My father died at about 3:30 PM at the hospital.  Afterwards I had taken my mother home to her house, and many people came in and out all evening.  Everyone was gone by 10:00 PM and my mother, younger brother and I were left in the house.  My mother went into her bathroom to take a shower, and I was going in and out of the closet putting my dad's things away so my mother wouldn't have to.  The last time I went into the closet and came out the room was filled with what I can only describe as a golden warm light, there isn't really a word to describe it exactly.  I felt caressed by it, almost like being inside warm oil.  It was warm and comforting and seemed to eclipse the light from the bedside lamps.  I sat down on the foot of the bed.  While no words were actually spoken I felt like I was being told that everything was all right, and that I was to help my mother all I could.  There was a strange white shimmery light in the doorway to the hall, and when my brother came to the door he asked me if I thought he could come through it.  I told him yes and he sat with me on the bed.  He asked me what was happening, what the light was, and I told him to just let it comfort him and he did.  After about five minutes it began to fade away slowly.  I was left with a feeling of peace and the firm belief my Dad was in a better place. 

Any associated medications or substances with the potential to affect the experience?     No      

Was the kind of experience difficult to express in words? Yes     Mostly difficult to describe.

What was your level of consciousness and alertness during the experience?           I was completely conscious and alert, not destroyed by shock as my Dad had been very ill for a long time, and we knew the end could come at any time.  As I said before I was walking around and busy when it happened.

            Was the experience dream like in any way?   Not really.  Only in that it was something I had never experienced before.

Did you experience a separation of your consciousness from your body?     No      

What emotions did you feel during the experience?            Safe, warm, protected, and some joy.

Did you hear any unusual sounds or noises?           I heard absolute silence until my brother spoke.  No other noise.

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?            Yes     I knew exactly where I was and what I was doing.

Did you see a light?           Yes     Just the all-encompassing light already described.

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?          No       Just the light in the room, and the light in the doorway and the feelings they evoked.

Did you notice how your 5 senses were working, and if so, how were they different?          No       Did you have any sense of altered space or time?          Yes     Everything seemed to slow down.

Did you have a sense of knowing, special knowledge, universal order and/or purpose?    Uncertain            Just the feeling that death is a good thing and that there is life beyond.

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?             No      

Did you become aware of future events?       No      

Did you have any psychic, paranormal or other special gifts following the experience that you did not have prior to the experience?      Yes     I have experienced several events since that one.  When my mother died a year and a half ago, she came to me in a dream.  It was very vivid, though short, and I woke up suddenly feeling like she'd actually been in the room.  I also had the experience of feeling like a hand was on my shoulder-very comforting-right before a huge limb was torn off a tree right outside my bedroom window.  It was twisted off the tree making a loud screeching noise but I felt no fear.  I had been sound asleep when I felt it on my shoulder.

Did you have any changes of attitudes or beliefs following the experience?   Yes     It made me want to study more, to search out knowledge of my own faith and others.  I'm not afraid to die now and I was before.  I genuinely feel that what's beyond life is wonderful.

How has the experience affected your relationships? Daily life? Religious practices? Career choices?       I'm sorry to say that I'm divorced now.  My husband always thought I was a little crazy even though he could readily see the changes it made in me.  Other relationships are fine.  Religious practices have improved, I don't believe one can experience what I did and not have it deepen your belief in life after death.

Has your life changed specifically as a result of your experience?         Yes     It's made me a better person.

Have you shared this experience with others?         Yes     My daughter was deeply affected and is a great believer in life after death.  I have had people moved to tears when I've described the event, and others have been dismissive.

What emotions did you experience following your experience?  Extreme joy, curiosity and wonder.  And deep appreciation that I was the one to experience it.

What was the best and worst part of your experience?      The best was the way it made me feel, and the worst was my father had to die to experience it.

Following the experience, have you had any other events in your life, medications or substances which reproduced any part of the experience?         Yes     Yes, described above.

Did the questions asked and information you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?               Yes     Yes, but as I said there are no words we have to accurately describe the color of the light, and the feelings, both physical and emotional, or really the enormous impact it had on my emotional make up..