Julie G NDE

Experience Description

I was passing through a bright light. When I stopped, I felt exceptional love and joy that is indescribable. I heard a male voice asking if I was ready to move on. I did not see anyone. When I answered, I thought it was strange that we were talking without me moving my mouth. It was as if it were telepathic. I said I wanted to move on but I hadn't seen or held my baby. I wanted to know if it was a boy or girl. He said I had a son. I was overwhelmed with the feelings I felt enveloping me. I thought about my child not knowing how much I loved him- how no one else could watch out for him. I struggled with wanting to move ahead and wanting to go back. I made the choice to go back. It was the hardest decision I have ever made. When I awoke, I found out that I had been given last rites and a nurse had been praying over me. I saw her and later wanted to thank her. When I described her, no one knew who she was- I believe she was my guardian angel. Since that near death experience, I do not fear death. When members of my family have passed I know they have experienced that incredible joy that I felt that day.

Background Information:

Gender: Female

Date NDE Occurred: 08/14/79

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes Childbirth. Clinical death (cessation of breathing or heart function or brain function) I had a C-section due to eclampsia.

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

Did you feel separated from your body? No I lost awareness of my body

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 My senses seemed heightened. Almost like my entire body was vibrating, but I was not aware of actually having a body.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? When I was speaking to the male voice.

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 had no sense of time as I know it.

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. I don't think my vision was different.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience. My hearing was exceptionally better.

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

The experience included: Tunnel

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? Yes Initially through a light-filled tunnel.

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

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 very bright, and the voice seemed like a huge bright light.

Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world? A clearly mystical or unearthly realm It just seemed like there was light everywhere.

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Indescribable joy.

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? No

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

The experience included: Boundary

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? Yes I had to choose to move on.

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 I didn't sense it as a barrier. I just knew I had to make a choice to move ahead.

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What importance did you place on your religious/spiritual life prior to your experience? Slightly important to me

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Catholic

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? Yes I started going to church more often.

What importance do you place on your religious/spiritual life after your experience? Greatly important to me

What is your religion now? Christian- Catholic

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 and am a Catholic- but this reinforced the belief that I had only faith to go on before

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 The male voice I heard speaking to me.

Did you see deceased or religious spirits? 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? Yes I am now sure of life after death

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? Yes I think that speaking to who I thought to be God means that there is a mystical connection

Did you believe in the existence of God prior to your experience? God definitely exists

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? Yes It is my interpretation that the male voice was God

Do you believe in the existence of God after your experience? God definitely exists

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? Yes I felt that there had to be a reason I was given a choice.

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are meaningful and significant

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

Did you believe in an afterlife prior to your experience? I was uncertain if an afterlife exists

Do you believe in an afterlife after your experience? An afterlife definitely exists Yes I truly believe after my experience that there is something after death

Did you fear death prior to your experience? Unknown

Do you fear death after your experience? I do not fear death

Were you fearful living your life prior to your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Were you fearful living your life after your experience? Not fearful in living my earthly life

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant prior to your experience? Are meaningful and significant

Did you believe that our earthly lives are meaningful and significant after your experience? Are meaningful and significant

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

Were you compassionate prior to your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

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

Were you compassionate after your experience? Moderately compassionate toward others

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Moderate changes in my life I am definitely more religious than before. I also am not sad about friends/relatives who have passed. I definitely miss them, but I know they are happy.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? Yes It is difficult to put the things I felt into words.

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 remember it more vividly than what else happened

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? Making the choice to be with my son. He is the joy of my life and has been for almost thirty four years.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes A very long time. Some people believe it and some don't.

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 never ever thought it was not real. Those feelings were definitely real!

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real My view hasn't changed. It definitely happened.

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