When awake I immediately answered the question: I am. There was a feeling that this response was not complete.

Several weeks later I read an article in Reader's Digest regarding Raymond Moody's book on near death experiences. I was totally unaware of NDE's at the time of my experience. I wondered out loud in jest to my wife if I came close to death? "How do I know you?" continued to circle in my mind. Perhaps six months later the rest of the response came: "you are, we are".  So my whole response to, "How do I know you?" is "I am, you are, we are," and circling back to the more inclusive, holistic "I am".

 Fifteen to 18 years later I was talking with my spirit guide when the thought occurred to me that he was likely the spirit being in the vision above. I asked. He admitted that he was. My spirit guide did not take the form of a Jesus-like spirit being except during my first vision.

Since that time the following characterizes my growth path and identity: I am the one who would be the One Who Is.

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

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No

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?           More awake than in a dream yet not consciously awake.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   It was more real than a dream.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I was emotionally neutral throughout.

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?           Yes

The light grew larger and became a spirit being.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

See above vision description.

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

Vision and auditory perceptions were normal. Speech was thought-like.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   No

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

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?       No

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 became more spiritual, more insightful, more interested in uniting with the "I Am".

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       This experience initiated the next whole stage of my life of transitioning from liberal protestantism to Unity with my Godself/True Self . . . inside and out. My counseling practice became more working within people to help them grow and heal themselves calling upon the True Self and using inner visions and images. I worked more and more with dissociated memories and persons with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes

It is richer due to my deeper connection with my True Self and Our enriched counseling activities.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

It varied from rejection, to confusion, to awe.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  A connection, a satisfaction, !