Jan S NDE

Experience Description:

One minute I was looking at the screen while the doctors were 'feeding' the tube into my body and I was fascinated looking at the pictures of my arteries and heart and then nothing. I remember seeing my father and a few other people whom I knew, but after a while, it was more a sense of not being amongst strangers - being safe. This 'memory' only became a conscious memory when I awoke and apart from the above, the overwhelming feeling was of an indescribable happiness, calmness, everything will always be okay feeling. I have never experienced anything like this feeling, and it remains with me every day. I can, in times of normal human difficulty, bring this feeling forth. Even though the traffic is still bad, petrol is expensive - none of that is more than a blip on the horizon. It's like an insight of wisdom - except I'm not sure where it came from, only to trust the feeling!

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: '16 February, 2005'

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Heart attack Other Clinical death while undergoing an angiogram after heart attack Undergoing angiogram after heart attack when my heart stopped while in procedure - fortunately, I was in the right place - the operating theatre!

How do you consider the content of your experience? Wonderful

Did you feel separated from your body? No No

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 No distractions.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? Immediately upon consciousness - everything was so clear.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Neither

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Neither

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

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? Neither

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? Saw them

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings? Yes My father and my sister-in-law's mother and others I knew were grouped together. I felt they were pleased to see me but somewhat surprised. I got the feeling it was like being an unexpected but welcome guest.

Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light? Neither

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? Neither

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Happiness, calmness, contentment, peace.

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

Did you have a feeling of joy? Incredible joy

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? United, one with the world

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything? Everything about the universe

Did scenes from your past come back to you? Neither

Did scenes from the future come to you? Neither

Did you come to a border or point of no return? Neither

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Moderate I considered myself to have a strong faith

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes My faith has strengthened, but the labels are unimportant to me now.

What is your religion now? Moderate Level of faith now irrelevant - it just is!

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes My faith has strengthened, but the labels are unimportant to me now.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? Neither

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? Saw them

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes The knowledge is spiritual and is impossible to convey. I know I am more at peace.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? Yes I seem to be able to have more balanced relationships with people. I don't feel I have to 'win' points anymore. If people are being emotional, I can now better empathize. I still have to work at it but I now have the tools.

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes I didn't feel it was necessary or particularly relevant, I certainly shared the experience, but words rather lessened than related the experience.

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? I have been left with the knowing, I feel I 'got' this when I saw my father that everything is as it is - and that is okay.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes It was maybe a couple of weeks before I shared what had happened with anyone and the reactions have been mixed. Some people have taken solace, but I think that is motivated by our fear of death - almost like an insurance policy. Now, I don't talk about it because it's just not relevant most of the time. If I feel it may be of some help to someone, I do talk about it, as much as you can articulate an event like that.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? Yes I did have some knowledge of how powerful our soul or spirit is and that it has no limits, but no amount of bodily consciousness could equal the freedom of this experience.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real I didn't, and still don't, view the experience as separate from me. It was, and is, firmly integrated in soul and my inner intellect.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I am left with no then and now feelings. I'm not trying to be obtuse, but the time thing just doesn't apply here. If you like, it was a wonderful experience and it continues to be a wonderful experience.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes I'm finding the more I embrace the experience and live with what I know - my insides just keep feeling better and better - it's strange but I can't put it into words, it just is.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? Don't be afraid - what you expect, need, want, will be there.