Experience description:

When I was about 10 years old, I was riding in the back seat of our car and was on the way to the Sierras for a camping trip. It was just beginning to get dark--past sunset but before night. I was looking out the back window of the car as we started winding our way up into the foothills. I could see the Sacramento Valley all the way to the coast range, an undulating blue ribbon on the far horizon. A few lights were starting to blink on in the blue haze of the valley.

Suddenly, it seemed as though my view was spreading outward. I could see not only the valley and the distant mountains, but also the bend of the horizon. As I watched in fascination, the horizon receded rapidly and I could see the entire earth, floating in space, a huge blue and white orb. This was in 1953. I found the following info about the first photos of the earth from space.. 'In August 1959, an unmanned satellite called Explorer 6 took the first photos of Earth from space, on a mission that marked the first steps towards the mission to the Moon.' Therefore, it’s unlikely that I had ever seen any photos of the earth from space.

As I watched the earth floating before me, I felt as though my mind was expanding to encompass the whole earth, the space around it and the cosmos that contained it. And there was no separation between me and the entirety of the cosmos. It was absolutely beautiful and enchanting and I felt filed with love and ecstasy for being part of this amazing cosmos.

The bewildering thing was that when I tried to tell people about this amazing experience, they didn’t want to hear about it. My parents told me I was imagining things. (In all fairness, I DID have a vivid imagination). When I tired to talk about it with our family pastor (I was brought up in the Episcopal Church), he was cordial, but didn’t really either believe me or want to discuss my experience. I was amazed that this astonishing thing had happened to me and no one was even interested in what I had experienced. So, I stopped talking to people about it.

But, I continued to feel that I could have “access” to that experience. All I had/have to do is “walk through that veil” and I'm “there,” in that infinite and astonishing place that was and is and will be.

At the time of your experience was there an associated life-threatening event?   No 

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     I tried to explain what I'd experienced but it didn't match the power of the experience. Literally couldn't put it into words.

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness and alertness?      entire time

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 experiences a feeling of great wonder and joy. Very powerful emotions.

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   It was a grand 'opening up' to the grand expanse of the universe. I was part of everything and everything was part of me.

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   My hearing didn't seem to be effected

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?   Joy, wonder, delight, 'rightness.'  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   Yes   Th whole 'surround' was bathed in a glorious light. it was like 'seeing' without blinders.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice?   No


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?   A clearly mystical or unearthly realm
I could 'see' forever. The whole universe was spread out before me and around me but there was no separation between 'me' and 'it',

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
I couldn't really tell if 'time' was still. I had no feeling of time stopping or passing. Just a 'eternal present.'

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about the universe
I was all sort of Laid out in. front of me and I was it and it was me.

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”)?   Uncertain   That didn't seem relevant

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that God or a supreme being either does (or does not) exist?   Uncertain   Define 'God'

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that you either did (or did not) exist prior to this lifetime?   Uncertain   Wasn't part of the experience. Except I felt as though I/if was and is and will always be

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness that a mystical universal connection or unity/oneness either does (or does not) exist?   Yes   Everything was ONE and yet also individual

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?   Yes   Love seemed to be everywhere

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?   Yes   I had a feeling of great clarity and of calmness. Everything had purpose and was as it should be in tune 'continuum'

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   My Christian upbringing had introduced the idea of 'God,' but more as a kind of separate 'creator' out there somewhere. The experience showed me a new concept of God as an all-encompassing Oneness of time/space/consciousness

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 can still recall the experience today after 67 years

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   The experience filled me with hope and wonder about the experience of life

My experience directly resulted in:   Large 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?   Yes   Even though I was a little child, I had a profound feeling of 'knowing' something of value

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience?   Uncertain   Since that the I've had several 'precognitive' experiences

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you?     The sheer beauty and joy

Have you ever shared this experience with others?   Yes  I wanted to talk about it and share my experience but nobody would listen

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   It couldn't be overlooked. it was too important

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   It was impossible to dismiss and has had an effect on me ever since

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   No  

Have your religious beliefs/spiritual practices changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I didn't grasp the concept of 'god' until after the experience. I think the concept had been presented to me in a way that was not valid. All I could think was 'Your God is too small.'

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience?   Yes   I feel that I can re-enter that experience whenever I like. It is timeless

Is there anything else that you would like to add about your experience?   No

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience?   Yes   Even though the questions were directed toward an NDE, they were also relevant to my 'mystical' experience