experience a sense of falling and, upon landing, wake up with a jolt.

Astral projection can be difficult to control. If you're interested in developing the art of astral projection, you can open the door to conscious flight by practicing guided meditation before bedtime.

Upon retiring for the night, you may want to visualize a place, person or time in history that you would like to visit. Astral projection can also be accomplished while you are in an awake state, and this will offer you more control over your out-of-body travels.

We can also have dreams in which we appear to inhabit the body of another person, or do not see ourselves as present in the dream. Many dream theorists claim that all the people who appear in our dreams symbolize aspects of ourselves. For example, if you found yourself dreaming of a certain movie star or famous person, this theory suggests that you are relating to or trying to embrace some of the characteristics of those people.

When I conduct dream interpretations, I consider all possibilities from all angles. I have clients who find themselves visiting people they knew long ago, but they see them in their present state or location. Upon further investigation, the higher purpose of these dreams is almost always to simply reconnect with that person in a direct way. It doesn't matter if they admire aspects of that person or carry unresolved issues involving them; something is calling them to reconnect.

To discover if these dreams are forms of astral projection, premonitions, or designed to help you process old feelings and issues, you'd be wise to start a journal and record all of your dreams in it. Then you'll be able to identify various patterns from which to draw the significance of these experiences.

As you do this, your dreams will become richer and clearer, and you'll start to develop a greater ability not only to decipher them, but to direct them in a positive, purposeful manner.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.