SPIRITUAL SPECTRUM STORIES

SOBE - Spontaneous Out of Body Experiences

OBERF Home Page Experience Stories Share Experience (Web Form)

 

Click category below to read summaries of the experiences.  If you want to read more about a particular account, then click the experiencer's name link to read the expanded version of the account.

388.  Kimberly K Experience 7/25/10 I was walking home from my elementary school on a sidewalk that was bordered by a well traveled road.  I only had a block or so to walk and I remember, even to this day, the exact spot that I had this experience.  One minute I was walking home and the next minute, I was looking down at myself.  I remember, vividly looking at the part of my hair from about 4 feet above my head and thinking, "Wow, that's my part on my hair."  It seemed like time was just frozen.   My body too.  I wasn't aware of movement of my body, but my mind was going a mile a minute.  I remember that I thought, "This is so cool, if a car jumped the curb, right now, I wouldn't be dead because I'm right here."  I remember feeling SO MUCH PEACE at that point, like I was being embraced, but I wasn't aware of any other being around me.  Just a feeling.
Spontaneous OBE at age 5 while walking home from school.

387.  Joan M Experience 6/20/10  I spent months planning my suicide.  I wrote letters to my friends, family and the day before I was to go to court, I knelt down, prayed to God and said if this is the right thing for me to do, let it happen.  I then went to a friends empty apartment, and drank 2 glasses of anti freeze.  While I was drinking the 2nd glass, I saw myself, hovering over my shoulder, from the waist up.  I was not afraid.  I was at peace knowing I was doing the right thing.  It was crazy, seeing me floating and watching the human me, drinking anti freeze and waiting to die.
OBE during suicide attempt.  OBE occurred immediately prior to losing consciousness.

386.  John H Experience 6/19/10 I am 70 now, but my experience == which was really an “out of body” experience == occurred at age 14 when I had polio myelitis.  Hospitalized at LACGH in 1954 with a high fever (104) and horrid headache.  Suddenly I left my body and was floating outside the hospital several floors up.  I was concerned but not really frightened.  I looked back into my hospital room where I saw myself in my bed.  I made the decision that this “wasn’t right” and suddenly—with the feeling of being turned inside out (literally)— I returned to the confines of my body… I view the experience as evidence that "I" am separate from my body.  That is, that I am a spiritual entity living in and communicating with the physical world with my body.
SOBE from retired physician at age 14.

385.  Amy I Experience 5/15/10 THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS HOVERING ABOVE MY CAR AND I COULD SEE THIS GUY LAYING ON TOP OF ME AS I LOOKED DOWN THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I COULD SEE PEOPLE WALKING ALONG THE SIDEWALK AND IN THE PARKING LOT LIKE NOTHING WAS GOING ON. I COULD SEE CLEAR OVER TO THE MALL! COLOR APPEARED AS IN A SEPIA PICTURE; SUBDUED AND WASHED OUT.  AS I LOOKED AROUND I THOUGHT OH GOD HE KILLED ME! I AM OUTSIDE MY BODY! TIME SEEMED TO NOT EXIST AND THERE WAS NO SOUND, NO HEAVENLY LIGHT, NO ANGELIC NOR DEMONIC BEINGS, JUST NOTHING! NO COMFORTING PRESENCE OR KNOWLEDGE. 
SOBE from criminal attack.

385.  Horatio G Experience 5/15/10 From Argentina, Original in Spanish, translated to English by Simon.  I felt unable to move my body, and I got scared because I could feel myself leaving it. I wanted to tell my brother that I was dying, but I could not speak nor move. I came out of my body and was for a while on the ceiling of the room looking down at my body and at my brother reading. I saw my brother close his book and pick up another one which he began to read. Then, in a state of great peace and tranquillity, I began to travel through a circular tunnel, with walls that looked like points of light passing at great speed. At the end of the tunnel a beautiful and comforting light was visible. I had no feeling of a body, neither cold nor heat, nothing whatever. Only an immense peace.
NDE-Like SOBE.

