However, that discovery did not upset or concern me in the slightest.  I just felt a sort of clinical fascination about the phenomenon of moving around without my physical body.  I wondered a little about what was happening and how it was possible, but only in a mildly curious way. 

It seemed no more than a few seconds that I spent regarding my lifeless body below, when I felt a strong impulse to turn around.  I felt something behind me pulling myself toward it, and proceeded to turn my attention from the bed to what should have been the ceiling. 

There I found a brilliant light, but for some reason it wasn't blinding or hot or in any way uncomfortable.  It was love.  I can't find another word, and love is an inadequate explanation.  All I know is that I immediately felt a presence that enveloped me with a feeling of total and complete comfort, love, understanding, and so much more that can never be described in words. 

I was drawn to the light, ready to be completely enveloped by it and taken away from the physical world.  But something happened right then that drew my attention away. 

It was my mother, who was walking toward my bedroom in the hallway outside my closed door.  Somehow I was able to see her from above despite the walls and ceiling.  She was wearing her old familiar robe and walking toward my room, either saying or thinking, "I've got to get Dan up". 

Immediately I said, "I can't go.  Mom's about to get me up."  Maybe I didn't exactly say it verbally, but I know that the entity represented by the light heard and understood. 

In an instant, I opened my eyes from my bed to see my mother knocking lightly and entering my room.  "Time to get up, Dan", she said.  I smiled and told her, "I've just had the most amazing dream!". 

I happily rose, dressed, had breakfast, and went to church with my family.  The euphoric feeling from the experience stayed with me for perhaps an entire week, but I stopped telling others about it because they tended to pass it off as "just a dream" or regard me as a little strange. 

I understand that it is quite possible that this was nothing more than a nice dream.  However, I never had a dream as vivid or clear.  It seemed completely real, where all of my normal dreams are fuzzy and disjointed. 

Nothing like this ever happened again, that is until this year, about a week before my mother passed away.  I had another experience then, but that one was about my mother, but was every bit as vivid and real.  But that's another story.

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

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     The facts of the experience are not difficult to communicate, but the feelings involved cannot be adequately described.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain      I believed myself to be perfectly healthy, but during the experience there was a certain knowledge that I had died.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I felt completely conscious and alert, and everything was vivid and clear.  Dreams have almost nothing in common with this experience.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No       I wasn't really concerned about my appearance apart from my body, but generally felt that it was still me in essence, but somehow perfect.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Euphoria. Unparalleled love, acceptance, comfort.  A total lack of any physical feeling of any sort of pain, hunger, thirst, etc.

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     As described above, it was an incredibly bright, white light, but it was neither blinding nor hot.  I could look into it without fear of being blinded.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Uncertain      No specific "beings", but there was certainly a presence.  There was no doubt in my mind that within the light was a tremendous amount of love and comfort.  The nonverbal communication I felt was an invitation.  My verbal communication to the presence in the light was just telling "Him" that I had to go back, because my mother was coming to get me up.

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?          Uncertain      Just the knowledge of my mother coming to get me up.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes            They all seemed to be working at a heightened level.  The only thing that seemed unusual was that the bright light did not burn my eyes or feel hot.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     There was a feeling that there was a whole new dimension that I was being encouraged to cross into.  Time seemed to be of little consequence.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Uncertain            I felt at the time that the big questions about God, the universe, my life's purpose, etc., were all very easily and simply answered.  Although I didn't ask for or get any specific information.

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes     The return decision was very simple.  I wanted to make sure I was there for my mother.  My decision was accepted and granted in a fraction of a second.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain      I sometimes feel a connection to my mother and brother who have passed away.  I sometimes seem to be able to foresee events beyond just deja vu.  However, I can't control or force any of these things, and they occur at unexpected times.  And I sometimes don't understand the message until the events unfold.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     If I had any doubts about the idea that we have a living soul, this experience and the other one earlier this year dispelled them.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I suppose it has contributed to my empathetic nature.  I find myself able to understand nearly everyone in terms of feeling, emotions, etc.  Not that I agree, but I am able to empathize.  It has also solidified my commitment to my Christian faith, but I tend to be less dogmatic about specific theological issues.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Uncertain      I was young at the time, so it's difficult to say how much my life might have been different if I had not experienced this event.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Those I did share this with were either dismissive or patronizing.  So, I don't tend to share it much with others.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  I was euphoric, less troubled and worried, and able to enjoy life and others more fully.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      There was no worst part.  The entire experience was an amazing, uplifting, life-affirming event that I'll always be thankful for.  Even if it was just some great dream.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I appreciate the ability to share it in a confidential manner.

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