By Marilynn Hughes

Honoring a Shared Lineage: Exploring “Natural Alignment” with The Monroe Institute

When two organizations spend decades mapping the vast terrain of human consciousness from complementary vantage points, their paths are bound to converge. In October 2026, Emily Ghosh, Director of Creator Relationships at The Monroe Institute, reached out to The Out-of-Body Travel Foundation’s founder, Marilynn Hughes, in deep appreciation of her forty-year archive—recognizing what she described as a “natural alignment” between their missions to advance the global awakening of human consciousness. While this marks the beginning of an exciting formal dialogue, the roots of this connection stretch back more than three decades.

The Pioneering Legacy of Robert A. Monroe and The Monroe Institute

To understand the significance of this dialogue, it helps to look back at the remarkable history of The Monroe Institute. In 1958, Robert A. Monroe—a successful radio broadcasting executive—began experiencing spontaneous, involuntary out-of-body experiences. Rather than dismissing these profound shifts in awareness, Monroe approached them with the curiosity of an explorer and the rigor of a scientist.

Through the Research and Development Division of Monroe Industries, he began investigating how specific acoustic patterns could safely and reliably guide the human mind into expanded states of awareness without the use of drugs or dogma. His groundbreaking research culminated in the 1971 publication of his classic memoir, Journeys Out of the Body—a book that introduced the term “out-of-body experience” into mainstream vocabulary—and the official founding of The Monroe Institute as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Faber, Virginia. Over the past fifty years, the Institute has welcomed tens of thousands of seekers to its Virginia campus and online programs, developing Monroe Sound Science and flagship courses like the Gateway Voyage to help individuals explore non-physical reality and inner guidance.

Decades of Shared Lineage and Synchronistic Ties

For The Out-of-Body Travel Foundation, engaging with The Monroe Institute feels less like a new introduction and more like a homecoming. Marilynn Hughes’s connection to Robert Monroe’s legacy dates back to 1991, when her very first publishers at Hampton Roads Publishing—who were personal friends of Bob Monroe—published her early work alongside remote viewing pioneer Joe McMoneagle. Joe graciously offered a review of Marilynn’s work for the Foundation’s website, and that thread of lineage continued through the decades. Years later, she spoke with his wife, Nancy McMoneagle, about visions for bringing the Institute’s work out West, and in 2018, she earned certification in Controlled Remote Viewing along with specialized training in Transdimensional and Associative Remote Viewing under Michelle Freed-Bulgatz, who was trained directly by Joe.

More recently, that historical thread wove right into Phoenix, Arizona. At the invitation of its co-creators, Chad Andrews and longtime colleague Mark Certo—one of Robert Monroe’s original sound engineers—Marilynn had the opportunity to experience the Ascension Chamber firsthand. Experiencing the craftsmanship of those who worked directly alongside Bob Monroe reaffirmed how deeply their parallel paths have been intertwined all along.

Looking Ahead: Supporting Seekers in Expanded States of Consciousness

As The Out-of-Body Travel Foundation launches its dedicated spotlight for The Monroe Institute on its Collaborations page this November, both teams are energized by the possibilities ahead. In recent correspondence, Emily Ghosh and Marilynn Hughes have begun exploring simple, meaningful ways to cross-pollinate their communities—from sharing insights on the intersection of comparative mysticism and consciousness research, to spotlighting sound technology and open-access educational resources for seekers worldwide.

Whether approached through the lens of acoustic science or timeless contemplative mysticism, the goal remains the same: empowering individuals to safely navigate expanded states of awareness and discover their own profound spiritual truth. More updates will be shared as this collaborative dialogue unfolds.