The people in this strange experience path were not religious mystics meditating for hours, psychonauts dropping DMT, dead people who “went to the other side” and came back, nor even hypnotherapy patients regressing to the source under deep hypnosis. These were actually ordinary people, doing nothing inherently special. Some of them had gone through a difficult situation often accompanied by depression (the death of a friend or family member, fired from job, etc.), others were just going about their everyday activities (house chores, boarding train, etc.), and few were simply seeking God through prayer.
Examples of “everyday activities” one may be doing when they spontaneously have the experience.
What unities this odd bunch? Well, I’m not entirely sure. There is no common cause or experiential trigger. Perhaps the only thing is that the experiences usually happen out of nowhere, without expecting it, or intending to have it. So, I’ve called these odd, mysterious cases, “spontaneous mystical experiences.”
How it be like when “the light” spontaneously hits..
I found these experiences in the book, “A Sense of Presence: The Phenomenology of Certain Kinds of Visionary and Ecstatic Experiences,” which contains 1,000 confidential, first-hand accounts (which only mention the sex and age of the experiencer) — originally gathered from between 1969 to 1970, by the founder and first director of the Religious Experience Research Unit at Manchester College, Oxford. (If you’re curious about the synchronicity story of how I found this book, go to the end of this page).
In the book, I found at the 3 distinct types of spontaneous mystical experiences, which share common themes with what I’ve called “the light-love-unity experience,” or the experience of “Source Energy” in all the other classic experience paths. Elements like bright light, bliss, love, cosmic oneness, etc…
For each type, I included individual stories, in full, so you can get the full flavor of the experience (”The Stories”). I also included the common themes of each type presented in order of how they often occur, like “stages,” with examples from the individual experiences under each sequential stage (“The Stages”). This will make it easy for you to zoom out and see the big picture of the experience, and zoom in to see the minute details, differences, and diverse experiencers.
But before we get to that research, let’s hear the origin story of how I first stumbled upon these experiences in the first place.
Table of Contents:
Origin Story of How I Found The Experiences — My First Mystical Experience
How I stumbled upon these experiences, was, as it always seems to be, an odd synchronicity. One that started with none other than my first ever (and so far only) mystical experience.
It was 2023, I was on the balcony of my room that looked over a river, on the other side of which was a forest with massive, 80 foot tall trees. I was looking silently at the trees, sitting in stillness, without any thoughts, trying to connect to their sense of “presence.” A practice I learned from Eckhart Tolle’s book, “The Power of Now.”
The house with balcony I stood on is one of the white ones on the left. In the middle is is the Brandywine river and on the right Alapocas state park. This is in Wilmington, Delaware.
I had done this before, many times. But, this time, it felt completely different. This time, it felt as if this “presence” came in its full force, literally hitting me like a train, but in the best way possible.
As I connected to the presence, at first, like usual, it was just in the trees. But then, out of nowhere, it expanded — and the sense of sheer “presence,” or “pure being” consumed all of my immediate surroundings.
Suddenly, my identity shifted, and I felt I was that presence, making me feel as if I was everything — the trees, the birds, the sky. But then focus then shifted back to me, “Bruno.” I had this immense sense that everything the individual identity of Bruno had lived was perfect in the way that it was, making me feel completely and unconditionally accepted. I felt a profound love and acceptance of not just myself, but for everything, which also happened to be me. As my parents coincidentally came into my room and walked on the balcony, I had the remaining sense that I was also them. They asked “are you okay?”, as they saw me there, crying. But it was “tears of joy.”
This was an incredibly profound yet unique mystical experience. So, naturally, I felt the need to do some research to see if other people had a similar one. Eventually, I found a book that looked promising, with the title, “A Sense of Presence: The Phenomenology of Certain Kinds of Visionary and Ecstatic Experiences,” by Timothy Beardsworth (the one I just mentioned in the introduction).
Me holding the book in my hands.
In the book, I found an experience he called “a feeling of unity with one’s surroundings,” which was incredibly similar to what I experienced — including it usually occuring when observing nature, that stillness or presence expanding and consuming surroundings, becoming that stillness, and more (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 48.). But, I also found something else in the book, another connected experience that I never expected to find, nor was I even looking for it.
To my surprise, as I read through the accounts, three of them mentioned experiencing ego-death (losing of sense of body & surroundings), then a union with a bright light, and feeling an incredible sense of joyful ecstasy or bliss. I began to realize this was very similar to the psychedelic experience of ego-death and light, the mystical union with God reported by mystics, as well the past life regressions to the “source energy” reported by Dolores Cannon. But, this time, it was reported by people who were mostly just going about their everyday activities, and suddenly, were transported into that profound mystical state. Oddly enough, kind of like I was into mine.
