Manual for the Budding

Disappointingly I have to consider that Robert Monroe wasn't all that honest. I still maintain that he spoke some truth in Journeys Out of the Body (the only book of his I've read so far), that's indisputable and demonstrable, so... Beyond what I know, I don't know how far that truth reaches. Does his second and third book move further away from the truth? Was he a government tool? He evidently had links to United States Military Intelligence. Was it simply a case of compliance? Did he have to mix his truth with their disinformation so he could get his books published?

I'm suspicious of the fact that he was able to get his work published, particularly with some of the subject matters he was disclosing, and for it to do successfully, typically amongst the growing New Age movement, as if it was all by design. He was like one of the forefathers of this new age, whether he meant to be or not.



Robert Monroe, an honest man?

And still I can't speak favourably enough of Journeys Out of the Body. It's compelling and so revealing, but in many ways it is esoteric rather than exoteric. It offered insights, great and small, personal, comprehensive, experiential... quite profound. Predominantly it confirmed my own beliefs and allowed me to re-evaluate past experiences. It also provided answers to questions I'd had, albeit theoretical and/or temporary.

To my mind, what Robert Monroe had to say deals with an extensive number of topics. I made connections where there may not necessarily be any, however it was my discernment that there is. He also seemed to write honestly and objectively, making it clear if he wasn't certain of something and openly acknowledging the conscious mind's interpretive manner. His writing is not heavy with New Age-babble, in fact quite the opposite, it's apparent that he has based his research on the 'great thinkers' before him and was more than a little familiar with Jung's work, although some of his ideas can be evidenced as giving rise to this new breed of spirituality. Being that it was the 1950s when Robert first began to experience this phenomena, there was very little acceptance in Western religions and philosophies, so he looked to Eastern religions which were more encouraging. In his search he also discovered the existence of an underground, not limited to the United States but infiltrating all of Western civilisation. When I read that I was sure he was referring to Freemasonry, each descriptive sentence seemed to build upon the last and validate this, however there were a couple or so points by the end of his veiled illustration that didn't match up. As far as I'm aware he never made it clear what this 'underground' was, though I assume he was referring to a group with alternative views who took refuge from a condemning mainstream society - this may well have been the emerging New Age movement. I've not been able to find any evidence that he was a member of a Masonic brotherhood, only that he had connections to people who were high degree Masons. If he considered there to be no basis for Christianity in his experiences - which could be seen as pushing the globalist agenda - he was equally as explicit with his recognition of man's history, of how necessities like food or sexuality have been manipulated again and again to exercise control over the mass populace.

What's the deal with religion anyway? Part of me thinks that religion may have been started or - in other cases - infiltrated by the elite and now they're pulling the rug from under our feet. Those devout followers are holding tightly, believing it's a sign of the end times and their scripture has prophesised right (which may have been played like a script by those pulling the strings), their bond is stronger than ever, thus they're dependent on the system; while others find relief in what seems to be an end to the bondage, so they gladly accept what's offered in its place. A new religion.

Anyway, so Robert subtly undermines archaic religion and also gives some potentially controversial views. Basically, we've second bodies (souls) and in the 'second state' (out-of-body), in terms of sexuality, we come together in a magnetic charge, literal attraction, which is loosely compared to the physical sensation of sexual tension and physical act of sexual intimacy. The difference is that in the second state there is no male-female interpenetration and sensuality is entirely absent, instead we collide, our metaphysical bodies become one with the ecstasy and all that. Fine, I can totally envisage that, in fact it makes a lot of sense and tots a few things up in my head. In the second state, sexes don't seem to be an issue - gender seems to remain - but sexuality, as we know it, does not. He doesn't draw attention to homosexuality, not unequivocally, though it might be implied. That's also fine, I can accept that. It's when you begin to contemplate the full scope of the concept that it presents some complications. When sexuality in the physical is an echo of that which occurs in the metaphysical, Robert construed this as indicative of mankind's misdirection. He never addresses how second state intimacy applies to children or family. It's a bit of a grey area. Obviously he can't be suggesting we do something to resolve this possible misdirection, can he?

Aside from the occasional thing, Robert Monroe and his initial book Journeys Out of the Body are honourable and convincing. He outwardly recognises and acknowledges the corruption and control of the masses, though I dare say this is done in a heedful manner. Was he genuinely outspoken or was this only to meet the expectations of the counterculture?


U.S. military officers and psychic spies have been trained at The Monroe Institute in Faber, Virginia.

The Monroe Institute's current Director of Technology and former President, Skip Atwater, is previous head of psychic intelligence unit at Fort Meade, Maryland.

Joe McMoneagle, U.S. Army's 'Remote Viewer', married one of Robert Monroe's step-daughters, Nancy. He was one of the original officers of the top-secret program now known as the Stargate Project. After working for the military, Joe became a speaker at The Monroe Institute. He is also President of his remote viewing business Intuitive Intelligence Applications, Inc.

Nancy McMoneagle is the current Executive Director and President of The Monroe Institute and Co-Owner and Vice-President of Intuitive Intelligence Applications, Inc.


The connections to the government are various, but that doesn't certify that Robert Monroe was in collusion with them. According to Robert Bruce (wiki: a mystic author, best known for his own studies on the out-of-body experience), when The Monroe Institute was started it received a visit from government officials who warned them to back off on astral projection, particularly in proving it to the general population. I'm unconvinced though, I think the government knew fully well what was going on and oversaw much of its development. As to where Robert Monroe comes into it, I think it's unlikely that he would have been permitted to release such information without substantial misinformation mixed in, especially in his follow-up books. But who knows. Nevertheless, fascinating reading and fascinating conjecture...

What Is NASA Up To? And Who Was Robert Monroe, Really?

Astral Traveller, Robert A. Monroe Describing His Out Of Body Experiences - The CIA Would Establish Ties To The Monroe Institute - One Must Wonder If This May Have Had Something To Do With The Cancer That Monroe's Daughter, Laurie, Died From In Her Early 50s?