Sally A's NDE

EXPERIENCE DESCRIPTION:

            I was in hospital in a 7 bed ward. All the beds had a curtain for privacy. I was hovering up at the ceiling. I was looking down at all the patients in their beds and then looked at myself. I questioned myself, "if am I up here, how can I see when my eyes are back down there in my head and how can I think while my brain is down there in my head..." I thought it was very intriguing. My Mother, Aunt and (now ex) husband were sitting along side my bed. I was thinking to myself that I could just take off if I wanted to, but then I saw and heard my Mother crying and saying "Angie please don't die, please don't die" and then I said to myself, I am not going to die; I just had a baby, at which point I went back into my body.

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     Fear of being called crazy. Thought I had imagined it or dreamed it. Didn't convey experience until 5 or 6 years later when I heard someone else conveying same type of experience.

At the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening event?          Uncertain            After initial punch in the nose and ambulance ride to emergency, hemorrhaging was stopped. Later that night I gave birth to my son. Then two days later I was released, but the hemorrhaging started again and I was taken back to hospital, unconscious and receiving blood in both arms. Stayed in hospital for 2 weeks.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?    I think the entire time I was up at the ceiling.

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

            I think the entire time I was up at the ceiling.

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     Lighting was dim. I was in a hospital and it was night time so I am assuming the lights were off or dimmed. No difference in clarity than my normal vision.

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.)?
            No      

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

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            No emotions. More like puzzlement and curiosity.

Did you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience that could be verified later?          Yes     I asked my Mother and my Aunt.

Did you see or visit any beautiful or otherwise distinctive locations, levels or dimensions?            Uncertain      I saw what was in the room and the people there, from the ceiling.

Did you have any sense of altered space or time?   Uncertain      Does hovering up at the ceiling qualify as altered space?

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?     Yes            Funny, I thought to myself as I was up at the ceiling,  I thought, I can take off right now. If I wanted to go to the moon, I could go. I remember thinking, it all makes sense now.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain      The ceiling, but I felt that I could go beyond it if I wanted to.

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?     Yes     I have premonitions and dreams that come to pass.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     5 or so years later I was watching a TV talk show and NDE was the topic. In those days, people looked at you funny when relating the experience. I am unaware of anyone being influenced by my experience. I didn't tell too many people.

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 was aware of having the experience when I regained consciousness a few days later. At first I thought (my brain was getting in the way and telling me) it was a dream, but I knew it was real. I was kind of in conflict over it with my mind trying to rationalize it.

Were there one or several parts of the experience especially meaningful or significant to you?            Yes. It showed me that consciousness doesn't need a physical body to exist. We have all of our senses even without the body. Since that point, I have never feared death, not that I had a big fear to begin with. I was young so death wasn't even considered. Also, I don't know why or how, but I came to realize that my rational mind is what hinders me and keeps me here.

How do you currently view the reality of your experience:            Experience was definitely real    I was given an opportunity to get a glimpse at what's beyond this physical reality. If I died today, it would be okay. I have thought of the experience often and still do. I will never forget it and feel very fortunate to have experienced it. I am comfortable with myself and my life's journey.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?           No      

Have your religious beliefs/practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?            Yes     I am no longer a Catholic or practice any regulated religion.

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

Is there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?        I know we are all connected. I know we are bits of a greater whole and we are here to gain material/physical experiences in order to increase knowledge and perfect the whole. I know why I am here. I had a very revealing dream not too long after my NDE. I dreamed that I was looking at myself (at the back of my head) looking thru a window, I was choosing the life I wanted to live. I picked this one because of all the experiences it was going to have. Now, no matter what happens, good or bad, I say to myself, "you picked this life" and I try to do it, live it 100%.