I giggled and danced from happiness of another strange mystical connection, and saved the experiences for later. But now, we’re finally here. It’s time to see them. So, what do they actually say? Find out…
#1. 
The Experience of Spontaneously Being Completly Absorbed Into A Bright Light
The Stories
The Stages
1.
Experience begins spontaneously, either during everyday activity, or at some point after a difficult situation.
55 year old man organizing cutlery: “One lunch time I had been helping to dry dishes after the meal, and was standing before the open drawer of the sideboard putting knives and forks away. I was not thinking of anything, apart from vague attention to the job I was doing. Suddenly, without warning… [experience begins]”
Theology student boarding train: “Vauxhall Station on a murky November Saturday evening is not the setting one would choose for a revelation of God! I was a young theological student aged 19, being sent from Richmond Theological College to take the services somewhere — I cannot remember where — for some minister in a Greater London Church who had fallen ill. The third class compartment was full. I cannot remember any particular thought processes which may have led up to the great moment. For a few seconds only, I suppose…[experience begins]”
Housewife doing chores: “A year ago while going about my normal duties as a housewife, I paused for a moment to see whether my mind was free from all thought about something which had caused me a great deal of unhappiness and pain. My mind was perfectly controlled and I was just about to give myself a pat on the back and a ‘well-done old girl’ when… [experience begins]”
Mother with post-partum depression, on her regular morning hike in himalayan mountains: “I then looked up at the snows - but immediately I lost all normal consciousness and became engulfed as it were in a great cloud of light…”
2.
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Sudden, spontaneous, ego-death — They then lose the sense of their body and its surroundings. Some experience this completely, others only faintly. This is mainly due to the fact that the bright light (third stage) takes up their entire field of experience, there is nothing else.
Sudden, spontaneous, ego-death — They then lose the sense of their body and its surroundings. Some experience this completely, others only faintly. This is mainly due to the fact that the bright light (third stage) takes up their entire field of experience, there is nothing else.55 year old man organizing cutlery: “It would be truer to say that I lost all sense of self in a total immersion in Light. All sense of time or self disappeared, yet it could only have been a fraction of a second.”
Mother with post-partum depression, on her regular morning hike in himalayan mountains: “I then looked up at the snows - but immediately I lost all normal consciousness and became engulfed as it were in a great cloud of light…”
Housewife doing chores: “My mind was perfectly controlled and I was just about to give myself a pat on the back and a ‘well-done old girl’ when — my vision was completely blocked out and light seemed all about me head . . . I could as it were feel the walls of my head crumbling down . . I seemed to become this light and consciousness of my personal self seemed to be held very faintly.”
3.
Merged with, absorbed into, or becoming bright light — During this ego death they’re completely absorbed into a bright light, merging into it, as if becoming it. The color of this light is often described as golden, white, or blue.55 year old man organizing cutlery: “Suddenly, without warning, I was flooded with the most intense blue-white light I have ever seen. Words can never adequately nor remotely touch the depth of this experience. It was like looking into the face of the sun, magnified several times in its light-intensity. It would be truer to say that I lost all sense of self in a total immersion in Light.”
Theology student boarding train: “For a few seconds only, I suppose, the whole [train] compartment was filled with light. This is the only way I know in which to describe the moment, for there was nothing to see at all.”
Housewife doing chores: “My mind was perfectly controlled and I was just about to give myself a pat on the back and a ‘well-done old girl’ when — my vision was completely blocked out and light seemed all about me head — not the daylight but a light in my mind and around — I could as it were feel the walls of my head crumbling down. I cannot explain the degree of light; there is nothing to compare with it. I seemed to become this light and consciousness of my personal self seemed to be held very faintly and of no consequence . . . As quickly as I had merged into light, so once more I was returned to my duties.”
4.
55 year old man organizing cutlery: “But more ‘real’ than the Light itself was the unbearable ecstasy that accompanied it.”
Mother with post-partum depression, while on her regular morning hike in himalayan mountains: “and a sense of the utmost bliss in the absolute certainty of the perfection and piercing purity of goodness in the Being in whom it seemed all were finally enclosed.”
Theology student boarding train: “A more curious but overwhelming sense possesses me and filled me with ecstasy.” “An indescribable joy possessed me."
5.
