My mother and great-grandmother were in Gramma's bedroom looking at some quilts.  I sat down in the green chair in the living room, not feeling well because I was so ill.  I wasn't really thinking much on a conscious level when I was suddenly gripped with fear.  It was like the fear knocked me out of my body.

I found myself floating in the air, about 4 feet in front of my body.  I looked down and could see myself.  I instantly knew that I wasn't alone.  A creature was with me.  For some reason, I assumed that she had a human shape, but I couldn't see her. 

The creature had a feminine quality, though I'm not expressly sure she was female.  She radiated love, light, and protection.  All of the thoughts she communicated to me were in the form of feelings.  No words were spoken.  I'm not even sure that I could "hear".  She expressed that someone I loved very dearly was in great danger, mortal danger.  She expressed the feeling that she could keep them safe if they were near me.

Time had no meaning while I was away from my body.  It seemed like I was with the creature for a long time.  But, I feared greatly for my family, so I wished myself back into my body.  Going back was jolting, and my physical self was still full of the original dread that I experienced right before I left my body.  It was so strong that I felt like vomiting.  I had broken out into a cold sweat. 

I stood up, and as I did, my mom came in.  I told her most of what I had just experienced.  Mom later told me that I looked very pale, almost waxy, and haunted.  That was the only reason she took me seriously.  My great-grandmother stayed in the house with me while mom went out and called my siblings.

My older sister and my younger brother had been in our great-grandmother's barn.  They said they were climbing the ladder to the loft when they heard mom yelling.  Gramma said that the loft was rotten, and about to fall.  A few days later, it did.

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

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes

It was so incredible.  I felt as though another being was with me, and she communicated to me that someone I loved was in great danger.  It was *surreal*.  I was looking at myself sitting in a chair, and the being was behind me.  I could simply feel the love and concern radiating from her.  I say "her" because I felt it to be a feminine presence.  Perhaps it was me on another level.

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

My sister and brother, as it later turned out, were in an old barn that was about to collapse.  The being with me during the OBE told me that someone was in great danger.  I didn't know who was in danger, and I didn't know the nature of the danger.  After the OBE, I immediately told my mother that I needed everyone to be close to me to be safe.  Mom called my sister and brother back to the house, and that was when we found out that they had been in the barn (which fell in a few days later).

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I was completely lucid both before, during, and after.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   It was surreal, but it wasn't like a dream.  I was in control of myself, and everything was coherent and logical.  My dreams aren't like at all; they jump around and don't make sense.

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

I couldn't see myself.  I was floating in the air, about 4 feet in front of my body.  I could see my physical form slumped in the chair.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Fear for a loved one (my fear).  Love from the being.  Concern from the being.  Safety from the being.  Protection from the being.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No.  The thoughts and emotions were all radiant in nature.  I don't think I could "hear" anything.  Maybe white noise.  I really don't remember hearing anything specific.

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

Well, the location wasn't spectacular: my great-grandmother's house.  The being with me was incredible.  She was not of this world.  I called her an "angel," but I don't think that's actually what she was.  It's just the only word that comes close to describing her.

Did you see a light?           No

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

The being was behind me.  I couldn't see her, but I could sense her behind me and slightly to the right.  She was looking over my shoulder.  Her entire being was light.  I could see and feel the light from her.  She exuded love and protection.  Just being with me made me feel safe.  She was helping me to see that someone I loved was in danger, but she was able to protect them from the danger.  She was not exactly motherly, but she embodied perfect love.  Does that make sense?

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

I knew someone was going to be very badly hurt if I didn't do something.  I later learned that my siblings were in a structure that was close to collapsing.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          Yes

I could see, but it was like I didn't have eyes.  I don't think I had form at all.  I couldn't feel anything tangible.  My astral body was a clear and clean feeling, like my mind had expanded in all directions.  My consciousness was like a very small ball of thought in the center of my expanded awareness.  I'm not sure if I could "hear" in the traditional sense.  All communication was empathetic or emotional.

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

Like I said, my mind could sense all directions at once.  I felt timeless when I was "out," but once I got back into my body, I felt as though only a couple of minutes had passed.

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

Everything was clear and lucid.  All beings on the higher plane were good.  The being with me was full of love and purpose.  Love ruled supreme.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain

See my previous answers concerning my siblings in a barn. 

I'm fairly certain that one of my siblings would have been killed if they'd gone all the way up to the loft of the barn.

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

I didn't *want* to go back to my body, but I was so afraid that someone was going to die that I rushed back anyway.

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

When I was 20, I again experienced the type of love I had felt from the being.  I converted to Buddhism.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I cultivate Buddhist beliefs on love and universal kindness.  I started practicing yoga and meditating shortly after the OBE.  I feel that my purpose in life is to help others, love others.  I now do lots of volunteer work, human rights and animal rights work.

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

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

Most people just say "hmmm, that's odd."  I don't think they believe me.  Or they think I'm nuts.

The only person who came close to believing me was my mom (right after the OBE).

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Profound fear for my loved ones.  Disbelief.  Longing to go back to the creature.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was the creature.  She was so perfect, so loving, so concerned.  She was safety and guidance.  I think she watches over me still.

The worst part was getting back to my body and being filled with dread that someone was going to die.   I was sure that someone was going to die if I didn't do something.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I felt weak and numb.  It was awful.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        As of recently, I am attempting to induce a conscious OBE.  I think I can get back to that plane and meet the being again.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes

When I was 20, as I already talked about, I had what I deemed a "religious experience."  I felt as though my soul were wrapped in a warm blanket of love.  It was like the love that the being had radiated.  In fact, I think the being was visiting me.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               No

Nothing can comprehensively describe it.  There are no words on this level of existence to describe it.

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    You might ask how the surroundings appeared, whether they were spectacular or not.  Even my great-gramma's house, a hand-built cabin, was prismatic and luminous while I was out of my body.  It wasn't heaven or hell, but it was surreal and beautiful.