My boyfriend and I were making love. Suddenly all sounds, lights and things around us disappeared.  What happened then was that I saw a light then two small bright lights against a very black background.  As I watched, the two lights joined together but were still separate but we were connected.  I didn't know what they were but knew in my mind that in some way these lights were the two of us in some other form. 

I became frightened and became aware of my surroundings again. My boyfriend had seen the same thing and wanted to talk about it but I was too frightened and got dressed and ran home.  I don't know why I was frightened.

Eventually, I wondered if the connection I had seen between us meant that we were soulmates.  We continued our relationship for about four years.  After we moved to different cities, we drifted apart.

The second incident

I had joined a yoga class and this was probably the third or fourth session.  The class was held at about 7PM.  The instructor had us do the usual stretching exercises and then we sat in a particular position that I don't remember and he said that we should start dancing inside our heads.  After a minute, he said that in our heads, we should dance right up through the top of our heads.  At that point, I felt that I was a small, bright light dancing in the air over my head.  I felt freer than I had ever felt and continued to dance outside of my head. I was ecstatic.   Finally he called us back to our bodies.  I continued to feel light and very happy and free for about an hour after the experience.  It never happened again.

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?           In both incidents, I was awake and conscious; I knew that my body was there.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Neither experience was dreamlike.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes

In both events, I was a circle/small ball of very bright light.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            In the first event, I was just observing, my emotions weren't involved or evident.  Eventually, I was frightened because I couldn't understand what was happening.

During the second event, I was joyous, elated, happy, free, released from all cares.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           There were no sound during either event.

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

The lights in the first event were me and him.

In the second event, it was just me.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

In the first event, the other ball of light was my lover.  No communication, we didn't need any - we just joined together.

In the second event, there was no other being.

Did you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state? NoDid 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?          Yes

In the first event, there was nothing except sight.  We were in space or a black void.

In the second event, I could see myself as a ball of light and feel myself moving in space.  I was alone in a black void without sound.

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

In both events, there was no sense of time at all.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No

Did you become aware of future events?       No

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

In the first event, I was frightened and somehow ended the experience.

In the second event, I was brought back by the voice of the Yoga instructor, I didn't really want to come back.

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

Just that I now firmly believe in the existence of the soul and an afterlife.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       It hasn't.

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

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

Just amazement. Some indicated that they had had out of body experiences as well.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  After the first event, fear and disbelief.

After the second event, joy, freedom from cares, elation.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      First event - the fear of the unknown.