Lori P
STE
Greyson Scale: 20
#33104
Experience Description
I have no recollection of anything in particular that happened before this experience. As I have explained, my mother was in the hospital with a broken hip after being diagnosed with cancer after battling it for a few years. The only thing I can say is that I was under a great deal of stress because of this.
My memory is very vivid after all of these years and I can explain what happened in detail.
In the very beginning, I was in a blue and white scene rather than in full-color or black-and-white. I am in a bus full of people. It’s dark and I have been asleep and missed my stop. I get up and walk to the front of the bus to speak to the bus driver about missing my stop. When I reach the front of the bus, I’m holding onto the bars by the driver seat. There are children in the front seat behind the driver. The driver is very heavy and the buttons are pulling at his shirt.
As I’m explaining to the driver that I missed my stop and asked if he could let me off at the next stop, there was a sudden gasp from the children behind him and others on the bus. The bus driver slammed on the brakes as I gripped the bars so I didn't lose my balance.
When I looked up, I was outside of the bus, hovering in front of the windshield. Everything was in full vivid color. We had reach the very tip of a deep crevice. The bus was teetering at that edge. I could see a small bridge that a person would have to walk very carefully across because it was so thin from one side of this crevice to the other. There was a waterfall to my left, sparkling radiantly with light. Across the crevice was a botanical haven of some sort. It was lush with vividly, beautiful plant life; all having light behind them and dancing lively with a breeze. The bridge that went across the crevice was made of tortoise shells colored with many shades of browns and tans. These shells and colors were filled with light. It not only span across from one end to the other, but was also a wall that went straight down to the bottom of the crevice. It was beautiful.
I didn't talk with anyone or see anyone in particular, but they seemed to be alive in the garden in front of me. They also seemed to be alive in the waterfall to my left. Words cannot describe the feeling of joy and being loved, as if my own mother were cradling me. I felt safe, happy, and loved.
I remembered this experience right after this happened. I would explain this to people, and it would so often occurred to me that I could not explain my emotions with the words that I had in my vocabulary. I’ve often wondered why I had this experience, that is so like a death experience in many ways. The waterfall, the emotional high, the beauty, and the light were amazing. Being able to remember this experience as if it happened yesterday, all of these things are similar to the NDEs I've read about.
Background Information
Gender
Female
Date NDE Occurred
9/22/1991
Near Death Experience Elements
At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event?
Yes, This came as a dream. I was not injured or ill. My mother was weeks from dying so there was stress., Other (briefly specify), Well but under stress as mentioned above.
How do you consider the content of your experience?
Entirely pleasant
Did you feel separated from your body?
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, I can only say that I felt very alive, alert, and happy beyond what words can explain.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?
Throughout what I have detailed.
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 have no concept of the time during this event.
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
My vision seemed normal, and the bright light in everything was comforting.
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience
I don’t remember hearing anything after I was off the bus.
Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere?
No
Did you pass into or through a tunnel?
No
Did you see any beings in your experience?
I sensed their presence
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
Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?
A clearly mystical or unearthly realm, I was hovering, one foot crossed over the other. The entire scene felt like another world.
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
Pure joy and love.
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?
No
Did scenes from the future come to you?
No
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?
Unaffiliated- Nothing in particular- Religious unaffiliated
Have your religious practices changed since your experience?
No
What is your religion now?
No comment, I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school for a time. Have not had any personal affiliation with organized religion for many years. Spiritual.
Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs?
Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience, I did not experience something I did not know before. I only experienced it in an unusual, incredibly beautiful, and loving way.
Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience?
Yes, I believe kindness and love are very important to share.
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, It seemed the garden beyond the crevice and waterfall to my left had a presence more than just plants and water. There were no words passed, only feelings.
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 universal connection or oneness?
Uncertain, I had an awareness of a connection.
Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion
During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose?
No
During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life?
No
During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife?
Yes, I remember telling my mother about this experience and felt relieved for her. I’ve always thought I’ve had little fear of death since then.
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
During your experience, did you gain information about love?
Yes, I experienced unconditional love.
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes, I am more compassionate and forgiving.
After the NDE:
Was the experience difficult to express in words?
Yes, There are no words to fully convey the level of joy and love I felt. The colors in the garden beyond the crevice, the bridge, and the waterfall had a light, radiance, and familiarity. They seemed to know me well, if that makes sense.
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 every detail of that experience. I often meditate there and look around but can only vaguely recall the feelings I had. I know they were beyond extreme with joy and love, but I cannot summon those emotions again as in 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
Have you ever shared this experience with others?
Yes
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 immediately wrote it down, fearing I would forget. But I’ve never looked at that again or even know where it is. It was very real to me, like nothing else in my entire life.
What do you believe about the reality of your experience now?
Experience was definitely real
At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?
No
Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes, Yes.