Celia Green's book on OBEs

The first book I looked at was "Out-of-the-body experiences" by Celia Green. It is the Proceedings of the Institute of Psychophysical Research Volume 2. Isbn 0900076011, and was published in 1968.

My notes are as follows:

This book contains the results of a study conducted in 1966. Two questionnaires were sent to about 400 persons who responded to a media appeal. 326 replied to the first and 251 to the second. Gender wise, 68% were female and 32 % male.

It should be noted that OBEs are referred to as 'ecsomatic' experiences in this work.

Definition:

"We define an 'ecsomatic experience' as one in which the objects of perception are apparently organized in such a way that the observer seems to himself to be observing them from a point of view which is not coincidental with his physical body." p 17.

Ecsomatic experiences occur in a number of situations; while apparently asleep; under anaesthesia; while walking; while sitting alone or in company.

12% of 'single" cases occurred while asleep. 32.4% of 'single' cases while anaesthetised or unconscious.

60.9% of subjects reported only one experience - i.e. a "single' case.

Ages - "...are reported as occurring at almost all ages, although they are less frequently reported later in life." p 23.

Duration - "...the majority of 'single' cases last no more than a matter of minutes." p 24.

"The psychological circumstances which precede ecsomatic experiences, particularly 'single' ecsomatic experiences, are frequently characterised by the presence of some identifiable form of stress." p 25.

"Thus subjects who are deaf or have poor eyesight may find themselves 'hearing' and 'seeing' clearly, in their ecsomatic experiences." p 32.

800% of subjects of single cases report they appeared to be 'a disembodied consciousness." p 34.

"Many subjects comment on their feelings of well-being and reality, in their new position apart from their physical body..." p 39.

"Eighty-one per cent of the subjects of 'single' ecsomatic cases stated that, while they were apparently out of their bodies, they seemed to see their physical bodies from outside. " p42.

"Subjects may find themselves behind, beside or above their physical body, but very rarely report having viewed their physical body from a position below it." p 46.

(To be continued)