Donna S Probable NDE

Experience Description

I was at a friend’s home where someone suggested I lay on a bed and try out a WWII gas mask while my friend blew cannabis smoke into the mask. At 15 it sounded like a great idea. It was ok for about a minute then I began to struggle to breathe.

I found myself looking down at me on the bed. I remember thinking how stoned I must be. I looked up and saw a group of, well angels, moving by slowly but their faces were distorted as if they were pressing their faces on glass. It scared me so much I dove toward myself. My friend was trying to get off the mask and was shaking me.

Since I started looking at NDEs last July I have seen where events involving drugs are not given credence but it was so real. In 1971, at 15 years old, I knew nothing of out of body experience nor angels.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 5/21/1971

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I was smoking pot through a WWII gas mask and experienced anoxia.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Neither pleasant NOR distressing

Did you feel separated from your body? I clearly left my body and existed outside it
My physical body had on the gas mask but my ethereal body didn't.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? During the out-of-body experience. I fully remember it all but not what happened after I came back.
See above.

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? Time seemed to go faster or slower than usual
It all happened in a few seconds but seemed to last for at least 1-2 minutes.

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 In the smoke-filled mask I could see nothing, but from the position above I could clearly see both myself and my friend on the bed as well as the angels. (I could also see the gold, silver, and bronze colors of their robes and wings.)

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I don't remember any sounds.

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? I actually saw them

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

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? The angels as well as being above looking down was frightening.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

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? Uncertain
I have learned since that some people see a type of membrane between them and the other dimension. I believe this was the reason for the distortion of the angel figures.

Did you come to a border or point of no return? I came to a definite conscious decision to return to life
I was frightened.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian - Catholic
I have been an agnostic for most of my life.

Have your religious practices changed? No

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated - Agnostic

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience
I was an extreme relapsed Catholic, yet several months later was drawn to a Christian mission and spent a few years as a devout Christian.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I became a devout Christian soon after.

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
Angels.

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

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Uncertain
Yes and no. I only saw angels.

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

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

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

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
Not at the time, but knowing what I know now, I am comforted by the memory.

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

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

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Slight changes in my life
I have always had a 'charmed' life. I get feelings of danger and actively follow those feelings. I have saved myself and loved ones from calamity by this awareness. Guardian angel?

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes
I don't know how to explain the elongated faces of the angels. Like a film was between them and me.

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
It has never left me. I was also prone to vivid dreams, but one in particular where I felt as if I left my body and was flying over mountains has also stuck with me.

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 danger, but I don't remember if I did before.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I always believed this was a drug-induced hallucination, but I am not convinced as I get older.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
50 years +

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 not real
See above.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
It is still so vivid after 50+ years.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes

Anything else to add? I can remember thinking that the pot we were smoking was trash. I didn't get high, just, well, died I suppose. Also I remember being so upset that I begged my brother to take me home.