Lourens M's Experience

Experience description:   

Well, OK. the first time that I can recall my experience was when I was in boarding school I was twelve at the  time. I lay down on the bed (on my back) and after only a few seconds I felt my bed sway to and fro. I could immediately see the myself on the bed from above, at an angle. The bed was swaying like a boat, in what I can  only describe as; a black void. The bed was floating in the middle of an infinite total blackness. It was not  scary at all. As the bed started swaying more and more to each side I could feel my heart thump wildly in my  chest, and my body was flat and pressed into the mattress, especially my arms and hands. I knew I could not  fall off. (although it did cross my mind.) It was like my body was afraid of this new 'alien' experience, but my  mind thought nothing of it and just went with the flow. I was calm about it all. Suddenly I was in a corner of  the room by the ceiling looking down on the room, I then just blacked out. I do not remember returning to my  body in a conscious state. The 'bed swaying bit' that I described happened more than often in my childhood  years, but each time I would jerk myself back and fall asleep again. I just didn't think anything of it.

I've also noted that it helps to be physically tired in order to experience it better and to 'slip off' quicker.

We did manual labor everyday at the boarding school were this occurred, I was pretty tired before bedtime...  

My second experience was the most memorable.

I went over to a friend's house for the weekend (I was still in boarding school) And that Friday night we spent  lying on his lawn and just looking up at the sky, admiring the stars. I closed my eyes for bit (I was probably a  bit tired) when I was abruptly pulled from my body, and again I was in that distinct total blackness. Only this  time it was way different than before. I was out and floating high above my body about 10-15 meters or so,  again looking down only this time I was more than one entity. This is where it gets very hard to explain or put  in words; So I'm going to call the entity that I feel as close to my real self as Entity one, and the other  entity also me but not as much me, as Entity two (see why it is so hard to explain...) I saw my body 'sprawled  on the lawn', but I did not see the grass or anything else except for my physical body, yet some part of me  knew my body was still lying ON THE LAWN. Entity two was really trying hard to convince Entity one to return to  my body, but I did not want to at first, because I only then became completely conscious and realized how cool  this actually was!! I (Entity one) wanted to experience this state of being for a while longer, but Entity two  did not want to hear this. So there I am arguing with myself while my body lay unconscious. It was not verbal  at all - more like expression and thoughts, also 'vibrations' and me understanding myself. (If that is even  comprehensible...) Conflicted with myself I (Entity one) gave in reluctantly, and went back down to my body  in an almost scary and urgent manner. Like falling off of a very high building. And I 'woke up' next to my  friend, who did not notice a thing.

It is so hard to explain, but I DID KNOW AND FEEL both entities as ME, also my entities were a darker black  than the void, if that is possible, they were shaped, but their shapes were not constricted to one form if you  know what I mean. And although I experience this seemingly dull, black void every time it is so exciting and  exhilarating to be there, anything but dull and lifeless.  

My third and last experience was a short one. I was outside painting our fence when I started feeling light  headed, I merely sat down with my back against a wall knees up to my face and I wrapped my arms around my  knees, then rested my head on my arms. I sat like this for a short while when I became aware that I was slowly  moving out of my body, through the left side. I was about half a meter away when it stopped, and I 'felt' someone asking whether or not I want to continue life in that body, and as soon as I had answered 'yes' I found myself  back in my body again. As I opened my eyes my surroundings and my body were completely 'foreign' to me. ('foreign' for lack of a better word) I was struck with a strange silence for a while, but it faded, and I  slowly began to recognize everything and where I was. It was awesome!! All three experiences were unprovoked or  natural.

I find it hard to induce these knowingly from a wakened state.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Uncertain            My second experience might have been lightly induced by the paint thinner I used when thinning paint, but I was outside. I'm not sure.

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

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?           Very much alert.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   no.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            mostly neutral feelings but also somewhat scared, but more excited than anything.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           Only loud vibration like a constant humming, but not everytime.

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?           No      

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?          Uncertain            Only my mind seemed alert to all that was happening, but I did see myself as a dark or black entity, and on my third experience I saw the floor, the wall and my body as it is now.

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

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    

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    

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       None whatsoever.

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

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     My friend tried it once, but he says it took too much effort and has done nothing since, but he believes me.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Awe, is all I can say. I am still in awe as to how big and infinite life actually is...

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best was becoming conscious and aware, realizing it all.

The worst was having to return to my body!

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.    Did you feel or see yourself as an 'entity'?