5. Astral Sight

In-body real-time or astral sight is a subtle body ability that allows projectors to see through closed eyelids, and even through heavy bedcovers (see chapter 1). Projectors frequently note this phenomenon during the prelude to OBEs and during waking-paralysis episodes. This can also occur during the trance state alone, due perhaps to partial internal generation of the real-time projectable double.

The etheric body itself, while glued firmly within the physical body, also seems capable of developing independent real-time and astral-sight abilities, under the right circumstances. This is a complexity of the mind-split effect that most commonly occurs after the projected double has made its exit, and during waking-paralysis episodes.

The quality of these abilities is extremely variable. They seem dependent on bioenergetic development, and on natural ability. Many people, when they experience in-body real-time sight, do not realize their physical eyes are actually closed at the time, or that they are seeing through their bedcovers, often in a direction away from where their physical body is actually facing.

There appears to be more to real-time and astral sight than meets the eye - if you'll pardon the awful pun. They may seem to result from a part of a subtle body peering out from within the confines of the physical body, but subtle bodies do not contain functioning sense organs, nor functioning copies of sense organs (see chapter 7).

Everything seen in this way is better described as being directly perceived by the mind/senses of the subtle body in question. The etheric and real-time bodies, once internally generated and partially freed from the limitations of their physical body, are capable of perceiving energy directly and of interpreting it in a visual way.

While separation is still only partial, the physical brain shares the subtle body's perceptions. Under this circumstance, out-of-body sight is shared simultaneously with the sight center of the physical brain. It is therefore perceived as if seen through the eyes of the physical body. These visual perceptions, although technically experienced out of body, cause immediate memories to form in the physical brain.

In a way, it can be said that out-of-body perception and shadow memory sharing is taking place, causing direct sight and memory input into the physical brain.
 

Remote-Eye Projection
Remote-eye projection is a term I use for another complication of consciousness and of the mind-split. A remote point of consciousness can project out of the physical body without any kind of normal projection being sensed or even appearing to take place.

This occasionally happens spontaneously to an awake but extremely tired person, but it can also occur during the somnambulistic or deep-trance states. Accidental remote-eye projectors are always extremely tired and hanging right on the edge of sleep, forcing themselves to stay awake. (There is normally another person involved, keeping the remote-eye projector awake.)

The overtired person suddenly sees a vision of a remote scene very clearly, as if with physical eyes. This is usually a real-time scene fairly close to the projector's actual location in the real world. Remote-eye projectors are usually, but not always, able to see in all directions at once. They are also usually unaware of having any type of body or mind at their remote eye's location, although they will be fully aware of their physical body and its surroundings. They also usually have only limited influence over the movement of their remote-eye aspect, if any.

Note here that remote-eye projection occurs while the physical body and mind are awake and functional, if only just barely. The physical body is still capable of sluggish movement, even of standing and walking and going to the bathroom - especially if the projector has some experience operating in the full-trance state. Speech is possible, but takes effort and is usually slurred.

However, the projectors are fully capable of speaking and of giving a running commentary of the movements and perceptions of their remote-eye aspect - if they can stay conscious long enough to do so. The view from their remote eye may come and go, especially if the remote-eye projectors attempt to undertake any activity requiring more than partial attention.

Remote-eye projections are less dramatic and hence less commonly associated with OBE than are normal spontaneous projections, but they are not exactly a rarity. They are caused, I think, by the projection of a very low-powered version of the real-time double, with a barely noticeable mind-split. A weak version of the real-time double is projected, or more aptly ejected, from an extremely overtired physical body and mind that, quite literally, cannot hold itself together any longer.

The remote eye (projected double) will, if effort is applied, be found to respond sluggishly to the will of the awake remote-eye projector. This is more of an influence than a control. If left alone, the remote-eye aspect will continue moving about, changing direction and even flying at times, completely under its own volition. This last factor strongly indicates that the remote-eye aspect has its own copy of mind, albeit maybe a weaker copy or reflection of the original.

The mind-split effect is quite evident here.

Projectors clearly perceive themselves as existing in two separate locations simultaneously. Neither aspect is aware of the other's thoughts and no astral feedback is apparent between them. This can aptly be called a genuine type of out-of-body experience, although the projector is fully aware of being within the bounds of the physical body at all times.

The following is a typical remote-eye projection:

It is late and I am very tired. My eyes sting with dryness and feel like lead and I have to force them to stay open. The room is dimly lit, with only a little moonlight coming through the window. I can just make out the shadowy shapes of the furniture in the room around me. My body is heavy with trance symptoms. If I stand, I feel like I am walking on big, fluffy pillows, and I can hardly feel my legs at all, though I know they are still there and can still use them if I try. I feel a bone-deep tickling throughout physical my body whenever I move any part of it. My eyes droop closed briefly, and suddenly I become aware of seeing clearly from a remote point of view outside my body. My remote-eye aspect is floating down the road near my house.

