Hermann H (Hermann H)
STE
Greyson Scale: 10
#33196
- CountryDenmark
- GenderM
- AgeCollege Age
- Date Experienced11/30/1989
- Date Submitted12/23/2025
The experience included
Time lost all meaningDevelop psychic abilitiesSeeing past lives (Reincarnation)Feeling one with the universeExplains the purpose of individual livesExplains the purpose of all lifeConsciousness in animals, plants, or objectsDescribes God
Experience Description
My first experience with heavy drinking was at age 12. By 14, I was drinking daily and building a system of justifications to support my drinking. I later began using cannabis as well. At 21, I had an "awakening experience." My life revolved around drinking. Everything was planned around drinking, especially my circle of friends. To avoid drawing attention, I joined a punk group, where drinking was part of the culture. I graduated high school, but afterward, I only worked small jobs and even ended up on the streets for a few days after being kicked out of my parents' home. That experience at 21 made me quit drinking. A year later, I started university, attended AA meetings nearly every day for five years, and then worked as a group and individual therapist at a drug rehabilitation clinic for two years. Since then, I have worked freelance for over 25 years.
What happened that day? On November 30, 1989 (the same day the prominent German banker Alfred Herrhausen was assassinated), I got my driver's license back after it had been suspended for 10 months due to drunk driving. What was the first thing I did? Of course, I bought alcohol, because drinking was my entire life. But that day, I caught myself secretly hiding a beer behind my girlfriend's mother, which was completely out of character for me as a punk kid. And then it happened. It happened so fast, in the blink of an eye. Three questions arose in my mind: 1. Where do you come from? 2. Where are you now? and 3. Where are you going? That was it. I did not open the beer can in my hand, and that was 36 years ago. The sound, the energy, it was so overwhelming that even the thought of arguing was impossible. In that moment, I knew with certainty that I had to stop drinking. I was only told that much. The rest, I had to figure out on my own. That's life.
Background Information
Gender
Male
Date NDE Occurred
11/30/1989
Near Death Experience Elements
At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event?
No, There are no additional circumstances., Other (briefly specify), I was dependent on alcohol.
How do you consider the content of your experience?
Neither pleasant NOR distressing
Did you feel separated from your body?
No
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, It was a loss of identity. It was a calm observation. There was no feeling of pain at all.
At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?
Unbelievably high throughout that time.
Were your thoughts speeded up?
Incredibly fast
Did time seem to speed up or slow down?
Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning, In that moment, all feelings of happiness disappeared. I saw my own character, understood it, and saw that it would become my guide from then on. I understood that this moment was a moment of truth.
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
Vision was much brighter with intense clarity compared to ordinary vision.
Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience
Completely sharp, clear, and I could hear all things, meaning everything was very distinct.
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?
No
Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?
No
Did you see, or feel surrounded by, a brilliant light?
No
Did you see an unearthly light?
No
Did you seem to enter some other, unearthly world?
No
What emotions did you feel during the experience?
No fear, no panic, no anxiety, and no feeling of anything. It's as if there was no body to be used to feel pain from leaving.
Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness?
Incredible peace or pleasantness
Did you have a feeling of joy?
No
Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe?
No
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?
No
God, Spiritual and Religion
What was your religion prior to your experience?
Christian - Catholic, I was a regular Christian believer. I had no firm religious foundation, just being born and growing up in society. I tried to be good by being a moral person and following principles within my faith. Some people in the Bible call it being lukewarm. They both fear and worship God.
Have your religious practices changed since your experience?
Yes, I accept the teachings from various religions. I don't feel sad anymore. I haven't been able to practice consistently yet. However, I understand the essence of the teachings and have become more accepting in life.
What is your religion now?
Unaffiliated - Nothing in particular - Religious unaffiliated, Now, I exist in a state where I have freed myself from religious addiction, which is the act of being detached from God. It is a state where one worships the image of God that one has created to an extreme degree. That is, a person will create an idol to worship alongside God. This is a contradiction. Religion and religious people become water with water, as is natural. Humans today are always uncertain. No matter how hard you try, you can never fit the pattern of religion into the pattern of life. It is simply a matter of aligning with reality and inner peace that is greater than anything created by the mind.
Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs?
Content that was entirely not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience, This experience has completely shaken the Christian faith that I was raised with and has directly contradicted the Bible and the God that was taught to me. It has shown me a reality that is different from doctrine.
Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience?
Yes, There was an insight into the entity of pure consciousness. It had a profound and beautiful nature. There was 'consciousness beyond form'.
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, I was the one being observed. It was pure consciousness. I did not interact with any form or use any voice.
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, It was the consciousness of every living being connected as one. The creator of everything is not separate from this.
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?
Uncertain, It was not the self that mattered, but the consciousness. The soul is present to experience life and its challenges. Without these challenges, it would not know itself. I am the experience of consciousness in this universe.
During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife?
Uncertain, The insight was about the nature of consciousness and that it does not involve any specific identity.
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?
No
What life changes occurred in your life after your experience?
I realized that the mind can be trained through meditation. Now I can feel compassion for others. In the realm of the mind, life flows more easily without alcohol. After that experience, my attitude changed. Life became calm and peaceful. There was no conflict in life. And the act of holding onto thoughts became a heavy burden. Since then, life has flown by more smoothly and peacefully. I have read books like "Life After Death" by Raymond Moody. However, I have not used a medium to contact the deceased. I believe that you will meet your own truth in the end. And I have accepted both joy and sorrow in life with an open heart. Since then, it has become a constant reminder.
Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?
Yes, My relationships have ended, but I have not found any new close friends yet.
After the NDE:
Was the experience difficult to express in words?
Yes, This event was very strange and profound. It is extremely difficult to convey in words. Love and fear were intertwined, so I was just quietly observing, and that felt beautiful. That was the moment of the event.
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, This event is remembered as clearly as a diamond. The value of this moment was deeply embedded in my heart. The pain, suffering, and fear were immense. Life felt like a prison. But the light from the other side came and freed me. There is no one to block you. No one can control you; you are free. The love felt for the soul is incredibly strong. One can choose to use life or not. It is the beginning of true freedom. There is no confusion about what life really is. And there is no one to force you. You are simply free. The love of the soul is very powerful. Since then, I have not been able to use life in the same way as before. I have lived many lives using life like this and have achieved many successes. However, it all became meaningless because the light from the other side is extremely strong.
Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?
Yes, I only use more intuition in decision-making. This is like having a 'guide' or a guardian that helps me understand others' feelings. I am not as angry anymore. I think more calmly, peacefully, and rationally, and I make decisions by understanding others' feelings and considering the consequences.
Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?
At that moment, I felt that I was a light that God's light shined upon, "the first light."
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 still used life as usual. I did not stop because of what happened. I continued to live normally, but I could not forget that experience. It remained fresh in my mind like the color of the sky. I felt the same as before, but I was not the same person as before. I was not in the same place. And I was not where life emerged from the alcohol before it became a dream.
What do you believe about the reality of your experience now?
Experience was definitely real, The light that left then is still here now.
At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?
No
Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?
Thank you for understanding my story. And thank you for providing an opportunity to share this experience here. It has become very real, and I can communicate with others in the spiritual realm.
Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?
Yes, These questions helped me understand my experience more clearly, and they are very thoughtful. They allow people with similar experiences to share accurately and comprehensively.