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Astral Travel in D&D

Started by Omega, October 26, 2018, 08:02:35 PM

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Omega

October 26, 2018, 08:02:35 PM
The thread on novels and RPGs got me thinking of this.

I oft wondered if D&D's Astral Projection spell, and later material which noted that you create a new body when entering another dimension, was inspired by either Carter's ability of astral projection which had him creating a new body on Barsoom? Or a similar technique used in at least one of Lovecrafts books?

Or were both inspired by something older?

JeremyR

#1
October 26, 2018, 08:52:53 PM
It's inspired by real world occult/parapsychology/new age stuff. Which had been cyclically popular and had something of a boom again in the late 60s, which is presumably why EGG included it

My own father said he once did it back then, after reading a book, and it scared him so much he went back into his body almost immediately and never tried it again.  He never did drugs and was atheist, so I dunno.

RPGPundit

#2
November 01, 2018, 02:25:38 AM
Yeah, I think it's mostly based on the new-age notions of astral travel, born from 19th century theosophy and spiritism.
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