I can see in all directions at once. I am still aware of listening to my friend talking, and of mumbling a few short replies here and there, when prompted. I can still talk and move my physical body, after a fashion. If I pull myself together, taking a deep breath and forcing my attention back to the room and the conversation, my remote eye view and that of the room around me flickers back and forth. Each time this happens, I get a sinking feeling in my stomach and chest, like the sensation you get when your airplane hits an air pocket. This is the same sensation you get when the projection reflex starts to kick in, just before the separation of the physical body from its projected double.

I can hold this remote eye view if I relax and concentrate on it with my eyes closed, but I can also see the same view, superimposed over the darkness, although not as clear, if my eyes drift open. My remote eye view is exactly what I would experience if I were actually projecting in real time. I am not really there, but I am seeing from there. If I drift a little too deeply toward sleep, I feel myself switch to the remote location, inside my real-time body. When this happens, my mind comes with me. I shift back to my physical body again if my friend touches my arm or speaks to me.

While focused on my remote-eye aspect, it feels like I am connected to something like a flying remote TV camera, and my eyes are little TV sets receiving the view from there. Control of my remote-eye aspect is difficult, but I do seem to have a slight influence over it.

This type of experience usually happens spontaneously, but I have had some success re-creating the necessary conditions and causing it deliberately.

If I am not with another person who is instructed to keep me awake, I will usually shift into the remote-eye projection fairly quickly. It is a very delicately balanced and difficult state to hold for any length of time, even with assistance. If I allow myself to fall asleep, the experience invariably becomes a real-time projection without noticeable separation or exit sensations.

In my remote-eye projections, I have never experienced waking paralysis, only physical heaviness and sluggishness. I have always been able to think, talk, and move my physical body, albeit very sluggishly.

It is quite possible that remote-eye projections involve a different type, level, or strength of the real-time projected double than is normally generated during an OBE. This may be more like a real-time reflected double, rather than a real-time projected double. It is also possible that when the physical body becomes overtired, it internally generates a weak real-time double as its bare minimum requirement for that level of tiredness. This then slips out if the physical body is held semi-awake for too long.

On the other hand, if the physical body drifts into sleep for only a brief second or two while in this extremely tired state, a projection exit occurs. This may account for the lack of exit-related sensations, or the missing memory of them. The mind-split is quite evident here, with consciousness residing in both the physical body/mind and its projected double at the same time.

Each acts independently of each other, with the physical body receiving the remote-eye visual connection as something like secondhand input. The center of consciousness flickering back and forth between these two aspects also shows the strong and intimate link between them.

The visual connection between the awake physical body and its remote-eye aspect is most likely provided via the silver cord, as per any other type of projection, but the brow center is also very likely involved here. The awake but tranced physical/etheric mind can be thought of as receiving a type of remote-eye, real-time vision broadcast from its projected double, via its silver cord. If I am right here, this vision is received and seen by the physical/etheric mind in its mind's eye, in a very similar way as normal clairvoyant mind's-eye visions are seen.

This type of experience also supports my theory that the physical body's original copy of consciousness stays firmly inside the physical body, but is energetically connected with its projected aspect at all times. This suggests that any other type of out-of-body projection will be found to have similar basic properties, although these may not be quite so apparent nor so well perceived.

Remote-eye projection also adds weight to my theories on the mind-split effect, that OBE can occur at any time during the trance state, often without being noticed. The physical/etheric mind stays awake and functional, but remains totally unaware that a projection is in full progress. This often, I believe, happens to people during meditation, usually without them being aware of it at the time.

There are some other, more subtle, contributing factors at work during a remote-eye projection. When people are extremely tired, their brain waves slow and their physical bodies feel heavy, fuzzy, and sluggish: These are classic trance-state symptoms. Full trance is the ideal state not only for projection, but also for clairvoyant visions.

The will and mental effort required to force overtired eye and eyelid muscles to respond localizes and focuses body awareness in the eyes and brow area. As these muscles are not working properly, most of the eye-opening effort causes a strong, localized body-awareness action in the eyes and brow area. The brow center (third eye) is situated in this very same area.

The brow center is intimately connected with the eyes and with the sight center of the brain, with all other types of non-physical sight, and with many aspects of projection-tube-type projections for example.

Fig. 4.

Tired eyes lifting action, showing awareness effect on brow center
 

Forcing tired eyes to stay open stimulates the brow center quite effectively, and energizes whatever developed or natural clairvoyant capabilities the brow center has. The full-trance state also causes a naturally increased flow of energy throughout the physical/etheric body, making available to the brow center and its supporting energetic circuitry far more energy than usual.

This combination of increased energy flow and brow center stimulation is usually enough to stimulate the brow center into an energetically receptive mode.
 

The Missing Link
There is nothing simple about OBE. There are many subtle variations possible. This chapter outlines just one variation that falls into a shady area somewhere between projection and clairvoyance. A more apt description of this type of experience would be real-time remote viewing, rather than OBE, per se.

Projections falling into this category often involve clear perceptions of duality, with consciousness often flickering back and forth between the physical and its remote aspect for the duration of the experience. A remote-eye projection experience has a different look and feel to it than more common types of projection.

It is also far more mentally and energetically draining, if continued for any length of time, which is not surprising if you take into account the overtired state of the physical body and mind necessary for this phenomenon to occur.

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