Hello all, my first experience below occurred in the summer of 2017 (to the best of my memory). The text is actually copy pasted from an email I sent to a known author on the subject, but felt it accurately described the experience and was simpler than trying to re-write it.
I'm not religious, but have tried praying many times throughout my life. This night I decided instead of asking god for answers, I honestly opened my heart and asked for the spirit of the universe, whatever that was, to give me some kind of guidance.
I was suddenly no longer in my body. I was in what seemed like space, surrounded by stars, in some kind of giant collective consciousness. It was bizarre, because it felt as though I was both with others in a formless energy, but still separate enough to recognize myself. I felt as though I was somewhere in space, because I remember feeling as though Earth was in a particular direction, but distance didn't really have any meaning.
I was suddenly fully aware that my life on Earth was a decision I had made, that it was an experience I chose to have, but wasn't my natural state. I was overwhelmed with compassion for everyone and made a decision to return to this experience and see it through.
When I came back to my body, I had several revelations about my existence. I knew that this world was just an experience, I knew that life wasn't confined to this experience. I had a deep sense of caring for my wife, children and family, and felt that I had a responsibility to help assist them with their own experiences here. The next few days really impacted me the most. For three days I had the most intense feeling of euphoria I've ever experienced.
I was so absolutely relieved, and honestly felt the weight of the world I normally carried on my shoulders was simply gone. I understood that all the things that I worry about all the time were truly unimportant, and that kindness and love were what really mattered.
Before this occurred, I had struggled with depression my whole life. I've fought suicidal thoughts, and believe I've stuck around this long a lot of times for other people, but truly agonized over the depression. That all went away completely after that night. I truly believe I've been a better husband, father and friend since. It had a profound effect on me.
One last odd thing, for several weeks after the event, when I closed my eyes I could for lack of a better term, adjust my focus and start the see the darkness open up begin to see stars and at least it felt as though I was almost able to exit this reality and go back to the state I was in during the experience, but some noise or distraction would always pull me back to my body.
I'm not religious, but have tried praying many times throughout my life. This night I decided instead of asking god for answers, I honestly opened my heart and asked for the spirit of the universe, whatever that was, to give me some kind of guidance.
I was suddenly no longer in my body. I was in what seemed like space, surrounded by stars, in some kind of giant collective consciousness. It was bizarre, because it felt as though I was both with others in a formless energy, but still separate enough to recognize myself. I felt as though I was somewhere in space, because I remember feeling as though Earth was in a particular direction, but distance didn't really have any meaning.
I was suddenly fully aware that my life on Earth was a decision I had made, that it was an experience I chose to have, but wasn't my natural state. I was overwhelmed with compassion for everyone and made a decision to return to this experience and see it through.
When I came back to my body, I had several revelations about my existence. I knew that this world was just an experience, I knew that life wasn't confined to this experience. I had a deep sense of caring for my wife, children and family, and felt that I had a responsibility to help assist them with their own experiences here. The next few days really impacted me the most. For three days I had the most intense feeling of euphoria I've ever experienced.
I was so absolutely relieved, and honestly felt the weight of the world I normally carried on my shoulders was simply gone. I understood that all the things that I worry about all the time were truly unimportant, and that kindness and love were what really mattered.
Before this occurred, I had struggled with depression my whole life. I've fought suicidal thoughts, and believe I've stuck around this long a lot of times for other people, but truly agonized over the depression. That all went away completely after that night. I truly believe I've been a better husband, father and friend since. It had a profound effect on me.
One last odd thing, for several weeks after the event, when I closed my eyes I could for lack of a better term, adjust my focus and start the see the darkness open up begin to see stars and at least it felt as though I was almost able to exit this reality and go back to the state I was in during the experience, but some noise or distraction would always pull me back to my body.