The session on Out of Body Experiences (OBE) was a little trippy (pun intended). Research indicates that 5-10 percent of the population has had an OBE, characterized by a sensation of feeling your body levitate several feet so that you are looking down on yourself. Apparently, it happens most often when people are very relaxed, although people who have epilepsy, migraines, have had near death experiences(NDEs), or have experienced sexual trauma also often report having had OBEs.

Who knew there was a bunch of medical terminology for this? The scientist who presented his research on the brains of people who have had OBEs said that there is a particlar location in the brain between two of the lobes which, when stimulated, will cause an OBE. There was also a monk who commented in Q & A that they had done some research on the brains of people who were practicing meditation forms which involved visualizing themselves as various other shapes and deities and that they had OBEs with similar brain activity. I am sure my father (a doctor) will have something to say about all this. Let’s see if he’s paying any attention.

Lots more interesting meetings and conversations but I am fried. I think I need to get some sleep because Peter Gabriel is suggesting that I play tennis with him and Monica Seles http://www.monica-seles.com/ at 8.30am in the morning. I think if could make for some good blogging fodder, especially since I didn’t bring tennis gear to the alps and would need to be wearing my leather pants and boots.

-Gillian Galdwell