384.  Julie T Experience 5/10/10 From Canada, Original in French, translated to English by Caroline.  It's at this moment that I started asking myself questions such as: "would it be possible that, in this day and age, in a reputable hospital, surrounded by plenty of doctors and the best technology available, I would still be at risk of dying while giving birth, like in the old days ? In front of my family members ? and all these doctors?" A voice suddenly responded, with a tone as ironic as my questioning: "if that must happen, what can you do about it ? That's just the way it is, yes, that's just the way it is...". At that very moment I felt that I was leaving my body. I was half conscious and floating up in the air, in what felt like an empty space. Only a part of me was filling up this space... like if I was inside an egg or something.  I felt like I had no more problems, no more worries, no more baby... absolutely nothing but the essence of myself, without any emotions. I felt great.
Either a SOBE or ascension into her higher self occurring during childbirth.

383.  Dave D Experience 2/25/10  I remember very little about my early childhood as is probably the case with most people.  What happened to me is that one day on or around my second birthday, I fell out of my hi chair and broke my left arm.  I don't remember the event per say, but remember falling one time, then hitting the ground followed by about 15 seconds of excruciating , throbbing pain, then at the point where the pain was most unbearable, going through a tunnel at great speed and then becoming conscious in what I can only describe as a garden or a place with really vivid green features.  I also remember hearing water like a brook.  I seem to remember myself as a ball of light at the time, and within a short time was greeted by another entity that also appeared as a ball of light but when I concentrated,  I could see the profile of a human form.  The personality of the entity can only be described as complete love and compassion for me and only seemed concerned about my well being.  I do not remember what we communicated as it was a long time ago.  I remember at first really being overwhelmed by my surroundings that, if I remember correctly, was up in the sky sometimes and at other times in the garden that I described.
Interesting SOBE at around 18 months.

382.  Steve C Experience 2/25/10 I was visiting my family for Christmas several years ago, and went to a hockey game.  I'm in good health, nothing was out of the ordinary.  At some point during the game, I suddenly had the experience with no warning nor cause.  I went up a tunnel of light, and during that ascent I experienced the life review, where I re-experienced many significant times in my life, relationships, places I had lived, things I had gone through, going back very early into my childhood, re-experiencing things I had long forgot.  At the time it was very clear, however after this, I went right back into my body and I heard a swooshing sound as I went rapidly back down the tunnel into my body.  As soon as I was back, I had forgotten the specific scenarios of the life review, though I know I just had it.  I have no idea if anything happened at the end.  When I came back it was slightly jarring, and I am pretty sure the entire thing took only a few seconds.
SOBE at hockey game.

381.  Karen D Experience 2/25/10  I was teaching and had my planning period during 2nd hour.  I smoked then so went to my car to have a cigarette as usual.  I sat behind the wheel smoking while I looked up into the mirror to check my make-up.   Suddenly, I was to my right several feet up (I believe) looking down on myself.  I was, therefore, above me and remained conscious (the cigarette remained in my hand).  I didn't see anybody or hear anything - I just knew that I didn't want to come back to my human body - too cumbersome - I loved the seemingly weightless freedom of being outside of my body.  I also knew, just knew, that as humans we are like Stepford Wives - DULL - I wanted to be the real me and remain outside of my body.  That's ALL.  Suddenly I was back in me.  I had no clue as to what had just happened and it scared the living hell out of me. 
SOBE while in car.

380.  Phillip D Experience 1/2/10   then it began.......the candles did not dim... but grew quiet, the music which was very low became a physical thing in the room...then very gently the sound of wings folding one upon another could be heard. you could hear the structure of the bone and feather as they folded, one upon another....one on another and I knew it was covering angels and as I knew this I was no longer here...I was there. There is where the sky was as blue as twilight on a perfect summers day...there was no coldness just warmth and a feeling of knowledge and LOVE and the knowledge was (is) that everything is perfectly planned your cares for the world evaporate as the truth of just how safe everything you leave behind is, how God has His hand on us all, how everything is perfect and makes sense, How EVERYTHING WILL BE ALRIGHT.....
OBE at time of romantic tryst.

379.  Brian M Experience 12/19/09 I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 7TH,1983 WITH HEAD PAINS.-I HAD A SURGERY BUT THE MEDICAL REPORT SAYS ONLY ABOUT 15 PERCENT COULD BE REMOVED SINCE TUMORS IMBED INTO AND AROUND BRAIN TISSUE.  MY SECOND "ATTEMPTED" SURGERY WAS ON SEPTEMBER7TH,1983-THE FILM SHOWS THE DOCTORS OPEN MY HEAD AND THE ENTIRE TUMOR WAS NOT IMBEDDED OR ATTACHED AND COMPLETELY FELL OUT OF MY HEAD!-I WAS 0N THE OPERATING TABLE AND FLOATED UPWARDS INTO SPACE-I VISITED AND SPOKE WITH PEOPLE BOTH HELL AND HEAVEN.
OBE during surgery at age 14 with apparent medically inexplicable events.

