So I was in deep theta meditation yesterday, and my 4-year-old, Joshua decided I had been doing it long enough. I was in the mind awake/body asleep phase.  He came in with a big grin on his face and started talking.  I was amused because I would usually be stirred out of this trance/meditation by common chatter, but somehow, I maintained my connection to the deep relaxation, the all that is. 

We began to have a conversation.  He still can't understand what I'm doing.  No, I'm not sleeping.  Yes, I am listening to a CD.  But I realized in a profound, all encompassing realization that there is no inherent superiority of the mystical states of astral travel or meditation and the waking state of encounters in our common existence.  Had I contacted a deceased loved one, or flown with angels, it would have not been more important than my conversations and interactions with my son at that point in time.

For a few minutes I was like I imagine Edward Cayce had been (the sleeping prophet), speaking in a relaxed but clear way in a trance while straddling both locales.  Eventually, Joshua's jumping up and down on me, forced the issue, and I was back. 

We search for the answers, and feel that OOB experiences are important, meeting helpers, etc.  The secret of life is that the here and now, in the physical plane is no less wonderful than anything to be found in the astral. 

This is where universal love, appreciation and gratitude come in.  Attributes which we all know about and hear about but which are hollow if imitated, and forced by convention (religions, or personal guilt).  To appreciate all that spirituality has to offer, we have to find love and acceptance in the physical while we are alive.  Otherwise, all the nonphysical experiences,  however compelling, have much less meaning. 

My two cents,

Matthew

You have my 100% backup on this take!

What I find interesting is the resemblance between what you describe and my experience of the intermediate states of self-hypnosis. In Bruce's article, "What Perceptual Skills Are Required" he makes reference to the impact of the imagination. Emile Coue, the French philosopher made similar observations and my own practice and experience confirms (for me) their discoveries and that too of yours. The major problem in trying to unravel our destiny is the self-imposed misconceptions adopted by so many seekers. If we could rid ourselves of the pile of junk-words that imprison and limit our thought processes we might discover the Road to Damascus.


(Shakespeare)

I loved your post Matthew. Very inspiring. I agree with you that this C-1 is not less important than other states of consciousness. I love life but I know I can not have it forever. For that reason I am trying to prepare my way home when the time comes, and my thoughts are almost everyday focus on how I can improve my exercises to experience what you guys have experienced in the area of the afterlife. After I read your post Matthew, I was forgetting how beautiful the simple things in life can be and how fulfilling they are some of them. When I was a little girl most of the people in my family said that I was like a dreaming butterfly, that I lived in my own pink world.  Well, it was my way to express love for everyone what can I said, I was a dreamer and loved people and nature and I have always expressed my feelings towards those things, in words or in paper. However, I have my days, you know everybody does. And…that is life, life experiences, family, friends, job, bills, and other states of consciousness for the ones who wants to explore. My daughter, grandchild, my parents, brothers and sisters, you guys are part of my life and I highly appreciate it with all my heart. I am getting out of the subject here. So, your son was the one who made you realize those feeling you posted about life in C-1, and maybe Joshua was the helper that appeared just in the right moment to give you the answer you were looking for. I don’t know that last thought just came to my head. Thanks!
Love and Gratitude
Marcela

so true Matt. the here and now links us to the there and later. two worlds become one.
we seem to have a need to work at it, then a need to relax into play and somewhere in the middle is the answer.
I had a similar experience while meditating when my daughters were 12. only they didn't come jump on me, they just started giggling and said mom's meditating again..which made me start giggling too as I came down slowly from the far away place  I was in. kids are so close to spirit.

love, alysia