<giggles> What a cool post, Jason!
Um, I'm not sure that I have the answers for you, but I can throw my thoughts and experiences into the mix... let's hope for chocolate cake
When I'm writing I often experience the sensation that source energy is writing through me. I wouldn't go so far as to say I feel like I'm outside myself, but I am aware that what is writing is way more powerful than me. Would you say that this kind of flow is what you're experiencing when you experience that out-of-body type sensation?
Now, when it comes to your "pin in an elephant's butt" situation... I also had an experience when I was sick with flu once as a child, which could be similar to what you're describing. It was a sense of being within kind of a "heavy" energy, then when I became aware of it, I was bigger than it and able to mould it... kind of like clay, but not gloopy, more sort of elastic/plastic/rubbery sort of feeling. I've experienced this since when I've been well, so I know it's not a sensation connected to having the flu, but I'm really not sure what it is. I get this sometimes when I'm meditating and visualising, and my hands start moving almost like I'm trying to shape what I'm imagining out of this stuff.