Book Review: Journeys Out of the Body by Robert Monroe

Robert Monroe has done extensive pioneering research based on knowledge acquired through hundreds of self-induced out-of-the-body (OOBE) experiences. This book relates his stories around first encountering them and later what he discoverers from them. Key points are summarized by chapter.

The Book¹

The Introduction and first 3 chapters provide some personal background for Robert and a description of events that lead to his first OOBE.

Chapter 4. The Here-Now

At this point in the book, Robert is experiencing frequent OOBEs. By experiment, he learned the best way to actually leave and reenter the passive body. He also learned by experimenting, how to navigate the space which he began to call Locale II. The earth or material realm he called Locale I.

Chapter 5. Infinity, Eternity

In this chapter, he uses many OOBEs to explore Local II. It turns out that there are what he calls activity clusters. These seem to be areas where souls are congregated for a specific activity or purpose. Edgar Cayce speaks of such areas. There is a warning that some may be malevolent suggesting that OOBE travellers should be well prepared and protected. Locale II and Locale I appear to be coexistent..

Apart from exploring Locale II extensively he speaks of a super-mind.

Chapter 6. Reverse Image

In this chapter, Monroe continues describing several incidents in which he encounters an infinite wall with a hole the size of his body. The technique that he uses involves a 180 degree rotation of his astral (my term) body as he leaves and reenters the physical body.

Over almost a dozen events he gradually made physical hand contact through the hole leading to eventually climbing through into some other friendly world like ours.

Right from the earliest experience there was a feeling of vibration.

Chapter 7. Post Mortem

Monroe describes for one experience that it took an hour of preparation before leaving the body occurred. Other experiences seem to happen immediately. The vibrations seem to be a factor.

Chapters 8,9. “Cause the bible Tells Me So”‘ Angels and Archetypes

He recounts an event in Locale II that happens periodically throughout the whole locale. Everything stops and a higher presence – God? – passes through. All acknowledge this being. Monroe describes the event in some detail.

As an aside, one might wonder if this is the Demiurge of the Gnostics.

He relates 3 incidents where he went to a place that might be called”heaven”. Each time he did not want to come back. In every other OOBE he intentionally returned.

He is aware of “helpers” that are friendly but not what might be called close. These helpers intervene only when necessary. Edgar Cayce speaks of these helpers. Monroe is very aware of them because his activities seem to require some frequency of contact while he is in a state of being conscious of their presence and able to interact directly with them.

Chapter 13: The Second Body

In the previous chapters Monroe has described aspects of dozens of OOBEs. Through these and with experimentation during them he discovered that his second body had many properties based on the state it was in. Below are 7 points by which he summarizes the key characteristics:

1. The Second Body has weight as we understand it.
2. The Second Body is visible under certain conditions
3. The sense of touch in the Second Body seems to be very similar to that in the physical, i.e., when the hands felt each other, the sensation seemed identical.
4. The Second Body is very plastic and may take whatever form is suitable to or desired by the individual.
5. There exists the possibility that the Second Body is a direct reversal o f the physical (mirror image).
6. Direct investigation tends to support the premise of a connecting “cord” between the physical and the Second Body (the Silver Cord).
7. The relationship between the Second Body and electricity and electromagnetic fields is quite significant.

How the Second Body appears and interacts in Locale II seems to be highly dependent on how and what one is thinking.

Chapter 14: Mind and Supermind.

Thought seems to have tremendous power in determining manifestation in Locale II.

In presenting information to the conscious mind, the unconscious mind draws on imagery based on memories of past experience that it thinks is related. This would apply to dreams and imagination.

Chapter 15: Sexuality in the Second State

Monroe notes that he can carry sexual desire into Locale II or what he calls the Second State (SS). Sexual desire can be transferred from the normal state into the SS. It declines in intensity as he moves away from his body. There is no direct correspondence between sex in the two states since the second body has no functioning sex organs and likely none at all as the form of the second body is created.

There are, however, two distinct gender expressions and entities in the SS can exchange a brief energy transfer or “spark” as sexual expression.

Chapter 16: Preliminary Exercises

The Initial Relaxation Phase

It is an interesting suggestion that sleep is an OOB state. The preparation steps that he gives begin with specific steps for relaxation:

1. Fears are a major barrier to the OOBE. These have to be identified and overcome. The rule seems to be proceed carefully feeling safe with each progressive step.
2. One must be relaxed and refreshed rather than tired. My standard Mind Work preparation exercise or something like it may be used. Auto- o r self-hypnosis techniques are recommended
3. One should be in the hypnagogic or borderland state before sleep. Falling asleep ends the exercise so practice holding this state by fixing on a thought or image that is simple to maintain. You need to be able to hold this state he calls Condition A. It may take many attempts to learn this facility so be patient.
4. Condition B is done as for Condition A but fixed on nothing – an empty mind. The mind may generate imagery but this is of no significance and should be passively observed. These images will fade away leaving an empty mind.
5. Condition C is reached by gradually deepening the Condition B state by letting go of connection to the borderland. Gradually all sensory input will fade away including touch – the awareness of your body – and vision.
6. Condition D is reached when you can sustain Condition C while feeling refreshed and relaxed.

The Attainment of Vibration phase

The next steps are centred around vibration which for Monroe seems to be a necessary condition for having an OOBE.

1. Lie in a relaxed recline in a north/south orientation with your head to the magnetic north. Do not have any metal objects next to your body. Have room darkened so light doesn’t enter eyes. Ensure you will not be disturbed and that the time available for the OOBE is open ended. Work to attain Condition D while remaining awake. Be sure that you are warm.
2. Say 5 times to yourself mentally that you will recall all of your experience that is important. Breath thorough your relaxed mouth.
3. In the darkness, focus on a spot in front of your face. In steps, move this focus out to about 6 feet. Then move the focus 90 degrees to a spot above your head. Look for the vibrations. When you find them pull them back i to your head. Read his description on page 211.
4. If you are successful in establishing vibrations then read page 212-4 to learn to develop control over the OOBE.

Chapter 17. The Separation Process

Because the OOBE state is unfamiliar to you, the first experience will be foreign to you. Monroe presents a full chapter on experiments that will help you understand how to control the body in this new state.

Last Few Chapters

Monroe does some speculation about what Locale II might represent. He relates encounters with a higher intelligence that does not paint a good picture of what our existence means.

Comments

Monroe has written this book after hundreds of OOBE episodes. If you are seriously inclined to pursue an OOBE, you should read the extensive advice that he offers as experiments designed to guide you.

It is interesting that he happened into the OOBE “naturally” without a program like he has developed for the reader.

Location II correlates well with Edgar Cayce’s readings. After death, souls appear to go to particular destinations which one might call “home” areas. That begs the question then for an OOBE traveller, where does it go? Aimless wandering does not seem to be a good long-term proposition.

I would recommend that if you choose to pursue OOBEs, have a very good reason, plan and strategy in place. There are perils out there that you might incur harm from no matter how invincible you feel.

Resources

1. Monroe, Robert. Journeys Out of the Body (PDF).

Articles in This Series

Refer to the series index in Gnostic Wisdom.

***

If you liked this post, consider subscribing – in right-hand sidebar – if you are not a subscriber already. Please forward it to anyone else you might think will benefit from it. We are at a critical point in time where we need to disseminate truth to those who have ears to hear, and be forming communities of like-minded individuals. If you want to discuss an idea or issue, contact me – see Contacts.