Alan M FDE (Fear Death Experience)

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

The experience is most difficult to put into words.  I felt my sail battens fall onto the cross bar and knew almost immediately that the prevailing westerly winds had unexpectedly reversed; and suddenly rotored over the back of the mountaintop.

I felt the glider stall in midair- in a millisecond, I pulled the control bar to my knees and the ship just seemed to "fall out of the sky". Time slowed down as I listened to the sail rippling in the wind -- as I gained airspeed while plummeting toward the valley floor.

I didn't see my "life flash before my eyes" or any of the typical crap you hear about -- as there wasn't the time for this, I imagine.  But, I just remember thinking to myself -- "Shit - this is gonna hurt!"  Then, out of nowhere, I hear another 'voice' (not my own) saying, "Alan... you're about to die".

I kept focused on what were once seemingly pea-sized boulders -- as they rapidly became the size of small cars and I figured this was it!  At the last possible moment, the providential "hand of God" snatched me from the clutches of death, just seconds before crashing onto the slope.

The glider just "righted" itself, flew away from the cliff face into the valley airspace, and I found myself awestruck by the event.  I didn't know where I was immediately afterward, but felt very disoriented but also very calm.  I did notice my right leg was vibrating in my harness stirrup -- but not too much.

I sort of "regained my senses" and began to actually fly the ship again -- but at this point I noticed I had clipped my right wingtip on a Doug fir tree branch --- while careening away from the slope.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes    

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes     I "luffed" my airship off a 1000ft sheer vertical cliff launch; and plummeted 890ft straight down into a scree slope of large boulders.  I strongly suspected I would die at that very moment.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    Just as the glider began flying again;  when I felt my ship right itself and I could see off into the distant horizon, still soaring 500-700ft off the valley floor.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal every day consciousness and alertness?    More consciousness and alertness than normal

If your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience was different from your normal every day consciousness and alertness, please explain:            Just as the glider began flying again;  when I felt my ship right itself and I could see off into the distant horizon, still soaring 500-700ft off the valley floor.

Did your vision differ in any way from your normal, everyday vision (in any aspect, such as clarity, field of vision, colors, brightness, depth perception degree of solidness/transparency of objects, etc.)?  Yes     Clarity of vision, see birds in the distance, hear their calls like a cacophony of sounds...

Did your hearing differ in any way from your normal, everyday hearing (in any aspect, such as clarity, ability to recognize source of sound, pitch, loudness, etc.)?
            Yes     clarity, recognizing where DISTANT sounds were coming from, recognizing the sound source (birds, aircraft, etc.)

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     Uncertain

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            fear first, then deeply focusing on the glider, giddiness, elation, awe, wonder, calmness, "rightness" (if that's even a feeling), a sense of 'perspective' (mine in the entire Cosmos); a one point, I remember feeling "small & insignificant"????

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          No      

Did you see a light?           No      

Did you meet or see any other beings?           No      

Did you experience a review of past events in your life?    No      

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Uncertain     

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           No           

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Yes     Time slowed perceptibly, almost like a "slow motion" film

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     My 'order' in the Cosmos; my significance to the Divine; true divine love became more evident to me

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      Crossed-over from 'profane' space to 'sacred' (luminal) space

Did you become aware of future events?       No           

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Uncertain      I'm not sure -- what happened was my entire worldview (& spirituality) 'shifted' dramatically.  I stooped listening to rock music and appreciated classical instead.  I started watching opera and ballet.  I left structured church and saw the beauty and glory in all things.  I had a renewed appreciation for nature and the the environment.  I changed my "career" from being a 'wood hog' (a money-hungry logger) to a silvi-culturist / forester.  I started to understand more of the 'spiritual' journey

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I first shared this experience as a teaching elder at the second Men's Rights-of-Passage (MROP) in Australia (in 2008 - 24 years later) as I didn't think anyone else would believe me or my story!  The men's reactions were palpable... they we influenced in such a way that they came to know the deeper truth that "Love is stronger than death" and that our consciousness continues on even after we die.  Some men came to me later stating that they weren't afraid to die any longer and that I helped them to see the true power and providence of the Divine, whatever their perception of this is.

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

How did you view the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:            Experience was definitely real    Others witnessed my "fall from grace" and my right leading edge needed fixing right after the incident.  These things tell me I actually came close to dying.  But as for the 'experience' I felt and went through... it'