Origin of the OBE Experience in Relation to the Endocrine System
From: Beach Barret (barringbeach@aol.com) Story type: Out of Body Experience Location: Bennington, VT Source: Form Submission Date submitted: Sun Mar 30 12:23:07 2008
Greetings
As a result of a very profound OBE I had 20 years ago I have been lead on a journey of discovery which has lead me to write this article. I’m not sure if you’ve heard of the work of Dr. Strassman of New Mexico and his investigation into the pineal gland wormhole, if not, I hope that you will find this article of interest to your many readers. Best Regards, Beach Barrett 3/30/08
THE OBE ORIGINATION POINT IN THE HUMAN BODY
The pineal gland wormhole allows us to consciously connect with parallel levels of reality. The wormhole concept itself has long been the subject of much scientific conjecture. One of the most commonly accepted models was proposed by Albert Einstein and is known as the Einstein-Rozen Bridge that connects two different points of the time space continuum. Wormholes are usually associated with interdimensional time or space travel and appear in many popular venues such as Startrek, Stargate, the movie Contact and in the Dr. Who series. Travelers in a physical state move about the universe in a spaceship or capsule (or phone booth) through a wormhole, or by just literally stepping or diving into the hole itself. In the Einstein model the wormhole entrance and exit are black holes. The problem with this scenario is that it is very difficult to transfer physical bodies through what is essentially a hyperphysical phenomenon where the intensity of physical/gravitational forces would be prohibitive.
The pineal gland wormhole operates in a different mode; it is non-physical. When using the pineal wormhole, the body does not accompany consciousness. In this state the physical body is allowed to continue to function at rest, while consciousness in an awakened state is allowed to travel beyond the confines of the brain. Science has yet to confirm whether consciousness itself has a physical component, and though several experiments in this area have been made, none are conclusive. It is generally assumed that consciousness could not exist without the framework of the brain, but again, this has yet to be proven. Consciousness appears to be a form of software with a unique self-renewing feedback loop in it, and there has been some speculation on this subject, there have even been some attempts to recreate it in computer models. This article, however, is not concerned with the nature of consciousness or with its’ ability to travel outside the body. We are only discussing an actual neurochemical pathway of the human brain that elicits an out–of-body conscious experience, which is achieved by a special secretion of the pineal gland.
The pineal gland secretes several neurochemicals that modify the status of consciousness in the brain. Melatonin production, for example, is controlled by the pineal gland during periods of darkness. Under the influence of melatonin consciousness rests and dreams while the body repairs itself. The wormhole chemical that is created by the pineal gland is very similar to melatonin except that it incorporates two methyl molecules. This “methylated” form of melatonin encourages the body to rest, but unlike melatonin, it does not quash consciousness, instead it allows consciousness to continue to function while the body and its’ associated ego are resting. Unlike the “classic” wormhole, which operates within the parameters of the physical space-time-gravity continuum, this wormhole transcends the restrictions of the physical plane and cuts the fetters that tie consciousness to the limitations of the physical plane. At one end of the wormhole is the traveler’s physical body the other end may be just ten feet away or ten light years away; the wormhole is not restricted by the laws of the physical plane, distance has no meaning. At one end of the wormhole is the traveler’s physical body the other end may be just ten feet away or ten light years away.
The contents of this article are based on observed scientific phenomena, and we will begin with a technical discussion of the wormhole chemical itself: DMT, which is the acronym for chemical DiMethylTryptamine. When synthetically produced and sold on the street DMT categorized as a class one controlled substance, and yet it is also created within the chemistry of our own body, i.e. it is an endogenous chemical. Unlike its close brother, melatonin, DMT has yet to be endowed with a common name, and it is most necessary to do so. In this article we are only speaking about the natural, internally produced form of DMT, not the synthetic and illegal form. Therefore, for the sake of convenience we will use the term “metatonin” as the common name of endogenously produced DMT: metatonin being a higher or “meta” state of melatonin. Thus, in this article, metatonin is the pineal gland wormhole chemical. Human Metatonin may also contain some additional modifiers, but DMT is the main component. Another neurochemical closely related to Metatonin and Melatonin is Serotonin. These three neurotransmitters belong to a family of chemicals that are based on a central molecule of the amino acid, Tryptophan, which is the basic building block of the tryptamine family of chemicals.
