Experience description:

I was/am prone to urinary tract infections - and had my first ever experience with a urinary tract infection at the age of 14.  I didn't know what was wrong with me and felt ashamed and  embarrassed because the infection and pain was associated with my genitals (we didn't talk about sex in my family) - as a consequence I didn't tell my mother and the infection worsened and spread to my kidneys.  I was in so much pain that I couldn't walk - my mother made a doctor's appointment for me and left me with a friend of my eldest sister, whom I didn't know well.  My mother went to work and was coming back to get me in time for my appointment.  My sister's friend put me to sleep in her spare bedroom.  In the spare room, was a decorative plate on the wall; it had praying hands on it.  I  was looking at the plate, from where I lay on the bed, when sound became distorted and I heard ringing coming from inside my head.  And  I saw a bright, white light begin to emanate from the plate - it was incredibly bright, but didn't hurt my eyes to look at it.  I next became aware of a rushing sound, like a great wind  and when that diminished I saw there was a being in the room with me; it was as if it had stepped out of the plate.  It was tall and human shaped but had no distinguishing  characteristics - I didn't get a sense of gender, just of being.  It was surrounded by the white glowing light but was also made up of the light.  I remember thinking, if it's an angel, why doesn't it have wings?  I felt in awe of it, and afraid.  I wondered if I was dying or was dead.  It communicated with me - trying to comfort me, telling me I would be okay.  It didn't actually speak to me, but reached me through my mind.  It told me it wasn't time for me to go with it.  I felt comforted by this.  The apparition disappeared when my sister's friend opened the door to check on me.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   Uncertain  I was very ill - I had a kidney infection and couldn't walk - I was also feverish.  But I don't know if I was ill enough to die.

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     At the time, I couldn't put it into words and have only recently shared this experience with another person - my husband.  I actually felt I couldn't share it, as other people wouldn't believe me.  I didn't want to lose the specialness of the experience by having someone else debunk it.  It is hard to explain the being itself as words don't seem adequate.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      I am not sure as I remember that my perception of light and sound seemed heightened- but I think I was too sick to be alert.

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Less consciousness and alertness than normal   I felt very sick and remained aware of that during the experience.  I don't think my mind was alert but rather more susceptible to certain sensations like sound and light.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   Everything was brighter and more intense - the predominant colour was white, but it seemed to be comprised of a multitude of colours and shades of white at the same time.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   My hearing/sound was distorted- and I heard sounds that couldn't possibly be there in the room - ringing bells and rushing winds.  The sound was choppy somehow, distorted.

Did you see or hear any earthly events that were occurring during a time that your consciousness / awareness was apart from your physical / earthly body?   No  

What emotions did you feel during the experience?   I was initially afraid, thinking that I had died; when the being told me I would be okay, I felt comforted.  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   It was white and bright and emanated from the being.

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 saw a very tall human shaped being made of light - it generated the light as well as being surrounded by it.  Everything was very white.

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  

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased (or alive) beings?   No  

Did you become aware of past events in your life during your experience?   No  

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

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
Time seemed to not exist -earth didn't seem to exist.

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   No

Did you come to a border or point of no return?   No

Did scenes from the future come to you?  No 

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness suggesting that there either is (or is not) continued existence after earthly life (“life after death”)?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s meaning or purpose?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   No  

During your experience, did you encounter any other specific information / awareness that you have not shared in other questions that is relevant to living our earthly lives?   No  

Did you have a sense of knowing special knowledge or purpose?   No  

What occurred during your experience included:   Content that was both consistent and not consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience   I was later surprised that the being did not appear to be a traditional angel with wings and a halo.  It didn't present itself as being from any specific religious belief, which was kind of strange as I had been raised in a Christian society and had been influenced by Christian ideas - although I didn't necessarily believe them.

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 th   I have never forgotten this experience- nor how it made me feel.  I have often questioned it, wondering where it came from, considering I am not religious.  I have wondered if it is the product of an ill mind, not unlike a hallucination.

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   Not sure if the changes are due to the experience or to simply growing older.

My experience directly resulted in:   No changes in my life

Did you have any changes in your values or beliefs after the experience that occurred as a result of the experience?   Uncertain   I don't really know what to think as I am not sure what the event actually was.

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  I have shared this only with my husband, a full 40 years after the event (and of course with you now)

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 probably real   I think as a teen I was probably more open to belief that this could have been a spiritual experience.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was probably not real   Maybe just the cynicism of growing old?  And learning more about brain science.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Uncertain   I'm not sure, I have always tried to be kind and compassionate- I have become more so as I get older - is that a result of this experience or simply of growing older and learning throughout life?

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

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