Experience description:

This was not a strict NDE but I'm registering it here because it was so much like many of the NDEs I've read about here - I find it interesting that this happened during a lucid dream.

I am able to dream lucidly on occasion which means becoming aware that you are dreaming while you are asleep, and continuing on with the dream with full consciousness. Usually I just fly in my lucid dreams which is incredibly enjoyable.

This time, the moment I 'woke up' in my dream, I had an overwhelming sense of opportunity that I had to grab right away. I said out loud 'I want to be free!' And the intention was 100% to experience real freedom from all my earthly bonds. The desire to do this came out of nowhere and was complete, and I knew I could do it in this lucid dream, though I didn't know what it would mean to do it.

Immediately I was taken. I was simply swept up by a force that took me away at great speed. It was as though this force was just waiting for my request, totally ready to help. I felt like I was inside this force, like being held. It was not good or bad, it seemed somewhat neutral.

I had no control. I was entirely lucid and could feel everything. It was very surprising to be swept up like this.

The force took me through the clouds and sky and then beyond. I realized we were leaving the atmosphere. I like to fly very high in my lucid dreams, but this was farther than I'd ever gone. We kept going and soon we were heading out into deep space. I realized we were leaving the Earth entirely and I thought that I must be dying.

I was so lucid and aware of my body, it was all so real, that I was certain this had to be death - that it would be if I just let go.

I 'turned around' so to speak and looked back. The Earth was hanging in space, so far away now, about the size of a large marble. It was beautiful. I looked at it with love and I felt a total joy and sense of gratitude for my life on Earth and everyone and everything in it - even the bad people and experiences. It all felt perfect and absolutely correct. My sense was that I wanted to clap and say 'well done!' to everyone. I had no desire to return.

So we kept going. The force took me through the universe. I traveled through galaxies and stars. I was moving at an incredible speed. Eventually I came up to what seemed to be a void. There were no more stars. There was a blackness in front of me. A sound emanated from it that I can't really describe. Sort of a droning hum.

I didn't really like this black void. It didn't feel hostile as much as inhospitable to me. I couldn't enter it with my body, which I still seemed to have. I felt I couldn't go in there and I didn't want to anyway.

I looked back over my right shoulder, behind me, and there was a vast ball of churning light full of what looked like neural pathways. I knew it was the Universe in its entirety. I was way beyond the outer limit of where life and energy was. In front of me was the Void.

I decided I needed to go back.

The absolute second I decided that, I was whooshed away right back the way I came from. We travelled all the way back until Earth appeared and I zoomed down through all the layers until I landed in my room, in my bed, in my body, with a physical Thump, and my eyes immediately opened.

As I had been descending I felt sorry for what I was about to take back on again - the weight of this life. I was sad when I woke up again in this body, but also amazed and grateful for the experience, which felt entirely real to me.

I hope that when death does come I feel that same gratitude and sense that everything was just as it should have been in this life.

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

Was the experience difficult to express in words?  Yes     It's hard to describe the noise that came out of the Void.

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

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness?      Normal consciousness and alertness   Normal

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   The same

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience.   The same

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?   Excitement, peace, joy, release  

Did you pass into or through a tunnel?   No  

Did you see an unearthly light?   No  

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?   Some unfamiliar and strange place
I traveled through the Universe but it was not mystical, it was very real and I was moving very fast through galaxies.

Did time seem to speed up or slow down?   Everything seemed to be happening at once; or time stopped or lost all meaning
I had no sense of time

Did you suddenly seem to understand everything?   Everything about myself or others
I just understood that my life was exactly what it needed to be and I felt total happiness and gratitude

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure?   Yes
I reached a vibrating void of darkness that I could not pass and did not want to pass

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
I was not permitted to cross the barrier perhaps because I wasn't actually dead.

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?   Uncertain   There was some kind of force that was taking me and bringing me back but it felt neutral.

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?   Yes   Only that it was all good and right and as it should be.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding earthly life’s difficulties, challenges, or hardships?   Yes   Yes, my sense was that all the bad stuff was absolutely perfect and needed and I felt gratitude for everything, good and bad.

During your experience, did you encounter any specific information / awareness regarding love?   Yes   I felt love for everything as I was leaving Earth - not a feeling I have normally!

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   The special knowledge was that everything is exactly as it should be and nothing is 'wrong'

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 did not expect to feel such simple gratitude and acceptance of all the experiences and people in my life. It just felt very easy to let go, like I had just watched a play that was very good and fulfilling but it was fine to leave it and move on.

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  

Discuss any changes that might have occurred in your life after your experience:   I feel I was given a glimpse of what death might be like, so it was like an NDE. I feel more certain about how I am likely to experience leaving this body, which gives me comfort and makes me less fearful and more certain that my spirit will move on to the next experience.

My experience directly resulted in:   Moderate 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   I believe death might be really pleasant!

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  Right away I told me family. They loved it and it gave them comfort.

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience?   Yes   I had read some books. I can't be sure whether I was affected by this.

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened:   Experience was definitely real   It was 'real' in the sense that I experienced it but it was still a lucid 'dream' - but what is the actual difference when your consciousness is totally awake?

What do you believe about the reality of your experience at the current time:   Experience was definitely real   Same as above.

Have your relationships changed specifically as a result of your experience?   Yes   I am more forgiving and less controlling because I realize everything is just fine.

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