ErinRae G NDE

Experience Description

I was 4 years old and staying at my babysitter's house. Her house was right across the street from a public swimming pool. There was a small, round kiddie pool beside the big pool. We usually went swimming there every day.

That day, I was playing in the kiddie pool. I was sitting on the kiddie pool floor with my eyes open underwater. I could see the other kids playing in the pool. I don't know why I couldn't stand up. I remember trying to push myself up but I was stuck. I started to panic.

The next thing I remember is being above the pool. I could see myself and all the kids that were still playing in the kiddie pool. I could see all the people in the big pool and those playing in the grass. I don't remember feeling anything physical. There was no pain at all. After looking at all that was below me, I looked up. I saw the brightest light I have ever seen but it didn't hurt to look at it. I saw what looked like clouds swirling around the light. It was almost like I was about to move towards the light. I felt something carrying me. I tried to look behind me, and as I did, a huge white wing lifted in front of the light.

I woke up next to the kiddie pool. I was on the ground with the lifeguard and my babysitter doing CPR on me. I don't remember sharing this experience with anyone until I became an adult.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: Summer 1987

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Swimming at the public pool. I did require CPR. I drowned in a swimming pool.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? Yes I was floating above the pool and could see everything that was happening in both pools and on the grass. 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? Normal consciousness and alertness. It felt the same. I remember being extremely curious as to what was happening.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? I would say the whole time. I still remember it like it was this morning.

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 feel like 'time lost all meaning' is an excellent description. I had no perception of time.

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 don't think there was any change, it seemed as though I was using my eyes.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. I can't really describe it. It sounded like wind. The closest I can compare to it was the time I went parasailing, deafeningly quiet but it sounded like a soft wind.

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 (or alive) 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 It was the brightest light I've ever seen but it did not hurt to look at it. It was curious and I was drawn to it. It felt like the light was drawing me in.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? I want to say I felt peaceful but when I think about it, I don't remember feeling anything except curiousity about the light and about why I was looking down at the pool. I just felt like I existed in the fullest capacity that one can exist.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt no longer in conflict with nature

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? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Other or several faiths I was 4. I don't remember knowing anything about religion

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I believe this experience has made me more spiritual and intuitive throughout my whole life.

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths Spiritual? Curious mostly, spiritually minded

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 4. I don't think I had any religious beliefs at the time.

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes Now I know there is something after physical death.

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 do believe it was an angel. I felt like I was being carried and just before I woke up on the ground, I saw a huge wing pass in front of my face.

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? Yes I felt curious yet comfortable, like it was where we're all supposed to be.

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes Awareness, Yes. I felt like something was there but I was extremely curious about the light and the angel

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 I felt like I should go towards the light, like it's where we're supposed to be.

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? Large changes in my life I went to a Christian church from the time I was 17 until I was 36. I left the church because I felt that life, death, and all that is in-between is more that anyone can describe and I was subjected to the dismissal of my nde by those in my church. They said I just made it up. I have come to the conclusion that No man-made religion can even touch what exists outside of our physical realm.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I value the existence of loved ones.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I suppose I could try to draw/illustrate it. But it felt like nothing, physically that is. I didn't feel my body. I just felt like that was how we are supposed to exist, just exist. I hope that makes sense.

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 This memory vividly lives in my mind and has for 35 years.

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain I have always been highly intuitive but I'm not sure if it's the result of my NDE.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? Just the feeling I had. While I was floating or being carried, it felt like the way its supposed to feel. It felt like home. I remember that feeling and I desire to feel that way again some day.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes I was in my late 20s when I first shared with people from my church, they didn't believe me. They told me I was hallucinating and making it up.

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 have not felt the way I felt during the experience, ever in my life since. It was beyond real, if there's a word for that.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real. Same as above.

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

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? Not that I can think of.

Are there any other questions that we could ask to help you communicate your experience? None, thank you for letting me share and not dismissing me as crazy.