Experience Description

I was working on a guitar amp that I was rebuilding. I was electrocuted by a high-voltage capacitor inside the amp. I remember blacking out and sensing absolutely nothing.

Then, with what sounded like a flutter of wings, I felt a whoosh of air above me. I saw a brilliant blue-white light. It had the illusion of a circle that kept growing. It got bigger and bigger. Suddenly, the circle opened up and I could see clearly into the open circle. Standing in that circle were my musician idols; Leo Fender and Les Paul. I felt intense peace and a sense of being welcome that I never experienced on earth. Leo and Les told me how pleased they were that I played their guitars so well and how it wasn't my time to pass yet. I didn't want to leave where I was, but they said I still had much more to give on earth. I was reluctant to pull back because it was so beautiful where I was. But suddenly I felt a vacuum pull me down hard.

I awoke in my workshop, in the presence of paramedics, a neighbor and two police officers. I felt disoriented and my chest was throbbing. I remember being really, really angry having left such a beautiful place with Les and Leo. I was told that I had been resuscitated by my neighbor. Now, I'm so thankful to my neighbor for saving my life. I owe him everything, even to this day.

Most of my life I've been an atheist. I still don't believe in God. There still isn't an explanation on whether NDEs are a natural or a supernatural phenomena, but I have no rational explanation for what I experienced when I was 'dead.' It was one wild ride.


Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: 2004

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No. CPR given. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function)

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? No. I lost awareness of my body

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? More consciousness and alertness than normal. It seemed more real than reality.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When the circle of light opened.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses More vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. The clarity was like high-definition and magnified by billions and billions

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. Hearing was also enhanced. The voices I heard sounded super-rich and clear.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere, as if by ESP? No

The experience included: Passing into or through a tunnel

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

The experience included: Presence of deceased persons

Did you see any beings in your experience? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes Two musician idols from the past.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? A light clearly of mystical or other-worldly origin

Did you see an Unearthly light? Yes A brilliant blue white circle

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm. Beautiful place of light and love

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Incredible Happiness and joy. It was indescribable.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Incredible peace or pleasantness

Did you have a feeling of joy? Incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back to you? No

Did scenes from the future come to you? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a barrier that I was not permitted to cross; or was sent back against my will

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Not important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Unaffiliated- Atheist. Was raised a Catholic but became atheist in my youth and remained that way throughout adulthood.

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Unknown

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated- Nothing in particular- Secular unaffiliated

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience. I was an atheist at the time I clinically died. I still am atheist, but I'm open to a possible form of an afterlife.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Uncertain. I'm still atheist, but open to a possible afterlife.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? I encountered a definite being, or a voice clearly of mystical or unearthly origin. I saw two musician idols of mine who died years before this incident.

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? I actually saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? God does not exist

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? God does not exist

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

Did you believe that our earthly lives Are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Unknown

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? An afterlife does not exist

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife probably exists. Yes. I was told that I had unfinished business left in earth

Did you fear death prior to your experience? I slightly feared death

Do you fear death after your experience? I do not fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives Are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Unknown

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are possibly meaningful and significant

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

Were you compassionate after your experience? Unknown

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Slight changes in my life

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience as accurately as other life events that occurred around the time of the experience

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? No

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Just one very close friend. He was receptive to my story.

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

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was probably real

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was probably real. It just seemed more real than reality. But can I be certain for sure? No. I do think there's always a possibility it might be really real.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No