I had the first truly "supernatural" event of my life while moving on assignment to Germany in 1994. I was and still am a soldier in the U.S. Army. I was in a double occupancy room with another soldier who was also freshly assigned to Europe. The Room in Vilseck was on an old kaserne or military post that dated back beyond WW2. It was my first night in country and I was having trouble going to sleep. I thought I was drifting off when I felt that "falling into my own body sensation" that I now know follows a hasty return of the astral body into the physical. I found myself filled with terror for no apparent reason and unable to move save my eyes. I thought it would go away in time, so why was I scared?
I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye and willed my gaze to the corner of the room at the foot of my roommate's bed. I then saw a ghastly image of a skeletal figure that was dressed in tattered hooded robes that were at the same time black and dingy gray and seemingly blown by brisk storm-tossed winds. It was floating about three feet off the floor at an angle which was at odds to the plane of gravity. The figure was taller than the room yet I could see both the ceiling and an inky blackness behind him at the same time.
It was approaching at a slow glide in yet another plane of movement contrary to its attitude and the plane of gravity. Suddenly, as if it became aware of my awareness of it, it extended its bony limbs toward me and glided much more rapidly towards me as if to throttle me. In mortal terror, I abjured it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and its rate of advance again quickened but it began to float downward and to fade from sight at the same time. I had a hard time even thinking the words of my simple abjuration and even my internal tongue was slow, slurred and difficult to control.
I remained paralyzed for some time lying there in terror, sweating and breathing rapidly, despite the chill in the room. I was not certain whether it would return. It did not. After what seemed like an eternity, I slowly regained the ability to command my body, though probably only a few minutes passed. I later read as much as I could about such visitations and also about possible physiological explanations for this event. However, I could not convince myself that it was unreal. I still cannot.
It had characteristics that are impossible to put entirely into words and which are not found in descriptions of hallucinations brought on during night paralysis. I also determined that I would not be defenseless if such an entity decided to intrude again. It set me on the path of the magician on which I have only traveled a few yards.
The possibilities I have came up with so far are:
1. A hallucination brought on by the hypnogogic state.
2. Intrusion of a hostile astral entity.
3. An initiation. The scenario has striking parallels to mystery initiation ordeals. Its nature is unexplained but it did put me on the magical path.
Well, what do you think? Have you had similar experiences? How do you interpret it? This should start a discussion going.
