Experience description #1:
Experience description #2:

Experience description #1:   

I had returned from a trip out of town.  I had been present at the birth of my cousin's daughter and was feeling jubilant and in awe of the event.  I had not slept much in 48 hours.  I was extremely tired and was thinking how good the pillow felt once my head came to rest upon it.  I sent a "prayer" of gratitude for being able to be at the birth, and for the beginning of a spiritual awakening that had begun earlier in that year.  I also asked the "universe" or God, or ultimate power to continue to open my eyes to myself and my new sense of growth.  Be careful what you ask for! 

I then began to drift off to sleep.  I then remember sitting up on the side of my bed and looking right toward my window.  I watched as an orb of light came right through the window and I thought that was strange.  I also sensed that it had a presence to it, it was sentient, aware.  The light began to swirl around my head, becoming closer and closer with each rotation.  I heard a loud noise, almost like a helicopter, or a loud whirring sound.  Then I knew the light would enter my body and at the point that it did, I was aware of myself being at the foot of the bed.  I was a pinpoint of consciousness.  I did not notice having a body.  I could see my physical body on the bed.  It was summer and warm so I had just draped the sheet over my hip as I was sleeping on my side.  I looked exactly as I did when I started to drift off to sleep. 

I had left the lamp on because my husband was just about to come to bed as well.  I could see the room, but it was hazy, like looking through a blue fog.  I could see everything on that side of the room and it matched the way things were when I went to bed....the sheet, the nightstand, the lamp, my pajamas.  It was as if I had just shed my skin because I had everything else....my thinking function, my feelings, some sensory capabilities.  I do not remember hearing anything, or smelling.  I do not remember trying to touch anything, as I was not aware of having a body. I looked at my body and I was kind of indifferent.  I felt that everything that I am was there in the point in space and my body seemed as inconsequential as a coat or piece of clothing.  I then thought that I might have died and I was scared.  I did not want to leave because I had a 4 year old daughter to raise.  Then I was concerned and as soon as I had the thought "oh my, how am I going to get back in?" I was immediately back in my body and I 'awoke' with a start.  My heart was pounding in my chest and I could feel it.  I looked at the clock and it had only been 5 minutes since I had drifted off.  It lasted what seemed to be only a few seconds.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No      

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           extremely alert....just as awake state makes dreaming state seem less real, the OBE state made waking life seem somewhat less real than the OBE state.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Somewhat...but very vivid.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Yes     I was not aware of a body, only a point of consciousness in space.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            surprise, fear, concern

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           yes

Did you see a light?           Yes    

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

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?          Yes            Was not aware of hearing anything.  I could see, but as if through a blue haze.  I was not aware of smell or touch.

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

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?       Uncertain      I just remember thinking that I needed to return to my body because I had a daughter and family who needed me.  I returned instantly upon thinking this.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Yes     Intuition enhanced.  Empathic awareness enhanced.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     Completely changed the way I feel about this life.  I am more spiritual, not religious though.  I now feel that we survive the death of the body.  The OBE certainly opened my eyes to other possibilities that I had not believed before.  I believe now in the possibility of a spiritual dimension.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       It has changed me fundamentally.  I have experienced a spiritual awakening.  I meditate now, and try to induce OBE's. I changed careers from Science to a service field (Counseling and Psychotherapy).  Many of my relationships have changed.  It has impacted my marriage, my friendships.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     That OBE experience changed my life.  It changed the direction of my life.  It was part of my spiritual awakening and journey that I am still on today.  I consider it one of the turning points of my life, right along with other life events like marriage, childbirth, death.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I shared it with a few close friends, family.  Some were influenced, some were concerned about me.  My husband was concerned and there has been strain on our marriage from the changes in me since the OBE.  I feel like a different person and this has changed everything in my life...purpose, interests, career.  I think some thought I had gone "off the deep end."  Some were interested and seemed open to the possibilities of OBE's.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Excitement, amazement, apprehension, concern for my sanity.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      That experience changed my life.  It changed the direction of my life.  It was part of my spiritual awakening and journey that I am still on today.  I consider it one of the turning points of my life, right along with other life events like marriage, childbirth, death.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I had not been a religious or spiritual person up to this point.  I had been going through a healing phase in my life and dealing with childhood issues with family.  I was kind of in a stage of "finding myself" to use the clich�, but I was having other experiences around the same time as the OBE.  I had been having some kind of awakening or opening and was experiencing clairvoyance, clairaudience, enhanced intuition, starting a meditation practice. I was breaking out of a rigid worldview also as I was becoming disillusioned with my training and education in science.  These things pulled the rug out from under me, in terms of my worldview.  Since the OBE, I have tried in meditation to induce one consciously, but have had mixed success.  I have been able to feel the floating out, but have trouble separating from my head. I tend to be very analytical so I may be trying too hard.  I have noticed sensations of vibration and waves of vibration and then feeling myself rising but the vibrations become so intense that my body begins to tighten and I lose my relaxation.  I noticed more dreams afterward where I was out of my body.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes     actively trying in meditation to have another OBE.

