Out of the Body Experiences/a Fourth Analysis of the Mystic Arts)

by Robert Crookall

From the dawn of history to the present time, people have claimed to have left their bodies in various circumstances, to have retained consciousness and subsequently to have reentered their bodies. In Out-of-the-Body A Fourth Analysis, a distinguished scientist applies the same rigorous procedure, on a psychological level, to such claims as he uses in a microscopic investigation of a petrified stem. Dr. Crookall notes the extraordinary contrast in experiences of those who "died" forcibly or suddenly, as contrasted with those who "died" naturally or gradually. He compares the experiences of two different kinds of ordinary folk and those of a mediumistic bodily constitution. He describes in detail two distinct stages reported in some testimonies of out-of-the-body experiences. Throughout this important volume appear significant insights and implications with regard to the concepts of Hades and Paradise, the question of life after death, the presence of "ghosts," and the meaning of the "silver chord" of the Scriptures.

219 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1977

Reviews

[Steven H · Rating 3 out of 5]

A CONTINUATION OF CROOKALL’S OUT-OF-BODY-EXPERIENCE RESEARCH

Author Robert Crookall wrote in the Preface to this 1970 book, “The investigation of out-of-the-body experiences demands … [a] psychological procedure: that is, one analyzes the testimonies of those who claim to have had them, from various angles. When completed, this also leaves nothing unrevealed. Our work to date is published in some half-dozen books. Our detailed analyses of the testimonies at once revealed a highly significant pattern of events that had occurred and of experiences that had been undergone---a pattern that those who previously investigated the subject had overlooked. A replica-body, or ‘double,’ was ‘born’ from the physical body and took up a position above it. As the ‘double’ separated from the body, there was a ‘blackout’ in consciousness… There was often a panoramic review of the past life, and the vacated physical body was commonly seen from the released ‘double.’ … The ‘double’ was not, in fact, completely detached from the body. On the contrary, the two remained united by an extension of their substance which clearly corresponds to the ‘silver cord’ of the Scriptures.” (Pg. 11-12)

He continues, “This general pattern of events in out-of-the-body experiences, hitherto unrecognized, cannot be explained adequately on the hypothesis that all such experiences were dreams and that all the ‘doubles’ described were mere mental images (of physical bodies), i.e., hallucinations. It can, on the other hand, be readily explained on the hypothesis that there were genuine experiences and that the ‘doubles’ seen were objective (though ultra-physical) bodies.” (Pg. 14)

He goes on, “In the present study we take still another ‘section’ through the testimonies: we show that, while some ‘doubles’ leave and reenter the body in a single stage, others do so in two distinct stages. It is scarcely necessary to say that no mental images appear (and disappear) in two distinct stages.” (Pg. 16-17)

He outlines, “Let us review the present position. First… the analyses of case histories brought to light a number of facts that cannot be explained on the hypothesis of [ESP] plus a ‘double’ that was mental in nature … Secondly… our analyses revealed that the ‘doubles’ that were released [were] under markedly different conditions… A third point is this: Most who have studied the phenomenon of the ‘double,’ and who… have felt obliged to accept the objective body hypothesis, envisaged ‘doubles’ as entities which are similarly constituted in all cases… Fourthly… other facts were revealed… These included (a) those who gave evidence that they were of the mediumistic bodily constitution… and (b) by those who were nonmediumistic… Fifthly… the statement that ‘fog’ left the body was made… by people who saw the ‘doubles’ of others … who saw the process of death… Sixthly, these highly significant observations are concordant … with those of astral projectors but also with others … made by the persons who were themselves in course of transition… Seventhly, we note the concordant evidence of numerous clairvoyants from all over the world… to the effect that everyone possesses not only a physical body, but also a ‘semi-physical’ vehicle of vitality… Eighthly, we have… experimental evidence. Some ‘doubles’ have been photographed… In the following pages, we indicate certain other highly significant facts of astral projections. The cases are here classified primarily on the basis of the number of stages in which the ‘doubles’ were formed… and disappeared (reentered the body).” (Pg. 32-40)

He postulates, “The possession of a definitely loose vehicle of vitality caused these people to release the ‘double’ in two stages: (a) a ‘double’ that was composite… (b) the Soul Body.” (Pg. 45-46) Later, he adds, “The ‘blackout’ or ‘tunnel’ effect which accompanies the reassociation of these ‘doubles’ with the body… Our hypothesis is that, while they were in course of separating, neither the ‘double’ nor the physical body could be used as an instrument of consciousness. (There was, therefore, a momentary ‘blackout.’) (Pg. 99)

Of ‘doubles’ released/returned in one stage, he states, “The people who comprise this group release ‘doubles’ that consist of the Soul Body only, and they do this more or less readily because they are of a more or less high spiritual development---the high thinking and feeling make the Soul Body ‘vibrate’ at high rates of speed so that it remains associated … with the sluggish physical body only with difficulty. Spiritual development tends to cause this kind of projection; and the help and instruction that may be received during with ‘visits’ to the ‘Paradise’ aura of the earth, with its willing, wise, and able helpers, further advance spirituality.” (Pg. 113)

He reports, “Two of our groups consist of people [who] differ so far as their total bodily constitution is concerned: The presumed nonmediums … whose released ‘doubles’ are interpreted as consisting of the ‘super-physical’ Soul Body only … did not report observing such substances as ‘mist,’ ‘fog,’ ‘vapor,’ and ‘clouds’ leave their bodies to form part of their ‘doubles.’ On the other hand, the known mediumistic people mentioned in the First Part commonly make such an observation. The latter saw … part of the ‘semi-physical’ vehicle of vitality. Their doubles were, at least the first, composite.” (Pg. 131)

He concludes, “‘Doubles’ that are no more than mental images doubtless occur, and ‘doubles’ that represent ‘archetypes’ possibly occur: It is impossible to ‘prove’ a negative proposition---but all the evidence goes to show that many ‘doubles,’ in particular those considered in these pages, were objective; some were ‘super-physical’ in nature, others were ‘semi-physical,’ and still others were an admixture of both natures.” (Pg. 172)

This book will be of interest to those studying OBEs.

[Cheri Edwards]

My edition is the 1970 hard cover edition (University Books, Inc). Book belonged to my father.