The following happened to me when I was about twenty-five, that is thirty years ago, and I remember it as if it were yesterday. I had gone to bed with my then wife and I was lying on my back dropping off to sleep. Suddenly, I became fully awake because my body was vibrating at a terrific rate and I could hear a humming sound getting louder and louder.

The next thing I knew, I was looking down at my wife and "myself" from the ceiling. I then came down from the ceiling, walked around the bed and looked at my wife, putting my face very close to hers. She was sleeping soundly.

I knew I had not fallen asleep because during the whole experience I was ultra aware. Next, I decided to go visit an aunt of mine who lived not far away. I walked along the passageway to the front door of the flat in which we were living. There I became aware of a man standing by the door, dressed all in black with black hair. He had a very pleasant face (there was nothing intrinsically frightening about him) and he looked at me and gave me what I can only describe as a "Mona Lisa'" smile, tilting his head slightly to one side (enigmatic). He then offered me something like a scroll or rolled up parchment, holding his arm out toward me so I could take it.

For some reason, this terrified me and I flew into my bedroom and slammed back into my body. My heart was beating like a drum and I put my head under the sheets. I think it was the strange situation I found myself in which scared me so, since I had never had such an experience before. The above is a true and accurate account of what happened; I was not asleep or under the influence of drink or drugs.

I have had lucid dreams when, in the dream, I became aware that I was dreaming and could manipulate the dream. This OBE was something entirely different in that I was fully awake and fully aware. I have since had other experiences of leaving my body, and again the feeling is very different from a dream because the experience is crystal clear at the time and the next day, in contrast to a dream which is forgotten almost immediately. Mostly, I just float around my flat, but a couple of times I have gone out through the closed window. I live on the eighth floor!

Paul Reading

Posted Feb. 8, 2010