Experience description:
It was October 1991; I
don't remember the day, around 11:00 pm. I got into bed and closed the light,
although I wasn't very tired and thought that I might have difficulty falling
asleep. Suddenly I felt as though I had left my body and I was standing in the
most beautiful green plateau surrounded by incredibly beautiful mountains. I
have never been to Ireland, but the area reminded me of travel pictures that I
had seen. I knew that the area I was on was several miles high and If I walked
too far to edge of the green area I could easily fall down the cliff. There were
beautiful grey stones and moss everywhere. Then I saw that my father was walking
toward me; he was only about twenty feet away. He looked wonderful and was
wearing the same outfit that he had died in (a pair of light-colored jeans and a
turquoise sweater.) I could feel his sweater on my face and smell his cologne.
He was smiling and happy and looked wonderful! I kept asking him how he was (he
had died suddenly of a heart attack while walking with my mother and I was
concerned that he "wasn't ready" to die.) He kept telling me that he was
"great." As he hugged me and reassured me I began to see other relatives that
had passed standing around us...my aunt, uncle and grandmother. there were some
others behind them; however, I was focused upon my dad and the family dog,
Charlie who was running around. My father told me that I had to go, and I said
that I didn't want to leave him. I looked a little behind him and I saw a little
baby crawling on the ground. My father turned to look as well and when he saw
her he picked her up. I asked who she was and my father said: " You'll meet her
someday." She was Asian and beautiful (In 1996 I adopted the same little baby
from China.)
Then I asked him if my
mother would be alright without him and he said yes that she would. I asked him
how much longer I would have with her before she died and he said:" I can't tell
you that. It's not for me to say." I kept pressuring him as I was very nervous
about her health...she was a heavy smoker. He finally said "9 years." My mother
did die 9 years later, in September of the 9th year after my dad died, one week
to the day after his birthday.
Then he turned and began to walk away with the others. He said goodbye and told
me he was very happy and that we would be alright. Then, I saw my body lying in
my bed; I was moving towards the bed from the ceiling. I feel as if I was
violently thrown back into my body. I noticed right away that my heart was
racing and I was extremely hot. In fact, I could feel the heat radiating from my
umbilical area through the covers. When I lay my hand on top of the covers, the
heat was incredible coming from that area. I was scared and was afraid to sit up
as I thought I might get sick. I eventually got up and washed my fact and drank
some water and went to sleep. I have never had an experience like this either
before or after that time.
Any
associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the
experience?
No
Was
the kind of experience difficult to express in words?
Yes I never feel as if I am truly able to express the beauty of the
landscape and how acutely aware I was of my surroundings (smell, color, sound.)
At
the time of this experience, was there an associated life threatening
event?
No
What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?
I
felt incredible alert and awake, aware of everything.
Was the experience dream like in any way?
No.
It felt real.
Did
you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?
Yes Please see my narrative in #4 above. I felt myself leavfe and reenter my
body.
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
It
was a bittersweet experience as I missed my father terribly but was very happy
that he was unharmed and so happy.
Did
you hear any unusual sounds or noises?
No,
but my hearing was very acute.
LOCATION DESCRIPTION:
Did you recognize any familiar locations or any locations from familiar
religious teachings or encounter any locations inhabited by incredible or
amazing creatures?
No
Did
you see a light?
No
Did
you meet or see any other beings?
No
Did
you experiment while out of the body or in another, altered state?
No
Did
you observe or hear anything regarding people or events during your experience
that could be verified later?
Yes I adopted a little girl from China and my mother died 9 years after the
experience.
Did
you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they
different?
Yes Everything was sharper and clearer. Very hard to describe. I've
never had the experience since.
Did
you have any sense of altered space or time?
Yes I felt like I was out of my body for a long time and I think from the
clock it was only a matter of minutes.
Did
you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or
purpose?
No
Did
you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?
Yes The edge of the area looked over cliffs on all sides.
Did
you become aware of future events?
No
Were you involved in or aware of a decision regarding your return to the
body?
No I had no control of the leaving or reentering.
Did
you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience
that you did not have prior to the experience?
No
Did
you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?
Yes I am more certain of an afterlife.
How
has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices?
Career choices?
I
feel like the experience changed me and is hard to describe to others.
Has
your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?
No
Have you shared this experience with others?
Yes I told my mother and a friend. Both seemed skeptical, so I have been
afraid to discuss with others.
What emotions did you experience following your experience?
I
wanted to stay with my family and I guess there is a part of me that is sad that
I couldn't stay with such beauty and feelings of peace.
What was the best and worst part of your experience?
The
leaving and especially the reentering was very harsh. It felt like I had been
punched.
Is
there anything else you would like to add concerning the experience?
Just
that I have never been certain if this was a dream or a real event. I would
really like to know why it happened to me.
Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life,
medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?
No
Did
the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively
describe your experience?
Yes