“You have to focus UP, into space”.

“Then you’ll experience a loud ‘pop’ when your soul leaves your body”.

“What the heck are you talking about!?!” Came a too loud voice from - - - me? I’d told myself I was just going to listen quietly – not get involved. Why had I spoken at all? Now there were 14 eyes glaring at me with daggers! I knew this was going to be some sort of weird psychic gypsy fraud.

“We’re talking about soul traveling and how to do it,” said one member in the group, feigning tolerance yet clearly annoyed with this “new comer’s” intrusion. “But I’ve been out-of-body and didn’t hear any such ‘pop’”, I couldn’t help revealing. “Well this is how I’ve heard it’s done and what happens,” he continued. Then, they all went on talking about a variety of techniques and mechanisms to separate soul from body.

It was my turn to feel a twinge of intolerance. They were talking as if there is a way to follow steps 1, 2, 3 and VOILA! Yet, perhaps they were right; I’d never analyzed the “how to”.

Recalling the first time I’d actually soul traveled, I almost wondered why they were trying. I'd known nothing about it and having had no such “pop’ warning, coming back into my body had been a challenge.

Then I realized, my life had indeed, dramatically improved after that experience, my intolerance disappeared immediately.

It had been over 20 years earlier. A wonderful and dear friend of mine had asked me to visit with a friend of hers who was dying of Leukemia. She knew my passion for metaphysics and energy healing and hoped I could help him.

With no preamble or lengthy introduction, I started asking him questions about himself, his life, how he felt and so on. Within a few minutes it became clear that he was not only reluctant to open up to a stranger, but had been living most of his life “in the closet”. At that time, so many people treated homosexuals like Lepers; he tried to fake a normal façade.

Since he had not been the one to ask for help, I excused myself, deciding to go to the Source for answers.

Knowing the metaphysical causation of Leukemia is feeling there is no joy in life, I calmly went through the levels to that deepest workshop of my mind. Unfortunately, no advisors were there to help, which I assumed was because I knew no–one who could give me “his” answer.

My idea was to find out when he first began believing life offered no joy. From there we could find a way to not only revive the joy he felt before that, but also, through Gestalt Therapy or whatever, relive the moment he lost it with a different perspective.

So adamantly did I want to help this man, every ounce of my being focused like a laser beam with 100% intention and belief that the answer would be provided.

Next thing I knew, I was “witnessing”, as if 50’ up in the air. There was a boat; a couple fighting in the boat; he was screaming at her and she was in tears. Next, I saw him toss her overboard. He actually threw her overboard!

There, in the water, I knew what this young girl thought. She wanted to keep the baby – yes, he had screamed, argued, and thrown her overboard because she was pregnant! Somehow, she would survive. Somehow, she would manage to raise the baby. From that moment on, to the depths of her soul, she believed there would be no joy in life, even as she accepted the task and responsibility that faced her. The son in her womb “got it”.

All that she felt, he felt. She hated men, "life was a struggle", and "there is no such thing as real love"… This poor fellow had never known joy – or love! His mother raised him by herself with all the warmth of a drill sergeant. Her hatred of men emanated from her being. As a young child, he did not understand it, but the entirety of what he “got” was that men were abusive and loveless. What was he supposed to do with that as a man himself?

Being raised with a mother who refused to feel love, he in no way felt or saw women as nurturing. Why would he have been attracted to women?

His only hope, as many of us subconsciously attempt, was to prove her wrong. Unfortunately, with no love for self, even in his relationships with men, love eluded him. By 36, he had had enough.

He no longer wanted to be judged, have to hide who he was, or in any way shape or form, believed any relationship could fill that incredible void he felt within, He hated his loveless, joyless life.

I saw, I felt, and now I knew exactly what this man needed.

When I headed back to offer the gift, I was confronted with the first “awareness” that the real “me” was actually out of my body. I saw my girlfriend there, staring at my body – as I was. There was deep concern and consternation written all over her face. I wanted to hold her to ease her fear – I wanted to reassure her I was still here. But was I? What a strange circumstance! No wonder I had held onto a belief that out of body was psychic “weird” stuff.

Apparently, I had called to her – at least that is what she told me afterward. She had said it was my voice, but was not coming from the “me” she saw in front of her. I had asked her to hold me – she knew it was serious. What felt to me like a fraction of a second later, I was enjoying my girlfriend’s strong and sincere hug. She said we were hugging for more than 20 minutes and I had been ‘gone’ for over an hour.

Learning how to control those ‘flights’, would be an awesome idea! It would eliminate fear and needing a “buddy” to get back. I do recommend you go with a purpose relevant to a goal upon returning however – it does make it so much easier to come back.

The knowing I learned through that experience changed my life completely. Not because I realize we can easily transcend time and space. Nor even realizing all the answers are there for any question we ask with pure intention. It changed my life because I truly understood that it was only my assumption to believe everyone who is sick wants to heal. It is not my job to “fix” anyone.

That does not mean I stopped learning different healing modalities. I have personally needed many to survive life’s curve balls or overcome my stubbornness and refusal to let go of some self debilitating thoughts and habits. After learning them, I am still overjoyed when anyone asks for help too. Not as if I have all the answers, or that mine are theirs, but to help guide others in finding out what may be blocking them from the simplicity and love of their own answers.

The true gift I gained to give this gentleman warmed every fiber of my being. It was also the only thing he really needed and wanted at that moment, as he lay there on the verge of relinquishing his body and this lifetime. As I walked back to give it to him, it occurred to me that everyone could use, and would probably enjoy receiving, this gift too.

It was the gift of complete, total acceptance - - - and love.

Had this man seen more, or felt more of this in his life, I am sure he would not have been so ready to give up.

Returning from my memory, I realized I had been talking aloud, the group riveted to my words to glean some insight. Most already knew you could not “fix” anyone else and how much of a gift giving unconditional love is. (See: Speaking The Language Of Unconditional Love)

However, one woman leaned over to look me straight in the eyes – her gaze reaching the deepest soul within. She said, “That’s exactly why we want to do what you did Sylvia."

Thus, I continue to share my story in case you too, would like to eliminate some of the complications that make this life seem so difficult.