In order to understand the function of the wormhole chemical, metatonin, it would be best to discuss all three trypyamines. Serotonin, melatonin and metatonin are respectively: 5-hydroxyTryptamine, N-acetyl-5-MethoxyTryptamine, and N,N-DiMethylTryptamine. These three members of the tryptamine family regulate the various states of consciousness. They chemically modulate the software of the brain and thus affect the status of consciousness and its relationship to the body.
Serotonin is most active during waking hours; it regulates the equilibrium of waking consciousness, and many present day anti-depressant drugs are designed to control the concentration of this chemical in the brain. Melatonin production is instigated by the pineal gland in periods of darkness, and this neurotransmitter modulates our sleeping state. Under the influence of melatonin our bodily functions do not diminish, if anything, the activities of healing and rebuilding increase. As mentioned earlier, melatonin allows consciousness to rest, so that our body can continue its work of repairing itself without the meddling distractions of the conscious mind and the various physical activities of the body associated with the waking state. Melatonin rests consciousness, Metatonin goes one step further; it allows consciousness to remain active and simultaneously allows it to function separate from the resting body. Unlike the other two, Metatonin is rarely produced in concentrations significant enough to alter our state of consciousness; it is called upon at certain crucial times, though, to perform a very important function.
The actual process of Metatonin production takes place when the pineal gland internally secrets an enzyme called methyltransferase that attaches two methyl groups to the tryptamine molecule, thus resulting in metatonin. Metatonin is continually produced by the pineal gland and other organs and body tissues in small amounts, and, is, at the same time, very quickly destroyed by MAO, monoamine oxidase, a common blood-borne enzyme. The reason for this is that metatonin must be available at all times, but is only allowed to act at certain critical points in a lifetime. It may be required at any moment during a lifetime, so a ready supply must always be available and yet be continually suppressed until needed.
When it receives the appropriate signal, the pineal gland can produce a surge of metatonin that will saturate the surrounding brain area for a short while. By no strange coincidence, the pineal is located in the very center of the brain at the junction of the main ventricles that carry cerebral-spinal fluid throughout the brain and nervous system. When metatonin is secreted at this location, it immediately passes directly through the blood brain barrier into the brain tissue. Suddenly the body enters a static state, and consciousness is allowed to exit. This is commonly known as an out-of-body experience or OBE. Usually those who experience a sudden separation of consciousness and body when they are unprepared for it find the sensation to be extremely frightening and disorienting. In many cases people who experience such a sudden separation may think that they have temporarily gone insane, and when the sensation is over, do their best to erase it from their memory.
Our brain builds up a very strong bond with consciousness as we develop, and, for basic survival reasons, the separation of these two is not an easily accomplished task. Our ego wants us to dread such a separation, and the ego usually musters up its’ full arsenal of fearful emotions at the onset of such a separation in order to retain the bond between consciousness and its physical host. The main function of the ego, after all, is to protect and encourage the integrity of consciousness and the survival of the body it inhabits. The ego doesn't want consciousness to wander off from its appointed task. In a sense, the ego guards the gates to the entrance of the wormhole, and it can do a very effective job.
At the onset of a pineal wormhole event one may have to pass through a curtain of fear. In addition there may be a pulsing "whuffing" sound/pressure wave that seems to come from all sides and/or there may be the occurrence of acrid slightly metallic taste in the back of the throat. Then, suddenly, the body is left behind.
The wormhole chemical is found at high concentrations in the blood of children during gestation, at birth and up to the age of three or more. The theory is that metatonin plays a very important role in the introduction of consciousness to the emerging individual during early childhood and, also plays a very similar, yet reverse, role as we approach the separation of consciousness at death. In a Federally sponsored study conducted by Dr. Rick Strassman, author of The Spirit Molecule, at the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, subjects were intravenously fed synthetic metatonin (DMT) at elevated levels. Many of these subjects described experiences very similar to the near death experiences as reported by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her book, On Death and Dying. Thus metatonin may play the very important dual role of ushering consciousness into our body during gestation, birth, and infantile stages, and the reverse role of delivering consciousness out of our body at death.
