Hilde Probable NDE

Experience Description

I had an appendix operation during which I suddenly floated out of my body. I could look down at the room from above, but at the same time, I was present everywhere in the room and could see everything from all perspectives. The doctors were standing around me working hectically on me and I didn't understand why. I wanted to tell them that I was fine and that everything was okay. In fact, I felt free of all irksome emotions! Then I was pulled along through a tunnel towards a light. It was bright and simultaneously loving, friendly and full of affection. I would gladly have continued to float along further, but a being, one that I could sense but couldn't see, told me it was not time yet. I was given to understand that I still had some duty to fulfill and so I must go back. That was not what I wanted, but a strong suction pulled me back into my body through an opening in my head. I found it very disagreeable to be back in my body. Everything was suddenly narrow and painful, and feelings of fear and uncertainty were once again part of me.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 1973

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Surgery-related 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death'

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 Difficult to say.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Difficult to say. I think it was when I was sent back.

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 Space and time were irrelevant. So, it was as if those dimensions didn't exist.

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. It was linked with my emotional awareness.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. No words were uttered. When I thought something, it was understood by the beings and the other way around. The voice was clear and distinct, but it didn't come from outside. It seemed more like a process by which our thoughts connected.

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? Yes

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

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes I didn't know them. They were bodiless and not visible. They were tangible, in that I knew they were there but it was as if they were behind a veil. There was a feeling of cheerfulness. I don't recall anymore details of what was said, but I remember a peaceful, calm voice telling me telepathically that I could not stay and must go back again.

The experience included: Light

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 agreeable. I could see it and it consisted of deep and lovely feelings.

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

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Freedom without fear, and also, joy and airiness.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Happiness

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? I felt united or one with the world

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

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? No

What is your religion now? Liberal

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

The experience included: Presence of unearthly beings

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? No

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Uncertain This is a hypothetical question.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Uncertain It was as if time and space, as they are on earth, were unknown dimensions there. And the light, which I could see and feel, emanated pleasant emotions such as affection and love. Communication happened without words at lightning speed.

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? That our dimensions of thought are seemingly limited by our brain, and do not apply outside of our body.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes Not until adulthood, when I was about thirty-five. My listeners were incredulous and astonished!

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 It was more clear and truthful than the reality that I had known up until that time. However, I was anxious to talk about it with someone. I kept thinking, 'Something of this kind just can't be real, since I have never, ever heard of anything like it!'

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

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Uncertain I was having surgery and was under anesthesia.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? Yes. I reflected for a long time, wondering about what duty was awaiting me (remembering that the voice had said I had to go back so I could fulfill some duty.) Then later I had children, studied psychology and wrote books.