Arabella KY STE

Experience Description

It was a beautiful morning, and I was in the fourth pew from the front in a Catholic church.

I started feeling a pull from the center of my chest. The pull was not painful, but it was becoming stronger and stronger quite quickly. I looked up to the cross hanging above the altar and realized the pull was coming from there. I was a bit frozen, as this was nothing I had ever experienced. Then the pull got even stronger, and I was certain it was going to pull me up and out of my pew to land on the white altar in front of God and everyone.

My first thought was how I was going to explain to anyone that I flew up and over the pews and crash-landed in a church I don't even belong to. Then I heard a male voice saying over and over again, "Follow me." I said to the voice, "I have been trying to follow You, but I'm having a problem finding the right church." The voice just kept saying "Follow me" telepathically. Then it stopped as quickly as it started.

Then I am in heaven or pre-heaven. There are no words to describe the absolute feeling of having zero thoughts in my mind. It was as if I was weightless. I couldn't believe the ecstasy and feeling of neutrality that I was overcome with. I was looking through my own eyes, as I was still aware of "me," and everywhere was a pink vastness with light coming through like a prism. I was overcome with a desire to stay there because the lack of feelings, both physical and emotional. It was so very freeing. I saw no one and heard nothing. Then I was back in my pew.

Sitting in the pew, pretty blown away by all this and not completely sure what time it was, I heard the same male voice in my right ear saying, "All the striving in the world as people attempt to climb ladders of success is useless. The self-actualization... self, self, self." As I am hearing this voice, I see in my mind cars flying around a busy freeway going very fast and then in layers zipping around each other. Then this stopped.

Next, in my left ear, I hear, "All you have to do is follow the Kingdom of God. Only five percent of the world is doing it the right way. Ninety-five percent of the world has it wrong." It all ended with that. I heard the bell ring that started Mass. As I stood up, I was sure I had encountered God.

When I left Mass, it felt especially bright outside. It reminded me of that song from ZZ Top about shades, which I didn't have. I went home and took a deep nap. When I woke up, I was back to myself. I will say getting back to normal was a bit of a letdown since I was just in heaven earlier.

Of note, this specific day was the memorial for Saint Teresa of Jesus. She sought detachment from earthly things and reformed the Carmelite order. So, now in retirement, I'm converting to Catholicism so I can eventually join the Carmelites. I can't become a nun, but this is close enough for me. The writing is on the wall, so to say.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: October 15, 2024

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No

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

Did you feel separated from your body? 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? In the heaven/pre heaven stage
This was super focused. 1000% attentive to what was occurring.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
I had zero idea of time. It was as if it didn't exist.

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I could see fine until I went outside and then I felt blinded by the blue sky.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience Hearing I think was ok. Everything was telepathic though.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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

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
Pink Prism with light streaming through the layers

Did you seem to enter another world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
Heaven or pre Heaven

What emotions did you feel during the experience? The feeling of neutrality in heaven was bliss. It was a weightlessness of consciousness.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant
I had visited 12 churches over 3 years looking for a good fit in my quest to help the homeless. I was drawn to this Catholic church and had been to mass several times. I started thinking about becoming a nun but I'm not Catholic and truly this thought had never been on my radar as a retirement plan.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I study/read/pray more than I did before.

What is your religion now? Christian- Protestant
Over my life I have flowed in and out of the faith. Was basically Presbyterian and then due to a plethora of Methodist churches in my county I just attended the closest one to my home.

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I have always believed in heaven but had no idea what it felt like.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I now value religion as the gateway to the next and final chapter of my life.

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
The male voice during the cross event and then when I was hearing the information about the Kingdom of God

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.)? Uncertain
Possibly Jesus (God)

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? Yes
I need to follow the Kingdom of God. Not so much as finding the right church but this journey lies within me. I can be led by God not humans in a church building.

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes
This may be hard to describe but once you see heaven you know some sort of connection is out there. Our lives aren't 'one and done.'

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes
I now know God exists absolutely. No question in my mind.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes
I now understand more about my life's purpose in regards to religion

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? Yes
My purpose was made clear 'Follow the Kingdom of God.' One sentence but with large meaning. The next step is to put this into action.

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
I saw heaven, no doubt in my mind. It gives me hope regarding death and beyond. Here on Earth this is only temporary.

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? Yes
I received information that 95% of the world has it wrong with the attachment to self and all the striving to get ahead.

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

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life
I attend mass almost daily and spend time listening to what I believe is the wisdom of God. It comes with a sense of peace but I am still discerning what I hear and feel.

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 more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
You never forget these experiences. I have no idea what I had for dinner that day or what else really occurred.

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

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Absolutely all of it put together still amazes me. How God had time to do this for me I'll never know.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I waited a few days to share with a close friend/family member. They were shocked but supportive. Surprisingly, now that it has been almost a year, I'm starting to share with others but the response is pretty neutral. I just think it's a bit rare to talk about these things.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes
In my profession you pretty much see it all including NDE after cardiac events.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
I felt, saw and heard every bit of it. It was physical with the pull to the cross, blissful pink prisms in heaven, and telepathic information.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I will always believe this occurred. No doubt.

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

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
The questions were well thought out