Metatonin may also be released at other times during a lifetime to create a wormhole event either spontaneously or by design. The experience sparked by a metatonin release contains two essential qualities: First, one is very calmly and truly fully conscious, fully awake, sober; and, second: one also finds oneself in a place that is totally unnatural. For example: one is fully awake and finds oneself floating above their own body and is able to fly wherever their thoughts take them. In other cases one finds oneself in a waking dream fully conscious and in control, or perhaps one is going through a very deep emotional experience and then is suddenly swept above their locality to see themselves and their situation at a great distance and with a great understanding and awe. Pineal wormhole experiences are generally short lived, but they can have a very lasting life altering effect.
Wormhole events can sometimes take one to a purely transcendent state of mind or to another universe of conscious beings. In most cases the destination of the wormhole is influenced by the original intent and preparation of the traveler, the traveler’s state of mind and the surrounding physical environment. If the traveler has no intent or direction in mind, the event may end up being euphoric or catastrophic. On the other hand, if the traveler is well informed and mentally prepared and has calmed and focused the mind with some form of meditation or other form of mind discipline, the results will be greatly enhanced.
The things that young children sometime say contain gems of wisdom that show that they have a profound awareness and connection with a Higher Intelligence. That is because our metatonin levels are very high at this very early and wondrous age. Then the veil is slowly lowered and eventually all that remains is a shady memory of a lost sense of wonder. Many child psychologists, philosophers, poets and artists refer to these enchanting memories in their works such as the Magical Child series by Joseph Chilton Pearce. There are also some groups who recognize this window to wisdom and work with and encourage children who are able to articulate what they see and feel at this early and special stage of life. They are called “starchildren”. There are several websites devjjoted to these gifted ones such as of Celia Fenn’s Starchildglobal.com.
The pineal gland first appears in the developing human fetus at the 49th day after conception; at first it is located in the back of the throat and then gradually moves upward and inward during gestation to be finally located in the center of the brain. A small duct may remain. This may explain the acrid slightly metallic taste in the back of the throat that is sometimes associated with a metatonin release by the pineal gland.
Certain oriental texts refer to this secretion as the "nectar of sublime awareness" that is produced by deep meditation focused on the highest chakra: the pineal gland, or third eye. This secretion is also referred to in the Druid culture of British Isles as the "grail" itself. Isn't it ironic and really not so surprising that the Holy Grail - an invaluable treasure sought after by thousands of deeply dedicated souls throughout history - is actually a gift available to each and every one of us from the very center of our brain?
The pineal gland wormhole/stargate phenomenon can be categorized in several ways, basically differentiating intentional from spontaneous events. They have been separated into 6 basic groups:
1) The first group (type 1) is based on mental focus: a state of transcendent bliss or ecstasy that is consciously sought after though focus of the mind or dedication to a spiritual discipline:
Nirvana, Satori, Shakti Kundalini or God awareness: a state of inner peace and God connectedness attained through Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic or Christian meditation.
Vision Quest: A Native American ritual involving fasting and prayer that results in a profound life altering vision.
Dreamtime: A state of mind that allows Australian Aborigines
to raise themselves above the landscape see the location of pathways and sources of water and food in what appears to be nothing more than an endless desert wilderness.
Sufi enlightenment: An ecstatic transcendent spiritual discipline based on a special form of dancing.
Rapture and other states of transcendent experience that are the result of dedicated worship, prayer, devotion and/or abstinence.
Creative ecstasy: as experienced by many artists, as described in the books by Rollo May and others.
2) The second group (type 2) of phenomena that occur as a result of experiencing or enduring physical or emotional extremes that result in a wormhole or transcendent experience: Rebirthing: a transcendent experience that can be brought on by controlled hyperventilating with the help of an experienced guide. This process may result in activating rarely used metatonin-synthetic pathways in the pineal gland.
