Experience description:

I was sitting in a comfortable chair in my family room in the early evening, listening to stereo music with my headphones on. I was listening to Dan Fogelberg's The Reach, which reminded me of Pacific Grove and Monterey. My arms were relaxed on the armrests, my eyes closed. I was aware of becoming deeply relaxed, like I was butter melting in the sun, when suddenly I felt my "self" separate from my body in the chair and rise up into the space above the chair.  "I" floated up to about six feet above my head and was looking down at myself!  But it wasn't a part of me, it was "Me." So hard to explain...when I realized what had happened, I thought to myself, oh my god, I'm dying, and became afraid. As I thought this I was instantly sucked back down into my body through my head! I was not sleepy, or asleep. I could hear my dog scratching herself and my husband showering upstairs. I was amazed and humbled by the experience, and it changed my spiritual course forever. No longer an agnostic! :)

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 it was so completely physical, but at the same time, spiritual....very confusing because it was not scientific, yet completely real. It really happened.

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?           I was relaxed and happy, visualizing the seashore of Monterey. I think I was at least in an Alpha state, if not even deeper. At the time, I knew very little about meditation, etc.  my eyes were closed, but I was definitely awake, because I could hear other sounds around me.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Not at all.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     No form, really. Just an awareness of being fully Me but not inside my body. Floating above it looking down at the top of my head. I remember seeing the stereo from above, but only briefly. It all happened pretty fast.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Confusion, fear, then amazement, gratitude, and humility.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No.

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?     Yes     We lived in a very large two-story house, and I asked my husband if he was in the shower when I rose out of my body, and he said yes. I thought it odd because I did not hear any water running prior to the event...but that could just be timing.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes            I could see and hear, and feel emotions. But it was a little distant, or rather, I felt removed from the physical world, like I'd taken a step or two backwards. But just a little.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     Sorry, impossible to explain. It was like for a split second, I was not in "time" at all. Or at least on the edge of it...

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?            Uncertain      I had been a dedicated Christian most of my life, but this didn't fit any thing I'd learned in any church. I began a journey of unlearning, then I realized I had been given the gift of knowing we are our most whole when we are in Spirit form. It took many hard years of research and exploring to make sense of what happened to me. I took it as a sign that I was to share this new certainty with others. That the soul is real, and we don't have to die to meet it, or remember it.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             Uncertain      I think my fear stopped the experience from continuing. I was still too attached emotionally to the body.

Did you become aware of future events?       Yes     It came later, but I've always been very intuitive and empathetic. I now have some psychic gifts, precognition, clairvoyance.  I'm an empath for sure. But not many people know. They become scared of me.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Uncertain            I felt like a decision was made by someone else to end the event because I was so scared, but that it was a mutual decision somehow...this is a bit fuzzy.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?  Uncertain      I had an acceleration or enhancement of innate gifts, I think. :)

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     Yes, I went from being a bitter agnostic to being a very spiritual person. Still am.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       Profoundly. I got divorced after that because my husband was in aerospace and was an atheist. My job was enhanced by it...I was a tutor for challenged college students, and I could connect to my clients in a more deep sense. I tried on several religious coats, but was rejected by the religious establishment of all of them because I had a different viewpoint of Spirit...literally! I am now retired, and help people for free with my gifts.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     See no. 22. That pretty much covers it. I'm not as afraid of dying as most people. I am more solitary, less materialistic. I am still learning, even at almost sixty.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Reactions were mixed, from "oh you're just crazy," to, it was just psychological dissociation, to, wow, I believe you, because you're you.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Joy, humility, wonder, gratitude.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was knowing I have a spirit body that can be outside of my physical shell.  Worst part? Being scared I was "dying" for good. And the inability to fully describe the event in a logical rational way to people.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I had a pretty happy childhood, no drugs, alcohol, or parental abuse. I didn't use drugs. My parents were good people, Church goers. I was pretty normal, if there is such a thing. But I was sensitive and aware that I had a spiritual side.

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   It made me go back and look in more detail at it. I am still impacted by it today.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    None I can think of.