Astral Projection and the Darkest Darkroom

Photography took a new twist for a young college student, who tells us the ghost story of when a scary demon tried to grope her in the pale, red light of her college’s haunted dark room in the middle of the night. It was finals week, so she had no choice but to continue to edit her projects for hours on end as this strange, scary thing—whether ghost or demon, we don’t know—kept tormenting her. When she finally collapsed into bed, hours later, it followed her home and tried to pin her down. Could it have been an incubus attachment, perhaps?

This is not some made-up tale, but part of a plethora of true, scary ghost stories told by the very photographer who experienced them. Hear how this brave woman purchased a haunted condo in Florida, drove through a ghost, and experienced several other paranormal events years after her encounter with the scary demon in the haunted darkroom. Plus, she gives us a little bit of an astral projection guide, because she just happens to do that, too.

We listened to her true ghost stories, our mouths agape, as she relayed one scary experience after another. And you can listen too, today, on Homespun Haints.

Episode Show Notes

Haunted Pennsylvania: Do home sellers need to disclose a house’s paranormal activity?

If you’re trying to sell a haunted house in Pennsylvania, it looks like you may be in luck. You are actually NOT technically required by law to disclose a home’s haunted status. But, there’s nothing saying you can’t let potential homebuyers know about a home’s unearthly residents. Avallone Law Associates explain more in this blog post, and you can read an article about a home that gained interest when it advertised itself as “slightly haunted.”

Some states, however, do require disclosure if a property is known to be a haunted house.

And, while we’re at it, have you been seeing those “Not Haunted” signs on top of real estate listings? We think it might have started in Texas. I guess it’s important to check that the house really isn’t haunted, though, before making an affirmation like that!

The haunted castle at Arcadia University

Kamila attended a school she knew to be haunted. The campus is a castle. Its grounds sit next to an old cemetery. The art department is in the old stables, where a murder has occurred. What could possibly go wrong?

And what about sleep paralysis and astral projection?

Oh yeah, almost as an aside to her scary demon ghost story, Kamila tells us of her adventures astral projecting. In this article about sleep paralysis from a scientific perspective, there’s some interesting information about the history of this phenomenon in different cultures. However, what’s really juicy are people’s reactions in the comment section.

What is Astral Projection?

Astral projection is basically an intentional out-of-body experience. Its a fascinating concept where individuals believe they can separate their consciousness or “astral body” from their physical body. Like other psychic abilities, some believe it’s a skill anyone can develop with focus and practice.

Where did astral projection come from?

The idea of astral projection isn’t new. It has ancient roots and is present in various cultural, religious, and spiritual traditions. For instance, ancient Egyptian teachings describe the soul as capable of hovering outside the physical body. The concept also seeps into Hindu scriptures, Japanese mythology, Amazonian and Inuit indigenous cultures, and Taoist practices​​.

Is astral projection real?

From a scientific perspective, astral projection is often viewed with skepticism. Although people who experience it report vivid and profound experiences, there’s no universally accepted evidence that the consciousness can actually detach and travel outside of the body. Cognitive researchers tend to attribute the subjective experience of astral projection to altered states such as during epilepsy, brain injury, or lack of oxygen​​.

That doesn’t mean nobody is looking for evidence that the soul leaves the body…at least once in a lifetime. Mary Roach’s book “Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife,” discusses a soul-weighing experiment conducted by a sheep rancher named Lewis E. Hollander Jr. Around Y2K, Hollander set up a system in his barn to weigh dying sheep. He used a platform linked to sensitive electronic equipment to measure any tiny weight changes that might occur right around the moment of physical death.

The experiment aimed to determine if there was any measurable change in body weight that could be attributed to the departure of the soul at the time of death. Although Hollander cited one transient weight change as potential evidence, others have criticized the rigor of his methods.

How to do astral projection

If you’re interested in exploring astral projection, approach it with an open mind, aware of both its potential benefits and limitations. Learning to astral project often involves meditation and visualization techniques aimed at reaching a state of deep relaxation and focus. You might start by visualizing yourself leaving the physical body by floating up and out of it. Picture in your mind seeing your body beneath you.

Astral projection as a practice may have potential spiritual and psychological benefits, like aiding in self-discovery and promoting a sense of life being more than just the physical. Yet astral projection might not be suitable for everyone, especially those with psychological vulnerabilities. Additionally, it should not be used as a form of escapism or to avoid real-world problems​​​​. If you’d like a real astral projection guide, check out this blog post from a medium who explains exactly how to do it.

Do you have a scary story about a demon or a ghost?

Homespun Haints is looking for guests that have a true, first-hand paranormal experience they’d like to tell us about. Whether or not you’ve ever done photography in a haunted dark room, or used astral projection, we want to hear what you have to say. Please submit your story to tell on the show, and we’ll be in touch! Until next time, have a spooky day!