BECAUSE WE are receiving frequent reports from students who suddenly, from one cause or another, find themselves seemingly outside of and looking down at their physical bodies, we deem the time ripe to talk of this phenomenon and to explain it for the benefit of all our readers, some of whom may have had this experience.

In order the better to show just what takes place and the sensations of those having the experience, we will quote from two different letters, chosen for the graphic way in which the incidents are told and for their most interesting details. Following the letters will appear our explanations and comments.

ABOUT a year ago I had a strange (and yet it does not seem so very strange) experience. I was unemployed at the time and spent much time reading books and metaphysical lines, and I always had a desire to see and know Jesus, as so many have seen Him in visions and dreams, and to know that I was progressing spiritually. I am sure that what happened was because I desired this so strongly.

For four or five consecutive nights, after being in bed for about five minutes, I would start to tremble. This frightened me very much, as it would continue for what seemed to me a long time; until finally, after much praying, I would turn over on my side and somehow fall asleep. It got so that I was afraid to go to bed, as each night the same experience would occur. I believe the fourth evening I shook so hard and was so frightened that I felt nauseated and could hardly make myself go back to bed. Finally the fifth evening I had somehow found out that by lying flat on my back with my hands lying on the bed, not too close to my body, and my right foot crossed over my left, I would not tremble. So I got myself into this position prepared to fall asleep.

Then, somehow, I didn’t seem to be able to feel my hands or arms at all, and I suddenly became aware that I was out of my body; for I saw myself below lying in bed, and knew that I, or my body, was asleep. I heard all the noise outside clearly, saw my mother asleep in the next bed, and knew everything that was going on about me; and yet I knew that the physical brain and body part of me was asleep.