I began to feel like I had changed my level of consciousness, not sure at first, but I tried to maintain my focus on nothing at all. And then I felt another level change and it began to get easier. As my concentration increased, I felt yet another level and so on until I perceived the last and final level, # 7. I new I had reached the " bottom". It was like I had taken a slow elevator down through these seven levels not really knowing why or how.  At that moment I saw some sort of tunnel and began to journey through, as I recall, there seem to be souls of people that new me or were there to guide me, not sure. Then I saw a brilliant light, warm and inviting, all consuming, all knowing. It knew everything about me, I needed not to speak but communicated none the less.  As that encounter ended I found myself leaving the ship and my body, drawing away at a steady pace, seeing the ship and its trail in the moonlight.

As I headed away, I remember thinking, " I hope I can find my way back".  I kept moving over the water at a height of what felt like 50 or 100 ft. Not sure.  No idea where I was going and how much time had passed,,, soon I came over a beach and up and over a boardwalk and came to rest outside the stone pony, Asbury park NJ. I waited for someone to open the door and I went in. It was like I was being shown around the place, looking at all the people as I passed but not being acknowledged . As I studied my surroundings, I came across one table that my girlfriend was seated at with some friends. At that moment I knew she was the purpose of my journey and I became frightened I would not be able to find my body or my ship, after all, it had been steadily moving across a lot of water.  I began to recede slowly, the door opened and out I went, up and over the beach/ boardwalk and back out over the water.  I felt a sense of calm as I realized I was not in control of anything. I proceeded directly back to the ship and my body and back up through the seven levels of consciousness , awakened and felt completely rested and not quite sure what had just happened. 

I went up to the bridge as was my habit to assist with an extra set of eyes at night as we entered the crowded waters of New York harbor. To my surprise, the captain says we are heading to port for crew change.  Two hours later I was heading straight to Asbury park.  And who do you think I met at the night club that night, my x girlfriend and we fell in love all over again and got married had two kids and then divorced and I dislike her to this day.  God answers prayers if its what you truly want, even if its not a divine path, he is a loving god and in control.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Wow, this is a tricky question after what I just wrote.   I was aware at all times but in a different sense. I just didn't have a body or I should say I was not confined to my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness   During my experience, the body seamed in  insignificant.    To this day, I have no idea how long it took

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Overall, it was darker than normal. But it did happen at night and I saw the ship in the moonlight

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Unaware of any 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?   Yes  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   At first, absolutely none, then apprehensive as I reached the bottom level. Through the tunnel, curiously scared, the warmth and penetrating love.  As I think of it now, I would say my emotions were working normally during the experience  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Yes  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes  

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

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   Who I encountered gave me no name. My perception tells me Jesus

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   Uncertain   I actually can't remember who I encountered in the tunnel, I know there was " people" there but it was a long time ago and they were not the focus of the event and I don't want to add something I'm not sure of

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

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   Some unfamiliar and strange place

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
I have no idea how much time passed except for the fact I came back to the ship around 5 hrs. Later, or awoke as it may seem

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about myself or others
In a way.  But I didn't tell anyone about it for a while,  but I did realize you don't have to be near death to experience this

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes
Yes, it seemed like I couldn't go through things.  " doors"

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   I came to a definite conscious decision to "return" to life
I felt I needed to return ,  I was afraid I would not be able to find my body again, after all, it had moved.  But I returned without incident

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   I would know how to explain it otherwise.  There is clearly something other than our reality

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   The light knew everything about me, no need for words. Clearly all powerful

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   This being was surely good and in control, loving and compassionate

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?   Yes   It searched my soul and revealed to me where  I needed to be if I wanted to pursue the love of my girl friend, even though it was a difficult one

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 entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience  

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 the experience  

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I don't like calling it a near death experience because I was not near death to the best of my knowledge

My experience directly resulted in:   Unknown

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Uncertain   I just don't know. I think I live my life the way I would have anyway. That experience didn't change me, other things that have happened did though.  I love and fear God in all that I do

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain   I have always felt a little psychic, although I'm probably not

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     Not now

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  A few years went by before I told anyone in detail except my mom

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  

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

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   No     

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