Transpersonal and transformative potential of anomalous perceptual experiences with the emphasis on out-of-body experiences

Abstract

My presentation aims at describing phenomenology, semiology and the transpersonal potential of autoscopic phenomena such as out-of-body experiences (OBEs) as well as other experiences based on anomalous perception. I will present an anecdotal as well as first and second hand description of OBEs experienced by two experiencers. I will further discuss transformative and transpersonal element of OBEs.

My presentation introduces a new approach of researching OBEs based on direct know how, mastery and first hand observation by experiencers themselves. Over the last 20 years I have been compiling characteristics (typology) of OBEs and researching the transformative potential of these extraordinary experiences. I will further present my belief that OBEs in healthy individuals are an essential part of the development of human psyche as well as what could be referred to as extraordinary or transcendental states of consciousness. I strongly believe that OBEs are life’s transformative events that bring a host of potential benefits to their experiencers, especially in the form of spiritual transformation. They have potential to help people on their journey of spiritual emergence leading to transformation and even transcendence.

OBEs further hold a high potential to heal both on the psychological as well as physical level. In my presentation I will further argue that OBEs do not require special conditions such as sleep, near death experience, extreme physical effort, or induction (mental, mechanical or chemical) to occur. Rejection of subjective experience is quite strong in mainstream science. Therefore examining the insights of subjective experience will greatly contribute to strengthening of holistic approach both in the OBEs as well as the consciousness study in general.

In the second part of my presentation I will introduce The SEA Slovakia/Czechia (Spiritual Emergence Anonymous in Slovakia and Czechia), a grassroots 12-Step program for Spiritual Emergence. The aim of the program is to support spiritual emergers and help individuals who are undergoing psycho-spiritual crisis known as spiritual emergency.

Presenter Bio

Born in Banovce nad Bebravou, in Western Slovakia (former Czechoslovakia), Julia experienced her first out-of-body experience in 1995. Since then, she has devoted all of her time to the study of out-of-body experiences. Julia has degrees in Law, Russian Area & Cultural Studies, Pedagogy, and Divinity. She also briefly studied Journalism, Phytopathology, Political Science, and International Affairs. She studied in the former USSR, USA, Slovakia, and in the Czech Republic. Fluent in four languages, she has dual American and Slovak citizenship. She is a former translator-interpreter, a lecturer in the Russian language, and an English teacher at the first private school in the Slovak Republic focused on the behavioral problems of children with learning disabilities and emotional problems. Executive Manager and head of the international section of the presidential election campaign (Slovakia), she is the foreign relations adviser to the ex-Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, an analyst for the Department of International Relations, deputy manager of the central election campaign, a foreign correspondent accredited to the US Department of State, and a freelance writer and lobbyist. She also worked for the Fund for Constitutional Government based in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.