Experience description:

We (my husband and I) had just moved into a house in a not so good area of town. I was an older house and I had been busy painting (water-based paint) the house. That day I had just painted the living room. I had fallen asleep on the sofa.

I woke up and decided I'd better check to see if the front door was locked before going to bed. I got up and walked to the door and using both hands tried the lock by trying to turn the doorknob. Soon I noticed that I was holding on to the doorknob to keep myself anchored so as to not float higher. This was upsetting at first but became pleasant as I found I could glide around the ceiling perimeter, which I did. As I maneuvered around the room I had a great view of the molding at the top of the doorway to the hall. I noticed that I had missed areas when I had painted earlier in the day.

I clearly remembered the experience the next morning and checked out the molding over the door. Sure enough I had missed areas with paint. I do not remember going back to the sofa or to bed. I know I woke up the next morning in bed.

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?           very conscious and seemed to be quite awake.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No it seemed very real. Especially since the unpainted surfaces above the doorway was exactly as I had seen it as I guided myself along the ceiling.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain      I'm not quite sure what you mean by this. I did not se my body if I had 'left' it on the sofa. I was just floating and remember touching the doorknob and guiding my way along the edge of the ceiling, as if just floated with no gravity. Kind of like when I scuba dive.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            confusion at first and then I felt excited at such a wondrous experience.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No, but it was late or early morning and i don't remember any noise.

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            Yes I saw all of my living room from the ceiling. I don't remember looking down, just guided my way around the room. No strange beings.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes     While floating around i noticed that I had missed painting some areas above the door trim to the hallway. The next day I checked this out and sure enough it had areas that were missed when I had painted the room. I then painted the boo-boos.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Uncertain            I felt light and floaty. I did not feel as though I had no substance. I could feel the walls and the doorknob.

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

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             Yes     The walls were just as solid as ever. I did not leave the room.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       It didn't seem to affect any of the above.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No      

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     Only a few.  They were people that spoke of some like experience and I felt I could share and not be laughed at.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  It was so unbelievable and so wonderful that I wanted to do it again but I haven't.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Fear at first. I had no idea why I was floating but it was so cool that the fear didn't last long. Best part was that it happened at all.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        no

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Uncertain      Some strange 'dreams' that are not like regular dreams. They seem to be very real.

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

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    My other experiences (dreams) are harder to explain.