I'd been asleep and had had some dreams already, but nothing like the OBE thing.  Suddenly, it was as if some energy came at me from all directions and although centered near my diaphragm, it encompassed all of me.  I felt it first, then opened my eyes and realized that I was being slowly 'lifted' or raised from my former position on my bed.  I have a tall white lamp near my bed, and it's post was horizontal, which threw off my perception of where I was at first.  There was the most intense brightness, though it was also somewhat foggy around the edges.  As I continued to rise, I felt so LIGHT. 

I am a very big woman, but I could feel my weight just pouring away from me.  I felt as if my diaphragm was completely 'opened', as if I could've stuck my hand right through it.  At the moment that I realized how wonderful this felt, I also began to wonder WHY this was happening.  Was it aliens?  God?  Was it a good or bad thing?  Would I be hurt if I kept going?  I got very anxious and wanted to come back down and not go any further.  I hovered a few seconds, feeling it and hearing the humming, rhythmic sound that was also very encompassing.  Slowly, I began to lower. 

At that time, I tried to focus and look about the room.  A very tiny, round-headed tabby cat was sitting near the wall licking it's paw.  I didn't believe it, so focused on it harder and noted that it was looking me right in the eye.  Although I actually have a tabby, as well as a deceased tabby that I was extremely close to, this cat didn't resemble either of them.  At that time, things became fuzzier and I was again on my bed, wide awake and trembling. 

I had goosepimples and the residual of the bright energy ebbing away from my body.  It was real, not a dream.  I was so stunned, that I woke up my three roommates to tell them, right then at 2:30 a.m.  They all thought I'd just been dreaming, although one of them said that maybe it was a healing energy, since I've not been well.  As I walked away from one of the bedrooms, I noticed that my vision was extremely sharp and focused, and normally I don't see all that well.  I felt so much energy and just--different.  I can't explain how different I feel today, even though I'm still in physical pain.

It is the next afternoon now.  Even now I get the goosebumps each time I think of it.  I came online, because in the back of my mind, I was wondering if I was losing my mind!  After waking up my roommates, I returned to bed and to sleep and had normal dreams (for me) until morning.

 Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience:  Uncertain

      Explanation:  As stated above, I take the same meds every night.  Nothing was different.
I am on many meds, due to multiple health problems.  Even so, these medications have not--before or since--created any such event.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Uncertain

      What was it about the experience that makes it hard to communicate?  The power and energy of the light and the way my 'being' and the light were both separate, but also a whole.  There was a tone, some sort of noise and I can't really reproduce it.  I was very aware that I was being 'lifted' from my bed, but not sure it by an outside entity or by my own energy.
The intensity of the light/energy that filled and surrounded me.

At the time of the experience, was there an associated life threatening event?  Uncertain

      Describe:  Strange things have been occurring with my body over the past few weeks.  Had lots of pain and worry over that.  Not certain of what's going on.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?  I was very aware.

Was the experience dream like in any way?  No, not really.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?  Uncertain.   I was too light to be the 'real' me, but I did not think to look down to see if my body was still on the bed.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?  Excitement, anxiety, confusion, power, happiness, worry, the beginnings of fear.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?  Yes!  There was a rhythmic humming noise, like the motor of something.  This is in part why I became afraid to continue.  I thought that maybe it was some alien or other lifeform(s) lifting me away from my life.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?  Uncertain

      Describe:  The brightness intensified as I rose higher, as if I was headed toward some source.

Did you see a light?  Yes

      Describe:  As mentioned before, it was VERY intense and filled with energy.

Did you meet or see any other beings?  Yes

      Describe:  A strange, small tabby-like cat.

Did you experiment while out body or in another altered state?  For example did you attempt to visit a family member or friend at another location?  Did you eyewitness an event that you would not have known about had you not been out of body?  Did you attempt to move a physical object while in the astral/etheric universe?  No

If yes or uncertain, what did you do and what was the result of the experimentation?       Describe:  I just felt that I was so excited to know for certain that there IS MORE THAN WE CONSCIOUSLY KNOW OUT THERE.

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?  Uncertain. 

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?  Yes

      Describe:  I couldn't get my bearings because I couldn't figure out why the lamp post was where it was.  This is odd, because it's also horizontal normally when I'm in bed.  But because I was so far up, it was disconcerting.

