Experience description:

In between universities at age 22, I was staying at my mother's home. It was early spring in 1978, and I was by myself washing dishes in the kitchen. Twilight had fallen and the backyard was dimly visible through the window at the sink. There was nothing in particular on my mind and I was just doing my part to keep the house clean and in good order. To preempt any questions, no alcohol or drugs contributed to this experience.

While washing the dishes, I was suddenly struck blind and felt my body go from standing at the sink to being on my knees, with no intervening step. My visual field was total blackness, an inky, velvet blackness. Although I say I went to my knees, I had no sense of my body after that sensation. After only a few seconds, my visual field changed dramatically.

My next perception was that I was at a point in space some distance from the Earth, looking at the Earth. Based on my recollection of the Apollo Program and the size of the Earth from the moon's surface, I would estimate I was halfway between the two. It was stereotypically beautiful.

As I watched, the Earth's surface began to undulate, gently at first, but slowly increasing in intensity. The undulation gradually intensified and finally an explosion occurred. It was not an explosion of the Earth, but from it. Streams of light raced outward, the leading edges of which were tipped with human faces and hands. The expansion of light reached a maximum and began to retract back down toward the Earth until it looked like a small stellar object, or a luminous, radiant orb. It was beautiful, but somewhat disturbing, and I didn't know what to make of it.

And then, BAM!, it was over. I found myself on the kitchen floor at the base of the sink cabinet. Disoriented and confused, I clambered back to my feet wondering what the hell had just occurred. I stood at the sink to get my bearings and absentmindedly resumed washing dishes again. I went over in my mind what I had experienced and seen as it was extremely unusual and I wanted to remember as much of it as I could and, then, BAM!, it happened again.

The exact same sequence of events repeated. I was struck blind and went from standing to being on my knees. Everything was the same, as if I were watching a film presentation. However, at the conclusion of the visual sequence a simple message was imparted. It was not conveyed verbally, but mentally, telepathically -- 'This is good.' And it was over.

Once again, I found myself on the kitchen floor, dazed and befuddled by the experience. As I pulled myself back up, I noticed that my knees seemed uninjured, which struck as a bit odd, considering that I must have hit the floor with them twice. I checked my face and nose to be sure I hadn't hit the countertop as I collapsed, but found no damage.

I wondered how much time the two events had taken, but as I had no specific frame of reference, I could only guess. It felt as if it had taken only a few minutes and believe that to be correct. I would, however, spend almost the next 40 years trying to understand, interpret, and integrate the event.

The most meaningful interpretation to me is that it was symbolic. The Earth did not blow up, and it isn't going to. The Earth didn't become a sun or star, and it isn't going to. On the other hand, it could be prophetic nonetheless.

As a result of having had this experience, I developed a hunger to understand what it was and what it meant. I studied psi phenomena and Quantum Physics and have become quite knowledgeable in both. This was obviously a spontaneous OBE, an Out of Body Experience. The representation of light exploding out from Earth and settling back down is extremely reminiscent of Teilhard de Chardin's concept of the noosphere, an atmosphere of protective consciousness enveloping the Earth.

I interpret my experience as human consciousness reaching a critical mass as a result of those seeking higher consciousness and achieving it. This critical mass ignites a worldwide expansion of consciousness like a tide raising all boats, leading to an overall higher level of human consciousness. It is not paradise, or Nirvana, but is merely the next step in our conscious evolution as a species. It will be a vast improvement on our current paradigm, but will still offer struggles and challenges we need to grow.

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

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?    Heightened consciousness

            Was the experience dream like in any way?  No. Extremely vivid and detailed

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?   Yes    I was not aware of my body. I did not see or feel my body after the initial stage of the event.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?          Wonder, curiosity

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?         No. No aural experience.

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?         Yes    Earth in space.

Did you see a light?        Yes    A light - no. Many lights.

Did you meet or see any other beings?         Yes    I saw incalculable numbers of beings in the form of light.

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? No      Did you have any sense of altered space or time?     Yes    I was positioned out in space.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?         Yes    I felt I was being shown something of importance.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?           No     

Did you become aware of future events?      Yes    I believe I was shown an event in the future in a symbolic form. I believe science and spirituality are in the process of converging and the very existence of your organization is proof thereof.

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    While I would not have described myself as religious, I believe I have always been spiritual. This reinforced my spirituality, but also left me quite confused for decades as I wrestled with trying to decipher its meaning and message.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?   Very few people take me or the experience seriously and it probably has undermined my life more than enhanced it. However, I would not trade having had the experience for anything.

The experience lead me to research psi phenomena and Quantum Physics for the last four decades. I have tried writing several projects about what it has led me to believe, which is probably most easily understood as a panpsychist worldview. At this point my belief is that there is no objective reality 'out there' and that we experience only consciousness. I believe we interact with other consciousness, certainly not that I alone am conscious. Everything we see, hear, feel, taste, and touch, all of our thoughts, ideas, and feelings and concepts are consciousness -- more than that: conscious consciousness, that everything is self-aware at it's own level of consciousness.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience? Yes    I feel like a cosmic joke and a social pariah on one hand, and someone who has a wonderful message to convey.

Have you shared this experience with others?       Yes    At this point, I feel like a cosmic joke and a social pariah, most recently promoted to General Nuisance.

What emotions did you experience following your experience? I felt wonder, excitement, amazement, confusion, frustration.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?          The answer is that they are the same thing, sort of like being a particle-wave, where they can't be both at the same time but still, they are. It is exceedingly frustrating not to be able to share this in any meaningful way.

The best part is that I felt singled out and blessed to have the experience, although I don't understand why.