An ecstatic uplifting transcendent group awareness experienced by members of an emotionally charged group gathering, celebration, movement or revolt which has been reported by several writers such as Barbara Enrenreich, author of Dancing in the Streets
An emotionally uplifting pivotal experience, or epiphany, that is the result of an extremely intense personal emotional challenge (one of the medical terms used to describe the pineal gland is “epiphysys”).
An out-of-body episode experience by someone subjected to or the victim of extreme pain or torture. In which case metatonin is secreted to allow an individual to escape from an excruciating physical pain, as reported by many child abuse victims and other victims of torture or accidental pain.
An out-of-body experience sought by those who use self-inflicted pain as a vehicle for transcendence, such as in the American Indian Sundance ceremony.
3) The third group, (type 3) is the out-of-body experiences as described by those who have undergone a near death experience, or NDE, as reported in the research of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and many others.
4) The fourth group (type 4) of Metatonin-induced episodes is those experiences that take place when one is asleep. This is commonly known as “night flight”, in which one becomes fully awake, conscious and in control while one is still in a dream state. This may be a situation where both melatonin and metatonin are working together. The Monroe Institute of Virginia and other groups have conducted a great deal of research in this area.
The ability to maintain consciousness while in a dream state is a delicate balancing act. If one becomes fully conscious, they will immediately wake up, but if one can remain in a passive state of consciousness as a quiet observer without making any assertive thoughts or even personal comments, the experience will last. Meditation practice is a most beneficial way to learn to quiet the ego and the everyday chatterbox mind so that one can maintain a state of quiet observant consciousness while witnessing a dream environment.
5) The fifth group (type 5) of phenomena is related to mental illness, which may result when Metatonin is continually produced in higher than normal amounts, or when MAO production is for some reason inhibited and trace amounts of the wormhole chemical continually hamper thought and perception patterns in the brain. Schizophrenia is a likely candidate for this classification. It is a remarkably complex syndrome that has many symptoms that are similar to weak and strong elevated metatonin states and metatonin is found at higher than normal states in the urine of schizophrenic patients. The National Institute of Mental Health made some preliminary investigations into this issue in the 1970’s but has not yet come to any definite conclusions.
6) The sixth group (type 6) are those children who, at a very young age, are able to articulate and relive or remember those special times and events of early metatonin awareness.
In conclusion, we are presently at the early stages of recognizing this phenomenon. Pineal wormhole/OBE events have been experienced by many of us, and they have undoubtedly contributed to the inspiration of countless artists, researchers and writers of the past, but to date there has been very little scientific validation of the process. It is very difficult to make real-time measurements of hormone output at the precise location of the pineal gland in living subjects, neither have the neural pathways of the brain that actually trigger the pineal gland to secrete metatonin been discovered; furthermore the nature of consciousness itself needs to more fully comprehended.
Several groups are devoted to recording and archiving OBE experiences, and there is a wealth of information describing the journeys and observations of researchers and healers who experiment with various forms of synthetic and naturally prepared DMT teas and powders consumed orally, particularly the shaman healers of South America who have through their travels and communications learned of complicated medicinal botanical compounds, many of which serve as the basis of more than half of today’s many pharmaceutical products. However the purpose of this article is to help one comprehend the existence of our own inner pathway and how it works. This is a pathway that has existed in our DNA architecture for eons, and it is a pathway that has been accessed by humans of all cultures from the very beginning. It has been given many names. When this phenomenon is scientifically verified, it will have a profound effect on how we as a race view the continuum of our existence.
I hope I have inspired you, dear reader, to do further research yourself. Probably the first place to start is by reading Dr. Rick Strassman’s book, The Spirit Molecule. A simple search on the Internet using terms such as: OBE, DMT, Pineal gland, Shakti Kundalini etc. will further enlighten. Each of us has been endowed with this gift and each of us will discover it in our own way. It is interesting to note the pineal gland calcifies as we grow older, and one British study noted that water borne fluoride tends to accelerate this calcification process. What affect this calcification process has on the performance of the pineal gland is not known. Western medical science has very little to say about the pineal gland other than it is a convenient marker for locating the center of the brain.
Presently scientific research into the nature of this phenomenon is being conducted by the Cottonwood Research Foundation in Taos, New Mexico and can be accessed at: cottonwoodresearch.org.