Experience description:

As a young woman in my twenties I was struggling to find my purpose and my identity. I was living with a friend in an apartment and working overnight shifts at a local pharmacy.  I had recently come out of a deep depression from a relationship that ended and broke my heart, but was working to get back on course with my life.  It was a difficult time for me but my job kept me focused and moving forward.

On the day of the incident, I came home as usual and went to bed to sleep and set my alarm to get up again for work later that night. I typically went to work 10pm-7am so would sleep from around 9 or 10am to 6 or 7pm. I slept soundly that day, until I suddenly awoke to the sensation that I was moving.  I suddenly found my 'self' (spirit) being pulled backward into my mattress, like I was falling backward but in a controlled way.  I did not open my eyes.  I could feel the inside of the mattress but not with my physical 'self'. I could feel the foam and the springs!  I didn't know what was happening and was freaked out! Suddenly I felt like I was on a rubber band and gently stretched back, then flung out of my body.  I still did not open my eyes.  I could then feel my 'self' floating above my body, facing the ceiling. Still I did not open my eyes.  I could sense the space between my body and my 'floating self'  I had the sensation that my hair was hanging back from my head as I floated there, in my bedroom above my body and bed.  I was both scared and intrigued. This all happened in a matter of minutes. I think I didn't want to see; I was afraid.

Suddenly I found myself no longer in my bedroom, but roughly 10 miles away in my parent's bedroom in the house I grew up in!  I was fully conscious and now my 'eyes' were open. Except I had no body!  I was just a single, tiny pin point of perspective floating there.  I could see 360 degrees around myself all at once! I was still frightened but also intrigued.  Their bedroom was dark and my parents were not present, however this would have been during their usual dinner time if this event occurred in 'real Earth time'. I was facing their bed.   To my left I saw 3, maybe 4, people - shadowy figures- just observing me. I could not make out their faces but could sense bright eyes watching me silently.  I got the feeling that they were very somber people and weren't permitted to speak to me but only watch.  My attention was suddenly to my right however, as a large bright white figure of light stood before me. It was made up of all light, also had no face that I could make out.  It stretched from ceiling to floor and appeared to somehow be bigger than the room yet still contained within it. It was shaped like a man wearing long draping clothes but really it was all made of light. At the top of its 'light head' was something shaped like a man's top hat. I was again very scared but also intrigued. I felt so small.

I then found my voice and spoke,  I said, ' WHO ARE YOU?!' and I was surprised at the sound of my voice.  I was much more assertive and demanding than I normally was at that time of my life.  The being of light replied to me in a loud, stern, clear voice

 'You KNOW who I AM.'

I most certainly did not, that was why I was asking. I was frustrated because he would not identify himself. Overall, the room felt sad.  The people to my left just hovered there not speaking,  I noticed that the window above my parent's bed showed there was some grayish light outside, which didn't make sense since it would have been nighttime and dark that time of year.

I was not satisfied with his first answer so demanded again, 'Who ARE you???!'  I was scared and therefore defensive. I felt like I had to 'stand my ground' (although I had no feet!)  Again, the being of light said sternly (and maybe with a little annoyance?)

'YOU KNOW WHO I AM.'  At this point I had some ideas, some speculations, some guesses, but did not believe myself.  I couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening.    All of a sudden I was flying, rushing very fast through a tunnel of light and I was screaming 'NOOOOO!!'  because I was terrified and had no control over any of this. 

Seconds later I was SLAMMED back into my body.  I did not view my body, I just felt my 'self' slammed very hard backside-first into it, so hard that once back in I sat straight up in my bed bed , with my physical body, and was still screaming 'NOOOOO!'.  After a few moments I calmed myself down and reviewed what just occurred.  It shook me up.

