EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:
I came very close to drowning, and lost consciousness. After going under 3x, I
suddenly felt a great peace and stopped flailing. I remember feeling very
relaxed and at peace, and I wasn't afraid anymore. I wasn't worried about
drowning because the peace I felt was so overwhelming that it blocked out
everything else in my mind.
Then I felt like I
descended slowly into a great auditorium with a 180-degree screen divided into
many smaller screens. Although I could not see anyone else because it was dark,
I felt that I was not alone, that there was someone else there looking after me.
I was shown scenes from my life all at once - past, current, and future. It was
very beautiful and marvelous, and I wanted to keep watching. But then it was
time to move on.
I was no longer in the
dark auditorium but in what seemed a long light-filled hallway. I was happy to
see other people there, but I didn't recognize any of them. I remember the light
was very bright, and it was hard to keep my eyes open. I don't remember if I
heard any voices speaking or not, but somehow I knew it was time to return.
The next thing I
remember was one of the girls at the picnic pulling me out of the lake and onto
the rocks surrounding it. I was dazed and confused and coughing up water. I knew
what had just happened wasn't a dream, and that it had really happened, but I
had no logical explanation for it. At that time, I was a Chemistry and Math
major so all of the above went against all the logic and science that I had
studied.
Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes It is not hard to communicate now, but it was at the time
since it was something completely different, unexpected, and almost
unbelievable. It was years before I could tell anybody about it and not care
whether they believed me or not.
At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event? Yes I came very close to drowning, and lost
consciousness.
At what time
during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and
alertness? I think that was during the time that I was being shown my life
on the multiple screens.
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 think that was during the time that I was being shown my life on the multiple
screens.
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 I could see all the screens at once and take in
everything. Everything was very clear even though I was not wearing glasses, and
the colors were bright and intense.
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 It was as though I could hear without using my ears.
Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body? Yes
What emotions
did you feel during the experience?
I felt a great peace, which I have only experienced once or twice in
deep meditation. At those times, I had an out-of-body experience as well.
I
also felt safe, protected, looked after, and in no danger. I was not afraid of
anything bad happening to me. I was happy to see other people there.
Did
you pass into or through a tunnel or enclosure?
Yes It seemed more like a hallway to me.
Did
you see a light?
Yes The hallway was full of light, which got brighter and brighter towards
the end of the hallway. I remember the light was very bright, and it was hard to
keep my eyes open.
Did
you meet or see any other beings?
Yes They were standing in the hallway or just beyond. I did not know any of
them. I don't remember if I heard any voices speaking or not, but somehow I
knew it was time to return.
Did
you experience a review of past events in your life?
Yes I was shown scenes from my life all at once - past, current, and future.
I don't remember the exact details of what I saw, but the entire experience
changed my life after that. I made up mind to do all the things I had always
dreamt of doing, to forget about religious beliefs, to do good and help others,
to not have any regrets when my time to go came, and to be true to myself above
all else.
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 auditorium was amazing, sort of like a planetarium I visited many,
many years later. It was not something I could have imagined at the time.
Did
you have any sense of altered space or time?
Yes Everything seemed to be moving slowly, as though time did not exist.
Things happened as they were meant to happen.
Did
you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?
Uncertain Afterwards, I felt that if this was what dying meant, then
I wasn't afraid to die. I still feel that way.
Did
you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
No
Did
you become aware of future events?
Yes
Only during my experience, but I didn't remember the details
afterwards.
Did
you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience
you did not have prior to the experience?
Yes Several times, I have been able to know everything about a house in
which I have never been or seen before. It first happened in Florence about 4yrs
after my experience, but also in San Francisco, and in Edmonton, Alberta. Those
are the ones I remember in great detail, but there have been others. The other
amazing thing is that I have seen rents in the fabric of the Universe. Once
while I was waiting for a bus in Denver, I saw a great web of luminous golden
light connecting every living thing in my field of sight - people, trees, dogs,
bushes - everything was connected by this web of light which got brighter and
brighter. Again I was unable to keep my eyes open and passed out. Another time,
I was in China - at the night market in Guilin - and my companion picked up a
pair of old eye-glasses and put them on. When he did so, the scene shifted to an
earlier time in history. Though he was a red-bearded German man, I saw him as a
Chinese mandarin and the buildings surrounding us were different as well from an
earlier age. With a lover, I had an OBE while we were having sex for the first
time, and I found myself in a beautiful camp by a river belonging to a tribe of
Plains Indians - I could see buffalo hides and dog harnesses for pulling loads.
Again this event was from an earlier age.
Have you shared this experience with others?
Yes It was about 7-8 years before I could tell anybody about it and not care
whether they believed me or not.
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 knew what had just happened wasn't a dream,
and that it had really happened, but I had no logical explanation for it. At
that time, I was a Chemistry and Math major so it went against all the logic and
science that I had studied.
Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or
significant to you?
The
part where I was shown my life was the most meaningful, and what had the most
effect in how I have lived my life since then. I made up my mind to not have any
regrets about what I did or didn't do when my time to go came.
How
do you currently view the reality of your experience:
Experience was definitely real Looking back over the past 43 years
and the many experiences I have had since then just adds more credence to my
belief. I have traveled all over the world, lived in 4 different countries, been
rich, been poor, but I have always been happy and known that a higher power
looks after me and helps guide me.
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your
experience?
Yes
Well, I guess deciding to be my own woman and doing what I wanted to do instead
of what my parents or society expected me to do was due to that experience. I
felt that I didn't want to miss out on anything in this wonderful thing called
life.
Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your
experience?
Yes
I
stopped going to church that summer, even though I still was living at home. I
have not considered myself a Catholic since then, and I don't consider myself a
Christian now. I am a deeply spiritual person but not a religious one.
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 so far accurately and
comprehensively describe your experience?
Uncertain I hope I've been able to provide you with helpful information
about what was a life-changing experience for me. I was a young girl living in
the heart of Texas, who wasn't sure what she wanted to do at the time. My
experience gave me the courage to grab my life and do with it what I wanted.
Through all the crazy times, I have thoroughly enjoyed myself, have been given
much, have given much as well, and have no regrets as Edith Piaf sang, "Je ne
regrette rien!"