55 year old man organizing cutlery: “…a knowledge that this was the Spirit of God Almighty, which was the hidden Life-Light-Love in all men, all life and all creation. I knew that nothing existed apart from this Spirit. It was infinite Love, Peace, Law, Power, Creation and the Ultimate Truth and Perfection. It was all Wisdom, Tolerance, Understanding, and Eternal life for all people.”
6.
Cosmic perfection — In this light, everything seems right or perfect exactly as it is. This is similar to what I felt, but not just individually, rather on a scale often spanning the entire universe. But, in the case below, it spans individually and to all of humankind.Theology student boarding train: “I felt caught up into some tremendous sense of being within a loving, triumphant and shining purpose. I never felt more humble. I never felt more exalted.” “I felt that all was well for mankind — how poor the words seem! The word ‘well’ is so poverty stricken. All men were heirs. My puny message if I passed my exams and qualified as a minister would contribute only an infinitesimal drop to the ocean of love and truth which God wanted me to enjoy, but my message was of the same nature as that ocean. I was right to be a minister. I had wanted to be a doctor and the conflict had been intense, but in that hour I knew the ministry was the right path for me. For me it was right, right, right.”
7.
Cosmic understanding — In this light, you’re suddenly able to understand anything, have any and all question potentially answered.Mother with post-partum depression, while on her regular morning hike in himalayan mountains: “and an ecstasy of knowing and understanding all the secrets of the Universe”
Male depressed from war that feels pointless: “Suddenly, everything became crystal clear, clearer, more definite than anything in normal existence. There was also an amazing ‘knowingness’ rather than knowledgeableness, that is, I knew not by application to study, but because it was in my mind from the beginning and had so existed as an attribute, a primary possession.” “I was my own questioner and answerer, and fast as the questions came, out trundled the answer, so easy to comprehend and always, always right, the only possible answer.”
#2. 
The Experience of Spontaneously Feeling A Bright Light Coming From Within One’s Mind, Which Suffuses One’s Immediate Surroundings
The Stories
The Stages
1.
Experience begins spontaneously, at some point after a difficult situation.
Adolescent gets fired from his job, gets depressed, begins periodically praying for “enlightenment”: “My work suffered, a period of acute lack of confidence and withdrawal followed, and my appointment was terminated as the work of the research station folded up. The experience which came as a liberation from the state described above must have been in the spring of 1940, my age then being 26. I think I must have been in the habit of praying formally for enlightenment in what had become darkness. The experience itself…[experience begins]”
Man is depressed from war that felt pointless: “...For weeks I had been in heavy depression and sadness; as a conscious objector and strongly opposed to war I could feel the hopeless stupidity of it all . . .”
2.
Seeing bright light, feels like coming from inside mind, which suffuses external surroundings — Suddently, a brigh light is seen suffusing one’s immediate surroundings, making everything shine, light up; but it strangely feels as if it was coming from a place inside one’s mind.Adolescenet fired from his job, gets depressed, begins periodically praying for “enlightenment” (and gets it): “The experience itself was one of an amazing bright light in the form of an inward illumination, not of a kind detectable by eye, but one was seeing things and people in a way not previously experienced. They were seen lit up as though in a glow. Although this event could be pinpointed almost to the day and has never been repeated, one’s whole being was suffused…”
Oxford undergraduate: “The room seemed all of a sudden filled with light, a whitish light which was, nonetheless, warm. It seemed to be both in the room and within me. Although ‘it’ was obviously outside me, it was also part of me, yet a part which has no physical location: it was united completely with a region of my mind. The curious thing is that I felt the light. Although my eyes were open, the perception of the light was an interior perception. I continued to see everything in the room quite clearly, but all the objects were lit up by this interior light.” [Second experience a few weeks later:] “…The whole thing lasted from 10:55 p.m until midnight. This time the outstanding feature was the change in perception. My eyes felt as though they were open very wide. The room was very bright and everything in it was shining . . As in my first experience, I felt that my perception was not wholly visual, that, once again, I was ‘seeing’ with part of my mind.” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 21.)
Man depressed from war that felt pointless: “I seemed to be aware of a radiance surrounding me, everywhere it penetrated; it was a light that seemed to have no visible source, no point of emanation, but it was found, seen and felt everywhere.”
c.
Warmth — This bright light might give off a sense of warmth or heat.
Adolescenet fired from his job, gets depressed, begins periodically praying for “enlightenment” (and gets it): “…a state of wellbeing is a tame way of describing the response. One’s thinking was elevated to an exalted plane, no evil was apparent, only pristine freshness and warmth.”
#3. 
The Experience of Spontaneously Being “Hugged” By Light
The Stories
The Stages
1.
Experience begins spontaneously, either during everyday activity, at some point after a difficult situation, or after intentionally seeking God through prayer.
