Denyce R's Experiences
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EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION

 My first experience happened, when I was 23, shortly after my father's untimely, and unexpected death at the age of 50.  I was troubled, and questioning existence and the meaning of life. I was having trouble sleeping.  One night, as I was lying in bed watching the clock tick off the minutes, (remember the clocks that had the numbers that would click over - they were the precursors to digital clocks), I decided that it wasn't doing any good to lie in bed, so I got up to go downstairs and watch TV for a while.  When I got up I felt dizzy for a moment - the way that you do when you get up too fast - so I rested my head against the doorjamb for a moment until the dizziness passed.  I stepped out into the hall, and stood still for a moment.  I remember seeing the streetlight slanting up the stairs through the windows next to the front door.  I was still feeling a little weak, so I leaned against the wall.  Suddenly I became frightened for no apparent reason, so I stepped into the bathroom to turn on a light.  I couldn't move the light switch.  Then I became very scared and I hurried back into the bedroom where I was very startled to see my body curled up in bed next to my husband, and facing the clock on the nightstand.  I remember just kind of doubling over, and then I was back in my body.  The clock said that two minutes had passed since the last time that I remembered looking at it just before getting out of bed.  I woke my husband, who was understandably irritated about being awakened, and asked him if I had gotten out of bed.  He said, 'Not that I know of', and went back to sleep. Somehow, that experience made it easier to deal with my father's passing.  It proved to me that my soul was separate from my body.  It gave me a lot of peace.

At the time of my first out of body experience I had a degree in physical anthropology, and I hoped to obtain a master's in forensic anthropology.  Time and a divorce took their toll, and since I had two little girls to support, I went back to college and obtained my mortuary science degree.  I have spent many years as a mortician, and quite a few years as a coroner, so a large chunk of my life has been spent dealing with death.  I have always thought that my out of body experience made it easier for me to see and do the things that are required by my profession, because it made me understand that the body is just a house for the human soul.  Not a final destination.

I don't know why it happened this time, but a couple of weeks ago it happened again.  I had just gone to sleep, but I knew that I really needed to get up and use the restroom.  I kept trying to get up, but I couldn't wake up sufficiently to get out of bed.  Normally this isn't a problem.  I have never experienced such a profound state of sleep.  Eventually, I started dreaming that I had gotten up, but I would force my eyes to open a crack, see the wall to the left of the bed, and realize that I was still in bed.  I just could NOT wake up.  Finally I wrenched myself out of bed and headed for the bedroom door.  The room was extremely dark, and I suddenly heard a voice telling me, very calmly, 'It's alright, everything, is alright, you're okay', over and over.  I thought it was my daughter's voice, but that would be strange since she is still alive.  I know it was the voice of someone who cared about me very much.  I turned around and looked at the bed, and saw my body lying there.  This time I wasn't dismayed at all.  I was glad and I felt peace and quiet joy.  But I felt pity for my poor body.  I remember thinking, 'Oh...you died.'  I felt sorry for it, but not for myself.  All the time, the reassuring voice continued to tell me that everything was okay.  I wanted to tell my body goodbye.  I wanted to thank it; so I walked to the edge of the bed, leaned down and wrapped it in my arms, giving it a farewell hug. When I was hugging it my face was pressed to my body's temple, and I could smell what my body smelled like.  (I'm relieved to be able to say that it smelled nice.  Most dead bodies are not very sweet smelling.)  I was surprised.  I never knew what I smelled like before.  Then I remembered the first out of body experience that I had had over 30 years before, and I thought, 'I'm not dead, I'm just outside my body'.  The reassuring voice stopped.  I walked to the light switch and tried to turn it on to test my theory.  Once again, I couldn't make it move.  Then I was just back in my body.  I don't remember going back in this time.  I was awake; I got up easily and went to the restroom.  But I was left with that same strange sense of peace that I had the first time. 

I'm very thankful for these experiences.  I don't fear death.  I know that there is more to come after we leave this life.

 Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience? No     

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words?          Yes    Because they were both a little bit confusing.  Its also difficult to convey emotion.

 At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event? No     

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?      Asleep when it started, but intensely aware during and after the experiences.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  That's hard to answer. I guess they were, kind of, because they were so bizarre, but I felt very aware of everything when I was having them.  They seemed very real.  I seldom remember my dreams, an when I do, I just remember bits and pieces.  I always know that they were dreams.  These experiences seemed totally different in a way that is difficult to convey. I also found it interesting that I remembered my first out of body experience while I was experiencing my second.  I thought about it in the same way that I thought about it when I was 'awake'.

 Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?  Yes    I never saw my appearance or form, just my body.  But I could see, think, feel, and smell.

 What emotions did you feel during the experience?          During the first one I was a little frightened, and I was certainly startled to see my body on the bed.  But the second one was entirely positive, and almost joyful.  Just pity for my poor body that I was going to leave behind.

 Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?         Not during the first one, but I heard the reassuring voice during the second one.

 LOCATION DESCRIPTION:  Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or amazing creatures?   No     

Did you see a light?        No     

Did you meet or see any other beings?         No     

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state?         No     

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?         No         

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different? Yes    I don't know about taste, but sight, hearing, touch, and smell seemed to be working normally.

 Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Uncertain          Just that it was so bizarre.  I can't explain it any better than that.

 Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?         Yes    Peace and happiness the second time.

 Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?                     No     

Did you become aware of future events?      No     

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?         Yes    The first time I was aware that I wanted to get back in, the second time I do not remember making that decision.

 Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience? No     

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?     Yes    I am much calmer about the certainty of death.  I even anticipate it with happiness.  I know in my heart that we are eternal beings, and that our bodies are exquisite machines that were built for us to reside in while we are here.

 How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?   It has brought peace to my daily life, and strengthened my belief in God.

 Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes    Much more peaceful.  With lots of hope for the future.

 Have you shared this experience with others?        Yes    I've told my mother and my daughter.  Both felt that they were out of body experiences.

 What emotions did you experience following your experience? Peace.  Happiness. Anticipation.

 What was the best and worst part of your experience?    I guess the fear and confusion during the first one was the worst part, but the best part is the peace and joy that I felt during the second one, and the peace that I felt in my daily life after both of them.

 Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience? I would like to know if other people have had similar experiences.  I read some of the stories on this website, but they're all over the map.  It almost seems like out of body experiences are specific to the individual.

 Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?   No     

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?                     Yes   

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.       No, thank you.  I would just like to hear if others have had similar experiences, and how they felt afterward.