I was sleeping deeply and dreamt that I was in a place that seemed like the sky. There were what I remember as being roughly seven little kittens and puppies in a loosely fenced in enclosure that I was playing with. They were very happy to see me and they were so nice and fluffy and sweet and loving. I turned around after playing with them and saw my friend Kyle sitting behind me. There was one other silent man slumped over a ways over, but I did not talk to him. Kyle's face was cast in darkness and when I looked at him an understanding passed between us that it had taken some time for him to realize that he was dead. He died suddenly and in a way that I believe was unintentional. After I looked at how upset he was it was clear to me that he knew now that he was dead, and he was upset. He was upset about the way that he had died, and the fact that he had died at all. I looked at him and nodded grimly-- it was a lucid dream-- and I communicated to him nonverbally that yes, he was dead-- it was horrible and sad, but here we are, and what can we do about it now, my friend? At this point he reached out and touched me. I smiled at him and touched his face in a loving way, looking into his eyes. I heard myself telling him that he needed to go to "the light." His face was screwed up with sadness and he told me that he couldn't see the light. "Do you think it's really there?" he asked me. "Yes," I said. "And as soon as you go into the light, you will have complete and absolute control." "But I can't see it!" he said. I assured him that the light was there, and then I paused for a moment. It was a lucid dream and I started to tell him that I wasn't an expert on these things, but that I was pretty sure the light was there. Before I could get the words out, I was ripped away from him and brought back into my bed. The last thing he heard me say was that he needed to go to the light, that he would have control if he did, that the light was there. I woke up feeling high. My entire body was vibrating and I felt the most profound sense of peace. That peace has not left me even after three days. It was the most beautiful experience I have ever had. I am sure now that he has found "the light" that he was seeking. I am thankful for the small gifts. I am thankful to have seen him and have touched him one last time.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?     No  

Did you hear the deceased or hear something associated with the deceased?   Yes   

Describe what you heard, how clearly you heard it and what was communicated:     I communicated to him that the light was there if he sought it. He asked me if it was really there in actual words. I told him that it was.  

Did the voice or sound seem to originate externally or outside of you, inside you, or did you not hear a voice or sound, but had a sense of knowing what was communicated?   The voice was in my dream realm but was clearly spoken by my friend. 

If you heard a voice or sound, was it similar or dissimilar from the voice or sound the deceased made when they were alive?     I heard his voice. The same voice he used in his waking life.     

Is there any possibility what you heard was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?   No.  

Was there any possible impairment to your hearing at the time of the experience?   No.

Did you feel a touch or experience any physical contact from the deceased?   Yes  

Describe where and how you were touched:     I was patted gently by my friend on the hip.

Was the touch familiar or unfamiliar?   Familiar. I welcomed it.  

Was anything communicated by the touch?   He communicated to me his desire for my love in the earthly realm.

Is there any possibility what you felt was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?   No. I was sleeping alone in a locked room.

Did you see the deceased?   Yes    He was exactly as I remember him, but his eyes were dark and he was sad. He looked like how he did before he went to rehab, before the overdose. He did not look healthy or happy, he was hungry for love.

How clearly did the deceased appear?   Solid. As solid as he would have appeared in real life.

How much of the deceased did you see?    All of him. His entire body and his face, his eyes, and his hands.

Did the deceased appear or not appear to be the age at which they died?   He was at the age in which he died.

How healthy did the deceased appear to be?    His eyes had shadows under them and he was upset, but aside from that he was healthy and sound.

Is there any possibility what you saw was from any other source present in the surroundings at the time of your experience?    I really do not think so. There was no TV or any other person in my room.

Did you smell a distinct smell, scent, fragrance or odor associated with the deceased?    No                

Could you sense the emotions or mood of the deceased?   Yes     He was sad that he had died. He was sad he could not see the light. He was looking to me for guidance and love.

Did the deceased give you information you did not previously know?   He only asked me questions. The answers I gave I knew very little about before giving them.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience?    Experience was definitely real    I touched him. I talked to him. I felt peace. I helped him. It was real.

Was the experience dream like in any way?    Yes    I was asleep.

Was there any emotional healing in any way following the experience?    Yes    I feel better about his death now. I feel closure.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?    The best thing was touching his face and talking to him. The worst part was having to leave, of not being able to stay with him longer.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?    Yes    I believe that death is not as scary now. I believe that I can help spirits if they need me to.   

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?    Yes    I felt happier and earthly matters did not concern me as much.

Did the experience give you any spiritual understandings such as life, death, afterlife, God, etc.?    Yes    I felt that Kyle was reflecting in his own mind before moving on to a higher place of light and love. I felt that he was needing to choose love before he could leave the confines of his own mind.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?   Yes I read after my dream that people who have near death experiences sometimes go into "the void," a place that is the reflection of their own minds where they can learn about their souls and cleanse themselves before reaching the higher planes of light and love. I read that they need to choose love before they can go to "the light." It all seemed very consistent with my dream.

Was the experience witnessed or experienced by others?    No   

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?       Yes    I was in another realm entirely. I felt like I was in the sky.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?        Yes    I felt like an angel who had been called upon to help my friend. I felt like I knew all about "the light."

Did you become aware of future events?           No   

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 experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?    Yes    I was wearing blue jeans, which I never wear. And I was definitely not in this realm.

Did you meet or see any other beings other than the deceased?    Yes    I saw a man slumped over and sad. We did not speak. I also saw a bunch of little kittens and puppies and theu were so nice. I played with them and they were glad to see me.

Did you see a light?    Uncertain    I told him to go to the light.

Did any part of your experience seem to occur in a place other than the location described above?   No   

Have you shared this experience with others?    Yes    I have only shared this with people who I know would be respectful. I have been scared of telling anyone who would shut it down, but those I have shared it with have been open and grateful. Our friend said he felt peace after hearing about it.

Have you shared this experience formally or informally with any other researcher or web site?    No        

Were there any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?    No   

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

Did you ever in your life have a near-death experience, out of body experience or other spiritual event?      No