Thanks for enjoying that story spooky2,
I do like to hear about these types of experiences from relatives, because I've known them since I was a child, and have become very accustomed to the types of people that they are. Therefore, when I hear a story such as this, I can weigh it against the type of person that I've known them to be for SO long, and can base it on a sort of value system... This story to me, is the pinacle of honesty at its best. To other readers, they just have to take my word for it. As Bruce has put it, "Only personal direct experience should change beliefs." (They sure have changed mine.)
Regarding "seeing yourself as light", and wondering if there is only one light or more. I saw a show on National Geographic a couple weeks ago about the lost Gospels of Judas (that were apparently thrown out by religious scholars in the days that religion was used to "tame the masses", not teach them. In the Gospels of Judas, he reported what his role "actually" was with respect to Jesus' sacrifice... and that he wasn't the villian, as he's been portrayed as for so long. His role to deceive Jesus was actually predestined. After Jesus had told him what he had to do, Judas didn't want to accept it... In fact, in the end he couldn't cope with what had been predestined for him to do in order for Jesus' example to be brought to fruition/light. (I believe he killed himself from guilt, even though that was the path that was chosen for him.) At any rate, before Jesus was crucified, Judas reported that Jesus had talked to him and told him that he will be one of the brightest stars (lights) in God's kingdom. Judas was apparently very in tune with what Jesus' message actually held in it. Jesus had taken Judas aside and told him about some of the many mysteries of the Kingdom of God... and explained to him things that nobody else was spiritually evolved enough to understand/comprehend. In fact, it was reported that when Jesus walked into the room where some of the apostles were eating supper, he broke out laughing (sense of humor? 8) ). The apostles had been talking/discussing about matters concerning the God that rules over the Earth. Jesus walked in and told them that the God that they've been elaborating on is FAR FAR grander/bigger than what they could possibly imagine "him" to be. -- (Not that they are in the wrong... just misinformed/misguided.) Judas, however, understood Jesus' affirmations on a level unlike the rest. (Hence, the difficult mission.) My point being, however, referring back to the "light"... It is obviously an imperative component to our reality, and seems to be the "measuring stick", so to speak, of spiritual evolution. Kind of like a tangible substance that we can visualize/comprehend. For instance, I could say, "Hey, look spooky2/Mactek... That soul is MASSIVELY wise!" "It's so BRIGHT, it must've been around the block a few times!". "Maybe if I go over to it, I can absorb some of it's cordial wisdom." -- Just my view on it.
P.S. You refreshed my memory spooky2, when you wrote: "when I came close to what I thought could be the greater me, I was surrounded with warmth and many spark-like beings flew around me and touched me gently, gave me the feeling there is no need to impress them, or to be polite or anything superficious, just the way I am is ok and they know me more than I myself."
I remember now, an experience I had while lying on my couch one sunny afternoon. I experienced slipping into that "Super-Alert-Consciousness" (S.A.C.) Upon my entry, I remember feeling like I was on a soothing rollercoaster surfing in throughout the cosmos. I remember seeing, what appeared to be, a galaxy of stars right in front of me/around me. However, these "stars" had a familiar feeling to me. Very comforting and knowledgable. Like you said, "It gave me a feeling there is no need to impress them, or to be polite or anything superficious, just the way I am is ok and they know me more than I myself". -- (I couldn't've put it better myself.)