| Rationalists and scientists pooh-pooh the idea of astral | | | | memory power and boosts self-esteem. Believers |
| travel while sleeping. Some of them have provided | | | | also claim that anybody can astral travel, as long as |
| "scientific" explanations for out-of-body experiences | | | | they practice hard enough. |
| (OOBE). On the other hand, many practitioners of | | | | The Skeptics' View |
| astral travel speak convincingly on the subject. In other | | | | The skeptics say that astral travelling is nothing but |
| words, the rationalists and the die-hard believers give 2 | | | | hallucination. The Reticular Activating System (RAS), a |
| opposing views on the same subject. The readers | | | | part of the brainstem, has a very important role to play |
| should simply choose a view that convinces them or | | | | in the physiological process of sleep. Since the RAS |
| form an opinion of their own. | | | | paralyses all voluntary muscles, a person sleepwalks if |
| The Believers' View | | | | his/her RAS refuses to function. |
| Astral travel while sleeping is real. All of us astral | | | | Scientists have conducted certain experiments on |
| project and travel to unknown astral realms when we | | | | cats. They altered the level of serotonin in the brain of |
| are asleep. We remember or half-remember our | | | | cats. Although the RAS in case of these cats |
| experiences as dreams; and this memory is usually | | | | functioned normally and the cats were completely |
| short lived. By the time we visit the bathroom and get | | | | paralyzed in sleep, the rise in serotonin level kept the |
| dressed for breakfast, we will have forgotten all about | | | | cats awake. This paralysis is also called "sleep |
| our "astral travels" or "dreams." | | | | paralysis," a condition that is associated with |
| We usually "dream" about things that bother us in real | | | | hypnagogic hallucinations. |
| life. Our minds seek solutions to problems that vex us. | | | | During sleep paralysis, the body tries to send |
| Dreaming, therefore, is intensely therapeutic and | | | | messages from the paralyzed muscles. For instance, |
| serves to relieve the mind of stressful thoughts and | | | | the body might send the message that it is getting up |
| problems. All this happens during astral travel, when the | | | | now; and the person will actually feel as if he/she is |
| astral self leaves the physical body and goes in quest | | | | rising. When this is prolonged, it becomes an "astral |
| of solutions to problems and answers to questions. | | | | projection" or "out-of-body experience." To put it |
| For this reason, believers strongly recommend the | | | | shortly, it is all a trick of the brain. |
| keeping of a dream journal. They claim that, although | | | | Do we really astral travel? You have to choose |
| we will find it difficult to remember our dreams initially, | | | | whether you want to be a believer or a skeptic. Study |
| we will find it easier to do so with the passage of time. | | | | both sides of the coin well. Add to your study a dash |
| The benefits of astral travel while sleeping are great, | | | | of experience; and soon you will know for yourself |
| say the believers. Astral travel sharpens creativity and | | | | whether you really astral travel while sleeping. |