Marty M NDE

Experience Description

I was in total blackness and wondered to myself 'What?' I didn't wonder in English or any other language, but it was the essence of the word. I had no cognizance of anything previous. I felt like I had just been born, not as an infant, but as an inquisitive youth. Then, on my left, I saw plants and blue sky forming. Somehow, I sensed welcome and love from them. As they materialized, I felt I was way out in the country in a meadow. When they began to form in front of me, I sensed something wonderful was beyond them. I couldn't wait to get beyond them to explore, when suddenly I sensed I couldn't move. I looked down and saw a vast area. Within the area, I saw many little individual areas. One flashed, and at that point, I knew it was this life, and I had to come back. I said in English, 'Oh, no!' because I didn't want to leave that wonderful place.

In an instant, I opened my eyes and looked at the emergency medical technician, who was so busily trying to save my life. My only thought was 'Why did he have to bring me away from that wonderful place?'

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: March 2007

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) Heart attack.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

The experience included: Out of body experience

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I clearly left my body and existed outside it

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 Not sure.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Not sure.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Incredibly fast

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning It was as if time had no meaning.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? Incredibly more vivid

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Yes, and the facts have been checked out

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? No

The experience included: Void

The experience included: Darkness

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? No

The experience included: A landscape or city

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm When I looked down, the vast area I saw was time or existence and the little areas I saw I assume were other lifetimes.

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Wonder, joy, excitement, and a distinct and unique feeling of being 'whole'.

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

The experience included: Special Knowledge

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? My past flashed before me, out of my control

Did scenes from the future come to you? Scenes from the world's future

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Uncertain When I tried to go beyond the trees, I could not move.

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 was your religion prior to your experience? Liberal

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I was raised Lutheran, and eventually became atheistic about ten years before the NDE. I now experience very spiritual moments. However, I reject all religions, as so many are bogged down with what I see as primitive dogma, meaningless rituals and distorted interpretations.

What is your religion now? Liberal

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes I was raised Lutheran, and eventually became atheistic about ten years before the NDE. I now experience very spiritual moments. However, I reject all religions, as so many are bogged down with what I see as primitive dogma, meaningless rituals and distorted interpretations.

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

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

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I knew spirits had many lives previously, as well as yet to come. Also, the importance of unconditional love and to always follow the Golden Rule.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I feel very fortunate to have experienced the NDE and I feel I understand the relationship of the spirit to the body. I feel spiritual (at times very spiritual) yet I've rejected religion. I also feel there is only one thing left for me to do in this life: unite with a soul mate, or possibly 'twin flame' (a seemingly fitting term that I learned about after the NDE), but which sadly has not happened - and may not.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Foremost, learning we have a spirit, or consciousness, that is eternal. Next, that it's not about reward, judgment or punishment, but enlightenment - and that unconditional love is the most important thing that exists. And I seem to have gotten answers to many more things that I have contemplated - too lengthy to go into here.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I began telling people about it right away. Some believe it; some don't, for any and all reasons.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I was familiar with Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and had read, or heard of, NDEs before. No, it did not affect my experience because I had become an atheist about ten years prior to the NDE.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real Immediately after, it made perfect sense to me. I understood so many things that I'd questioned in my past.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I understood so many things that I'd questioned in my past. Also, I had that incredible feeling of 'wholeness' or completeness, a dimension to my spiritual self I'd never experienced before (probably have, it's just forgotten - just as we forget our past lives and/or spiritual home).

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

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? None.