Experience Description

I was walking up a steep gravel path in the early morning sunshine. I looked down the side of the path and could see the tops of very tall trees way down below me. I came to an enormous hand carved wooden door that went up as far as I could see. I heard a man's voice tell me I could go through the door if I wanted to and I would see my father. I told him that I could not go through because my mother would be left alone.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 'May 31, 1952'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Accident. Surgery-related. Direct head injury broken leg 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death' I was told by the doctors that they did not expect me to live through the surgery on my broken leg.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? Normal consciousness and alertness All of it.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? All of it.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Uncertain Heard a man's voice.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an unearthly light? Uncertain Not light as light, just warm sunshine.

The experience included: A landscape or city

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm The huge wooden door that went up as far as I could see

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Extreme peace and love.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes I did not go through the door. I know, now, if I had gone I would have died. That thought didn't come into my mind at the time.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:


What was your religion prior to your experience? Conservative/fundamentalist Methodist

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I know life goes on after death. Death is not the end.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist Roman Catholic

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I know life goes on after death. Death is not the end.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:


During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes Before we had the accident I begged and pleaded with my parents not to go on the trip because I 'knew' something bad would happen. I had a strong feeling of dread, like a black cloud hanging over me.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? The feeling of being loved was very strong.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes About two years, I told my mother and she said it was just a dream. I don't think she ever believed me.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I was there and saw, heard and felt it all.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real The experience is still as clear and strong in my mind now, fifty-nine years later, as it was at the time I experienced it.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? I wish I could explain better the feeling of love that I experienced but I do not have the right words to use. It was just wonderful.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? None.