Experience Description

This event has always been retained in my memory. I do not tolerate pain or blood loss very well. For example, I can never donate blood and I often pass out when giving blood for medical lab work.

When I was 17, I was ill and in physical pain. I passed out for the first time in my life and was unconscious for an extended length of time. Perhaps I was unconscious for 20 minutes, which I have since found to be typical of my syncopal events.

Before I could recover, I had the most amazingly peaceful dream. I was in a field of tall grass, and was with a young person of around 5 to 10 years old. We were 'playing', although I am not sure what the game was. I kept telling the young person that I had to go back, to which he/she (unsure of gender) would respond, 'Please stay a little longer.' The idea of staying longer was a peaceful one and the being was not upset at my protest to go. However, it continued to encourage me to stay a little longer. The pastoral scene was so pleasant it, perhaps, was difficult to leave. I remember I just knew that I had to return back though, as it was either not my time or that I had unfinished business in the other place.

Soon, I heard my name being called, which my auditory senses were returning from unconsciousness. I awakened to many people gathered around me. I took a very deep breath and felt quite frustrated at being returned to consciousness and removed from where I had just been. Within minutes, I had recovered to my normal state of awareness. Since then I have never had any similar experience during a syncopal event.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1995

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Uncertain. Illness, trauma or other condition not considered life threatening

How do you consider the content of your experience? Both pleasant AND distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? Uncertain 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 I felt fully conscious within 10 minutes of having regained my consciousness after my experience.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I felt very conscious as far as the realistic nature experienced during my 'dream.'

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Everything seemed vibrant, but it was relatively the same as a usual pastoral scene.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I think it was similar, perhaps a little heightened.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Uncertain

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

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

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

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I felt calmness, serenity, a sense of 'knowing' what needed to be done.

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 myself or others

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain It seemed as though I might be led away from that field should I choose to stay.

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 importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Slightly important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Other Christian

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Slightly important to me

What is your religion now? Christian- Other Christian

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

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? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? I was uncertain if God exists

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No Nothing specific.

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? I am uncertain if God exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:


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

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are not meaningful and significant

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? I was uncertain if an afterlife exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? I am uncertain if an afterlife exists Yes I felt the decision to stay would have been life after death.

Did you fear death prior to your experience? I greatly feared death

Do you fear death after your experience? I slightly fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Greatly fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Slightly fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are not meaningful and significant

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

Were you compassionate after your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Slight changes in my life Slight changes in my life. I try to preserve peacefulness in my life whether through alone time, rest time, or quiet time.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No No

After the NDE:


Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes The feeling of sereneness is difficult to explain.

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience

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

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes

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 probably not real Not sure what is meant by 'real' or if it applies to this experience.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was probably not real

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