Have you ever heard of someone who claimed they saw themselves hovering over their body as they laid, near death, in an operating room? Countless books and videos relate stories of people who claim that they have had out-of-body experiences, also known as astral projection.

The concept that people can leave their bodies during dream or other states is an ancient one. People, from New Agers to shamans, believe that it is possible to commune with cosmic intelligence through visions and vivid drea...