Out-Of-Body Experiences - by Samantha Treasure (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Samantha Treasure's groundbreaking book stands as probably the most comprehensive review of the out-of-body experience yet published." - Graham Nicholls, author of Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience

The Out-of-Body Experience (OBE) is a fascinating phenomenon that has captivated the scientific and spiritual world. This comprehensive guide takes a fresh look at these enigmatic occurrences, including why they happen, how to make sense of them, as well as how to pursue or avoid these experiences.

An experiencer of OBEs herself, Samantha Lee Treasure has dedicated over a decade to better understanding these extraordinary events. This illuminating guide is the culmination of this research, taking a holistic approach which draws together neurology, psychology, anthropology, parapsychology and religion. Her research has taken her from interviewing Korean and Siberian shamans, to participation in neuroscience experiments, fieldwork with the religious movement Eckankar, a year interviewing alien contactees and attendance at various workshops and retreats marketed within the growing spiritual marketplace.

Based on experiencer interviews the author has conducted since 2015, the book will also explore how astral projection changes over the course of an episode or lifetime, taking into consideration generational, cultural, and biological differences. For example, utilising her background in medical anthropology, Samantha Treasure explores the links between OBEs and sleep paralysis and dreams, interviewing both experiencers and specialists.

This book will also aim to reclaim OBEs from their growing commodification within social media and the wellness industry and will challenge definitions that privilege certain types of experience or narratives. While including evidence for their potential as a healing or spiritual tool, the author will also include the voices of experiencers and researchers who think otherwise, exploring their rationale while avoiding either sugar-coating or fear-mongering.

With a forward by bestselling author Anthony Peake, this is the definitive guide to OBEs for anyone wanting deeper insight into this incredible phenomenon.

Review Quotes

"A rare example of the successful integration of original scholarly research and the kind of insight gained only through personal experience. This is a sensitive, nuanced exploration of the phenomenon, written in an engaging style. Out-of-Body Experiences is sure to be a landmark in the narrative anthropology of extraordinary experience, as well as deserving a place at the forefront of the new culturally-informed psychical research."--Gregory Shushan, PhD, author of Near-Death Experience in Ancient Civilizations

"A very lively exploration of the width, breadth and cultural depth of OBEs! If you're looking to broaden your mind, I highly recommend this book!"--Robert Waggoner, author of Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self

"Finally, a book that offers a captivating exploration of Out-of-Body Experiences (OBEs), blending scientific insights, historical and cultural perspectives along with personal stories to make this phenomenon both relatable and fascinating. It's an essential read for anyone curious about the mysteries of consciousness and its implications for understanding the true nature of reality."--Tree Carr, death doula and author of Conscious Dreamer

"Samantha Lee Treasure's aim in writing is to demystify the phenomena of Out of Body Experiences. I hope awareness of material in this book, around benevolent and negative experiences, might beneficially influence mainstream psychology and psychiatry: it should be on educational reading lists."--Dr. Natalie Tobert, Medical Anthropologist

"Samantha Treasure's book on OBEs compels a dual reflection of her own namesake; the work should be both treasured as a trove of information, as well as a gleaming milestone in our mental maps as we strive to rediscover the jewel that is our own soul. The sheer synchrony of scholarliness and yet never shying from high weirdness is enough to spark in any reader that vivifying vertigo of double consciousness."--Pascal Michael, PhD, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Greenwich

"Samantha Treasure's groundbreaking book stands as probably the most comprehensive review of the out-of-body experience yet published. The book is precise, refreshing and explores the intersections between personal experience, science and wider culture."--Graham Nicholls, author of Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience

"Samantha's debut book is a refreshing, detailed and comprehensive exploration of Out of Body Experiences. Far from being a sober academic tome, it is full of personal anecdotes, observations and experiences as well as fascinating interviews and insights from academics, shaman and experiencers alike [...]Samantha's book is original, engrossing and totally without woo! A fascinating read and highly recommended to anyone interested in this astral phenomenon, either from a spiritual, scientific or anthropological standpoint."--Claire Gillman, author of Learning to Love the Spaces In Between: Discover the Power of Liminal Spaces and former editor of Kindred Spirit magazine

About the Author

Samantha Lee Treasure has had a life-long interest in out-of-body experiences, and graduated with an MA in Medical Anthropology at SOAS University of London, conducting fieldwork on this subject in the UK and South Korea. Her main interest lies in the entities and environments encountered during this state, how these are changing with media and technology use, and how these might continue to change in the future. She has given talks on this subject in various countries since 2013, with the goal of destigmatising this experience and offering information in an ethical and unbiased way. Samantha is based between London and Geoje Island, South Korea.

Anthony Peake is a bestselling author, lecturer, broadcaster and leading thinker in the area of consciousness studies. His ideas apply scientific reasoning to some of the greatest mysteries of the universe, including what happens when we die. He is a member of the Society For Psychical Research (SPR) and his work has been peer reviewed and published in the Journal of Near Death Studies. He has written eleven books and been translated into nine languages.