Madonna M NDE 4384

Madonna M NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

While ice skating with my sisters on a river approximately 1/4 mile from my childhood home in the countryside of southwester Ontario, on Valentine's Day (a Sunday), February 14, 1965, I fell through a patch of thin ice, and fell deeply into freezing waters with a swiftly moving current.

I felt no sense of needing to breathe, or of cold, but recall initially noticing how dark it was, relative to the bright winter's day outside. Suddenly, I could see from above, myself falling. I will never forget the vision of myself in my yellow ski jacket and extra long striped scarf, my long blonde braids and scarf floating over my head.

I was calm watching myself, no thinking anything strange of feeling anything but completely in control and serene.

I spoke aloud these words: "I'd better get back down there." Immediately I was back in my body, with a plan to allow myself to sink to the bottom and push off from there, looking toward the light. My thought was that the light was the break in the ice.

I did just that, and with little effort made my way to the break in the ice. My sisters swear that I was under water for several minutes.

I was nine years of age at the time. My sisters were 7 and 12.

They pulled me out of the water, and I began running in my skates across a field, up a hill and down a gravel road to our house. I threw open the door of the kitchen and ran up the back stairway to the bathroom next to my bedroom. I ran a bath and peeled my clothes off.

My father, who was home at the time, asked what had happened. I told him to ask my sisters when they returned, that I had to have a bath.

By the time my sisters returned to the house I was already sitting in the bathtub. They were hysterical. I was calm, in awe of what had taken place.

I made a choice that day to stick around. it would have been easier not to, but in the moment that choice was a given and one made from a place of strength and peace and wisdom that I remain to this day in awe of.

To this day, my sisters recall the swift current of the river on that day, and as adults wonder aloud how I could have made it back to the small break in the ice.

I have no such questions.

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

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I was at my highest level of alertness within a very short time of falling through the ice — probably less than a minute, although I cannot say for certain, as I am surprised to this day on some level that a child of 9 could save herself in those circumstances.

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:            I was at my highest level of alertness within a very short time of falling through the ice — probably less than a minute, although I cannot say for certain, as I am surprised to this day on some level that a child of 9 could save herself in those circumstances.

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.)? Uncertain      I cannot answer this question accurately, as I was seeing very clearly, though looking under water through light filtered though a thick layer of ice — given the physical surroundings of the incident.

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.)?
            Uncertain      Again, I was under water, so hearing was affected by that. I did not hear my sisters screaming, though they said they were.

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Pure calm, peace and confidence, as though I were in complete control of the circumstances, followed by a resolve to get back down there.

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

Did you see a light?           Uncertain      Well, there was light — and a light — but I attributed it at the time to the physical surroundings. Now I am sure that the light was NOT of that source. The light seemed to follow me. As I was 9 at the time I simply was glad it was there.

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?          No

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

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes     I feel that I was aware of a heightened sense of calm, control and otherness. I knew that I had a choice, and I knew what had to do to come back into the world, and that my approach would be successful. and I knew that it was ME choosing.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you become aware of future events?       Uncertain
            I wasn't certain of future events, only that I wanted to be back there, that I should be there.

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience you did not have prior to the experience?     Yes     I became keenly aware of a distance between myself and other people my age. I felt as if I was no longer a child, and seemed to be able to predict how classmates would behave. While I had always been a very good student, schoolwork became completely effortless for me. For the remainder of my grade school years my average remained at 100%. My calm confidence in academic and work situations astounds those I have worked with. A high school guidance professional showed me the results of IQ testing conducted two months after the incident, and the results of the test are astonishing.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     I didn't talk with anyone about my experience of the incident (though my sisters talked about the day I fell through the ice) until I was 49, and in a writer's group with someone who was working on a story about a girl who falls though the ice while under the care of her father.

I first told this writer of my experience privately. since then I have shared the story with no more than 4 other people, three of whom I knew would understand and already have a context for their interpretation of my experience, the other of whom was my husband, who doesn't know what to think of it.

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    I viewed the experience as real, inexplicable and kept it to myself, revisiting that sense of calm confidence regularly.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            The most meaningful aspect of this experience was getting in touch with that sense of knowing, calm and authority. It was a transformational, mystical experience. it changed the way I look at everything from that day forward.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    To this very day, I can close my eyes to this day, and review exactly what took place. I can tap into that feeling of calm and control. As above, I revisit that sensibility on a regular basis — without labeling it or feeling as though I need to do so.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           Yes     My relationship to myself changed that day. Unlike most of the people I grew up with, I never fretted about a life plan, or goals, or struggled with beliefs. I felt I did not need my parents' support or help through school or growing up, as I did not struggle with issues that burden most people. i have enjoyed a great deal of success in my life, but continue to challenge myself in ways that astonish those around me. Even in my 50's I feel young and excited about the next thing that I am going to do. I have never given a thought to retirement … which sets me apart from most of the people I know.

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     Shed all pretense of religious beliefs, felt then and still do to this day that there is definitely a higher consciousness, but that we do not need to know. It is our job here to get out there and live life.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         No       No need. Never used a recreational drug in my life.

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        Though I was a child at the time, with no context for what had happened to me and no desire to share the experience with anyone, I knew how significant that experience was. I was never afraid of it, and have shed all fear of death and despair from that time forward. I have always considered that experience as the gift of a lifetime.

Did the questions asked and information you provided so far accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?         Yes     I feel that I was given the opportunity to tell my story with the level of detail, and including the details I thought at the time and see now as significant.

Are there any other questions we could ask to help you communicate your experience?   None. The questionaire is excellent.