Karen's Experience

Experience description:   

My parents had recently separated in that my mother (who I was exceptionally close to) had left. We had also moved two weeks earlier 200+ miles away from everyone that I knew. I was 9 years old and when my mother left I was very emotionally distressed (I cried every night for a year!) One night when I was crying I became aware that I was no longer in my body and I floated up to the ceiling where I was very amused that I could touch it.  This felt totally natural and I was very calm and serene and fascinated by the whole thing.  I could see myself on the bed and my sister in her bed.  I floated round the room and by the lampshade and then I looked at my body and drifted down back into it.  This was a very pleasant experience and I wanted to repeat it.  I found that if I concentrated hard enough I could leave my body at will.  I only ventured as far as the doorway of the room because I wanted to keep sight of my body in case I couldn't find it again.  This continued until my life settled down which would have been approximately 1 year later. 

I have had no further out of body experiences although as an adult I have sometimes felt as if I could.  When I have been very upset I have the same feeling that I had when I was nine that I could detach myself.  However I am now a very grounded person and I won't let it happen.

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?           Totally conscious.  It was just me up there as normal as any other part of my life. I was able to think and to reason and make very conscious decisions.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   No, it was very real.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain      I was drifting, I felt very light, possibly almost wispy but it was definitely me.  My body was on the bed.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Happy, serene, bemused.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No, everything was very normal.  Sometimes I would hear my father downstairs, or the television, sometimes it was very quiet.

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            I was at home.

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

The only things I touched were the ceiling and the light shade.  Both felt solid. My hand didn't go through them or anything like that.

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     No difference, normal hearing and 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?             Yes     The ceiling.  I didn't attempt to cross the boundary, that would have been frightening, I had to keep my body in sight so I knew I could go back.

Did you become aware of future events?       No      

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Yes     It felt very natural.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         Uncertain      I was only nine so I am not sure if I had gifts before the experience but I have had gifts since. I often get warnings about things that are going to happen but I never get enough information, or they are not developed enough, to act on which is frustrating.  I only know when it has happened what I was being warned about.  I have been told by a psychic that I have gifts that I am not using. I have never been to a psychic, this one approached me in the street!