I told some family and friends; most people I've told this to over the years have been respectful of my opinions but they usually think it's just a dream. It was not a dream.  I don't know if I died but was in poor physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. I separated from my body.  This incident is something I have thought about many, many times. I have analyzed it time and again. It sent me on a spiritual quest that I am still on. Initially I thought the being of light might be my deceased maternal grandfather only because the being was on the side of the bed that my mother sleeps on.  The other shadowy beings were on the side of the bed my father sleeps on, so I speculated that they were deceased relatives of his. After this occurred I looked into my family history, read books on OBEs, I got really into ghost hunting stories, I went to a healing arts school in Arizona, and overall I learned a lot from all of this, but it wasn't until I picked up my old Bible that I received as a child and started to read it again, that my eyes were open to the possibility that I had stood in the presence of God. OR maybe an Angel of God, Voice of God, Jesus perhaps.  When this first occurred to me, I thought to myself ' It could not have been God, I'm not worthy. Why would he come to me?' The more I think about it the more I think He was trying to save me from myself.  I have many reasons that I think this and am happy to discuss anytime.  I continue to travel on this spiritual journey, and am still learning,still seeking answers. 

I do want to mention that I did attempt to induce spontaneous OBEs after this experience, and was almost successful but I once again let fear stop me.  I have not tried again in quite some time.  I worry that God is frustrated with me, that I did not know him. I believe I know him now and hope He forgives me.

I've had very spiritual, beautiful, dreams over the years. I've even had a shared dream experience with my sister. I've encountered deceased friends and family in my dreams, had 'astral projection-like dream events', all of which could be a result of this NDE/OBE many years ago.

Thank you for allowing me to share my experience.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Uncertain  I was asleep and cannot conclude I died however my spirit did separate from my body.   I was in poor health and a heavy smoker at the time, also may have had sleep apnea. This may been labeled an OBE or NDE, I'm not sure because I have no proof of death.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      when i was a pin point of consciousness and perspective

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness   I was more assertive but was on high alert from fear

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I had 360 degree vision simultaneously

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   no change

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   Uncertain   I was in my parent's bedroom but cannot verify it

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   fear, assertiveness, intrigue, curiosity  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Yes   when I went back to my body I passed through a tunnel of light ; it was so fast that I can't describe details. It was like rushing water or going through a tornado

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   The being of light I encountered was unearthly.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin
Please read my account of what happened- I encountered a being of light who told me 'You know who I AM'

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   Uncertain   The being of light may have been God or Jesus or an angel. He was wearing what I thought at the time was a hat but it was a halo. There were others present but I could not identify them.

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?      

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Uncertain  I had no control over what was happening.

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Uncertain   The experience itself, the beings I encountered , my leaving my body gave me the understanding that there is more to Earthly life during the time it occurred and after

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   Yes, see above answers

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   Yes   the being said 'You know who I am'

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   Please see my account of what occurred. What occurred was not consistent with my beliefs at the time because I didn't think I could leave my body and travel in spirit.  In reviewing what happened I concluded I was in the presence of a holy spirit, which could suggest consistency with Christian faith.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of th   no comment

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Please see my account of my experience for details.  Since this event occurred I'm now trying to heal myself, travel a spiritual path, be good, pray to God and overall have an increased sense of spiritual responsibility, awareness and respect. I seek out love and peace.  I try to heal others as well as myself.  I do not want to waste my time on Earth and continue to work on making good choices and seeking purpose in everything I do.

My experience directly resulted in:   Large changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Yes   My belief in God, afterlife, spirituality is strengthened

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Yes   very vivid dreams, stronger intuition

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     all of it is significant to me.  I believe I had turned away from God before the event and now turn toward Him.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I shared it immediately. Some were very interested, some thought I was dreaming, some were frightened by it

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   No  

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   this happened to me; I was conscious.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   this happened to me

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   Some people who did not see any truth to what I told are no longer involved in my life. This was not my choice, it was theirs.

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I have a stronger belief in God and am learning to have faith, let go of control and seek love, joy and peace

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Yes   I tried many times to self-induce an OBE. I was scared though and stopped trying.  I did 'roll' out of my body once but was still so scared that I went back in.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   no

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   i have nothing to add