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?  Uncertain

      Describe:  I feel that I know there is something more for me to do and that it is probably not my time to go.
It has been several months since the experience now.  During that time, I have renewed my faith in God, because I am certain that there is "more" from my experience.  I can now "feel" and communicate much more freely with this "Higher Power".

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?  Yes

      Describe:  It's not as if I saw or felt the ceiling, but I reached a place where I most definitely did not want to go any further.  This was the point of fear, that I would be pulled on in spite of my desire to not go on.  At that point, I stopped and hovered before sinking back down.

Did you become aware of future events?  No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision to return to the body?  Yes

      Describe:  See #17:  I  became frightened and wanted to stop

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?  Uncertain

      Describe:  Hasn't been long enough.  However, I've had several odd experiences throughout my lifetime that are unexplainable.
I've always had strange experiences and a level of psychic ability, which I've worked to ignore or deny most of my life.  I am now more at ease with these things.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?  Yes

      Describe:  I feel no depression or doubt. : I've always had strange experiences.  Over the years I've tried to become more "middle of the road" in my beliefs, but this experience has brought my former beliefs back to the forefront.
As mentioned, my spiritual life has been renewed following this experience.  Though raised as Christian, I have examined many different religions and spiritual practices during my lifetime, including pagan and wiccan practices, and never found any one that I was most comfortable with.  Christianity made the least "logical" sense to me.  Now, I find that I am being led again toward my Christian beliefs.  It isn't a quick or easy journey, but one that is occurring nonetheless.

Has the experience affected your relationships?  Daily life?  Religious practices etc.?  Career choices?  Too early to tell. . .: I'm consciously trying to approach each day with more positivity.  I have a chronic health problem that involves almost constant, intense pain, depression and fatigue.  Since the OBE, I've felt uplifted in spirit. 
I have been struggling with chronic health problems over the past several years.  Prior to my experience, I was deeply depressed to the point where I'd even considered suicide.  My life seemed bleak and I felt that there was nothing much left for me in this life, except waiting to die.  Since my experience, I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from me.  I feel excited about the possibilities that might await me as I continue along the road of life.  I'm no longer as negative, no longer have knee-jerk negative responses to stressful situations (i.e. roadrage), will not allow other's negativity to cause me to automatically react in kind.  I am more grateful than self-pitying.  I accept more responsibility for my circumstances, including my health.  Although some things may be beyond my control, there are many things that I can do to make difficult circumstances less taxing.  I feel alive inside in a way that I haven't in decades.

Have you shared this experience with others?  Yes:  Yes I did and for the most part, people either did not comment or had lukewarm reactions (as if they weren't certain of what reaction they should have in the situation).  A very small group were quick to accept what I had to say and to tell me of their own unusual feelings and experiences.  Personally, I think those who haven't responded probably think I'm nuts!
Yes, and as I've read in other accounts, I either get uneasy avoidance or no response at all.  In fact, the day after the experienced, I put the account into an email and sent it to my closest friends.  Not one of them responded in any way!  Of my three housemates at the time, one was openly comfortable and accepting of the experience just as I told it; one wouldn't respond at all; and the last, who is a nurse, simply believed that it was a hallucination due to lack of oxygen or something of the sort.  I know they can see that I've changed since: the last two are in the process of moving out as I write this.  I have in NO WAY proselytized my changing beliefs or anything else, but I know they can feel the change.  If nothing else, I refuse to be pulled into arguments over petty issues, or to react pettily to their negative promptings.  I feel no animosity to things that would have sent me reeling prior to my OBE.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Elation, excitement, joy, gratitude, a longing to have it happen again.
Excitement, happiness, wonderment.  I was disappointed that I didn't continue on and see what lay beyond...

What was the best and worst part of your experience?  The best part was the energy of the light!  I can't truly describe it, but it was not of this "normal" world.  It was a part of me, but not.  The worst part was my worry, which caused me to stop and lower back to the bed.  I wish now that I had continued on.
The sense of renewal in my life.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?  I just want to know more about others' experiences and I'd like to have it again myself.
I would LOVE to have it happen again, but I don't expect to "make it happen". 

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. 

I am just sooooo happy to have a place where I can express my emotions regarding this experience.  Sometimes I just want to talk about it, but I'm finding that's not the best thing to do with most people.