378.  Rita S Experience 12/19/09 The first event that I can remember, I was 3 yrs, I was in a swimming pool, I could not swim and I somehow walk to far into the pool and went under water and started drowning. The water burned but the next thing I know, was I could see the lady sun bathing next to the pool and I saw my self drowning. I was wondering why couldn't she see me. Then the next thing I remember, I was on the ground and they were doing CPR.
NDE from drowning at age 3 and multiple OBEs.

377.  Pragati P Experience 12/6/09 From India  I went for sleep for around 2 hours. After a while I woke up but could not move. My body became numb. I could not move any part of the body not even my eyes or head. I was lying straight with my head turned to my left. Suddenly a apparition dressed in white came in front I could not see the face only the dress since my head was side ways. The apparition just came to my right side and lied down. It said something in Hindi language 'Don't get angry'. I was terribly scared. I could not move. I could not see. I started chanting the name of God. For a moment I was shocked. After 2 minutes my body returned to normal. I could move. I did not see anyone around me. I was pretty scared. It was for real. No I was not sleeping. I was fully awake.
OBE, Possible REM intrusion.

376.  Judith J Experience 12/6/09 From Australia AFTER SLEEPING ALL NIGHT, SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF AWAKE AND FLOATING ABOVE MY BED QUITE COMFORTABLY LOOKING DOWN AT MYSELF. I SEEMED TO BE IN A BRIGHT LIGHT. THIS LASTED ONLY A SHORT MATTER OF TIME WHEN I FOUND MYSELF PROJECTED BACK INTO MY BODY AND INSTANTLY AWAKE. DECIDING TO GET OUT OF BED I FOUND THAT THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY WAS PARALYZED SO THERE NOT BEING ANYONE BUT SICK HUSBAND IN BED IN ANOTHER ROOM, I LAY THERE FOR SOME TIME PERHAPS DOZING FOR A WHILE. AFTER A WHILE I WAS ABLE TO MOVE MY RIGHT LEG TO THE FLOOR BUT PUTTING PRESSURE ON IT I SUFFERED A MOST INTOLERABLE PAIN. AFTER A WHILE I WAS ABLE TO PUT MORE AND MORE PRESSURE ON MY FOOT AS IT SEEMED TO COME TO LIFE BIT BY BIT.
OBE and bathed in light- on awakening found the right side of her body paralyzed.

375.  Wayne Experience 12/6/09 It was a weekend morning and I woke up around 8am. As usual I got dressed into some casual clothes and and turned on the TV.  Within 15-20 after waking up I walked outside and down the street heading to the beach like I do every weekend morning to check the surfing conditions for the day. It only takes about 1 minute to get to the beach.  About half way to the beach while walking in the middle of the street I experienced something I never felt before.  All of a sudden I was looking at myself from behind and my body was still walking towards the beach.  I seemed to be about 10 feet behind by body and slightly elevated. Maybe about 5 feet higher than normal.  It only lasted about 2 or 3 seconds and I was back to normal while still walking.
Brief SOBE while walking.

374.  Sandy TS Experience 12/6/09 I began having extremely intense contractions, when my doctor came into to check my centimeters his voice was very soothing and helped me become more focused on the self hypnosis process that we had been practicing for approximately three months.  In the middle of a contraction I was transported by nursing staff from my bed to a gurney in order to transport me into the delivery room.  It was during this transport to gurney that I began to feel as though I was floating above my body.  I could hear the conversations around me, but it was as though I was separate from my body and had no feeling of any physical experiences.  It was only when the doctor said "here comes the head" that I felt my self immediately drop back into my body and could feel the physical effects of birthing.
SOBE at time of delivery.