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

Experience description #2:

I was deep into meditation when I sensed that my consciousness was in 2 places.  I had the thought "I am meditating and I am also here"  It was strange.  I was very aware, but in an altered state.  I felt awake, and yet not the typical waking sense.  It is hard to describe.  My focus shifted to my other location and I was in a tunnel.  It was somewhat dark and yet I could see light ahead.  I do not remember continuing down the tunnel because somehow I knew that I could not go further.  I sensed that if I went "too far" then I would not be coming back.  I could see the light and I sensed a presence in the light.  I also sensed a female presence in the tunnel with me, behind me.  I had a sense of having a form or a body, not just a point of consciousness.  The light was bright and white, but it didn't hurt to look at it.  It was full of energy and pulsing waves and streaks of light and lightning. I sensed power and was a little frightened and in awe of it.  I knew I could not go to it and I thought this.  In the instant that I had that thought, the light came to me and passed through me.  I felt an immediate sense of physical contact with the presence and a sense of being FULLY KNOWN to the core.  I was a little embarrassed to be so open and revealed.  I did not feel fear as much as surprise.  I felt complete acceptance.  I felt love. I then had the sense that this was important for me....to know that something knew me in a way that no one else seemed to be able to.  In contrast, it also highlighted how humans feel alone and separate from each other.  It was bittersweet in knowing that this was possible and yet so hard to obtain in this world.  I felt this and had these reflections immediately afterwards, when my consciousness returned to my meditation. My focus or awareness returned to meditating and I was singular again.

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

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain      No reference points in the human experience to use to describe the event...metaphors probably come the closest, poetic expressions.

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?           alert

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   no and yes

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain      I felt like I was in 2 places at once and was aware that I was in 2 places.  I was aware of having a form, or body.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            curiosity, excitement, hesitation and apprehension, embarrassment, love, acceptance, some fear.

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     The light had a presence or awareness to it, or in it.  I felt that the light was amazingly  powerful.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Uncertain      I sensed the presence of another being, beyond the presence that was the light.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          No response      Predominantly visual experience.  I do not recall hearing or smelling or touching, and yet I sensed a physical contact with the light throughout my "body" in the tunnel.

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

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Uncertain            I sensed that we are not alone and that there is more to life than our earthly experience tends to show us.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             Yes     I sensed that the light was the boundary point and I somehow knew that if I went to it then I would not be coming back to my "earthly" life.  I was slightly fearful, but more so because I sensed an enormous power in that light.  I was in awe.

Did you become aware of future events?       No      

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       No       My consciousness or focus just returned to my meditation.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain      I have been having these things since about 1995 when I first experienced what I assume was a spiritual awakening or sorts.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     I felt that it was important to improve my relationships and to let people know who I am, to be open, as much as possible. I felt that intimacy and relationships is something important to pursue.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       Yes...all areas.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     see above question

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I shared this with my mother.  Unsure of her reaction....somewhat speechless.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Acceptance of myself, others, peace.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      Best part was being fully understood and "seen".  The worst was coming back to the more limited experience of being human...the sense of separation between people. Being misunderstood, and the limits of perception in peoples relating to each other is hard now....we project our reality so much onto others, and we can not really see them fully...

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        This experience has made me try to be fully present with people and try to get out of my own reactions, perceptions, projections as much as I can to try to fully empathize with their life and being.  I am working on being empty and open so that I can improve my therapy skills.

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     Yes, as well as can be explained with the limitation of words.