Sarah L NDE

Experience Description

I was floating on my back through a tunnel that was aglow with what looked like an impressionist painting, many dots of color on a dark background. I floated toward a large, lit area at the end of the tunnel. I felt as though I had shed a heavy coat and was so happy and peaceful, a feeling I had never felt before. Then I woke up.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date of NDE: 12/31/1968

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I was on a sailboat taking pictures of fireworks on an island we were anchored near. I walked up to the bow and stepped right into the forward hatch, breaking a rib and becoming unconscious.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? During the whole time.
I was only 15, but I had no thought other than being in the present and aware of the intense feeling of happiness.

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 felt I just "was" floating in this tunnel. No sense of time.

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 My everyday experience is filled with decisions, self-criticism, and problem-solving, all the things that keep one away from being in the present. They feel like a heavy shell I carry around my body. During my experience, all those things were shed like a heavy coat, and I was so light and free, feeling nothing but happiness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience I did not hear anything.

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
There was a large opening at the end of the tunnel that had a pure white light.

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? This was a pure, enormous feeling of joy with no emotional or mental constraints. I felt so happy.

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? Relief or calmness

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 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 - Other Christian
Although I went to church with my family, I never connected with their teachings and skipped Sunday school whenever I could.

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I stopped going to church and accepted my connection to nature as my spiritual source.

What is your religion now? Unaffiliated - Agnostic
My connection to a spiritual world is through nature.

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 only 15 and had never heard of this happening to people, so I had no beliefs one way or another.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? No

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

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? No

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? No

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? Uncertain
The joy I felt could also be a feeling of love. They are very similar.

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Unknown
I have no idea whether this is related to my experience or not. I was never able to keep an analog watch after that because every one I used would go too fast. Even a Rolex would not keep the right time. I also would experience, and still do occasionally, tall streetlights turned off when I pass them in my car at night. It happened too often to just be a coincidence.

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
I wish I could recapture the purity of the happiness I felt. I will never forget it.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
Any analog watch I had would run fast and never keep the right time.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Just that glorious feeling of happiness. I want to find it in my life if I can.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
I was 15 when it happened, but I never told anyone until I was an adult.

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 definitely real
I will never forget that unburdened feeling of happiness.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
I have no doubt what will happen to me when I die. I experienced something precious and know it's real.

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
My experience was only momentary, but I know it was real and I will never forget it.