Lee S's NDE

Experience description: 

I was 20 years old, a college student, in 1968. Some friends and I were injecting Procaine intravenously. This was a very risky thing to do, there being quite a fine line between a satisfactory dose and over-amping with the possibility of death. Of course, all twenty year olds are immortal -}.

I got up, feeling the urge to vomit, and quickly went into the bathroom, one of my friends with me. I got down on my knees, head over the toilet.  At this point, I lost consciousness, but do not think that I fell. All of a sudden I was in a very dark long tunnel. I have no memory of whether or not I had a body. What really was most prominent was a reddish-gold light at the end of the tunnel. It was the most beautiful color that I have even seen, before or since. My impulse was overwhelmingly to go through the tunnel and into the light. Then out of nowhere there were vaguely distinguishable figures in black shrouds who seemed to be beckoning me. These figures were at the very end of the darkness, near but not into the light. I had the distinct feeling that these were deceased relatives, but none were individually recognizable as expired grandparents, my having three at the time.

There was absolutely no fear. Quite to the contrary - I wanted very much to go through the tunnel and into the this indescribably beautiful, warm, and welcoming light. The figures in the shrouds were by NO means as alluring as the light was.

Then, of course, I came to. I have no idea how much time had passed, and did not ask my friend. I just thanked him, got up, and went back into the living room. I think that I stopped shooting up for that day, but do not really recall.  I do definitely remember that I did not mention this experience to my friends.

I think that it was at least 25 years before I ever told anyone, this after having heard other people discuss similar experiences on TV talk shows. Prior to my own experience I had never heard of such a thing.

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     Yes

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? No

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Yes

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           Unconscious.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   It was too vivid, especially the color, to be a dream, or so it seemed.

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

I do not know. I had no body that I was aware of, but did not sense a loss of body, either.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           No sounds at all.

Did you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?          Yes

            Describe:      A long tunnel, seemed to be several city blocks long. Dark as pitch. Narrow.

Did you see a light?           Yes

Incredibly beautiful reddish-gold light at the end of the tunnel. It was as though I was in a tunnel a few blocks long, high enough to stand, with a large opening at the end, the opening higher than the tunnel itself.

Did you meet or see any other beings?           Yes

Maybe a half dozen vague figures wearing black shrouds. They were at the end of the tunnel just on my side of the opening into the light. I had the definite sense that they were deceased relatives and that they wanted me to come with them, but no words were said nor were any gestures made, nor sounds heard.

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?          No

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?           Yes

The light was unbelievably gorgeous.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain

The dimensions of the tunnel were strange, like it was very long while not very long at all.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain

The tunnel felt very enclosed. It seemed that the only way out was to proceed forward into the light. I had the sense that once I did enter the light, there would be no coming back.

Did you become aware of future events?       No

Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the body?       Uncertain

I never had any feelings about my body. It just did not factor in.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?         No

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes

I am not afraid of death, am inclined to think that it might be very pleasant, although I'll let nature take its course.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       No real affect on anything.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         No

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes

I have told only three people. Two were female relatives who read such weighty tomes as "The National Enquirer" and "The Star," so I tend to discount their reactions. The other was a male friend who said that he thought that it was a visual hallucination caused by the drug and natural endorphin release.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Nothing memorable.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The light and the promise that it represented was the best. The worst? Maybe having come back, not having been able to go forward into the light.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Nothing. I would be curious as to "your" reaction, though, and whether or not you have heard this same thing before from others. I put "your" into quotation marks because, after all of this typing (I hunt and peck) I am wondering if anybody will read this, feeling somewhat foolish at this point. Why am I doing this?????

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes