Explorations in Consciousness: A New Approach to Out-of-Body Experiences

by Frederick Aardema

In Explorations in Consciousness , Frederick Aardema, a clinical researcher, provides a profound account of the out-of-body experience, covering some of the most mystifying aspects of this experience. Throughout the book, the author seamlessly weaves in his own travels into different fields of consciousness, including experiences in the personal field, where he is confronted with the constructs of his own psyche, as well as visitations to collective and archetypal fields of consciousness that appear to have an independent existence beyond the eye of the beholder. Highly original and groundbreaking, Explorations in Consciousness presents a model of reality in which nothing can ever be taken for granted. It proposes that consciousness is embedded within a wider field of possibilities that become real depending on our interaction with the world around us, whether “in” or “out” of the body. Regardless of what you believe about the out-of-body state, this book will challenge and excite you to become an explorer of consciousness. It provides a powerful method to induce the OBE, as well as new tools on how to navigate the entire spectrum of consciousness yourself.

Genres: Nonfiction

342 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 2012

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book belongs in the 'to read' list for any out-of-body explorer out there. But this is not a book for newbie's. The book has so much depth, some basic knowledge is needed. As a newbie you won't get there with the last chapter on how to OBE, my advice would be to read other books first if you wish to learn this skill. There are a lot of references to other books like the trilogy of Monroe and Robert Bruce, but if you haven't read those books, you'll have no clue what he is talking about (like phase 10, or the 'noise' level around earth etc). Actually a lot of times it's like he's getting into a philosophical mood, unraveling his thoughts and experiences, combined with his opinion about pioneers like Monroe. I know if I was a newbie, I would have no clue what I'm actually reading.

For the experienced explorer, this is a must read though. Of course, if you had many experiences of your own, it might get a bit boring to read journal fragments one after the other but let's be honest here, a lot of us get excited to share our own adventures with like-minded people. :)

The book started with a theory on how OBE's and Lucids are the same. Honestly he almost lost me there. Later he drops that idea, luckily, and keeps it open ended. But at the last few chapters, when he started to talk about consciousness and perspective, I got hooked.

There is one thing I keep noticing in all the books though. When a writer has a certain opinion, they don't admit this is just one of the many possible theories, but THE true theory. Monroe was someone who believed in a multiverse and he traveled there. Some claim there is no multivers (or it's all just a dream), yet they never tried to go there. Or they tried, failed a few times and voila, it's all the same and PSI experiences don't even exist. Aardema tries to be as open as possible, but certain opinions do bleed through.

For example: Is there this thing called the Park/Afterlife? Why not explore and find proof? He had one experience and leaves it open. Remote viewing, he tried and failed. Then tried again and got success. But I'm not sure what he now believes about it. He explored the void, so for him (and probably others too) the void is a real collective thing anyone can visit. Yet in my dozens of experiences, I never saw it... so until then, it looks more like an archetypical world (created by our own mind) to me and not a collective world perse. But what makes a world archetypical (so the same for everyone yet not collective) and what makes a world collective? I'm actual eager to see a writer tell about how deep archetypes work in our subconscious and creating worlds of their own.

He mentioned a trilogy in one of his OBE's. Let's hope his journey of writing books continues... and who knows my questions will be answered then.

[Marika Charalambous · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the book when I realized that it's written by the user Major Tom at the Astralpulse OBE forum. It's really good and have learned lots. If you're however looking for a newbie guide to astral projection, this isn't it. You will have to had a few projections behind you to really get the most out of the book.

It does have an exit technique (which can be also read for free on the author's website), and I will give this technique a try, but otherwise the 'how to' aspect of the book refers to things like ways to explore the void, get in and out of it, how to maintain lucidity, what to do, what not to do, etc.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the many journal entries posted, which in fact illustrate the points the author was making at the time.

A very good book, but again, not for the total newbie who has never ever had an OBE. He or she simply won't know how to get to the parts the author is mainly talking about (in a way I kind of liken this book to Robert Monroe's third book on astral projection, Ultimate Journeys).

(My rating would be 4.5, however there are no half stars on Goodreads, hence the 4 star rating added).

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome because it approaches the fascinating and vast topic of obe’s from a scientific perspective and more importantly doesn’t make any grand claims which some other books do. I love that the author claims not to know the answers to big questions and focuses on experiences plus breaks down all the leading OBE theories. This practice is for the adventurous and curious ones who desire to explore consciousness and their limitless mind and for those wanting to experience profound and expansive states.