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Philosophy & the Paranormal

Astral Projection and Out of Body Experiences

Joe Fearn asks whether the idea of out of body experiences is intelligible.

I talked to Jean Gittins, a 57 year old Leeds woman who told me about the out of body experience she had during an extended and exhausting labour while giving birth to her son Thomas. Her labour pains were eased by gas, and she became ‘detached’ from the events around her. Then she saw a ‘tunnel’ through which she appeared to be rushing. When the room appeared again, she was surprised to find herself looking down from the ceiling onto the heads of the doctors and nurses. She saw the room in general, and noticed some things in great detail, such as the doctor’s hair being grey in places, and the roots of the blonde nurse’s hair showing the tell-tale black of their original colour.

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