Experience description:   

I am an avid reader who will read just about any book put in front of me. Well, my husband had a book about out-of-body-experiences on the book shelf and I picked it up and started reading it. I was intrigued, but skeptical. I no longer have the book and cannot remember the title, but for almost a year I had practiced the exercises recommended to induce an OBE to no avail. Then at work I had a conversation with a fellow co-worker. I overheard him talking with someone about having spiritual connections, or something like that, it is still kind of vague. I had always considered him somewhat eccentric, but thought I might ask about this out-of-body-experience thing. I told him that I had been reading up on it and that I had actually briefly experienced the sensation of slowly going out of my body one night, but that I had been so scared I immediately returned. He seemed interested and told me to keep trying.

The reason I mention this is because it remained in my head throughout the night and this particular night is when I most definitely went out of my body. I went to bed that night practicing exercises of deep breathing, concentration, etc. I soon got tired and rolled onto my stomach to go to sleep. Before I knew it I was experienced a floating sensation and realized I was going out of my body. This was definitely not a dream! I know because I was so nervous, I kept talking myself out of being scared so that I would not go back into my body as I had done once before. I continued floating up and I remember it was hard for me to almost steer myself in the direction I wanted to go. In fact, I did not know where I wanted to go, I just kept concentrating on going down the hall to go to my baby daughter's room to check on her. I made it that far and tried to go back to my room, figuring that I had made my first "baby steps" and that was good enough for now. Well, as I tried to get into my body I kept floating upwards towards the ceiling. I remembered thinking, "oh my God, I'm going through the ceiling." We lived in an apartment at the time, so I went through the ceiling into the bedroom of the apartment directly above us. I felt weird because I didn't want to invade their privacy, but then I recalled how their furniture was set up the same as ours. I know it sounds ridiculous, but at that very moment I felt myself crashing down into my body. I immediately sat up and couldn't believe what I had experienced.

That was nearly four years ago and I have been trying to reproduce that same experience with no success. I have dreams of going out of my body, but not actually doing so. This is how I know my initial experience was most certainly not a dream!

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?           This is what is so amazing about my experience is that I was so alert and conscience. I was as awake and alert as I am right now writing this.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No. I have had dreams though, I guess lucid dreams, where I was trying to go out of my body. But my actual out-of-body-experience was not dream like in any way. I was completely aware. I can tell anyone, if you question whether you have gone out of your body, you have not, if you had you would certainly know it.

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

I was out of my body and had the feeling my body was laying on the bed still.  I felt that I was no longer connected to it.  It felt like my body was just a host.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            I felt in awe, kind of like "I can't believe I'm actually doing this."

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 observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later? No

It's funny, but I tried to figure out a way I could get my self invited to our neighbors who lived above us in the apartment complex. We were in the process of moving at the time and I didn't know them so unfortunately I never got the opportunity to find out if their bedroom set was exactly how I saw it.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          No

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

I remembered in the book I was reading at the time about OBE's that if you wanted to return to your body to just imagine your pinky finger. I was concentrating so hard on not going back into my body that I didn't do that. I just know that in a moment I pounded back in.

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

I have the feeling that anyone can do this, but we all just don't know how to use that part of our brain yet. I have always heard we use just a small percentage of our brain, so I believe we just don't know how to tap into the part that enables us to have this experience.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       The experience hasn't affected my day-to-day routines, but I have often had conversations about this with my husband and family. I know they believe that I believe I have had this experience, but I don't know if they actually believe it really happened. It is hard to believe if you haven't experienced it for yourself.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

I wanted to tell everyone, but quickly found out that if I didn't want to be perceived as crazy i should probably keep it to myself. I told my husband, parents and best friend. As I have said, I know they believe that I believe I have gone out of my body but I don't know if they actually believe I did.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  I felt a sense of peace in knowing that we do have souls, or something other than our bodies. It emphasized for me that when we die the show is not over. That is pretty reassuring for me.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best part was knowing that I was something other than just my body, the worst part was not being able to totally control where I was going. Even this, I got the sense that with practice that could be resolved. It reminded me of a baby trying to walk who could eventually master the feat.

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

Please offer any suggestions you may have to improve this questionnaire.    No.