Navy sailor whose wife was dying in a navy hospital cabin: “...Gradually I became aware that my wife would not survive. Probably I deduced this from the bland pap and evasions that were all I could elicit by my questions concerning her welfare. I do not now remember whether it was before or after her death that… [the experience begins]”
Son gets told by doctor father won’t live through night, is in shock, goes to a Chapel to think: “My father, who is now 84 years of age, was rushed via ambulance to the hospital ten years ago. Four hours later, our doctor told us that my father would not live through the night. I went to the Chapel at St. Joseph's Hospital, which was on the first floor, and went up to the first row of seats and just sat. I was numb and shocked. As I stared towards the altar… [the experience begins]” (Beardsworth, 1977, pp. 32-32.)
Woman’s sister dies, lies in bed depressed: “I had had news of the death of a sister whom I loved very much and my grief was deepened by the fear that I might have prevented her from ‘finding salvation’. I was lying in bed, feeling extremely miserable and hopeless and cold. Suddenly…[the experience begins]”
60 year old disillusioned with himself and church, feels depressed: “...In utter disillusionment with self and church, I came to ‘the end of my tether’. In a state of intense inner wretchedness, of such intensity that my mind seemed on the point of breaking. I got up at 4 a.m. and began wandering aimlessly in the woodshed hillside. This went on for some time tunil, unexpectedly… [the experience begins]”
Man praying: “On the first night, I knelt to say my prayers which I had now made a constant practice…[the experience begins ]” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 18.).
2.
Spontaneously enveloped or surrounded by bright light — Then spontaneously, without a warming, a bright golden or white light surrounds or envelops the individual.Navy sailor whose wife was dying in a navy hospital cabin: “I heard nothing, yet it was as if I were surrounded by golden light and as if I only had to reach out my hand to touch God himself who was surrounding me…”
Son gets told by doctor father won’t live through night, is in shock, goes to a Chapel to think: “I went to the Chapel at St. Joseph's Hospital, which was on the first floor, and went up to the first row of seats and just sat. I was numb and shocked. As I stared towards the altar, a very soft light became brighter and larger. I immediately knelt felt a warm glow engulf me.” (Beardsworth, 1977, pp. 32-32.)
Woman’s sister dies, lies in bed depressed: “Suddenly my heart lifted and I felt . . a golden light around me.”
60 year old disillusioned with himself and church, feels depressed: “...a light seemed to envelop me…”
Man praying: “I was aware of a glowing light which seemed to envelop me.” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 18.)
3.
Warmth — This bright light gives off a sense of warmth. In these cases, this is most reported by the people who feel surrounded by the light, much less by those who are completely absorbed into it. But this may change with more cases.Woman’s sister dies, lies in bed depressed: “Suddenly my heart lifted and I felt real warmth flow through me and a golden light around me.”
Man praying: “I was aware of a glowing light which seemed to enveloped me and which was accompanied by a sense of warmth all around me.” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 18.)
Oxford undergraduate: “The room seemed all of a sudden filled with light, a whitish light which was, nonetheless, warm.” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 21.)
Son gets told by doctor father won’t live through night, is in shock, goes to a Chapel to think: “I went to the Chapel at St. Joseph's Hospital, which was on the first floor, and went up to the first row of seats and just sat. I was numb and shocked. As I stared towards the altar, a very soft light became brighter and larger. I immediately knelt and felt a warm glow engulf me. All that I said in a soft voice was: "God, please spare Papa so that we can have some happy times together." The glow left. I left the Chapel knowing my father would be all right. Sure enough, he lived…” (Beardsworth, 1977, pp. 32-32.)
4.
Feeling loved, accepted, compassion — The light has a feeling of a kind of unconditional acceptance, love, often making experiencers describe the light as “compassionate.” Think of it like being metaphorically hugged by the light.Navy sailor whose wife was dying in a navy hospital cabin: “…an incredible sense of security crept over me. It was a sense of being loved and cherished.” “[as if it was] God himself who was surrounding me with his compassion.”
60 year old disillusioned with himself and church, feels depressed: “...and there flowed into my desolate heart such a flood of Love and Compassion that I was overwhelmed and overpowered by the weight of it. I was stricken by such wonder and amazement that I burst into tears of joy: it seemed to flow through my whole being with a cleaning and healing virtue. From that moment I knew that Love was the nature of reality. I was fit and well again.”
Anonymous female: “...Golden light which seemed to have a ‘focal point’ of wonderful compassion and understanding” (Beardsworth, 1977, p. 29.)