---
category: Psi Phenomenon
created: 2025-07-22
description: An out-of-body experience (OBE) is a sensation of consciousness leaving
  the physical body.
summary: An out-of-body experience (OBE) is the sensation of consciousness leaving
  the physical body, reported in connection with psi research, near-death experiences,
  and the altered states of consciousness studied at the Monroe Institute using Hemi-Sync
  audio technology.
tags:
- concept
- consciousness
- psi
title: Out-of-Body Experience
updated: 2025-07-22
---

An [Out-of-Body Experience](/concepts/out-of-body-experience/) (OBE) is a sensation of consciousness leaving the physical body. It is a phenomenon often reported by individuals with [psychic](/concepts/psi/) abilities or those undergoing near-death experiences. OBEs are a subject of study within [Parapsychology](/concepts/parapsychology/).[^1]

In the context of the *Remote Viewers* narrative, several key figures reported experiencing OBEs:

*   [Skip Atwater](/people/frederick-atwater/) had out-of-body experiences as a teenager, sometimes using this ability to "float" to distant locations, which contributed to his interest in the paranormal.[^1]

*   [Ingo Swann](/people/ingo-swann/) claimed to have OBEs and even used them to view objects hidden in a laboratory, which was one of the feats that brought him to the attention of [Hal Puthoff](/people/hal-puthoff/) at [SRI](/organizations/stanford-research-institute/).[^1]

*   [Pat Price](/people/pat-price/) also had OBEs, which he claimed to use for psychic spying, drifting around the globe at night to perceive events. His ability to perform "Scanex" (scanning-extended) remote viewing, an eyes-closed altered-state form of psychic spying, is related to OBEs.[^1]

*   [Joe McMoneagle](/people/joe-mcmoneagle/) experienced a profound OBE during his near-death experience in 1970, where he found himself standing upright, looking down at his physical, dying body. This experience significantly enhanced his psychic abilities.[^1]

---

[^1]: Schnabel, Jim. *Remote Viewers*. Dell, 1997.