My uncle once sad, quite casually, that he used to project a lot when he was younger. He said he'd often fly over the Rockies and up into Canada. Was he really projecting? I don't think he ever read or studied it, and perhaps they were simply a form of dreaming. But, I always wondered why anyone would stop doing it. It sounds like your mom lost the ability somehow? I do recall reading that kids can do it more naturally, and society sort of programs them to reject it and lose the ability.