Difference between OBE and lucid dream?
Hello community,
This is actually my second post, but I thought that could introduce myself briefly.
I've been exploring spirituality and esotericism for about 8 years; during this time I have also experimented with lucid dreaming which I have achieved a few times, maybe 20 or so (EDIT: Actually, after actually counting noted DJ entries since 2005, it amounts to 42). My interest in lucid dreaming comes from the point of view of self knowledge and the interest in exploring higher realities. This interest has recently been sparked again, for which reason I stumbled upon this forum. I hope to be able to learn something from you all (which I already have by reading various forum posts and dream journals) and maybe also to share something of my own.
So, now to the question:
I have noticed in reading about lucid dreaming that it's often described as being something different than an OBE. My knowledge and experience suggest they are essentially the same thing.
My take on it is that dreams take place in the astral world/plane, which sets the laws that apply for dreams. Laws such as being able to control matter with your mind, go through walls, levitate, etc. To me the difference between an OBE and a lucid dream is simply that the latter is filled with dream elements or subconscious projections, while the former is devoid of such elements, allowing one to perceive the astral as it really is. With the notion that dreaming only takes place within the body, shared dreaming doesn't make sense.
What do your experiences suggest regarding this? I'm not interested in theories that are not based on experience.