373.  Simon C Experience 12/6/09 From Canada I was standing just outside the classroom, chatting with a classmate. Suddenly, I felt that I was out of my body up and away into a dark void. Then I turned into a stream of air seemingly and went through something narrow like a tunnel.  As I came out shortly, I saw a bright whitish Light without boundary not far away. I sensed in my incorporeal state that this is like God. I tried to move closer but felt some deep and dark constraint hindering me. Then surprisingly I re-experienced my life events backward in an accelerated speed, all the way back to an early year of junior school. It stopped at a TV scene of an animation-series which I watched then about a soccer player, all like in a matter of a few seconds.
OBE with encounter with a light and life review.

372.  Sandrea J Experience 12/6/09  Somewhat overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and confusion, I found myself out of my body. No physical trauma at all. I was probably exhausted with mental anguish.  I do not use drugs, nor am I on any prescription drugs, nor do I drink. This was so clear and I remember it so well that it is extremely real to me.  I found myself flying with a comforting  being on my right side.  Somehow I knew he was there to guide me and watch over me.  I never saw him but somehow I knew he was amused because I was so excited about flying and I could go through things like walls etc.  We communicated by mind only.  I was astonished that I was so light and all my troubles were gone and I was in the blue sky flying over the ocean with him.  We flew over the Galapagos Islands (I do not know how I knew that's where we were but I just "knew.") It was so beautiful. 
Remarkable OBE

371.  Michael M Experience 12/6/09  I tell my wife that it was a miracle we survived etc, but I keep adding the phrase "I saw something, I know everything is going to be OK". I do not know what I saw or why I know everything is going to be "OK". I just know it.  It bothers me a bit but I credit it to just some emotional component in my flat line brain. I let it ride. Then, one week ago, as I was in the twilight area of sleep, it came back. I sat up in the bed and started weeping. I do not weep. I was outside the aircraft and was looking at a horizontal band of white light. The background was dark and the ground below was featureless. The MiG had flattened out into a plate like sheet of gray. The sensation of "Everything is going to be OK" was simply "There". I did not see my body. There was no sound. The horizontal band was about 10 degrees in height, not pulsate, not particularly intense.
Physician shares experience that defies classification.  Apparent miraculous avoidance of plane crash in a MIG.  OBE component.

370.  Brandon Experience 11/21/09  My body got extremely dizzy when i tried to lift the ice off of the lid and suddenly I could see myself from above like a birds eye view of what I was doing...I was still very dizzy and every motion seemed like it was flashing... like if you were to look at a book full of pictures and flipped the pages and it turned into a movie. It lasted for about 3 seconds and I was back to normal.
Brief OBE at around age 15.

369.  Crystal C Experience 9/24/09  My spirit went out into the open which I would think was the sky and I was just floating around free and having fun just being then the same knowing said COME and I raised as if I had a face towards the upper sky.  I went fast so very very fast and then I popped up into another dimension out of the dark sky and now in a wonderful place and the spirit I was a gassy form there were thousands of others.  In the midst of them was a light, that even though I had no eyes, I could see no ears but I could hear. It was like if you puffed on a cigarette and you see that gassy puff while that's what I was and many were there and all you wanted to do was be closer to the light. It was the brightest light ever but it did not hurt your eyes. The feeling was PURE LOVE.
Remarkable SOBE as an infant!

368.  Sharla D Experience 9/24/09 I was going to bed and had just fell asleep. Im not sure how long I was sleeping before I tried to move or get up but I couldn't. I guess I opened my eyes because I saw myself floating over me. I tried to move my legs, but my body would not move. I could feel my heart beating so I knew I was still alive. Even though I couldn't move somehow I saw myself sitting on the floor with my friend who had passed away.
OBE including seeing and talking to dead friend

367.  Reba B Experience 9/24/09 My husband got a different job in another part of the state and we were planning a move.  I was asleep one morning, nothing out of the ordinary, just asleep when I felt myself "wake up".  I literally floated through the foyer hall from the master bedroom and onto the front porch were I saw my deceased father standing there. 
Very well-developed OBE, including seeing and conversing with deceased father

366.  Val Experience 9/20/09 From Panama.  While reading on my bed one night, all of a sudden I "a thought" entered my conscious mind telling my  body to relax, and actually felt my body relax like never before, and the next thing I saw was my body "below" me, I was actually floating close to the ceiling watching myself. I was still reading (no physical movement on my part, it just appeared like I was reading, same posture as when I was "awake" reading my book, and yet I realized that my eyes were open, and yet, I was not blinking). After some time, while in my "perch", I felt like I did not belong there, and the moment I felt that emotion, I "went back" into my body. After the event, I felt very tired, put the light out, and went to sleep, when I woke up the next day, I woke up feeling fully rested, and could have taken the world. To this day, I can still see my body on my bed reading.
OBE while reading in bed

