Autoscopy

Autoscopy refers to an event that takes place during the process of astral projection: when astral projection takes place, the subject that is travelling sometimes has the ability to glance back at his or her body and therefore views the physical essence from an external location (“Autoscopy”). In the Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft, Raven Grimassi describes the astral body as one that is a precise duplication of the physical body – a duplication that is a form of energy that can easily take the conscious mind along with it wherever it travels (Grimassi 21). Autoscopy and the out-of-body experience or the near death experience go hand-in-hand, but the term Autoscopy also refers to an event that involves a subject witnessing their own double (“Autoscopy”). Thus, autoscopy is an experience that can occur while the individual travels outside of the physical body, or while they are in the body witnessing a double of him or herself.

Autoscopy is a word that derives its origin from the Greek language; the term autoscopy is a merging of auto and scopy -- the Greek auto meaning self and the word scopy is derived from skopeein, which literally translates as “to see” (“Mendham”). Thus, the unison of auto and scopy creates a word that literally means to see the self. As mentioned previously, to see oneself while one’s essence is outside of the physical body is referred to as astral travel or astral projection. The latter occurrence is often mentioned when an out-of-body or near-death experience is recounted. The subject often reports being able to see the physical body from a distance: sometimes from the ceiling while looking down at the physical body and other times subjects report being in a corner of the room watching events as they occur. During some instances of autoscopy, the subject that is having an out-of-body experience also reports seeing a silver cord that connects to the physical body, particularly in the region of the navel. It is believed that this silver cord is what keeps the person’s essence connected to the physical body and allows for the body to remain alive while the essence of the individual travels about.

In contrast, when one is in the physical and sees a double of him or herself, the subject has seen a what is termed as a doppelganger, also known as a double-ganger (“Mendham”). A doppelganger or double-ganger is defined as “the apparition of a living person; a double, a wraith” (“Double-ganger” Def 1.). The term double-ganger is rooted in the German word doppelganger and the Dutchdubbelganger, which literally means “double-goer” (“Double-ganger” Def 1.). Etymological analysis of the word double-ganger reveals that it is first noted to appear in the English language in Walter Scott’s Letters on demonology and witchcraft: “He…may probably find it to be his own fetch or wraith or double-ganger” (“Double-ganger” Def 1.). Later, the word appears in Charles Kingsley’s Hereward the wake, ‘last of the English’ in the year 1865: “Either you are Hereward, or you are his double-ganger” (“Double-ganger” Def 1.). The German word doppelganger is a bit older than double-ganger, and is noted to first appear in M.A. Denham’s The D. tracts, a collection of folklore in 1851 (“Doppelganger.” Def. 1. ). Later, in 1879, the term doppelganger appears in C. L. Dogson’s Euclid & Mod. Rivals (“Doppelganger.” Def. 1.).

Sources vary and suggest that to see a doppelganger is actually what is termed as heautoscopy (“Mendham”); the latter term is considered the appropriate term to utilize when discussing or writing about the doppelganger or double-ganger experience – thereby separating and giving an element of distinction to the experience of astral travel vs. viewing one’s double. Meanwhile, many writers, scholars and researchers still utilize the term autoscopy to describe both experiences.

Some sources assert that the term autoscopy is often used incorrectly; Dr. Bruce Greyson, a Near Death Experience researcher, asserts that an event like autoscopy is when a subject sees their double – the subject is within the physical boundaries of the physical body when they witness their doppelganger (Long). Meanwhile, in the event that a near death experience occurs, the subject has escaped the confines of the physical body and exists as the double (Long). Greyson argues that the doppelganger experience is most easily identified in the perspective the subject has on the double it sees – the doppelganger appears to be somewhat transparent, difficult to see completely and often appears much like an apparition, and only appears in part. Quite the opposite is the out of body experience where the subject is out of the physical body and can see the entire physical body either laying down or unmoving. In rare cases, subjects report seeing the double-ganger with striking clarity.

The Near Death Experience Foundation at (http://www.nderf.org/) asserts that there are no medical explanations available for near death experiences, and the website offers myriad studies that reveal the lack of medical explanation for near death and out of body experiences. There are skeptics that assert the contrary, that autoscopy is nothing more than a hallucination or a drug induced delusion.

Double-gangers have been described as both completely physical as well as partial apparitions (“Doppelganger”). Double-gangers appear exactly like the subject’s physical body whether it appear in its entirety or not (“Doppelganger”). The appearance of double-gangers have much lore associated with them and there are numerous reports of the occurrence. Some legends assert that seeing one’s double is an ill omen (“Doppelganger”). According to some tales, double-gangers lack a shadow as well as a reflection because they are not the true physicality of the subject in question (“Doppelganger”). Finally, the sighting of a double-ganger has often been linked with an omen of the subject’s death.

Works Cited:

“Autoscopy.” Paranormality.com: The A to Z of Paranormal, Supernatural,
and Unusual Phenomena. 3 Sept. 2007
http://www.paranormality.com/autoscopy.shtml.

“Doppelganger.” Crystalinks. 3 Sept. 2007
http://www.crystalinks.com/doppelganger.html.

“Double-ganger.” Def. 1. Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2nd ed. 1989.

“Doppelganger.” Def. 1. Oxford English Dictionary Online. 2nd ed. 1989.

Grimassi, Raven. Encyclopedia of Wicca and Witchcraft. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 2000.

Long, Jeffery P. “Near Death Experiences Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs).” Near Death Experience Foundation. 3 Feb. 2007.
http://www.nderf.org/FAQs.htm#seeingdouble. 3 Sept. 2007.

Mendham, Trevor. “Autoscopy.” Wyrdology. 2006. 3 Sept. 2007.
http://www.wyrdology.com/other/autoscopy.html.