Robert N NDE

Experience Description

At age seven, while swimming (I had not really learned yet) in a motel swimming pool, I found I could not get my head above water. I swam underwater to the edge and tried to pull myself up. The ceramic tile border was slippery, and I could not get a grip on it. I was drowning. At this time, I started to see myself struggling from a perspective from below and behind me. This visualizing continued until, at the last moment, I was finally able to gain a grip, and was able to pull my head above the water.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date NDE Occurred: summer 1956

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? No drowning 'Life threatening event, but not clinical death'

How do you consider the content of your experience? Mixed

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 For about thirty seconds prior to being able to breathe.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness? For about thirty seconds prior to being able to breathe.

Were your thoughts speeded up? Faster than usual

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning Though my thoughts sped up, it was as if it was in slow motion too. No concept of lapsed 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. Very clear, sharp, and bright colors.

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? 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? No

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

The experience included: Strong emotional tone

What emotions did you feel during the experience? Panic, but also an awareness that this experience was exceptional, even as a seven year old.

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? 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 I was to have a few dreams of some future events, and had two more 'out of body' experiences.

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? Moderate Presbyterian

Have your religious practices changed since your experience? No

What is your religion now? Moderate

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? 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? Yes Though I was panicked, I was aware that the experience was very special. I've had more since.

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Uncertain Dreams of future events. Two OBEs. Many times correctly knowing who was calling on the phone.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? I could see myself as though I was a third party.

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Uncertain I believe after it happened I tried to explain it to my parents, brother, and my cousin.

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 viewed it for what it was. I knew it had happened.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real I will always remember it as though it was yesterday. Plus, it happened again in 1985 and 1989.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? Yes As noted above, other instances of similar occurrences, and the dreams. You don't forget them, they get your attention.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience? In the three out of body experiences, the visual perspective was always from behind me. The clarity of the memories in these experiences is amazing.