Experience description:

I was 7 years old on a camping trip in Virginia Beach with my mother. We were at the campsite and it was the daytime I was lying on a lounge chair and suddenly felt at peace and was no longer in my body but high above myself, it was the most amazing feeling I have ever experienced. I could then see myself laying there and my mother there too and I could also see the campsite from above and our tent and picnic table and beyond the campsite to the beach, I saw people on the beach and the sand dunes. I started talking to my mother telling her what I was seeing, I asked her if she saw me. What I was describing to her made her scared and she grabbed my arm. As soon as she grabbed my arm I was back in my body and it was over. I remember being mad at her for touching me because I didn't want the feeling to end. It's never happened to me again, but it makes me believe that souls do exist. I don't know how science could ever explain what I saw that day. I am agnostic, there was a time in my late teens and early 20's that I believed in God but I don't hold those beliefs anymore, I do think reincarnation is possible because of this experience and my belief that souls exist.

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? Awake

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? Euphoria

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? 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? Yes My mother verified what happened as she was there with me

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different? No They weren't different

Did you have any sense of altered space or time? Uncertain It seemed altered because I wasn't in my body anymore

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose? Uncertain I had a sense of peace and calm and just a feeling of euphoria

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 My mother grabbed my arm and at that moment I was back in my body

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience? Uncertain Sometimes I have feelings of knowing things before they will happen

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience? Uncertain I was a child when it happened but I think it has formed certain beliefs I have now

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices? It hasn't really

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

Have you shared this experience with others? Yes I haven't talked about it in a long time I'm not sure I remember how people reacted to it, I talk to my mom about it occasionally because she was there, so when we have spiritual discussions it comes up.

What emotions did you experience following your experience? I don't remember

What was the best and worst part of your experience? The best was the feeling of peace and realizing that I could see beyond myself. The worst was my mom grabbing my arm and having the experience end.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience? No