Experience description:

This experience occurred at the moment I awoke from a lucid dream. I had been training myself to lucid dream, and was having several per week and sometimes even several per night. Lucid dreaming is really an enhanced dream state. They did not last for more than a minute or two and often for only seconds. In these dreams, I would "wake up" inside the dream, becoming conscious that I was dreaming and attempt to control and prolong the dream.

I was (lucidly) dreaming that I was sitting on a grassy hill in the sunshine. I had told myself to remember that the next time I found myself in a lucid dream state, I would attempt to fly to Berlin, where my girlfriend lived. I willed this to happen in the dream, and that is when I left my body. There was a hollow popping sound in my head, and suddenly I was no longer dreaming; I was in my bedroom but suspended in the air near the ceiling. In addition to the inside of the room, I perceived something similar to a tunnel - it somewhat resembled the folds of heavy drapes but was made of energy. I felt that I would be drawn deeper into this structure. There was a discordant sound, like a choir singing notes that clashed with each other. I remember thinking clearly that this is what happens when one dies and that it was all perfectly familiar - I had definitely been there before. I was panicked that I did not know how to get back into my body. Suddenly, I was sucked very quickly back down into my body.

I was nauseous and nearly vomited. I felt out of sorts for the rest of the day. I am confident that this experience was a completely separate and distinct experience from any dream, lucid or otherwise.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  No    

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      I was extraordinarily alert and conscious throughout the experience, which lasted less than a minute.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      More consciousness and alertness than normal   I perceived the opening to a different dimension and it seemed familiar to me, though I don't know why.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   I was sensing a world of energy and dimensional depth that I do not normally perceive.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   My sense of hearing was overwhelmed by a horrible, discordant vibration.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   Yes   I was aware of my bedroom.

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   Panic  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   Yes   The entrance to a tunnel was before me. I knew that I should not enter.

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)?   No  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   No  

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   Uncertain   I was certain that I had experienced that before. It seemed entirely familiar to me. I had intuitive knowledge that I would die if I did not get back into my body.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
The mystical, unearthly realm was visible as a second sight to my normal vision.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   No

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   Yes   My consciousness separated from my body. That, for me, is a strong indication that consciousness can continue after physical death.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience  

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience?   I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience   Unforgettable.

My experience directly resulted in:   Slight changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   No  

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   No  

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     I had been there before. It was like I could almost remember when, but something was keeping me from remembering.

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  Several years went by before I shared it. Hard to say what people thought of my account.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   No  

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   The experience was extremely vivid and real. I never had a doubt about whether or not it occurred. I was up near the ceiling and was viewing a portal into another dimension or world.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   It was real. I had a similar experience years later. The second experience was alarming, but I was not so terrified.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I am now confident that consciousness and the senses can exist/function independently of the brain - outside of the body.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Yes  

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   I wish I had been more adventurous. I feel that I missed an opportunity to learn or see things that few people can learn or see while alive. I panicked and squandered the opportunity.

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   They are well thought out questions.