365.  Denis Experience 9/20/09 Muslim experience and from Turkey.   Then I felt that I was hanging on the ceiling with white dress. I saw only my upper body.  I was looking at my body. I watched everything from ceiling. They put me on the couch. I was still crying but little bit slowed down.  After a few seconds, I came back to my body. That is how I can remember everything so clear. While I was watching to my body she was like someone else, not me.
OBE from shock and trauma of mom's death. 

364.  Harriet L Experience 9/20/09  I had gone to bed for the night I remember laying on my back and how exhausted I felt but how relaxed I felted also I remember being half awake and half asleep and my breathing was delayed and I remember getting up out of my body and when I did  the heels of my feet cause cramping in my calf muscles I remember turning around and seeing myself lying there and a white light all around me I remember touching my dresser the white light only outlined my body I could see though the outline I lift my arm and the light went into kitchen. I thinking this whole time have died. I rushed to get back in my body I got back in the same way I got out I could feel my heels in my calves as I got back in I had the cramping in my calves. As soon as I got back in I stay up all night it really scared me. It has tried to happen several times to me since then, But when I have that feeling of being relaxed and the breathing thing. I get up
Quick SOBE experience.

363.  Joey Experience 9/20/09  The light slammed into my chest area and it threw me back against the chair. Suddenly, I was floating down the hallway towards the master bedroom and into the room.  I floated above the bed and could see my husband sleeping below. I do not remember if an image of myself was in the bed also but I think it was.  I do not remember the object leaving or how I got back to the chair I was sitting in.  I seemed to be conscious of sitting in the chair again, the object was gone and I was very scared and shaken.
Unusual SOBE caused by being hit with light.

362.  Geoff M Experience 9/19/09 ...as I gave myself the command to rest my head back on the pillow I noticed my head did not feel as it normally does during the lowering back down procedure. Instead my head felt very distinctly as if it were floating or wafting slowly down towards the pillow. It was a feeling of weightlessness. I felt as though I had no actual muscular control of the process.  It was then I realized I was out of my body and instantly understood that my detached condition also accounted for the skewed perspective of my surroundings. 
Brief OBE after awaking from sleep

361.  Ann B Experience 9/13/09 I sat up and could feel like my limbs were very heavy, almost leaden. I walked toward my bedroom door and made it to the hallway. I really did not feel different but, I decided to leap into the air as a kind of test. It worked! I floated. The feelings at this time were elation and overwhelming joy. I floated just above ground level throughout my living room.
SOBE after several tries.

360.  Pierre V Experience 9/13/09 From Canada.  I felt asleep on my desk then next thing I know I'm sort of walking (Floating) around the ice ring and my friend who suppose to be sick is playing hockey with another player.  As I think that I'm walking, I look on the sidewalk and see that it is covered with thick ice and realize that the sidewalk is slightly in angle. The first thing that comes to my mind is ...why is it so easy for me to stay up on this slippery sidewalk?  But never mind, I was just interested to see my friend closer on the ring.  Next thing I know, I'm on the side of the ring moving at the speed of a regular walk and just observing.  Then I wanted to be at the other end of the ring.  Next thing I know, I'm there observing the clothes they were both wearing - the gloves, the skates. 
Evidential SOBE as a teenager.

359.  Christina D Experience 9/13/09 The last experience I had was just slightly different.  It all started the same way, but it was like I was above my bed watching myself sleep and I started to try to make myself move or talk to wake my husband. This whole time I am still above my bed watching myself and my husband sleep. Well I had woke up when my husband heard me trying to talk to him.  I was making this weird noise and he thought I was playing around.  I started to cry and told him that it had just happened again. After that night I had never experienced anything like that.
SOBE with sleep paralysis precursors.

