For thousands of years, mystics, shamans, and seekers have claimed to channel wisdom from beyond—supposedly connecting with divine beings, ancestral spirits, or universal consciousness. Trance channeling, also known as oracle communication or prophecy, is woven into the history of humanity, from the sacred temples of ancient Greece to the mystical traditions of the East. Even today, across cultures and continents, this phenomenon continues to intrigue, inspire, and mystify.
Yet, despite its widespread historical presence, trance channeling remains an enigma. Is it a spiritual gift? A learned skill? A deep psychological process? Or something else entirely? In a recent study, we explored this ancient practice using a structured, scientific approach—seeking to understand whether trance channeling can be learned and what happens when one consciously steps beyond the physical self.
How We Did the Study
To delve into this mystery, we turned to hypnosis—a powerful tool for shifting consciousness. Inspired by protocols developed by Pederzoli and Tressoldi, we crafted a six-session process designed to guide a participant from deep relaxation to an out-of-body experience (OBE) and, ultimately, into trance channeling.
The participant, a scientist with a family history of trance channeling but no personal experience, underwent these guided sessions in a private, electromagnetically shielded room to ensure a distraction-free environment. Over time, she practiced experiencing her awareness from her physical body, exploring what seemed to her to be other realms of consciousness, and finally allowing what she perceived as non-physical beings to communicate through her.
Each session built upon the last. Over six sessions, the participant progressed from building trust in hypnosis and deepening relaxation (Session 1) to exploring out-of-body experiences (OBE) through floating imagery (Session 2), opening up to cosmic archetypal connections (Session 3), enhanced sensory perception in an OBE state (Session 4), deeper consciousness expansion with the idea of multidimensional exploration (Session 5), and ultimately, trance channeling a higher being in a safe, guided session (Session 6).
By gradually loosening the boundaries of physical perception, the participant moved from deep relaxation to profound, seemingly otherworldly experiences.
What Did We Find?
To the participant’s amazement, trance channeling was far more accessible than she had imagined. Once a safe and supportive space was established, words flowed effortlessly through her—yet they did not feel like her own. Two distinct entities emerged:
- An Unnamed Spirit Guide – A being who offered insights on the nature of trance channeling, the limitations of scientific measurement in capturing its nuances, and guidance on refining the process.
- A Deceased Relative – A being who conveyed messages of love, gratitude, and reassurance from beyond.
The participant experienced a profound sense of freedom during her OBEs, describing effortless movement across time and space. However, she also noted that her awareness remained split—she was both the channel and the observer, present yet seemingly inhabited by another intelligence.
What Does This Mean?
This study offers a tantalizing glimpse into the mysteries of consciousness. It suggests that trance channeling may not be an exclusive, mystical gift but a trainable skill—one that can be cultivated through focused practice, deep relaxation, and intentional exploration of altered states.
The findings also raise profound questions about the nature of consciousness itself. If we can experience awareness beyond our bodies, if information can emerge seemingly from beyond the self, what does this tell us about the limits of human perception? Could consciousness be more expansive than we ever imagined?
While science has yet to verify the sources of such channeling and fully map these realms, this study lays the groundwork for future exploration. It invites us to step beyond skepticism, beyond the known, and into the vast, wondrous mystery of being. Perhaps, just perhaps, the voices that speak through the veil are calling us to listen, to learn, and to remember that reality may be far more magical than we have ever dared to believe.
