Experience Description

I was very ill, and had asked a neighbor I didn't even know, to give me a ride to the doctor, because I couldn't even stand up, let alone drive. That night had the sensation I was falling very slowly, going around and around, through a dark tunnel. I had never been so at peace, I didn't want it to end. At some point, the thought passed through my mind, 'No, you must go back, you have three small children to raise.'

I know it was real and not a hallucination. As I said, I was very mixed up and had been going to a card reader. After this experience, I went back to see her, and she laid out her cards and after looking at them, said she could no longer see me again.

God slowly started showing me I didn't have to raise my children the same way I was raised. So, in my mind I gave them back to him, and asked him to show me how to raise them. I gradually started changing, and so did my children. They are all grown now, with professional careers, and have a strong belief in God. All of us have had our share of problems; it's just that we know where to go to ask for help.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: Spring 1974

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Illness 'Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening' 'I had a colon infection, bladder infection, and kidney infection at the same time.' I was very ill with colon, kidney, and bladder infections. Doctor said I should have been in the hospital, but had no insurance. I asked him to just give me some prescriptions.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal Yes.

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

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 Just seemed to go on forever.

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? Yes

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

The experience included: Darkness

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? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

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

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

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 Since then I seem to have the ability of sensing when bad things are going to happen and to prepare for it.

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? Liberal 'I came from a very dysfunctional upper middle class family, and was very mixed up at the time. I was divorced with three small children, and trying to support all of us for the first time in my life, with only a high school education.'

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I discovered God is real, and will help me if I just ask.

What is your religion now? Conservative/fundamentalist 'I am a strong believer now, and know God saved me from the pits of hell.'

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I discovered God is real, and will help me if I just ask.

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? Yes

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Just the peace, and later the knowledge we could make it in this world.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes A couple of weeks.

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 Extreme wonder, and a little confusion.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real My life slowly started to change.

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? Death is nothing to be afraid of.