358.  Geoff R Experience 9/13/09 Although awake I suddenly felt a huge force push me - like being hit by a car - I felt myself being pushed right out of my body and into another reality.  Suddenly I was flying /floating over a strange world - colors seemed brighter greens greener blues bluer and all shimmering like jewels.  I flew like this for about 10 minutes, first over moorland, the hills and finally over a beach towards the sea.  At this point suddenly felt pulled back - as if by a spring and snapped back into my body.

357.  Lee V Experience 9/12/09 the next thing I remember I was on floating upward and away.  my back was rounded and my legs were dangling. I kept moving up and away until I realized what was happening and then I became stationary in that position.  it felt like a good portion of my rounded back was already through the ceiling.  for a few seconds I just hung there looking around the room, looking at all the knick knacks on the dresser and into a half bathroom that I had not noticed was there when I came in.  I could see all the decorative hand towels my mother had placed by the sink.  then I remember thinking, wow, how am I doing this? 
Several SOBEs.

356.  Alicia C Experience 9/12/09  When he took the curve he lost control and the car started to spin. It never rolled or crashed into anything, luckily. We ended up on the other side of the road in the ditch facing the other way. During the whole time as soon as the car started to spin. I some how ended up out side the car about 100 ft away on the side of the road. I could see the car, I could see us in the car, I could make out all the colors, I saw all the cars coming on the road along with the headlights. I could see the car spinning. As soon as the car stopped in the ditch I was back in the car.
OBE from fear death experience.

355.  Nina Experience 9/12/09  I was covering  my son. Only I couldn't move the covers. You see his baby bed was in my bedroom. And as I turned to go back to bed I noticed MY BODY WAS STILL IN BED I could not understand this, but continued to go towards the bed. At that time I noticed this figure in the doorway of the bedroom. He or she was dressed in clothes like Jesus wore except I could not see the face it was as though the hood was shadowing the face. I know the figure communicated with me but not in words. It was more understanding.
SOBE & ADC from father-in-law.

354.  Betty Experience 9/9/09 I was 12 and I was playing with my friends outside that day. One friend was pulling another in a wagon and myself and another friend were running side by side chasing the wagon down a sidewalk. I tripped and started to fall. The second I hit the ground I saw myself from about 150ft in the air looking down. I could see everything looking straight down...the tops of the trees, the top of my house, myself and friend running - all in a freeze frame. It felt like I was looking down on everything for about 5-7 solid seconds. It was like looking at a photo...no fear of being high in the sky, just a freeze frame as if time stopped, but I could still feel it was a good period of 5-7 seconds that I was looking down.
This one is either a type of fear death experience or a spontaneous OBE, or something in between the spectrum of consciousness. 

353.  Lauren B Experience 9/9/09  I will describe the most profound one first. It was May, 1982. I had come back from an amusement park with my boyfriend and he was breaking up with me. We lived together.  That night, I went to bed in our bed in the bedroom, I did not know where he went. I was severely depressed, I wanted to die, literally. I was profoundly depressed because he was breaking up with me.  At some point after I fell asleep, I "awoke" to find myself floating above my body. I then floated out of the bedroom, into the bathroom where I floated above the sink, looking into the mirror but saw nothing. I roamed above the shower. Next, I floated into the kitchen and saw my boyfriend sleeping on the couch. I willed the refrigerator open for some reason and looked inside. I looked at my boyfriend sleeping on the couch.  Then, I went back into my bedroom and slipped back into my body.   
Several SOBEs and sleep paralysis.

352.  Honey A Experience 9/7/09 I showered and after putting the baby to bed, I too lay down and started to drift off. Here, I am not so clear. I felt a sort of pulling sensation and the next thing I remember is floating.  The experience reminded me of astronauts in one of those anti gravity rooms. I know this sounds odd, but I remember still being in my nightgown and I told myself I will go back in just a minute. I drifted over to my dresser, I put my foot out and sort of pushed myself off of it and started to drift over to the other side of the room. I don't remember seeing my body.

351.  Daniel C Experience 8/30/09 This experience happened when I awoke in the middle of the night about 3am.  I went to the bathroom. When I came back to bed I had just laid down and then all of a sudden I felt my body going through the ceiling, then the roof. It was painful for a split second. Then I felt myself travelling at a very high speed. There was bright light surrounding me. The ringing sound was very loud. I was thinking that maybe I had died.  Realizing that I might be dead frightened me so much that suddenly I could feel myself being slammed back through the roof and into my earthly body. I know this was not a dream.