Q: Cynthia, I noticed quite a strange thing. One day, when my son was in the living room and I was in the office with our six-month old apricot poodle in my lap, my eleven year old son saw her come out of the office to head to his bathroom (where she takes anything she knows she's not supposed to have). My son got up to she what she had. Guess what? She wasn't there. She was sound asleep in my lap. My son came in to my office to tell me what he'd seen and ask if perhaps she could be "dream walking" (out-of- body experience). I said, "Perhaps" and let it go at that. Then a few nights later, without being told about the previous experience, my husband had the same thing happen to him. Has anyone else experienced this?

Also, my daughter works at a home for people with disabilities. There is a young man named Michael living there. He cannot walk without his leg braces and is incapable of putting them on himself. She has seen him walk into the kitchen, where he's not allowed by himself. She gets up to check on him, and he's sound asleep in his bed! This has happened to her several times, but of course, has mentioned it to nobody except her family. I would really like some input on this. Thank you so very much.

-- Jannie

A: Dear Jannie, Yes, these "dream walking" experiences happen rather often! One of my daughters once awakened me early one morning with the question, "Why did you go back to bed?" She then explained she'd seen me in her bed room, talking with her and making sure her window curtain was open. She couldn't understand why I was suddenly seemingly back asleep again in my bed. From my point of view, I'd dreamt of walking into her room, but was actually still asleep in my bed. >From the point of view of the "dream walker," this kind of experience feels like a very real astral travel experience. From the point of view of the observer, it looks completely real.

love,
-- Cynthia